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Westchester  County 


IN 


HISTORY 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST 

PAST  AND  PRESENT 


COUNTY  HISTORY 
TOWNS,  HAMLETS,  VILLAGES  AND  CITIES 


TRULY  THIS  PEOPLE  CAN  SAY,  WE  HAVE  MADE  HISTORY 


1683-1914 


BY 

HENRY  T.  SMITH 

Connected  with  County  Journalism  Forty-Five  Years 


VOLUME  III 


Contatining  specially  prepared  articles  relative  to  the  County;  matters  concerning  the  County's  history; 

orgcuiization  of  Towns,  Villages  and  Cities;  population  as  shown  by  the  various  census 

enumerations,  with  other  statistics  and  general  facts  of  interest  and  value. 

Also,  containing  the  portraits  and  biographies  of  distinguished  men  connected  with  the  County's  early 
history,  as  well  as  of  prominent  officials  of  the  present  time. 


White  Plains.  N.  Y. 

HENRY  T.  SMITH.  Publisher 

1913 


rn  • 


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vnDA'^''-'^^ 


i»V* 


Copyritht  by 

HENRY  T.  SMITH 

1913 


All  riahu  reienred 


VOLUME  THREE 


LIBH^AKT 


Arrow, 
TTi.oBN  rot. 


^.Miuj-, 


WESTCHESTER  COUNTY  NOTABLES. 

ASSOCIATED    WITH   COUNTY'S   HISTORY. 
(Continued  from  page  76,  Volume  1.) 

CHAUNCEY  MITCHELL  DEPEW,  statesman,  counsellor, 
orator,  and  man  of  the  world,  whose  name  is  known  every- 
where, was  born  in  Peekskill,  in  this  county,  on  April  23,  1834, 
of  Huguenot  and  New  England  parentage.  His  father,  Isaac 
Depew,  a  prominent  citizen  and  merchant,  was  a  lineal  descend- 
ant of  Francois  Du  Puy,  a  Huguenot,  who  fled  from  France 
during  the  religious  persecutions  of  the  seventeenth  century. 

The  name  Du  Puy  or  De  Puy  is  an  ancient  one,  having  been 
prominent  as  early  as  the  eleventh  century.  Kaphael  Du  Puy 
was  an  officer  of  rank  in  1030  under  Conrad  II,  of  the  Holy 
Roman  Empire,  and  Hugues  Du  Puy,  his  son,  distinguished  him- 
self in  the  Crusades.  The  family  was  early  in  France,  and  its 
history  is  marked  down  the  centuries  by  many  noted  names  and 
titles  both  in  Church  and  State.  In  the  religious  upheaval 
that  culminated  in  the  Massacre  of  St.  Bartholomew  part  of 
the  family  became  identified  with  the  Genevan  or  Calvinistic 
party,  which,  under  the  name  of  Huguenot,  became  so  powerful 
under  Henry  IV  that  it  was  granted  freedom  of  worship  in  1598 
by  the  Edict  of  Nantes.  After  the  capture  of  La  Rochelle,  the 
Huguenot  headquarters,  by  Richelieu  in  1628,  many  of  the 
faith,  despairing  of  attaining  religious  peace  at  home,  migrated 
to  England  and  the  Low  Countries,  and  many  of  them  eventually 
to  the  New  World,  and  some  of  them  settling  in  New  Rochelle, 
in  this  county. 

Among  those  who  thus  left  the  land  of  their  fathers  were 
two  brothers,  Nicholas  and  Francois  Du  Puy,  who  escaped  from 
Paris,  tradition  says,  in  1651,  on  hearing  of  their  threatened 
arrest,  and  went  into  the  Netherlands.  Some  ten  years  later 
Francois,  the  younger,  sailed  for  New  Amsterdam  in  the  New 
World,  where  he  arrived  three  or  four  years  before  its  occupa- 
tion by  the  English.  Francois,  who  was  followed  by  his  brother 
Nicholas  a  year  later,  appears  first  in  Breuckelen  (Brooklyn), 
where  he  was  married,  September  26,  1661,  to  Geertje  Willems, 

3 


4  ^lANl'AL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

daughter  of  AVillom  Jacobs  Van  Boemm.  He  was  living  at 
this  time  in  Buslnvick.  cast  of  Brooklyn,  but  in  1677  is  recorded 
a  member  of  tlie  Dutch  Church  at  Flatbush.  In  1687  he  is  at 
Ilaveretraw,  now  in  Kockland  County;  in  1702  he  crossed  the 
Hudson  river  and  came  into  Westchester  County,  and  settled 
on  a  tract  originally  purchased  from  the  Indians  in  1685,  under 
a  license  from  Governor  Dongan.  Though  this  tract  fell  eventu- 
ally within  the  political  limits  of  the  Manor  of  Cortlandt, 
erected  in  1G97.  its  soil  was  held  in  fee  by  its  proprietors, 
from  one  of  whom  it  was  named  Ryke's  Patent,  Ryke  being  the 
Dutch  abbreviation  of  Richard.  Part  of  this  Patent,  on  which 
the  village  of  Peekskill  was  founded  in  1764,  belonged  to  Fran- 
cois Depew,  and  the  last  of  his  share  was  given  in  1896  by 
Chauncey  M.  Depew  to  the  village  of  Peekskill  for  a  public  park. 

The  surname  Du  Puy  has  masqiTcraded  in  many  forms  in  its 
passage  through  Dutch  into  English,  and  we  find  it  recorded 
as  Dupuis.  Dupui,  Dupuy,  Depee,  Depuy,  DePue,  Depu,  Depew, 
etc.  Francois,  grandson  of  the  original  Francois,  who  was 
baptized  August  20  1700.  in  the  old  Dutch  Church  of  Sleepy 
Hollow  at  Tarryto\^'n,  is  generally  recorded  "Frans  De  Pew," 
and  later  the  surname  takes  its  present  form  Depew.  Abraham 
Depew,  grandson  of  this  Frans,  who  was  baptized  at  Tarrytown, 
April  5,  1752,  married  Catherine,  daughter  of  Capt.  James 
Cronkite,  and  became  the  great  grandfather  of  Chauncey 
Mitchell  Depew.  He  enlisted  in  1777  in  the  Third  Regiment 
of  the  Manor  of  Cortlandt,  commanded  by  Colonel  Pierre  Van 
Cortlandt  and  subsequently,  on  the  election  of  Col.  Van  Cort- 
landt as  Lieutenant-Governor  of  this  State,  by  Col.  Drake,  and 
served  until  his  discharge  as  a  coi*poral  in  1780,  at  the  close 
of  the  war.  From  liini  and  from  Captain  Cronkite,  Mr.  Depew 
derives  his  right  as  a  son  of  the  American  Revolution. 

Mr.  Depew 's  New  England  affiliations  are  derived  from  his 
mother,  who  was  born  ]\[artha  iMitchell,  daughter  of  Chauncey 
Root  and  Ann  (Johnstone)  Mitchell.  Chauncey  Root  Mitchell, 
a  distinguished  lawyer  of  "Westchester  County  and  afterwards 
of  Delaware  County,  where  he  was  until  his  death  the  partner 
of  the  famous  lawyer  and  statesman,  General  Erastus  Root, 
was  noted  for  a])i]ity  a.s  an  advocate  and  orator.  Ann  John- 
stone was  the  daughter  of  Judge  Robert  Johnstone  of  Putnam 
County,  for  many  years  State  Senator  and  Judge.  He  was  a 
large  Jandod  proprietor,  owning  Lake  Mahopac  and  much  of 
the    country   around   it.     ^Mrs.   Depew 's   grandfather   was   the 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  6 

Rev.  Justus  Mitchell,  a  lineal  descendant  of  Major  Matthew 
Mitchell,  who  came  to  New  England  in  1633  from  Halifax, 
Yorkshire.  Rev.  Justus  Mitchell  married  Martha  Sherman, 
daughter  of  Rev.  Josiah  and  Martha  (Minott)  Sherman,  and 
niece  of  Hon.  Roger  Sherman,  signer  of  the  Declaration  of 
Independence.  Martha  Sherman  was  fifth  in  descent  from 
Captain  John  Sherman,  who  was  born  in  Dedham,  County- 
Essex,  England,  in  1615,  and  who  married  Martha,  daughter  of 
William  and  Grace  Palmer. 

Mr.  Depew's  New  England  ancestry  thus  includes,  besides 
the  Mitchells  and  the  Shermans,  the  blood  of  the  Palmers,  Win- 
ships,  Wellingtons,  Minotts,  and  Johnstones,  all  notable  families 
in  the  New  World.  He  is  a  descendant  also  of  the  Reverend 
Charles  Chaimcey,  first  President  of  Harvard  College.  His 
mother,  from  whom  were  derived  many  of  the  characteristics  that 
have  conduced  to  his  success,  was  of  marked  personal  beauty, 
varied  accomplishments,  and  social  prominence.    She  died  in  1885. 

Peekskill,  Mr.  Depew's  natal  place,  named  after  Jan  Peek, 
an  early  Dutch  navigator,  has  now  a  population  of  more  than 
fifteen  thousand.  The  Depew  homestead,  a  picturesque  build- 
ing with  a  portico  supported  by  Ionic  columns,  is  still  in  pos- 
session of  the  family,  and  Mr.  Depew,  although  his  residence 
is  in  New  York  city,  delights  to  call  this  house  and  Peekskill 
his  home.  The  country  around  it  is  replete  with  historic  and 
patriotic  associations,  especially  those  connected  with  the  Arnold 
and  Andre  episode,  treated  so  masterfully  in  one  of  his  orations 
(referred  to  in  volume  2),  and  doubtless  had  its  influence  in 
forming  his  character  in  youth. 

The  favorable  situation  of  Peekskill  on  the  east  bank  of  the 
Hudson  made  it  the  market  for  the  country  back  of  it  as  far 
as  the  Connecticut  State  line,  and  the  shipping-point  of  its 
produce  to  New  York,  from  which  it  is  distant  about  forty  miles. 
The  transportation  of  freight,  wholly  by  the  river,  was  con- 
trolled, almost  entirely  by  Isaac  Depew  and  his  brother,  both 
energetic  farmers  and  merchants.  There  were  no  railroads  in 
those  days,  but  the  New  York  and  Albany  steamboats,  of  rival 
lines,  were  always  a  subject  of  interest,  attracting  crowds  to 
the  bank  as  they  passed  up  or  down  the  river,  often  racing. 
Each  boat  had  its  partisans,  and  Vanderbilt  and  Drew,  the  prin- 
cipal owners,  were  popular  heroes  with  the  youth  of  the  village, 
among  whom  young  Depew  was  by  no  means  backward.  These 
boats  and  his  father's  business  led  him  early  to  take  interest  in 


6  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

the  transportation  problem,  to  which  in  later  years  he  devoted 
so  much  time  and  successful  study. 

The  boy's  fii^st  instruction  was  received  from  hi.s  mother,  a 
lady  of  rare  education  and  culture.  He  was  next  put  in  charge 
of  IMrs.  Westbj-ook,  the  wife  of  an  able  and  well-informed 
clergyman,  who  had  a  small  school  for  children  under  ten. 
Throuirh  the  training  thus  received  the  apt  pupil,  who  was  also 
an  omnivorous  reader,  became  informed  beyond  his  years  on 
the  events  and  political  issues  of  the  past  and  the  present,  and 
was  often  able  to  confound  the  village  oracles  who  expounded 
their  views  at  the  postoffice,  grocery,  bank  or  drug  store.  Re- 
garded as  a  prodigy,  he  became  a  leader  among  his  fellows,  who 
looked  up  to  him  as  one  who  gave  unmistakable  promise  of 
future  brilliancy  and  usefulness. 

The  period  between  his  tenth  and  eighteenth  years  was  passed 
at  the  Peekskill  Academy,  an  old-fashioned  institution  designed 
primarily  to  prepare  boys  for  a  business  career,  and  its  stu- 
dents were  expected  to  go  out  early  into  the  world  of  work. 
Isaac  Depew  had  placed  his  son.  there  in  the  hope  that  he  would 
join  him  in  his  business,  but  the  youth,  influenced  probably  by 
his  mother  and  the  instructions  of  Dr.  Westbrook,  had  visions 
of  a  more  ambitious  career.  Fortunately  these  visions  were 
aided  by  the  advice  of  Judge  Thomas  Nelson,  son  of  the  Hon. 
William  Nelson,  of  Peekskill,  who  remarked  to  the  elder  Depew 
one  evening:  "You  ought  to  send  Chauncey  to  College."  This 
was  the  entering  wedge,  and  the  father,  after  a  season  of  de- 
liberation, concluded  to  take  the  judge's  advice,  though  when 
Yale  College  was  suggested,  he  intei'posed  objections.  An  old- 
fashioned  business  man  and  a  Jackson  Democrat,  he  had  the 
distrust  of  Yankees  characteristic  of  a  "Hudson  River  Dutch- 
man" and  a  reader  of  Irving  and  Cooper.  But  the  wishes  of 
his  wife,  whose  descent  from  New  England  progenitors  naturally 
turned  her  preferences  in  that  direction,  finally  prevailed,  and 
Chauncey  was  sent  to  Yale. 

He  entered  college  in  1852,  and  was  graduated  in  1856,  in  a 
class  that  became  kno\\Ti  as  the  "Famous  Class  of  1856,"  partly 
on  account  of  the  general  good  standing  of  its  members  in  the 
various  professions  and  especially  because  it  had  two  repre- 
sentatives on  the  Bench  of  United  States  Supreme  Court  at 
"Washington,  Heniy  Billings  Brown  and  David  Josiah  Brewer. 
In  this  class,  consisting  of  some  one  hundred  and  twenty-five 
men,  Depew  soon  made  his  mark,  ^^^nning  his  way  to  the  front 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  7 

larg-ely  through  personal  attractions,  but  particularly  by  his 
gift  as  a  speaker  which  made  him  the  orator  of  the  class.  He 
seldom  lost  an  opportimity  to  enter  into  a  debate  and  always 
acquitted  himself  creditably.  His  classmates  still  remember 
with  pride  his  eflfort  in  the  debate  between  the  two  societies, 
Linonia  and  Brothers  of  Unity,  in  which  he  appeared  as  the 
champion  of  the  former  with  Wayne  IMacVeagh  of  the  Class 
of  1853. 

Depew's  personal  appearance  at  this  period  was  striking. 
He  was  taller  than  many  of  his  classmates  and  had  sharp  well 
chiselled  features  marked  by  the  prominent  aquiline  nose  still 
characteristic  of  him.  His  abundant  yellow  hair  was  worn  long, 
in  the  fashion  of  the  time,  nearly  reaching  his  shoulders.  He 
always  dressed  well,  exhibiting  a  penchant  for  elaborately  tied 
cravats  decorated  with  the  pin  of  his  secret  society. 

Depew  came  to  College  a  Democrat.  Like  his  father  and 
other  members  of  the  family,  he  belonged  to  the  conservative 
wing  of  the  party  willing  to  leave  the  slavery  question  in  abey- 
ance, nicknamed  in  New  York  State  "Old  Himkers"  to  dis- 
tinguish them  from  the  "Barnburners,"  or  "Free  Soil"  Demo- 
crats, who  were  opposed  to  any  further  extension  of  slavery 
into  the  Territories.  There  were  three  Presidential  candidates 
in  the  field  in  Depew's  first  year  in  College,  in  1852;  Franklin 
Pierce,  the  nominee  of  the  National  Democratic  Party,  Gen. 
Winfield  Scott  of  the  AVhig  Party,  and  John  P.  Hale  of  the 
Free  Soil  Democrats.  In  the  frequent  debates  on  the  campus, 
in  which  the  old  topics  of  Tariff,  Internal  Improvements,  and 
National  Bank  had  given  place  to  the  more  burning  questions  of 
the  day,  the  Fugitive  Slave  Law,  Personal  Liberty  Bills,  and  the 
extension  of  Slavery,  Depew  at  first  upheld  the  traditional 
politics  of  his  family,  but  with  the  trend  of  events  his  prin- 
ciples gradually  underw^ent  a  change.  In  1853  the  famous 
Kansas-Nebraska  Bill  caused  the  disintegration  of  the  old  parties 
and  a  formation  on  new  lines  in  relation  to  the  slavery  ques- 
tion. The  eloquent  discussions  of  the  many  phases  of  these 
questions  by  the  Kev.  Dr.  Bacon  from  the  pulpit  of  the  Centre 
Church,  and  of  Wendell  Phillips,  George  William  Curtis,  Wil- 
liam Lloyd  Garrison,  and  other  famous  anti-slavery  orators  from 
public  platforms  in  New  Haven,  aroused  in  Depew  a  conscious- 
ness that  he  was  on  the  wrong  side  of  the  great  questions  of 
the  day  and  finally  caused  him  to  repudiate  the  principles  in 
which  he  had  been  educated  and  to  cast  his  lot  with  the  "Anti- 


8  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

Nebraska  Mon."  Wlion  early  in  IS^iG  the  Anti-Nebraska  Men 
adopted  the  name  Kepubliean  Party,  later  characterized  by 
Democrats  with  a  contemptuous  addition  as  "Black  Republi- 
can," Depew  transferred  his  alle}j:iance  to  the  new  party;  and 
when,  in  June,  John  Charles  Fremont,  of  California,  whose  ex- 
plorations in  the  Wi'st  had  won  liiiii  tlic  title  of  the  "Path- 
finder," was  made  the  Republican  standard  bearer,  Depew  en- 
listed and  became  an  enthusiastic  supporter. 

Depew  had  scarcely  received  his  degree  when  he  threw  him- 
self heart  and  soul  in  the  canvass  in  support  of  Fremont  and 
Dayton,  niakintr  speeches  in  their  behalf  and  beginning  his 
political  career  which  made  him  so  prominent  a  figure  in  every 
succeeding  Presidential  campaign.  As  he  has  himself  recorded, 
his  defection  from  parental  principles  nearly  broke  his  father's 
heart  and  caused  him  to  shed  tears  of  mortification  when  his 
son  first  appeared  on  a  Republican  platform  in  his  native  village. 

After  leaving  Yale  College  Depew  entered  the  law  office  of 
the  Hon.  William  Nelson  as  a  student,  in  1858  was  admitted 
to  the  Bar,  and  in  the  following  year  began  in  Peekskill  the 
practice  of  his  profession,  in  w'hich  he  soon  demonstrated  his 
ability.  But  his  early  interest  in  politics  did  not  desert  him 
and  seemed  for  a  time  destined  to  interfere  seriously  with  his 
business.  In  1858  he  was  elected  a  delegate  to  the  Republican 
State  Convention,  and  has  been  elected  to  every  State  Conven- 
tion, with  but  few  exceptions,  since;  he  was  one  of  the  four 
Delegates-at-Large  from  this  State  to  the  Republican  National 
Conventions  of  1888,  1892,  1896,  1900,  1904,  and  a  delegate 
in  1908  and  1912. 

In  1860  he  took  the  stump  for  Lincoln  and  Hamlin,  making 
many  speeches  in  many  sections  of  the  country.  He  was  then 
only  twenty-six  years  old,  but  his  skill  as  an  orator,  and  his 
careful  analysis  of  the  great  questions  at  issue  showed  that  his 
ability  and  judgment  were  in  advance  of  his  years.  In  1861 
he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  New  York  Assembly  from  the 
Third  Westchester  District,  in  which  the  Democrats  had  usually 
had  a  good  working  majority,  a  high  compliment  to  his  personal 
popularity.  In  this  position  he  exhibited  such  intelligence,  in- 
dustry', and  tact,  and  watched  so  carefully  over  the  interests  of 
his  constituents  that  he  was  re-elected  in  1862 ;  at  the  com- 
mencement of  the  Legislative  Session  of  1863  he  was  named  in 
caucus  as  his  party's  candidate  for  speaker.  That  year  the 
Assembly  was  evenly  divided  politically;  by  Mr.  Depew  with- 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  9 

drawing  as  a  candidate,  liis  party  friends  voted  for  the  suc- 
cessful candidate  who  classified  himself  as  an  "Independent 
Democrat."  Depew  acted  as  Speaker  pro  tern,  during  part  of 
session,  was  chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Ways  and  Means, 
as  such  leader  of  the  majority  on  the  floor,  and  received  other 
honors  unusual  for  one  so  young  in  years  and  experience. 

In  1863  Mr.  Depew  was  put  on  the  Kepublican  State  ticket 
as  candidate  for  Secretary  of  State.  In  the  previous  election 
the  Democrats  had  won  a  signal  victory  under  their  standard 
bearer,  Horatio  Seymour,  one  of  the  purest  and  ablest  states- 
men New  York  has  produced,  and  in  order  to  insure  success 
the  Republicans  were  obliged  not  only  to  exercise  care  in  the 
selection  of  candidates  but  also  to  put  forth  their  most  earnest 
efforts  to  overcome  the  prestige  of  Governor  Seymour's  popu- 
larity. But  Mr.  Depew  was  equal  to  the  occasion.  He  won 
a  notable  victory,  with  a  majority  of  thirty  thousand.  He 
declined  a  renomination  for  this  office  owing  to  business  interests. 

When  Andrew  Johnson  succeeded  to  the  Presidency  on  the 
death  of  President  Lincoln,  one  of  his  earliest  acts  was  to  reward 
Mr.  Depew  for  his  services  to  the  party.  He  made  out  his 
commission  as  Collector  of  the  Port  of  New  York,  then  one  of 
the  most  lucrative  gifts  within  the  President's  bestowal;  but 
before  he  had  sent  it  to  the  Senate  for  confirmation  he  became 
incensed  against  Edwin  D.  Morgan,  then  United  States  Senator 
from  New  York,  because  he  refused  to  vote  to  sustain  his  veto 
of  the  Civil  Rights  Bill,  and  angrily  tore  up  the  document. 
Later  in  President  Johnson's  administration,  William  H. 
Seward,  then  Secretary  of  State,  secured  the  appointment  of 
Mr.  Depew  as  United  States  Minister  to  Japan,  and  it  was  con- 
firmed by  the  Senate,  but  after  holding  the  matter  under 
advisement  for  a  month,  the  position  was  declined  for  family 
reasons. 

While  thus  apparently  turning  his  back  on  a  career  that 
offered  the  most  flattering  prospects,  Mr.  Depew  felt  it  his  duty 
to  withdraw  from  politics  and  to  devote  himself  assiduously  to 
his  chosen  profession,  the  law.  This  he  was  enabled  to  do  with 
a  greater  promise  of  success  than  in  his  earlier  days,  for  the 
experience  won  in  his  political  career  had  brought  with  it  a 
confidence  in  himself  and  his  resources  and  a  matured  knowledge 
of  men  and  of  affairs  that  made  him  the  equal  of  any  among 
his  contemporaries,  even  of  his  superiors  in  years.  About  this 
time  he  attracted  the  attention  of  Cornelius  Vanderbilt,  whose 


10  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

success  in  steamboat  iia\'i,tiatioii  had  won  him  the  popular 
sobriquet  of  "Coniniodore,"  and  who  had  already  laid  founda- 
t\ou  of  the  frreat  railway  system  afterwards  known  as  the  "  Van- 
derbilt  System."  ^\v.  Depew,  who  had  won  the  friendship  of 
the  Commodore's  son,  AVilliam  H.  Vanderbilt,  was  surprised  one 
day  by  an  oiTer  of  a  position  in  the  railway  service. 

"Politics  don't  pay,  Chauncey,"  said  the  Commodore.  "The 
business  of  the  future  in  this  country  is  railroading." 

This  settled  the  question  of  Mr.  Depew 's  future  and  he  at 
once  accepted  the  offer  and  applied  himself  to  the  study  of 
railroad  transportation  in  which  he  won  so  signal  a  success. 
In  186G  he  became  attorney  for  the  New  York  and  Harlem 
Railroad  Company,  and  in  1869,  when  this  road  was  consoli- 
dated with  the  New  York  Central  Railroad  with  Commodore 
Vanderbilt  at  its  head,  ]\Ir.  Depew  was  chosen  attorney  for  the 
new  corporation  and  later  a  member  of  its  Board  of  Directors. 
As  the  Vanderbilt  system  expanded  ]\Ir.  Depew 's  interests  and 
duties  increased  in  a  corresponding  degree,  and  in  IBTo  he  was 
appointed  General  Counsel  for  the  entire  system  and  elected 
a  Director  in  each  of  the  roads  of  which  it  was  composed. 

In  1872,  at  the  earnest  solicitation  of  Horace  Greeley,  Mr. 
Depew  permitted  the  use  of  his  name  as  a  candidate  for  Lieu- 
tenant-Governor on  the  Liberal  Republican  or  Greeley  ticket, 
and  shared,  as  he  had  probably  expected,  in  the  defeat  of  that 
party.  He  acted  with  the  Republican  party  the  next  year,  and 
has  acted  with  that  party  every  year  since. 

Two  years  later  he  was  chosen  by  the  Legislature  as  a  Regent 
of  the  State  University,  and  also  as  one  of  the  Commissioners 
to  build  the  State  Capitol  at  Albany. 

In  1881,  when  the  famous  quarrel  with  President  Garfield 
was  followed  by  the  resignations  from  the  United  States  Senate 
of  Roscoe  Conkling  and  Thomas  C.  Piatt,  Mr.  Depew  was  a 
favorite  candidate  for  the  succession  to  the  unexpired  term  of 
^Ir.  Piatt  and  would  probably  have  won  if  the  assassination  of 
President  Garfield  had  not  thrilled  the  nation  with  horror  and 
brought  aliout  a  tennination  of  the  long  struggle.  In  with- 
drawing his  name,  ]\Ir.  Depew  issued  a  statement  urging  that 
selections  be  made  willioul  further  conflict  and  in  harmony,  that 
"Neither  the  State  nor  the  party  can  afford  to  have  New  York 
unrepresonted  in  the  National  Councils.  A  great  crime  has 
plunged  the  Nation  into  sorrow,  and  in  the  midst  of  the  prayers 
and  the  tears  of  the  whole  people,  supplicating  for  the  recovery 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  11 

and  weeping  over  the  wound  of  the  President,  this  partisan 
strife  should  cease." 

Five  years  later,  when  his  Party  controlled  a  majority  of 
the  State  Legislature,  he  was  the  Party  choice  for  the  United 
States  Senatorship.  Many  business  and  professional  duties 
obliged  him  to  decline  the  honor. 

The  resignation  of  William  H.  Vanderbilt  from  the  presi- 
dency of  the  New  York  Central  had  led  meanwhile  to  a  re- 
organization of  the  company,  in  which  Mr.  James  H.  Rutter  was 
made  president  and  Mr.  Depew  was  made  second  vice-president ; 
in  1885,  on  the  death  of  President  Rutter,  Mr.  Depew  was 
elevated  to  the  presidency,  which  latter  office  he  held  for 
thirteen  years,  acting  also  as  president  over  most  of  the  com- 
panies allied  to  the  Vanderbilt  system;  was  also  a  director  in 
twenty-eight  additional  lines.  On  his  resignation  of  the  presi- 
dency in  1898,  he  was  made  chairman  of  the  Board  of  Directors 
of  the  entire  Vanderbilt  system  of  railroads,  a  position  he  still 
holds. 

In  1888,  when  Mr.  Depew  was  a  Delegate-at-Large  from  this 
State  to  the  Republican  National  Convention,  he  received  the 
seventy  votes  from  the  State  of  New  York  for  the  Presidency. 
On  subsequent  ballots  the  vote  was  increased.  It  was  at  his 
urgent  request  that  his  name  was  withdrawn,  and  his  friends 
supported  Benjamin  Harrison,  who  was  finally  nominated. 
After  election  Mr.  Harrison  tendered  to  Mr.  Depew  any  place 
in  his  Cabinet  except  Secretary  of  State  which  had  been  prom- 
ised to  Mr.  James  G.  Blaine,  but  Mr.  Depew  felt  obligated  to 
decline. 

In  1892,  at  the  Republican  National  Convention,  held  at 
Minneapolis,  when  most  of  the  national  leaders  of  the  party 
were  opposed  to  the  renomination  of  President  Harrison,  Mr. 
Depew  stood  loyal  and  made  many  speeches  in  that  city,  pre- 
ceding sessions  of  the  Convention,  to  create  opinion  favorable 
to  Harrison's  renomination,  and  in  the  Convention  he  spoke 
most  eloquently  advocating  the  renomination.  President  Har- 
rison attributed  his  success  in  the  Convention  in  a  great  part 
to  Mr.  Depew.  To  show  his  appreciation  the  President  invited 
Mr.  Depew  to  accept  the  place  in  his  Cabinet  of  Secretary  of 
State,  made  vacant  by  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Blaine.  Again, 
Mr.  Depew  for  business  reasons  was  obliged  to  decline  this  new 
and  great  honor. 

In  addition  to  his  railway  and  political  engagements,  exacting 


12  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

enoug:h  to  occupy  the  entire  time  of  a  less  active  man,  Mr. 
Depow  has  numerous  social  and  semi-social  duties.  He  is  a 
director  of  many  financial,  fiduciary,  and  other  corporations  and 
trusts,  and  a  member  of  societies,  too  numerous  to  mention  here. 
Amonfr  the  many  may  be  named  the  following:  In  New  York, 
the  Ilucfuenot  Society,  the  Society  of  the  Cincinnati,  the  Sons 
of  the  American  Revolution,  the  Union  League,  the  Metropolitan 
Club,  the  Century  Club,  the  Holland  Society,  the  New  England 
Society,  the  Colonial  Wars  Society,  Kane  Lodge,  Masons,  and 
33rd  degree  in  the  Ancient  and  Accepted  Scottish  Rite,  the  St. 
Nicholas  Society,  the  American  Bar  Association,  the  New  York 
Bar  Association,  the  Westchester  County  Bar  Association,  the 
Republican  Club,  the  Lotos  Club,  the  Players'  Club,  the 
Transportation  Club,  the  University  Club,  the  Phi  Beta  Kappa 
Club,  the  Psi  Upsilon  Club,  Lafayette  Post,  New  York  Chamber 
of  Commerce.  He  was  for  many  years  in  succession  elected 
President  of  the  Yale  Alumni  Association,  declining  a  re- 
election after  a  decade  of  service,  and  was  for  twelve  years 
a  member  of  the  Yale  Corporation;  for  seven  successive  years, 
too,  he  was  President  of  the  Union  League  Club,  a  longer  term 
than  ever  held  by  any  other,  and  on  declining  further  election 
was  made  an  honorary  life  member;  he  is  also  a  prominent 
member  of  the  New  York  Chamber  of  Commerce. 

In  Washington,  D.  C,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Metropolitan 
Club,  the  Chevy  Chase  Club,  the  Country  Club,  the  Alibi  Club, 
and  the  University  Club. 

In   1899   Mr.   Depew  was  elected   a  United   States   Senfltor 
representing  the  State  of  New  York,  being  the  unanimous  choice 
of  the  Republican  majority  in  the  Legislature;  in  1905  he  was 
re-elected.    In  all  he  served  in  the  Senate  twelve  years:     '  ''^<» 
end  of  the  last  term  his  Party  friends  in  the  Legislature  oi 
voted  imanimously  in  favor  of  giving  him  a  third  term,  L. 
80  happened  that  his  Party  did  not  have  the  necessary  majo^n.^ 
in  the  Legislature  that  year— though  the  intention  was  good, 
the  votes  were  lacking,  and  the  honor  went  to  another,  of  oppo- 
site political  faith.    Mr.  Depew  as  a  candidate  for  United  States 
Senator  has  received  the  ballots  of  the  members  of  his  Party 
in  the  State  Legislature  more  often  than  any  other  citizen  of 
the  United  States— namely  sixty  ballots,  one  each  day  for  sixty 
days  in  1881,  and  sixty-four  during  forty-five  days  in  1911. 

Though  burdened  with  many  responsibilities  Mr.  Depew  al- 
ways finds  time  for  rest  and  recreation.    This  is  not  only  because 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  13 

he  displays  a  phenomenal  capacity  for  the  disposal  of  work, 
but  because  he  so  systematizes  his  labors  that  one  occupation 
is  never  permitted  to  interfere  with  another.  His  rest  and 
recreation  are  found  rather  in  change  of  occupation  than  in  the 
repose  which  most  men  seek  after  their  labors,  and  he  returns 
from  reading  and  study  to  weightier  cares  refreshed  and  rein- 
vigorated. 

Mr.  Depew's  chief  recreation  is  public  speaking.  "Speech- 
making  is  a  tonic  to  me,"  he  has  said,  "and  not  an  occupa- 
tion of  wear  and  tear.  It  gets  the  mind  into  another  channel 
and  answers  the  same  purpose  as  the  Greek  and  Latin  transla- 
tion of  Mr.  Gladstone;  as  horse-driving  did  to  Commodore  Van- 
derbilt,  and  as  cards  do  to  many  business  men.  The  difference 
between  my  recreation  and  that  of  other  business  men  is  that 
mine  is  all  in  public."  What  would  be  a  subject  of  anxiety  and 
of  long  and  hard  labor  to  most  men  is  but  a  necessary  diversion 
to  him.  His  more  important  orations  and  addresses  are  dic- 
tated to  a  stenographer  and  typewritten,  though  his  memory  is 
so  tenacious  that  he  never  uses  notes  in  delivery;  but  many  of 
his  after-dinner  speeches  are  extemporaneous,  born  of  the  time 
and  the  occasion,  for  he  has  the  rare  talent  of  thinking  while 
on  his  feet  and  is  never  at  a  loss  for  a  word  or  a  simile.  Some- 
times Mr.  Depew  has  made  addresses  that  were  mirth-provoking 
from  beginning  to  end;  but  oftener  he  has  veiled  some  serious 
intent  behind  the  mask  of  raillery;  and  as  often,  again,  has  he 
spoken  on  questions  whose  gravity  has  forced  his  laughter-loving 
sid»  into  complete  retirement.  Mr.  Depew  has  often  been  called 
one  of  the  best  of  after-dinner  speakers,  but  such  characteriza- 
tion, though  eminently  true,  does  him  an  injustice,  for  that  is 
^'  '  c'pliase  of  his  many-sided  eloquence.  As  one  writer, 
ing  of  Mr.  Depew,  says,  ' '  The  characteristic  of  Mr.  De- 
■  ^'■f^  speaking  is  that  it  does  not  depend  upon  verbal  jokes 
nor  funny  stories  for  its  success.  It  is  the  true  humor  which 
grows  naturally  out  of  the  subject,  and  is  based  upon  a  com- 
mon substratum  of  common  sense." 

No  man  in  the  United  States,  perhaps  in  all  the  world,  has 
attended  so  many  public  dinners  as  Mr.  Depew,  that  is,  where 
speeches  were  made.  In  his  time  he  has  been  at  some  8,000 
banquets,  as  he  estimates.  Though  seventy-nine  years  of  age, 
he  is  to-day  as  young  and  alert  as  a  man  half  his  age;  in  fact 
more  so  than  many  of  them.  He  has  formulated  his  own  rules 
for  right  living  and  he  has  written  them  down.     He  says:  "I 


14  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

have  seen  a  flow  of  champagne  suggestive  of  Niagara,  but  I 
have  never  been  submerged.  One  rule  I  have  followed  for  forty 
years-I  pick  out  of  each  bill  of  fare  what  I  would  have  eaten 
if  I  had  stayed  at  home.  At  a  very  large  dinner,  I  do  not  take 
the  oysters.  I  merely  touch  the  soup.  I  skip  the  fish.  I  skip 
all  dishes  upon  which  the  chef  has  exhausted  his  art.  I  eat  the 
roast  if  it  is  lamb  or  a  fowl,  and  skip  it  if  it  is  beef.  If  there 
is  terrapin,  I  take  that,  because  it  is  very  digestible,  and  I  take 
the  game.  I  do  not  smoke,  and  I  never  drink  anything  but 
champagne,  and  a  very  little  of  that.  The  next  day  everything 
with  me— head  or  vitality— is  as  usual. 

"There  never  was  a  man  yet,  unless  he  became  dependent 
upon  alcohol,  whom  drink  did  not  dull  or  deaden.  Most  of  the 
great  speakers  that  I  have  known  never  touch  anything  at  din- 
ner. They  have  told  me  that  their  mental  processes  would  not 
work  until  at  least  five  hours  after  a  meal,  unless  the  digestive 
processes  were  over.     I  never  was  troubled  that  way. 

"A  curious  thing  about  public  men  going  to  a  dinner  to 
deliver  an  address  is  the  way  in  which  many  of  them  will  lose 
a  national  reputation.  I  have  seen  half  a  dozen  of  the  finest 
reputations  in  the  country  go  to  pieces  at  a  banquet  in  New 
York  because  the  man  spoke  too  long  and  did  not  relieve  his 
speech,  because  he  thought  it  beneath  his  dignity  to  give  a 
display  of  humor.  I  remember  two  dinnera  in  New  York  where 
the  principal  speakers  were  men  of  national  reputation,  and 
there  were  six  others  to  come  after  them  also  of  national  repu- 
tation. They  emptied  the  hall  and  when  they  closed  there  were 
very  few  present  except  the  officers  and  the  band.  The  other 
speakers  had  also  fled. 

"I  have  never  experimented  with  strange  food.  My  health 
and  longevity  are  due  more  than  anything  else  to  the  fact  that 
I  have  always  been  very  careful  what  got  inside  me." 

At  dinners  in  the  White  House  many  important  public 
measures  are  decided. 

In  an  address  delivered  by  him  before  the  Montauk  Club  of 
Brooklyn,  at  a  dinner  given  by  that  club  on  April  26,  1913, 
in  celebration  of  his  seventy-ninth  birthday.  Senator  Depew  in 
speaking  of  goodfellowship  at  dinners,  in  part,  said:  "I  have 
met  most  of  the  distinguished  men  and  women  of  my  time,  in 
this  and  other  countries,  and  with  scarcely  an  exception  the  best 
I  ever  know  of  them  occurred  at  dinner." 

"Judge  Robertson,  of  ^Yestchester,  and  I  were  invited  by 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  15 

Secretary  of  State  Seward  to  dine  with  him  in  "Washington  on 
our  way  to  the  Republican  National  Convention  which  re- 
nominated President  Lincoln.  That  dinner  changed  the  vice- 
president  from  Daniel  S.  Dickinson,  of  New  York,  to  Andrew 
Johnson,  of  Tennessee,  and  made  a  different  chapter  in  American 
history. ' ' 

Though  Mr.  Depew  has  not,  until  late  years,  filled  any  important 
national  position,  he  is  probably  better  known,  both  at  home  and 
abroad,  than  many  men  of  world-wide  reputation.  With  a  few 
exceptions,  he  is  the  best  known  American  living  to-day,  and 
his  yearly  visits  to  Europe  have  made  his  personality  familiar 
to  almost  everybody,  from  crowned  heads  to  the  common  people. 
His  popularity  is  owing  partly  to  accessibility,  for,  unlike  most 
prominent  men  of  affairs,  he  does  not  hedge  himself  in  with 
impenetrable  dignity,  but  is  as  ready  to  welcome  the  employees 
as  the  directors  of  his  company ;  and  partly  because  of  the  kind- 
ness of  heart  that  prompts  such  accessibility  and  makes  him  a 
friend  of  every  reporter  that  comes  to  him  for  an  "item  of 
news. ' ' 

Mr.  Depew 's  orations  and  addresses  are  virtually  a  history  of 
the  past  half  century;  and  not  only  a  mere  record  of  events, 
but  a  political,  industrial,  commercial,  educational,  and  social 
picture  of  the  period  in  which  he  has  been  one  of  the  most  con- 
spicuous figures.  We  must  not  forget,  too,  to  note  that  he  has 
found  time  also  to  edit  a  series  of  the  greatest  orations  of  the 
world  in  twenty-four  volumes,  and  a  massive  work  entitled  ' '  One 
Hundred  Years  of  American  Commerce,"  a  series  of  articles 
illustrating  the  progress  of  the  country  during  the  century. 

Mr.  Depew  received  his  A.  M.  in  course  and  in  1887,  when 
he  delivered  the  annual  address  to  the  Yale  Law  School,  was 
given  the  honorary  degree  of  LL.D.  In  the  following  year  he 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  Yale  Corporation,  a  position  which 
he  held  by  re-election  until  1906.  Mr.  Depew  was  elected  by  the 
Legislature  in  1874  Eegent  of  the  University  of  the  State  of  New 
York  and  held  the  position  for  thirty-four  years.  He  was  also 
elected  by  the  Alumni  for  two  terms  of  six  years  each  a  member 
of  the  Corporation  of  Yale  University. 

It  is  almost  needless  to  say  that  in  Mr.  Depew 's  long  service 
in  the  United  States  Senate  he  won  the  praise  not  only  of  his 
native  State  but  of  the  Nation  for  his  ability  and  his  grasp  of 
the  great  questions  of  the  day.     He  was  more  successful  than 


16  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

almost  anyone  in  (mUkt  House  in  ijfettinfi:  bills  passed  relating 
to  his  State. 

The  I^Iontauk  Club  of  Brooklyn  has  iudulj^^ed  in  the  delightful 
habit  of  giving  a  dinner  in  celebration  of  Senator  Depew's  birth- 
day for  many  years.  On  Saturday  evening,  April  23,  1913,  the 
club  gave  its  twenty-second  annual  "Depew  Birthday  Dinner,'' 
and  in  reeogiiit ion  of  the  high  honor  paid  him  on  the  seventy- 
ninth  anniversary  of  the  day  of  his  birth.  Senator  Depew,  as 
usual,  delivered  one  of  his  instructive  and  happy  orations. 

As  Mr.  Depew  is  still  in  the  plenitude  of  his  powers,  phj^si- 
cally.  mentally,  and  intellectually  every  good  citizen  will  pray 
that  he  may  long  be  spared,  to  advance  the  best  interests  of 
the  Nation  and  the  State,  and  continue  to  be  "Our  Chauncey," 
and  an  honor  to  AVestchester,  his  native  County. 

]\Ir.  Depew  was  married  in  1871,  to  Miss  Elise  Hegeman, 
daughter  of  William  Hegeman,  of  New  York  City,  who  died  in 
1892.  Of  this  union  there  is  one  son,  Chauncey  M.  Depew,  Jr., 
born  in  1882. 

Mr.  Depew  was  again  married  in  1900,  to  Miss  May  Palmer, 
daughter  of  John  Palmer,  of  New  York. 


FRANCIS  MARSHALL  CARPENTER,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  is,  in  the  truest  sense,  "an  honored  son  of  West- 
chester County,"  as  many  of  his  admiring  friends  have  desig- 
nated him.  He  was  "  of  the  manor  born,"  as  he  first  saw  the 
light  of  day  in  the  charming  locality  where  he  still  maintains 
a  residence,  among  long  time  neighbors  who  never  tire  of  mani- 
festing their  great  respect  and  according  him  honor  in  recog- 
nition of  an  enviable  private  and  public  career.  It  is  said  of 
l\Ir.  Carpenter  that  he  is  liberally  endowed  with  the  happy 
faculty  of  making  many  friends  and  but  few  enemies.  His 
amiable  and  conciliating  disposition  proves  a  tower  of  strength 
in  enabling  him  to  better  serve  his  fellow-men.  Being  a  man 
of  high  intelligence,  strong  and  active  in  mind,  positive  in 
principle,  never  hesitating  to  take  a  stand  for  what  he  considers 
to  be  right  and  just,  though  great  influences  should  attempt 
to  sway  him,  he  has  earned  the  respect  of  all  those  who  know 
him  best ;  though  they  may  at  times  disagree  with  him,  not 
being  able  to  see  things  from  his  viewpoint,  yet  they  will  not 
say  he  is  not  acting  for  the  best,  in  his  honest,  straightforward 
way. 


-  >  S^^-^^Sj ., 


^^O^^c^ 


^-^j^^u^^Ck^K 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  17 

When  serving  this  County  as  its  representative  in  the  State 
Senate,  for  several  terms,  he  proved  one  of  the  staunchest 
friends  and  supporters  Governor  Hughes  had,  and  his  vote 
could  always  be  depended  upon  in  the  upholding  of  the  Gov- 
ernor's attempted  reforms  in  the  direction  of  good  government. 

Governor  Hughes  voluntarily  paid  Senator  Carpenter  a  just 
compliment  when  he  said  that  he  was  always  confident  that 
the  cause  of  good  government  could  unfailingly  depend  for 
support  upon  Senator  Carpenter  of  Westchester  County,  who 
needed  no  prompting  or  urging  to  do  his  duty  as  he  understood 
it,  regardless  of  what  other  men  did;  his  loyalty  to  himself  and 
regard  for  upright  principles  ever  guided  him  aright,  along  the 
right  course. 

That  the  Governor's  appreciation  of  the  character  of  our 
County's  representative  in  the  Senate  was  shared  in  general 
by  his  colleagues  in  the  State  Legislature,  was  proven  when 
the  Legislature,  in  1908,  elected  him,  at  the  termination  of  his 
last  term  in  the  Senate,  a  Regent  of  the  University  of  the  State, 
a  position  of  high  honor,  much  coveted. 

The  Albany  Evening  Journal,  a  representative  newspaper 
in  northern  New  York,  edited  by  a  Republican  leader  of  the 
State,  in  speaking  of  the  election  as  Regent  that  came  to  Mr. 
Carpenter  as  a  surprise,  said  in  commending  the  choice:  "  The 
Legislature  has  chosen  a  man  of  plain  common  sense  and  good 
judgment,  and  just  the  kind  of  material  of  which  the  Board 
of  Regents  should  be  composed." 

Another  influential  newspaper,  in  speaking  of  the  placing  in 
nomination  of  ex-Senator  Carpenter  and  urging  the  prefer- 
ment, said  :  ' '  Senator  J.  Mayhew  Wainwright,  of  Westchester 
County,  in  well  chosen  remarks,  alluding  to  his  predecessor's 
faithfulness  in  serving  the  best  interests  of  the  people  of  the 
State,  placed  Francis  M.  Carpenter's  name  before  the  joint 
caucus  of  Republican  Senators  and  Assemblymen,  and  asked 
that  the  popular  former  Senator  receive  endorsement  as  the 
caucus'  choice  for  the  position  of  Regent  of  the  University  of 
the  State  of  New  York,  to  represent  the  Ninth  Judicial  District, 
which  is  an  additional  representation  in  the  Board. 

"Assemblyman  Frank  L.  Young,  who  represents  the  Third 
Westchester  County  Assembly  District,  in  which  former  Senator 
Carpenter  resides,  delivered  a  most  pleasing  address  extolling 
the  good  qualities  of  the  gentleman  named,  who  has  not  sought 
the  office,  but  is  presented  in  hopes  that  friends  he  made  while 


18  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

a  legislator  might  join   iu   an   effort  to  honor  a  man  proven 
worthy. 

"  Then  followed  several  short  addresses  made  by  State  Sena- 
tors from  all  sections  of  the  State,  who  had  been  Senator  Car- 
penter's co-laborers,  each  vieiug  with  the  other  in  endeavor  to 
render  justice  to  a  man  of  '  sensitive  honor,'  as  one  of  them 
termed  it." 

The  position  of  Regent,  which  is  an  honorary  one;  was  sev- 
eral years  held  by  the  late  Hon.  Whitelaw  Reid,  who  was  United 
States  Ambassador  to  Great  Britain;  St.  Clair  McKciway,  editor 
of  the  Brooklyn  Eagle;  Eugene  A.  Philbin,  of  New  York;  Ches- 
ter S.  Lord,  of  Brooklyn,  managing  editor  of  the  New  York 
Sim  (just  re-elected  to  succeed  himself)  ;  and  others  well  known 
as  being  conspicuous  in  literature,  law  and  similar  pursuits 
recommending  them  as  fit  guardians  over  vital  interests  en- 
trusted to  them. 

The  office  of  Regent  of  the  University  of  the  State  of  New 
York,  created  in  1784,  is  as  venerable  as  it  is  honorable.  Men 
most  distinguished  in  the  State's  history  have  held  the  position, 
and  the  man  is  yet  to  be  known  who  would  refuse  so  great  an 
honor.  Residents  of  this  County  who  have  held  this  office  are : 
Jonathan  G.  Tompkins,  of  the  first  appointed,  served  until  1808, 
AVashington  Irving,  the  world-wide  famous  author,  elected  in 
1835,  United  States  Senator  Chauncey  M.  Depew,  elected  in 
1877,  and  Hon.  Francis  M.  Carpenter,  elected  in  1908.  The  late 
Regent  Whitelaw  Reid  had  a  residence  in  this  County. 

"When  Mr.  Carpenter  retired  from  the  State  Senate,  January 
1,  1908,  he  had  rounded  out  forty-five  years  of  active  public 
official  life,  a  longer  term  than  usually  falls  to  the  lot  of  man, 
and,  if  life  be  spared,  and  he  be  permitted  to  serve  out  the 
twelve-year  term  of  his  new  office,  he  will  have  more  than  passed 
the  half  century  mark  in  the  civic  service.  It  has  been  said  of 
some  public  servants  who  have  been  a  long  time  prominent  in 
the  public  eye,  that  it  would  have  been  better  for  their  good 
reputations  had  they  retired  before  they  did ;  but  no  such  senti- 
ment prevails  relative  to  him  who  strives  to  live  aright,  that 
his  living  may  benefit  others  as  well  as  himself. 

Before  entering  upon  his  long  career  as  a  public  official, 
Mr.  Carpenter  was  successful  in  mercantile  pursuits  and  estab- 
lished a  reputation  for  integrity  and  honesty  in  dealing;  the 
reputation  thus  founded  has  been  his  through  all  these  years. 

In  1862,  at  the  earnest  urging  of  his  fellow-townsmen,  Mr. 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  19 

Carpenter  consented  to  become  a  candidate  for  Supervisor  in 
the  town  of  New  Castle,  in  which  he  resided;  his  election  fol- 
lowed. With  the  exception  of  two  years,  he  served  continu- 
ously in  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  of  which  he  was  many  times 
chairman,  up  to  the  year  1896  (for  thirty-two  years),  when  he 
had  to  relinquish  the  office  to  accept  that  of  County  Treasurer, 
which  he  held  for  two  terms,  six  years. 

Without  his  solicitation,  he  was  called  upon  to  accept  a  nomi- 
nation as  candidate  for  State  Senator,  in  1903.  He  was  elected 
by  a  majority  surpassing  that  given  for  any  other  candidate 
previously  nominated  for  that  office.  He  served  as  the  County's 
representative  in  the  "  Upper  House  "  of  the  State  Legisla- 
ture for  five  years,  and  as  long  as  he  desired  to.  His  decision 
to  retire  was  regretted  by  friends  of  all  political  parties,  espe- 
cially those  of  his  own  political  faith,  who  were  more  than 
willing  to  give  him  any  office  within  their  gift. 

His  unanimous  election  to  so  honorable  a  position  as  Regent 
of  the  State  University,  which  followed  immediately  after  his 
retirement  from  the  Senatorship,  is  an  evidence  showing  in  part 
the  appreciation  in  which  he  is  held  throughout  the  State,  by 
members  of  all  political  parties. 

This,  to  him  an  unexpected  calling  back  to  public  official 
duties,  has  retained  for  the  State  the  services  of  a  man  who  can 
be  trusted  to  serve  it  faithfully  in  any  capacity. 

Not  only  as  a  statesman  is  Mr.  Carpenter  known.  His  fame 
as  a  leading  financier  of  the  County  is  familiar  to  us.  He  is 
an  officer,  Vice-President  or  Director,  in  several  banks  and 
trust  companies  scattered  about  the  County.  He  is  the  active 
President  of  the  Westchester  and  Bronx  Title  Company,  and 
largely  interested  in  several  thriving  realty  corporations. 

As  executor  or  administrator  of  estates  he  has  been  com- 
mended by  the  courts  for  his  judicious  management  in  the 
handling  of  funds  and  increasing  to  an  unusual  extent  the 
amounts  due  heirs  at  final  accounting.     (See  page  161,  Vol.  1.) 


20  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

WILLIAM  HOLRKE  COCKRAN,  lawyer,  Congressman, 
oralur,  etc.,  is  rightfully  claimed  by  Westchester  County,  as 
one  of  its  own. 

He  was  born  in  Ireland,  on  February  28,  1854,  a  son  of  Martin 
and  Harriet  K.  Cockrau.  Was  educated  in  his  native  country, 
and  in  France.  Came  to  this  country  when  seventeen  years  of 
age,  in  Hie  year  1871. 

It  is  said  of  him  that  he  obtained  his  mother's  consent  to  his 
crossing  the  Atlantic  at  that  early  age  by  representing  to  her 
that  he  was  going  to  visit  a  cousin  of  his  father,  Mr.  Edward 
^lartin,  then  Supervisor  of  Eastchester  and  President  of  Mt. 
Vernon  village,  and  that  she  was  induced  to  give  him  his  fare 
for  this  purpose  as  part  of  his  general  education.  She  also  sent 
]\Ir.  Martin  a  draft  for  £20  to  pay  his  return  passage.  When 
this  money  for  his  return  passage  was  handed  to  young  Cockran 
he  calmly  announced  that  he  never  had  the  slightest  intention 
of  returning  to  Ireland,  and  with  that  sum — one  hundred  and 
eighteen  dollars  according  to  the  then  rate  of  exchange — he 
began  life  in  America.  On  the  day  of  his  arrival,  Mr.  Martin 
took  him  out  to  Mount  Vernon,  in  this  County,  and  that  very 
evening  he  became  acquainted  with  Hon.  John  Berry,  one  of 
the  leading  merchants,  and  who  served  the  village  of  Mount 
Vernon  thirty-five  years  as  Treasurer,  was  Supervisor  of  the 
town  of  Eastchester  and  later  a  Member  of  Assembly,  Mr. 
Berry  took  a  fancy  to  young  Cockran,  admiring  his  quick  intelli- 
gence and  many  good  qualities ;  the  more  he  came  to  know  the 
youth  the  greater  Mr,  Berry's  interest  in  him  grew,  and  recog- 
nizing that  he  had  but  few  friends  in  this  country,  invited  the 
young  man  to  come  to  Mount  Vernon  and  accept  employment 
in  the  Berry  dry  goods  establishment.  For  a  short  time  he  was 
employed  in  the  wholesale  establishment  of  A,  T,  Stewart.  &  Co., 
New  York  city. 

Shortly  afterwards  Cockran  accepted  an  offer  to  teach 
in  a  private  academy,  a  position  for  which  he  was  particu- 
larly adapted  owing  to  having  received  a  liberal  education; 
he  next  was  engaged  as  principal  of  the  public  school 
in  Tuckahoe,  in  the  town  of  Eastchester,  While  teaching  he 
read  law,  serving  the  required  period  for  practical  experience 
in  the  Now  York  city  law  office  of  Supreme  Court  Justice  Abra- 
ham B.  Tappan,  a  resident  of  this  county.  He  was  admitted  to 
practice  at  the  bar  in  1876.  Opening  offices  in  ]\Iount  Vernon 
he  had,  from  the  start,  as  clients  many  prominent  citizens  of 


WILLIAM   BOURKE   COCKRAN 


\ 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  21 

the  county,  among  them  being  his  staunch  friend  John  Berry, 
and  another  firm  admirer  in  the  person  of  Daniel  C.  Hickey,  a 
well-known  railroad  contractor,  and  at  one  time  Supervisor  and 
Democratic  State  Committeeman. 

Even  in  his  younger  days  Mr.  Cockran's  eloquence  and  logical 
arguments  before  judge  and  jury  attracted  attention  of  mem- 
bers of  the  bar  as  well  as  of  laymen.  In  1877  he  was  unani- 
mously chosen  by  the  Eastchester  Town  Board  as  Town  Counsel, 
thus  being  called  upon  to  fill  an  office  previously  held  by  such 
veteran  advocates  as  District-Attorneys  William  H.  Pemberton 
and  Pelham  L.  McClellan  and  County  Judge  Silas  D.  Gifford. 
Mr.  Cockran  was  then  but  twenty-three  years  of  age,  and  doubts 
Mr.  Cochran  was  then  but  twenty-three  years  of  age,  and  doubts 
were  expressed  as  to  his  being  able  to  successfully  conduct  the 
Town's  legal  business,  owing  to  his  lack  of  experience.  The 
success  which  crowned  his  endeavors  in  defence  of  the  Town 
in  all  legal  contests,  put  to  flight  all  doubts,  and  called  from 
Supervisor  David  Cromwell,  a  political  opponent,  unsolicited 
praise,  to  the  effect  that  the  Town  of  Eastchester  has  had  many 
able  lawyers  to  fill  the  responsible  position  of  Town  Counsel, 
but  none  more  capable  than  the  young  attorney-at-law  Cockran. 

Mr.  Cockran  appeared  frequently  before  Courts  held  in  White 
Plains,  our  county  seat,  taking  part  in  important  litigation. 
About  this  time  an  unusually  strong  friendship  sprang  up  be- 
tween young  Cockran  and  Martin  J.  Keogh,  of  about  the  same 
age,  and  like  Cockran  a  struggling  young  lawyer  who  had  come 
from  Ireland  to  a  strange  country  seeking  his  fortune.  Keogh 
had  come  to  New  Rochelle,  in  this  county,  in  1875;  in  1896  he 
had  become  a  Supreme  Court  Justice.  Cockran  likewise  had 
become  conspicuous  in  his  chosen  profession,  and  has  served 
several  terms  in  Congress  and  made  an  enviable  world-wide  repu- 
tation as  lawyer  and  orator.  The  Cockran-Keogh  friendship  con- 
tinues, and  grows  stronger  with  the  years. 

Seeking  a  wider  field  of  usefulness,  and  at  the  suggestion  of 
friends,  Mr.  Cockran  decided  to  open  law  offices  in  New  York 
city. 

In  1882  he  received  appointment  as  counsel  to  the  Sheriff, 
from  Alexander  V.  Davidson.  When  Hugh  J.  Grant  suc- 
ceeded Davidson,  Mr.  Cockran  was  reappointed  by  Sheriff 
Grant.  It  was  then  a  position  much  sought  after  by  the  legal 
fraternity.  Aaron  J.  Vanderpool  had  held  the  office  for  some 
twenty-eight  years  before  Cockran's  appointment.     At  the  ter- 


22  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

niiuation  of  Sheriff  Grant's  term  Mr.  Cockran  retired  from 
active  public  office  holding,  finding  inducements  to  devote  his 
entire  time  to  private  practice  of  his  profession  too  attractive 
to  be  ignored.  An  offer  of  appointment  to  the  important  and 
high  salaried  office  of  Corporation  Counsel  of  the  City  of  New 
York  did  not  tempt  him.  Refusing  this  office  for  himself  he 
was  permitted  to  name  a  suitable  person  for  the  position;  in 
compliance  with  this  he  proposed  William  H.  Clark,  a  rising 
young  lawyer  associated  with  him  in  business.  Mr.  Clark  re- 
ceived the  appointment  and  proved  an  especially  efficient  official, 
justifying  his  friend's  confidence  in  him. 

Though  continuing  as  a  recognized  power  in  the  Democratic 
organization  of  New  York  county,  and  a  close  friend  of  Mayor 
Hugh  J.  Grant  and  of  Mayor  Thomas  F.  Gilroy,  Mr.  Cockran 
devoted  himself  to  the  practice  of  his  profession,  appearing  as 
a  pleader  in  most  of  the  prominent  litigations  of  the  day,  fre- 
quently as  a  trial  lawyer  for  many  of  the  largest  legal  firms  of 
the  country  in  State  and  Federal  Courts. 

Among  the  most  celebrated  of  his  cases  was  the  appeal  of 
Jacob  Sharp  after  he  had  been  convicted  of  bribing  the  Board 
of  Aldermen,  the  case  of  Kemmler,  involving  the  constitution- 
ality of  the  law  providing  for  execution  of  criminals  convicted 
of  capital  offenses  by  electricity. 

He  makes  a  favorable  appearance  before  a  Court;  he  reasons 
logically  and  possesses  great  fluency  of  speech.  •  Before  a  jury 
Mr.  Cockran  is  earnest  and  impressive.  In  whatever  position 
he  is  placed  he  retains  his  dignity,  good  humor  and  self-pos- 
session. 

-  In  1886  ]\Ir.  Cockran  was  first  elected  as  a  Eepresentative  in 
Congress,  from  a  New  York  city  district,  and  became  a  member 
of  the  Fiftieth  Congress,  from  1887  to  1889 ;  he  was  immediately 
recognized  as  a  leader  on  the  Democratic  side  to  whom  unusual 
deference  was  paid,  considering  he  was  "a  new  member."  Was 
a  member  of  the  Commission  to  revise  the  judiciary  article  of 
the  Constitution  of  the  State  of  New  York.  Was  elected  to  the 
Fifty-second  and  re-elected  to  the  Fifty-third  Congresses,  from 
1891  to  1895. 

In  the  New  York  State  Democratic  Legislative  caucus  held  at 
Albany  in  January,  1893,  Mr.  Cockran  was  undoubtedly  the 
choice  of  a  majority  for  election  as  United  States  Senator,  and 
it  was  quite  possible  had  members  been  left  free  to  give  ex- 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  23 

pression  to  their  choice,  and  had  not  yielded  to  outside  influence, 
Mr.  Cockran  would  have  been  chosen  to  fill  a  place  for  which 
he  was  fully  competent  and  well  equipped.  As  it  was,  he  received 
many  votes  in  the  caucus.  His  many  friends  openly  resented 
the  injustice  done  Mr.  Cockran  at  this  time  by  influential  men 
in  the  party  who  were  jealous  of  his  rapidly  increasing  popu- 
larity in  State  and  National  politics. 

In  1896  Mr.  Cockran  opposed  the  platform  adopted  by  the 
Democratic  Convention  at  Chicago,  and  voted  for  McKinley, 
the  Republican  Presidential  candidate,  declining  to  participate 
in  the  Indianapolis  Convention  or  to  support  Palmer  and  Buck- 
ner.  Independent  Democrats.  The  great  mass  meeting  he  ad- 
dressed in  Madison  Square  was  the  opening  and  the  chief  event 
of  that  memorable  campaign.  In  November,  1896,  at  Chick- 
ering  Hall,  New  York  city,  he  addressed  the  first  public  meeting 
in  favor  of  intervention  by  this  Government  to  terminate  the 
perpetration  of  barbarities  in  Cuba,  and  in  January,  1899,  at 
the  Academy  of  Music,  New  York  city,  he  addressed  the  first 
public  meeting  in  opposition  to  the  forcible  annexation  or  con- 
quest of  the  Philippine  Islands.  In  the  election  of  1900  he  sup- 
ported William  J.  Bryan  the  Democratic  Candidate  for  Presi- 
dent, on  the  ground  that  the  result  could  not  in  any  way  affect 
the  coinage  of  the  country,  owing  to  the  complexion  of  the  Sen- 
ate, while  he  believed  the  defeat  of  the  Republican  party  would 
of  its  self  have  sufficed  to  expel  imperialism  from  our  political 
system. 

At  a  special  election  held  February  23,  1904,  Mr.  Cockran 
was  elected  to  the  Fifty-eighth  Congress,  to  fill  the  vacancy 
caused  by  the  resignation  of  George  B.  McClellan,  elected  Mayor 
of  New  York  city,  and  to  the  Fifty-ninth  Congress,  and  re- 
elected to  the  Sixtieth  Congress,  terms  expiring  March  3,  1909. 

During  his  Congressional  experience  he  was  ever  a  recognized 
leader  and  orator  representing  the  Democratic  party,  and  for  a 
greater  part  of  his  stay  in  Congress  was  admittedly  the  most 
distinguished  orator  in  either  branch  of  the  Nation 's  legislature. 

In  two  National  Conventions  he  was  easily  the  leading  figure. 
His  speech  against  the  nomination  of  Cleveland  in  1884  raised 
him  at  once  to  national  prominence.  In  1892  he  again  opposed  the 
same  candidate  in  a  speech  delivered  at  three  in  the  morning  to 
a  convention  which  had  been  in  continuous  session  for  over  four- 


24  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

teen  hours  and  wliicli  had  refused  to  hear  any  other  speaker, 
Avhich  is  still  remembered  as  one  of  the  most  remarkable  achieve- 
ments in  that  foiimi  of  debate. 

His  speech  in  closing  the  great  debate  on  repeal  of  the  Sher- 
man Silver  Purchase  Law  in  the  special  session  of  1893 ;  his 
speech  in  favor  of  the  Wilson  Tariff  in  1894,  and  his  subsequent 
address  against  the  proposed  income  Tax  during  the  regular  ses- 
sion, were  the  most  wddely  reported  of  the  time.  After  his 
return  to  the  House  in  1904  his  speech  against  executive  usur- 
pation, his  philippic  against  the  proposed  ship  subsidy,  his 
controversy  with  Rep.  Dalzeal,  his  address  on  insurance  scan- 
dals, and  his  speech  on  the  Hepburn  railway  rate  bill  were 
notable  utterances  Avhich  are  still  quoted  as  examples  of 
patriotic  eloquence. 

As  evidence  of  Mr.  Cockran's  continued  popularity  with 
residents  of  Westchester  County,  mention  is  made  of  the  fact 
that  he  is  called  upon  at  the  beginning  of  every  season  to  deliver 
the  opening  address  at  the  New  Rochelle  Forum,  attended 
largely  by  people  coming  from  every  section  of  the  county. 

On  June  27,  1913,  he  was  orator  of  the  day  on  program 
arranged  for  the  celebration  of  the  225th  anniversary  of  the 
founding  of  New  Rochelle  by  the  French  Huguenots,  refugees 
from  La  Rochelle,  France. 

Mr.  Cockran  is  a  member  of  the  following  clubs :  Metropolitan, 
Meadow  Brook,  Larchmont  Yacht,  The  Brook,  Lambs,  Catholic, 
Riding,  National  Arts,  Lotos  (New  York  city)  ;  Country,  Metro- 
politan, Che\^  Chase  (Washington,  D.  C). 

He  has  his  law  offices  at  No.  31  Nassau  street.  New  York  city. 

Mr.  Cockran's  active  service  in  municipal,  State  and  national 
politics  is  justly  appreciated,  and  constant  demands  upon  him 
for  "  talks,"  here,  there  and  everywhere,  are  more  than  the 
ordinary  mortal  man  would  be  physically  able  to  satisfy.  Evi- 
dently the  people  do  not  tire  of  listening  to  his  voice. 

As  a  finished  and  classical  scholar,  possessed  of  natural  wit 
and  enchanting  oratory,  he  is  as  well  known  in  prominent  Euro- 
pean cities  as  he  is  known  in  this  country. 

His  running  as  a  candidate  for  Congress  in  the  First  Con- 
gressional district,  or  Long  Island  district,  in  1912,  on  the 
National  Progressive  ticket,  was  to  please  his  close  personal 
friend  ex-President  Theodore  Roosevelt,  and  without  the  slightest 
expectation  of  election.     The  vote  he  polled  was  so  flattering 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  25 

that  the  result  is  regarded  by  his  friends  as  a  victory  rather 
than  a  defeat. 

Biography  has  a  two-fold  office.  It  is  a  narrative  of  facts, 
and  a  teacher  of  the  lessons  of  life.  It  shows  where  and  how 
men  have  made  battle  with  discouragements,  and  its  teachings 
are  lamps  to  guide  the  feet  of  those  still  struggling  for  success. 
Mr.  Cockran's  career  shows  what  is  possible  for  a  determined 
young  man  to  accomplish  in  this  country,  though  he  be  a  stranger 
in  a  strange  land.  Young  Cockran,  as  he  was  entering  his  teens, 
set  his  face  toward  the  far  distant  America,  and  the  city  of 
New  York,  as  the  goal  of  all  his  hopes.  Discouragements  were 
plentiful ;  like  many  of  the  country  youths  who  go  to  cities, 
he  found  it  difficult  to  succeed  without  friends  and  influence. 
The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  fortunate  in  falling  into  the  hands 
of  such  a  good  Samaritan  as  John  Berry  proved  to  be  and  who 
continued  Cockran's  lifelong  friend.  The  manhood  of  a  boy 
attracts  friendship  that  in  many  instances  proves  everlasting. 
Encouragement  in  the  way  of  a  helping  hand  develops  the  true 
man  in  the  youth. 

William  Bourke  Cockran  to  reach  the  enviable  position  he 
to-day  holds,  to  retain  and  enjoy  the  esteem  of  people  whose 
esteem  is  well  worth  possessing,  had  to  work,  and  work  hard, 
finding,  as  he  did,  in  his  pathway  many  obstacles  which  had 
to  be  overcome.  To  the  unceasing  endeavors  of  an  energetic 
Irish  lad  who  possessed  little  more  than  determination  to  win 
and  the  confidence  of  youth,  is  due  the  very  apparent  success 
of  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Mr.  Cockran  modestly  says,  what  he  has  accomplished  is  not 
unusual,  but  w^hat  any  young  man  can  do,  if  he  sets  out  deter- 
mined to  conquer. 

It  has  been  truly  said,  that  the  men  whose  personal  history 
the  world  needs  are  not  those  who,  by  some  successful  venture, 
burst  suddenly  into  fortune  and  fame;  nor,  indeed,  those  who, 
by  shrewd  calculations  and  spider-like  patience,  devote  life  to 
the  attainment  of  wealth.  Nor  does  it  need  even  the  history  of 
genius,  brilliant  as  may  be  its  story  and  dazzling  its  work.  The 
first  excite  to  unhealthful  ambition,  to  the  planting  of  the  crown 
of  life  upon  a  brow  of  gold.  They  subordinate  the  elements 
of  a  true  character  which  gather  to  it  as  its  prime  necessities 
a  regnant  fidelity  to  truth,  a  fellowship  with  purity,  a  sympathy 
with  all  who  struggle,  an  ambition  to  brighten  life  for  others. 


26  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

The  latter  has  the  attraction  only  of  a  picture  which  we  may 
admire  but  cannot  imitate.  The  exceptional  nature  of  genius 
robs  it  of  stimulus.  It  is  beyond  reach.  Men  of  genius  are 
like  "  stars  who  dwell  apart."  They  resemble  the  stars  in  their 
coldness,  their  distance,  and  their  sheen.  The  true  man  is  to 
be  sought  for  less  high.  He  is  to  be  found  where  the  masses 
of  men  are,  toiling  with  them,  helping  them,  devising  plans 
which  touch  the  springs  of  human  interest,  seeking  success 
through  honor  and  persistent  labor.  Such  men,  haply,  are  multi- 
plying. The  world  needs  them.  To  record  any  such  man's 
history  is  alike  a  duty  and  a  pleasure.  For  such  a  reason  we 
write  this  sketch. 


HELEN  MILLER  GOULD,  philanthropist,  eldest  daughter 
of  Jay  and  Helen  Day  (Miller)  Gould,  was  born  June  20,  1868, 
in  New  York  city.  Since  childhood  she  has  been  a  resident  of 
this  County  a  great  part  of  the  year,  dwelling  in  the  palatial 
residence  of  her  father  on  the  banks  of  the  Hudson  river,  in 
Irvington,  in  the  town  of  Greenburgh.  This  residence  now 
belongs  to  her  and  is  by  her  maintained  as  her  summer  home. 
Her  winter  residence  being  at  No.  579  Fifth  avenue.  New 
York  city. 

She  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  wealthy  American  women 
of  the  present  age,  devoting  her  life  to  the  promotion  of  many 
objects  intended  for  the  improvement  of  the  condition  of  her 
fellow  creatures.  Identified  with  many  benevolent  works,  she 
has  a  world-wide  enviable  reputation. 

She  who  became  world-wide  famous  as  Helen  Gould,  was 
married  on  January  22,  1913,  to  Finley  J.  Shepard.  The 
ceremony  taking  place  at  "Lyndhurst,"  Miss  Gould's  summer 
home  in  Irvington,  in  presence  of  immediate  relatives  and  inti- 
mate friends  only. 

Miss  Gould's  fortune  has  been  estimated  at  from  $20,000,000 
to  $30,000,000.  She  inherited  about  $10,000,000  from  her  father. 
She  has  conducted  her  affairs  with  much  shrewdness  and  good 
judgment,  and  it  has  often  been  said  that  she  has  trebled  the 
money  which  came  to  her.  It  is  estimated  that  Miss  Gould  has 
given  about  $5,000,000  to  charitable,  religious,  education  and 
public  uses. 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  27 

Miss  Gould  (now  Mrs.  Shepard)  is  a  women  of  very  decided 
views  and  absolutely  set  principles.  Among  her  beliefs  is  the 
doctrine  that  persons  of  wealth  owe  distinct  duties  to  their 
less  fortunate  fellow  beings.  She  once  set  out  her  ideas  in  this 
way: 

' '  The  Christian  idea  that  wealth  is  a  stewardship  or  trust  and 
not  to  be  used  for  one's  personal  pleasure  alone,  but  for  the 
welfare  of  others,  certainly  seems  the  noblest,  and  those  who 
have  more  money  or  broader  culture  owe  a  debt  to  those  who 
have  had  fewer  opportunities.  And  there  are  so  many  ways 
one  can  help.  Children,  the  sick  and  the  aged  especially  claim 
our  attention,  and  the  forms  of  work  for  them  are  numerous. 

"Earnest  workers  who  nobly  and  lovingly  give  their  lives 
to  promote  the  welfare  of  others  give  far  more  than  though  they 
had  simply  made  gifts  of  money,  so  those  who  cannot  afford 
to  give  largely  need  not  feel  discouraged  on  that  account.  After 
all,  sympathy  and  good  will  may  be  a  greater  force  than  wealth, 
and  we  can  all  extend  to  others  a  kindly  feeling  and  courteous 
consideration  that  will  make  life  sweeter  and  better. 

"Sometimes  it  seems  to  me  we  do  not  sufficiently  realize  the 
good  that  is  done  by  money  that  is  used  in  the  different  indus- 
tries in  giving  employment  to  great  numbers  of  people  under 
the  direction  of  clever  men  and  women,  and  surely  it  takes 
more  ability,  perseverance  and  time  to  manage  successfully 
such  enterprises  than  merely  to  make  gifts." 


28  MANUAL  A.XD  CIVIL  LIST. 

HORACE  CJKEELEY,  the  editor,  philosopher,  statesman, 
philanthropist,  Westchester  County's  adopted  son  and  worthy- 
citizen.  It  will  doubtless  be  admitted  that  no  history  of  West- 
chester County  would  be  complete  without  mention  of  this  dis- 
tinguished personage,  who  lived  and  died  in  the  County.  True, 
our  County  was  not  his  place  of  birth,  but  he  loved  it  equally 
as  well.  His  writings  referring  to  his  farm  home  among  us, 
to  enjoyed  hours  stolen  from  a  busy  life  and  spent  here,  and  his 
publication  as  to  "  What  I  know  about  Farming,"  made  not 
only  his  farm  but  the  modest  hamlet  of  Chappaqua  equally  as 
well  known  and  rendered  it  quite  famous.  His  unsparing 
recommendation  of  the  County  as  a  place  in  which  to  dwell, 
made  others  desire  to  take  up  a  residence  here.  He  ever  had 
at  heart  the  best  interests  of  Chappaqua,  and  was  one  of  the 
organizers  and  first  president  of  the  Village  Improvement 
Society.  He  took  a  becoming  interest  in  everything  that  tended 
to  benefit  and  advance  the  prosperity  of  his  neighbors  and  make 
surroundings  attractive. 

As  early  as  1850,  he  decided  to  become  a  resident  of  West- 
chester County,  w^hen  he  joined  wnth  other  New  Yorkers  in 
forming  an  Association  to  purchase  land  in  the  town  of  East- 
chester  this  county,  to  organize  a  village,  which  village  was 
finally  named  Mount  Vernon.  In  1858  he  conclu'^^lcd  to  settle  in 
Chappaqua,  in  the  town  of  New  Castle,  where  ho  could  buy  a 
farm  desired. 

When  twenty  years  of  age  and  a  struggling  printer's  appren- 
tice, Mr.  Greeley  arrived  in  New  York  city,  in  1831 ;  he  married 
five  years  later.  He  remained  a  resident  of  the  city  twenty 
years,  when  he  decided  to  ''  go  back  to  the  farm,"  to  change  a 
city  existence  for  a  country  life.  In  speaking  of  his  deciding 
to  make  this  change,  he  said:  "  I  had  been  some  twenty  years 
a  resident  of  the  city,  and  fifteen  the  head  of  a  household.  Six 
children  had  been  born  to  me,  and  four  of  them  had  died — 
as  I  am  confident  some  of  them  would  not  so  prematurely  have 
done  had  they  been  born  and  reared  in  the  country.  I  had 
earned  and  bought  a  small  satisfactory  house  in  the  very  heart 
of  the  city:  but  who,  if  he  has  any  choice,  prefers  to  grow  old 
and  die  at  No.  239,  unknown  to,  and  uncared  for  by,  the  denizens 
of  Nos.  237  and  241?  For  my  family's  sake,  if  not  for  my 
own,  a  country  home  was  required;  so  I  looked  about  and  found 
one.  The  choice  was  substantially  directed  by  my  wife,  who 
said  she  insisted  on  but  three  requisites— 1.  A  peerless  spring  of 


HORACE  GREELEY 


^j'^  ■'     - 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  29 

pure,  soft,  living  water ;  2.  A  cascade  or  babbling  brook ;  3.  Woods 
largely  composed  of  evergreens.  These  may  seem  light  matters ; 
yet  I  was  some  time  in  finding  them  grouped  on  the  same  small 
plat,  within  reasonable  distance  from  the  city.  I  did  find  them, 
however,  in  the  charming  locality  known  as  Chappaqua,  in 
nearby  Westchester  County;  and  those  who  object  to  my  taste 
in  choosing  for  my  home  a  rocky,  wooded  hillside,  sloping  to 
the  north  of  west,  with  a  bog  at  its  foot,  cannot  judge 
me  fairly,  unless  they  consider  the  above  requirements.  My 
land  was  previously  the  rugged,  mainly  wooded,  outskirt  of 
two  adjacent  farms,  whereof  my  babbling  brook  formed  the 
boundary. ' ' 

Residents  who  were  his  neighbors  remember  him  as  a  kind 
man;  though  he  may  have  been  considered  "  singular."  He 
was  a  genius,  and  this  fact  may  account  for  his  being  at  times 
misunderstood  as  to  his  modes.  He  had  a  great  heart.  The 
poor,  the  sick,  the  despised  and  the  unfortunate  never  appealed 
to  him  in  vain.  It  used  to  be  said  of  him,  owing  to  his  careless 
way  of  dressing,  that  he  was  ' '  fearfully  and  wonderfully  clad. ' ' 
He  was  certainly  no  Beau  Brummel,  nor  was  he  a  "  fashion 
plate  "  dude.  What  was  far  better,  he  was  a  man  of  brains. 
The  writer  remembers  him  as  he  used  to  be  seen  plodding  his 
way  along  to  the  railroad  station  from  his  Chappaqua  home; 
head  down,  engaged  in  profound  thought,  the  benefit  of  which 
many  thousands  of  the  readers  of  his  great  newspaper  received. 

Like  Lincoln,  Greeley  was  born  in  poverty  and  reared  in 
obscurity.  Like  that  other  illustrious  printer,  Benjamin  Frank- 
lin, he  was  self-educated.  Everything  he  acquired  intellectually 
came  by  hard  and  prodigious  efforts.  Thought  to  be  not  bright 
in  early  boyhood,  he  nevertheless  persistently  pursued  knowledge 
until  his  was  a  consummate  mental  mastery.  With  a  thirst  for 
knowledge,  inherited  from  his  mother,  one  of  his  most  striking 
characteristics  was  correctness  of  spelling,  and  an  everlasting 
desire  to  associate  with  those  who  could  not  spell.  When  he 
was  ten  years  old,  he  had  borrowed,  read  and  returned  every 
book  within  seven  miles  of  his  father's  house.  He  was  not  a 
college-bred  man,  and  he  used  to  say.  "  Of  all  the  homed 
cattle,  a  college  graduate  is  the  worst  in  a  newspaper  office." 
His  father's  family  was  so  poor  that  a  neighbor  once  found 
them  all  living  upon  milk  and  bread.  As  a  boy  he  persistently 
dressed  in  the  most  awkward  country  style,  and  his  mother  once 
stated  that  it  cost  less  than  three  dollars  a  year  to  clothe  him. 


30  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

The  habit  of  dressing  awkwardly  continued  with  him  to  the 
last.  Born  in  poverty  and  obscurity  he  faithfully  worked  at 
whatever  came  to  his  hands  and  never  relaxed  until  things  more 
profitable  and  congenial  came  into  his  life. 

When  fifteen  years  of  age  he  was  apprenticed  to  a  printer  in 
Poultney,  Vt.,  for  six  months  for  his  board  and  $40  per  annum. 
He  learned  to  set  type  in  one  day  as  well  as  the  average  appren- 
tice could  in  one  month.  He  gave  no  time  to  play;  he  worked 
with  a  will,  and  soon  became  a  fair  compositor.  When  copy 
ran  out  he  began  to  construct  news  items  at  the  case,  and  as 
they  went  into  the  paper  he  soon  found  himself  composing  edi- 
torial paragraphs,  which  also  -went  in.  In  the  five  years  of  his 
apprenticeship  he  never  had  a  new  suit  of  clothes;  he  walked 
home,  five  hundred  miles  aw^ay,  twice  in  that  time  to  see  his 
mother.  On  one  of  these  trips,  when  he  passed  through  Sara- 
toga, N.  Y.,  he  wrote  his  first  newspaper  article,  which  was  pub- 
lished in  his  newspaper  when  he  returned  to  work.  He  was 
twenty  years  old  when  he  became  a  journeyman,  and  then 
worked  in  the  smaller  towns  of  the  north,  going  to  New  York 
city.  He  entered  New  York  by  a  towboat  down  the  Hudson, 
with  ten  dollars  in  his  pocket,  and  first  stopped  at  a  small  lodg- 
ing house  at  168  West  street,  where  he  was  charged  two  and  a 
half  dollars  a  week  for  his  board.  The  only  work  he  could  get 
was  to  set  up  an  agate  edition  of  a  pocket  Testament,  which  all 
other  printers  refused  to  work  on.  He  was  never  a  swift  com- 
positor, but  was  assiduous  and  correct,  and  made  only  five 
dollars  a  week  by  working  fourteen  hours  each  day.  He  looked 
so  much  like  a  block-headed  countryman  that  he  w^as  discharged 
from  the  New  York  Evening  Post  composing  rooms  simply  on 
that  account.  He  then  worked  on  the  Commercial  Advertiser, 
and  in  1832  he  secured  a  position  as  compositor  on  the  Spirit 
of  the  Times,  and  to  keep  this  place  he  condescended  to  change 
his  homespun  suit  of  clothes  for  a  five  dollar  second-hand  suit 
he  got  in  Chatham  street.  He  was  saving  of  his  small  earnings 
and  could  always  lend  his  fellow-printers  money.  He  had  a 
natural  repugnance  to  luxury  and  wealth. 

His  first  experience  in  daily  newspaper  publishing  came  in 
1833 ;  when  he  was  part  owner  of  a  little  job  printing  office, 
there  came  along  a  man  who  professed  he  had  quite  a  sum  of 
money  to  expend  in  establishing  the  first  cheap  daily  newspaper 
to  appear  in  New  York;  Greeley  and  his  partner  contracted  to 
print  the  paper,  which  was  to  sell  for  one  cent,  probably  the 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  SI 

first  paper  in  the  world  attempted  to  be  sold  at  that  price.  It 
took  just  three  weeks  for  the  paper  to  die ;  for  the  want  of  funds. 
The  attempt  to  help  out  the  would-be  publisher  threw  Greeley 
into  debt,  which  hard  work  on  his  part  was  necessary  to  pay. 

Mr.  Greeley  was  married  on  July  5,  1836,  five  years  after 
reaching  New  York,  to  a  school  teacher,  who  was  attracted  to 
him  by  reading  one  of  his  poems ;  and  at  the  marriage  ceremony 
he  broke  a  custom  of  his  previous  life  by  wearing  socks. 

His  next  newspaper  venture  was  the  starting  of  a  weekly 
publication,  "  The  New-Yorker,"  which  ran  along  three  years 
and  succeeded  in  securing  a  large  circulation,  but  many  of  its 
patrons  proved  too  slow  in  ' '  paying  up, ' '  and  as  Greeley  lacked 
necessary  capital  to  keep  matters  rolling,  he  had  to  succumb  to 
fate  and  suspend  publication.  He  said  he  would  have  been 
willing  to  give  the  right  to  publish  the  newspaper  away,  and 
pay  anyone  $2,000  cash  for  relieving  him  of  the  burden  and 
freeing  him  of  its  debts,  but  there  were  no  takers;  and  as  a 
result,  after  the  suspension,  he  found  himself  $7,000  on  the 
wrong  side  of  the  ledger.  After  much  privation  and  stinting, 
he  succeeded  in  paying  every  cent  of  this  debt.  He  next  was 
drawn  from  his  humble  printing  shop  by  an  invitation  to  go  to 
Albany  and  edit  a  Whig  campaign  newspaper,  with  offices  in 
the  latter  city  and  New  York. 

Mr.  Greeley  had  succeeded  by  this  time  in  getting  deeply 
interested  in  politics,  on  the  Whig  side ;  and  had  published  and 
edited  several  political  campaign  newspapers  to  aid  his  friends 
in  the  city  and  state  elections. 

On  the  tenth  of  April,  1841— the  day  on  which  New  York 
city  held  its  great  funeral  parade  and  pageant  in  honor  of 
Gen.  William  H.  Harrison,  President  of  the  United  States,  who 
had  died  six  days  before — a  day  of  most  unseasonable  chill  and 
sleet  and  snow— the  first  number  of  Mr.  Greeley's  "  New  York 
Tribune  "  was  published. 

The  New  York  Tribune,  which  Mr.  Greeley  founded,  was  his 
supreme  opportunity.  Here  he  made  the  editorial  anvil  ring 
and  there  he  sent  his  intellectual  sparks  outward  and  upward 
in  a  veritable  shower.  Other  men  have  owned  newspapers  in 
America;  others  have  wielded  the  pen  for  themselves  and 
employed  the  pens  of  others  for  the  enrichment  of  the  columns 
of  their  papers;  but  only  one  Horace  Greeley  ever  passed  this 
way,  and  when  he  departed  he  carried  with  him  much  of  the 
glory  of  his  beloved  New  York  Tribune. 


32  MANUAL  A:SD  CIVIL  LIST. 

Mr.  Greeley  held  at  least  one  political  office,  that  is  known. 

In  1848,  he  was  elected  a  Representative  in  Congress  from  a 
New  York  city  district,  to  fill  a  vacancy,  the  unexpired  term 
of  throe  months,  as  a  Whig.  Of  this  experience  he  said,  in 
18G8  :  "I  believe  it  was  just  7  a.  m.  of  the  4th  of  March,  1849— 
the  (lay  of  General  Taylor's  inauguration— when  the  two  Houses, 
having  finished  all  the  inevitable  business  of  the  session,  were 
adjourned  without  day,  and  I  walked  down  to  my  hotel,  free 
thenceforth  to  mind  my  own  business.  I  have  not  since  been 
a  member,  nor  held  any  post  under  the  Federal  Government; 
it  is  not  likely  that  I  shall  ever  again  hold  one;  yet  I  look  back 
upon  those  three  months  I  spent  in  Congress  as  among  the 
most  profitably  employed  of  any  in  the  course  of  my  life.  I  saw 
things  f z'om  a  novel  point  of  view ;  and  if  I  came  away  from 
the  Capitol  no  wiser  than  I  went  thither,  the  fault  was  entirely 
my  own."  In  Congress,  as  well  as  elsewhere,  Mr.  Greeley 
advocated  and  fought  for  principles  most  dear  to  him. 

He  held  no  other  public  office,  though  he  was  years  active 
in  National  and  State  politics,  and  worked  loyally  to  aid 
friends  who  were  constantly  seekers  after  political  preferment. 
Thurlow  Weed,  the  acknowledged  party  "  Boss,"  William  H. 
Seward  and  Greeley  were  the  acknowledged  leaders  of  the  Re- 
publican party  in  this  State.  Greeley  later  complained  to  Seward, 
when  the  latter  was  Governor,  that  Weed  and  Seward  took  what 
they  wanted  in  the  way  of  good  patronage,  State  and  Nation, 
and  forgot  him,  caring  little  whether  Greeley  was  clothed  or  fed 
—no  office  was  offered  Greeley.  The  letter  Greeley  wrote  to 
Governor  Seward,  in  1854,  dissolved  the  partnership  in  the  firm 
of  * '  Seward,  AVeed  and  Greeley, ' '  as  the  latter  intended.  When 
it  came  to  nominating  a  Republican  candidate  for  President  in 
1860,  Greeley  was  in  the  convention  as  a  delegate  from  Oregon, 
by  request  of  the  party  in  that  State.  Seward  was  the  choice 
for  President  of  the  New  York  delegation.  Greeley  favored 
annthor  man,  Edward  Bates  of  Missouri ;  later  he  supported 
Lincoln  and  helped  nominate  him,  thus  scoring  against  his 
former  associate,  Seward. 

He  frequently  stated  that  he  was  not  desirous  of  holding 
public  office;  but  tho  fact  that  office  was  not  tendered  him  was 
what  cut  liiiii  doi'jily:  as  it  showed  base  ingratitude  on  part 
of  protended  friends  whom  he  had  helped  to  get  what  they 
wanted. 

Among  ritbor  tilings  commendable,  Mr.  Greeley  was  a  strong 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  33 

champion  of  temperance,  and  delivered  many  lectures  upon  the 
subject ;  he  says  he  first  met  the  lady  who  later  became  his  wife, 
at  the  home  of  a  Dr.  Sylvester  Graham,  who  first  appeared  in 
New  York  city  as  a  lecturer  on  temperance;  and  as  his  wife 
she  continued  a  strong  advocate  of  temperance,  and  in  years  of 
extreme  poverty  kept  her  house  in  strict  accordance  with  her 
convictions. 

He  was  ever  proud  of  the  fact  that  he  was  born  in  poverty 
and  that  he  had  to  earn  his  own  way  in  life,  that  he  had  to 
work  hard  to  make  ends  meet.  On  one  occasion  he  wrote: 
"Above  all,  be  neither  afraid  or  ashamed  of  honest  industry; 
and  if  you  catch  yourself  fancying  anything  more  respectable 
than  this,  be  ashamed  of  it  to  the  last  day  of  your  life.  Or,  if 
you  find  yourself  shaking  more  cordially  the  hand  of  your  cousin, 
the  Congressman,  than  of  your  uncle,  the  Blacksmith,  as  such 
write  yourself  down  as  an  enemy  to  the  principles  of  our  insti- 
tutions, and  a  traitor  to  the  dignity  of  humanity."  Nobody 
hated  injustice  more  than  he.  All  his  life  through  he  battled 
against  those  vrho  practiced  persecution.  Tyranny  in  every 
form  was  repugnant  to  him.  His  voice  was  ever  raised  in  Free- 
dom's cause,  even  unto  the  uttermost  corners  of  the  earth.  He 
passed  out  of  this  world  eternally  true  in  heart. 

A  lover  of  his  country,  when  the  war  was  over,  he  pleaded 
as  earnestly  for  justice  to  the  South  as  he  had  patriotically 
labored  for  the  North  when  the  Civil  "War  was  progressing. 
Nothing  pleased  him  more  than  to  learn  that  his  enemy  of  yes- 
terday had  become  his  friend  to-day.  He  could  fight,  and  for- 
give and  forget.  Though  a  reformer  by  nature,  he  happily 
avoided  the  spirit  which  seeks  victory  rather  than  truth.  To 
the  glory  of  Horace  Greeley  it  can  be  truthfully  said  that  he 
never  crucified  an  adversary  on  the  specious  theory  that  he  was 
laboring  for  the  public  weal. 

In  1872  Horace  Greeley  became  a  candidate  for  election  as 
President  of  the  United  States.  He  had  for  his  opponent  Gen. 
Ulysses  S.  Grant.  Canvass  the  Nation  over  and  two  men  more 
unlike  than  Greeley  and  Grant  could  not  be  found.  Each  in 
his  own  way  was  a  majestic  character.  Grant,  who  had  served 
one  term  as  President,  for  various  alleged  reasons,  had  antagon- 
ized certain  men  prominent  in  his  own  political  party.  These 
were  opposed  to  his  re-election.  The  idealists  and  reformers 
in  the  Republican  party  were  destined  to  early  discover 
that  President  Grant  was  more  soldier  than  statesman.     Obscure 


34  MANUAL  AM)  CIVIL  LIST. 

aud  unsuccessful  iu  private  life,  though  marvelously  successful 
iu  his  eight  years  of  military  eudeavor,  President  Grant  had 
little  taste  or  aptitude  for  purely  administrative  atfairs. 

In  the  last  half  of  President  Grant's  tirst  term  the  Republi- 
can opposition  to  the  President  took  tangible  form.  In  January, 
1872,  a  mass  meeting  was  held  in  Jefferson  City,  Missouri,  and 
a  call  was  issued  for  a  national  convention  of  so-called  Liberal 
Kepublicaus.  This  Liberal  Kepublican  Convention  was  duly 
held  in  Cincinnati  on  May  1st  following.  From  the  beginning 
to  the  end,  it  was  an  intense  anti-Grant  demonstration.  The 
delegates  came  from  all  over  the  Union.  They  represented  in 
themselves  and  their  associates  at  home  the  patriotic  element 
of  the  Republican  party.  Scores  of  statesmen  who  had  taken 
prominent  part  in  the  formation  and  perpetuation  of  the  Repub- 
lican party  in  its  early  days  joined  in  the  crusade  to  give  their 
political  organization  a  rebirth. 

That  Horace  Greeley  coveted  the  Presidential  nomination  of 
the  Liberal  Republicans  is  a  fixed  fact.  But  he  received  the 
nomination  only  after  a  hard  struggle  in  the  convention.  Many 
forgot  the  sacrifices  he  had  made  for  his  party  when  that  party 
was  in  sore  need  of  supporters.  Six  ballots  were  taken  by  the 
delegates.  Charles  Francis  Adams,  of  Massachusetts,  led  on 
the  first,  third  and  fourth  ballots,  while  Greeley  led  on  the 
second  and  fifth.  On  the  sixth  ballot,  Adams  had  324  votes 
and  Greeley  332,  with  57  votes  scattered.  Before  the  result  of 
this  ballot  had  been  announced,  the  Greeley  delegates  raised  a 
tremendous  cheer  on  behalf  of  their  favorite,  which  stampeded 
the  convention  en  masse  to  Greeley. 

The  Democratic  National  Convention,  held  in  Baltimore,  Md., 
on  July  9,  1872,  decided  that  it  was  advisable  to  endorse  the 
candidacy  of  Mr.  Greeley,  the  Liberal  Republican  candidate; 
the  ballot  taken  on  the  question  of  endorsement  being  686  in 
favor,  out  of  a  total  vote  of  732.  The  platform  of  the  Liberal 
Republican  party  was  also  adopted. 

The  story  of  the  outcome  of  that  election  is  told,  as  far  as 
Greeley  is  concerned,  in  the  one  word  "  defeat."  One  of  the 
classics  of  American  politics  to-day  is  the  saying,  "  Beaten 
worse  than  Horace  Greeley."  President  Grant's  renomination 
was  unanimous  and  his  re-election  by  the  people  was  overwhelm- 
ing: his  victory  was  more  than  a  tidal  wave,  it  was  almost  a 
flood.  Only  five  States  of  the  Union  voted  in  favor  of  Greeley. 
It  was   estimated    that    for   every   Republican    that   voted    for 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  35 

Greeley,  two  Democrats  voted  for  Grant,  or  stayed  away  from 
the  polls.  Certain  Democrats  would  not  forget  the  times  that 
Greeley  had  been  the  bitterest  opponent  of  their  party,  in  his 
editorials  and  in  his  speeches,  and  wished  by  their  votes,  or 
their  absence  from  the  polls,  to  show  that  they  did  not  approve 
of  Greeley 's  nomination,  or  endorsement,  by  Democratic  leaders. 

From  this  defeat  Horace  Greeley  never  fully  recovered.  The 
ingratitude  of  those  he  had  so  loyally  served  dealt  him  a  blow 
most  unkind.  This  defeat  was  believed  by  many  of  his  friends 
to  be  a  cause  that  hastened  his  end. 

Success  or  defeat,  let  no  man  despise  Horace  Greeley.  For 
no  man's  place  in  American  history  is  surer  than  his.  Greeley's 
services  to  the  people  cannot  be  measured  by  his  vote-getting 
ability.  No  honors  that  might  be  bestowed  or  withheld  in  the 
way  of  public  office  could  add  to  or  take  from  his  splendid 
character.  He  may  not  have  been  what  is  considered  a  success- 
ful politician,  one  who  can  trim  sail  to  every  varying  wind; 
probably  the  fault,  if  any,  lay  in  his  construction,  he  preferred 
principles  to  gain,  and  for  principles  he  was  willing  to  make 
sacrifices.  While  his  ability  gave  him  a  National  character,  his 
gentle,  kind  nature  made  him  a  friend  of  the  humblest. 

Mr.  Greeley  was  born  on  February  3,  1811,  and  died  at  his 
home  in  Chappaque,  November  29,  1872;  his  death  prevente  1 
the  Presidential  Electors  chosen  in  his  favor  voting  for  him 
in  the  Electoral  College.  Mrs.  Mary  Y.  C.  Greeley  died  just 
one  month  before  her  husband. 

At  the  time  of  their  death  they  had  two  daughters,  Ida  and 
Gabrielle  M.  The  will  of  Mary  Y.  C.  Greeley  divided  her  real 
and  personal  property  equally  between  her  two  daughters. 
Horace  Greeley,  in  the  will  probated  at  White  Plains,  made  a 
similar  division  of  his  estate. 

Mr.  Greeley's  last  will,  written  by  himself  on  two  sheets  of 
note  paper  on  Nov.  9,  1872,  just  twenty  days  before  his  death, 
devised  his  entire  estate  to  his  daughter  Ida  Greeley,  "  one-half 
to  be  by  her  used  at  her  own  discretion  to  the  education  and  sup- 
port of  her  sister,  Gabrielle  M.  Greeley."  Objection  to  the  pro- 
bate of  the  last  will  was  made  before  the  Surrogate  on  the  ground 
that  it  did  great  injustice  to  Gabrielle  M.  Greeley,  and  Ida 
Greeley  voluntarily  agreed  to  permit  the  probate  of  the  earlier 
will,  thus  surrendering  one-half  of  the  estate  to  her  sister. 

Ida  Greeley,  who  had  married  Col.  Nicholas  Smith,  died  on 
April  11,  1882,  without  leaving  a  will  and  her  estate  passed  to 


30  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

her  surviving  husband  and  her  three  children,  Horace,  Nixola 
and  Ida.  of  whom  the  eldest  was  then  five  years  of  age. 

At  the  time  of  Ida  Greeley's  death  neither  Mr.  Greeley's 
estate  nor  that  of  his  wife  had  ever  been  divided. 

Ciabrielle  M.  Greeley  married  the  Rev.  Frank  M.  Glendennin, 
and  with  her  husband  and  family  resides  on  part  of  the  old 
farm.  On  February  3,  1911,  the  hundredth  anniversary  of  Mr. 
Greeley's  birth  was  celebrated  with  interesting  ceremonies,  not 
only  in  Chappaqua,  but  also  in  New  York  city  and  in  Albany. 

At  his  old  home,  in  the  chamber  of  the  New  York  Board  of 
Aldermen,  by  members  of  Typographical  Union  No.  6,  at  the 
New  York  Theater,  and  by  the  adjournment  of  both  branches 
of  the  State  Legislature. 

At  Chappaqua,  the  celebration,  arranged  by  the  Chappaqua 
Historical  Society,  was  held  at  the  home  of  Mrs.  Gabrielle 
Greeley  Glendennin,  a  daughter,  on  the  Greeley  farm. 

Conspicuous  among  those  present  were  Gen.  Stewart  L.  Wood- 
ford, who  traced  an  intimate  picture  of  his  old  friend  Greeley, 
and  General  Edwin  A.  Merritt,  now  84  years  old,  who  was  Con- 
sul-General  to  London  and  Collector  of  the  Port  of  New  York. 
He  was  probably  the  oldest  living  associate  of  Horace  Greeley 
in  attendance.  James  Toole,  president  of  Typographical  Union 
No.  6,  of  Manhattan,  headed  a  delegation  of  that  body. 

Gen.  Woodford  delivered  the  principal  address,  in  which  he 
in  part  said:  "  Mr.  Greeley's  work  is  done,  but  his  influence 
will  abide  while  this  Nation  lives.  His  work  for  the  slaves, 
clean  politics  and  organized  labor  wall  ever  live.  His  work 
for  sound  currency  no  banker  can  ever  forget.  His  words  w^ere 
'the  way  to  resume  is  to  resume.'  He  was  a  firm  friend  of  Lin- 
coln, and  the  latter 's  nomination  was  due  to  the  courage,  domi- 
nation and  instance  of  Horace  Greeley.  One  of  the  greatest 
things  Mr.  Greeley  ever  did  Avas  when  he  went  on  the  bail  bond 
of  Jefferson  Davis,  which,  the  speaker  declared,  was  a  great 
pledge  of  brotherhood  that  assured  the  unity  of  the  Nation. 
To  the  very  end  he  lived  a  life  that  was  devoted  to  charity,  to 
brotherhood  of  man,  to  labor,  to  the  development  of  national 
resources  and  to  the  strengthening  of  the  national  Union.  His 
w^as  a  great  life." 

At  the  printers'  celebration  in  New  York  city,  United  States 
Senator  Albert  J.  Beveridge,  of  Indiana,  was  the  orator. 

It  has  boon  deeidod  to  erect  in  Chappaqua  a  memorial  statue 
in  honor  of  ISlr.  Greeley,  to  cost  $16,000. 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  37 

ALEXANDER  HAMILTON  is  given  a  place  in  the  annals 
of  Westchester  County  on  account  of  his  association  with  the 
County's  early  history. 

It  was  at  Peekskill,  in  this  County,  in  1777,  that  he  received 
from  Gen.  Washington  his  commission  as  Adjutant-General  of 
the  Continental  Army,  an  appointment  given  him  as  recogni- 
tion of  heroic  service  rendered  as  aid  on  the  staff  of  the  Com- 
mander-in-Chief, a  position  he  had  accepted  at  the  urgent 
request  of  Washington,  he  acting  as  Washington's  confidential 
secretary,  thereby  becoming  a  member  of  that  general's  mili- 
tary family  and  his  close  friend. 

As  a  former  resident  of  this  County  he  may  be  considered 
as  of  us.  When  he  brought  his  charming  wife  to  New  York 
and  settled  in  that  city  for  the  practice  of  law,  he  took  up  his 
residence  in  the  lower  section  of  the  county,  in  what  has  been 
known  as  the  town  of  Morrisania,  the  town  being  named  in 
honor  of  the  family  whose  sons  were  most  intimate,  personal 
and  political,  friends  of  Hamilton.  It  was  through  a  Morris 
that  he  received,  in  1781,  an  appointment  as  Receiver  of  Taxes 
for  the  State  of  New  York.  Though  he  at  first  declined  this 
office,  fearing  it  might  interfere  with  his  professional  pursuits, 
the  persistency  of  the  Morrises  influenced  him  to  accept.  To 
Hamilton  this  appointment  was  of  no  little  importance,  for  it 
gave  him  an  opportunity  of  establishing  his  reputation  for  busi- 
ness talent  and  political  ability.  The  nation,  too,  was  the 
gainer,  for  Hamilton  was  thus  introduced  into  public  life  many 
years  before  he  would  have  reached  notoriety  as  a  statesman 
through  the  slow  course  of  forensic  occupations. 

From  the  early  period  and  to  the  present  day  descendants 
of  General  Hamilton  have  been  honored  residents  of  West- 
chester County.  General  Alexander  Hamilton,  a  descendant 
as  well  as  a  namesake,  who  earned  his  title  in  the  Civil  War, 
died  in  1908,  at  his  home  in  Tarrytown,  this  County,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-seven  years,  a  man  highly  respected  for  his 
amiability  and  other  good  qualities. 

Another  link  in  the  chain  that  connects  Gen.  Hamilton  with 
this  County,  is  the  knowledge  that  he  and  John  Jay  together 
edited  patriotic  literature  and  were  closely  allied  as  the  nearest 
confidential  friends  of  General  Washington.  It  was  Hamilton 
and  Jay  who  assisted  President  Washington  in  the  preparation 
of  all  important  State  papers.  Even  when  President  Wash- 
ington, on  retiring  from  office,  had  determined  to  leave  behind 


38  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

liiin  as  a  legacy  the  declaration  of  his  principles  of  action,  to 
serve  as  an  example  to  his  successors,  this  being  his  farewell 
address,  he  chose  as  his  advisers  Jay  and  Hamilton.  Of  the 
service  rendered  Washington  on  this  occasion,  by  these  two 
men,  an  early  writer,  speaking  of  the  farewell  address,  said: 
"Its  conception  could  only  have  arisen  in  the  mind  of  Wash- 
ington himself,  yet  it  would  have  been  less  perfect  as  a  com- 
position had  it  not  passed  through  the  hands  of  Hamilton; 
and  even  their  united  efforts  might  not  have  exhibited  the 
high  and  delicate  finish  afforded  by  the  classical  pen  of  Jay." 

Gouverneur  Morris,  of  Morrisania,  for  whom  latter  place 
w^as  named,  who  was  made  assistant  national  superintendent 
of  finance  on  July  6,  1781,  was  indebted  to  Hamilton  for  many 
valuable  suggestions,  which  were  adopted,  providing  a  financial 
policy  for  the  country.  It  was  doubtless  his  knowledge  as  to 
the  solution  of  financial  problems,  that  suggested  to  the  Mor- 
rises his  fitness  for  the  office  he  received  about  this  time. 

Shortly  before  his  tragic  death,  in  1804,  General  Hamilton 
purchased  a  tract  of  land  just  over  the  southern  border  line 
of  Westchester  County,  and  within  the  rural  limits  of  New 
York  city,  not  far  from  the  Hudson  river.  On  this  land  he 
built  his  celebrated  country-seat,  "The  Grange."  Here  the 
soldier  and  statesman  passed  the  last  days  of  his  busy  and 
brilliant  career,  surrounded  by  his  friends,  but  not  entirely 
free  from  the  animosities  of  political  life— enmities  that  finally 
culminated  in  the  fatal  encounter  between  himself  and  Aaron 
Burr.  The  thirteen  elm  trees  planted  by  General  Hamilton 
near  his  house,  to  celebrate  the  thirteen  original  States  of  the 
Union,  were  saved,  with  the  other  property,  by  a  Westchester 
County  citizen  some  few  years  ago.  Hon.  Orlando  Potter,  of 
Ossining,  paid  $140,000  for  the  ground  upon  which  these  noble 
trees  stood,  purchasing  the  same  from  the  estate  of  an  owner 
subsequent  to  General  Hamilton.  It  was  the  desire  of  Con- 
gressman Potter  that  New  York  city  or  State  or  some  society 
later  possess  the  property  that  it  might  be  preserved  on  account 
of  historic  associations  and  out  of  regard  for  General  Hamilton 
as  patriot,  statesman  and  distinguished  member  of  the  bar. 

Hamilton  was  not  a  native  of  the  United  States.  He  was 
born  in  the  Tslanrl  of  Nevis,  then,  as  now,  a  possession  of  Great 
Britain,  on  January  11.  1757.  His  mother  was  descended  from 
a  French  Hueuenot  family  (another  Westchester  County  tie)  ; 
he  was  the  youngest  child.     Quite  young  he  came  to  New  York 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  39 

to  secure  an  education,  entering  King's  College  (afterward 
Columbia,  where  Jay  was  also  educated),  the  separate  estate 
of  his  mother  providing  the  means  to  meet  necessary  expenses. 

Hamilton  arrived  in  New  York  at  a  most  interesting  epoch. 
A  spirit  of  resistance  to  the  acts  of  the  Parliament  of  Great 
Britain,  which  were  justly  considered  as  not  only  contrary  to 
national  rights,  but  even  to  the  admitted  privileges  of  the 
Britons,  was  fast  rising  to  that  height  at  which  the  colonists 
finally  threw  off,  not  only  the  obnoxious  usurpations  of  the 
legislature,  but  even  their  own  character  of  subjects  to  a  king. 
The  deep  thought  he  was  known  to  have  devoted  to  the  con- 
troversies between  the  parent  country  and  the  colonies  led  to 
his  being  urged  to  address  a  public  meeting  in  the  city  of  New 
York,  This  was  the  first  appearance  of  the  youthful  student 
(he  was  then  about  sixteen  years  of  age)  as  a  public  speaker, 
and  was  made  under  many  disadvantages.  His  real  youth,  and 
still  more  the  appearance  of  it,  growing  out  of  his  slender  figure 
and  small  stature,  must  have  given  him  the  appearance  of  a 
boy  presuming  to  mingle  in  the  councils  of  men.  He  proved 
a  success  and  his  fame  began  from  that  date.  His  able  con- 
tributions to  newspapers  assisted  in  rousing  the  people. 

When  an  appeal  to  arms  was  sounded  he  was  one  of  the 
first  to  respond,  young  as  he  was;  in  spite  of  his  juvenile 
appearance,  he  was,  after  a  strict  examination,  appointed  captain 
of  the  Provincial  Company  of  Artillery.  To  raise  this  com- 
pany and  equip  the  recruits,  he  expended  the  last  remittance 
he  received  from  his  mother.  In  command  of  this  company 
he  took  a  prominent  part  and  distinguished  himself  at  the 
battle  of  White  Plains,  in  this  County,  and  materially  aided 
Washington  in  gaining  the  object  of  his  wishes,  the  safe  retreat 
of  his  army.  It  was  his  bravery  during  this  battle  that  caused 
Washington  to  take  a  fancy  to  the  youth,  and  to  ask  Hamilton 
to  become  an  aid  on  his  stafi'.  It  was  not  without  reluctance 
that  he  relinquished  the  prospect  of  promotion  in  the  line  of 
the  army,  to  which  his  distinguished  services  during  the  most 
arduous  campaign  of  the  Revolution  would  have  entitled  him, 
for  a  place  on  the  staff.  His  affection  for  General  Washington 
decided  him  to  accept,  and  this  act  proved  of  great  profit  to 
the  Commander-in-Chief,  who  found  Hamilton  always  loyal 
and  faithful,  worthy  of  trust  in  most  troublesome  times,  when 
Washington  found  himself  hampered  by  jealous  rivals. 

History  tells  of  Hamilton's  most  remarkable  and  honorable 


40  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

career,  as  soldier,  brilliant  and  conscientious  lawyer  and  states- 
man. As  a  soldier  he  aided  Washington  in  rallying  the  retreat- 
ing battalions  at  Monmouth,  led  the  forlorn  hope  at  Yorktown, 
aided  m  preventing  the  consummation  of  Arnold's  treachery 
at  West  Point,  and  did  various  other  things  creditable  to  a 
soldier  fighting  for  the  country's  freedom;  as  a  statesman  he 
took  a  directing  part  in  formation  of  laws  successfully  estab- 
lishing a  new  nation,  and  his  cleverness  as  a  financier  enabled 
him  to  suggest  a  desirable  financial  policy  for  adoption  by 
Congress;  as  a  lawyer  his  ability  made  him  a  leader  of  the 
bar  in  the  principal  city  of  the  new  Republic.  Elsewhere  in 
this  volume  Hamilton's  connection  with  the  political  history 
of  this  nation  is  referred  to. 

Hamilton  was  rather  below  the  middle  size,  and  in  his  youth 
extremely  slender.  In  more  mature  age  his  figure  assumed  a 
degree  of  fulness,  without  approaching  to  corpulency.  His  eyes 
were  blue,  and  his  hair  a  light  brown,  although,  in  the  fashion 
of  the  day,  it  was  always  covered  with  powder.  His  motions 
were  graceful,  and  the  tones  of  his  voice  agreeable  in  the  highest 
degree.  To  these  natural  requisites  he  added  high  powers  of 
argument,  readiness  of  expression,  and  simple  elegance  of 
thought  and  diction.  He  thus,  as  an  orator,  is  said  to  have 
been  pre-eminent  even  in  a  country  so  prolific  in  public  speak- 
ers. Whether  at  the  bar  or  in  the  deliberative  assembly,  he 
was  equally  distinguished  for  his  commanding  eloquence.  Am- 
bitious to  no  little  degree,  he  sought  no  offices  of  honor  and 
emolument,  nor  would  have  accepted  them  except  as  oppor- 
tunities of  being  useful  to  his  country.  He  looked  for  his 
recompense  in  the  consideration  of  the  virtuous  and  patriotic 
of  his  fellow  citizens,  or  the  more  sure  gratitude  of  posterity, 
not  in  wealth  or  the  pride  of  elevated  rank.  With  such  dis- 
interested views,  each  call  to  the  public  service  involved  him  in 
pecuniary  loss,  and  he  gradually  contracted  a  debt  of  con- 
siderable amount,  which  remained  unpaid  at  his  decease.  His 
appointment  as  Inspector-General  in  the  provisional  army 
(which  he  accepted  at  Washington's  urging  after  the  war), 
interrupted  the  growth  of  a  lucrative  professional  business,  and, 
at  the  same  time,  deprived  him  of  the  means  of  meeting  the 
interest  on  large  purchases  of  land  ("The  Grange"  property) 
whioh  he  had  entered  into,  in  full  confidence  that  his  labors 
as  a  lawyer  would  enable  him  to  hold  it.  To  prevent  the  abso- 
lute sacrifice  of  his  landed  property,  his  friends  and  admirers 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  41 

united  after  his  death  in  a  subscription,  by  which  his  debts 
were  paid,  and  the  proceeds  of  the  estate  finally  reimbursed 
their  advances,  but  left  little  or  no  surplus  to  his  family. 

General  Hamilton  was  married  on  December  14,  1780,  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Schuyler,  second  daughter  of  General  Philip  Schuyler, 
a  trusted  aid  and  adviser  of  General  Washington ;  the  marriage 
took  place  in  the  Schuyler  mansion  in  Albany,  and  later  they 
went  to  New  York,  and,  as  stated,  resided  in  Morrisania,  in 
this  County,  until  they  took  up  their  residence  at  "  The 
Grange." 

Of  this  marriage  there  were  several  children.  The  eldest 
son,  Philip,  named  for  his  maternal  grandfather,  was  killed  in 
a  duel,  growing  out  of  political  agitation  in  which  he  defended 
his  father;  the  boy  had  just  reached  years  of  manhood.  The 
second  son,  who  had  inherited  the  literary  tastes  of  his  father, 
was  the  author  of  a  very  ably  written  "Life  of  Alexander 
Hamilton,"  using  valuable  data  gained  from  important  papers 
left  by  his  father.  A  son  laid  the  corner-stone  of  the  first 
monument  erected  in  Tarrytown,  in  1853,  in  honor  of  Andre's 
captors. 

General  Hamilton  was  killed  in  a  duel  with  Aaron  Burr,  in 
July,  1804.  At  his  untimely  death  all  America  mourned,  but 
the  terrible  sorrow  of  his  family,  to  which  he  was  unusually 
devoted,  can  not  be  described. 

His  wife,  the  sweetheart  of  his  boyhood,  survived  her  hus- 
band for  fifty  long,  lonesome  years.  When  she  died,  at  the 
age  of  ninety-seven  years,  a  pleasant,  sweet-faced  old  lady, 
praised  for  her  sunny  nature  and  her  quiet  humor,  a  pocket- 
book  was  found  in  her  possession,  containing  within  a  yellow, 
timeworn  letter,  written  on  the  morning  of  the  duel,  and  was 
Hamilton's  farewell  to  his  "beloved  wife." 

The  following  is  a  summary  of  his  life: 

When  Hamilton  began  to  be  active  in  aid  of  the  struggling 
colonies  he  was  but  a  school  boy,  about  16  years  of  age;  a 
year  later  he  became  a  captain  of  artillery  in  the  Continental 
army,  and  then  an  aid  on  General  Washington's  staff;  when 
20  years  old  he  held  the  important  office  of  Adjutant-General 
in  the  army;  at  22,  he  devised  a  financial  policy  which  was 
adopted  for  the  nation;  at  23,  he  was  married  and  then  fol- 
lowed his  appointment  as  State  Receiver  of  Taxes;  at  24,  he 
had  established  an  enviable  reputation  in  the  legal  profession 
in  New  York  city  and  State ;  when  25  years  old  we  find  him  a 


42  IVIANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

leader  iu  Congress,  au  expounder  of  the  Constitution  which 
he  helped  to  frame,  and  the  father  of  important  financial  meas- 
ures adopted  by  Congress;  at  26  he  began  organizing  one  of 
the  political  parties  of  the  country ;  at  the  age  of  32  he  accepts 
President  Washington's  offer  of  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  of 
the  United  States,  and  when  38  he  resigned  as  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury,  to  resume  the  practice  of  law  in  New  York  city;  at 
the  age  of  47  years  he  met  a  tragic  death. 

That  part  of  the  "Hamilton  Grange"  on  which  stood  the 
thirteen  famous  "Hamilton  Elms"— almost  the  last  of  this  his- 
toric tract  remaining  vacant— is  soon  to  be  covered  with  apart- 
ment houses,  if  present  plans  are  allowed  to  be  carried  out. 
Restrictions  placed  on  the  property  twenty-five  years  ago,  per- 
mitting private  dwellings  only,  expired  in  November,  1910. 
The  sale  of  this  property  to  apartment  house  builders  is  to  be 
regretted,  as  it  brings  to  an  end  the  efforts  on  the  part  of 
various  patriotic  and  historical  societies  to  have  New  York 
city,  or  New  York  State,  purchase  this  ground  and  erect  thereon 
some  suitable  memorial.  The  old  Hamilton  house  is  still  stand- 
ing at  the  rear  of  St.  Luke's  Church  at  Convent  Avenue  and 
141st  Street,  and  is  used  by  the  church  as  its  rectory.  It  is 
regretted  that  at  Mr.  Potter's  death  the  property  had  to  be 
sold,  and  that  it  did  not  fall  into  possession  of  a  person  or 
society,  to  insure  forever  its  preservance  on  account  of  its  his- 
toric associations. 

The  illustrious  subject  of  this  sketch  had  six  worthy  sons. 
The  eldest  named  Philip,  for  his  mother's  father,  was  killed 
in  a  duel,  as  told  in  this  volume;  the  second  son  w'as  John 
C,  who  wrote  a  history  of  his  father  after  latter 's  de^th; 
the  third  son  was  Col.  James  A.,  who  resided  in  Dobbs  Ferry, 
in  this  County,  and  who  took  part  in  erecting  the  first  monument 
at  Tarrs^town  in  honor  of  the  captors  of  Andre ;  the  fourth  son, 
Gen.  William,  won  distinction  in  the  Black  Hawk  Indian  War; 
the  fifth  son  was  Alexander;  the  sixth  son,  born  shortly  after 
the  death  of  the  eldest  son,  and  not  long  before  his  father  was 
likewise  killed  in  a  duol.  was  named  Phillip;  he  lived  to  a  good 
old  age,  dying  in  Poughkeepsie,  when  90  years  old;  his  son  Dr. 
Allen  McLean  Hamilton,  of  New  York  city,  is  a  noted  specialist. 

Gen.  Alexander  Hamilton,  3d,  who  served  through  the  Civil 
Wnr  and  won  his  title  by  distinguished  services,  a  grandson  ot 
Gen.  Alexander  Hamilton,  head  of  the  family,  and  son  of  the 
second  son,  John  C,  died  in  TarrytoAvn,  his  home,  in  1909,  at 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  43 

the  age  of  92  years.  The  author  of  this  book  had  the  pleasure 
of  sailing  up  the  Hudson  River  in  his  company  on  the  occasion 
of  his  92d  birthday  celebration. 

John  C.  L.  Hamilton,  who  resides  at  Elmsford,  in  this  County, 
is  a  great-grandson  of  Gen.  Alexander  Hamilton,  a  grandson  of 
John  C,  the  second  son,  and  a  son  of  John  C.  A.  Hamilton. 


WASHINGTON  IRVING,  the  diplomat,  poet,  etc.,  who  re- 
sided and  died  and  was  buried  in  this  County,  was  born  in 
the  city  of  New  York,  on  April  3,  1783,  a  son  of  and  the 
eleventh  child,  the  youngest,  of  William  and  Sarah  Irving. 
The  father  a  Scotchman,  from  the  Orkney  Isles,  at  the  extreme 
north  of  Scotland;  his  mother  was  of  a  most  gentle  type,  an 
English  woman  who  came  from  the  extreme  south  of  England. 
The  Irvings  resided  in  what  is  now  one  of  the  principal  down- 
town business  districts,  at  No.  128  William  street,  between 
John  and  what  is  now  Fulton,  but  was  then  Partition  street. 
It  was  a  two-story  house,  with  a  garden  running  down  to  the 
East  River.  It  had  a  high,  steep  roof  with  gabled  windows, 
and  the  juvenile  Washington  used  to  delight  in  climbing  out 
of  these  in  the  evening  when  he  was  supposed  to  be  in  bed, 
creeping  along  the  eaves  like  a  cat  and  dropping  pebbles  down 
the  chimney  of  the  parlor,  where  his  elders  were  reading  by 
the  fire.  For  Washington— christened,  by  the  way,  after  George 
Washington,  who  had  entered  New  York  with  his  army  only 
a  few  months  before  the  boy  was  born— was  a  mischievous  lad. 
He  took  much  more  after  his  gentle  mother  than  after  his  stern 
father. 

Washington  remained  at  school  until  he  was  sixteen  years 
old,  when  he  entered  a  law  office,  and  so  began  the  career  that 
made  him  American  Minister  to  European  Courts,  author  of 
such  famous  books  as  the  "Sketch  Book,"  "Tales  of  a  Traveler," 
and  "The  Alhambra,"  and  one  of  the  brightest  lights  in  the 
firmament  of  American  literature. 

He  honored  Westchester  County  the  many  years  he  spent 
among  us,  as  a  resident  of  Irvington,  named  in  his  honor. 

Mr.  Irving  was  appointed  United  States  Minister  to  Spain 
in  1842. 

He  was  first  spoken  of  for  a  position  in  the  diplomatic  corps 
of  this  country  in  1831,  when  Martin  Van  Buren,  of  this  State, 


44  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

was,  for  a  short  period,  Minister  to  England.  In  a  letter,  dated 
November  25,  1831,  which  he  sent  from  London  to  President 
Jackson,  ]Mr.  Van  Buren  recommended  Mr.  Irving  in  the  fol- 
lowing complimentary  language: 

"Washington  Irving  has  been  staying  for  some  weeks  in  my 
house,  and  will,  I  hope,  continue  to  do  so  through  the  winter. 
He  leaves  for  the  United  States  in  the  spring.  An  intimate 
acquaintance  with  him  has  satisfied  me  that  I  was  mistaken  in 
supposing  that  his  literary  occupation  had  given  his  mind  a 
turn  unfavorable  to  practical  business  pursuits,  and  I  am  not 
sure  you  did  not  entertain  the  same  impression.  I  think  it  but 
just  to  correct  the  error.  If  an  opportunity  should  present 
itself  in  which  you  can  employ  him  as  Charge  d 'Affaires,  I  am 
confident  you  may  count  with  confidence  on  his  faithful  dis- 
charge of  the  duties  imposed  upon  him,  and  I  am  quite  sure 
that  a  truer  American  or  a  more  honest  man  does  not  live." 

In  spite  of  this  high  opinion  expressed  by  Jackson's  most 
intimate  friend,  Washington  Irving,  the  great  author,  was  for- 
gotten by  President  Jackson,  and  even  by  Van  Buren  too,  when 
latter  became  President  and  could  appoint  the  man  on  his 
(Van  Buren 's)  own  recommendation.  It  was  not  until  both 
these  Presidents  closed  their  terms  of  office  that  the  reward  came. 
It  was  in  1842  when  President  Tyler  appointed  him  Minister 
to  Spain,  on  the  recommendation  of  Daniel  Webster,  Secretary 
of  State  in  Tyler's  Cabinet. 

Mr.  Irving  died  November  28,  1859,  aged  76  years,  7  months 
and  25  days. 

(For  biography  of  Washington  Irving,  see  page  78,  volume  1.) 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  45 

JOHN  JAY  was  born  in  New  York  city,  on  December  15, 
1745.  It  was  believed  by  many  that  he  was  born  in  West- 
chester County,  owing  probably  to  his  connection  with  the 
County's  early  history,  that  his  childhood  and  latter  days  were 
spent  within  the  County,  that  two  sons  had  been  elected  to 
office  at  the  hands  of  the  County 's  electors,  and  that  descendants 
continue  to  reside  here. 

He  was  the  eighth  son  of  Peter  and  Mary  (Van  Cortlandt) 
Jay.  Peter  Jay,  like  his  father  and  grandfather,  was  a  mer- 
chant, and  followed  his  business  with  such  success,  that,  at  the 
age  of  forty,  he  was  able  to  retire  and  live  on  the  proceeds  of 
his  former  industry.  At  the  age  of  twenty-four  Peter  Jay 
married  Mary  Van  Cortlandt,  a  daughter  of  one  of  Westchester 
County's  oldest  families;  at  the  time  Mr.  Jay  decided  to  pur- 
chase a  farm  at  Rye,  in  this  County,  ten  children  had  been 
born  to  bless  their  union.  John  Jay,  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  little  more  than  a  babe  at  the  time  of  the  family's  removal 
to  Rye.  Jay's  ancestors  were  of  the  Huguenots  driven  from 
France.  His  great-grandfather  was  a  native  and  resident  of 
the  city  of  La  Rochelle,  for  which  the  city  of  New  Rochelle,  in 
this  County,  was  named. 

John  Jay  even  in  his  childhood  displayed  some  inklings  of 
the  spirit  which  was  to  animate  him  in  after  years.  His  early 
education  was  principally  derived  from  his  mother,  who  was  a 
woman  both  of  talents  and  information.  She  also  instilled 
into  his  mind  those  Christian  principles  which  we  find  exhibit- 
ing themselves  in  his  future  career.  At  the  age  of  eight  he  was 
sent  to  a  grammar  school  in  the  nearby  town  of  New  Rochelle. 
His  instructor  there  was  the  Rev.  Mr.  Stoope,  a  native  of 
Switzerland,  and  pastor  of  the  French  Church,  in  New  Rochelle. 
To  great  learning  and  fondness  for  mathematical  pursuits  the 
good  clergyman  united  absence  of  mind ;  and  his  pupil  suffered 
from  the  latter  almost  as  much  as  he  gained  from  the  former. 
To  the  clergyman's  wife,  who  was  as  miserly  as  he  was  care- 
less, the  care  of  his  household  was  committed,  and  several  anec- 
dotes are  recorded  of  the  sufferings  of  young  Jay,  both  as  to 
food  and  treatment.  Under  the  tuition  of  this  singular  clergy- 
man young  Jay  remained  three  years,  and  was  then  placed 
by  his  father  under  the  care  of  a  private  tutor,  who  prepared 
him  for  college.  The  college  selected  was  King's,  in  New  York 
city,  now  Columbia  University,  an  institution  which,  as  even 
in  the  early  days,  boasts  of  many  celebrated  men  among  its 


46  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

alumni.  On  May  15,  1764,  when  a  little  over  eighteen  years  of 
age,  he  graduated  from  college  with  his  degree  of  Bachelor  of 
Arts.  Two  weeks  later  he  began  the  study  of  law  in  the  office 
of  one  of  the  principal  law  firms  in  New  York  city.  In  1768 
he  was  admitted  to  practice,  and  soon,  by  his  talents  and  in- 
dustry, was  possessed  of  a  lucrative  business. 

Commissioners  were  at  this  time  appointed  by  the  King  to 
determine  a  disputed  boundary-line  between  the  provinces  of 
New  York  and  New  Jersey.  Mr.  Jay  was  named  as  secretary 
of  that  commission,  and  thus  commenced  his  public  career  as  a 
servant  of  the  King  to  whom  he  was  afterward  so  long  and  so 
successfully  opposed. 

In  the  year  1774,  Jay,  being  then  twenty-nine  years  of  age, 
was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Livingston,  daughter  of  William 
Livingston  of  New  Jersey.  Mr.  Livingston,  the  father  of  the 
bride,  had  distinguished  himself  as  an  ardent  and  active  patriot, 
and  became  the  first  Governor  of  New  Jersey  after  the  declara- 
tion of  independence. 

Mr.  Jay's  first  office  in  the  service  of  the  patriots,  was  one 
of  a  committee  appointed  by  the  citizens  of  New  York  to  corre- 
spond with  their  fellow  colonists  on  all  matters  of  moment, 
and  especially  upon  the  manner  of  their  resistance  to  the  op- 
pression of  the  mother  country.  Mr.  Jay  was  appointed  a  sub- 
committee, whose  business  was  to  prepare  answers  to  such  com- 
munications as  might  be  received. 

Among  the  labors  of  this  sub-committee,  an  answer  was 
framed  to  a  letter  from  the  people  of  Boston.  The  draught 
of  this  is  supposed  to  have  come  from  the  hands  of  Jay.  It 
is  not  a  little  remarkable,  as  it  contains  the  first  proposition 
for  the  provinces  to  elect  deputies  to  a  general  Congress.  The 
New  York  committee,  on  the  4th  of  July,  1774,  passed  resolu- 
tions that  their  city  ought  to  send  delegates  to  this  Congress, 
when  and  wherever  it  might  be  held;  they  also  nominated  five 
gentlemen,  among  whom  was  Jay,  as  suitable  representatives. 
They  were  elected;  but  Jay  and  two  of  his  colleagues,  con- 
ceiving, from  the  manner  of  their  election,  that  they  were  un- 
fairly appointed,  refused  to  serve,  unless  another  election  was 
held.  Accordingly,  a  second  election  took  place,  and  in  a  more 
formal  manner;  all  who  paid  taxes  voted,  and  the  proceedings 
were  countenanced  and  controlled  by  the  corporation  of  the 
city.  Mr.  Jay  was  elected,  and  he  was  one  of  the  representa- 
tives of  Westchester  County  as  well  as  of  New  York  city.    The 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  47 

situation  of  a  delegate  to  Congress  seems  to  have  been  by  no 
means  considered  as  one  that  ought  to  be  coveted,  doubtless 
many  feared  being  charged  with  treason  and  punished  by  Eng- 
land, and  many  counties  were  not  represented  (AVestchester 
County  was  not  in  this  number)  in  consequence  of  the  diffi- 
culty of  finding  proper  persons  who  were  willing  to  serve.  The 
towns  along  the  Hudson,  unable,  from  these  causes,  to  elect 
members,  committed  to  the  New  York  delegation  the  right  of 
voting  and  acting  for  them. 

Congress  assembled  in  Philadelphia  on  September  5,  1774. 
Mr,  Jay  took  his  seat  on  the  first  day  of  the  session,  and, 
although  the  youngest  member,  occupied  a  prominent  place  in 
the  business  of  the  assembly.  One  of  the  first  measures  of 
the  Congress  was  the  passage  and  recommendation  of  a  strict 
non-importation  act,  by  which  the  colonists  bound  themselves 
to  use  no  production  of  the  mother  country.  This  action  failing 
of  its  object.  Congress  decided  to  issue  an  address  to  the  people 
of  England,  remonstrating  against  the  decrees  of  the  British 
government  and  asking  assistance  in  bringing  about  their  repeal. 
The  preparation  of  this  important  paper  was  entrusted  to  Jay, 
young  though  he  was.  As  he  presented  it,  it  was  adopted  by 
Congress. 

New  York  city  made  Jay  a  member  of  the  committee  to  secure 
the  observance  of  the  non-importation  agreement. 

When  the  New  York  provisional  Congress  was  called  to  meet 
in  New  York  city,  Mr.  Jay  was  a  member. 

On  May  15,  1775,  the  general  Congress  again  assembled  in 
Philadelphia,  and  Jay  was  in  his  place.  He,  like  others  present, 
recognized  that  time  for  heroic  action  had  arrived,  the  battle 
of  Lexington  seems  to  have  developed  fully  to  them  the  plans 
of  the  British  government.  Congress  took  measures  for  the 
enlistment  of  an  American  army  and  the  formation  of  an 
American  navy.  Washington  was  appointed  commander-in- 
chief  on  June  15,  and  soon  after  other  generals  were  appointed. 
Mr,  Jay  took  prominent  part  in  arranging  details ;  he  suggested 
the  name  of  John  Sullivan  for  appointment  as  a  Brigadier 
General,  and  the  after  career  of  General  Sullivan  justified  this 
recommendation. 

Congress  appointed  Mr.  Jay  to  draw  up  a  call  to  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Canada,  inviting  them  to  make  common  cause  with 
the  united  provinces  against  their  common  enemy  Great  Britain. 
This  appeal,  most  ably  written,  was  made  in  vain. 


48  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

Mr.  Jay  was  one  of  a  committee  which  drew  up  a  paper, 
published  iu  July,  by  Congress,  as  a  declaration,  "setting  forth 
the  causes  and  necessity  for  taking  up  arms."  In  the  same 
month.  Jay  had  adopted  by  Congress  a  petition  signed  by  mem- 
bers making  the  last  appeal  to  the  King  for  justice;  opposition 
was  made  to  the  adoption,  but  Jay  vindicated  its  adoption  on 
the  plea  that,  if  no  attention  was  paid  to  it,  and  it  was  ignored 
as  h;ul  been  former  petitions,  the  world  would  see  that  there 
was  no  other  course  left  them;  that  they  were  without  other 
means  of  relief,  and  were  driven,  almost  without  their  own  con- 
sent, to  resort  to  actual  hostilities.  Mr.  Jay,  even  to  the  last 
period  of  his  life,  was  accustomed  to  refer  to  this  paper,  and 
state  his  conviction  that  it  had  great  effect  in  producing  unity 
of  purpose  among  his  countrymen.  As  he  did  in  the  case  of 
appealing  to  Canada,  Mr.  Jay  drew  up  the  appeal  for  co-opera- 
tion addressed  by  Congress  to  the  people  of  Ireland  and  Jamaica. 

Mr.  Jay  had  added  to  his  two  legislative  offices  the  appoint- 
ment as  a  colonel  of  a  militia  regiment  organized  to  protect 
New  York  city. 

He  was  a  member  of  a  committee,  with  Franklin  and  Jeffer- 
son, to  receive  overtures  of  French  assistance  in  the  war  of  the 
Ilevolution.  He  drew  the  first  draft  of  the  State  Constitution. 
When  the  "Council  of  Safety"  was  formed  to  hold  the  reins 
of  the  state  government  until  the  election  of  a  governor  and 
legislature  by  the  people.  Mr.  Jay  was  made  a  member  of 
that  council,  and  was  also  appointed  Chief  Justice  of  the  Su- 
preme Court.  This  council,  which  organized  in  New  York  city 
and  later  made  its  headquarters  in  White  Plains,  this  County, 
held  arbitrary  and  absolute  power,  as  was  necessary  on  account 
of  the  times.  Wliile  the  council  was  in  existence  the  State  was 
placed  in  a  most  trying  situation.  The  enemy  held  possession 
of  New  York  in  the  south,  and  an  invading  army  from  Canada 
entered  it  from  the  north;  even  true  men  began  to  despond, 
and  those  disaffected  arrayed  themselves  in  open  hostility. 

In  the  course  of  events,  it  was  now  imperative  that  a  Governor 
of  the  State  be  chosen.  Mr.  Jay  was  regarded  by  many  as  a 
fit  occupant  for  that  office,  and  was  desired  to  present  himself 
fis  n  candidate.  He  refused  the  offer  on  the  grounds  that  he 
could  be  of  more  use  to  the  State  in  the  office  of  Chief  Justice 
which  ho  thon  hold;  at  the  same  time  declaring  that  he  was 
fully  sensible  that  the  office  of  Governor  was  of  great  profit 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  49 

and  honor,  but  that  his  patriotism  taught  him  to  worli,  not 
for  his  own  good,  but  for  that  of  his  country. 

On  September  9,  1776,  the  first  term  of  the  Supreme  Court 
of  the  State  of  New  York,  under  the  new  Constitution,  was 
held  in  the  village  of  Kingston,  Justice  Jay  presiding.  The 
circumstances  under  which  this  court  was  held  seem  to  have 
made  a  deep  impression  on  his  mind.  In  his  charge  to  the  jury, 
he  pointed  out  to  them,  in  glowing  colors,  the  situation  that 
they  were  in,  and  the,  to  them,  particularly  happy  and  pleas- 
urable fact,  that  they  were  the  first  judicial  body  assembled 
under  a  new  and  free  Constitution. 

Mr,  Jay  was  made  a  member  of  a  committee  appointed  to 
pass  upon  all  bills  introduced  in  the  State  Legislature,  before 
they  were  permitted  to  become  laws. 

The  only  relaxation  that  his  duties  permitted  were  occasional 
visits  to  his  only  surviving  parent  at  Fishkill.  He  had  caused 
the  removal  of  his  parents  from  Rye  to  Fishkill,  that  they 
might  escape  annoyance  from  people  unfriendly  to  the  Amer- 
ican cause. 

Mr.  Jay  resigned  the  position  of  Chief  Justice  to  return  to 
Congress  at  the  solicitation  of  the  New  York  legislature,  as  he 
did  not  desire  to  hold  both  offices  at  the  same  time;  he  was 
convinced  he  could  be  of  more  service  to  his  country  in  Con- 
gress, performing  special  duties  laid  out  for  him ;  of  which  Con- 
gress he  became  president. 

History  records,  and  the  record  is  long,  the  many  noble  deeds 
performed  by  Mr.  Jay  in  securing  the  liberty  and  establishing 
a  government  for  his  country.  But  few  facts  have  been  related 
in  this  sketch,  space  prevents  the  giving  of  his  history  in  detail 
in  this  volume. 

In  the  opening  scenes  of  the  Revolution  he  was  fully  aware 
of  the  penalty  which  would  fall,  in  case  of  failure,  upon  the 
leaders  of  what  the  British  government  called  a  rebellion,  yet 
he  placed  himself  foremost  in  the  discussions,  and  was  speedily 
called  by  his  compeers  to  hold  the  highest  place.  In  his  mis- 
sion to  Spain  he  manifested  the  same  fearlessness  and  inde- 
pendence, disregarding  his  instructions  from  Congress  when  he 
found  that,  by  obeying  them,  he  would  waive  advantages  which 
the  course  of  that  government  had  secured  to  the  United  States. 
The  negotiations  of  the  treaty  of  Paris  is  a  still  more  marked 
instance  of  this  fearless  independence  of  character.     He  saw, 


50  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

or  thought  he  saw,  that  the  French  government  desired  to 
retain  the  United  States  as  a  vassal  nation;  and,  although  un- 
supported for  a  time  by  his  colleague,  he  boldly  pursued  the 
course  his  sense  of  right  and  patriotism  dictated.  His  success 
justified  his  conduct,  and  the  treaty  favored  the  United  States, 
rather  than  France. 

In  the  position  of  Chief  Justice  of  the  United  States,  to 
which  he  had  been  appointed  by  President  Washington,  he  ren- 
dered decisions  in  accordance  with  what  he  knew  to  be  the 
sense  of  the  Constitution,  regardless  of  personal  consequences. 
President  Washington  said  of  him,  "In  appointing  John  Jay 
as  Chief  Justice,  I  have  not  only  followed  my  own  inclinations 
but  also  rendered  the  highest  possible  service  to  the  country." 

To  accept  a  mission  to  Great  Britain  at  the  moment  he  did, 
called  for  the  exercise  of  qualities  similar  to  those  exhibited 
in  other  official  positions. 

He  was,  in  1795,  elected  Governor  of  his  native  State,  and 
served  two  terms,  six  years,  succeeding  George  Clinton,  who 
had  held  the  office  18  years  (and  3  years  later,  21  years  in 
all),  when  he  was  succeeded  by  his  predecessor.  While  holding 
this  office,  Jay's  bold  resistance  to  what  he  considered  an  en- 
croachment on  the  rights  of  his  office  as  Governor  by  the  Council 
of  Appointment,  selecting  officers  without  advising  with  him, 
was  a  surprise  and  shock  to  members  of  said  Council  who 
expected  a  quiet  protest  only;  he  adjourned  the  Council,  which 
could  not  meet  unless  he  called  them  together;  and  although 
the  civil  offices  of  eleven  counties  were  then  vacant,  he  resolved 
to  abide  by  his  own  construction  of  the  Constitution.  Under 
the  Governor  who  succeeded  him,  the  legislature  put  the  power 
of  appointment  in  the  Council  alone;  the  Constitution  of  1821 
gave  the  power  of  nomination  wholly  to  the  Governor,  as  Mr. 
Jay  contended  it  should  be. 

Relinquishing  public  office,  Mr.  Jay  sought  retirement  at 
Bedford,  where  he  had  established  a  home,  in  his  favorite  West- 
chester County.  Here  he  could  find  that  peace  restful  to  an 
active  man ;  he  could  dwell  with  pleasure  upon  the  recollections 
of  energies  well  devoted,  of  talent  well  applied.  In  his  letters 
to  his  friends,  he  states  that  it  was  sufficient  occupation  for 
him  to  muse  upon  the  past,  to  prepare  for  eternity.  He  now 
conscientiously  devoted  himself  to  the  duties  of  a  private  life; 
he  did  not  permit  political  dissensions  of  the  day  to  bother  him; 
he  improved  his  paternal  acres;  he  rebuilt  the  mansion  of  his 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  51 

fathers;  he  was  kind  to  his  dependents,  useful  to  his  equals. 
He  busied  himself  with  all  the  little  interesting  occupations  of 
a  country  life ;  he  rode  round  his  fields ;  he  cultivated  his  farm ; 
he  interested  himself  in  county  business;  he  was  a  promoter 
of  a  number  of  county  societies  for  the  diffusion  of  knowledge 
and  religion. 

The  manner  of  his  life  was  simple  and  regular.  He  rose 
up  with  or  before  the  sun,  and  spent  the  greater  portion  of 
the  day  in  the  open  air.  The  first  and  greatest  affliction  in  his 
retirement  was  caused  by  the  death  of  his  wife,  which  occurred 
soon  after  he  went  to  Bedford  to  reside. 

One  of  his  sons,  Peter  A.  Jay,  was  sent  from  Westchester 
County  as  a  delegate  to  the  State  Constitutional  Convention  in 
1821;  another  son,  William  Jay,  served  as  County  Judge  of 
Westchester  County,  in  1820-1-2-3. 

John  Jay  died  at  his  home,  on  May  17,  1829,  at  the  age  of 
84  years.  He  was  seriously  ill  two  years  before  and  not  expected 
to  live,  but  his  robust  constitution  carried  him  to  recovery. 
He  was  finally  seized  with  palsy  while  in  bed.  His  strong  mind 
remained  unimpaired  to  the  last.  His  remains  rest  in  the  local 
cemetery. 

The  Jay  mansion  in  Bedford  is  still  maintained,  and  is  occu- 
pied by  a  direct  descendant  of  the  first  owner. 


52  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

DAHIUS  OGDEN  MILLS,  financier  and  philanthropist,  and 
known  as  such  all  the  Avorld  over,  was  born  in  Westchester 
County,  in  the  historic  town  of  North  Salem,  on  September  5, 
1825,  the  fourth  son  of  James  and  Hannah  (Ogden)  Mills. 

His  father,  a  sturd}'  farmer,  was  for  many  years  a  leading 
citizen  in  this  quiet  community;  a  considerable  landowner, 
Postmaster,  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  engaged  in  various  busi- 
ness enterprises.  One  of  these,  during  the  youth  of  his  son, 
led  James  i\Iills  to  the  purchase  of  a  hotel  and  dock  property 
in  Sing  Sing,  now  Ossining  village,  whither  he  removed,  and 
where,  in  1841,  he  died.  He  left  a  wife  (who  survived  him 
nine  years),  five  sons  and  one  daughter.  The  Sing  Sing  in- 
vestments, as  well  as  some  others  of  Mr.  Mills's  later  life, 
did  not  turn  out  fortunately,  and  thus,  at  the  age  of  sixteen, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  left  with  no  prospects  in  life 
save  what  he  could  make  for  himself.  Old  residents  often  spoke 
of  remembering  the  "Mills  boy,"  who  frequently  drove  hack 
for  his  father,  to  and  from  the  railroad  station  at  Sing  Sing, 
as  being  then  a  lad  of  more  than  usual  "push."  As  a  boy 
he  showed  industrious  traits,  doing  willingly  what  his  hands 
foimd  to  do.  Though  young,  he  proved  of  great  assistance  to 
his  father;  the  time  he  had  to  spare  from  school  was  always 
spent  usefully.  To  make  an  honest  penny  he  stood  ready  in 
unoccupied  hours  to  work  for  a  neighbor,  in  the  field  or  driving 
horses,  and  he  was  saving  of  his  pennies. 

His  father  had  taken  great  pains  with  the  education  of  the 
family,  and  had,  besides,  both  by  precept  and  example,  care- 
fully impressed  upon  them  the  principles  of  sound  morality 
and  scrupulous  integrity  as  the  basis  of  the  only  success 
worth  having.  They  were,  as  they  came  to  school  age, 
trained  at  the  North  Salem  Academy.  Later  Darius  was  sent 
to  the  Mount  Pleasant  Academy,  then  the  chief  educational 
institution  of  Sing  Sing,  if  not,  indeed,  of  Westchester  County. 
Here  his  tastes  w^ere  observed  to  run  strongly  to  mathematics, 
and  it  was  noted  that  his  fancy  already  inclined  to  a  business 
career.  At  seventeen  he  left  the  Academy  and  set  about  the 
■work  of  supporting  himself  and  making  his  way  in  the  w^orld. 
He  decided  to  go  to  New  York,  "the  big  city  wonderful"  in 
the  eyes  of  every  lad  even  in  those  early  days. 

The  city  then  was  not  more  than  a  provincial  town,  with 
woods  and  meadows  covering  the  district  north  of  the  City 
Hall;  it  was  filled  with  a  thrifty  population  that  knew  little 


DARIUS  OGDEN  MILLS 


l>^     '         \V> 


>^  *■•':,..- 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  53 

of  the  extremes  of  wealth  or  poverty.  Young  Mills  secured 
a  clerkship  in  a  bank,  a  position  which  was  not  difficult  to  get 
in  those  days ;  a  moderate  degree  of  industry  could  produce  a 
sufficiently  comfortable  income. 

Here,  and  in  some  work  relating  to  the  settlement  of  his 
father's  small  remaining  estate,  he  w^as  occupied  for  several 
years.  By  this  time  he  had  shown  such  business  capacity  and 
steadiness  that  his  cousin  (on  the  mother's  side),  E.  J.  Town- 
send,  invited  him  to  Buffalo  to  serve  as  cashier  in  the  Mer- 
chants' Bank  of  Erie  County,  with  an  arrangement  for  a  one- 
third  interest.  In  1847,  when  only  twenty-two  years  old,  he 
joined  his  cousin  in  Buffalo,  assumed  at  once  the  duties  of 
cashier,  and  soon  seemed  to  have  found  his  vocation  and  location 
in  life.  The  new  cashier  made  friends  and  was  liked  and  trusted, 
and  the  cousins  had  what  was  for  those  times  a  good  and  an  in- 
creasingly profitable  business.  They  enjoyed  excellent  credit, 
both  at  home  and  with  New  York  bankers — a  circumstance  that 
was  soon  to  be  of  benefit  to  them  in  a  new  and  very  different 
field. 

In  the  summer  of  1848  gold  was  discovered  in  California. 
By  autumn  the  gold  fever  was  visibly  affecting  the  Buffalo 
community.  It  struck  also  the  members  of  the  Mills  family 
in  New  York,  and  presently  two  of  the  brothers,  James  and 
Edgar,  started  on  a  sailing  vessel  around  the  Horn  for  Cali- 
fornia, taking  with  them  a  stock  of  goods,  with  which  they 
purposed  to  begin  business  on  the  Pacific  Slope.  Still,  the 
young  Buffalo  cashier  was  little  impressed.  His  temper,  though 
bold  and  resolute,  was  also  essentially  conservative;  he  was 
doing  well  and  was  satisfied.  In  the  early  winter  the  news 
from  California  became  still  more  alluring.  One  evening  he 
and  two  of  his  friends,  William  B.  Rochester  (then  a  young 
man  of  about  Mr.  Mills's  own  age,  in  business  with  his  uncle, 
Israel  T.  Hatch,  and  afterward  Paymaster  General  of  the 
United  States  Army),  and  Joseph  Stringham  (a  considerably 
older  man,  then  in  the  exchange  business,  and  afterward  presi- 
dent of  a  bank),  were  in  conversation  over  the  reports  from 
the  diggings.  Suddenly  Rochester  proposed  that  the  three 
should  go  to  California  and  start  in  business  together.  Mr. 
Mills's  reply  was  an  early  example  of  that  rapidity  of  decision 
which  afterward  served  him  so  well  in  his  business  career.  He 
said  at  once  he  would  go  if  the  others  would,  and  would  be 
ready  to  start  in  ten  days.     They  talked  late  into  the  night 


54  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

over  their  plaus,  and  were  enthusiastic  at  the  prospect;  but 
Rochester  had  to  consult  his  uncle  and  Stringham  had  to  see 
whether  he  could  close  up  his  business.  Next  morning  both 
reported  difficulties  in  the  way,  to  which  Mr.  Mills's  prompt 
response  was :  ' '  Very  well ;  I  am  going,  and  I  shall  start  in 
ten  days." 

In  ten  days  he  did  start,  although  in  the  meantime  he  had 
stood  a  hard  siege  from  friends  and  relatives,  who  remonstrated 
with  him  for  leaving  a  field  where  he  was  doing  so  well  and 
had  already  made  valuable  associations.  But  his  cousin  and 
partner  raised  no  objections. 

And  so  Mills,  when  but  twenty-four  years  of  age,  started 
late  in  December,  1848,  with  a  through  ticket  by  way  of  the 
isthmus,  calling  for  passage  on  the  Pacific  side  on  the  first  up 
trip  of  the  new  steamer  California.  At  Panama  he  found 
three  thousand  persons  waiting  for  steamers  or  for  any  other 
craft  that  would  take  them  to  San  Francisco.  The  story  was 
that  every  ship  entering  the  Golden  Gate  was  instantly  de- 
serted by  its  crew  for  the  gold  diggings,  and  that  thus  vessels 
found  it  impossible  to  get  out  of  the  harbor  again.  Going  up 
and  down  among  the  eager,  impatient  throng  stranded  in  Pan- 
ama, Mr.  Mills  presently  found  some  people  who  had  come  to 
the  isthmus  from  Valparaiso,  on  their  way  east  from  San  Fran- 
cisco. Talk  with  them  suggested  the  idea  of  chartering  several 
ships  in  South  American  ports  to  take  passengers  to  San  Fran- 
cisco. He  soon  enlisted  a  friend  in  his  scheme,  and  the  enter- 
prise, principally  through  young  Mills's  energy,  was  successful. 
He  had  to  think  and  act  promptly  for  himself.  When  he 
arrived  in  San  Francisco  he  found  some  acquaintances,  heard 
the  latest  stories  from  the  diggings,  abandoned  any  idea  of 
Trashing  gold,  and  laid  his  plans  for  a  trading  expedition 
to  Stockton,  in  the  San  Joaquin  Valley,  then  the  headquarters 
for  the  business  of  the  southern  mines.  He  took  as  a  partner 
a  fellow  voyager  who  was  well  recommended,  bought  a  small 
sailing  craft  and  stocked  it  with  goods.  Part  of  these  he  was 
able  to  buy  for  cash;  the  rest  were  consigned  to  him  by  a 
shipowner  and  trader  whom  he  had  met  on  the  journey  out, 
and  who  was  influenced  in  placing  his  confidence  in  Mr.  Mills 
partly  by  the  young  man's  credentials,  but  quite  as  much  by 
his  personal  bearing. 

At  Stockton  the  cargo  of  his  little  craft  was  sold  at  prices 
that  should  have  shown  a  handsome  profit,  and  he  made  his  way 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  55 

down  the  rivers  again  to  San  Francisco.  Not  liking  his  part- 
ner's business  methods,  however,  he  sold  out  the  vessel  on  his 
return,  and  so  closed  the  venture,  with  a  small  loss. 

He  had  now  found  out  that  Sacramento  was  a  better  base 
of  supplies  for  trade  with  the  mines  than  Stockton,  and  his 
experience  had  taught  him  just  what  kinds  of  goods  to  take. 
In  association  with  two  old  acquaintances  he  invested  his  en- 
tire capital,  excepting  a  trifle  for  personal  expenses,  and  then 
bought  on  credit  or  secured  on  special  consignments  enough 
more  goods  to  furnish  nearly  the  entire  cargo  for  a  small 
schooner  about  to  sail  for  Sacramento.  The  freight  bill  was 
more  than  $5,000,  due  on  arrival,  and  he  had  not  $40  left  in 
his  pocket.  Arriving  at  Sacramento,  he  ordered  his  goods  dis- 
charged and  asked  the  captain  to  make  out  his  bill.  Meantime, 
he  began  selling  goods  at  the  landing  as  they  were  put  off,  and 
before  the  bill  was  presented  he  had  taken  in  money  enough 
to  pay  it. 

This  venture  proved  highly  profitable,  and  Mr.  Mills  at  once 
began  a  regular  business  in  Sacramento,  selling  general  mer- 
chandise, buying  gold  dust  and  dealing  in  exchange  on  New 
York.  In  the  meantime  his  brothers  James  and  Edgar  had  been 
making  their  way  by  sail  around  the  Horn.  Landing  at  last 
at  Sacramento  with  their  goods,  almost  the  first  man  they  met 
was  the  successful  young  merchant  and  banker  whom  they 
supposed  to  be  still  at  work  as  a  bank  cashier  in  Buffalo. 

In  accordance  with  the  arrangement  made  with  his  cousin 
and  partner  in  Buft'alo  before  starting,  Mr.  Mills  closed  out 
his  Sacramento  business  in  November,  1849,  and  started  back 
with  about  $40,000  as  the  net  profits  of  his  season's  work.  Of 
course,  his  future  was  now  determined.  He  was  delighted  with 
his  experience,  pleased  with  the  country  and  so  satisfied  with 
its  resources  and  prospects  that  he  was  already  resolved  to 
make  it  his  home.  He  arrived  in  Buffalo  in  December,  having 
been  absent  just  about  a  year,  and  proceeded  to  close  out  his 
interest  in  the  bank.  His  partner,  Townsend,  wished  still, 
however,  to  have  a  half  interest  in  the  California  business,  and 
put  in  capital  to  that  amount.  The  two  partners  busied  them- 
selves during  the  winter  in  loading  a  bark  and  part  of  a  ship 
with  goods  which  they  had  bought  for  the  Sacramento  trade. 
These  were  dispatched  around  the  Horn  as  early  as  possible, 
and  in  the  spring  Mr.  Mills  himself  started,  by  way  of  the 
isthmus     Arrived  in  Sacramento,  he  again  began  dealing  in 


56  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

general  merchandise,  grokl  dust  and  exchange.  By  the  autumn 
of  1850  he  had  disposed  of  his  various  cargoes  of  merchandise 
and  had  so  enlarged  the  other  branches  of  his  business  that 
they  required  all  his  attention. 

Then  began  the  Bank  of  D.  0.  ]\Iills  &  Co.,  which  at  once 
became— and  to  this  da}^  under  the  same  title,  remains— the 
leading  bank  of  Sacramento  for  the  interior.  It  is  the  oldest 
bank  that  has  always  maintained  full  credit  in  the  State.  Dur- 
ing the  following  ten  years,  and  years  after,  Mr.  Mills 
was  continuously  and  largely  successful,  and  became  kno^vn 
as  the  leading  banker  of  the  State,  and,  as  the  saying  went, 
"the  luckiest."  The  "luck  of  D.  0.  Mills"  was,  in  fact,  al- 
most a  proverb,  but  it  was  joined  with  a  reputation  for  unerring 
judgment,  rapid  decision,  great  boldness,  and  an  unbending 
integrity.  He  would  have  nothing  to  do  with  questionable 
schemes,  and  his  word  was  universally  known  to  be  as  good  as 
his  bond. 

In  JuJy,  1864,  Mr.  Mills  was  elected  president  of  the  Bank 
of  California,  which  he  was  instrumental  in  organizing.  He 
became  actively  interested  in  financial  institutions  too  nu- 
merous to  mention  here,  and  in  various  enterprises,  such 
as  aiding  in  the  building  and  management  of  railroads, 
the  construction  of  iron  worl«,  the  development  of  oil  fields 
and  lead  mines,  and  the  erection  of  many  buildings  in  San 
Francisco  and  Sacramento.  He  became  Regent  and  Treasurer 
of  the  University  of  California.  Following  his  resignation  of 
these  positions,  he  presented  the  University  with  a  gift  of 
$175,000,  to  endow  a  professorship  of  Moral  and  Intellectual 
Philosophy. 

BACK    TO    NEW    YORK. 

If  in  definitely  transferring  his  residence  for  the  greater 
part  of  the  year  to  his  native  State  Mr.  Mills  withdrew  :n  a 
measure  from  active  business,  it  was  not  by  any  means  to  live 
the  life  of  a  recluse.  The  obligation  of  caring  for  his  large 
fortune,  of  finding  new  investments  for  his  surplus  income, 
kept  him  still  prominent  in  the  world  of  affairs.  He  foimd 
himself  constantly  interested  in  the  progress  and  success  of 
the  enterprises  that  commanded  his  confidence  and  drawn  to 
serve  on  their  directorates.  A  mere  enumeration  of  the  cor- 
porations with  which  he  was  so  associated  is  sufficient  'o  indi- 
cate the  wide  range  of  his  financial  interests.  Perhaps  the 
most  important  of  the  latter  enterprises  in  which  Mr.  Mills 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  67 

took  a  leading  part  was  the  so-called  "harnessing  of  Niagara." 
In  spite  of  his  advanced  years,  he  entered  with  all  the  enthusi- 
asm of  youth  upon  the  herculean  task  of  making  the  great 
cataract  the  servant  of  man,  devoting  his  ripened  and  undi- 
minished energies  to  the  development  of  its  almost  unlimited 
water  power.  Many  banks  and  other  financial  institutions  and 
enterprises  in  New  York  found  in  him  substantial  support,  and 
in  most  of  the  prominent  ones  he  was  a  director  or  trustee. 

In  New  York  he  cast  about  him  for  ways  in  which  he  could 
best  benefit  his  fellow  men  without  pauperizing  them  or  im- 
pairing  their   self-respect.     How   great  his   benefactions  were 
may  never  be  known  from  the  very  manner  of  their  bestowal, 
but  some  of  his  philanthropies  were  on  so  large  a  scale  that 
despite  his  efforts  they  refused  to  be  hid.     Such  a  one  was 
his  gift  to  the  city  of  New  York  of  the  building  for  a  training 
school  for  male  nurses  on  the  grounds  of  Bellevue  Hospital  in 
1888.     The  essentially  practical  nature  of  Mr.  Mills's  philan- 
thropic impulses  was  most  clearly  demonstrated,  however,  in  the 
construction  and  administration  of  the  three  great  Mills  Hotels 
for  homeless  men.    Two  of  these  buildings  have  been  in  success- 
ful operation  in  New  York  city  for  twelve  years,  justifying 
the  erection  of  the  third  at  Seventh  avenue  and  Thirty-sixth 
street,  that  city,  at  a  cost  of  more  than  $1,500,000,  which  was 
opened  two  years  ago.    Mr.  Mills  took  an  intense  and  practical 
interest  in  the  New  York  Botanical  Garden  from  its  inception, 
contributing  $25,000  to  the  original  endowment  in  1895,   and 
giving  smaller  sums  whenever  they  were  required.     Mr.  Mills 
was,   in  an   altogether  unusual   sense,   a  quiet,   well-informed, 
broad-minded  man  of  the  world.     Fond  of  the  society  of  men 
whose  experience  and  culture  ran  in  different  channels  from  his 
own,  he  was  not  only  valued  in  turn  by  them  as  an  associate 
in  business  and  public  spirited   enterprises,  but  welcomed  as 
a  friend  and  companion  in  more  purely  social  relations.     He 
was  a  member  of  several  prominent  societies  and  took  an  active 
interest  them. 

In  his  younger  days  Mr.  Mills  was  a  conservative  Democrat, 
as  his  father  was  before  him.  With  the  breaking  out  of  the 
Civil  War,  however,  he  supported  the  Republican  candidates 
and  afterward  generally  voted  with  that  party.  He  was  a 
regular  attendant,  and  for  many  years  a  vestryman,  of  St. 
Thomas's  Church,  and  gave  liberally  to  its  support  and  to  its 
many  charities. 


58  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

Mr.  IMills  was  married  on  September  5,  1854,  to  Miss  Jane 
Templeton  Cunningham,  daughter  of  James  Cunningham,  of 
New  York.     Mrs.  Mills  died  on  April  26,  1888. 

Mr.  Mills  died  January  3,  1910,  while  on  a  temporary  visit 
to  California.  His  two  children,  Ogden  Mills  and  Mrs.  White- 
law  Reid,  survive  him.  His  grandchildren  are  Ogden  L.  Mills, 
Mrs.  Henry  Carnegie  Phipps,  and  the  Countess  of  Granard, 
children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ogden  Mills,  and  Ogden  Mills  Reid 
and  Mrs.  John  Ward,  children  of  ]\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Whitelaw  Reid. 

Mr.  ]\Iills's  remains  lie  in  the  Mills  Mausoleum,  in  Sleepy 
Hollow  Cemetery,  North  Tarrytown,  in  this  county. 


LEWIS  MORRIS  who  was  among  the  signers  of  the  Declara- 
tion of  Independence,  and  prominent  among  the  delegates  in 
the  Convention,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Colonial  Assem- 
blies, resided  in  Westchester  County,  in  Morrisania,  the 
town  that  was  named  in  honor  of  his  family.  Mr,  Morris 
is  credited  with  being  a  good  farmer,  as  he  was  a  sterling 
patriot.  He  died  at  his  home,  on  January  22,  1798,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-two  years.  The  associates  of  Mr.  Morris  as 
delegates  from  the  State  of  New  York,  who  signed  the  Declara- 
tion of  Independence,  were  Philip  Livingston,  Francis  Lewis 
and  William  Floyd.  Of  the  total  signers  only  two,  Adams  and 
Jefferson,  became  Presidents  of  the  United  States.  Washington 
and  Madison,  afterward  Presidents,  were  not  members  of  the 
convention  when  the  Declaration  of  Independence  was  signed, 
but  were  members  of  the  convention  which  adopted  the  Con- 
stitution. 

Gen.  Morris  was  in  attendance  at  the  meeting  of  the  Colonial 
Congress  of  the  Province  of  New  York  at  White  Plains,  July 
9,  1776. 

General  Morris  was  born  in  the  Manor  of  Morrisania,  in  1726, 
a  son  of  Lewis  Morris  and  Catherine  Staats  Morris.  His  father 
was  Chief  Justice,  a  member  of  the  Colonial  Assembly,  and 
patriot,  highly  respected  for  many  good  qualities. 

The  son  graduated  from  Yale  College  in  1746.  Prior  to  the 
Revolutionary  period  he  devoted  much  of  his  time  to  the  pur- 
suit of  agriculture  on  his  estates  in  Morrisania.  At  the  begin- 
ning of  the  Revolution  he  was  made  a  Brigadier-General  in  the 
Continental  Armv. 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  59 

A  son,  Richard  Valentine  Morris,  was  a  Commodore  in  the 
United  States  Navy. 

The  Morris  family  mansion  was  located  near  Port  Morris, 
overlooking  Bronx  Kills,  built  by  General  Morris  in  1781. 

General  Morris  died  at  his  home  January  22,  1798. 


GOUVERNEUR  MORRIS  was  born  in  Morrisania  January 
31,  1752.  He  was  a  son  of  Lewis  Morris  and  his  second  wife 
Sarah  Gouverneur,  and  a  half-brother  of  General  Lewis  Morris. 
He  was  graduated  from  King's  College  in  1768.  In  1775  he 
was  a  delegate  to  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New  York  and  a 
member  of  the  Committee  of  Safety  for  Westchester  County. 
He  being  a  lawyer  of  eminence  he  was  of  valuable  assistance 
in  all  bodies.  He  was  one  of  the  committee  which  drafted  the 
Constitution  of  the  State  of  New  York,  adopted  in  April,  1777. 
He  was  American  Minister  to  France  during  the  French  Revo- 
lution and  a  member  of  the  Constitutional  Convention  which 
framed  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States.  In  1800  he  was 
chosen  United  States  Senator  from  New  York  State.  He  was 
closely  associated  with  Governor  DeWitt  Clinton  in  the  work 
of  constructing  the  Erie  Canal.  "Was  an  intimate  friend  of 
General  Alexander  Hamilton,  was  at  his  side  at  his  death,  and 
delivered  his  funeral  oration. 

Mr.  Morris  resided  in  a  palatial  residence  situated  in  the 
southeast  corner  of  the  Manor,  near  what  was  later  known  as 
Port  Morris,  just  east  of  what  is  now  St.  Ann's  avenue.  The 
house  was  recently  torn  down  to  make  room  for  the  New 
York,  New  Haven  and  Hartford  Railroad. 

Mr.  Morris  died  at  his  home  on  November  5,  1816. 


ROBERT  RUTHERFORD  MORRIS  died  at  his  home  in 
New  Rochelle,  on  September  5,  1881.  Mr.  Morris  had  passed 
the  allotted  three  score  years  and  ten,  having  been  born  in  1808. 
He  belonged  to  the  historic  Morris  family  descended  from  New 
Jersey's  first  English  Governor,  Lewis  Morris.  His  father,  James 
Morris,  was  the  son  of  Lewis  Morris,  who,  for  signing  the  Declar- 


60  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

ation  of  Independence,  had  his  manor  at  Morrisania  laid  waste 
by  British  troops,  where,  thirty-two  years  later  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  was  born.  There,  too,  was  he  raised.  Gouverneur 
Morris,  the  statesman  of  the  Revolution,  was  Robert's  relative 
and  one  of  his  earliest  advisers.  It  was  under  the  directions  of 
Gouverneur  that  the  lad  was  entered  as  an  apprentice  in  the 
extensive  mercantile  house  of  Peter  Harmony  &  Co.,  of  New 
York,  and  trained  to  business  habits.  But  this  training  did  not 
produce  any  love  for  labor  upon  the  part  of  the  young  man,  and 
once  free  from  the  shackles  of  its  routine,  he  never  returned  to  it. 
At  an  early  age  he  married  Hannah  Cornell  Edgar,  the  only 
daughter  of  W.  Edgar,  and  granddaughter  of  Herman  LeRoy, 
who  ranked  among  the  first  New  York  merchants  of  the  last 
century.  The  j\Iorrises  were  probably  the  most  influential  family 
in  this  country  at  that  time,  as  they  had  been  for  many  years, 
and  the  circumstances  of  Avhich  the  young  man  entered  upon  his 
career  were  very  favorable.  Through  his  mother  he  was  con- 
nected with  the  distinguished  Van  Courtlandt  family,  and  this 
family  prestige  was  supplemented,  in  no  small  degree,  by  his 
marriage  in  the  influential  Edgar  and  Le  Roy  circles.  Wealth 
was  his  in  almost  unlimited  volume,  and  it  was  not  strange, 
therefore,  that  he  was  averse  to  a  struggle  for  profits  among  a 
crowd.  After  his  marriage  he  lived  as  a  man  of  fortune,  "a 
gentleman  of  the  old  school."  Genial,  whole-souled  and  honest, 
he  gathered  friends  around  him  and  made  few  enemies.  Char- 
itable to  a  fault,  he  refused  no  man  a  favor  that  could  be  granted. 
]\Ir.  ]\Iorris  and  Daniel  Webster  were  firm  friends,  in  New 
York  social  circles  this  intimacy  was  formed.  Both  were  cor- 
dially received  by  the  Edgars,  New  Bolds,  LeRoys,  and  other 
fashionable  families  having  their  homes  near  the  battery,  then 
the  aristocratic  families  of  the  city.  In  his  second  marriage 
Webster  followed  the  footsteps  of  his  friend,  and  married  into 
the  Le  Roy  family,  becoming  thus  still  more  closely  attached  to 
Morris.  Just  before  Webster  died,  he  took  his  heavj^  gold  ring 
with  its  handsome  stone  and  motto,  and  insisted  that  iMorris 
should  take  it,  "As  Token,"  he  said,  "of  my  gratitude.  You 
have  been  my  best  friend."  Mr.  Morris  in  a  similar  way,  and 
wilh  till'  like  words  gave  the  same  ring  to  his  "best  friend," 
Walton  White  Evans.  Mr.  IMorris  in  his  lifetime  treasured  this 
ring  almost  beyond  conception.  Once  a  purse-proud  individual 
tried  to  gain  it  by  an  offer  of  $1,000.  Mr.  Morris  calmly  replied 
that  "$10,000,  Sir,  wouldn't  tempt  me." 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  Gl 

HIRAM  PAULDING,  late  Rear-Admiral  of  the  United  States 
Navy,  was  born  in  town  of  Cortlandt,  this  County,  on  December 
11,  1797,  a  son  of  John  Paulding,  one  of  the  captors  of  Major 
John  Andre,  the  British  officer,  as  a  spy. 

In  1811,  when  Paulding  was  fourteen  years  of  age.  President 
Madison,  in  part  recognition  of  the  services  the  lad's  father 
had  rendered  his  country,  and  at  the  same  time  assist  a  bright 
youngster,  gave  the  boy  an  appointment  as  a  midshipman  in 
the  navy. 

He  served  under  Decatur  and  took  part  in  the  volunteer 
cruise  in  the  schooner  Dolphin  in  search  of  the  mutineers  of 
the  whale  ship  Globe.  In  1824  he  set  out  on  his  mission  to 
reach  Gen.  Simon  Bolivar,  the  Columbian  liberator,  in  camp 
in  the  Andes,  and  his  own  story  of  this  expedition  was  pub- 
lished in  1834. 

Admiral  Paulding  was  in  command  of  the  Brooklyn  Navy 
Yard  at  the  time  of  the  construction  of  the  Monitor,  and  for 
him  is  claimed  the  credit  of  hastening  the  building  of  the 
peculiarly  constructed  (as  it  was  considered  at  the  time)  little 
craft  that  went  out  and  met  and  conquered  in  Hampton  Roads 
the  Rebel  terror— the  Merrimac. 

The  late  admiral  has  been  described  as  "a  chivalrous  hero 
of  the  old  days,  whose  official  life  is  interwoven  with  his  Coun- 
try's history,  whose  home  life  was  a  rarely  beautiful  one  and 
whose  example  is  worthy  of  imitation." 

Since  his  death,  quite  recently,  one  of  the  new  war  vessels 
has  been  named  by  the  Government  in  his  honor. 

His  daughter,  Rebecca  Paulding  Meade,  is  the  author  of  a 
recently  published  book  entitled  the  "Life  of  Hiram  Paulding, 
Rear  Admiral,  U.  S.  N." 


JARED  V.  PECK,  of  Rye,  who  represented  the  district,  in- 
cluding this  County,  as  Assemblyman  in  1848,  in  Congress  in 
1853  and  1854,  and  a  Presidential  Elector  in  1856,  was  a  man 
of  strong  character  and  of  pronounced  views.  On  one  occasion, 
in  recent  years,  a  prominent  County  politician  called  upon  him 
to  secure  his  support  for  a  certain  political  candidate,  and  fail- 
ing to  get  his  desire,  informed  Mr.  Peck  that  he  did  not  under- 
stand him,  and  asked  his  grounds  for  refusal.  "Principle, 
sir,"  replied  the  brave  Congressman.  "And  some  people  cannot 
understand  why  other  people  do  things  from  principle." 

Mr.  Peck  died  in  1884,  at  his  residence  in  Rye. 


62  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

EDGAR  ALLAN  POE  was  not  a  native  of  this  County,  hav- 
ing been  born  in  Boston,  Mass.,  January  19,  1809. 

He  came  among  us  in  1846,  and  became  a  resident  of  Ford- 
ham,  in  the  town  of  West  Farms,  and  the  little  cottage  where  he 
and  his  most  amiable  wife  dwelt  still  stands  as  one  of  the  show 
places  in  that  section.  In  this  humble  cottage  Poe  spent  some 
of  the  happiest  hours  of  his  singular  and  eventful  life;  his  time 
of  bliss  proved  short,  his  devoted  wife  dying  in  January,  1847 ; 
^  she  lies  buried  in  the  church-yard  of  the  Dutch  Reformed 
y   Church  on  the  Kingsbridge  road. 

In  the  Fordham  cottage  he  wrote  "Annabelle  Lee,"  "Eu- 
reka," and  "Ulalume." 

He  remained  a  resident  of  Fordham  until  June  29,  1849,  when 
he  went  to  Baltimore,  Md.,  where  he  died  on  October  7,  1849; 
he  never  recovered  from  the  blow  he  received  by  the  death  of 
his  wife. 

The  little  one  and  a  half  story  cottage  on  the  Kingsbridge 
road  stood  until  quite  recently  on  the  old  spot,  the  grounds 
surrounding  it  growing  beautifully  less  as  the  years  advanced. 
The  humble  abode  of  a  distinguished  man  was  being  crowded 
out  of  place,  as  it  were,  on  all  sides,  by  overtowering  modem 
buildings.  On  June  10,  1913,  admirers  of  the  eccentric  author 
came  to  the  rescue,  and  on  that  day  the  little  cottage  was  moved 
from  its  original  site  and  placed  on  a  new  foundation  prepared 
for  it  in  Poe  Park,  at  One  Hundred  and  Ninety-fourth  Street 
and  Valentine  Avenue,  about  two  blocks  from  its  former  posi- 
tion. The  Park  covers  about  two  blocks,  and  the  cottage,  which 
will  be  restored  as  nearly  as  possible  to  its  original  condition, 
will  stand  at  the  northern  end.  It  has  been  carefully  kept  in 
repair. 

An  old  landmark  standing  not  far  distant  from  the  Poe  home, 
and  known  as  the  old  King's  Bridge  Tavern,  was  torn  down  in 
May,  1913.  This  "public  house"  was  described  jocosely  by  a 
writer,  who  said,  "here  Edgar  Allan  Poe  used  to  wait  for  his 
manuscripts  to  come  back  from  heartless  editors  in  New  York." 
For  more  than  one  hundred  years  this  inn  stood  at  what  is  now 
Two  Hundred  and  Twenty-sixth  Street  and  Broadway,  and  in 
earlier  days  was  a  popular  resort  where  men  prominent  in  their 
time  would  daily  assemble. 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  63 

MAJOR  WILLIAM  POPHAM,  lawyer  and  soldier  of  promi- 
nence, who  settled  in  Scarsdale,  in  this  County,  at  the  close  of 
the  Revolutionary  War,  is  entitled  to  a  conspicuous  place  among 
the  notables  associated  with  this  County's  history. 

He  was  born  in  Bandon,  County  Cork,  Ireland,  on  Septem- 
ber 19,  1752.  When  nine  years  of  age  his  parents  came  to  the 
United  States  and  became  residents  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey. 
He  graduated  from  Princeton  College  prior  to  the  Revolution. 
Coming  from  patriotic  stock,  his  parents  for  sake  of  principles 
being  forced  to  migrate  to  Ireland  after  the  restoration  of 
Charles  II,  young  Popham,  soon  after  leaving  college,  enlisted 
in  the  Continental  Army,  where  he  soon  became  conspicuous 
for  bravery  displayed  on  the  field,  especially  during  the  battle 
of  Long  Island.  In  recognition  of  services  he  received  appoint- 
ment as  Captain,  and  served  on  the  staff  of  General  James 
Clinton,  and  later  on  the  staff  of  Baron  Steuben,  participating 
in  the  battles  of  Brandywine  and  White  Plains.  His  conduct 
in  these  engagements  earned  for  him  promotion  to  the  office  of 
Major.  Immediately  following  the  war  he  became  a  resident 
of  Albany  where  he  practiced  law  and  soon  gained  a  position  of 
prominence.  In  Albany  he  became  acquainted  with  Miss  Mary 
Morris,  daughter  of  Chief -Justice  Richard  Morris,  whose  family 
estate  was  in  Scarsdale.  The  Morris  House,  later  the  residence 
of  Major  Popham,  and  at  the  present  time  in  the  Popham 
family,  and  known  as  the  Popham  Homestead,  is  over  two  hun- 
dred years  old.  In  1787  Major  Popham  purchased  a  farm 
adjoining  the  Morris  property  and  erected  on  it,  facing  the 
New  York  Post  Road,  a  larger  dwelling,  which  house  is  still 
standing.  He  resided  at  his  Scarsdale  residence  until  his  death, 
in  1846. 

In  1804  he  was  clerk  of  the  Court  of  Exchequer,  in  New 
York,  and  held  that  position  until  the  abolition  of  the  Court. 
Until  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  President-General  of  the 
Cincinnati  of  the  United  States,  and  President  of  the  New 
York  Chapter  of  the  Society  of  the  Cincinnati. 

Major  Popham  was,  on  the  maternal  side,  the  great  grand- 
father of  William  Popham  Piatt,  County  Judge  of  this  County, 
of  the  late  Lewis  C.  Piatt,  president  of  the  Village  of  White 
Plains,  and  of  former  Deputy  County  Clerk  Benoni  Piatt,  all 
of  White  Plains,  in  this  County,  their  father,  Lewis  C.  Piatt, 
the  first  elected  Surrogate  of  this  County,  having  married,  in 
1853,  Miss  Laura  Sherbrook  Popham,  granddaughter  of  Major 
Popham. 


64  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

CLARKSON  NOTT  POTTER,  LL.D.,  a  former  Representa- 
tive in  Congress,  representing  this  County,  was  long  closely- 
identified  with  the  County  and  its  best  interests.  He  became  a 
resident  of  New  Rochelle  in  1862,  dwelling  with  his  family  on 
the  magnificent  estate  known  as  "Nutwood,"  facing  Long  Island 
Sound,  until  the  time  of  his  death  which  occurred,  after  a  brief 
illness,  on  January  23,  1882.  He  was  a  Warden  and  Vestryman 
of  Trinity  Episcopal  Church,  New  Rochelle,  from  1864  to  date 
of  his  death.     He  served  in  Congress  four  terms. 

Mr.  Potter  was  born  on  April  25,  1824,  in  Schenectady,  N.  Y., 
a  son  of  Alonzo  Potter,  late  Episcopal  Bishop  of  Pennsylvania, 
a  nephew  of  the  late  Episcopal  Bishop  Horatio  Potter  of  New 
York,  and  was  a  brother  of  the  late  Episcopal  Bishop  Henry  C. 
Potter  of  New  York.    He  was  descended  from  Quaker  ancestors 
who  settled  at  Warwick  Neck,  R,  I.,  in  1640,  his  grandfather, 
Joseph  Potter,  having  removed  thence  to  Duchess  County  soon 
after  the  Revolution,  and  subsequently  represented  that  county 
in  the  Legislature.     Mr.  Potter  was  graduated  from  Rensselaer 
Institute  as  a  civil  engineer  and  also  at  Union  College,  of  which 
his  maternal  grandfather,  Eliphalet  Nott,  was  long  president. 
Mr.  Potter  was  for  some  time  a  surveyor  in  Wisconsin,  where  he 
soon  determined  to  study  law— thence  removing  to  New  York 
city  to  commence  his  studies,  and  in  1848  he  was  there  admitted 
to  the  bar.    He  retired  from  active  professional  business  in  1859 
to  engage  in  financial  enterprises,  but  when  on  the  breaking  out 
of  the  war,  his  brother.  Gen.  Robert  B.  Potter,  who  had  suc- 
ceeded him  in  his  practice,  joined  the  army,  Mr.  Potter  returned 
to  law,  appearing  in  many  important  cases,  among  which  the 
Legal  Tender  case  will  be  especially  remembered;  in  1868  he 
entered  the  political  field.     He  had  in  1848  lent  his  aid  to  the 
Free  Soil  wing  of  the  Democratic  party ;  in  1868  he  was  elected 
to  the  national  House  of  Representatives  from  the  Westchester 
(the  Tenth)  District  as  a  Democrat,  being  re-elected  he  served 
until  1875 ;  again  was  elected  and  served  in  1877-78.    He  was  at 
that  time,  it  may  be  said,  the  first  person,  except  General  Aaron 
Ward,  who  had  been  elected  to  Congress  from  this  district  for 
more  than  two  successive  terms.    In  the  first  Congress  in  which 
he  sat  IMr.   Potter  served  on  the  committee   of  Private  Land 
Claims,   Elections,   and   Commerce,   and    in   the   others   on  the 
Judiciary  Committee,  making  in  all  these  trusts  a  high  reputa- 
tion as  a  conscientious,  capable  and  hiborioiLs  worker.     In  1871 
he  proposed  and  in  1873  he  reported  from  the  Judiciary  Com- 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  65 

mittee  a  Constitutional  amendment  limiting  the  term  of  the 
President  and  Vice-President  to  six  years,  and  providing  that 
no  person  should  be  eligible  for  the  Presidency  who  had  once 
held  that  office,  but  it  failed  to  receive  due  support  (a  proposi- 
tion similar  to  the  one  now  being  considered  and  one  originat- 
ing with  him).  During  his  third  term  at  Washington,  Mr. 
Potter  was  a  member  of  the  Special  Committee  on  Southern 
Affairs  whose  report  (the  first  in  which  the  Republicans  had 
joined  with  the  Democrats  in  opposing  the  iniquities  of  bayonet 
rule  in  the  South)  that  the  Louisiana  Returning  Board  had 
reversed  the  will  of  the  people  as  expressed  at  the  polls,  created 
so  wide  and  deep  a  sensation.  In  1872  Mr.  Potter  was  a  dele- 
gate to  the  Democratic  National  Convention  at  Baltimore.  While 
he  was  in  favor  of  cordially  accepting  the  constitutional  amend- 
ments and  other  changes  growing  out  of  the  war,  he  was  yet 
opposed  to  the  nomination  of  Mr.  Greeley,  because  his  belief  in 
centralization,  legislative  discretion,  protection  and  subsidies 
were  opposed  to  Democratic  views,  but  after  Mr.  Greeley  was 
nominated  he  faithfully  supported  him.  In  1876  he  was  a 
prominent  candidate  for  the  Governorship,  and  but  for  the  sup- 
pression of  Governor  Seymour's  dispatch  declining  the  nomina- 
tion would,  it  was  believed,  have  been  nominated.  He  canvassed 
the  State  with  his  usual  vigor,  and  while  he  did  good  work  for 
the  National  and  State  tickets,  carried  this,  his  own  Congres- 
sional District— then  the  Twelfth— by  a  large  majority.  In  the 
Forty-fifth  Congress  he  served  on  the  Committee  on  the  Revi- 
sion of  the  Laws  Regulating  the  Counting  of  the  Electoral  Votes, 
and  was  chairman  of  the  well-known  ''Potter  Committee" 
charged  with  inquiring  into  the  frauds  connected  with  the 
Presidential  Election  in  1876.  In  1871  Mr.  Potter  had  presided 
over  the  State  Convention  which  excluded  Tweed,  and  the  char- 
acter of  his  address  on  that  occasion  and  the  fairness  and  ability 
with  which  he  presided  had  added  much  to  his  reputation.  In 
1879  the  State  Convention  which  rejected  Kelly  nominated  Mr. 
Potter  for  the  Lieutenant-Governorship,  but  he  was  defeated 
by  Hoskins,  Republican,  by  290  votes  in  a  poll  exceeding  900,000. 
In  June,  1881,  he  was  made  the  Democratic  candidate  for  the 
United  States  Senatorship,  and  in  August  was  elected  President 
of  the  American  Bar  Association,  before  which  body  he  delivered 
an  able  and  eloquent  eulogy  upon  the  public  life  and  services  of 
the  late  Chief  Justice  Taney. 


66  IVIANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

AVIIITELAW  REID,  though  not  a  native  of  Westchester 
Comity,  is  fully  entitled  to  be  mentioned  in  connection  with  the 
County's  history,  considering  his  residence  among  us,  and  the 
high  regard  in  which  he  wa^  held  locally. 

Mr.  Reid,  who  died  in  London,  on  December  15,  1912,  while 
acting  as  United  States  Ambassador  to  Great  Britain,  was  bom 
in  Xenia,  Ohio,  on  October  27,  1837,  a  son  of  Robert  Charlton 
and  Marian  Whitelaw   (Ronalds)   Reid. 

Not  long  after  settling  in  New  York  in  the  pursuit  of  his 
profession,  he  sought  Westchester  County  in  search  for  a  home. 
The  magnificent  Reid  estate,  "Ophir  Farm,"  lying  partly  in  the 
town  of  White  Plains  and  partly  in  the  town  of  Harrison, 
comprising  many  hundred  acres,  has  been  the  "country-seat" 
of  the  Reid  family  many  years.  Mr.  Reid,  whose  genial,  demo- 
cratic manners  attracted  the  good  will  of  his  neighbors,  be- 
came deeply  interested  in  what  concerned  Westchester  County. 
He  contributed  liberally  when  called  upon  to  aid  laudable  ob- 
jects, and  local  charities  had  no  better  friend.  A  worthy  cause 
never  appealed  to  him  in  vain.  He  was  chosen  one  of  the  orig- 
inal board  of  directors  (a  first  stock  owner)  of  the  White  Plains 
Bank  (now  the  First  National  Bank  of  White  Plains),  and  until 
his  going  to  Europe  to  assume  public  office,  he  never  missed  a 
meeting  of  that  board.  He  said  then  that  the  attending  of 
such  meetings,  where  he  could  come  in  close  contact  with 
his  neighbors,  afforded  him  the  greatest  pleasure.  At  leave 
taking,  prior  to  departing  for  Europe,  in  1905,  he  asked  that 
a  place  among  the  directors  might  be  made  for  him  when  he 
returned  from  his  mission  abroad,  when  he  intended  to  make 
his  home  in  Westchester  County  a  permanent  one.  The  di- 
rectors assured  him  that  his  place  on  the  board  was  a  life  posi- 
tion, and  his  coming  back  would  be  most  heartily  welcomed. 

Early  in  his  career  Mr.  Reid  entered  into  political  and  news- 
paper life,  making  speeches  for  the  Republican  party  in  the 
Fremont  campaign  when  not  twenty  years  of  age,  and  becoming 
the  editor  of  the  Xenia  News;  soon  after  he  became  widely 
known  by  his  letters  to  the  Cincinnati  Gazette,  signed  "Agate." 
He  was  thus  engaged  at  the  opening  of  the  Civil  War,  his 
letters  attracting  attention  alike  from  their  vigorous  style  and 
their  trustworthy  information.  He  took  part  in  the  war  as  a 
volunteer  aide-de-camp  to  General  Morris,  and  afterwards  to 
General    Rosecrans   in    the   West   Virginia   campaign   of   1861. 


WHITELAW  REID 


vt.A 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  67 

Later  he  served  as  war  correspondent  with  the  Army  of  the 
Cumberland  and  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  was  present 
at  the  battles  of  Shiloh  and  Gettysburg. 

Mr.  Reid  was  librarian  of  the  House  of  Representatives  at 
Washington,  1863-66,  at  the  same  time  being  the  Washington 
correspondent  of  the  Cincinnati  Gazette,  of  which  he  had  be- 
come one  of  the  proprietors.  After  the  war  he  made  a  journey 
through  the  South,  and  for  some  time  tried  cotton  planting 
in  Louisiana  and  Alabama.  The  results  of  his  observations 
while  thus  engaged  were  embodied  in  a  book  entitled  "After 
the  War,"  published  in  1867.  He  was  connected  with  the  New 
York  Tribune  from  1868. 

In  the  early  Sixties,  when  he  was  acting  as  a  newspaper 
correspondent  at  the  national  capital,  a  personal  intimacy  began 
between  Mr.  Reid  and  Horace  Greeley,  who  was  equally  im- 
pressed by  the  former's  literary  attainments,  his  executive 
ability  and  his  personal  character.  Mr.  Greeley,  indeed,  at 
an  early  date  urged  Mr.  Reid  to  come  to  New  York  as  a 
member  of  the  staff  of  the  Tribune,  or  at  least  to  take  charge 
of  the  paper's  Washington  bureau.  The  invitation  was  declined 
for  the  time,  but  the  two  men  became,  and  remained  for  the 
rest  of  the  elder's  life,  confidential  and  affectionate  friends. 

In  1868  Mr.  Greeley  again  renewed  his  invitation  to  Mr.  Reid 
to  enter  the  home  office  of  the  Tribune,  and  this  time  it 
was  accepted.  As  if  conscious  of  the  approaching  end  of 
his  own  great  career,  Mr.  Greeley  felt  the  need  of  selecting 
for  his  successor  a  man  after  his  own  heart,  who  would  con- 
tinue unimpaired  the  great  journal  which  he  had  founded, 
and  he  discerned  that  man  in  Whitelaw  Reid.  The  intimate 
association  which  then  was  formed  lasted  little  more  than  four 
years. 

Mr.  Reid  was  quickly  advanced  to  the  post  of  managing 
editor;  and  when,  in  1872,  Mr.  Greeley  accepted  the  nomina- 
tion for  the  Presidency,  he  placed  the  whole  control  of  the 
paper  in  Mr.  Reid's  hands,  where  it  remained  until  his  death. 
After  Mr.  Greeley's  death,  Mr.  Reid  became  editor-in-chief  and 
principal  owner  of  the  Tribune.  He  published,  in  1873,  his 
memorial  of  Greeley,  a  biographical  sketch  of  his  late  friend 
and  chief.  He  organized  a  syndicate  which  bought  control 
of  the  unfinished  linotype  for  setting  type  by  machinery, 
introduced  it  first  in  newspaper  composition,  and  after  some 


68  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

years'  experiment  with  it  organized  the  Mergenthaler  Linotype 
Company,  became  its  first  president,  and  established  its  shops 
in  Brooklyn. 

In  1878  Mr.  Reid  was  elected  by  the  Legislature  of  New  York 
a  Regent  of  the  University  of  the  State  of  New  York;  he  was 
offered  the  post  of  minister  to  Germany  by  President  Hayes 
and  President  Garfield,  declining  in  both  instances,  and  served 
as  American  minister  to  France  from  1889  to  1892.  Public 
appreciation  of  his  services  abroad  was  expressed  in  dinners 
by  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  the  Ohio  Society,  the  Lotos 
Club,  and  other  organizations,  on  his  return  home.  The  Cham- 
ber of  Commerce  elected  him  an  honorary  member,  a  mark  of 
respect  which  had  been  bestowed  on  only  fifteen  other  men 
during  the  century  of  the  chamber's  existence.  He  was  nomi- 
nated for  Vice-President  of  the  United  States  with  President 
Harrison  by  the  Republican  National  Convention  of  1892 ;  was 
special  ambassador  of  the  United  States  to  Queen  Victoria's 
Jubilee  in  1897;  member  of  the  Peace  Commission  to  Paris  for 
the  negotiation  of  peace  with  Spain,  securing  Porto  Rico,  Guam, 
and  the  Philippines,  in  1898 ;  special  ambassador  to  the  corona- 
tion of  Edward  VII  in  1902.  In  1904  he  was  elected  Chancellor 
of  the  Board  of  Regents  of  the  University  of  the  State  of  New 
York,  for  life.  In  March,  1905,  he  was  appointed  Ambassador 
of  the  United  States  at  the  Court  of  St.  James,  which  position 
he  continued  to  fill  until  his  death. 

Mr.  Reid  wrote  easily  and  authoritatively  on  matters  of  pub- 
lic interest.  His  publications  include :  "After  the  War"  (1867)  ; 
"Ohio  in  the  War"  (1868) ;  "Newspaper  Tendencies"  (1874)  ; 
"Town  Hall  Suggestions"  (1881)  ;  "Some  Consequences  of  the 
Last  Treaty  of  Paris"  (1899)  ;  "How  America  Faced  Its  Edu- 
cational Problem"  (1906);  "Our  New  Duties"  (1899);  "Our 
New  Interests"  (1900);  "Problems  of  Expansion"  (1900); 
"The  Monroe  Doctrine,  The  Polk  Doctrine  and  Anarchism" 
■  (1903);  "The  Greatest  Fact  in  Modern  History"  (1906),  etc. 
Mr.  R-eid,  as  editor  and  proprietor,  made  the  New  York 
Tribune  a  formidable  and  constructive  factor  in  American 
politics;  as  Chancellor  of  the  Board  of  Regents  of  the  Univer- 
sity of  the  State  of  New  York,  as  United  States  Minister  to 
France  for  four  years,  as  one  of  the  negotiators  of  the  peace 
with  Spain  after  our  Cuban  War,  as  special  ambassador  on 
several  occasions  to  Great  Britain,  as  the  Republican  candidate 
for  Vice-President  with  Benjamin  Harrison,  1892,  and  finally 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  69 

as  an  Ambassador  to  Great  Britain  for  a  longer  term  than  any 
of  his  predecessors,  except  Richard  Rush,  he  had  become  and 
was  at  the  time  of  his  death,  one  of  the  best  qualified  andl 
most  useful  of  public  servants. 

The  news  of  his  untimely  death  was  received  on  both  sides 
of  the  Atlantic  with  profound  regret.  From  the  day  he  arrived 
in  London,  in  June,  1905,  until  his  death,  he  was  among  the 
foremost  of  the  men  in  diplomatic  life  from  whatever  country. 
His  skill  and  tact,  his  wide  and  varied  experience  in  public 
and  political  questions,  his  high  character  and  suavity  of  man- 
ner enabled  him  to  meet  and  successfully  to  treat  the  successive 
important  questions  that  arose  between  the  two  countries.  Mr. 
Reid's  literary  talents  were  of  a  high  order,  and  his  style 
finished  and  refined,  enabling  him  to  deliver  admirable  ad- 
dresses in  all  parts  of  Great  Britain  which  commanded  approval 
and  exercised  good  influences  both  there  and  at  home.  It  had 
been  evident  to  his  friends  for  some  time  that  his  health  had 
been  steadily  declining,  but  it  was  hoped  that  he  would  live 
to  finish  his  term  with  that  of  the  administration  of  President 
Taft,  on  which  he  reflected  so  much  honor  and  credit  abroad. 
The  rare  event  of  the  death  of  our  Ambassador  while  in  office 
was  made  the  occasion  of  an  interchange  of  heartfelt  con- 
dolences between  the  two  governments. 

The  remains  of  Mr.  Reid  were  brought  from  England  to  this 
country  in  a  British  war  vessel— a  special  and  extraordinary 
courtesy  extended  by  the  British  Government. 

From  his  twentieth  year,  when  he  purchased  and  proceeded 
to  edit  a  newspaper  in  Xenia,  Ohio,  his  native  town,  Whitelaw 
Reid  found  the  leading  interest  of  his  life  in  public  afi'airs. 
From  that  first  venture,  down  to  the  day  of  his  death  at  the 
post  of  duty  as  Ambassador  to  England,  the  leading  activities 
in  his  life  were  dedicated  to  public  service.  The  record  of  those 
long  and  well-filled  years  testifies  to  the  breadth  of  his  char- 
acter, to  the  range  of  his  gifts.  He  was  resolute  and  skilled 
in  the  forthright  give  and  take  of  politics.  In  the  more  deli- 
cate art  of  diplomacy  he  was  equally  steadfast  and  resourceful. 
To  the  practice  of  journalism,  with  its  incessant  pressure  of 
haste,  of  issues  rising  as  the  hours  fly  and  requiring  in  the 
editor  as  swift  a  habit  of  mind,  he  brought  both  the  practical 
readiness  of  his  profession  and  the  scholarly  traits  of  the  man 
of  letters.  Whitelaw  Reid  was,  in  fact,  a  many-sided  man,  in 
whom   diverse   qualities  were  supremely  well  balanced.     But 


70  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

what  co-ordinated  his  powers  and  made  their  exercise  effective 
was  a  central  spring  of  sane,  clearsighted,  devoted  patriotism. 
He  was  one  of  those  publicists  and  statesmen  whose  labors  have 
been  governed  by  solicitude  for  the  welfare  of  their  country. 

In  the  death  of  AVhitelaw  Reid  Westchester  County  lost  a 
type  of  devoted  friendship ;  this  fact  residents  fully  recognize. 
His  kind  regard  and  consideration  for  his  neighbors  and  for 
all  with  whom  he  came  in  contact,  taught  them  to  consider  him 
as  indeed  a  friend. 

During  a  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Regents  of  the  University 
of  the  State  of  New  York,  held  in  Albany,  February  20,  1913, 
a  considerable  portion  of  the  proceedings  was  devoted  to  the 
memory  of  Chancellor  Whitelaw  Reid.  Among  the  Regents 
who  delivered  brief  addresses  was  Francis  M.  Carpenter  of 
Westchester  County,  who  said  in  part : 

''M7'.  Vice  Chancellor— 

"I  purpose  to  speak  of  the  local  activities  and  personal  char- 
acteristics of  Chancellor  Reid  which  endeared  him  to  his  neigh- 
bors and  the  people  of  Westchester  County,  rather  than  of 
the  various  activities  he  gave  to  the  State  and  nation.  For 
many  years  prior  to  his  appointment  as  ambassador  to  Eng- 
land, he  owned  and  occupied  a  magnificent  estate  in  the  town 
of  Harrison,  near  White  Plains,  the  county  seat,  which  he 
called  "Ophir  Hall."  His  house  was  open  to  his  neighbors 
and  friends  and  the  freest  hospitality  extended  to  all,  and 
none  came  away  without  being  impressed  with  the  intellectual 
culture  in  that  home,  shown  in  paintings  of  great  artists  adorn- 
ing the  walls  and  the  refined  taste  in  its  furnishings.  Chan- 
cellor Reid  was,  in  the  broadest  sense,  a  public-spirited  man. 
His  generosity  in  aid  of  all  struggling  institutions  in  our 
county,  his  presence  and  speech  on  every  occasion  for  the  bet- 
terment of  his  fellow  men  and  the  advancement  of  every  good 
cause,  his  personality  and  charming  manners,  evidenced  the 
noble  man  he  was.  He  was  closer  to  the  hearts  of  the  people 
of  Westchester  County  because  of  his  efforts,  crowned  with 
success,  to  make  the  Tnhune  one  of  the  leading  dailies,  which 
was  the  ambition  of  Horace  Greeley,  the  founder  of  the  New 
York  Trihune,  so  much  beloved  and  honored  in  this  county, 
where  he  lived  and  died  a  martyr  to  the  policies  and  principles 
he  advocated  and  believed.  While  Mr.  Reid's  activities  de- 
manded most  of  his  time,  he  found  opportunity  for  work  as 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  71 

a  master  of  finance.  I  recall  his  election  as  director  of  a  na- 
tional bank  in  White  Plains  and  at  once  he  grasped  the  details 
of  its  management,  and  his  advice,  sought,  and  given  in  his 
unostentatious  manner,  was  an  inspiration  to  his  fellow  mem- 
bers. The  broader  field  of  his  life  work  as  journalist,  politician, 
and  diplomat,  has  been  fittingly  alluded  to  by  members  of  this 
Board  who  were  his  associates  for  a  longer  period  of  time  than 
was  my  privilege.  It  was  not  my  good  fortune  to  meet  Mr. 
Reid  in  his  official  capacity  as  Chancellor  of  the  University 
until  the  dedication  of  the  Education  Building.  His  presence 
on  that  occasion  and  the  prominent  position  assigned  him  as 
presiding  officer  added  much  to  the  brilliancy  and  success  of 
the  ceremonies.  His  was  a  life  of  great  attainments,  his  death 
a  loss  to  this  nation,  a  loss  to  the  Education  Department  of 
this  State,  and  his  memory  worthily  honored  by  this  and  other 
lands  as  few  men  before  him." 

(Mr.  Carpenter  was  an  associate  with  Mr.  Reid  in  the  Board 
of  Directors  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  White  Plains.) 

Academic  degrees  were  conferred  upon  Mr.  Reid  by  various 
institutions  in  America  and  Europe.  From  his  alma  mater, 
Miami  University,  he  received  A.  B.  in  1856,  A.  M.  in  1859, 
and  LL.  D.  in  1890 ;  New  York  University,  then  known  as  the 
University  of  the  City  of  New  York,  gave  him  an  honorary 
A.  M.  in  1872,  and  Dartmouth  the  same  in  1873.  Princeton  gave 
him  LL.  D.  in  1899,  Yale  in  1901,  Cambridge,  England,  in 
1902;  St.  Andrew's,  Scotland,  in  1905,  and  Victoria  Univer- 
sity, Manchester,  England,  in  1909.  The  University  of  Oxford 
in  1907  gave  him  D.  C.  L.,  the  most  coveted  of  its  degrees. 

Mr.  Reid  was  married  in  1881  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Mills, 
daughter  of  the  capitalist  and  philanthropist  Darius  Ogden 
Mills  (a  native  of  this  county),  who  bore  him  two  children. 
The  elder,  Ogden  Mills  Reid,  after  being  graduated  from  the 
collegiate  and  law  departments  of  Yale  University  and  admitted 
to  the  bar,  became  associated  with  the  Tnbune,  and  is  now 
president  of  the  corporation,  and  editor.  The  younger.  Miss 
Jean  Reid,  was  married  in  1908  to  the  Hon.  John  Hubert  Ward, 
a  brother  of  the  Earl  of  Dudley  and  equerry  to  King  Ed- 
ward YII. 

Mr.  Reid  died  at  his  official  residence,  Dorchester  House,  in 
Park  Row,  London,  at  12 :10  p.  m.,  Sunday,  December  15,  1912. 
His  remains,  brought  to  this  country,  and  buried  in  this  county, 
repose  in  North  Tarrytown. 


72  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reid  long  maintained  three  residences  in  Amer- 
ica. They  established  their  New  York  home  at  451  Madison 
avenue,  and  their  country  home  at  Purchase,  near  White  Plains, 
in  this  county,  on  the  extensive  estate  known  as  "Ophir  Farm," 
many  years  ago  the  property  of  Ben  Holliday  and  subsequently 
of  the  well-known  shipbuilder  John  Roach.  Soon  after  Mr. 
Reid's  purchase  of  it  the  house  was  destroyed  by  fire,  and  he 
built  in  its  place  "Ophir  Hall."  A  third  dwelling,  for  season- 
able occupation,  was  Camp  Wildair,  at  Paul  Smith's,  in  the 
Adirondacks. 


A  sketch  of  Capt.  EBENEZER  SMITH,  who  took  a  promi- 
nent part  at  the  final  trial  and  execution  of  Major  Andre,  may 
be  of  special  interest  owing  to  the  number  of  his  descendants 
residing  in  this  County,  His  son.  Rev.  David  Smith,  one  of  the 
first  trustees  of  Yale  College,  preached  in  the  Bronxville  Re- 
formed Church  when  he  was  91  years  of  age.  Hon.  Alfred  E. 
Smith,  of  Bronxville,  a  former  member  of  the  State  Legisla- 
ture from  this  County,  and  President  of  the  village  of  Bronx- 
ville, is  a  great-great-grandson  of  the  patriotic  Captain. 

Captain  Smith  was  stationed  at  West  Point  at  the  time  Andre 
was  brought  there,  and  later  was  in  command  of  the  guard  over 
Andre  at  West  Point,  and  was  commander  of  the  guard  for  the 
day  Andre  was  executed  at  Tappan.  In  proof  of  Gen.  Wash- 
ington's confidence  in  Captain  Smith,  is  told  the  story  of  how 
Gen.  Washington  sent  for  him  and  informed  him  of  the  impor- 
tant trust  to  be  imposed  upon  him  in  the  care  of  Andre,  and 
warned  the  Captain  that  he  (Washington)  was  fearful  lest  the 
food  or  drink  which  might  be  ofi^ered  him  (the  Captain)  that 
night  be  drugged,  in  order  to  make  Andre's  escape  possible; 
adding,  "Treachery  is  all  around  me,  and  I  hardly  know  whom 
to  trust,  but  I  know  I  can  trust  you— you  must  mount  guard 
over  him  to-night."  To  this  Capt.  Smith  promptly  replied, 
"My  life  shall  answer  for  his  safety."  The  Captain  did  not 
leave  Andre  that  night.  Through  the  lone  hours  the  prisoner 
grew  confidential,  lamented  his  fate  and  asked  the  Captain  to 
intercede  for  him.  In  speaking  later  of  that  night's  experience 
and  of  the  behavior  of  the  prisoner.  Captain  Smith  said,  "The 
agony  of  his  mind  as  he  walked  the  room  was  most  distressing, 
and  it  seemed  to  me  that  his  very  flesh  crawled  upon  his  bones." 
Capt.  Smith  was  an  especial  favorite  with  Gen.  Washington,  at 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  73 

whose  request  the  Captain  withdrew  his  offered  resignation 
from  the  army.  At  the  time  peace  was  established  in  1783,  he 
was  one  of  the  oldest  men  in  point  of  service,  having  been  in  the 
army  eight  years,  eight  months  and  nine  days. 

After  the  war  he  served  as  a  member  of  the  Massachusetts 
Legislature. 


SAMUEL  JONES  TILDEN,  was  another  of  Westchester 
County's  adopted  sons,  a  resident  of  whom  any  county  could 
feel  justly  proud.  For  many  years,  and  until  the  hour  of  his 
death,  he  resided  in  Yonkers,  occupying  ' '  Greystone, ' '  his  mag- 
nificent estate,  consisting  of  a  palatial  residence  and  many 
highly  cultivated  broad  acres  of  land,  constituting  in  all  one 
of  the  most  attractive  show  places  of  the  County. 

He  became  a  resident  of  Yonkers  in  September,  1879,  He  died 
August  4,  1886. 

Mr.  Tilden  held  several  official  positions  in  this  State,  but 
never  held  a  federal  office.  He  was  never  a  Representative  in 
Congress,  or  a  United  States  Senator  or  a  cabinet  minister; 
yet  it  may  be  doubted  if  any  other  man  since  Lincoln  exerted 
so  great  an  influence  upon  national  affairs. 

His  advance  from  minor  office  holding  to  national  leadership 
has  been  rapid,  and  unparalleled  in  our  country's  history,  ex- 
cept by  the  career  of  Grover  Cleveland,  who,  unknown  to  the 
Nation  in  1881,  was  elected  President  of  the  United  States  in 
1884.  Tilden  had  reached  the  age  of  54  years,  in  1868,  before 
he  began  to  be  prominent  in  national  politics,  as  a  reform  Demo- 
cratic leader.  In  1872,  at  the  head  of  the  Committee  of  Seventy 
of  New  York  city,  a  non-partisan  committee,  he  led  the  fight 
against  William  M.  Tweed. 

Mr.  Tilden 's  place  in  American  history,  as  the  great  polit- 
ical reformer,  is  secure.  He  was  indeed,  "the  great  American 
reformer."  His  successful  fight  against  the  Tweed  ring  waa 
the  beginning  of  the  great  movement  to  throw  off  the  shackles 
of  political  corruption  which  the  Civil  War  riveted  upon  the 
country.  His  successful  fight  against  the  Canal  ring  gave  a 
new  impetus  to  political  reform  in  nearly  every  Northern  State. 
It  was  under  his  leadership  that  the  Democratic  party  was 
again  politically  rehabilitated,  and  the  political  rehabilitation 
of  the  Democratic  party  compelled  a  moral  rehabilitation  of 
the  Republican  party. 


74  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

Hon.  John  Bigelow,  the  historian,  in  speaking  of  Tilden,  says : 
"What  Tilden  did  for  the  city  of  New  York  in  crushing  the 
Tweed  ring,  what  he  did  for  the  State  in  crushing  the  Canal 
ring,  and  the  declaration  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  in 
1877,  that  he  had  been  the  choice  of  the  people  of  the  United 
States  for  President,  seems  to  entitle  him  to  the  proposed  evi- 
dence of  national  consideration." 

It  is  possible  that  historians  will  always  divide  on  the  ques- 
tion of  Avhether  or  not  Mr.  Tilden  was  fraudulently  deprived 
of  the  Presidency;  but  that  he  was  the  choice  of  a  large  majority 
of  the  voters  at  the  polls  there  can  be  no  doubt  whatever. 
Neither  can  there  be  two  opinions  as  to  the  great  patriotism 
which  he  exhibited  during  this  tremendous  conflict  which 
brought  the  country  almost  to  the  edge  of  another  civil  war. 
His  advising  peaceful  submission  in  the  face  of  strong  evidence 
that  he  had  been  defrauded  of  what  was  his  just  due,  proved 
him  to  be  a  strong  character,  a  man  who  would  serve  country 
rather  than  self. 

Many  men  have  been  great  in  victory;  but  Samuel  J.  Tilden 
belongs  to  that  smaller  company  who  proved  themselves  great 
in  defeat. 

In  June,  1910,  Congressman  Sulzer,  of  New  York,  introduced 
in  Congress  a  bill  providing  for  an  appropriation  of  a  suitable 
sum  to  pay  for  the  erection  in  Washington,  D.  C,  of  a  statue 
to  the  memory  of  Samuel  J.  Tilden.  The  latter 's  friends  alleg- 
ing that  it  is  time  Congress  accorded  him  his  due  recognition 
among  the  Republic's  statesmen  of  the  first  rank. 

Mr.  Tilden  was  elected  to  the  State  Assembly,  from  the  18th 
district  New  York  city,  in  1872;  the  serving  of  one  term  gave 
him  opportunity  to  study  at  close  range  the  workings  of  the 
Tweed  political  machine  and  learn  the  most  effective  way  to 
crush  it.  His  opportunities  for  doing  good  were  increased  when 
he  was  elected  Governor  in  1874.  In  1876,  near  the  termination 
of  his  two  years  term  as  Governor,  he  purchased  from  John  T. 
"Waring,  of  Yonkers,  "Greystone,"  as  a  place  of  residence, 
and  here  Tilden  resided  when  he  became  a  candidate  for  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  and  "Greystone"  became  the  meeca 
to  which  all  friends  of  the  Democratic  nominee  made  their  way 
previous  to  election. 

Mr.  Tilden  was  in  1874  elected  Governor  of  this  State,  defeat- 
ing, by  about  50,000  majority.  Gen.  John  A.  Dix,  candidate  for 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  75 

re-election,  who  was  first  chosen  to  the  office  by  a  majority 
of  about  50,000.  When  he  took  office,  January  1,  1875,  Mr. 
Tilden  discovered  the  people  overburdened  by  taxation,  in  a 
great  degree  unnecessarily  he  thought.  The  direct  taxes  col- 
lected from  the  people  in  the  tax  levy  of  1874  were  over  $15,- 
000,000.  When  he  had  been  eighteen  months  in  office,  in  1876, 
the  tax  levy  was  only  $8,000,000. 

The  Democratic  National  Convention,  in  1876,  to  select  nomi- 
nees for  President  and  Vice-President,  met  in  St.  Louis  on 
June  27.  Mr.  Tilden  was  nominated  on  the  second  ballot, 
receiving  535  votes,  out  of  738  votes  cast  for  the  Presidential 
nominee ;  the  balance  of  the  vote  being  scattered  in  small  quan- 
tities among  favorite  sons.  Thomas  A.  Hendricks,  of  Indiana 
^^who  was  ten  years  later  elected  Vice-President),  received  60 
votes,  and  Gen.  Winfield  Scott  Hancock  (who  was  later  the 
Democratic  nominee  for  President),  received  59  votes. 

When  Mr.  Tilden  wrote  his  letter,  in  1880,  declining  a  re- 
nomination  to  the  Presidency,  his  friends  recognized  his  pur- 
pose, well  considered,  to  never  return  to  public  life.  Though 
Mr.  Tilden 's  failing  health  reinforced  the  consideration  which 
led  to  his  abdication  in  1880,  the  political  party  with  which 
his  public  life  had  been  identified,  and  of  which  he  had  long 
been  the  head,  experienced  unexampled  difficulties  in  trans- 
ferring its  allegiance  to  another  leader.  As  time  wore  on,  the 
determination  to  renominate  Mr.  Tilden,  regardless  of  his  health 
or  his  personal  inclinations,  gathered  strength  and  momentum. 
He  alone  of  all  the  principal  statesmen  of  his  party  seemed  day 
by  day  to  expand  and  to  assume  continually  enlarging  propor- 
tions in  popular  estimation. 

Early  in  the  year  1884,  as  the  time  for  choosing  a  candidate 
approached,  the  purpose  to  nominate  Mr.  Tilden  threatened 
to  be  irresistible.  The  Democratic  masses  entertained  the  un- 
doubted conviction  that  his  nomination  would  assure  success. 
There  was  also  a  wide-spread  disposition  among  Republicans, 
who  loved  fair  play,  to  give  their  votes  on  the  first  opportunity 
in  such  a  manner  as  to  redress  the  wrongs  of  1876.  But  the 
idea  of  a  renomination  at  no  time  secured  any  encouragement 
from  Mr.  Tilden.  On  June  12,  1884,  Mr.  Tilden  wrote  and 
sent  to  conventions  of  his  political  party,  in  the  several  States, 
his  second  letter  of  declination.  Out  of  twenty-two  State  con- 
ventions, held  previous  to  the  publication  of  this  last  named 


76  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

letter,  twenty  instructed  their  delegates  to  vote  first  and  always 
for  Mr.  Tilden,  and  the  other  two  States  declared  him  to  be  the 
second  choice  after  the  first  vote  for  a  favorite  son.  All  these 
States  had  prepared  to  assist  in  having  Mr.  Tilden  nominated 
by  the  National  Convention  of  his  party.  The  action  of  these 
conventions  was  deemed  cause  for  the  second  letter. 

The  Presidential  campaign  of  1876,  instead  of  ending  on  the 
first  Tuesday  after  the  first  Monday  in  November,  as  usual,  did 
not  end  until  three  months  later.  Each  party  claimed  victory 
at  the  polls.  For  a  time  the  situation  looked  serious.  Issues 
were  raised  that  might  in  other  countries  have  created  revolu- 
tion and  disruption.  But  wise  counsel  prevailed.  Governor  Til- 
den, who  prized  the  best  interests  of  the  nation  above  personal 
ambition,  advised  a  peaceful  solution  of  difficulties;  though  the 
result  be  a  great  disappointment  to  his  friends,  a  majority  of  the 
Nation's  electors,  that  they  accept  it  peacefully  and  honorably. 

The  findings  of  the  Electoral  Commission  were  against  Gov- 
ernor Tilden,  who  lost  the  Presidency  by  one  vote;  yet  he  had 
the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  he  had  received  a  majority  of 
the  popular  vote. 

Tilden 's  total  vote  was  4,284,885.  Hayes'  total  vote  was 
4,033,950. 

To  Governor  Tilden  is  given  the  credit  of  having  his  friends 
act  with  moderation  and  patience,  repressing  any  tendency  to- 
ward violence,  in  a  period  when  excitement  was  intense.  He 
taught  the  doctrine  that  the  country  could  not  afford  to  have  a 
President  inaugurated  unless  he  had  been  lawfully  declared 
elected. 

In  an  address  made  in  September,  1877,  Governor  Tilden, 
referring  to  the  result,  said  that  though  the  Democratic  party 
had  lost  the  Presidency,  yet  it  had  been  really  triumphant,  for 
the  election  itself  showed  that  the  pure  Democracy  taught  by 
the  great  leaders  of  the  past  had  been  accepted  once  more  by  a 
majority  of  the  American  people. 

There  had  never  been  a  disputed  Presidential  election;  for 
this  reason  the  situation  in  1876  was  without  precedent.  In 
1800  and  in  1824  neither  of  the  Presidential  candidates  had  re- 
ceived a  majority  in  the  Electoral  College,  and  the  Representa- 
tives in  Congress,  voting  by  States,  had  to  decide  between  the 
three  candidates  who  had  received  the  highest  vote.  But  the 
Constitution  had  made  no  provision  to  relieve  the  situation  con- 
fronting the  Nation  in  1876. 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  77 

The  VAN  CORTLANDTS  were  worthy  mayors  of  New  York. 
Nicholas  de  Meyer  who  was  Mayor  of  New  York  in  1676,  like 
many  Mayors  of  recent  date,  had  trouble  with  his  Board  of 
Aldermen,  composed  of  three  Dutchmen  and  three  Englishmen, 
One  of  the  Dutchmen,  Stephen  Van  Cortlandt,  succeeded  him 
as  Mayor  in  1677,  and  was  again  elected  in  1686.  Our  interest 
in  Mayor  Van  Cortlandt  is  due  to  the  fact  that  he  owned  an 
immense  tract  of  land  in  the  southern  section  of  Yonkers,  in 
this  County,  and  the  property  has  ever  been  identified  with 
the  Van  Cortlandt  family  name;  even  persons  of  other  names 
inheriting  the  property,  or  any  part  of  it,  had  to  adopt  the 
name  of  Van  Cortlandt,  thus  the  name  was  kept  attached  to 
the  land.  The  present  Van  Cortlandt  Park,  now  belonging  to 
New  York  city,  was  part  of  land  formerly  owned  by  Stephen 
Van  Cortlandt.  Jacobus  Van  Cortlandt,  another  of  this  wealthy 
family,  was  Mayor  of  New  York  in  1709,  and  again  in  1719. 
Pierre  Van  Cortlandt,  of  Cortlandt  Manor,  in  northern  section 
of  the  County,  the  sterling  patriot  of  Revolutionary  time  and 
first  Lieutenant-Governor  of  the  State,  was  related  to  the  Van 
Cortlandts  of  the  southern  section  of  the  County  and  New 
York  city. 


PIERRE  VAN  CORTLANDT  was  in  his  time  the  "favorite 
son  of  Westchester  County. ' '  During  the  Revolutionary  period 
he  was  closely  identified  with  most  of  the  movements  started 
in  aid  of  his  struggling  countrymen.  He  was  certainly  an 
energetic  and  useful  patriot.  Was  born  in  1720,  a  son  of  Philip 
Van  Cortlandt. 

He  was  the  first  Supervisor  of  the  town  of  Cortlandt,  serving 
from  1772  to  1780,  and  ever  proved  a  faithful  official,  neglecting 
no  local  duty,  yet  he  found  time  to  attend  when  called  for  the 
cause,  to  any  part  of  the  State.  He  was  conspicuous  as  a 
member  of  the  several  provincial  congresses. 

As  a  Colonel  he  commanded  the  Third  Westchester  Militia 
Regiment  and  later  was  advanced  to  be  a  General. 

During  the  Revolution  he  was  prominent  in  the  Committee 
of  Public  Safety,  acting  as  Vice-President  with  John  Jay  as 
President.  He  started  the  investigation  in  hopes  of  finding  the 
guilty  American  soldiers  who  set  fire  to  the  County  Court 
House  building  in  White  Plains,  on  the  night  of  November  5, 
1776. 


78  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

He  acted  in  an  advisory  capacity  after  the  arrest  of  Major 
Andre. 

To  Mr.  Van  Cortlandt  probably,  more  than  to  any  other  one 
man,  excepting  perhaps  j\lr.  Jay,  is  due  the  credit  of  drafting 
the  Constitution  of  this  State.  He  was  a  man  of  energy  and 
force,  whose  inHuence  was  broad. 

AVas  Deputy  from  this  County,  chosen  in  1775,  to  the  Second 
Provincial  Congress,  and  served  in  the  Third  and  Fourth  Con- 
gresses. 

After  the  formation  of  the  State  Constitution,  there  was 
organized  a  body  to  be  known  as  the  Council  of  Public  Safety, 
to  act  as  the  head  of  a  temporary  form  of  government,  to 
serve  until  the  election  of  a  Governor  and  the  installing  of  a 
Legislature  to  be  elected.  This  Council  was  organized  on  May 
3,  1777,  by  the  election  of  Mr.  Van  Cortland  as  president. 

By  Gen.  Van  Cortlandt 's  election,  Westchester  County  was 
(given  the  distinction  of  having  given  to  New  York  State  its 
first  elected  Lieutenant-Governor.  He  was  chosen  to  fill  that 
office  in  the  latter  part  of  1777,  and  served  under  the  first  Gov- 
ernor, George  Clinton.  When  John  Jay,  also  of  this  County, 
became  the  second  Governor  of  the  State,  succeeding  Clinton, 
Mr.  Van  Cortlandt  retired,  his  term  of  office  having  expired, 
and  because  it  would  not  do  to  have  both  the  Governor  and 
the  Lieutenant-Governor  from  the  same   county. 

As  Governor  Clinton  was  constantly  in  the  field,  the  Lieut.- 
Governor  was  the  practical  head  of  the  State  during  the  Revo- 
lutionary War. 

Gen.  Van  Cortlandt  occupied  the  family  mansion  in  Van 
Cortlandt  Manor,  at  Croton,  in  the  town  of  Cortlandt;  and 
here  Gen.  Washington  spent  many  hours  in  private  conference 
vnth  leaders  of  the  patriot  cause.  Gen.  Washington  ever  re- 
ferred to  Gen.  Van  Cortlandt  as  his  most  trusted  friend 
and  ally. 

It  was  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Cornelia  Van  Cortlandt  Beekman, 
who  incidentally  contributed  to  the  capture  of  IMajor  Andre,  by 
refusing  to  comply  with  the  request  of  Joshua  H.  Smith,  when 
he  came  to  the  Van  Cortlandt  Mansion  and  falsely  said  he  had 
been  sent  to  get  a  valise  belonging  to  a  Continental  officer, 
when  he  knew  said  valise  contained  the  uniform  of  an  American 
officer,  which  he  wanted  to  provide  a  disguise  for  Andre.  But 
for  the  woman's  disbelief  in  Smith,  Andre  would  have  been 
successful  in  reaching  New  York,  and  inside  the  British  lines. 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  79 

He  held  various  offices  in  State  and  County;  was  one  of  the 
first  Inspectors  of  Prisons. 

Descendants  of  Gen.  Van  Cortlandt  yet  reside  in  the  upper 
section  of  the  County  and  are  most  worthy  citizens. 

At  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  War  General  Van  Cortlandt 
and  his  family  again  occupied  the  Manor  House  at  Croton-on- 
the-Hudson.    He  died  there  May  1,  1814. 


GENERAL  PHILIP  VAN  CORTLANDT,  eldest  son  of  Gen- 
eral Piere  Van  Cortlandt,  was  born  September  1,  1749. 

He  was  one  of  the  early  volunteers  in  the  Revolutionary  War ; 
on  June  18,  1775,  was  commissioned  Lieutenant- Colonel  of  the 
Fourth  Battalion  New  York  Infantry ;  served  on  General  Wash- 
ington's  staff  until  November  30,  1776,  when  he  was  commis- 
sioned as  Colonel  of  the  Second  New  York  Regiment.  He  par- 
ticipated in  the  Battle  of  Saratoga,  and  was  with  General  AVash- 
ington  at  Valley  Forge.  Was  a  member  of  the  court-martial 
which  tried  Benedict  Arnold,  the  traitor,  in  January,  1779.  The 
following  year  he  served  with  General  Lafayette's  command, 
and  his  regiment  did  valiant  service  in  the  siege  and  capture  of 
Yorktown,  in  1781.  In  1783  he  was  created  Brigadier-General 
by  act  of  Congress  for  his  heroic  conduct  at  the  Battle  of  York- 
town. 

At  the  close  of  the  Revolution  he  was  chosen  to  represent 
Westchester  County  in  the  New  York  State  Assembly,  in  1789- 
90,  and  represented  the  County  in  the  State  Senate,  1791-2-3-4, 
and  in  Congress  from  1794  to  1809. 

On  his  retirement  from  official  position  he  went  to  reside 
on  his  father's  estate  at  Croton,  and  occupied  what  was  then 
known  as  the  "Ferry  House,"  built  about  two  hundred  years 
ago  and  still  standing.  General  Philip  Van  Cortlandt  had  the 
honor  of  being  assigned  to  accompany  his  old  friend  General 
Lafayette  during  the  latter 's  tour  through  the  United  States  in 
1824-25. 

He,  like  his  father,  was  a  Supervisor  of  the  town  of  Cortlandt. 

General  Van  Cortlandt  never  married.  He  died  at  the  Van 
Cortlandt  Manor  House  November  21,  1831,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-two  years,  and  was  buried  in  the  family  burying  ground 
nearby. 


80  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

AUGUSTUS  VAN  CORTLANDT,  the  last  private  occupant 
of  the  Van  Cortlandt  farm  in  South  Yonkers,  now  the  property 
of  New  York  city  and  know  as  Van  Cortlandt  Park,  and  later 
was  resident  of  Pelham  Manor,  in  this  County,  where  he  died 
recently.  He  was  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  of  the  town  of  Yonkers, 
and  represented  that  town  in  the  Board  of  Supervisors  in  the 
year  1858  and  1859,  and  in  the  latter  year  was  also  a  member  of 
the  State  Legislature,  as  an  Assemblyman. 


PHILIP  VERPLANCK,  who  represented  the  Manor  of  Cort- 
landt in  the  General  Assembly  for  thirty-four  years,  from  1734 
to  1768,  was  head  of  the  family  from  whom  the  present  Ver- 
plancks  in  Westchester  County  descend. 

Verplanck's  Point,  in  the  town  of  Cortlandt,  was  named  in 
his  honor. 


DANIEL  WEBSTER'S  wife,  Caroline  LeRoy  Webster,  died 
at  the  LeRoy  House,  New  Rochelle,  on  Sunday,  February  26, 
1882,  in  the  eighty-fifth  year  of  her  age,  after  an  illness  of  only 
three  days. 

Miss  LeRoy,  daughter  of  Jacob  LeRoy,  a  wealthy  New  York 
merchant,  Avas  in  1829  married  to  Daniel  Webster.  She  was  in 
her  youth  a  beautiful  girl  of  commanding  presence,  tall,  well 
proportioned,  intelligent  and  active.  That  Webster  desired  to 
win  her  was  not  strange ;  that  she  should  be  proud  to  call  such  a 
giant  her  husband  was  but  natural. 

In  his  Washington  life  the  wife  of  Daniel  Webster  participated 
to  a  marked  degree.  Although  self-willed  and  active,  he  was 
never  so  set  in  his  way  that  her  arguments  did  not  have  a  respect- 
ful hearing,  and  until  his  death  she  was  the  queen  of  Washing- 
ton society.  A  lady  of  elegant  appearance  and  address,  possess- 
ing superior  personal  charms,  tempered  with  excessive  modesty 
and  favored  with  a  liberal  education  and  a  brilliant  mind,  Mrs. 
Webster  numbered  among  her  guests  all  the  contemporaneous 
statesmen  and  diplomats  of  her  husband's  time.  Her  receptions 
in  Washington  were  the  most  elegantly  appointed  events  at  the 
national   capital.     Among  the   distinguished   guests   who  were 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  81 

always  welcomed  at  her  residence  were  Clay,  Calhoun,  Bulwer, 
Lord  Ashburton,  Dix,  Benton,  Mrs.  Madison,  and  all  the  ladies 
of  the  diplomatic  corps.  No  lady  of  her  day  ever  won  such 
social  distinction  with  foreign  and  American  statesmen  and  the 
ladies  of  the  court  as  ]\Irs.  Webster.  During  her  travels  in 
Europe  a  few  years  after  her  marriage,  she  was  received  by 
nearly  all  the  crowned  heads  in  whose  domain  she  traveled,  at 
one  tune  being  the  special  invited  guest  of  Queen  Victoria. 
While  in  England  with  her  husband  she  attended,  as  an  honored 
g'uest,  the  Egiington  tournament  which  created  such  an  excite- 
ment at  the  time  in  which  it  was  sought  to  revive  the  spear  war- 
fare of  the  ancients.  After  the  death  of  Daniel  Webster,  Octo- 
ber 24,  1852,  Mrs.  Webster,  who  had  been  spending  her  summers 
with  her  husband  at  Marshfield,  Mass.,  where  he  breathed  his 
last,  came  to  New  York  city  and  occupied  a  mansion  uptown 
until  1872,  when  she  sold  out  her  effects  in  latter  home,  and 
came  to  reside  permanently  at  the  LeRoy  House,  the  new 
Rochelle  residence  of  her  family  built  and  owned  by  her  relatives. 
The  death  of  her  husband  w^as  a  terrible  blow  to  Mrs. 
Webster.  She  was  a  devoted  wife  and  had  a  keen  apprehension 
of  his  superior  intellectual  qualifications.  After  his  death  she 
seemed  to  desire  seclusion  with  her  maid,  to  whom  she  often 
remarked  that  she  never  expected  to  meet  Mr.  Webster's  equal, 
and  therefore  felt  as  though  the  world  was  a  void  to  her.  She 
retired  early  from  society,  admitting  only  family  relatives  and 
a  few  intimate  acquaintances,  Mr.  Winthrop,  of  Boston,  who 
delivered  the  oration  at  the  unveiling  of  the  Webster  statue  in 
Central  Park,  being  one  of  her  principal  advisors  and  visitors. 
With  the  competence  which  she  had  to  her  own  right  and  the 
income  from  the  annuity  given  her  by  the  city  of  Boston,  she 
was  enabled  to  live  in  the  modest  and  comfortable  style  that 
became  the  widow  of  an  American  statesman.  She  scarcely 
ever  appeared  in  public,  but  took  a  great  interest  in  anything 
pertaining  to  the  revival  of  the  memory  of  her  husband.  Al- 
though she  received  a  serious  injury,  about  twenty-five  years 
previous  to  her  death,  by  being  thrown  from  her  carriage,  which 
at  times  seemed  to  obscure  her  memory  of  other  events,  yet  she 
would  sit  for  hours  and  relate  incidents  of  her  husband's  life. 
Her  last  appearance  in  public  was  at  the  unveiling  of  the  Web- 
ster statue  in  1877,  where  she  occupied  a  place  of  honor  on  the 
platform.  She  was  invited  to  be  present  at  the  centennial  cele- 
bration of  her  husband's  birth,  but  was  unable  to  attend  on 


82  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

account  of  her  health.  She  received  many  letters  upon  the  sub- 
ject from  prominent  New  England  families,  and  the  revival  of 
the  past  seemed  to  make  her  somewhat  low  spirited.  Under  the 
mental  strain  she  fell  an  easy  victim  to  pneumonia,  and  quietly 
breathed  her  last. 

Not  long  after  the  death  of  Mr.  AVebster  one  hundred  citizens 
of  Boston  contributed  one  thousand  dollars  each  to  a  fund  of 
one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  which  was  invested  for  Mrs. 
Webster's  benefit,  and  the  interest  of  this  she  duly  received  at 
her  New  Rochelle  home. 


WILLIAM  TEMPLE  EMMET 


1  .•^.»    '■;  ,  .- 


STATE  OFFICIALS. 


Biographical  Sketches. 


WILLIAM  T.  EMMET. 

William  Temple  Emmet,  State 
Superintendent  of  Insurance,  etc., 
was  born  in  New  Eochelle,  this 
county,  on  July  28,  1869,  a  son  of 
Eichard  Stockton  and  Catharine 
(Temple)  Emmet,  and  a  direct  de- 
scendant of  the  great  Irish  patriot 
Eobert  Emmet. 

He  acquired  his  early  education  in 
local  public  schools  and  then  attended 
St.  Paul's  School,  Concord,  N.  H. 
He  graduated  from  the  Columbia 
University  Law  School  in  1891,  and 
was  admitted  to  practice  law  in 
1892. 

He  first  practiced  in  his  native 
County,  and  in  May,  1894,  formed  a 
partnership  in  New  York  city. 

His  political  career  began  shortly 
after  reaching  his  majority.  He 
possessed  the  faith  of  his  fathers, 
and  early  enlisted  in  the  ranks  of 
Democracy.  Almost  immediately 
following  his  twenty-first  birthday 
he  was  chosen  to  the  responsible  po- 
sition of  Trustee  of  the  village  of 
New  Eochelle,  elected  after  a  spir- 
ited contest  in  which  he  defeated  the 
strongest  candidate  the  opposition 
could  induce  to  stand  for  election. 
He  served  as  such  Trustee  in  1891, 
1892,  1893,  1894. 

His  ability  as  a  local  legislator 
attracted  attention  and  secured  for 
him  election  as  a  member  of  the 
State  Constitutional  Convention,  to 
represent  the  local  Senatorial  dis- 
trict, in  1894,  when  he  was  but 
twenty-five  years  of  age. 

It  is  said  that  he  is  the  youngest 
man  yet  appointed  to  fill  his  present 
important   office. 

In  1900  he  was  appointed  by  Mayor 
Van  Wyck  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  Education  of  the  city  of  New 
York. 

In  1903  he  consented  to  be  his 
party's  candidate  for  State  Sena- 
tor, in  his  home  district,  when  it 
was    known    that    the    district    was 


overwhelmingly  Republican  and  the 
latter  political  party  had  deter- 
mined to  secure  the  election  regard- 
less of  cost.  Mr.  Emmet  made  an 
active  canvass,  and,  notwithstand- 
ing the  great  odds  against  him, 
polled  a  vote  of  which  he  might  be 
proud. 

In  1904  he  was  chosen  a  delegate 
from  the  Westchester  County  Con- 
gressional district  to  the  Democratic 
National  Convention.  He  was  again 
elected  a  delegate  in  1912,  to  the 
Democratic  National  Convention, 
from  the  city  of  New  York. 

For  a  considerable  period,  prior 
to  1912,  Mr.  Emmet  was  chairman 
of  the  New  York  city  branch  of  the 
New  York  State  Democratic  League. 

In  1911  he  was  appointed  by  Gov- 
ernor Dix  as  a  manager  of  the  State 
Training  School  for  Boys,  at  York- 
town  Heights,  in  this  County. 

Governor  John  A.  Dix,  on  Febru- 
ary 19,  1912,  appointed  Mr.  Emmet 
as  State  Superintendent  of  Insur- 
ance. His  selection  being  made 
from  a  list  bearing  the  names  of 
many  distinguished  citizens  repre- 
senting different  sections  of  the 
State.  That  Mr.  Emmet  was  given 
preferment  was  a  fitting  tribute  to 
his  personal  worth,  as  well  as  an  ap- 
proval of  the  consistency  of  his  po- 
litical course. 

The  business  of  insurance  has 
reached  such  vast  proportions  within 
this  State  and  the  interests  involved 
in  its  proper  conduct  are  so  vital  to 
the  welfare  of  our  citizens,  that  the 
placing  of  it  under  the  controlling 
supervision  of  the  State,  as  was  done 
in  1859,  was  a  matter  of  public 
policy,  the  propriety  of  which  can- 
not be  well  questioned  at  this  time. 
Laws  under  which  it  is  super- 
vised underwent  revision  in  1892, 
and  at  a  more  recent  date  were  re- 
vised by  radical  amendments. 

The  position  of  State  Superin- 
tendent of  Insurance  has  been  held 


83 


84 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


by  some  of  the  ablest  and  best 
known  men  in  the  State.  Mr.  Em- 
met has  the  honor  of  being  the 
only  resident  of  Westchester  County 
yet  selected  to  hold  this  office  of 
great  responsibility.  The  State  In- 
surance Department,  giving  employ- 
ment to  hundreds  of  persons,  is,  at 
the  present  time,  considered  one  of 
the  most  important  branches  of  the 
State  government.  Offices  of  the 
department  are  located  in  Albany 
and   in   New   York  city. 

Those  who  know  Superintendent 
Emmet  best  are  confident  that  his 
discharge  of  duties  will  reflect  credit 
upon  the  State  and  his  native 
County,  as  well  as  upon  himself; 
that  the  public  at  large  can  rely 
upon  an  intelligent  supervision  which 
is  so  essential  to  the  best  interests 
of  the  people  of  the  State. 

Mr.  Emmet  for  several  recent 
years  practised  his  profession  in 
New  York  city,  where  he  has  offices. 
In  practice  he  became  especially  fa- 


miliar with  laws  relating  to  all 
forms  of  insurance,  which  knowl- 
edge is  of  valuable  assistance  to 
him  in  his  new  official  position.  He 
has  long  been  ranked  as  one  of  the 
foremost  young  members  of  the 
legal  fraternity  in  New  York  city, 
his  ability  securing  for  him  promi- 
nence. He  has  been  conspicuous  in 
many  important  legal  contests  re- 
sulting successfully;  his  utterances 
are  precise  and  distinct  and  his  voice 
pleasant.  His  attachments  are  warm 
and  his  friends  numerous,  and  they 
rejoice  at  the  evidences  of  his  pros- 
perity. 

Mr.  Emmet  was  married  on  June 
16,  1896,  to  Miss  Cornelia  Zabriskie, 
daughter  of  Augustus  Zabriskie,  of 
New  York  city.  There  are  three 
children,  Richard  S.,  Katharine  Tem- 
ple,  and    William   Temple,   Jr. 

The  family  resides  in  South  Sa- 
lem, this  county,  as  well  as  having 
a  New  York  city  home. 


DAVID  CROMWELL 


\  T-   ' 


BENJAMIN  I.  TAYLOR 


\    • 


CONGRESSIONAL. 


Biographical  Sketches. 


BENJAMIN   I.   TAYLOR. 

Benjamin  Irving  Taylor,  Super- 
visor of  town  of  Harrison,  West- 
chester County,  Representative-elect 
in  Congress,  etc.,  was  born  December 
21,  1877j  in  New  York  city,  a  son 
and  eldest  child  of  Maurice  H.  and 
Ella  M.  (Archer)  Taylor.  Soon  af- 
ter his  birth  his  parents  returned  to 
reside  in  Rye,  this  County. 

On  the  paternal  side  genealogy 
connects  him  with  the  English  House 
of  Hamilton  and  with  one  or  more 
personages  associated  prominently 
with  the  legal  fraternity  of  early 
English  history.  John  Archer,  of 
one  of  the  oldest  families  of  the 
County,  an  ancestor  on  his  maternal 
side,  was  granted  a  charter  for  the 
Manor  of  Fordham,  in  this  County, 
when  that  section  was  within  the 
gift  of  the  British  Crown.  William 
H.  Taylor,  his  paternal  grandfather, 
represented  the  Common  Council  of 
the  City  of  New  York,  sixty  years 
ago,  when  that  city  purchased  a  site 
and  established  Washington  Market; 
the  ability  displayeu  in  this  particu- 
lar transaction  in  the  way  of  public 
improvement  called  for  public  recog- 
nition and  he  received  from  the  City 
as  a  gift  a  full  silver  service,  now 
preserved  as  a  valued  family  heir- 
loom. Grandfather  W.  H.  Tayloi 
died  in  Harrison  in  1872.  His  pa- 
ternal grandmother  was  a  descend- 
ant of  Godfrey  Haines,  of  Harrison, 
and  on  his  maternal  side  a  descend- 
ant of  Stephen  Hopkins,  the  Quaker, 
who  signed  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence. 

Mr.  Taylor,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  received  his  early  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  the  town  of 
Rye,  from  there,  in  1894,  he  went 
to  the  New  Rochelle  High  School, 
from  which  he  graduated  in  1896. 
He  was  the  first  graduate  of  this 
High  School,  the  number  of  his  di- 
ploma being  No.  1.     He  entered  the 


85 


Columbia  University  Law  School, 
from  which  he  graduated  in  1899 
with  a  degree  of  LL.B.  He  accepted 
a  position  in  the  law  otfice  of  Fred- 
erick W.  Sherman,  in  Port  Chester, 
and  a  year  later  entered  the  law  of- 
fice of  E.  A.  Scott,  New  York  city. 
In  1901  he  started  practice  on  his 
own  account  in  the  village  of  Port 
Chester,  town  of  Rye,  where  he  yet 
has  offices  and  a  large  and  growing 
business. 

Mr.  Taylor's  father  and  family 
removed  from  Rye  to  Harrison  in  the 
year  1902,  and  since  that  time  Tay- 
lor, Jr.,  has  made  Harrison  his  place 
of  residence. 

In  1905,  when  only  twenty-eight 
years  of  age,  Mr.  Taylor  accepted 
the  Democratic  nomination  for  Su- 
pervisor of  the  town  of  Harrison, 
becoming  the  opponent  of  one  of  the 
strongest  candidates  the  Republican 
party  could  present  for  that  office, 
George  T.  Burling,  now  serving  this 
County  as  County  Treasurer.  Mr. 
Taylor  won,  proving  his  great  popu- 
larity among  those  who  ought  to 
know  him  best  in  what  had  always 
of  recent  years  been  known  as  a 
' '  Republican  town. ' '  Two  years 
later,  in  1907,  he  was  re-elected,  and 
again  in  1909  and  in  1911. 

In  the  Board  of  Supervisors  he  haa 
ever  taken  an  important  part  in  the 
proceedings,  a  recognized  leader  in 
all  debates,  and  was  ever  able  to  be 
of  inestimable  service  to  his  town  in 
caring  for  its  interests. 

As  he  has  the  confidence  of  mem- 
bers of  the  Bar,  so  he  has  the  con- 
fidence of  his  colleagues  in  the 
Board  of  Supervisors,  where  his 
ability  as  a  lawyer  is  of  valuable 
assistance  in  the  transaction  of  the 
County's  business. 

As  a  student  he  was  laborious,  in- 
defatigable; as  a  lawyer,  scrupu- 
lously faithful  to  the  interests  of  his 
clients,  and  untiring  in  the  advo- 
cacy  of   their    claims.      He   has   ae- 


86 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


quired  with  the  Bench  a  high  repu- 
tation for  candor  and  frankness  as 
■well  as  legal  attainments,  and  with 
the  Bar  the  character  of  a  fair, 
courteous  and  gentlemanly  practi- 
tioner, whose  professional  reputation 
is  a  guaranty  against  chicanery. 

In  his  recent  election  in  Novem- 
ber, 1912,  as  Kepresentative  in  Con- 
gress, he  has  the  additional  honor  of 
being  the  first  elected  to  Congress 
from  the  new  Congressional  district, 
the  Twenty-fifth,  composed  of  a  part 
of  Westchester  County  and  the  whole 
of  Rockland  County.  In  him  the 
Democratic  party  will  find  a  desired 
asset. 

On  his  election  as  Representative 
in  Congress,  in  1912,  Mr.  Taylor 
tendered  his  resignation  as  Super- 
visor, which  the  Board  of  Town  Of- 
ficers refused  to  accept,  and  passed 
resolutions  asking  him  to  withdraw 
such    resignation    and    continue    to 


serve  the  town  in  the  office  of  Su- 
pervisor. 

In  announcing  House  Committees 
Speaker  Clark  specially  honored 
Westchester  County,  by  giving  Mr. 
Taylor,  a  new  member,  some  very 
important  assignments. 

Since  he  has  been  Supervisor,  Mr. 
Taylor  has  been  frequently  urged  to 
accept  nominations  for  County  of- 
fices at  the  hands  of  his  political 
party,  the  last  being  that  of  Surro- 
gate, in  1912.  He  preferred  to  de- 
vote much  of  his  time  to  legal  prac- 
tice. When  shown  that  his  party 
needed  him  at  Washington,  he  con- 
sented to  run  for  Congress. 

Mr.  Taylor  was  married  on  April 
27,  1907,  to  Miss  Harriet  B.  Bulk- 
ley,  daughter  of  Josiah  W.  and  Mar- 
garet Bulkley  of  Rye;  of  this  union 
there  are  two  daughters,  Estelle  B., 
Dorothy  F.,  and  a  son,  Benjamin 
Irving,   Jr. 


STATE  AND  COUNTY  OFFICIALS. 


Biographical   Sketches. 


DAVID  CROMWELL. 

David  Cromwell,  a  Manager  of 
the  State  Reformatory  for  Women, 
at  Bedford,  Supervisor  of  the  town 
of  Eastchester  in  1877-78-79,  County 
Treasurer  for  twelve  years,  from 
1879;  President  of  the  Village  of 
White  Plains  in  1894,  Treasurer  of 
Village  of  White  Plains  from 
1889  to  1894;  President  of  White 
Plains  Building  and  Loan  Associa- 
tion from  1888,  President  of  the 
White  Plains  Citizen's  Association; 
Mas  instrumental  in  the  organization 
of  the  White  Plains  Bank  and  be- 
came its  first  President  in  1893, 
this  bank  later  became  the  present 
First  National  Bank  of  White 
Plains,  and  he  retains  the  Presi- 
dency, was  organizer  and  is  Presi- 
dent of  the  Home  Savings  Bank 
of  White  Plains,  was  an  organizer 
of  the  People's  Bank  now  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Mount  Ver- 
non and  is  one  of  the  original  di- 
rectors, chairman  of  Group  VI.  of 
the  Now  York   State  Bankers'  Asso- 


ciation, and  director  or  trustee  of 
other  financial  institutions. 

President  of  the  White  Plains 
Hospital  Association,  Trustee  of  the 
White  Plains  Public  Library,  chair- 
man of  board  of  trustees  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  of  White 
Plains,  and  prominently  connected 
v.ith  various  other  societies  work- 
ing to  advance  the  public  good. 
Has  been  member  of  the  Mason  or- 
der for  forty  years. 

He  was  born  May  25,  1838,  a  son 
of  John  and  Letitia  (Haviland) 
Cromwell.  Was  married  December 
3,  1873,  to  Miss  Fannie  Deuel  of 
New  York.  A  son  and  daughter 
were  born  to  them. 

The  son,  John  C.  CromAvell,  a 
young  man  of  many  attainments  and 
of  great  promise,  was  suddenly 
killed  on  February  3,  1907,  while 
heroically  performing  his  duties  as 
a  volunteer  fireman,  at  a  fire  on 
Railroad  Avenue,  White  Plains. 
Two  companions  perished  with  him. 

The  daughter  is  the  wife  of 
Charles  D.  Horton  of  White  Plains. 


(See  Volumes  One  and  Two.) 


TOWNS  OF  THE  COUNTY. 


The  early  history  of  the  several  Towns  in  Westchester  County 
is  more  than  interesting;  but  as  the  subject  was  quite  fully 
treated  in  volume  one,  commencing  at  page  187,  lengthy  his- 
torical reviews  of  the  Towns  will  not  be  attempted  in  the  present 
volume,  further  than  to  give,  briefly  and  concisely  as  possible, 
additional  information  subsequently  obtained. 

TOWN  OF  BEDFORD. 


(Continued  from  page  190,  Vol.  1.) 

The  township  of  Bedford  is  nearly  a  square  tract  of  country 
containing  about  thirty-six  square  miles  east  and  north  of  the 
central  portion  of  Westchester  County  and  about  thirty-five 
miles  from  New  York  city.  It  is  one  of  the  oldest  settled  por- 
tions of  the  State  and  the  oldest  town  in  the  County,  having 
been  created  a  municipality  by  council  at  Hartford  in  1681  and 
1682.  The  northwestern  portion  bordering  on  what  was  form- 
erly Croton  River,  now  New  York  City  Reservoir,  is  quite  hilly 
and  rough.  The  southeastern  portion  rolling  and  sandy.  It 
was  originally  a  part  of  Stamford  and  belonged  to  the  State  of 
Connecticut,  known  in  its  earliest  times  as  the  Hop  Ground. 

About  the  year  1644,  an  Indian  settlement  occupied  a  tract 
south  of  what  is  now  called  The  Cliffs.  It  was  surprised  by  a 
company  of  soldiers  from  Greenwich,  Connecticut,  and  prac- 
tically exterminated. 

About  1681,  some  twenty-four  persons  from  Stamford,  Con- 
necticut, established  the  settlement  of  Bedford  and  laid  it  out 
after  a  plan  of  a  New  England  town,  with  the  Green  or  Square 
in  the  center,  similar  to  Lexington  Green  in  Massachusetts. 

"Among  those  that  came  first,   we   recognize   the   familiar 

names  of  Ambler,  Weed,  Slawson,  Westcott  and  John  Cross, 

after  whom  Cross  River  was  named,  Clark,  Bates,  Waterbury 

and  others,  now  familiar  family  names  in  the  town."     These 

original  settlers  brought  with  them  from  Connecticut  a  spirit 

of  independence  which  the  English  governor  found  difficult  to 

subdue. 

87 


88  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

"  The  principal  matter  of  contention  appeared  to  be,  what 
minister  should  officiate  in  the  church.  There  was  also  a  strong 
desire  shown  on  the  part  of  the  original  settlers  to  remain 
loyal  to  the  State  of  Connecticut,  in  the  controversy  between 
that  State  and  the  State  of  New  York  as  to  the  boundary  line. 
This  matter  was  finally  settled,  though  years  later,  by  com- 
missioners appointed  by  each  State  who  met  at  Dover,  Dutchess 
County,  and  established  the  boundary.  From  that  time  on 
the  town  has  been  without  controversy,  a  part  of  the  State  of 
New  York. 

"  The  townspeople  were  very  much  averse  to  being  in  the 
same  parish  and  connected  with  the  Church  of  England  Mission 
at  Rye  to  which  they  were  obliged  to  contribute  each  year. 

"  Even  public  and  social  matters  at  that  time  were  centered 
in  church  and  church  controversies. 

The  original  settlers  brought  with  them  from  their  New 
England  homes  to  Bedford,  the  old  idea  of  a  town  meeting  at 
which  all  the  town  business  was  transacted.  This  exceedingly 
democratic  institution  outlasted  colonial  governments.  Revolu- 
tionary War  and  the  formation  of  state  and  federal  constitu- 
tion, and  continued  down  to  a  very  recent  period.  Soon  after 
the  coming  of  the  first  settlers  the  vicinity  of  Bedford  became 
quite  a  populous  part  of  the  county  for  that  time. 

The  Presbyterian  Church  in  Bedford,  used  as  a  Court  House, 
was  destroyed  by  the  British.  On  June  24,  1779,  Tarleton'a 
and  Simcoe's  Cavalry,  of  the  British  forces,  came  up  from 
White  Plains,  by  way  of  Pine's  Bridge,  and  burned  it.  The 
Church  parsonage,  ten  days  earlier,  had  met  the  same  fate  at 
the  hands  of  a  detachment  from  Verplanck's  Point,  under 
Lieut.-Col.  Robert  Abercromby,  of  the  37th  regiment. 

About  the  year  1786  a  court  house  was  established  in  the  town 
(though  courts  had  been  previously  held  in  the  Presbyterian 
Church),  and  the  town  became  thereby  a  half -shire  town  (that 
is,  a  town  in  which  the  court  of  records  in  the  county  were  held 
alternately  at  Bedford  and  ^^ite  Plains).  The  trial  to  deter- 
mine the  respective  rights  of  the  different  branches  of  the 
Friends'  Society  was  held  here.  Also  a  criminal  case  which  at 
that  time  attracted  great  attention  not  only  because  of  the  char- 
acter of  the  men  on  trial  but  of  the  great  moral  upheaval  that 
grew  out  of  it.  This  was  the  indictment  of  Tom  Hyre,  a  cele- 
brated pugilist  who  had  always  been  considered  the  greatest 
fighter  that  ever  stood  in  tb<^  prize-ring,  John  Morrissey  and 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  89 

others  as  accessories  to  the  killing  of  McCoy  in  the  prize-ring  at 
Hastings  by  one  Lilly,  This  event  put  an  end  to  public  prize 
fights  in  the  State  of  New  York.  Also  in  other  trials  held  here 
was  heard  the  greatest  forensic  talent  at  that  time,  to  wit: 
Charles  O'Connor,  John  VanBuren  (son  of  President  Martin 
VanBuren),  John  Voorhis,  Samuel  E.  Lyon,  Joseph  Warren 
Tompkins  and  others. 

The  County  Court  House,  erected  in  1787,  still  stands;  the 
building  is  now  being  used  as  the  Bedford  To\^^l  Hall. 

About  1810,  the  village  of  Bedford  was  one  of  the  most  impor- 
tant villages  of  the  County,  far  outrivalling  in  that  respect 
White  Plains. 

During  the  War  of  1812  an  incident  occurred  which  at  the 
time  was  but  little  known,  and  since  then  has  been  almost  forgot- 
ten. A  feeling  based  on  rumor,  having  arisen  in  the  city  of  New 
York  that  the  British  contemplated  an  advance  on  the  city; 
one  of  the  then  most  prominent  and  strongest  banks  in  the 
city  gathered  up  its  specie  reserve,  amounting  to  fifty  thousand 
dollars  in  silver  (at  that  time  an  enormous  sum),  and  shipped 
same  in  nailed  kegs  by  trucks  to  the  town  of  Bedford  under 
guard,  and  secreted  it  in  the  cellar  of  the  old  Isaac  Smith  house, 
near  Bedford  village,  where  it  remained  until  the  alarm  was  over. 

In  the  year  1800,  John  Jay,  ex-Governor  of  the  State  of  New 
York  and  ex-Chief  Justice  of  the  United  States,  and  holder  of 
numerous  positions  of  high  honor,  established  a  permanent  resi- 
dence in  the  northeast  portion  of  the  town  near  what  was  then 
called  Cantito,  on  his  estate  of  about  six  hundred  acres.  The 
residence  he  formerly  occupied  now  stands  and  is  owned  by 
descendants. 

This  distinguished  American  held  some  of  the  high  positions 
in  the  gift  of  his  countrymen.  Delegate  to  the  first  National 
Congress,  also  one  of  the  delegates  to  form  the  first  State  Gov- 
ernment for  the  State  of  New  York,  minister  plenipotentiary  to 
Spain,  and  with  other  commissioners  negotiated  the  first  treaty 
between  the  Colonies  and  Great  Britain  after  the  close  of  the 
Revolutionary  War.  On  his  return  to  the  United  States,  he 
was  sent  as  minister  plenipotentiary  to  the  court  of  St.  James 
and  negotiated  the  treaty  that  still  bears  his  name.  On  his 
return  to  the  United  States  he  was  appointed  Chief  Justice  of 
the  Supreme  Court  and  was  afterward  chosen  Governor  of  the 
State  of  New  York  in  1801.     In  1805  he  retired  to  his  estate 


90  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

in  Bedford,  and  from  that  time  until  his  death  in  1829,  never 
again  went  to  the  city  of  New  York. 

On  his  return  to  the  United  States,  after  negotiating  the 
treaty,  owing  to  his  being  presented  at  court  and  kissing  the 
queen's  hand,  he  fell  into  disfavor  with  the  radical  Democratic- 
Republican  section  of  the  United  Colonies.  The  contention 
being  that  his  previous  republicanism  had  drifted  toward 
royalty.  He  also  advocated  the  form  of  government  proposed 
by  Hamilton  and  was  a  co-worker  with  Hamilton  in  politics. 
He,  like  Hamilton,  having  little  faith  in  the  capacity  of  the 
masses  of  the  people  to  govern  themselves,  taking  directly  the 
opposite  view  of  Jefferson. 

A  descendant  of  Governor  Jay,  namely,  his  son  AVilliam 
Jay,  once  occupied  the  bench  as  County  Judge.  His  grandson, 
John,  minister  to  Vienna  under  General  Grant's  administration, 
and  his  great-grandson,  Colonel  ^Yilliam  Jay,  have  continually 
occupied  the  Jay  mansion,  which  is  situated  in  one  of  the  most 
attractive  sections  of  Westchester  County. 

County  Judge  ATilliam  Jay,  second  son  of  John  Jay,  was 
born  June  16,  1789.  He  was  Judge  of  Common  Pleas  in  this 
county  from  1818  to  1820,  in  the  latter  year  Governor  Daniel 
D.  Tompkins  (a  native  of  this  county)  appointed  him  first 
Judge  of  this  county,  in  which  position  he  remained  until  1842. 
He  died  at  his  home  in  this  town,  in  1858. 

Judge  Robert  S.  Hart,  one  of  the  ablest  lawyers  of  West- 
chester County  in  his  day,  resided  in  Bedford,  and  was  the 
last  judge  that  occupied  the  bench  in  the  old  Court  of  Common 
Pleas  of  the  County,  w^hich  was  abolished  by  the  Constitution 
of  1848. 

Doctor  Seth  Shove,  in  his  day  the  most  famous  surgeon  in  the 
County,  from  the  beginning  of  his  practice  to  his  death,  resided 
on  Cherry  Street  in  this  town. 

Judge  William  H.  Robertson  also  was  born,  lived  and  died  in 
Bedford,  and  held  many  prominent  positions:  County  Judge, 
State  Senator,  Congressman,  Collector  of  the  Port  of  New 
York,  leader  of  the  Republican  party  in  the  County,  and  one 
of  its  strongest  supports  in  the  State. 

General  James  W.  Husted,  well  known  Republican  party 
leader,  known  throughout  the  State  as  the  "  Bald  Eagle,"  Mem- 
ber of  Legislature  and  many  times  Speaker  of  the  Assembly, 
was  born  and  raised  in  Bedford. 

Among  the  oldest  families  are  those  who  first  immigrated  to 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  91 

the  town  and  laid  out  the  town  site,  heretofore  mentioned.  In 
addition  to  these  in  the  northeast  part  were  the  Greens,  Dick- 
insons and  Powells;  in  the  northwest,  Whitlock,  Wood,  Haines 
and  Fowler;  in  the  south  portion,  Carpenter,  Knowlton,  Ray- 
mond, Fish,  Sutton  and  Hubbell ;  in  the  southeast  portion,  Bar- 
rett, Trowbridge  and  Lounsberry. 

In  the  year  1807  was  organized  by  the  people  of  Bedford,  the 
old  Bedford  Academy.  The  building  was  completed  the  next 
year  and  is  the  same  building  which  is  now  occupied  by  the 
Bedford  Library.     It  was  opened  June  6,  1809. 

Among  the  first  subscribers  of  the  school  were  ex-Governor 
John  Jay,  Ebenezer  Grant,  Benjamin  Isaacs,  Aaron  Read,  Jesse 
Holly,  Peter  Fleming,  N.  S.  Bates  and  others.  Donations  were 
frequently  made  by  prominent  citizens  of  the  city  of  New  York. 
Among  the  latter  was  one  Richard  Riker  at  one  time  District 
Attorney  of  the  city  of  New  York,  Member  of  the  Assembly  and 
Recorder  of  the  city. 

The  Recorder's  Court  was  a  court  of  criminal  jurisdiction 
for  the  city  of  New  York,  and  while  he  was  Recorder  it  was  said 
of  Riker  that  he  would  sign  his  own  death  warrant  if  it  was 
laid  before  him;  this  he  did  when  a  joke  was  finally  practiced 
upon  him.  He  occupied  the  position  of  Recorder  from  1821 
to  1829.  Other  supporters  of  the  Academy  were  Pierre  E.  Van 
"Wyck,  who  held  the  office  of  Recorder  and  District  Attorney 
between  the  years  1806  and  1812 ;  Governor  Daniel  D.  Tompkins, 
Joseph  Constant,  Peter  J.  Monroe,  a  famous  lawyer  of  his  day, 
and  Gen.  James  W.  Husted,  who  at  one  time  was  an  instructor 
in  the  Academy.  Among  those  who  attended  the  school  were  Con- 
gressman John  McCloskey,  and  the  Reverend  Joseph  Owen,  who 
became  a  missionary  to  India  and  witnessed  some  of  the  terrible 
scenes  of  butchery  in  the  Sepoy  insurrection  in  India;  many 
prominent  physicians  were  in  part  educated  at  this  institution; 
also  many  prominent  lawyers,  as  Honorable  John  Jay,  grandson 
of  the  Governor,  who  was  afterwards  U.  S.  Minister  to  Austria 
under  the  administration  of  President  Grant,  Honorable  Chaun- 
eey  M.  Depew,  railroad  president  and  United  States  Senator, 
Honorable  William  H.  Robertson,  Lewis  C.  Piatt,  first  elected 
Surrogate  of  Westchester  County,  and  the  late  Silas  D.  Gifford, 
County  Judge  of  Westchester  County ;  prominent  military  men 
received  a  portion  of  their  instruction  at  the  old  Bedford  Acad- 
emy. Col.  Piatt  was  a  scholar  here ;  he  was  colonel  of  a  regiment 
in  the  Civil  War  at  the  battle  of  Gettysburgh,  being  twenty-seven 


92  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

hours  under  fire  and  received  a  sunstroke  from  which  he  never 
recovered,  Major  John  L.  Knapp  was  also  a  student  in  the  Bed- 
ford Academy,  and  after  the  close  of  the  Civil  AVar  was  appointed 
Superintendent  of  the  Marine  Hospital  at  Key  West,  Major 
W.  0.  Scribner  served  in  the  Civil  War  and  afterward  became 
captain,  being  wounded  in  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  he  was 
assigned  to  the  charge  of  the  Freeman's  Bureau  of  Petersburgh, 
Va. ;  Major-General  Phillip  Kearney  entered  Bedford  Academy 
preparatory  to  entering  Columbia  College,  with  the  view  of 
becoming  a  lawyer,  but  being  fascinated  with  a  military  life, 
he  joined  the  army.  He  went  abroad  to  study  and  report  upon 
the  French  Cavalry  tactics,  entering  the  French  Army;  he 
fought  later  in  Italy,  and  for  meritorious  service  was  decorated 
with  the  Cross  of  the  Legion  of  Honor;  he  was  also  with  the 
U.  S.  Army  in  the  Mexican  War,  and  lost  an  arm  in  liis  charge 
in  the  city  of  Mexico ;  he  fought  on  the  side  of  the  Union  during 
the  Civil  War  and  rose  to  the  rank  of  Major-General,  but  was 
killed  in  the  battle  of  Chantilly,  September  1,  1862. 

Among  the  prominent  business  men  who  were  students  at  the 
Bedford  Academy  we  find  Benjamin  Loder  at  one  time  president 
of  the  Erie  Railway  Company,  William  H.  Vanderbilt,  presi- 
dent of  the  New  York  Central  Railroad  Lines,  Francis  I.  Palmer 
in  his  day  the  owner  of  the  Dry  Dock  and  Broadway  stage  lines 
and  president  of  the  Broadway  Bank,  William  Darling,  Sur- 
veyor of  the  Port  of  New  York,  James  Lounsbery  and  his  two 
sons,  James  and  Richard,  merchants  and  brokers,  J.  Lee  Smith 
at  one  time  president  of  the  St.  Nicholas  Bank,  George  Waring, 
ancestor  of  the  celebrated  Colonel  AVaring  who  organized  the 
street  cleaning  department  of  the  city  of  New  York.  Many 
prominent  men  were  also  principals  of  this  institution  and  many 
teachers  in  public  institutions  have  received  instructions  here. 
The  late  Joseph  Barrett,  for  many  years  School  Commissioner 
in  the  Third  Assembly  District  and  for  a  long  time  connected 
with  the  custom  house  in  New  York  city,  received  his  youthful 
training  at  this  school. 

The  localities  within  the  town  are.  Mount  Kisco  (part  of  the 
village),  Katonah,  Bedford,  Bedford  Centre,  Bedford  Hills, 
Succabom  Corners,  Cantetoe  Corners,  Wood's  Bridge,  Howland 
Lake,  part  of  Byram  Lake,  Cross  River  Reservoir. 

About  1846,  the  Harlem  Railroad  was  laid  through  the  town 
and  three  new  village  sites  were  founded,  namely :  Mount 
Kisco,  Bedford  Station  and  AMiitelockville  which  is  now  Kato- 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


93 


nah.  In  the  construction  of  the  new  Croton  Reservoir,  the 
village  of  Katonah  wap  wiped  out  and  the  new  village  projected 
and  built. 

The  strictly  rural  air  and  country  characteristics  which  once 
prevailed  throughout  this  town  have  since  the  coming  of  later 
facilities  of  travel,  nearly  passed  away.  Many  of  the  wealthy 
and  opulent  citizens  of  New  York  city  have  established  their 
summer  residences  and  country  seats  over  nearly  the  entire 
township. 

The  Montefiori  Home  for  Consumptives  established  here 
is  located  on  a  hill  to  the  west  of  Bedford  Hills,  and  the 
State  Reformatory  for  Women,  established  a  few  years  ago  by 
the  State,  is  located  a  mile  to  the  east  of  the  village  of  Bedford 
Hills,  suggesting  as  they  do  close  proximity  to  the  city.  The 
condemnation  of  land  by  the  city  of  New  York  for  Croton 
"Water  purposes  for  the  city  of  New  York  has  also  had  much  to 
do  with  changing  the  social  and  business  atmosphere  of  old 
Bedford,  as  well  as  its  property  boundaries. 

Notwithstanding  all  these,  some  advantages  and  others 
drawbacks,  the  town  of  Bedford  still  possesses  its  attractive 
topography  and  charming  native  forests,  making  it  an  exceed- 
ingly beautiful  section  of  the  county. 


Biographical  Sketches. 


E.  PEECY  BAEEETT. 

Edward  Percy  Barrett,  Chairman 
Board  of  Supervisors,  in  1912-L3;  Su- 
pervisor of  the  town  of  Bedford,  was 
born  on  June  25,  1875,  in  the  town 
of  which  he  is  now  the  official  head 
and  where  he  has  always  resided,  the 
third  son  of  Joseph  and  Emma  (Rob- 
ertson)   Barrett. 

He  received  an  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  town, 
but  is  essentially  a  self-made  man. 
He  chose  the  profession  of  law,  and 
after  being  admitted  to  practice  es- 
tablished offices  in  White  Plains,  the 
county-seat. 

Mr.  Barrett  is  one  of  the  young- 
est men  now  serving  in  the  County 
Board  of  Supervisors,  though  num- 
bered among  the  oldest  in  time  of 
service;  that  he  is  an  acceptable 
representative  is  proven  by  his  re- 
peated re-election  at  the  hands  of 
his  townspeople.  He  is  an  active 
member  of  the  board — watchful  and 


observant  of  everything  that  is  pass- 
ing, and  ready  to  interpose  objec- 
tions or  suggest  amendments  that  he 
deems  proper.  Quick  of  perception 
he  readily  discovers  defects,  and  his 
sagacity  and  good  sense  as  readily 
prompts  the  remedy.  He  seldom 
speaks  on  any  subject  other  than  by 
few  explanatory  remarks,  giving  his 
views  succinctly  and  with  more  ad- 
vantage to  the  public  than  by  the 
delivery  of  an  elaborate  speech. 

He  was  elected  Supervisor  in 
1905,  and  has  been  re-elected  every 
two  years  since,  his  new  term  being 
for  the  years  1912-13;  was  elected 
Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Supervis- 
ors in  November,  1911. 

To  establish  the  fact  that  Mr. 
Barrett  is  a  man  of  affairs,  and 
prominent  in  the  business  world, 
mention  may  be  made  that  he  is  an 
active  member  of  the  Katonah  Fire 
Department,  passed  through  all 
grades  until  he  became  the  head; 
is  an  active  official  in  the  Katonah 


94 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


Village  Improvement  Associatiou 
and  a  conscientious  member  of  the 
Katouah  Presbyterian  Church. 

President  and  director  of  the  Ka- 
tonah  Lighting  Company;  President 
and  director  of  the  Hoyt  Brothers 
Company  general-department-store, 
Katonah;  secretary  and  director  of 
the  Katonah  Laud  Company;  secre- 
tary and  director  ot  the  Bedford 
Hills  Real  Estate  Company;  secre- 
tary and  director  of  the  Central 
Westchester  Co.  Real  Estate  Com- 
pany; president,  treasurer  and  di- 
rector of  the  Carbon-less  Paper 
Company  or  New  York;  vice-presi- 
dent and  treasurer  of  the  Andes- 
Bullion  Mining  Company  of  White 
Plains;  sole  owner  and  proprietor  of 
the  Westchester  Wood-Working 
Mill  of  White  Plains;  secretary  and 
director  of  the  Fowler  &  Sellers 
Hardware  Company  ot  White 
Plains;  director  of  the  Reed  & 
Clark  Real  Estate  Company  of 
White  Plains;  secretary  and  treas- 
urer of  the  Westchester  Electric 
Supply  Company  of  White  Plains; 
secretary  of  the  Bedford  Union 
Cemetery  Association  of  Katonah. 

Mr.  Barrett  married,  on  November 
27,  1901,  Miss  Estelle  A.  Travis, 
daughter  of  Byron  A.  and  Margaret 
(Putney)  Travis  of  Katonah.  Of 
this  union  there  are  two  children, 
Douglass  L.,  born  December  3,  1902, 
and  Katherine  E.,  born  May  20, 
1908.  The  family  place  of  residence 
is  in  Katonah. 

JOSEPH  BARRETT. 

Joseph  Barrett,  School  Commis- 
sioner, Supervisor  and  Deputy  Col- 
lector of  the  Port  of  Mew  York,  was 
born  May  25,  1840,  a  son  of  Moses 
St.  John  and  Mary  Elizabeth  (Nex- 
sen)  Barrett,  and  a  grandson  of 
Samuel  Barrett  who  was  among 
those  who  settled  in  the  town  of 
Bedford  in  the  year  1700.  Joseph 
was  born  in  the  Barrett  homestead 
on  the  road  leading  from  Bedford 
Station  to  the  Bedford  Baptist 
Church.  His  mother  died  when  he 
was  only  two  years  of  age. 

He  received  his  education  in  the 
district  school  near  his  home  and  in 
the  Bedford  Academy  where  one  of 
his  instructors  was  the  late  General 
James  W.  Husted.  Here  he  prepared 
for  college;  he  was  graduated  from 
LaFayette   College,   in   Easton,    Pa., 


in  the  year  1861.  Two  of  his  sons 
have  since  been  graduated  from  the 
same  institution,  and  all  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Delta  Kappa  Epsilon 
fraternity.  He  was  inclined  toward 
a  mercantile  career,  but  he  was  com- 
pelled to  heed  the  call  of  his  fellow 
citizens  when  the  request  came  that 
he  give  some  of  his  time  to  the  dis- 
charge of  public  duties. 

In  the  Spring  of  1866  Mr.  Barrett 
accepted  appointment  to  fill  the  po- 
sition of  School  Commissioner  in  the 
Third  District  of  the  County;  at  the 
expiration  of  the  term  for  which  he 
was  appointed  he  was  elected  to  the 
office,  and  reelected,  again  serving 
until  January  1,  1876 — ten  years  in 
all.  His  second  son  later  held  this 
office. 

He  was  next  elected  Supervisor  of 
the  town  of  Bedford  (an  office  his 
third  son  now  holds),  and  this  posi- 
tion he  held  for  six  terms,  from  1879 
to  1885.  Quiet  and  thoughtful,  ob- 
serving closely  and  proving  his 
judgment  in  that  way  which  is  of 
all  others  the  wisest,  after  practical 
waiting  for  evidence,  Supervisor 
Barrett  at  once  became  a  valuable 
member  of  the  Board  of  Supervis- 
ors. The  writer  remembers  him  as 
one  of  the  board's  ablest  members 
in  a  period  when  the  board  was  com- 
posed of  the  County's  men  of  dis- 
tinction. 

When  Judge  William  H.  Robert- 
son became  Collector  of  the  Port  of 
New  York  he  appointed,  in  1881, 
Mr.  Barrett  a  Deputy  Collector. 
Subsequently  the  latter  was  ap- 
pointed by  Collector  Robertson  as 
Cashier  of  the  New  York  Custom 
House,  and  at  the  expiration  of  Col- 
lector Robertson's  term,  he  was 
made  Receiving  Teller  in  the  Cash- 
ier's office,  retaining  latter  posi- 
tion until  he   resigned   in   1005. 

Governor  Odell  on  April  23,  1901, 
appointed  Mr.  Barrett  one  of  the 
first  Board  of  Managers  of  the  New 
York  State  Reformatory  for  Wo- 
men, at  Bedford,  and  on  being  re- 
appointed, held  the  position  at  the 
time  of  his  death.  He  served  as 
treasurer  of  the  Board  of  Managers. 
In  this  position  a  son  succeeds  him, 
as  manager  and  treasurer. 

In  1909  Mr.  Barrett  was  ap- 
pointed by  Supreme  Court  Justice 
Keogh  a  Commissioner  in  land 
condemnation     proceedings     relative 


CHARLES  HAINES 


tit. ' 

...r.    \ 


■     ■■('''■' 


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MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


95 


to  the  Ashokan  aqueduct;   this  posi- 
tion he  held  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

For  many  years  Mr.  Barrett  was 
identified  with  the  work  of  the 
Katonah  Village  Improvement  So- 
ciety, serving  as  its  President  in  re- 
cent years,  and  contributed  largely 
to  the  success  of  the  New  Village 
project  when  the  former  village  was 
taken  by  the  city  of  New  York  in 
connection  with  the  enlargement  of 
Croton  Lake. 

Soon  after  the  organization  of  the 
Katonah  Presbyterian  Church  Mr. 
Barrett  became  identified  with  it, 
serving  its  interests  faithfully  as 
Trustee,  Treasurer,  Elder  and  as 
Superintendent  of  the  Sunday 
School  for  thirty-one  years. 

He  was  a  promoter  also  of  the  local 
Tree  Library  and  the  Choral  Club, 
as  well  as  everything  that  had  for 
its  object  the  improvement  of  condi- 
tions educational,  moral  or  physical, 
within  the  locality  of  which  he  was 
a  part. 

Hon.  James  Wood,  his  neighbor 
and  life-long  friend,  in  speaking  of 
Mr.  Barrett,  says:  "  No  community 
has  ever  had  too  many  citizens  such 
as  Joseph  Barrett  has  been,  and  any 
community  that  has  had  one  such 
has  been  "truly  fortunate.  By  his 
death  every  worthy  enterprise  has 
lost  a  sympathizer  and  a  promoter, 
everything  that  is  noble  and  pure 
and  good  and  that  benefits  humanity 
has  lost  a  friend  and  a  helper." 

' '  Katonah  is  better  because  Jo- 
seph Barrett  here  had  his  home; 
the  town  of  Bedford  is  better  be- 
cause he  was  one  of  her  sons  and  so 
long  took  part  in  her  public  affairs; 
Westchester  County  is  better  because 
he  was  one  of  her  citizens  who  by 
the  influence  of  his  character  made 
the  moral  tone  of  her  citizenship 
higTier  and  purer  and  by  his  devo- 
tion had  her  oest  interests  served 
and  promoted.  In  proportion  as  have 
been  the  benefits  of  his  life  are  now 
the  losses  sustained  by  his  death. ' ' 

Mr.  Barrett  was  married  on  Feb- 
ruary 13,  1867,  to  Miss  Emma  Rob- 
ertson, daughter  of  Henry  and  Hul- 
dah  H.  Eobertson,  his  wife  being  a 
sister  of  Judge  William  H.  Robert- 
son. Until  1890  they  resided  in  the 
Robertson  homestead,  near  Cantito 
Corners,  then  removed  to  Deer  Park 
Farm,  a  half  mile  east  of  Katonah, 
where  they  continued  to  reside  until 


the  home  in  New  Katonah  was  oc- 
cupied in  1898.  To  them  five  chil- 
dren were  born,  four  sons  and  one 
daughter,  Henry  E.,  William  G., 
Edward  Percy,  Robert  T.,  and 
Elizabeth. 

The  death  of  Mr.  Barrett  occurred 
on  Sunday  afternoon,  March  13, 
1910,  at  Galen  Hall,  Atlantic  City, 
N.  J.,  to  which  place  he  had  gone,  in 
hopes  of  benefitting  his  health,  ac- 
companied by  Mrs.  Barrett  and  Miss 
Elizabeth  Barrett.  The  two  last 
named,  and  his  four  sons,  called  has- 
tily on  the  day  previous,  were  gath- 
ered about  his  bedside  when  he 
passed  away  peacefully,  in  the  seven- 
tieth year  of  his  age. 

CHARLES  HAINES. 

Charles  Haines,  one  of  the  best 
known  members  of  the  Westchester 
County  Bar,  leading  lawyer  of  the 
town  of  Bedford,  with  offices  in 
White  Plaino,  the  county-seat,  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Bedford,  on 
August  9,  1846,  a  son  of  Joseph 
and  Elizabeth   (Powell)   Haines. 

His  education  began  in  the  little 
district  school  of  his  native  town; 
with  this  exception  he  is  entirely 
self-taught.  He  studied  law  in  the 
office  of  Robert  S.  Hart,  who  was 
the  last  Judge  of  Common  Pleas  in 
the  County,  and  began  practice  in  the 
year  1872,  being  admitted  to  the 
bar  at  Poughkeepsie  general  term  in 
that  year. 

Though  he  persists  in  being  a 
bachelor,  Mr.  Haines  is  the  most 
genial  of  men,  and  still  maintains 
the  family  home  on  Bedford  Hills, 
where  hospitality  is  Liberally  dis- 
pensed. 

It  is  said  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  is  a  firm  believer  in  women 
enjoying  all  the  rights  given  them 
by  the  Constitution,  and  probably 
a  little  more;  and  to  this  belief,  it 
is  alleged,  is  owing  his  determina- 
tion to  remain  single,  that  he  be  not 
tempted  in  any  way  to  interfere 
with  a  woman's  rights.  He  is  ad- 
mitted to  be  the  best  legal  authority 
in  the  county  relative  to  the  prop- 
erty rights  of  married  women. 

Mr.  Haines  drew  the  first  statute 
adopted  by  the  State  Legislature 
installing  the  present  system  of 
drawing  jurors  in  Justice  Courts. 
His   persistent    efforts   succeeded    in 


96 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST, 


efifecting  a  most  desired  change;  the 
substituting  of  an  honest  and  fair 
system  for  u  mode  devoid  of  any 
system  suggestive  of  fair-dealing. 
The  bill  providing  for  the  change 
was  before  five  different  Legisla- 
tures in  this  State,  in  so  many 
years,  before  it  was  passed  j  finally 
it  was  put  through  by  the  aid  of 
Senator  Robertson  and  Speaker 
Husted  of  this  county. 

He  was  the  first  Recording  Secre- 
tary of  the  Westchester  County  Bar 
Association  and  later  was  Vice- 
President. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Bedford 
Farmers'  Club,  one  of  the  oldest  or- 
ganizations of  its  kind  in  the  United 
States,  which  was  formed  in  the 
year  1850.  His  father  was  one  of 
the  charter  members,  and  when 
young  Haines  arrived  at  the  re- 
quired age  he  also  joined  the  club. 

Mr.  Haines  is  not  a  political  of- 
fice holder.  This  fact  is  not  at- 
tributed to  any  disinclination  on  his 
part,  growing  out  of  a  belief  that 
busy  men  have  no  time  to  devote  to 
transacting  the  public's  business; 
on  the  contrary  he  subscribes  to  the 
laudable  doctrine  that  the  patriotic 
citizen  should  hold  himself  ever 
ready  to  respond  to  his  country's 
call,  be  it  the  demands  of  peace  or 
the  summons  to  war.  Though  he 
has  not  yet  reached  the  office-hold- 
er's goal,  he  has  made  many  races 
for  it.  The  Prohibition  Party,  yet 
lacking  in  the  county  many  votes 
necessary  to  elect,  has  named  Mr. 
Haines  for  many  elective  positions, 
including  that  of  Eepresentative  in 
Congress,  Judge,  District-Attorney, 
and  lastly  for  Supervisor  of  his 
native  town.  Mr.  Haines  possesses 
the  grit  necessary  to  the  proclaim- 
ing of  the  fact  that  "  I  am  a  Pro- 
hibitionist," and  he  has  the  ability 
to  set  before  the  people  "  dry  argu- 
ments "  that  cannot  be  downed. 
On  each  occasion  of  his  "  running 
for  office  "  he  made  a  good  fight, 
proving  that  failure  to  land  the 
prize  was  not  his  fault;  was  in  fact 
the  fault  of  his  not  receiving  enough 
votes,  that  though  the  Prohibitionist 
is  admitted  to  be  a  good  sort  of  a 
man,  there  is  found  to  be  not 
enough  of  him  when  the  votes  are 
counted.  Unlike  many  others  in  the 
political  business,  Mr.  Haines  sticks 
to  his  party  colors,  though  it  may  be 


years  before  he  can  march  to  victory 
and  find  himself  in  public  office  by 
aid  of  his  party's  vote  alone.  His 
fight  for  that  reward  which  loyalty 
to  principle  gives,  will  surely  profit 
him.  Henry  Clay  once  said,  "  It  is 
better  to  be  right  than  to  be  Presi- 
dent. ' ' 

ISAAC  W.   TURNER. 

Isaac  Worthington  Turner,  former 
Justice  of  the  Peace,  former  Super- 
visor of  the  town  of  Bedford,  and 
later  President  of  the  village  of 
Mount  Kisco,  was  born  in  Montville, 
Conn.,  on  April  29,  1854,  a  son  of 
Isaac  and  Lucy  Almira  (Geer) 
Turner.  He  was  liberally  educated 
in  the  common  scnools  ot  his  native 
town,  finishing  in  the  Norwich  Free 
Academy. 

He  began  his  business  career  as 
drug  clerk  in  Norwich,  Conn.  In 
1875  he  went  to  New  York  city  and 
entered  the  College  of  Pharmacy 
from  which  he  graduated  in  1878; 
was  in  drug  business  in  Jersey  City, 
N.  J.,  from  1880  to  1886. 

In  1886  he  became  a  resident  of 
this  county,  residing  in  Katonah,  in 
the  same  town  he  now  resides.  In 
1891  he  became  a  resident  of  the  vil- 
lage of  Mount  Kisco,  where  we  now 
find  him  directing  the  affairs  of  the 
municipality. 

His  uniform,  contagious  good  na- 
ture and  liberality  of  spirit  never 
fails  to  make  friends  for  him.  Good 
judgment  and  a  judicial  mind  dis- 
played by  him,  suggested  to  his 
towns  that  he  be  elected  a  Justice  of 
the  Peace,  and  it  was  not  long  after 
his  settlement  in  a  new  home,  that, 
in  1892,  he  was  chosen  "  Presiding 
Judge. ' '  At  the  termination  of  his 
term  as  Justice,  he  was  promoted,  in 
1896,  to  be  Supervisor,  the  head  of 
the  town  government.  He  served  as 
Supervisor  of  the  town  of  Bedford 
from  the  spring  of  1896  to  the  fall 
of  1905 — longest  individual  term  in 
the  history  of  the  town,  approxi- 
mately ten  years.  His  political  party 
being  Democratic,  and  he  a  true  ex- 
pounder of  the  faith,  makes  his  elec- 
tion in  so  hide-bound  a  Republican 
town  (with  a  record  of  never  before 
having  elected  a  Democrat),  a  pro- 
ceeding most  remarkable  in  the 
county's  political  history.  The  ex- 
planation  is,   Mr.   'iurner's  personal 


ISAAC  W.  TURNER 


r'l  >  ■\  ^ 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


97 


popularity.  He  ran  recently  as  the 
Democratic  candidate  for  Member  of 
Assembly,  in  a  district  overwhelm- 
ingly Eepublican.  He  was  shy  of 
only  a  few  votes  of  winning;  since 
then  his  party  friends  in  the  County 
have  stood  ready  to  nominate  him  for 
any  county  office,  believing  his  in- 
dividual popularity  will  carry  the 
election  for  him. 

The  nomination  for  Village  Presi- 
dent came  as  the  unsolicited  action  of 
a  union  caucus,  attended  by  represent- 
atives of  all  political  parties,  deter- 
mined to  nominate  '  *  the  man  for  the 
office,"  a  man  best  calculated  to 
bring  about  certain  desired  improve- 
ments necessary  for  the  needs  of  a 
fast  growing  village;  above  all,  an 
up-to-date  sewerage  system  must  be 
provided.  With  commendable  unan- 
imity, the  caucus  settled  upon  Mr. 
Turner  as  the  "  man  for  the  hour." 
He  was  nominated  and  his  election 
followed.  With  characteristic  en- 
ergy, President  Turner  set  about  per- 
forming the  task  set  for  him.  He 
proposed  that  New  York  City,  whicli 
owned  lanu  running  through  the  vil- 
lage and  which  was  desirous  of  pro- 
tecting its  sources  of  water  supply, 
be  requested  to  act  in  conjunction 
with  the  village  of  Mount  Kisco  in 
constructing  a  desirable  sewer 
system.  To  make  possiuie  such  an 
arrangement,  an  act  of  the  Legis- 
lature was  passed  (Chap.  428,  Laws 
of  1907).  The  sewer  system  com- 
plete incurs  an  expense  of  $350,000; 
of  this  amount  the  village  pays 
$100,000,  and  New  York  city  pays 
the  balance,  $250,000;  the  city  of 
New  York  agreeing,  further,  to 
build  the  disposal  works  and  acquire 

For  biographical  sketches  of  other  residents  see  elsewhere  in  this  book, 
and  in  volumes  one  and  two. 


necessary  land  for  the  same.  As 
might  be  expected,  President  Turner 
to  bring  about  needed  improvements 
had  to  overcome  obstacles  put  in  his 
way  by  unprogressive  citizens  touni 
in  every  community,  so  conservative 
and  careful  as  to  be  painful.  His  re- 
election and  continuance  in  office 
proved  that  President  Turner's 
course  met  the  sanction  of  a  large 
majority.  Even  when  he  attempted 
to  resign  his  office,  believing  that  his 
work  was  done,  the  resignation  was 
not  accepted,  and  the  demand  for  his 
continuing  in  a  position  for  which  he 
is  by  intelligence  and  temperament 
so  well  adapted,  was  so  strong  that 
he  had  to  yield  and  withdraw  the 
resignation. 

Mr.  Turner  is  extensively  engaged 
in  mercantile  business  in  the  city  of 
New  York.  He  is  treasurer  of  the 
Carr  Chemical  Company,  treasurer 
of  the  Mutual  Steam  Laundry  Com- 
pany, and  is  in  the  hotel  business 
under  the  firm  name  of  Turner  & 
Timberman. 

He  is  a  member  of  several  fra- 
ternal and  social  organizations. 
Prominent  in  the  Masonic  Order;  is 
a  32d  degree  Mason,  a  Knight 
Templar  and  a  member  of  the  Mystic 
Shrine.  A  member  of  the  Indepen- 
dent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  a 
member  of  the  Benevolent  and  Pro- 
tective Order  of  Elks.  Is  a  member 
of  the  Democratic  Club  of  New  York 
city  and  a  charter  member  of  the 
Palma   Club    of   Jersey   City. 

Mr.  Turner  was  married  on  Decem- 
ber 24,  1884,  to  Miss  Ellie  M.  Mer- 
ritt,  daughter  of  James  F.  and  Lucy 
A.  Merritt,  of  Katonah,  N.  Y.  There 
were  no  children  to  this  union. 


98  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

TOWN  OF  CORTLANDT. 


{C ontinued  from  page  193,  Vol.  1.) 

This  town  is  one  of  the  principal  historic  communities  in  the 
historic  County  of  Westchester.  It  was  organized  March  7, 
1788 ;  and  formed,  like  the  townships  of  North  Salem,  Somers, 
Yorktown  and  a  large  part  of  Lewisboro,  a  portion  of  the  Manor 
of  Cortlandt,  which  Manor,  according  to  actual  survey,  con- 
tained eighty-three  thousand  acres.  (See  description,  page  190, 
volume  1.) 

The  present  population  of  the  town,  according  to  the  1910 
census,  is  22,255.  It  contains  two  villages,  Peekskill,  with  a 
population  of  15,246,  and  Croton-on-Hudson,  with  a  population 
of  1,806. 

Stephanus  Van  Cortlandt  was  the  first  lord  of  the  Manor  of 
Cortlandt.  His  grandson,  Pierre  Van  Cortlandt,  became  the 
oldest  surviving  representative  of  the  Van  Cortlandt  family  in 
America,  and  the  heir  at  law  of  the  entail.  He  early  took  an 
active  part  against  every  oppression  of  the  English  government 
upon  the  Colonies.  (See  biography.)  His  eldest  son,  Philip, 
became  a  Colonel  then  a  General  in  the  patriot  army;  he  was 
a  member  of  the  Court  that  tried  Gen.  Arnold  for  improper  con- 
duet  in  Philadelphia  while  in  charge  there;  he  commanded  a 
regiment  of  infantry  under  Gen.  La  Fayette.  He  was  in  the 
Battle  of  Yorktown,  Va. ;  after  the  war  he  retired  to  the  Manor 
House  at  Croton-on-Hudson.  Gen.  Van  Cortlandt  represented 
the  County  in  Congress  for  sixteen  years,  declining  re-election 
in  1811.  He  accompanied  the  Marquis  La  Fayette  in  his  tour 
of  the  United  States  in  1824. 

Pierre  Van  Cortlandt  died  May  1,  1814 ;  his  son.  Gen.  Philip, 
died  at  the  manor  house,  Croton,  on  November  21,  1831. 

It  was  at  Peekskill  that  Aaron  Burr  was  commissioned  as 
Colonel  in  the  patriot  army.  He  was  assigned  to  duty  in  the 
southern  section  of  the  County  to  intercept  skirmishers  sent  out 
from  the  British  forces  in  New  York  city.  Later  he  practiced 
law  in  this  County,  in  courts  held  at  Westchester. 

Gen.  Washington  for  a  considerable  period  had  his  head- 
quarters in  this  town,  when  his  army  was  encamped  nearby,  not 
far  from  Verplanck's  Point,  mentioned  frequently  in  the  narra- 
tive relative  to  the  Capture  of  Andre. 

Jans  Peek,  for  whom  Peekskill  was  named  over  two  hundred 
years  ago,  was  arrested  for  selling  liquors  without  a  license,  and 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  99 

his  wife  was  heavily  fined  for  selling  liquor  to  the  Indians  con- 
trary to  law,  history  tells  us. 

In  the  graveyard  of  old  St.  Peter's  Church,  in  the  suburbs 
of  Peekskill,  is  erected  the  monument  to  John  Paulding,  one  of 
the  captors  of  Andre.  The  inscriptions  are :  North  side— "Here 
repose  the  mortal  remains  of  John  Paulding,  who  died  on  the 
18th  day  of  February,  1818,  in  the  60th  year  of  his  age."  On 
south  side— "The  Corporation  of  the  City  of  New  York  erected 
this  tomb  as  a  memorial  sacred  to  public  gratitude."  On  west 
side— "On  the  morning  of  the  23d  of  September,  1780,  accom- 
panied by  two  young  farmers  of  the  County  of  Westchester 
(whose  names  will  one  day  be  recorded  on  their  own  deserved 
monuments),  he  intercepted  the  British  Spy  Andre." 

"Poor  himself,  he  disdained  to  acquire  wealth  by  the  sacrifice 
of  his  country.  Rejecting  the  temptation  of  great  rewards,  he 
conveyed  his  prisoner  to  the  American  camp ;  and  by  this  act 
of  noble  self-denial  the  treason  of  Arnold  was  detected;  the 
designs  of  the  enemy  baffled.  West  Point  and  the  American  Army 
saved;  and  these  United  States,  now  by  the  grace  of  God  Free 
and  Independent,  rescued  from  most  imminent  peril."  On  the 
east  side  is  a  representation  of  the  medal  presented  by  Congress 
to  each  of  the  three  captors. 

The  Westchester  County  Bank,  in  Peekskill,  was  organized 
March  31,  1833.  The  first  president  was  Gen.  Pierre  Van  Cort- 
landt,  a  son  of  Lt.-Governor  Pierre  Van  Cortlandt,  who  was 
succeeded  by  Isaac  Seymour,  C.  A.  G.  Depew,  Dorlin  F.  Clapp, 
Cyrus  Frost  and  Cornelius  A.  Pugsley,  the  present  incumbent. 

Peekskill  was  engaged  in  whaling  in  1834,  when  the  West- 
chester Whaling  Company  was  incorporated,  with  lawyer  Wil- 
liam Nelson  as  president. 

In  1849  the  first  telegraph  line  was  introduced  into  Peekskill, 
and  Alonzo  B.  Cornell,  later  Governor  of  this  State,  was  the 
first  operator  here. 

The  first  passenger  train  (on  the  Hudson  River  Railroad) 
reached  Peekskill  in  September,  1847;  the  station  was  a  build- 
ing 12  X  14,  one  story  high,  and  stood  near  where  the  present 
freight  house  now  stands. 

Gas  was  first  introduced  in  the  village  of  Peekskill  in  1856, 
but  the  quality  was  poor. 

The  Peekskill  Turnpike  Company  was  organized  in  1816,  and 
is  now  of  the  past. 

In  1856  Peekskill  suffered  from  a  siege  of  small-pox. 


100  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

On  his  way  to  Washington,  in  1861,  President  Abraham 
Lincoln  stopped  in  Peekskill,  to  greet  Congressman  William 
Nelson,  who  served  in  Congress  with  Lincoln  in  1847-49.  Con- 
gressman Nelson  lived  in  the  Nelson  homestead  situated  where 
the  Municipal  Building  now  stands.  Jackson  0.  Dykman,  later 
Supreme  Court  Justice,  was  a  law  student  under  Mr.  Nelson, 
whose  office  turned  out  many  lawyers  who  became  prominent. 

Capt.  Isaac  Depew,  of  Peekskill,  father  of  Hon.  Chauncey  M. 
Depew,  took  apparent  pleasure  in  asserting  that  he  was  proud 
to  say  that  he  sent  only  one  of  his  sons  to  college. 

Edward  D.  Bassett,  at  one  time  Coroner,  had  been  Clerk  of 
the  village  of  Peekskill  at  an  annual  salary  of  $50,  and  Town 
Clerk  at  same  salary;  though  paralyzed  in  his  right  foot  and 
left  hand,  he  was  well  able  to  perform  his  duties. 

Hon.  Chauncey  M.  Depew  opened  a  very  modest  law  office  in 
1861,  over  the  grocery  store  of  Morris  &  Henry  Depew  on  the 
main  street,  Peekskill. 

James  P.  Sanders,  who  recently  died  in  Yonkers,  the  oldest 
member  of  the  County  bar,  kept  a  hat  store  in  Peekskill  in  the 
early  sixties;  he  began  the  study  of  law  when  he  was  35  years 
of  age ;  at  the  time  of  his  death  he  had  become  Past  Grand  Sire 
of  the  Sovereign  Grand  Lodge,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  of  the  United  States. 

Stephen  D.  Horton,  former  Sheriff,  has  a  collection  of  local 
and  county  historical  literature  of  which  he  is  justly  proud. 

Peekskill  Creek  runs  through  the  town  and  empties  in  the 
Hudson  River. 

Many  who  became  prominent  as  lawyers  studied  law  in  the 
local  offices  of  Edward  Wells  and  of  Calvin  Frost. 

Rev.  Henry  Ward  Beecher,  the  famous  clergyman,  became  a 
resident  of  Peekskill,  by  purchasing,  on  May  13,  1859,  fifteen 
acres  of  land  on  Main  street;  on  which  property  he  erected  a 
home  to  which  he  gave  the  name  of  "Bascobel."  He  died  March 
8,  1887. 

Moses  Y.  Beach,  the  founder  of  the  New  York  Sun,  was  also 
a  resident  of  Peekskill. 

Peekskill  is  widely  known  for  its  many  stove  manufactories, 
giving  employment  to  hundreds  of  people. 

Daniel  H.  Conklin,  a  Peekskill  boy,  was  the  first  regular  oper- 
ator at  the  Peekskill  telegraph  office,  he  being  taught  by  Alonzo 
B.  Cornell,  later  Governor  of  this  State;  Conklin  became  a  noted 
railroad  man,  and  for  several  years  was  Mayor  of  the  city  of 
Decatur,  111. 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  101 

The  Peekskill  Savings  Bank  was  organized  October  12,  1859 ; 
Thomas  Southard  was  the  first  president ;  he  died  suddenly  after 
serving  a  few  weeks.  Sandford  R.  Knapp,  elected  secretary  in 
1863,  is  still  serving.  Chauncey  M.  Depew  was  one  of  the 
original  trustees. 

The  Peekskill  Academy  was  established  October  16,  1838. 

The  public  water  supply  came  in  1876,  and  is  under  charge  of 
commissioners. 

Enoch  Crosby,  the  patriot  "  secret  agent,"  learned  his  trade 
as  a  "  cobbler  "  in  this  town. 

David  G.  Montross,  a  prominent  business  man  and  for  twelve 
years  Postmaster  of  Peekskill,  died  July  1,  1911.  He  had  just 
been  re-appointed  Postmaster  for  another  term  of  four  years. 

Daniel  H.  Craig,  the  founder  and  agent  of  the  Associated 
Press,  was  at  one  time  numbered  among  the  residents  of  Peekskill. 

The  State  Military  Camp  is  located  on  what  was  formerly 
known  as  the  "McCoy  Farm,"  situated  about  a  mile  northwest 
of  Peekskill.  This  property  was  acquired  by  the  State  in  1882. 
It  is  proposed  to  establish  a  State  Memorial  Park  at  Verplanck's 
Point,  in  this  town,  to  include  the  site  of  Fort  La  Fayette,  the 
remains  of  the  shore  battery  (of  the  Revolutionary  period),  the 
terminal  of  the  old  King's  Ferry  leading  up  to  the  Stony  Point 
Battlefield  State  Reservation,  Washington's  headquarters  and 
the  camping  ground  of  the  allied  American  and  French  troops 
in  1782. 

Peekskill,  the  principal  village  of  this  town,  has  been  made 
famous  by  constant  reference  being  made  to  it  by  Hon.  Chauncey 
M.  Depew,  as  the  place  of  his  birth.  The  late  Gen.  James  W. 
Husted,  the  "Bald  Eagle  of  Westchester,"  also  helped  to  adver- 
tise Peekskill  as  his  home  village. 

The  Field  Library  was  incorporated  April  11,  1887. 

For  list  of  Supervisors  serving  this  town  at  different  periods, 
see  general  article  relative  to  Supervisors  elsewhere  in  this 
volume. 

The  village  of  Peekskill  was  incorporated  in  1826  but  was 
not  organized  until  1839;  the  population  in  the  several  years 
has  been  as  follows:  In  1845,  3,000;  in  1855,  3,538;  in  1860, 
3,560;  in  1870,  6,560;  in  1880,  6,893;  in  1890,  9,676;  in  1900, 
10,358;  in  1902,  12,448;  in  1905,  13,200;  in  1910,  15,246.  The 
first  president  of  the  village  was  Capt.  Isaac  Requa. 

It  is  said  that  Jans  Peek,  for  whom  Peekskill  is  named,  was 
a  Dutch  navigator  who  undertook  to  sail  up  the  Hudson  on  an 


102  ^L\NUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

independent  voyage  of  discovery;  he  lost  his  bearings  and  car- 
ried his  vessel  into  the  creek  (or  kill),  where  he  soon  ran  aground. 
This  accident  caused  him  to  land  about  where  the  village,  bearing 
his  name,  now  stands.  He  gave  the  kill,  which  he  discovered, 
his  own  name,  and  the  later  residents  adopted  the  name  for  the 
village. 

The  village  of  Croton-on-Hudson  was  incorporated  in  1898; 
the  population  in  1900  was  1,533 ;  in  1902,  1,421 ;  in  1905,  1,599 ; 
in  1910,  1,806.  Croton  is  named  for  an  Indian  chief,  who  once 
reigned  on  this  camping  ground. 

The  population  of  this  Town  was,  in  1830,  3,840;  in  1835, 
3,994;  in  1840,  5,592;  in  1845,  6,738;  in  1850,  7,758;  in  1855, 
8,146;  in  1860,  10,074;  in  1865,  9,393;  in  1870,  11,694;  in  1875, 
11,908;  in  1880,  12,664;  in  1890,  15,139 ;  in  1892,  14,039;  in  1900, 
18,703 ;  in  1905,  21,029 ;  in  1910,  22,255. 

State  Militaiy  Camp  of  Instruction  opened  July  1,  1882. 
Peekskill  Municipal  Building  opened  June  17,  1898.  First 
trolley  line  in  Peekskill  started  June  4,  1899.  Depew  Opera 
House  was  destroyed  by  fire  January  29,  1900. 

Dr.  Alexander  D.  Dunbar  was  born  in  1846 ;  came  to  Peeks- 
kill  in  1866  immediately  after  graduating  from  college;  is  pres- 
ent local  superintendent  of  schools. 

The  Masonic  order  has  a  large  membership  in  this  town, 
organization  of  Cortlandt  Lodge  dates  back  many  years. 

In  July,  1912,  Leverett  F.  Crumb  of  Peekskill,  was  appointed 
District  Deputy  Grand  Master  of  the  Twelfth  Masonic  District, 
by  the  Grand  Master  of  Masons  of  the  State  of  New  York. 

Calvin  Frost,  many  years  resident  of  this  town  and  recognized 
head  of  legal  profession  of  the  county,  was  born  in  Somers,  this 
county,  on  June  21,  1823,  and  died  on  July  22,  1895. 

Edward  T^^ells,  resident  of  Peekskill,  leading  lawyer,  District- 
Attorney  of  this  county,  1851  to  1858,  was  born  December  2, 
1818;  died  in  1896. 

Owen  Tristram  Coffin,  Supervisor  in  1859  and  Surrogate  of 
this  county  from  1871  to  1895,  was  born  July  17,  1815;  died 
July  21,  1899. 

Eugene  Beauharnais  Travis,  prominent  lawyer  of  county,  was 
bom  September  22,  1844 ;  died  November  13,  1908. 

David  Wiley  Travis,  lawyer.  Member  of  Assembly,  Supervisor, 
Police  Justice,  etc.,  was  born  January  15,  1824 ;  died  October  4, 
1909. 

William  II.  Briggs,  who  served  as  Postmaster,  Justice  of  the 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  103 

Peace  and  as  Sheriff  in  1844-45-46,  was  born  on  February  14, 
1794;  died  August  12,  1880. 

Verplanck's  Point  was  named  in  honor  of  Philip  Verplanek, 
the  owner  of  Verplanck's  Patent,  where  he  lived  as  a  patron. 

Many  streets  in  the  village  of  Peekskill  were  given  the  name 
of  a  prominent  resident  of  the  long  ago  and  of  a  more  recent 
date.  Nathaniel  Brown,  one  of  the  first  settlers,  was  not  only 
honored  himself  but  his  children  also  had  streets  named  in  their 
honor;  Captain  Pomart  of  the  Revolutionary  war  period,  Isaac 
Hadden,  and  Hon.  William  Nelson,  Congressman,  State  Senator 
and  the  County's  leading  lawyer,  were  likewise  favored;  Abra- 
ham Depew,  grandfather  of  Hon.  Chauncey  M.  Depew,  as  well 
as  the  latter.  Gen.  Seth  Pomery,  killed  in  the  Revolutionary 
War  and  who  lies  buried  in  a  local  cemetery,  John  Paulding, 
one  of  the  three  captors  of  Andre,  and  Rev.  Charles  Nassau  were 
not  forgotten  when  it  came  to  naming  local  thoroughfares; 
several  streets  bear  the  name  of  former  Village  Trustees,  viz., 
Reuben  R.  Finch,  Philetus  Raymond  and  Robert  S.  Armstrong; 
Frederick  W,  Requa,  who  was  president  of  the  village  in  1839, 
St.  John  Constant  who  was  Sheriff  in  1808-9-11-12  and  Super- 
visor of  the  town  in  1833,  Col.  Tal.  P.  Shaffner,  John  Simpson, 
Jacob  R.  Decatur,  James  Diven,  Harrison  W.  Smith,  David  D. 
Smith,  Ward  B.  Howard,  Lent  Post,  Samuel  Field,  John  Sloat, 
Jeremiah  Mabie,  Calvin  Frost  a  leading  lawyer  of  the  county, 
Gen.  James  W.  Husted,  Thomas  Southard  and  John  C.  Fremont 
are  also  kept  in  memory  by  having  Peekskill  streets  and  avenues 
bear  their  names  as  marks  of  that  respect  which  the  present 
generation  has  for  them. 

The  very  charming  "  breathing  place  "  in  the  village  of 
Peekskill  known  as  Depew  Park,  consisting  of  several  acres,  was 
presented  to  the  village  by  Hon.  Chauncey  M.  Depew,  United 
States  Senator,  on  May  29,  1901.  Before  that  date  the  village 
was  not  able  to  boast  of  a  public  park. 

Part  of  the  land  so  presented  is  of  interest  in  connection  with 
the  early  history  of  the  town.  It  was  acquired  by  license  dated 
March  6,  1864,  from  Thomas  Dongan,  then  Colonial  Governor  of 
the  Province  of  New  York,  granting  leave  to  purchase  from  the 
Indians.  Mr.  Depew 's  great-grandfather  who  purchased  under 
this  license,  raised  a  company  for  the  Westchester  Regiment  of 
the  Continental  Army  and  with  it  served  during  the  Revolu- 
tionary War.  The  expense  of  recruiting  and  equipping  the 
company  forced  him  to  mortgage  the  property,  and  this  mort- 


104  RIANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

gage  was  foreclosed  in  1794.  The  continuous  chain  of  title  was 
thus  interrupted  for  three  years,  but  in  1797  the  fann  was  re- 
purchased by  Hon.  C.  M.  Depew's  grandfather,  Abraham 
Depew,  and  has  remained  in  the  Depew  family's  possession 
since.  Hon.  C.  M.  Depew  purchased  the  interests  of  other  heirs, 
and  on  gaining  full  possession  presented  this  with  other  adja- 
cent land  to  the  village  for  a  public  park. 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  Peekskill  Board  of  Village  Trus- 
tees, held  on  the  evening  of  May  29,  1901,  Mr.  Depew  appeared 
and  presented  the  deed  of  said  property.  The  deed  was  accepted 
on  behalf  of  the  village,  the  resolution  to  accept  being  adopted 
by  a  rising  vote  of  the  Trustees. 

Senator  Depew  then  addressed  the  Board  as  follows : 

"  I  am  very  much  obliged  to  you,  gentlemen,  and  this  is 
a  very  pleasant  evening  to  me.  With  many  of  the  gentlemen 
here,  especially  that  venerable  old  man  there  (Mr.  Free)  I  was  a 
boy,  and  I  always  took  the  deepest  interest  in  this  village  in  which 
I  was  born,  and  in  which  my  relatives  are  buried,  and  where  I 
expect,  when  the  time  comes,  I  will'  be  buried  myself ;  but  I  am 
doing  my  best  to  postpone  that  to  the  last  possible  day. 

"  I  felt  that  I  owed  something  to  the  village  from  the  fact 
that  for  the  past  twenty-five  years  I  have  been  making  speeches 
all  over  this  country,  and  in  many  cases  on  the  other  side  of  the 
ocean,  and  in  many  of  those  speeches  introducing  anecdotes 
which,  in  order  to  make  them  more  interesting,  I  located  them  in 
the  place  where  I  was  bom.  The  result  is  that  Peekskill  has  be- 
come widely  known  as  a  place  where  things  are  happening  which 
are  of  human  interest,  and  possessed  of  considerable  humor. 

"  Two  years  ago  I  was  in  London  and  going  down  Piccadilly 
I  came  to  a  news  stand  in  front  of  the  city's  great  picture 
gallerj'— the  Royal  Academy.  In  London,  for  those  of  you  who 
have  not  been  there,  I  will  say  that  the  news  stands  are  all  on 
the  street,  and  the  newsboy,  or  keeper  of  the  stand,  takes  a 
blank  sheet  of  a  newspaper  which  has  not  been  printed,  but 
which  has  the  heading  of  the  difiFerent  newspapers,  and  then  he 
charcoals  under  the  headlines  what  is  in  the  newspaper.  And 
as  I  was  passing  by  this  stand  I  saw  charcoaled  under  the  head 
of  their  leading  paper,  "  What  Happens  in  Peekskill." 
(Laughter.)  I  made  up  my  mind  I  must  have  that  paper  at 
least,  and  so  bought  the  paper  and  stood  right  in  the  street  to 
see  what  happened  in  Peekskill  since  I  left ;  and  the  head-line 
was  this :    Somebody  over  here  had  gathered  from  my  speeches 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  105 

as  published  in  the  newspapers  and  in  the  volumes  of  my  ad- 
dresses, etc.,  a  lot  of  stories  that  I  had  narrated  as  having  oc- 
curred here  on  the  Baptist  minister,  and  the  Methodist  minister, 
and  the  Presbyterian  minister,  and  the  hotel-keeper,  and  the 
other  old  friends  of  mine  whom  I  had  known  all  my  life,  and  one 
of  them  I  remember  especially  to  be  Colonel  Williams  of  the  Eagle 
Hotel ;  and  this  heading  said  that  Chauncey  Depew,  who  was 
well-known  in  England,  was  born  in  a  village  about  forty  miles 
from  New  York,  on  the  Hudson,  called  Peekskill,  inhabitated 
by  a  singularly  odd  and  original  people,  and  he  is  never  tired  of 
telling  what  has  happened  among  these  folk  with  whom  he  has 
passed  his  life.  So  I  do  not  think  that  the  village  has  suffered 
any  from  those  little  idiosyncracies  and  eccentricities  that  I  have 
narrated  at  different  times  in  regard  to  it. 

"  But  to  show  how  the  local  flavor  will  seem  to  strike  people  as 
having  actually  occurred,  I  was  making  a  speech  in  a  distant 
part  of  the  State,  and  proceeded  to  tell  a  story,  and  not  know- 
ing what  else  to  do — this  was  a  good  many  years  ago— I  fas- 
tened it  on  the  minister  of  one  of  the  denominations  here;  and 
when  the  meeting  adjourned,  a  clergyman  upon  the  platform— 
and  every  clergyman  in  the  town  was  on  the  platform  while  I 
was  making  the  address— came  up  to  me,  and  said,  "  I  am  pastor 
here  of  a  church  of  the  same  denomination  as  that  clergyman 
about  whom  you  told  that  story ;  I  know  him  very  well,  and  have 
known  him  for  years,  and  I  want  to  say  that  we  don't  think 
much  of  him  in  our  church."     (Laughter.) 

' '  I  remember  about  twenty  years  ago  in  telling  a  story  while 
making  a  speech  the  night  before  election,  as  I  have  been  in  the 
habit  of  doing  for  a  great  many  years,  up  here  in  the  public 
square  in  front  of  the  Eagle  Hotel,  and  I  told  a  story  that  hap- 
pened at  a  boarding  house  on  Division  street,  I  gave  the  name 
and  location  of  the  house  on  that  street  and  then  mentioned 
an  old  Peekskill  name— Gordineer,  I  think— who  kept  the  house. 
Of  course,  I  didn't  know  that  any  boarding-house  had  been  on 
Division  street,  nor  did  I  know  any  Gordineer  who  ever  kept  a 
boarding-house ;  but  that  was  immaterial.  When  I  got  through 
with  that,  an  old  friend  of  mine,  a  molder  in  the  foundry  whom 
I  have  known  from  boyhood,  played  marbles  with  and  rode  down 
hill  with  on  the  same  sled,  a  hundred  times,  jumped  up  and 
said,  "  Chauncey,  I  boarded  at  that  house."     (Laughter.) 

' '  My  earliest  recollections  of  these  woods  now  given  for  a 
Park,  you  remember  that  my  grandfather  farmed  it  over  there 


106  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

when  we  were  boys,  don't  you?  (turning  to  Mr.  Free)  and  1 
used  to  think  the  only  event  in  life  which  was  all  that  I  aspired 
to  at  that  early  date,  was  to  be  the  proprietor  of  a  farm  where 
I  could  have  cows  like  those  which  I  used  to  drive  home  from 
those  woods.  I  have  reached  here  now  away  in  the  sixties,  and 
I  don't  own  those  cows  yet.     (Laughter.) 

"  It  was  in  these  woods  when  I  was  about  twelve  years  of 
age  that  I  smoked  my  first  cigar.  I  can  go  to  the  tree  now  and 
point  it  out,  and  I  never  pass  it  without  a  qualm.  I  didn't  go  to 
school  that  afternoon.  I  remained  in  the  woods.  First  I 
thought  I  was  going  to  die  and  then  for  the  next  hour  or  two 
I  hoped  I  would.  And  it  was  a  habit  I  pursued  surreptitiously 
for  a  number  of  years,  and  then  pursued  it  again  as  an  occupa- 
tion of  considerable  moment  and  taking  a  great  deal  of  time  for 
a  number  of  years,  and  then  gave  it  up  entirely. 

"  This  old  house  (the  Municipal  Building,  former  home  and 
law  office  of  Congressman  William  Nelson),  you  know  I  studied 
law  here  with  AVilliam  Nelson,  and  Mr.  Nelson's  family  lived 
in  this  house  while  I  was  a  student,  and  his  daughter  and  girl 
friends  were  here  most  of  the  time.  The  good  old  lawyer  Nelson 
used  to  wonder  why  it  was  that  I  didn't  get  on  more  rapidly  in 
the  pursuit  of  the  profession  which  he  had  adorned  so  many 
years,  and  in  which  I  was  to  succeed  him,  possibly,  if  I  displayed 
sufficient  talent.  The  reason  was,  this  house  with  those  girls  was 
in  close  proximity  with  that  office,  and  I  remember  very  well  that 
his  daughter,  a  most  charming  woman,  like  all  the  Nelsons,  very 
hospitable,  whenever  in  the  family  economy  there  was  some  crea- 
tion in  the  culinary  department  of  the  family,  which  was  more 
appetizing  and  a  little  better  for  the  taste  and  for  the  olfac- 
tories, and  in  every  way,  lasting  longer  while  it  was  going  down, 
and  all  that;  whenever  anything  like  that  had  been  produced, 
a  plate  of  it  always  appeared  from  the  rear  door  of  the  office,  and 
in  the  front,  if  the  old  gentleman  wasn't  there. 

"  Well,  my  friends,  when  ai  man  has  gone  out  into  the  world 
and  has  been  knocked  around  it  a  good  deal,  had  many  experi- 
ences, many  ups  and  downs,  plenty  of  misfortunes  and  plenty 
of  good  fortune,  and  in  the  general  average  is  very  well  satisfied 
with  the  result,  believing  that  the  misfortunes  were  sent  for  his 
experience,  though  they  might  have  been  expensive,  and  the 
sorrows  were  sent  for  his  own  good  and  that  all  the  rest  is  clear 
gain  and  pure  assets,  and  he  looks  back  over  his  life  as  to  what 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  107 

he  loved  best  and  to  what  he  owes  most,  and  from  what  he  gets 
the  greatest  satisfaction  and  the  greatest  inspiration,  to  continue 
on  performing  as  he  may  his  duties  and  his  allotted  part  in  the 
world ;  if  my  experience  amounts  to  anything,  it  is  that  he  keeps 
constantly  recurring  to  the  place  where  he  was  born ;  constantly 
going  back  to  the  old  scenes  which  are  connected  with  child- 
hood; constantly  recalling  his  mother,  especially,  beyond  all 
others,  and  his  father,  and  then  the  boys  who  were  boys  with 
him  and  what  has  become  of  them  and  what  they  have  done, 
and  what  has  become  of  their  children  and  what  they  have  done ; 
and  then  the  greatest  satisfaction,  if  he  has  a  day  off  or  a  little 
leisure,  is  to  come  back  to  the  old  place  and  go  through  the  old 
streets,  and  visit  the  old  haunts,  and  go  to  the  old  school  house, 
and  about,  to  put  himself  in  contact  as  a  boy  again  with  those 
scenes  which  make  him  renew  his  youth,  and  to  keep  forever 
green  and  fresh  the  feelings  without  which,  unless  they  are  kept 
green  and  fresh,  a  man  had  better  die. 

"  Gentlemen,  I  am  very  glad  to  have  met  you;  I  hope  I  will 
meet  you  oftener  in  the  future,  and  I  bid  you  good-night." 
(Hearty  applause.) 

The  population  of  Cortlandt  Manor  in  1712  is  given  as  91, 
and  of  Ryck's  Point  (Peekskill),  in  same  year,  as  32. 

Peel^kill  in  1830,  three  years  after  its  incorporation  as  a 
village,  had  a  population  of  1,130.  In  1870  the  village  popu- 
lation had  increased  to  6,560. 

The  population  of  the  town  of  Cortlandt  in  1840  was  5,592 ; 
in  1845,  6,738;  in  1850,  7,758;  in  1855,  8,468;  in  1860,  10,074; 
in  1865,  9,393 ;  in  1870,  11,695.  The  apparent  decrease  in  1865 
is  attributed  to  loss  the  town  suffered  by  the  Civil  War. 

The  Seventy-fifth  anniversary  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Peekskill  was  celebrated  on  June  25,  1902,  Hon. 
Chauncey  M.  Depew  being  the  orator. 

The  author  of  this  book  is  greatly  indebted  to  former  Sheriff 
Stephen  D.  Horton  of  this  town,  for  valuable  historical  data 
relating  to  town  and  vicinity. 

Hon.  Chauncey  M.  Depew,  in  speaking  of  his  native  place, 
said,  "Peekskill  is  a  representative  New  York  town.  It  is  not 
an  Illinois  institution  nor  a  Nebraska  institution;  it  is  not  a 
New  England  institution,  but  it  is  a  typical,  old-fashioned 
Knickerbocker  Dutch  institution.     Peekskill  for  the  first  hun- 


108  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

dred  and  twenty-five  or  thirty  years  of  its  existence,  repre- 
sented the  society  described  by  Washington  Irving  in  his 
veracious  chronicle  of  the  early  history  of  New  York.  It  was 
births,  it  was  marriages,  it  was  deaths,  it  was  people  who  lived 
comfortably  and  had  enough  and  to  spare  of  the  material  things 
of  this  world ;  who  were  roystering  blades  in  their  youth,  com- 
fortable merchants  and  farmers  in  middle  life,  and  smoked  the 
pipe  of  peace  in  good  old  age;  but  there  was  not,  in  that  hun- 
dred and  fifty  years,  aught  that  constitutes  real  growth,  or  real 
history,  or  real  reputation  of  a  place  like  this. 

"Then  came  the  roar  and  the  thunders  of  the  Revolutionary 
War,  and  this  sleepy  old  town  was  awakened  instantly  from 
its  sleep  of  nearly  a  century  and  a  half,  by  being  placed,  on 
the  one  hand,  on  the  border  of  the  neutral  ground,  and  on  the 
other  hand  as  the  outpost  of  the  patriot  forces  at  West  Point. 
Here  became  the  headquarters  of  Gen.  Washington,  in  the  old 
house  which  stood,  when  I  was  a  boy,  at  the  head  of  Main  street ; 
here  Washington  passed  many  a  day  and  many  a  night.  And 
here  is  the  spot,  tradition  tells  us,  where  Aaron  Burr,  when  a 
very  young  man,  paid  first  those  attentions  to  a  Peekskill  belle 
which  afterwards  made  him  the  terror  of  the  women  of  America. 
Here  Alexander  Hamilton  learned  the  arts  of  war,  and  musing 
in  that  great  mind  of  his,  in  that  old  head  upon  young  shoulders, 
in  the  picturesque  halls  of  this  most  beautiful  spot  on  earth, 
he  devised  that  spirit  of  government  which  to-day  crystallizes 
into  the  government  of  the  Republic  of  the  United  States." 

"I  was  sitting  one  night  at  dinner  beside  Governor  Oglesby, 
of  Illinois,"  continued  Mr.  Depew,  "when  the  Governor  asked, 
'Where  were  you  born?'  'In  Peekskill.'  'Said  he,  'Where's 
that?'  'Where  was  your  father  bom?'  'In  Peekskill.'  'And 
your  grandfather?'  'In  Peekskill.'  'And  your  great-grand- 
father?' 'In  Peekskill.'  'And  your  great-great-grandfather?' 
'In  Peekskill.'  Said  he  'I  don't  believe  a  word  of  it.  There 
isn't  such  a  case  in  the  State  of  Illinois.'  " 

Early  in  1913  the  Board  of  Trustees  by  resolution  instructed 
Village  President  Nelson  to  appoint  a  committee  to  draft  a  bill 
providing  a  City  Charter  for  Peekskill,  to  report  said  bill  to 
Board  of  Village  Trustees  for  presentation  to  the  State  Legis- 
lature of  1914.  Under  this  resolution  the  following  Committee 
was  named :  James  W.  Husted,  Isaac  H.  Smith,  Cornelius  A. 
Pugsley,  Edward  F.  Hill,  Franklin  Couch  and  Edward  E. 
Young. 


THOMAS  NELSON 


t  .',f. ' 


>  ^ 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


109 


Biographical  Sketches. 


THOMAS  NELSON. 

Thomas  Nelson,  distinguished  jur- 
ist, the  fourth  child  and  fourth  son 
of  the  late  William  and  Cornelia 
Mandeville  Hardman  Nelson,  was 
born  in  Peekskill,  this  county,  on 
January  23,  1819. 

At  the  early  age  of  ten  years  he 
became  a  student  in  the  North  Salem 
Academy  (this  county)  where  he 
prosecuted  his  studies  for  several 
years.  He  attended  the  Red  Hook 
Academy  in  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y., 
where  he  qualified  for  admission  to 
Williams  College  of  Williamstown, 
Mass.,  which  institution  he  entered 
in  the  year  1834  at  the  age  of  fifteen 
years.  In  the  year  1836,  Williams 
College  conferred  upon  him  the  de- 
gree of  A.B.  He  waK  an  apt  student 
in  all  branches.  He  gave  special  de- 
votion to  the  mastery  of  the  classics, 
the  taste  for  which  remained  with 
him  to  his  death. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  Sigma 
Phi  Fraternity  and  was  its  presid- 
ing officer  at  the  semi-centennial  of 
the  Alpha  of  Massachusetts  held  in 
the  year  1884. 

In  the  year  1836  he  commenced 
the  study  of  the  law  with  Henry  B. 
Cowles,  Esq.,  a  practicing  attorney 
and  counsellor  at  law  with  a  lucra- 
tive practice  in  the  city  of  New 
York.  While  pursuing  his  studies, 
as  a  mental  deviation  and  recreation 
he  attended  the  class  of  lectures  on 
Anatomy  in  the  Medical  College  in 
Barclay  Street,  New  York  city.  He 
also  studied  and  mastered  the  French 
language  under  the  tutelage  of  the 
famous  Prof.  Parmentier  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  New  York. 

In  the  following  year  he  returned 
to  Peekskill,  and  completed  the  study 
of  the  law  in  the  office  of  his  vener- 
able father,  at  which  time  the  latter 
was  the  District-Attorney  of  the 
counties  of  Westchester,  Eockland 
and  Putnam. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-one  years 
and  in  the  month  of  January,  1840, 
he  was  admitted  to  practice  as  an 
attorney  and  counsellor  at  law  at  a 
term  of  the  Supreme  Court,  held  in 
Albany,  N.  Y.  He  then  became  his 
father's  partner  in  the  practice  of 
his  profession.  The  firm  was  the 
moBt  renowned  in  their  section  of  the 


country  and  they  enjoyed  one  of  the 
largest  and  most  successful  practices. 
In  the  year  1842  he  traveled  in 
the  European  countries,  especially  in 
the  countries  of  England,  France, 
Italy  and  Switzerland,  in  which 
places  he  sought  and  saw  the  his- 
torical and  literary  places.  On  his 
return  he  resumed  the  practice  of 
his  profession  with  his  father. 

On  January  9,  1851,  at  the  age  of 
32  years,  he  was  specially  honored 
by  President  Millard  Fillmore,  giv- 
ing him  the  appointment  to  the  high 
office  of  Chief  Justice  of  the  Su- 
preme Court  for  the  Territory  of 
Oregon.  His  mode  of  travel  was  by 
way  of  the  Isthmus  of  Panama  to  the 
Pacific  Coast  and  after  a  tedious 
journey  and  considerable  pioneering 
he  arrived  in  Oregon,  where  he  stayed 
and  discharged  his  duties  to  the  ut- 
most satisfaction  of  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment and  the  Oregonians,  until 
the  early  part  of  1854,  when  he  re- 
turned to  Peekskill,  the  place  of  his 
nativity.  He  established  himself  in 
the  city  of  New  York  and  practiced 
his  profession  as  a  member  of  the 
bar  with  great  credit  and  success  for 
a  period  of  over  half  a  century. 

Thomas  Nelson  was  not  a  politi- 
cian, but  he  was  partial  to  the  Whig 
party,  and  on  its  dissolution  he  be- 
came a  staunch  Republican.  After 
a  great  deal  of  persuasion,  in  the 
year  1858,  he  and  Lucien  Birdseye, 
Esq.,  were  nominated  as  the  Repub- 
lican candidates  for  Justices  of  the 
Supreme  Court,  for  the  Second  Dis- 
trict. He  was  defeated  by  a  narrow 
margin. 

In  the  year  1860  he  was  honored 
with  the  Republican  nomination  to 
represent  the  Congressional  District 
composed  at  that  time  of  the  coun- 
ties of  Westchester  and  Eockland, 
which  district  was  one  of  the  Demo- 
cratic strongholds.  He  failed  of  elec- 
tion, although  running  considerably 
ahead  of  the  National  ticket. 

During  the  Civil  War,  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  Governor  Morgan  of  this 
State,  a  member  of  the  War  Com- 
mittee for  the  counties  of  West- 
chester, Putnam  and  Rockland,  and 
faithfully  f^nd  conscientiously  dis- 
charged his  duties  as  such  member 
until  peace  was  declared. 
In  the  year  1867  he  was  a  trustea 


110 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


of  the  Hartwiek  Theological  Semin- 
ary. In  the  year  1869  he  was  one 
of  the  trustees  of  Williams  College, 
and  after  his  term  of  office  repeat- 
edly declined  re-election. 

He  was  a  director  of  the  West- 
chester County  National  Bank  of 
Peekskill  from  the  year  1849  to  the 
date  of  his  death,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  the  period  when  he  dis- 
charged his  judicial  duties  in  the 
Territory  of  Oregon.  For  one-half 
a  century  to  the  date  of  his  death  he 
was  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  Peeks- 
kill  Military  Academy,  in  which  in- 
stitution he  took  extraordinary  in- 
terest. 

On  the  4th  day  of  June,  1844,  he 
was  married  by  the  Eev.  David  M. 
Halliday  to  Cornelia  L.  Seymour,  the 
second  child  and  only  daughter  of 
David  and  Zanina  Eanney  Seymour. 
There  were  born  to  them  David  S., 
George  P.,  Zanina  and  Thomas  Nel- 
son, Jr.,  all  of  whom  passed  away 
before  Mr.  Nelson's  demise  with  the 
exception  of  Thomas  Nelson,  Jr., 
who  is  still  living. 

Thomas  Nelson,  who  was  famil- 
iarly known  as  "Judge  Nelson," 
was  a  magnificent  specimen  of  phys- 
ical and  mental  health  and  vigor, 
which  admirably  fitted  him  for  his 
life's  work. 

He  was  a  man  of  great  determina- 
tion and  mental  force.  He  was  very 
fair  and  just  and  thoroughly  con- 
scientious in  his  dealings,  and  took 
as  much  interest  in  his  clients'  af- 
fairs as  he  did  in  his  own.  He  was 
dignified,  his  manners  very  pleasant 
and  attractive,  and  was  affable  and 
approachable  at  all  times.  His  liter- 
ary attainments  were  beyond  the  or- 
dinary. He  was  a  lover  of  good 
books,  and  especially  loved  the  great 
poets.  His  memory  for  poetry  was 
marvelous.  He  could  recite  page 
after  page  without  making  an  error. 
He  was  unquestionably  a  great  phil- 
osopher, a  iiatural  thinker,  and  exer- 
cised remarkable  reasoning  powers. 
He  had  a  large  and  attractive  vo- 
cabulary and  expressed  his  thoughts 
in  a  clear  a"d  convincing  way.  He 
loved  his  fellow  creatures,  if  in  high 
or  low  standing.  He  was  untiring 
in  his  labors.  He  believed  in  con- 
tinued activity  and  regarded  vaca- 
tion and  iocreation  in  a  sense  pecu- 
liar to  himself,  insomuch  that  he  be- 
lieved  that  vacation   consisted   of   a 


change  of  labor  only.  He  was  very 
witty  and  enjoyed  a  good  story  and 
could  tell  a  good  one  himself.  He 
was  very  thrifty  and  economical  and 
took  good  care  of  his  earthly  posses- 
sions. He  was  a  great  admirer  of 
his  home.  He  loved  his  wife  and 
children. 

He  died  after  a  ripe  old  age  on 
July  26,  1907,  in  Peekskill,  and  his 
remains  are  interred  in  the  Peeks- 
kill  Cemetery. 

THOMAS  NELSON,  Jr. 

Thomas  Nelson,  Jr.,  lawyer,  manu- 
facturer. President  of  the  Village 
of  Peekskill,  etc.,  the  fourth,  young- 
est and  only  surviving  child  of  the 
late  Judge  Thomas  Nelson  and  Cor- 
nelia L.  Seymour  Nelson,  was  born 
in  the  village  of  Peekskill  on  July 
18,  1860.  At  this  writing,  his  mother 
is  still  living. 

Mr.  Nelson  as  a  small  boy  attended 
the  old  Howard  Street  School  in 
District  No.  8.  He  afterward  at- 
tended the  Searles  School,  and  sub- 
sequently became  a  pupil  in  the 
Peekskill  Military  Academy.  He 
entered  Williams  College,  Williams- 
town,  Mass.,  as  a  student  in  the  fall 
of  1879,  and  graduated  with  the 
class  of  1883. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Williams 
College  41umni  Association  and  a 
staunch  member  of  the  Sigma  Phi 
Fraternity, 

After  graduation,  Mr.  Nelson,  in 
the  society  of  several  bosom  college 
friends,  extensively  toured  the  con- 
tinent. On  his  return  he  became  a 
partner  in  the  firm  of  V.  W.  Mc- 
Farlane  &  Co.,  of  Chicago,  111.,  who 
were  members  of  the  Chicago  Board 
of  Trade.  After  four  years  of  suc- 
cessful business,  the  firm  by  mutual 
consent,  dissolved. 

He  then  entered  the  law  offices  of 
his  venerable  father,  who  had  a 
suite  of  offices  in  the  Bryant  Build- 
ing, 55  Liberty  Street,  New  York 
city,  and  in  the  building  previous  to 
the  Bryant  Building,  for  a  period 
of  over  sixty  years. 

Mr.  Nelson  took  a  course  in  the 
Columbia  Law  School  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  1889. 

For  several  years  he  practiced  law 
in  conjunction  with  his  father. 
While  practicing  his  profession,  he 
became  interested  in  manufacturing, 


THOMAS  NELSON.  JR. 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


lU 


and  from  that  time  on  he  devoted 
himself  to  commercial  pursuits. 

Mr.  Nelson  is  the  secretary  and 
one  of  the  directors  of  the  Eobin- 
son-Eoders  Company,  of  Newark,  N. 
J.,  the  largest  feather,  down  and 
mattress  concern  in  the  United 
States.  He  is  a  director  of  the 
Westchester  County  National  Bank, 
the  said  directorship  being  in  the 
Nelson  family  from  the  time  of  his 
grandfather,  Hon.  William  Nelson, 
one  of  ihe  original  incorporators 
and  a  director,  to  the  present  time. 
He  is  also  a  trustee  of  the  Peeks- 
kill  Military  Academy,  and  a  trus- 
tee of  the  Sigma  Phi  Corporation  of 
Massachusetts.  He  is  a  director  of 
the  Mohegan  Granite  Company  and 
the  president  and  director  of  the 
Jones-Thomas  Company  of  New 
York. 

Mr.  Nelson  is  a  Republican  in  poli- 
tics. He  was  practically  born  one; 
but  he  has  the  faculty  of  discrimin- 
ating in  favor  of  a  good  Democrat 
in  preference  to  a  poor  Eepublican. 

Mr.  Nelson  held  the  position  of 
Park  Commissioner  in  the  city  of 
New  Brunswick,  N.  J.,  for  a  long 
period.  After  his  father's  death,  he 
removed  from  New  Brunswick,  N.  J., 
to  Peekskili.  He  became  interested 
in  the  political  and  social  conditions 
of  the  village  of  Peekskili. 

For  biographical  sketches  of  other 
and  in  volumes  one  and  two. 


On  March  7,  1911,  Mr.  Nelson  was 
overwhelmingly  elected  to  the  un- 
sought for  and  unsolicited  position 
of  the  Presidency  of  the  village  of 
Peekskili,  in  which  position  he  is 
serving  the  community  at  this  writ- 
ing, having  been  re-elected  in  1913. 

Mr.  Nelson  is  a  member  of  the 
University  Club  of  New  York;  the 
Union  Club  of  New  Brunswick,  N.  J. ; 
the  Middlesex  Golf  Club  of  New 
Brunswick,  N.  J.;  the  Prospect  Gun 
Club  of  Freeport,  Long  Island,  of 
which  club,  at  its  last  meeting  held 
in  January,  1912,  Mr.  Nelson  was 
unanimously  elected  its  president. 
Mr.  Nelson  became  a  member  of  the 
Cortland  Hook  and  Ladder  Company 
No.  1  of  Peekskili  on  October  15, 
1909.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Lin- 
coln Society  of  Peekskili,  and  an 
honorary  member  of  the  Harris  Light 
Cavalry  Survivors  Association.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Economic  Club, 
and  the  founder  of  the  Forest  Eang- 
ers  of  Peekskili.  He  is  a  Mason, 
being  a  member  of  Cortlandt  Lodge, 
No.   34. 

On  March  3,  1885,  Mr.  Nelson  was 
married  to  Cornelia  L.  Lesley,  the 
daughter  of  Alexander  and  Mary 
Stevenson  Lesley,  of  New  York,  by 
the  Eev.  Alfred  Beach,  of  St.  Peter's 
Church,  New  York  city.  They  have 
no   children. 

residents  see  elsewhere  in  this  book, 


112  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

TOWN  OF  EASTCHESTER. 


{Continued  from  page  195,  Vol.  1.) 

This  town  has  been  reduced  much  in  territory  during  the  last 
twenty  years.  Originally  it  was  one  of  the  important  towns 
of  the  County,  and  in  its  earlier  days  enjoyed  the  distinction  of 
being  "  the  Court  town,"  where  terms  of  Court  of  Sessions 
were  held.  Able  men  like  John  Pinkney,  John  Drake,  Jeremiah 
Fowler,  William  Chatterton  (also  local  magistrate),  Stephen 
Ward,  Jesse  Lyon,  P.  L.  McClellan  (later  District  Attorney), 
W.  H.  Pemberton  (later  County  Judge),  Darius  Lyon  (later 
Sheriff),  Elias  Dusenbury,  David  Cromwell  (later  County  Treas- 
urer), David  Quackenbush,  John  Berry  (later  Assemblyman) 
and  Herbert  D.  Lent,  have  held  the  office  of  Supervisor. 

The  town's  first  loss  of  territory  occurred  when  the  Legisla- 
ture, by  act  passed  March  12,  1892,  took  from  it  the  village  of 
Mount  Vernon  and  made  the  latter  a  city.  The  second, 
when  by  act  of  the  State  Legislature  a  considerable  portion  of 
the  town,  known  as  the  villages  of  Eastchester  and  of  Wakefield 
was,  in  1895,  annexed  to  the  city  of  New  York. 

The  first  settlement  in  this  town  appears  to  have  been  com- 
menced near  the  Indian  path  (subsequently  known  as  the 
Westchester  path  or  Kingsbridge  road),  leading  to  the  wading 
place,  cir.  1664,  at  a  spot  called  Hutchinson's.  "There  is 
where  the  house  stood  at  the  meadows  and  uplands  to  the 
Hutchinson's  river."     (Extracts  from  Pell's  grant.) 

In  1666  it  was  by  royal  charter  enacted,  "  That  the  planta- 
tion shall  continue  and  retain  ye  name  of  Eastchester,  by  which 
name  and  style  it  shall  be  forever  hereafter  distinguished  and 
knoMTi, "  etc. 

Jonathan  Ward,  son  of  Hon.  Stephen  Ward,  was  Surrogate 
of  this  county  from  1828  to  1840. 

The  town's  Revolutionary  history  is  very  interesting;  its  close 
proximity  to  the  British  lines  made  it  at  times  very  unpleasant 
for  patriotic  Americans  who  were  to  a  certain  degree  at  the 
mercy  of  Tories. 

On  the  Eastchester  green,  close  to  the  old  St.  Paul's  Church, 
is  where  the  local  militiamen  met  on  drill  days,  and  where 
citizens  from  miles  around  would  meet  on  "election  days,"  and 
take  days  in  deciding  an  election  according  to  the  old  way  of 
doing  things. 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  113 

The  town  has  within  its  borders  two  thriving  villages: 
Bronxville,  incorporated  in  1898,  and  Tuekahoe,  incorporated 
in  1902. 

The  usual  rivalry  between  adjoining  communities  resulted  in 
1868  in  a  strife  to  secure  village  incorporation.  In  this  year 
residents  of  Bronxville  decided  upon  taking  action  to  bring  about 
the  incorporation  of  that  locality  as  a  village,  under  the  general 
village  law.  Residents  of  Tuekahoe,  learning  of  the  purpose 
of  their  neighbors,  hastily  secured  28  signers  to  a  petition  for 
the  incorporation  of  Tuekahoe;  in  their  description  of  the  terri- 
tory to  be  included  in  the  incorporation,  a  part  of  Bronxville, 
or  the  section  that  Bronxville  wanted  in  its  own  village,  was 
described;  but  they  wanted  only  so  much  of  Bronxville,  it  was 
claimed,  as  would  leave  the  Tuekahoe  people  dominant.  The 
Tuekahoe  people  got  to  the  Supervisor  with  their  petition  first, 
with  Bronxville  people  a  close  second.  Supervisor  Lent  was 
the  man  who  was  to  act  the  part  of  Solomon  the  wise.  It  was 
hard  for  him,  as  he  resided  in  the  Tuekahoe  district,  yet  was  he 
not  the  Supervisor  for  the  whole  town?  He  carefully  adjusted 
the  scales  of  justice  and  considered  both  propositions.  He 
finally  decided  that  inasmuch  as  the  Tuekahoe  proposition  cami 
to  him  first  and  included  a  large  part  of  the  territory  embraced 
in  the  Bronxville  proposition,  he  would  not  give  a  hearing  on 
the  latter.  The  Bronxvilleites  took  exceptions  to  this  ruling, 
and  went  to  the  court;  the  court  ordered  the  Supervisor  to 
give  such  hearings.  Objections  were  filed  to  both  propositions 
and  after  hearings  the  Supervisor  decided  in  favor  of  Tuekahoe 
and  against  Bronxville.  Interest  did  not  abate.  Alfred  E. 
Smith,  attorney  for  the  Bronxville  people,  appealed  to  the 
County  Court,  and  both  decisions  were  reversed,  the  Court 
holding  that  the  Tuekahoe  adherents  had  obtained  but  24  of  the 
necessary  25  freeholders  to  sign  their  petition,  and  that  the 
Bronxville  people  had  complied  in  all  respects  with  the  statute. 
This  put  the  question  to  a  vote  for  or  against  incorporation  in 
Bronxville,  and  a  majority  voted  in  the  affirmative. 

Four  years  later  residents  of  Tuekahoe  took  the  decided  step 
for  themselves. 

The  village  of  Bronxville,  as  well  as  the  river  Bronx  and  the 
Borough  of  the  Bronx,  is  named  in  honor  of  the  Dutch  Bronck 
family,  the  head  of  which,  Jonas  Bronck,  owned  much  land  in 
the  lower  section  of  Westchester  County,  which  came  into  his 
and  the  family's  possession  through  grant,  in  1667,  from  the 


114  IMANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

Dutch  West  India  Company  and  by  purchase  from  the  Indians. 
Part  of  the  land  was  sold  to  Philip  Morris  in  1687,  and  became 
known  as  the  Manor  of  Morrisania.  In  later  years  the  name 
is  spelt  with  a  final  x,  substituted  for  the  last  two  letters  in  the 
original,  retaining  the  sound  if  not  the  spelling. 

Bronxville  has  an  assessed  valuation  of  $3,944,820.  The 
village  budget,  including  school  tax,  for  1911,  was  $59,173  and 
the  tax  rate  $15  per  $1,000.  Has  three  churches,  the  Eeformed, 
65  years  old;  Christ  Episcopal  Church,  15  years  old,  and 
Roman  Catholic,  5  years  of  age.  There  is  one  saloon.  Fine 
library  and  hospital.  The  Hotel  Gramatan,  open  all  the  year, 
can  entertain  225  guests.  Brantwood  Hall  for  girls  and  Blake 
School  for  boys,  prepare  for  the  colleges.  The  German  Lutheran 
College  has  a  spacious  campus  and  large  new  buildings.  Within 
close  reach  of  New  York  by  many  trains  a  day.  There  is  no 
acreage  for  sale,  the  last  having  been  sold  for  about  $4,300  per 
acre  in  1909.     Practically  all  land  is  highly  restricted. 

Bronxville,  in  1890,  had  a  population  of  579;  in  1902,  611; 
in  1905,  994;  in  1910,  1,863. 

Tuckahoe  ' '  derives  its  name  from  a  plant  formerly  gathered 
in  the  vicinity  by  the  Indians,  the  tubers  of  which  were  used  for 
food."  The  plant  is  the  common  jack-in-the-pulpit,  wake-robin 
or  Indian  turnip,  of  which  Capt.  John  Smith  in  his  "  General 
History  of  Virginia  ' '  says :  ' '  The  chief e  root  they  have  for 
food  is  called  Tockawhough.  It  groweth  like  a  flagge  in 
marishes.  In  one  day  a  savage  will  gather  sufficient  for  a 
weeke.  These  roots  are  much  of  the  greatnesse  and  taste  of 
potatoes.  Raw  it  is  no  better  than  poyson  and  being  roasted,  ex- 
cept it  be  tender  and  the  heat  abated,  or  sliced  and  dryed  in  the 
sunne  mixed  with  sorrel  and  meale  or  such  like,  it  will  prickle 
and  torment  the  throate  extreamely,  and  yet  in  sommer  they  use 
this  ordinarily  for  bread." 

The  village,  which  has  several  manufactories,  employing  many 
people,  and  a  wideawake  business  place,  situated  on  the 
Harlem  Railroad,  is  the  "  town  seat,"  where  is  maintained 
offices  of  the  several  town  officials.  Tuckahoe  was  for  a  long 
time  noted  for  the  excellent  marble  stone  it  produced,  and  which 
was  in  great  demand  for  use  in  the  construction  of  promi- 
nent public  buildings,  such  as  the  new  Capitol  building  at 
Albany,  etc. 

The  population  of  Tuckahoe  in  1902,  1,111;  in  1905,  1,580; 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  115 

in  1910,  2,722,  and  it  is  a  prosperous  business  and  growing 
locality. 

Stephen  Ward,  of  Eastchester,  was  conspicuous  as  one  of 
Westchester  County's  heroic  band  in  the  days  of  the  American 
Revolution,  of  men  who  by  their  example  held  their  neighbors 
on  the  right  side  in  that  conflict.  He  served  as  Representative 
from  this  County  in  the  first  and  second  Provincial  Congresses, 
held  in  New  York  city,  from  May,  1775,  to  May,  1776 ;  he  was 
Member  of  the  State  Assembly  in  1778,  and  a  State  Senator  from 
1778  to  1823 ;  he  was  Supervisor  of  his  town  from  1772  to  1783, 
1787  to  1793,  and  again  in  1826-27-28.  He  was  County  Judge 
from  1784  to  1791.  He  was  chosen  in  1792  as  a  Presidential 
Elector. 

Judge  Ward  resided  on  the  old  White  Plains  road,  or  Post 
road,  near  what  is  now  known  as  Bronxville,  in  1770,  in  a 
spacious  mansion,  where  friends  of  the  patriot  cause  were  fre- 
quently entertained.  This  mansion  was  destroyed  by  the  British, 
while  Mr.  Ward  was  absent  attending  to  public  duties,  in  1778. 
The  English  soldiers  carried  off  the  siding,  the  doors,  the  window 
casings,  sash  and  blinds,  and  pretty  nearly  everything  else  mov- 
able, taking  them  to  Kings  Bridge  to  be  used  in  constructing 
barracks  for  British  soldiers. 

On  the  site  of  the  Ward  house  was  erected  a  residence  that 
became  the  home  of  County  Judge  Silas  D.  Gifford,  and  later 
the  home  of  Henry  Fulling ;  the  second  building  still  stands. 

What  is  now  known  as  Bronxville  was  known  in  1837  (the 
date  the  Harlem  Railroad  was  constructed  to  White  Plains) 
as  "Underhill's  Road,"  named  for  Laurence  Underbill,  one  of 
Eastchester 's  largest  property  owners.  At  first  the  place  had 
no  railroad  station  or  post-office,  and  trains  were  stopped  only 
on  signal  of  flagman.  The  name  Bronxville  was  given  the 
place  in  1852, 

In  1845  the  place  had  risen  to  the  dignity  of  a  railroad  sta- 
tion, Alfred  E  Smith,  a  local  manufacturer,  representing  resi- 
dents, journeyed  to  Washington,  D.  C,  and  succeeded  in  con- 
vincing President  Polk  that  "Underbill's  Road"  was  of  suffi- 
cient importance  to  have  a  fourth-class  postmaster.  When  Mr. 
Smith  arrived  at  home,  bearing  a  commission  as  postmaster  for 
Lancaster  Underbill,  the  "little  Yankee"  station  agent,  he  was 
welcomed  by  a  turning  out  of  the  population,  headed  by  the 
''local  band."  Mr.  Underbill  was  a  faithful  officer,  and  con- 
tinued as  postmaster  forty-eight  years,  through  the  terms  of 


116 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


fourteen  Presidents  of  the  United  States.  Besides  being  post- 
master, Mr.  Underbill  was  station  agent,  freight  agent,  express 
agent,  tax  collector  and  it  is  believed  held  other  offices.  A  Post 
Office  Inspector  told  this  story  of  the  kind  old  man:  "One  day 
my  duties  called  me  to  the  Bronxville  station  to  inspect  the 
local  post  office;  I  found  no  one  in  the  office,  though  the  office 
door  stood  invitingly  open ;  I  waited  about  for  the  postmaster 
to  return ;  I  had  been  told  that)  he  was  outside  doing  his  chores, 
and  looking  after  his  various  duties;  while  I  stood  waiting, 
I  saw  a  boy  approach,  go  into  the  post  office,  deliberately  take 
down  from  their  cases  the  different  letters,  pick  out  what  he 
wanted,  put  the  rest  back,  and  then  pass  out.  When  the  post- 
master finally  appeared,  I  told  him  of  the  boy  incident  and 
asked  if  it  was  customary  for  people  to  come  in  and  help  them- 
selves. When  he  ascertained  why  I  was  there,  the  old  man 
appeared  very  much  embarrassed,  and  blurted  out,  'By  gosh, 
I  told  that  boy  what  I  would  do  to  him  if  I  caught  him  doing 
that  same  thing  again.'  The  veteran  postmaster  then  began 
sprinkling  the  floor  wuth  water  preparatory  to  sweeping  out; 
so  far  as  he  was  concerned  the  incident  was  closed ;  yet  the  Gov- 
ernment never  had  any  trouble  with  that  office  during  the  many 
years  Underbill  was  postmaster." 


Biographical  Sketches. 


AETHUE  W.  LAWEENCE. 

Arthur  William  Lawrence,  Com- 
missioner, first  Vice-President  West- 
chester County  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce, etc.,  was  born  October  14, 
1875,  in  Montreal,  Canada,  a  son  of 
William  Van  Duser  and  Sarah 
(Bates)  Lawrence. 

When  Mr.  Lawrence  was  quite 
young  his  parents  removed  to  New 
York  city;  in  1890  his  father  came 
to  Bronxville  and  purchased  what 
was  known  as  the  James  Prescott 
farm,  consisting  of   eighty-six  acres. 

Speaking  of  this  purchase,  the 
elder  Mr.  Lawrence  says :  ' '  One  day 
in  the  autumn  of  1890,  a  friend  of 
mine  came  to  me,  in  New  York  city, 
and  said  he  was  at  that  time  living 
in  Westchester  County  at  a  place 
called  Bronxville,  and  that  there  was 
an  old  farm  up  there  which  was  to 
be  sold  and  he  wished  that  I  would 
come  up  and  look  at  it,  for  if  T  did 
he  thought  I  might  buy  it.  The 
suggestion   caused   me   to    smile,    for 


like  many  New  Yorkers  I  was  well 
acquainted  with  the  golden  West,  the 
wilds  of  Canada,  and  the  usual  tour- 
ist haunts  of  Europe,  but  really,  up 
to  that  moment,  had  never  heard  of 
Bronxville,  and  knew  but  little  of 
this  rocky  waste  called  Westchester 
County.  However,  I  consented  to  go 
up  and  see  it,  and  the  following  day, 
in  company  with  my  urgent  friend, 
I  started  to  discover,  like  Columbus, 
this  new  land  called  Bronxville.  I 
arrived.  At  'the  station'  of  the 
railroad  I  was  confronted  by  the  lit- 
tle old  'tumble-down'  wooden  farm 
house,  belonging  to  one  Lancaster 
Underhill,  which  had  been  from  time 
immemorial  used  as  post-office,  ex- 
press office,  railroad  ticket  office  and 
baggage  room  as  well  as  a  dwelling 
for  Mr.  LTnderhill  and  his  family. 
He  was  then  an  old  white-haired  little 
man,  and  performed  his  various  du- 
ties according  to  his  strength  and  in- 
clinations,   sometimes    with    celerity 


ARTHUR  W.  LAWRENCE 


-.3    '^t. 


ABr 


',h. 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


117 


and  at  others  with  no  great  dispatch 
or  hurried  manner.  Mr.  Underhill 
was  said  even  then  to  be  the  oldest 
Postmaster  in  the  United  States,  and 
commanded  the  respect  of  his  neigh- 
bors and  friends  for  his  faithful  per- 
formances of  duties  at  his  advanced 
age. 

"Bronx\'ille  was,  as  I  saw  it  on 
my  arrival  in  1890,  altogether  a  deso- 
late forsaken  place,  and  at  first  sight 
was  not  at  all  pleasing.  I  reached 
the  farm  property;  all  the  buildings 
thereon  had  been  so  long  neglected 
that  they,  like  the  railroad  station, 
the  roads,  the  trees  and  everything 
else  about  the  place  were  a  sorry 
sight  to  behold,  and  I  left  quite  satis- 
fied that  I  wanted  nothing  to  do  with 
this  real  estate  speculation,  for  it 
was  that,  and  that  only,  which  had 
taken  me  to  Bronxville.  The  thought 
that  I  might  buy  the  farm,  and  for- 
get it  for  a  few  years  and  hope 
that  time  would  raise  the  value,  was 
the  only  thought  I  had  in  connection 
with  it. 

"My  friends,  however,  came  again 
and  again  to  see  me  and  urged  me 
to  purchase  the  place,  declaring  that 
they  would  like  homes  out  there  them- 
selves, which  I  thought  very  queer 
of  them  and  wondered  if  they  were 
perfectly  sane.  But  the  price  asked 
being  only  $500  per  acre,  we  con- 
cluded that  we  would  buy  it  at  a  ven- 
ture. It  was  bought.  It  was  then 
that  our  troubles  began;  it  was  a 
discouraging  outlook  to  start  in  to 
correct  the  conditions  that  had 
brought  this  naturally  beautiful 
property  dovra  to  a  state  of  absolute 
abandonment;  where  and  how  to  be- 
gin, if  to  begin  at  all,  was  the  ques- 
tion. After  much  profound  thought, 
plans  were  perfected.  The  work  of 
transformation  began,  and  it  was 
real  work  too.  As  I  got  into  it  I 
began  to  enjoy  this  work  that  brought 
me  near  to  nature,  in  the  woods  and 
fields.  My  friends  suggested  that  I 
build  three  cottages  which  they  prom- 
ised would  rent  or  that  they  would 
reside  in  them  themselves,  and  this 
I  undertook  to  do,  but  even  then  had 
no  idea  of  turning  this  desolate 
property  into  a  suburban  park.  This 
idea,  however,  was  gradually  taking 
root,  and  these  early  improvements 
went  on  though  I  didn't  know  what 
I  was  really  getting  into." 

Great    changes    have    taken    place 


since  the  old,  dilapidated  farm  prop- 
erty went  under  transformation,  and 
on  its  site  appeared  the  charming 
residential  Lawrence  Park;  since  the 
first  series  of  Lawrence  Park  houses 
were  erected  in  1892,  which  no  one 
wanted  to  purchase  at  that  time, 
over  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  fine 
villas  and  over  twenty  apartments  are 
now  occupied,  and  this  has  been  ac- 
complished without  any  paid  news- 
paper advertising;  without  even  of- 
fering a  free  railroad  ticket,  or  free 
lunch,  or  extra  commissions  to  brok- 
ers to  hurry  up  and  sell  a  single  lot. 
Houses  which  sold  in  189.5  for  $8,.500 
could  not  be  bought  to-day  for  three 
times  that  amount.  The  Park  is  re- 
stricted, and  only  certain  kinds  of 
business  enterprises  can  be  conducted 
inside  of  "New  Bronrville. "  To 
the  Lawrence  family  this  delightful 
locality  is  indebted  for  the  Lawrence 
Hospital,  erected  at  great  expense, 
and  the  Village  Hall,  given  to  the 
village  in  conjunction  with  Mr.  Frank 
E.  Chambers.  Within  the  Park  ia 
located  one  of  the  best-kept  hotels  to 
be  found  in  this  or  any  other  country, 
the  widely  known  "Hotel  Grama- 
tan,  ' '  owned  entirely  by  the  Law- 
rence family.  The  Lawrence  Park 
Country  Club,  with  its  up-to-date 
club  house,  is  also  well  known;  the 
riding  club,  golf  and  tennis  clubs  and 
out-door  sports  and  open-air  life  the 
year  round,  add  to  the  attractions  of 
Lawrence  Park. 

In  short,  this  ideal  park,  which 
bears  the  name  of  one  entitled  to 
credit  for  doing  what  he  could  to  add 
to  the  attractiveness  of  our  County's 
natural  beauties,  has  given  Bronx- 
ville a  State-wide  reputation,  of  be- 
ing one  of  the  show  places  of  the 
County. 

What  Bronxville  is  to-day — the 
Manor  Beautiful — is  due  greatly  to 
the  energetic  endeavor  of  Arthur  W. 
Lawrence,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
who  is  the  vice-president  of  the  Law- 
rence Park  Eealty  Company,  who  has 
been  his  father's  able  right-hand  man, 
and  is  to-day  the  active  man-of- 
affairs.  Mr.  Lawrence,  Jr.,  is  also 
president  of  the  Hotel  Gramatan 
Company  and  president  of  the  Davis 
&  Lawrence  Company  of  New  York 
city. 

Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  Mr. 
Lawrence,  Jr.,  has  private  business 
interests    that   keep    him    constantly 


118 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


hustling,  he  does  find  a  few  moments 
of  relaxation,  moments  that  are  not 
idle  but  are  given  in  hopes  of  aiding 
and  advancing  the  interests  of  his 
fellows  in  other  parts  of  the  County 
He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the 
Westchester  County  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce, is  at  present  vice-president  of 
that  body  and  chairman  of  its  water 
supply  committee,  a  committee  that 
is  endeavoring  to  devise  a  way  to  pro- 
vide the  County  with  water  to  meet 
the  needs  of  its  residents.  In  a  bill 
introduced  in  the  State  Legislature 
of  1912,  to  create  a  commission  au- 
thorized to  take  action  in  endeavor 
to  provide  an  ample  water  supply  for 
Westchester  County,  Mr.  Lawrence 
was  named  as  one  of  the  three  com- 
missioners provided  for;  unfortun- 
ately, the  bill  was  vetoed  by  the  Gov- 
ernor of  the  State. 

For  biographical  sketches  of  other 
and  in  volumes  one  and  two. 


Mr.  Lawrence  has  served  on  a 
Commission,  appointed  by  a  Supreme- 
Court  Justice,  in  condemnation  pro- 
ceedings, to  appraise  lands  taken  by 
the  City  of  New  York  for  reservoirs 
in  which  to  store  water  taken  from 
Catskill. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Union 
League  Club,  of  the  Lawrence  Park 
Country  Club,  of  the  Eepublican 
Club  of  New  York  city,  and  was  until 
recently  Eepublican  County  Commit- 
teeman at  large. 

He  is  a  graduate  of  Yale  Univer- 
sity, of  the  class  of  1897. 

Mr.  Lawrence  was  married  on  Oc- 
tober 25,  1903,  to  Miss  Virginia 
Heppe,  of  Philadelphia.  Their  chil- 
dren are,  William  Van  Duser  Law- 
rence, 2d,  aged  7  years,  and  Chris- 
topher Lawrence,  aged  2  years. 

residents  see  elsewhere  in  this  book, 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  119 


TOWN  OF  GREENBURGH. 


{Continued  from  page  199,  Vol.  1.) 

At  the  present  time  this  town  has  the  distinction  of  being  the 
largest,  as  to  area  and  population,  of  the  towns  in  the  County. 
The  census  of  1910  credits  it  with  a  population  of  23,193. 

Within  the  town  limits  is  contained  the  villages  of  Tarrytown, 
Irvington,  Dobbs  Ferry,  Hastings,  Ardsley,  Elmsford  and  a 
part  of  the  village  of  White  Plains,*  and  the  localities  of  East- 
view,  Hartsdale,  East  Irvington  and  Glendale. 

In  every  section  of  the  town  may  be  found  ' '  historic  ground, ' ' 
and  history  tells  us  that  the  town's  people  were  ever  patriots. 
It  is  to  the  credit  of  the  town  that  Arnold  did  not  succeed  in 
completing  the  details  of  his  plotting  with  Andre  at  Dobbs 
Ferry,  as  was  his  first  intention;  as  it  is  to  the  town's  credit 
that  Andre  was  captured  at  Tarrytown  and  that  three  honest 
yeomen  of  the  vicinity  made  the  capture. 

The  name  of  Paulding,  that  of  one  of  the  captors,  was  a 
familiar  one  in  that  locality;  the  first  Supervisor  elected  in  the 
town,  in  1778,  was  Joseph  Paulding. 

The  Paulding  family  had  long  been  residents  of  this  town. 
As  early  as  1712  we  find  traces  of  them.  William  Paulding, 
who  was  Mayor  of  New  York  city,  was  of  the  same  family  to 
which  John  Paulding  belonged.  Residents  who  were  acquainted 
with  the  latter  Paulding  repelled  the  charge  that  Paulding  acted 
from  other  motives  than  patriotism  when  he  assisted  in  the 
arrest  of  Major  Andre  in  Tarrytown.  They  asserted  that  Pauld- 
ing proved  his  loyalty  for  the  patriotic  cause  when  it  is  con- 
sidered that  he  was  twice  a  prisoner  in  the  hands  of  the  British, 
yet  at  Tarrytown  he  is  found,  soon  after  his  escape  from  a  New 
York  prison,  wearing,  for  the  want  of  a  better  one,  the  coat  of 
a  German  Jdger,  given  him  in  New  York  by  a  stranger  who 
took  compassion  upon  his  needs.  The  close  of  the  war  found 
him  an  inmate  of  a  British  prison. 

In  his  narrative  relating  to  the  capture  of  Andr6,  Williams, 
one  of  the  captors,  says :  ' '  We  were  about  allowing  him  to 
pass,  and  he  was  reining  his  horse  into  the  road,  when  Paulding 
exclaimed  in  an  undertone,  '  D— m  him!  I  don't  like  his  looks.* 
That  ended  it." 


For  description  of  villages  in  the  town,  see  page  199,  Vol.  1. 


120  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

Many  of  the  veterans  of  the  Revolutionary  War  lived  and 
died  in  this  town. 

The  Reed  Tavern,  more  recently  the  Landrane  House,  at  East 
Tarrj^town,  where  Andre  was  taken  after  his  capture,  is  still 
standing. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  historical  events,  in  this  historical 
town,  was  the  erection,  through  efforts  of  local  residents,  of 
the  first  monument,  in  Tarrytown,  on  the  site  of  the  capture, 
to  the  honor  of  the  three  men  captors  of  Andre,  on  July  4,  1853. 
The  ceremonies  were  most  imposing.  The  preceding  parade,  of 
military  and  civic  organizations,  was  large  and  in  keeping. 
Capt.  Jacob  Storms  acted  as  grand  marshal.  The  corner-stone 
of  this  monument  was  laid  by  Col.  James  A.  Hamilton,  a  resi- 
dent of  Dobbs  Ferry,  in  this  town,  and  son  of  Gen.  Alexander 
Hamilton,  Gen.  Washington's  trusted  friend  and  first  Secretary 
of  the  United  States  Treasury.  Gov.  Horatio  Seymour  pre- 
sided, and  Hon.  Henry  J.  Raymond,  of  New  York  city,  Lieu- 
tenant-Governor and  famous  orator,  delivered  the  address. 

The  committee  of  a^rrangements  was  composed  of  Dr.  James 
W.  Scribner  (later  president  of  the  village  of  Tarrytown), 
Amos  R.  Clark,  N.  Holmes  Odell  (later  Assemblyman,  County 
Treasurer  and  Congressman),  Allen  Newman,  William  F.  Van 
Wart  and  Bela  S.  Squires. 

To  perpetuate  and  keep  in  order  this  monument,  a  Monument 
Association  was  organized  later  in  Tarrytown ;  the  incorporators 
were  Amos  R.  Clark,  N.  Holmes  Odell,  James  S.  Millard,  Jacob 
B.  Odell,  S.  P.  Swartwout,  Samuel  Requa,  H.  E.  Paulding  and 
W.  T.  Lockwood ;  Mr.  Clark  was  chosen  president ;  J.  B.  Odell, 
vice-president;  Mr.  Millard,  treasurer,  and  Mr.  Lockwood,  sec- 
retary. This  association  arrainged  for  the  centennial  celebra- 
tion held  on  September  23,  1883,  when  a  new  and  the  present 
monument  was  erected  on  the  same  site  and  in  place  of  the 
first  one. 

The  story  of  Andre  and  his  captors  is  told  in  Volume  2  of 
this  work. 

At  Dobb's  Ferry  Gen.  Washington  established  his  headquar- 
ters early  in  the  summer  of  1781.  Washington's  diary  informs 
us  that  on  July  4,  that  year,  AVashington  "  marched  and  took 
a  position  a  little  to  the  left  of  Dobb's  Ferry,  a^nd  marked  a 
camp  for  the  French  army  on  the  left. ' '  On  July  6  the  French 
army  formed  "  the  junction  with  the  American  army  on  the 
ground  marked  out."     Washington's  object  in  taking  the  posi- 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  121 

tion  near  Dobb's  Ferry,  on  the  Hudson  River,  was  to  be  pre- 
pared to  make  an  attack  on  New  York  city.  For  a  period  of 
forty  days  Washington  had  his  headquarters  at  Dobb's  Ferry. 
Washington  Irving,  later  referring  to  the  locations  of  the  two 
armies  at  Dobb's  Ferry,  says:  "  The  French  encampment 
made  a  gallant  display  along  the  Greenburgh  hills.  Some  of 
the  officers  took  a  pride  in  decorating  their  tents  and  forming 
little  gardens  in  the  vicinity."  Upon  the  suspension  of  hos- 
tilities, May  3,  1783,  Gen.  Washington,  Governor  Clinton  of 
New  York  State  and  Gen.  Sir  Guy  Tarlton  (the  British  Com- 
mander) and  their  respective  suites,  met  here. 

In  1776  the  British  army,  after  the  battle  of  White  Plains, 
encamped  on  the  hill  near  the  residence  of  Jonathan  Odell, 
Dobb's  Ferry. 

Chatterton  Hill,  in  northeast  corner  of  the  town,  near  White 
Plains,  was  the  scene  of  battle  between  the  American  and  British 
forces  in  1776. 

Like  other  localities  in  the  lower  sections  of  the  County  during 
the  Revolution,  this  town  was  "  the  scene  of  action,"  and  the 
taking  place  of  a  ''  skirmish  "  was  a  matter  of  frequent  occur- 
rence, between  British  or  Hessians  aind  American  troops. 

In  the  cemetery  of  the  old  Presbyterian  Church,  at  Elmsford, 
is  erected,  over  the  resting  place  of  his  remains,  a  monument  to 
the  memory  of  Isaac  Van  Wart,  one  of  the  three  captors  of 
Major  Andre.  Van  Wart  was  an  officer  in  this  church  and 
acted  as  chorister  up  to  the  time  of  his  death.  The  monument 
was  raised  June  11,  1829,  with  imposing  ceremonies,  parade  of 
military  headed  by  Gen.  Philip  Van  Cortlandt  and  surviving 
officers  of  the  Continental  Army.  Gen.  Aaron  Ward,  of  Sing 
Sing,  was  orator  of  the  day. 

Just  north  of  Dobbs  Ferry  we  come  to  "Sunnyside,"  in  Irv- 
ing-'on,  the  former  home  of  Washington  Irving.  As  a  promi- 
nent writer  described  it—"  There  is  scarcely  a  building  or 
place  more  replete  with  interest  in  America  than  the  cottage 
of  Washington  Irving,  near  Tarrytown.  *  *  *  With  char- 
acteristic taste,  Mr.  Irving  has  chosen  this  spot— the  haunt 
of  his  early  days,  since  rendered  classic  ground  by  his  elegant 
pen— and  made  it  his  permanent  residence."  Over  the  porch 
is  the  following  inscription:  "  Erected  Anno  1650,  rebuilt  by 
Washington  Irving,  Anno  1835."  The  property  descended  to 
relatives  and  heirs  of  Irving.  This  spot  will  be  ever  dear  to 
the  tourist;  here  is  the  weave  of  the  romances  of  Irving  in 


122  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

which  we  find  the  delightful  Ichabod  Crane  and  Brom  Van 
Brunt,  Ichabod 's  rival  for  the  heart  and  hand  of  Katrina  Van 
Tassel. 

Miss  Catherine  A.  Irving,  a  niece  of  Washington  Irving,  who 
formerly  lived  with  her  uncle  at  Sunnyside,  died  on  October 
2,  1911,  at  the  age  of  ninety-three  years.  She  was  buried  near 
her  uncle  in  Sleepy  Hollow  Cemetery. 

Mr.  Irving 's  property  was  left  to  his  nephews  and  nieces. 
By  the  recent  death  of  a  nephew,  Alexander  Duer  Irving,  and 
the  filing  of  his  will  by  another  nephew,  Louis  Dupont  Irving, 
we  learn  that  •Sunnyside,"  to  remain  in  the  family,  is  valued 
at  $75,000.     .  " 

The  earliest  entry  relating  to  town  officers  occurs  in  the  old 
town  and  manor  book,  entitled,  "  the  town  and  manor  of  Phil- 
ipsburgh  for  to  keep  the  town  redesitors,  1742." 

Population  of  several  villages  and  localities  is  shown  under 
head  of  Census,  in  Volume  2. 

The  Westchester  County  Agricultural  and  Horticultural 
Society,  which  has  its  fair  grounds  in  this  town,  was  organized 
in  1852,  and  was  prosperous  until  1872;  was  reorganized  in 
1885. 

Among  the  noted  citizens  who  have  been  residents  of  this  town 
at  different  periods  are  Washington  Irving,  Admiral  David  G. 
Farragut,  Cyrus  W.  Field,  Alexander  C.  Orr,  William  E.  Dodge, 
Jay  Gould  and  "  Mark  Twain  "  (Clements). 

The  present  Supervisor  of  the  town  is  Charles  D.  Millard, 
of  Tajrrj^own. 

The  1912  assessment  roll  of  this  town  is  the  largest  roll  ever 
compiled  by  the  Town  Assessors.  The  total  assessed  value  of  the 
town  is  placed  at  $43,354,634,  an  increase  of  over  $2,000,000  over 
the  assessment  of  1911.  This  is  said  to  prove  that  this  town  is  the 
wealthiest  town,  in  proportion  to  population,  in  the  United  States ; 
it  pays  about  fifteen  per  cent,  of  the  County  taxes. 

The  largest  taxpayer  in  the  town  is  Mrs.  Helen  Miller  Gould 
Shcpard,  who  is  assessed  $2,000,000  for  both  real  and  personal 
property. 

Hon.  Arthur  S.  Tompkins,  Supreme  Court  Justice,  and  recog- 
nized ablest  criminal  jurist  in  the  State,  spent  his  early  days  as 
a  resident  of  Tarrytown.    Here  he  was  a  law  student. 

Cyrus  West  Field,  though  not  born  in  our  County,  did  much 
for  it.  Was  born  on  November  30,  1819,  in  Stockbridge,  Mass. 
In  1852,  after  he  had  secured  most  justly  an  enviable  reputa- 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  123 

tion,  he  came  to  this  County  and  settled  near  Dobbs  Ferry,  in 
the  town  of  Greenburgh. 

As  founder  of  the  Atlantic  Cable  he  became  world-wide 
famous. 

The  result  of  his  persistent  efforts,  in  face  of  all  obstacles, 
brought  forth  the  general  verdict,  "It  is  an  achievement  most 
wonderful  of  civilization,  entitling  its  author  to  a  distinguished 
rank  among  public  benefactors." 

New  York  city's  elevated  railroad  system  is  another  result  of 
persistent  endeavor  on  the  part  of  Mr,  Field. 

He  founded  what  is  now  known  as  the  beautiful  village  of 
**Ardsley,"  the  name  Ardsley  being  that  of  a  town  in  Yorkshire, 
England,  where  the  Fields  family  originated. 

That  Ardsley  might  appear  as  one  of  the  most  attractive  resi- 
dential spots  along  the  Hudson  River,  Mr.  Field  expended 
much  money  in  its  development;  many  costly  residences  were 
erected  and  beautiful  streets  were  constructed  at  his  expense, 
and  nothing  that  would  add  to  the  attractiveness  of  the  place 
was  left  undone. 

Here  his  home  was,  and  here  he  died  on  July  12,  1892, 

Robert  Hoe,  the  inventor  and  founder  of  the  firm  of  R.  Hoe 
&  Co.,  famous  manufacturers  of  printing  presses  for  all  the 
world,  came  to  this  country  from  Lancaster,  England,  in  1803, 
when  he  was  but  nineteen  years  of  age.  He  came  to  this  County, 
and  in  North  Salem  became  acquainted  with  Rachel  Smith,  the 
attractive  daughter  of  Matthew  Smith,  of  that  town.  In  1805, 
Hoe,  then  only  a  struggling  machinist,  was  married  to  Miss 
Smith,  who,  as  after  events  proved,  was  a  thrifty  woman  and 
a  great  help-mate  to  her  inventive  genius  husband.  When  the 
house  of  R.  Hoe  &  Co.  was  well  established  and  had  become 
known  in  many  parts  of  the  globe,  Mr.  Hoe,  the  senior  partner, 
in  1833,  died. 

Richard  March  Hoe,  the  son,  who  became  the  firm's  head, 
was  born  on  September  12,  1812.  He  inherited  his  father's 
inventive  skill  and  did  much  to  make  the  firm  even  more  famous 
at  home  and  abroad.  The  several  wonderful  printing  presses 
bearing  the  name  of  "  Hoe  "  are  the  creatures  of  his  inventive 
brain. 

In  1876  he  purchased  an  estate  of  sixteen  acres,  a  ''farm 
adjacent  to  the  city,"  in  West  Farms,  near  what  is  now  known 


124 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


as  Hunt's  Point.  This  estate  was  called  " Brightside, "  and 
here  he  spent  as  many  hours  as  he  could  take  from  his  busy  life, 
here  he  gave  what  attention  he  could  to  the  raising  of  fancy 
stock. 

Mr.  Hoe  died  on  June  7,  1886. 

Robert  Hoe,  son  of  Robert  Hoe,  who  resided  at  Tarrytown, 
and  grandson  of  the  founder  of  the  firm  of  R.  Hoe  &  Co.,  born 
March  10,  1839,  became  the  head  of  the  house  of  R.  Hoe  &  Co. ; 
invented  many  improvements  on  the  printing  press;  became 
possessor  of  one  of  the  finest  libraries  in  the  world.  He  had  a 
summer  home  at  Lake  Waccabuc,  in  this  County.  He  died  in 
1910. 

VisitorsJn  hundreds  make  yearly  pilgrimage  to  "Sunnyside," 
the  home  of  the  late  Washington  Irving,  in  this  town.  Travers- 
ing along  Broadway  the  visitor  comes  to  Sunnyside  Lane,  which 
he  enters  and  goes  west  in  the  direction  of  the  Hudson  River. 
Several  trim  properties  lie  along  this  lane.  You  may  know 
when  you  reach  "Sunnyside"  by  the  sign  that  forbids  you  to 
enter.  This  sign  cannot  prevent  your  looking,  and  you  may 
see  the  road  that  leads  up  to  the  house,  and  some  of  the  gables. 
At  the  entrance  to  the  place  the  lane  turns  and  winds  prettily 
to  the  railroad  tracks  along  the  banks  of  the  Hudson  River. 
It  is  only  a  short  walk  to  the  right  from  the  exit  of  the  lane 
to  the  sparse  hedge  in  front  of  Sunnyside.  You  may  see  there 
all  you  wish  of  the  legend-teller's  home.  Apart  from  its  fa- 
miliar rambling  contour,  the  charms  of  sixty  years  ago  have 
been  pretty  well  smudged  by  smoke  and  dust  from  the  railroad. 
If  you  were  permitted  to  enter  the  house  of  many  gables,  you 
could  expect  to  find  the  interior  now  nearly  as  it  was  in  the 
time  that  Irving  dwelt  there.  His  relatives  endeavored  to  keep 
the  interior  as  it  was  when  he  lived. 


Biographical  Sketches. 


CHAELES  D.  MILLAED. 

Charles  Dunsmore  Millard,  lawyer. 
Supervisor,  former  Town  Clerk,  etc., 
was  born  December  1,  1873,  in 
Tarrytown  (where  he  yet  resides),  a 
son  of  .Tames  S.  and  Elizabeth  A. 
(Purdy)    Millard. 

Was  educated  in  local  public 
schools,  Phillips  Academy  at  An- 
dover,  Mass.,  and  graduated  with 
special  honors  from  Brown  Univer- 
Bity;  deciding  on  becoming  a  lawyer. 


he  graduated  from  the  New  York 
Law  School. 

His  father  and  his  elder  brother, 
now  Surrogate,  had  become  lawyers, 
so  he  ■••oncluded  the  best  thing  for 
him  to  do  was  to  become  a  lawyer, 
too,  to  make  it  appear,  as  he  said, 
that  law  ran  in  the  family. 

After  serving  as  Town  Clerk  sev- 
eral terms,  and  until  he  go?  so  popu- 
lar that  everybody  wanted  him  to 
hold  the  job  and  no  one  would  ap- 


CHARLES  D.  MILLARD 


i 


f:';T   TC 


iv  IIBKA 


1 .  .n  '.''  ?  '' 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


125 


pear  as  a  candidate  against  him,  he 
turned  his  attention  towaru  the  of- 
fice of  Supervisor,  at  the  urgent  so- 
licitation of  citizens  generally  re- 
gardless of  politics.  Democrats  of 
his  town  say  that  no  person  would 
take  Charlie  to  be  a  Eepublican,  and 
it  is  not  his  fault  if  he  is,  therefore 
they  do  not  hold  it  against  him,  and 
will  vote  for  him  notwithstanding. 
Probably  this  fact  accounts  for  his 
being  reelected  without  opposition  to 
the  important  office  of  Supervisor  of 
the  largest  and  wealthiest  town  in 
the   county. 

He  was  Town  Clerk  in  1899  and 
until  1907,  when  he  became  Super- 
visor. 

He  was  hrst  elected  Supervisor  in 
the  year  1907,  and  has  continued  in 
that  office  ever  since,  his  new  term 
being   for   1912-13. 

It  IS  generally  understood  in  case 
the  Eepublicans  are  in  majority  that 
he  is  to  be  chosen  Chairman  of  the 
Board  of  Supervisors  in  the  year 
1912,  by  common  consent,  as  he  is 
to-day  among  the  most  popular  of 
members. 

He  is  one  of  the  most  faithful 
members,  always  at  his  post  looking 
after  the  interests  of  his  town.  He 
has  held  in  recent  years  the  respon- 
sible   position    of    Chairman    of    the 

For  biographical  sketches  of  other 
and  in  volumes  one  and  two. 


Committee  on  Kepairs  and  Supplies 
and  also  served  on  the  Judiciary 
Committee.  Is  Counsel  to  the  vil- 
lage of  Hastings  and  Counsel  for 
several  large  private  corporations. 

Personally  Mr.  Millard  is  a  gentle- 
man of  fine  appearance,  open  and 
courteous  manners,  and  most  gener- 
ous impulses — a  man  of  ability,  ex- 
perience in  the  world,  and  strong 
common  sense. 

He  is  a  member  of  Solomon  Lodge, 
F.  and  A.  M.  of  Irving  Chapter, 
Westchester  Commandery,  Mecca 
Temple,  of  White  Plains  Lodge  of 
Elks,  of  the  Eepublican  Club  of  New 
York  City,  of  the  Tarrytown  Ly- 
ceum, of  the  Tarrytown  Yacht  Club, 
of  the  Knoolwood  Country  Club,  of 
the  Brown  University  Club,  New 
York  City,  of  various  College  Clubs, 
of  Society  of  Medical  Jurisprudence, 
of  Phillips  Andover  Club,  New  York 
City,  of  the  Mohegan  Club  of 
Dobbs  Ferry,  of  Conqueror  Hook 
and  La'dder  Company  of  Tarrytown. 

Mr.  Millard  was  married  July  15, 
1902,  to  Miss  Ethel  Lee  Williams, 
daughter  of  Philip  H.  and  Margaret 
Lee  Williams  of  New  York  City.  To 
tills  union  one  child  was  born, 
Charles  Dunsmore  Millard,  Jr.,  who 
died  March,  1909,  aged  2  years  3 
months. 

residents  see  elsewhere  in  this  book, 


126  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

TOWN  OF  HARRISON. 


(Continued  from  page  206,  Vol.  1.) 

Prior  to  1702  this  town  formed  a  part  of  the  town  of  Rye, 
but  was  organized  as  a  separate  township  on  March  7,  1788. 

The  name  given  it  was  in  honor  of  John  Harrison,  who  pur- 
chased the  present  township  from  the  Indians  on  February  1, 
1695.  The  name  first  given  the  town  was  "Purchase,"  referring 
to  Harrison's  purchase;  it  was  also  called  "  Harrison's  Pre- 
cinct." 

The  authorities  of  Rye  township  fought  hard  to  prevent  the 
taking  of  territory  from  that  town  to  form  Harrison's  township. 
But  political  influence  was  too  strong  against  Rye,  and  the 
organization  of  the  new  township  was  authorized. 

The  Thomas  family  was  among  the  most  prominent  of  the 
early  families  of  the  town;  John  Thomas  was  High  Sheriff  of 
Westchester  County  in  1778,  in  fact  was  the  last  High  Sheriff 
before,  and  the  first  appointed  after  the  war.  His  brother, 
Major-General  Thomas  Thomas,  did  good  service  for  his  country 
on  the  patriot  side  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  and  later  was  a 
member  of  the  State  Legislature. 

The  Field  family  were  also  among  the  early  settlers  of  Harri- 
son ;  as  late  as  1841  we  find  Thomas  C.  Field  serving  as  Super- 
visor, to  the  year  1847. 

Harrison  township  is  inhabited  by  many  Quakers.  The  first 
Friends'  Meeting  House  was  erected  here  in  1727,  upon  land 
given  for  that  purpose  by  Anthony  Field,  "who  had  removed 
hither  two  years  before  from  Flushing,  Long  Island,  and  who 
owned  the  adjoining  farm."  This  seems  to  have  been  the 
favorite  settlement  of  the  Friends.  They  were  shamefully 
persecuted  in  Connecticut  and  Massachusetts;  from  there 
driven  to  Rhode  Island,  from  whence  they  had  to  fly  to  Long 
Island.  Even  there  they  could  find  no  rest,  for  the  Governor 
of  New  York  issued  an  order  forbidding  them  to  worship  even 
in  a  barn.  So  they  crossed  by  way  of  the  ferry  to  Rye,  and 
settled  principally  in  Harrison;  here  they  were  hemmed  in  by 
their  old  enemies,  the  Dutch  on  the  Hudson  River,  and  the  unfor- 
giving and  intolerant  Puritans  on  the  East.  They  thus  extended 
up  this  narrow  strip  of  country,  and  the  family  names  of  the 
€rst  settlers  can  be  traced  for  over  one  hundred  miles  north. 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  127 

It  was  to  the  Friends'  Meeting  House,  in  Purchase,  that  the 
wounded  soldiers  were  brought,  immediately  after  the  Battle 
of  White  Plains,  on  October  28,  1776,  and  laid  out  on  the  floor 
or  lower  seats.  It  was  probably  for  the  double  purpose  of  pro- 
tecting the  wounded,  and  securing  the  communications  of  the 
army  at  White  Plains ;  in  that  direction  General  Samuel  Holden 
Parson  had  a  post  near  the  head  of  Rye  Pond,  October  29,  1776. 
The  Friends'  Meeting  House  was  used  as  such  hospital  until 
October  8,  1778. 

It  is  stated  that  considerable  numbers  of  British  troops  entered 
White  Plains  by  way  of  Purchase  at  time  of  the  Battle  of 
White  Plains. 

The  first  elected  Supervisor,  on  April  2,  1776,  was  Samuel 
Haviland;  as  late  as  1887,  a  descendant,  Charles  C.  Haviland, 
held  this  office.  The  second  Supervisor  elected  was  Isaiah  May- 
nard,  in  1783 ;  those  following  will  be  found  in  the  list  pub- 
lished elsewhere  in  this  volume,  under  title  "  Supervisors  of  the 
Several  Towns." 

The  present  Supervisor  is  Benjamin  Irving  Taylor,  elected  to 
serve  until  1914.  He  was  elected  as  Representative  in  Congress 
in  1912,  for  a  term  of  two  years. 

On  the  west  side  of  Purchase  street  and  near  its  junction  with 
the  White  Plains  road,  is  situated  the  "Ophir  Farm,"  once  the 
property  of  Benjamin  Halladay,  now  belonging  to  the  estate 
of  the  late  Whitelaw  Reid,  owner  of  the  New  York  Tribune  and 
United  States  Minister  to  England. 

Among  the  old  family  names  we  find  the  Andersons,  the  Wil- 
lets,  the  Haights,  the  Burlings,  the  Havilands,  the  Motts,  the 
Clapps,  the  Carpenters,  the  Hunts,  the  Grays,  the  Millers,  the 
Halsteads  the  Tylers,  the  Cromwells,  the  Purdys,  the  Merritts, 
the  Palmers,  the  Hoppers,  the  Dusenburys,  the  Parks,  the  Wood- 
wards, and  the  Hortons. 

Within  a  short  distance  of  Purchase  lies  Rye  Pond,  a  beauti- 
ful sheet  of  water  covering  over  two  hundred  and  ten  acres  of 
ground.  Rye  Pond  has  an  outlet  on  the  west  which  passes  into 
the  little  pond  of  the  same  name,  and  from  thence  into  the  Bronx 
River;  in  fact  Rye  Pond  is  the  principal  source  of  the  Bronx. 

In  August,  1911,  Rye  Lake  received  the  greater  portion  of 
the  fish  taken  from  Kensico  Lake,  the  transfer  being  necessary 
owing  to  the  fact  that  New  York  City,  having  acquired  the  latter 
lake  to  aid  its  water  supply,  was  about  to  drain  it  of  all  waters, 


128  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

to  permit  the  construction  of  a  great  reservoir  covering  the  site 
of  the  lake  and  thousands  of  acres  of  land  adjoining. 

The  town  has  no  incorporated  villages. 

The  population  of  the  Town  in  1830  was  1,085 ;  in  1835,  1,016 ; 
in  1840,  1,139 ;  in  1845,  1,039 ;  in  1850,  1,262 ;  in  1855,  1,271 ;  in 
1860,  1,885;  in  1865,  1,653;  in  1870,  1,601;  in  1875,  1.508;  in 
1880,  1,612;  in  1890,  1,485;  in  1892,  1,444;  in  1900,  2,048;  in 
1905,  2,922 ;  in  1910,  1,127. 

For  biographical  sketches  of  other  residents  see  elsewhere  in  this  book, 
and  in  volumes  one  and  two. 


TOWN  OF  LEWISBORO. 


{Contiivued  from  page  208,  Vol.  1.) 

Was  organized  as  the  Town  of  Salem  on  March  7,  1788 ;  name 
was  changed  to  South  Salem  on  April  6,  1806 ;  on  February  13, 
1840,  the  name  was  again  changed  to  Lewisboro,  this  time  in 
honor  of  a  public-spirited  citizen  who  agreed,  in  1840,  to  give 
$10,000  to  establish  a  fund  to  aid  in  the  maintenance  of  the  local 
public  schools. 

The  town  has  no  incorporated  villages ;  the  prominent  locali- 
ties in  this  Township  are  Goldens  Bridge,  Cross  River,  Lake 
Waecabuc,  Lewisboro,  Vista  and  South  Salem. 

Cross  River,  dignified  by  the  appellation  of  "an  important 
settlement"  in  this  town,  was  originally  known  by  the  Indian 
name  of  Poppeneghek.  The  name  the  locality  now  bears  was 
in  justice  given  to  honor  the  memory  of  John  Cross,  a  sturdy 
and  heroic  pioneer,  who  did  much  toward  the  developing  of  this 
particular  section  of  the  County. 

Sections  of  this  town  are  prominently  mentioned  in  history  of 
the  American  Revolution ;  Major  Andre  became  acquainted  with 
it  in  course  of  his  experiences  preceding  and  after  his  capture. 
It  Avas  here  that  Andre  wrote  the  letter  to  Gen.  Washington, 
after  his  capture,  explaining  who  he  was. 

Lewisboro,  like  other  towns  in  the  County,  formerly  belonged 
to  the  Province  of  Connecticut. 

A  list  of  the  persons  holding  the  office  of  Supervisor  in  this 
town  will  be  found  elsewhere  in  volumes  1  and  2,  under  title  of 
"  Supervisors  of  the  Several  Towns." 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  129 

The  population  of  this  township  in  the  year  1830  was  1,537 
in  1835,  1,470;  in  1840;  1,619;  in  1845;  1,514;  in  1850,  1,608 
in  1855,  1,775;  in  1860,  1,885;  in  1865,  1,653;  in  1870,  1,601 
in  1875,  1,508;  in  1880,  1,612;  in  1890,  1,417;  in  1892,  1,369 
in  1900,  1,311;  in  1905,  1,542;  in  1910,  1,127. 

For  biographical  sketches  of  other  residents  see  elsewhere  in  this  book, 
and  in  volumes  one  and  two. 


TOWN  OF  MAI^IARONECK. 


(Contimied  from  page  212,  Vol.  1.) 

The  first  inhabitants  of  this  town,  like  those  of  other  nearby  lo- 
calities, were  Indians.  The  Indians  were  known  as  the  Siwanoys, 
a  tribe  of  the  Mohican  Indians,  presided  over  by  Sachems  Wappa- 
quewam  and  Mahataham.  From  the  Indians  the  land,  now 
known  as  Mamaroneck,  was  purchased  by  John  Richbell,  the  date 
of  his  acquiring  the  title  is  given  as  September  23,  1661.  The 
price  paid  for  the  land  has  never  been  figured  in  dollars  and 
cents;  the  consideration  accepted  by  the  unsophisticated  red 
men  is  said  to  be  the  following  useful  articles:  "Twenty-two 
coats,  one  hundred  fathom  of  wampum,  twelve  shirts,  ten  pair 
of  stockings,  twenty  hands  of  powder,  twelve  bars  of  lead,  two 
fire-locks,  fifteen  hoes,  fifteen  hatchets,  three  kettles."  (As 
shown  by  records  on  file  in  the  Secretary  of  State's  office  in 
Albany. ) 

John  Richbell  (his  name  is  also  spelled  Rissebel)  was  a  mer- 
chant in  Charlestown,  Mass.,  prior  to  1648.  Subsequently  he 
engaged  in  trade  in  the  Islands  of  Barbadoes  and  St.  Christo- 
pher. In  1660  he  purchased  from  the  Indians  that  section  of 
Long  Island  now  known  as  Oyster  Bay  and  Lloyd's  Neck. 
Here  he  remained  until  1664,  while  he  was  completing  the  pur- 
chase of  what  is  now  Mamaroneck.  Richbell  was  an  Englishman, 
and  in  his  purchases  represented  many  of  his  countrymen  de- 
siring lands  for  settlement. 

The  name  "Mamaroneck"  is  of  Indian  origin,  which  inter- 
preted means:  "The  place  where  the  fresh  water  falls  into 
the  salt,"  derived  doubtless  from  the  fact  that  the  fresh  water 
of  the  Mamaroneck  River  runs  into  the  salt  water  of  Long 
Island  Sound. 


130  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

The  town  was  organized  under  the  general  act  in  1788.  It 
was  formerly  a  part  of  the  Manor  of  Scarsdale.  The  first 
recorded  town  election  was  held  on  April  2,  1697. 

Of  the  names  associated  with  this  town  as  its  early  inhabi- 
tants, one  of  the  most  conspicuous  is  that  of  Caleb  Heathcote, 
who  was  Mayor  of  New  York  city  in  1711.  He  was  specially 
active  in  creating  public  improvements,  grading  streets  in  that 
city  from  Maiden  Lane  up  to  the  "Common,"  where  is  now 
Chambers  Street  (certainly  not  now  very  far  up  town). 

The  Township  contains  two  incorporated  villages.  Larchmont 
was  incorporated  as  a  village  in  1891.  According  to  the  last 
census,  in  1910,  it  has  a  population  of  1,958.  It  is  a  charming 
residential  locality,  situated  directly  on  Long  Island  Sound; 
here  we  find  the  Larchmont  Yacht  Club,  the  Horseshoe  Harbor 
Yacht  Club  and  other  societies  of  aquatic  and  land  sports. 

The  village  of  Mamaroneck  was  incorporated  in  the  year  1895, 
and  is  formed  of  part  of  the  town  of  Mamaroneck  and  part  of 
the  adjacent  town  of  Rye— Rye  Neck.  This  village  has  a  popu- 
lation, according  to  the  census  of  1910,  of  5,699. 

On  Orienta  Point,  within  the  town,  and  lying  upon  Long 
Island  Sound,  are  handsome  villas  of  prominent  New  York  city 
business  men. 

The  population  of  the  township  was  given  in  1790  as  452; 
in  1800  as  503 ;  in  1810  as  496 ;  in  1814  as  797 ;  in  1820  as  878 ; 
in  1825  as  1,032;  in  1830  as  838;  in  1835  as  882;  in  1840  as 
1,416 ;  in  1845  as  780 ;  in  1850  as  928 ;  in  1855  as  1,068 ;  in  1860 
as  1,351 ;  in  1865  as  1,392 ;  in  1870  as  1,484 ;  in  1875  as  1,425 ; 
in  1880  as  1,863;  in  1890  as  2,385;  in  1892  as  2,470;  in  1900  as 
3,849 ;  in  1905  as  5,655 ;  in  1910  as  5,602. 

The  list  of  persons  who  served  the  Township  as  Supervisors, 
from  time  to  time,  will  be  found  in  Volumes  1  and  3,  under  title 
of  "Supervisors  of  the  Several  Towns." 

James  Fenimore  Cooper,  novelist,  whose  biographical  sketch 
is  printed  in  the  first  volume  (page  71)  was  born  September 
15,  1789 ;  at  the  age  of  thirteen  he  entered  Yale  College  owing 
to  his  special  brightness ;  he  was  expelled  from  College ;  went  to 
sea;  after  three  years  he  was  appointed  midshipman  in  the 
United  States  Navy;  retired  from  the  Navy  in  1808.  In  Janu- 
ary, 1811,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Susan  Augusta  DeLancey, 
daughter  of  John  Peter  DeLancey,  of  Mamaroneck,  in  this 
County.  At  that  period,  and  later,  the  DeLancey  family  was 
one  of  the  most  prominent  and  highly  respected  in  the  County. 


AARON  J.  MIXSELL,  M.  D. 


■*  •*<»» 


)  ■ 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


131 


For  ten  years  or  more  Mr.  Cooper  devoted  a  great  part  of 
his  time  to  farming  in  Mamaroneck,  yet  he  had  time  to  write  and 
provide  for  the  instruction  and  entertainment  of  his  fellows. 
Here,  in  1820,  he  wrote  his  first  book,  titled  "  Precaution." 
It  was  "on  the  farm,"  at  Mamaroneck  he  wrote  "The  Spy" 
from  facts  related  to  him  by  Jolm  Jay  concerning  the  services 
of  Enoch  Crosby  as  "Secret  Agent"  retained  by  the  Committee 
of  Public  Safety  presided  over  by  John  Jay." 

Mr.  Cooper  resided  in  the  County  until  1826,  when  he  visited 
England,  remaining  seven  years,  returning  to  reside  in  Coopers- 
tnwn,  where  he  died  September  14,  1851. 


Biographical  Sketches. 


AAEON  J.  MIXSELL.  M.  D. 

Dr.  Aaron  J.  Mixsell  was  born  in 
the  city  of  New  York  in  the  year 
1840,  and  was  one  of  the  bravest  of 
the  brave  men  who  took  part  in  our 
Civil  War.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
famous  Seventh  Eegiment  of  New 
York  city  when  the  war  broke  out 
and  subsequently  became  a  Lieuten- 
ant. 

He  remained  in  the  army  for  four 
years,  and  at  one  time  was  on  the 
staff  of  Major-General  Thomas. 

When  the  war  was  over  he  took  up 
the  study  of  medicine  and  graduated 
from  Bellevue  in  the  year  1871. 

He  began  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession at  Mamaroneck  in  the  year 
1872,  and  remained  there  until  the 
year  of  his  death — 1896. 

For  biographical  sketches  of  other 
and  in  volumes  one  and  two. 


During  the  years  1893  to  1896  he 
was  one  of  the  Coroners  of  West- 
chester County. 

Dr.  Mixsell  became  one  of  the  best 
known  physicians  in  the  eastern  part 
of  Westchester  County,  and  was  re- 
markably successful  in  his  practice. 

He  was  a  genial,  generous,  kind- 
hearted  man,  who  brought  sunshine 
into  the  rooms  of  the  sick  and  suf- 
fering. 

Dr.  Mixsell  married  Miss  Lucinda 
Worden  in  1875.  She  died  in  1883. 
He  married  Miss  Emily  Hoyt,  of 
Stamford,  Connecticut,  in  1887. 

He  left  only  one  child  surviving 
him,  his  daughter  Cynthia,  who  was 
married  June  4,  1912,  to  Mr.  Carl 
Eemington. 

residents  see  elsewhere  in  this  book. 


132  IVLANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

TOWN  OF  MOUNT  PLEASANT. 


(Continued  from  page  215,  Yol.  1.) 

This  township  was  erected  March  7,  1788,  and  organized  May 
20,  1845.  The  township  originally  comprised  all  that  part  of 
the  Manor  of  Philipsburgh  lying  north  of  Greenburgh.  In  1843 
the  town  was  divided  to  permit  the  formation  of  the  town  of 
Ossining. 

In  the  early  days,  in  the  Revolutionary  War  period,  this 
locality  furnished  its  full  quota  of  patriots,  and  the  town  is 
mentioned  frequently  in  the  story  relative  to  the  capture  of 
Major  Andre. 

Many  old  residents  remember  Mrs.  Cornelia  (Van  Cortlandt) 
Beekman,  wife  of  Gerald  G.  Beekman,  who  died  at  her  home  in 
Beekmantown  (now  North  Tarrytown)  when  she  had  reached 
the  ripe  age  of  ninety,  possessed  of  all  her  mental  faculties,  and 
who  was  credited  with  indirectly  causing  Major  Andre's  capture. 

Mrs.  Beekman  was  fond  of  relating  the  story,  how  Major 
*'  Andre,  after  being  brought  across  the  river  from  Smith 's  house, 
was  by  Smith  brought  to  the  vicinity  of  the  home  of  her  father, 
Hon.  Pierre  Van  Cortlandt,  at  the  Van  Cortlandt  Mansion,  in 
Croton;  Andre  waited  while  Smith  visited  the  mansion  where 
resided  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beelmian,  and  endeavored  by  dishonest 
means  to  obtain  a  uniform  of  an  officer  of  the  Continental 
Army,  that  Andre  might  wear  it  to  ensure  his  successful  escape 
to  New  York. 

In  relating  the  story,  Mrs.  Beekman  said  that  Capt.  John 
Webb,  younger  brother  of  Col.  Samuel  B.  Webb,  came  to  the 
mansion  about  September  7  (1780),  bringing  with  him  a  valise 
containing  considerable  specie  and  his  new  Continental  uniform, 
and  left  it  with  her,  with  the  special  admonition  not  to  give  it 
to  any  one  without  a  written  order  from  himself  or  his  brother. 
Later  in  the  day  Capt.  Webb  dined  at  a  public  house  in  Peeks- 
kill,  and  in  speaking  to  some  acquaintances,  among  whom  was 
Joshua  H.  Smith,  W^ebb  mentioned  the  call  he  had  made  in 
the  morning  upon  the  Beekmans,  and  the  object  of  the  visit. 
Later  Smith  recalled  this  conversation,  and  determined  to  make 
the  information  imparted  serve  in  aiding  his  treachery.  On 
September  22d  Smith  appeared  at  the  Van  Cortlandt  Mansion, 
and  asked  Mr.  Beekman  for  the  valise,  saying  Capt.  Webb  had 
sent  him  for  it;  Mr.  Beekman  called  a  servant  and  was  in  the 
act  of  sending  for  and  delivering  the  valise,  not  doubting  Smith's 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  133 

honesty,  when  Mrs.  Beekman  came  into  the  room;  the  object  of 
Smith's  call  being  explained  to  her,  she  asked  Smith  if  he  had 
a  written  order  signed  by  Webb,  necessary  to  get  the  valise, 
according  to  directions  given  at  time  valise  was  left  with 
them.  Smith,  desperate  in  his  purpose,  was  ready  with  a  lie; 
he  promptly  asserted  that  the  order  was  spoken  of,  but  Capt. 
Webb  had  not  time  to  write  an  order;  Webb  mentioned  that 
in  case  he  sent  a  messenger  other  than  himself  he  would  have 
to  send  a  written  order,  but  as  the  Beekmans  knew  Smith  so 
well  they  would  not  hesitate  to  give  him  the  valise  and  contents. 
Mrs.  Beekman  was  suspicious  and  had  her  doubts  as  to  Smith; 
nothing  short  of  a  written  order,  as  stipulated  by  Capt.  Webb, 
would  satisfy  her,  therefore  she  positively  refused  to  give  up 
to  any  one  other  than  the  Captain  himself,  or  the  Colonel,  his 
brother,  Capt.  Webb's  property,  without  a  properly  written 
order.  And  this  she  told  the  visitor  most  emphatically;  the 
latter,  angered  by  the  refusal  and  evident  lack  of  confidence:  in 
him,  left  without  the  valise. 

Had  Smith  obtained  Webb's  uniform  for  Andre  to  wear  the 
latter 's  escape  would  have  been  sure. 

Why  Mrs.  Beekman  was  not  called  to  testify  at  Smith's  trial 
has  not  been  explained;  the  testimony  that  she  might  give 
would  have  hanged  Smith,  as  such  proved  Smith  was  acquainted 
with  Andre's  true  character,  and  knowing  him  to  be  a  spy,  was 
aiding  him  to  escape. 

It  is  stated  that  Gen.  Washington,  when  he  learned  of  Mrs. 
Beekman 's  act  in  relation  to  the  valise,  thanked  her. 

It  is  stated  that  the  buttons  on  the  coat  worn  by  Paulding 
at  the  time  of  Andre's  capture,  and  which  deceived  Andre  into 
believing  Paulding  belonged  to  the  British,  were  cut  off  and 
presented  Mrs.  Beekman  as  a  reward  for  the  part  she  played  in 
the  capture.  These  buttons  were  long  preserved  at  the  Van 
Cortlandt  mansion  in  Croton. 

The  Beekmans  lived  many  years  after  the  Revolution  in 
Beekmantown,  named  in  their  honor.  The  old  spacious  brick 
house,  where  they  lived  and  died,  still  stands  on  Beekman  Ave- 
nue, North  Tarrytown  (formerly  Beekman  town),  and  is  ever 
an  object  of  great  interest  to  sightseers. 

It  was  at  the  home  of  Sylvanus  Brundage,  Pleasantville  (the 
house  now  occupied  by  a  grandson,  AVilliam  H.  Brundage),  that 
Andre  stopped  to  water  his  horse  on  his  way  to  New  York,  just 
previous  to  his  capture  at  Tarrytown.     Later,  while  part  of  the 


134  ]VIANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

way  between  Rossell's  (now  Mekeel's)  Corners  (Pleasantville) 
and  Unionville,  in  this  town,  Andre  stopped  at  the  home  of 
Staats  Hammond,  a  miller.  Hammond  was  a  patriot  soldier, 
a  sergeant  in  the  First  Westchester  Militia,  and  was  home  on  a 
prolonged  furlough,  having  been  seriously  wounded  in  one  of 
his  legs  in  a  skirmish  with  a  British  detachment  near  Sing 
Sing  on  July  17,  1779 ;  he  was  still  confined  to  his  bed  suffering 
from  the  unhealed  wound  when  Andre  rode  up  to  the  house  and 
asked  for  a  drink  of  water,  speaking  to  two  of  Hammond's  chil- 
dren, David  aged  fourteen  years  and  Sally  aged  twelve  years; 
Sally  filled  a  cup  with  water  and  handed  it  up  to  him  as  he 
sat  on  his  horse;  David  held  the  horse's  bridle,  and,  boy  like, 
commented  on  the  horse's  good  qualities,  remarking  that  he 
guessed  the  horse  had  been  sleeping  out  of  doors,  in  an  open 
field,  as  its  mane  was  full  of  burrs ;  Andre  thanked  Sally  for  the 
excellent  water  and  gave  her  a  silver  sixpence,  which  she  kept 
many  years  after.  Of  David,  Andre  asked  the  distance  to  Tarry- 
town,  and  as  to  the  possibility  of  his  meeting  any  of  the  patriotic 
American  soldiers  at  or  near  Young's  tavern,  about  a  mile 
further  south.  When  the  boy  in  answer  told  him  that  a  party 
of  scouts  was  at  the  tavern,  Andre  decided  to  reach  Tarrytown 
from  another  direction.  David  Hammond,  in  1847,  wrote  his 
recollections  of  his  meeting  with  Andre.  In  speaking  of  his 
father's  opinion  of  Andre,  the  son  said:  "Through  the  win- 
dow father  had  a  glimpse  of  the  rider,  and  afterwards  expressed 
distrust  of  him  on  account  of  his  being  muffled  to  the  chin 
in  his  cloak." 

Within  an  hour  after  his  visit  to  Hammond's,  Andre  was 
captured. 

In  the  capture  of  Andre  the  Romer  family  of  Pleasantville 
figured  to  some  degree.  James  Romer,  a  son,  was  one  of  the 
scouts  organized  to  combat  the  cowboys,  and  as  such  scout  was 
a  companion  of  Paulding,  Williams  and  Van  Wart  on  that 
eventful  day.  (Romer  being  a  cousin  of  Paulding,  as  was  Van 
Wart.)  It  is  said  of  Romer  that  when  Lt.-Col.  Jameson,  at  his 
headquarters,  decided  to  forward  the  captured  Andre  and  his 
papers  to  Gen.  Arnold,  Romer,  who  was  present  with  his  com- 
panions, expressed  the  belief  that  Andre  was  a  British  officer 
and  that  he  had  entered  the  American  lines  as  a  spy,  and  urged, 
as  best  he  could,  he  being  only  a  private  soldier,  that  Andre  be 
not  sent  to  Arnold,  and  against  Arnold  being  notified  of  Andre's 
arrest. 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  135 

It  was  to  the  house  of  Jacob  Romer,  father  of  James,  that 
the  young  scouts  went  early  Saturday  morning  and  had  break- 
fast, and  there  it  was  that  Mrs.  Romer  put  up  a  dinner  for  all, 
in  a  commodious  basket.  The  Romer  house,  now  destroyed, 
stood  close  to  where  the  present  reservoir,  of  the  New  York 
city  water  supply,  is  located,  a  short  distance  from  the  Tarry- 
town  station  of  the  New  York  and  Putnam  Railroad  division. 

It  was  to  the  Romer  house  that  the  eight  young  scouts 
returned  later  in  the  day,  after  the  capture  of  Andre  by  three 
of  their  number,  and  they  were  on  their  way  to  the  nearest 
American  military  post.  Paulding  preceded  the  others  to  the 
home  of  his  uncle,  and  cautioned  Mrs.  Romer  by  saying:  "Be 
careful,  Aunt  Fanny,  of  what  you  say,  I  believe  we  have  cap- 
tured as  a  spy  a  British  officer,  and  the  boys  are  bringing  him 
here."  The  boys  arrived,  complaining  of  being  very  hungry, 
knowing  that  Aunt  Fanny's  weakness  was  her  ever  readiness 
to  bountifully  feed  all  who  came  to  her  door  in  need  of  food. 
Some  of  the  party  happened  to  remember  that  Mrs.  Romer  had 
given  them  an  ample  supply  of  dinner  in  a  basket,  and  in  the 
excitement  of  the  day  they  had  forgotten  to  eat.  John  Romer, 
the  youngest  son,  aged  sixteen  years  ^he  lived  to  be  ninety-one 
years  old),  volunteered  to  go  after  the  basket,  which  he  found, 
near  where  the  scouts  were  stationed,  with  all  contents  safe. 
It  is  said  that  Andre  requested  to  be  excused  when  asked  to 
eat,  he  was  not  as  hungry  as  the  others  in  the  party. 

Mekeel's  Corners,  Pleasantville,  mentioned  frequently  in  the 
story  relating  to  Major  Andre's  capture,  was  named  in  honor 
of  Lieutenant  John  Mekeel  of  the  Third  Westchester  Militia,  in 
the  patriot  army. 

The  township  contains  the  villages  of  North  Tarrytown,  Pleas- 
antville, Briar  Cliff  Manor,  and  Hillside,  formerly  Sherman 
Park,  and  the  localities  known  as  Sleepy  Hollow,  Hawthorne 
(formerly  Unionville)  East  View,  Neperan,  Pocantico  Hills,  and 
Tarrytown  Heights  and  Philipse  Manor. 

North  Tarrytown,  formerly  Beekmantown,  is  a  prosperous, 
up-to-date  village,  with  a  present  population  (1910)  of  5,421. 
It  is  a  manufacturing  center,  its  many  industries  giving  em- 
ployment to  hundreds  of  persons. 

Pleasantville  is  an  enterprising  village,  and  is  justly  proud 
of  its  new  bank  with  its  large  amount  of  deposits,  as  well  as  it 
is  of  its  many  other  evidences  of  progress.  Many  New  York 
city  business  men  find  it  a  delightful  residential  place  all  the 


136  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

year  aroiiml.  The  population,  as  given  by  the  last  census,  is 
2,207. 

Briar  Clift'  Manor  village  is  a  cluster  of  charming  residences, 
of  New  York  city  men  principally.  It  is  famous  for  automo- 
bile races  held  there  at  stated  periods;  part  of  this  village  lies 
in  the  town  of  Ossining.  The  census  of  1910  gives  the  total 
population  of  the  village  as  950. 

Herein  is  Sleepy  Hollow,  made  famous  by  the  writings  of 
AVashington  Irving,  whose  remains  lie  in  the  nearby  Sleepy 
Hollow  Cemetery.  The  Sleepy  Hollow  and  adjacent  territory 
favored  in  legend  and  history,  for  every  acre  of  the  region 
roundabouts  is  freighted  with  memories  of  the  men  and  things 
of  long  ago.  Here  are  the  undulating  roads  and  the  vales  and 
valleys  over  which  galloped  the  "Headless  Horseman."  Here 
stood  the  tulip  tree  whose  leaves,  had  they  tongues,  could  have 
told  the  tragic  story  of  Major  Andre.  Looking  off  from  its  shores 
is  Tappan  Zee,  as  the  ancient  navigators— they  were  Dutch — 
called  that  part  of  the  river.  It  is  in  the  heart  of  that  rich 
Westchester  Colony  which  has  sprung  up  within  the  last  decade, 
or  since  motoring  made  it  possible  and  pleasant  for  men  doing 
business  in  New  York  city  to  live  in  the  country  without  both- 
ering about  train  schedules.  How  Washington  Irving  would 
have  loved  to  see  them  peopling  his  Sleepy  Hollow  skies  like 
creatures  of  the  mysteries  he  loved  so  well. 

Philipse  Manor,  a  revival  of  an  old  name  at  one  time  belong- 
ing to  the  whole  section  from  Yonkers  to  Ossining,  inclusive, 
was  given  to  a  recently  formed  settlement  in  this  town  border- 
ing upon  the  Hudson  River,  which  is  composed  of  many  costly 
private  residences,  homes  principally  of  New  York  city  business 
men.  This  Manor's  name  is  similar  to  that  of  the  family  from 
which  Chief  Justice  John  Jay  took  his  wife. 

Admiral  John  Lorimer  Worden,  U.  S.  N.,  who  commanded 
the  Monitor  in  her  celebrated  victory  over  the  Merrimac  in 
Hampton  Eoads,  during  the  Civil  AVar,  was  born  in  this  town 
(that  portion  now  Ossining)  on  March  12,  1818,  son  of  an  old 
Westchester  County  family.     He  died  October  18,  1897. 

The  population  of  this  town,  according  to  different  census 
enumerations,  was,  in  1830,  4,932;  in  1835,  5,757;  in  1840, 
7,308:  in  1845,  2,962;  in  1850,  3,323;  in  1855,  3,677;  in  1860, 
4,517;  in  1865,  4,389;  in  1870,  5,210;  in  1875,  5,411;  in  1880, 
5,450;  in  1890,  5,844;  in  1892,  5,870;  in  1900,  8,698;  in  1905, 
9,728;  in  1910,  11,863. 


CHARLES  D.  HOYT 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


137 


Biographical  Sketches. 


CHAELES  D.  HOYT. 

Charles  DeWitt  Hoyt,  Deputy 
County  Eegister,  President  of  the 
Village  of  Pleasantville,  President 
of  the  Board  of  Education,  etc.,  was 
born  in  Pleasantville,  town  of 
Mount  Pleasant,  on  November  27, 
1872,  a  son  of  Charles  Henry  and 
Eliza  M.   (Wild)  Hoyt. 

He  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  town,  and  on 
leaving  school  entered  upon  a  mer- 
cantile career. 

Being  a  man  of  affairs,  he  took 
part  in  having  his  home  locality 
incorporated  as  a  village  in  the  year 
1897;  two  years  later  he  was  elected 
a  Trustee  of  the  Village,  serving  in 
such  position  during  1900  and  1901. 
In  1910  and  1911  he  was  President 
of  the  Village  by  election  at  the 
polls. 

In  1905  he  was  elected  a  School 
Trustee  of  District  No.  9,  town  of 
Mount  Pleasant,  and  served  through 
the  following  five  years,  being  most 
of  that  time  president  of  the  Board 
of  Trustees. 

On  the  election  of  Edward  B. 
Kear  as  County  Eegister,  in  1908, 
he  was  tendered  the  position  of 
Deputy  County  Eegister,  which  he 
accepted,  holding  such  office  three 
years,  when  he  was  reappointed  on 
reelection  of  Eegister  Kear.  On  the 
death    of    Eegister    Kear,    in    1911, 

For  biographical  sketches  of  other 
and  in  volumes  one  and  two. 


his  friends  strongly  urged  him  for 
nomination  as  Eegister  to  fill  the 
vacancy,  but  the  nomination  did  not 
come  to  his  locality.  On  Eegister 
Isaac  H.  Smith  taking  office,  Janu- 
ary 1,  1912,  Deputy  Hoyt  was  asked 
to  accept  a  reappointment  to  the 
office  he  had  so  ably  filled  four  years. 

In  the  fall  of  1911,  Mr.  Hoyt  was 
the  Eepublican  nominee  for  Super- 
visor for  the  town  of  Mount  Pleas- 
ant. Though  he  polled  more  than 
his  party's  normal  vote  he  could  not 
overcome  the  usual  Democratic  vote 
cast  in  that  town,  and  as  a  conse- 
quence met  defeat  anticipated. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Eepublican 
Town  Committee  and  of  the  Eepubli- 
can County  Committee  and  a  recog- 
nized party  leader  in  his  town.  Is 
a  member  of  Pleasantville  Lodge, 
No.  886,  F.  and  A.  M.,  and  one  of 
the  charter  members  of  the  Lodge; 
is  a  member  of  Home  Lodge,  No. 
720,  I.  O.  Odd  Fellows,  and  one  of 
the  first  members  of  Pioneer  Engine 
Company,  No.  1^  organized  in  1894, 
being  now  an  exempt  fireman.  Is 
a  trustee  of  the  Central  Methodist 
Church  of  Pleasantville. 

Mr.  Hoyt  was  married  on  June  23^ 
1898,  to  Miss  Lillian  I.  Willis, 
daughter  of  Wilfred  S.  and  Mary 
Archer  (Guion)  Willis,  of  Pleasant- 
ville. Of  this  union  there  are  no 
children. 

residents  see  elsewhere  in  this  book, 


138  AIANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


CITY  AND  TOWN  OF  MOUNT  VERNON. 


(Continued  froju  page  215,  Vol.  1.) 

Mount  Vernon,  called  the  "  City  of  Homes,"  touching  New 
York  city  on  the  south  and  east,  Yonkers  on  the  west  and  the 
town  of  Pelham  on  the  north,  was  formerly,  before  it  was  made 
a  city  in  1892,  a  considerable  portion  of  the  town  of  Eastches- 
ter.  In  the  latter  year  residents  voted  on  the  question,  "Shall 
Mount  Vernon,  a  locality  of  homes,  be  annexed  to  New  York 
city,  or  shall  it  be  incorporated  as  a  city  by  iteelf  ?"  The  vote 
was  overwhelmingly  in  opposition  to  the  New  York  city  propo- 
sition, and  was  by  a  big  majority,  about  two  to  one,  in  favor 
of  Mount  Vernon  incorporating  as  a  city.  Accordingly  the 
city  incorporation  followed. 

Mount  Vernon  was  incorporated  as  a  village  in  1853,  when 
the  place  w^as  credited  with  a  population  of  1,370. 

The  organizers  of  the  village  were  members  of  "The  Home 
Industrial  Association,  No.  1,  of  New  York  City,"  who  had, 
on  October  16,  1850,  decided  to  purchase  three  hundred  and 
seventy-five  acres  of  land  in  the  town  of  Eastchester,  land 
which  was  subsequently  included  within  the  limits  of  the  village 
of  Mount  Vernon.  Horace  Greeley  and  John  Stevens  (later 
a  local  Justice  of  the  Peace),  were  nominated  for  purchasing 
agent  of  the  Association;  the  latter  was  chosen;  the  first  check 
in  payment  for  the  land,  amounting  to  $3,400,  was  dated  Novem- 
ber 1,  1850. 

"The  Home  Industrial  Association  No.  1,"  was  composed  of 
deep-thinking,  hard-headed,  men  of  industry;  small  merchants 
and  mechanics  mostly.  John  Stevens,  who  became  one  of  the 
town  of  Eastchester 's  most  influential  citizens,  lived  in  the  large 
family  mansion,  yet  standing,  on  Fourth  street,  between  South 
5th  and  6th  avenues,  ]\Iount  Vernon.  His  death  occurred  there 
a  few  years  ago,  he  living  to  a  ripe  old  age.  At  the  time  of  the 
organization  of  this  association,  Mr.  Stevens  kept  a  little  tailor 
shop  in  New  York  city,  on  Hudson  street,  between  Morton  and 
Barrow  streets. 

In  this  shop  it  was  the  custom  of  the  sturdy  men  of  toil, 
residing  in  the  neighborhood,  to  assemble  nightly  and  discuss 
topics  of  the  day.  Stevens  was  a  recognized  leader  and  in 
most  things  his  was  the  master  spirit  directing.     He  has  been 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  139 

credited  with  having  originated  the  idea  of  organi2dng  this 
association  with  ultimate  purpose  of  buying  land  in  a  nearby 
country  locality  and  the  establishing  of  homes  for  families 
desiring  freedom  not  found  in  a  pentup  city.  Horace  Greeley 
promptly  approved  of  the  idea  and  made  valuable  suggestions 
in  the  way  of  formulation  and  improvement.  Even  in  that 
early  day,  Mr.  Greeley's  opinions  were  valued  highly,  and  when 
he  endorsed  this  proposition  many  outside  of  the  little  tailor 
shop  group  manifested  anxiety  to  enroll  as  members  of  the 
association. 

The  plan  adopted  by  the  society  was,  that  each  member  con- 
tribute one  dollar  per  week,  for  seventy-six  weeks,  the  total  to 
be  expended  in  purchasing  the  desired  land,  in  the  town  of 
Eastchester,  Westchester  County;  this  land,  so  purchased,  to 
be  divided  into  plots  of  100  x  104  feet,  and  each  member  of  the 
association  who  had  paid  in  full  the  sum  of  seventy-six  dollars 
was  entitled  to  take  part  in  the  distribution  and  each  receive 
one  plot. 

As  is  quite  usual  among  men,  and  was  even  in  that  early 
day,  there  was  rivalry  as  to  who  would  be  recognized  as  leader 
in  the  association.  Horace  Greeley  and  John  Stevens  had  their 
friends,  firm  in  desire  to  have  their  favorite  win  the  leadership. 
The  contest  came  over  the  choice  of  "Purchasing  Agent." 
Stevens  by  only  a  few  votes  won  over  Greeley. 

In  recent  times  old  Squire  Stevens  would  recall  those  first 
days  of  the  association  in  telling  of  the  strife  for  controlling 
influence,  friendly  but  most  earnest,  between  his  friends  and 
the  friends  of  Mr.  Greeley. 

"On  one  occasion,"  said  Mr.  Stevens,  "I  feared  Mr.  Greeley 
would  rob  me  of  what  popularity  I  possessed.  The  question 
as  to  the  plan  of  laying  out  the  land  and  distribution  was 
before  the  association.  Mr.  Greeley  suggested  that  a  part  of  the 
land,  one  or  more  acres,  be  set  apart  as  a  'Common,'  for  the 
general  use  and  enjoyment  of  members  and  their  families ;  that 
the  plots  assigned  be  arranged  so  as  to  face  the  'Common'  on 
all  sides.  This  idea  readily  found  acceptance  with  a  majority, 
and  it  looked  to  me  as  if  the  Greeley  plan  would  be  adopted; 
if  so,  I  knew  that  I  would  be  discomforted,  undermined  as  it 
were,  and  Greeley's  star  would  outshine  mine.  I  determined 
that  quick  action  on  my  part  was  necessary  to  continue  me 
right  with  my  adherents.  Accordingly,  after  Mr.  Greeley  had 
finished  elaborating  upon  his  plan,  I  arose  and  addressed  the 


140  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

meeting,  and  in  substance  said,  'Gentlemen,  I  heartily  agree 
with  Mr.  Greeley's  plan,  so  intelligently  set  forth  before  you, 
the  "Common"  is  a  grand  idea,  but  I  would  go  further  and 
provide  in  detail  the  use  to  which  the  said  "Common"  should 
be  put.  I  suggest  that  the  land  of  the  "Common"  be  cultivated, 
that  wheat,  rye,  oats,  hay,  and  all  kinds  of  garden  truck,  espe- 
cially soup  vegetables,  be  grown  there;  in  the  centre  of  the 
"Common"  let  a  house  be  built,  and  in  this  house  erect  a  large 
kettle,  holding  say  two  hundred  or  more  gallons,  and  in  this 
kettle  make  the  best  kind  of  vegetable  soup  each  week;  a  man 
to  make  such  soup  to  be  employed  continuously ;  a  part  of  the 
duty  of  said  man  will  be  to  fill  up  with  soup  the  cans,  pails  or 
other  vessels  brought  to  him  by  our  good  housewives,  as  fre- 
quently as  desired.'  The  absurdity  of  my  proposition  created 
general  merriment,  the  defeat  of  Greeley's  plan,  and  the  latter 's 
undoing.  There  was  no  'Common,'  there  was  no  soup  house. 
Mr.  Greeley,  philosopher  as  he  ever  was,  took  it  all  kindly  and 
was  ever  a  helping  member  of  the  association." 

To  decide  upon  a  name  for  the  new  village  was  found 
to  be  a  difficult  task;  various  names  were  suggested,  such 
as  Columbia,  Fleetwood,  Rising  Sun,  Stevensville,  Jefferson, 
Thousandville,  Palestine,  New  Washington,  Monticello,  Wash- 
ington, Lafayette,  Little  New  York,  Linden,  Olive  Branch, 
New  Amsterdam,  Enterprise,  Homesville,  Industria,  Youngfield, 
and  Industry.  Finally  the  name  Monticello  was  adopted,  on 
November  1,  1850;  this  name  was  shortly  after  changed  to 
Monticello  City.  On  November  12,  1850,  members  of  the  Asso- 
ciation visited  their  new  purchase,  and  on  that  day  Horace 
Greeley  delivered  an  address  complimenting  them  upon  the  step 
they  had  taken  and  commending  the  wisdom  displayed  in  choos- 
ing the  site  for  the  proposed  settlement.  On  January  10,  1851, 
the  name  of  the  locality  was  changed  to  Mount  Vernon,  the 
change  being  necessary  to  avoid  postal  difficulties.  The  elec- 
tion to  decide  for  or  against  village  incorporation  was  held 
December  3,  1853,  the  polling  place  being  in  a  store  on  the 
comer  of  Third  Avenue  and  Third  Street.  The  vote  was 
eighty-two  in  favor  of  the  proposition  to  fifty-two  against.  The 
first  village  election  was  held  March  7,  1854.  The  village  trus- 
tees elected  were,  Stephen  Bogart,  John  B.  Brennan,  Joseph  S. 
Gregory,  M.  D.,  Thomas  Jones  and  William  Saxton.  The  Board 
of  Trustees  elected  Dr.  Gregory  president  of  the  village;  after 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  141 

serving   four   months   he   resigned,   when    Thomas   Jones   was 
elected  to  succeed  him. 

The  later  presidents  appointed  by  the  Board  of  Village  Trus- 
tees were  as  follows:  Cornelius  A.  Cooper,  1855;  Richard 
Atkinson,  1856-57-60-62 ;  George  L.  Baxter,  1858 ;  John  B.  Bren- 
nan,  1859 ;  John  Stevens,  1861.  Presidents  were  elected  by  the 
people  for  a  term  of  one  year,  commencing  1863,  and  were  as 
follows:  David  Quackinbush,  1863-64;  William  H.  Pemberton, 
1865-66-67-68;  Edward  Martin,  1869.  An  amendment  to  the 
village  charter,  passed  in  1870,  made  the  presidential  term  two 
years.  Under  this  amended  charter  the  following  Presidents 
were  elected :  Edward  Martin,  1870-72 ;  Azro  Fowler,  1873-74 ; 
George  R.  Crawford,  1875-76;  David  Quackinbush,  1877-78; 
Henry  Huss,  1879-80;  John  Van  Santvoord,  1881-82;  William 
J.  Collins,  1883-84;  Jared  Sandford,  1885-86-87-88-89-90-91-92, 
Sandford  holding  over  and  serving  for  a  time  as  Mayor. 

In  1869  residents  of  West  Mount  Vernon  and  of  Central 
Mount  Vernon  voted  to  incorporate  as  one  village;  after  nine 
years,  in  1878,  the  electors  of  this  village  voted  to  dissolve  as  a 
village  and  that  the  locality  be  consolidated  with  the  village 
of  Mount  Vernon. 

The  City  of  Mount  Vernon  was  chartered  by  a  special  act 
of  the  State  Legislature,  passed  March  12,  1892. 

The  following  named  persons  have  served  this  city  as  Mayor: 
Edward  F.  Brush,  M.  D.,  1892-93 ;  Edson  Lewis,  1894-95 ;  Edwin 
W.  Fiske,  1896-97-98-99,  1900-1-2-3;  Edward  F.  Brush,  M.  D., 
1904-5;  Benjamin  Howe,  1908-9;  Edwin  W.  Fiske,  1910-11- 
12-13. 

The  city  has  a  large  and  most  efficient  police  force ;  it  has  an 
up-to-date  fire  department,  equipped  with  all  modern  apparatus ; 
the  new  and  handsome  fire  houses  compare  with  any  in  the  State ; 
its  graded  schools  and  numerous  desirable  school  buildings  are 
a  credit  to  the  city;  its  sewer  system  is  the  best;  its  w^ater 
supply  has  not  been  much  to  boast  of,  as  it  was  controlled  by 
private  enterprise ;  now  that  the  city  has  decided  to  own  its  own 
plant  and  get  all  water  needed  there  is  hope  that  future  water 
famines  will  be  averted. 

In  1911  a  bill  was  passed  in  the  State  Legislature  to  enable 
Mount  Vernon  to  provide  a  public  water  supply. 

An  act  passed  the  Legislature,  and  became  a  law  April  27, 
1911,  amending  the  city  charter  so  as  to  provide  for  the  appoint- 


142  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

ment  of  city  officers  by  the  Mayor,  without  confirmation  by 
the  Common  Council.  This  is  considered  the  better  way  to 
make  appointments  to  local  office,  as  it  places  the  undivided 
responsibility  of  administration  directly  upon  the  Mayor,  and 
the  people  can  hold  him  accountable  for  the  acts  of  his  agents. 
The  city  is  in  easy  access  of  New  York  city,  by  means  of 
three  railroads  and  two  trolley  car  lines,  as  it  is  connected  by 
cities  and  towns  in  the  County  by  similar  modes  of  transpor- 
tation. 

In  Eastchester  town's  history  Mount  Vernon  figures  promi- 
nently. 

Joseph  Rodman  Drake,  M.  D.,  famous  poet,  was  born  August  7, 
1795,  on  the  Drake  farm  in  Eastchester,  now  a  part  of  the  city 
of  Mount  Vernon.  His  ancestor  Samuel  Drake,  was  one  of  the 
first  ten  proprietors  who  settled  the  town  of  Eastchester  in  1664. 
Drake,  whose  excellent  poems  are  popular  even  at  this  day, 
died  at  the  early  age  of  25  years,  on  September  21,  1820.  He 
lies  buried  at  Hunt's  Point,  near  West  Farms. 

Mount  Vernon's  postmaster  in  1850  was  Stephen  Bogart,  one 
of  the  first  village  trustees.  In  the  early  sixties,  during  the  Civil 
War  period,  the  postmaster  of  Mount  Vernon  was  James  S. 
Van  Court,  and  he  was  followed  by  Jackson  Hart,  and  then 
came  Andrew  Bridgeman,  who  is  at  present  Supervisor  of  the 
Third  Ward. 

A  State  Militia  Company,  one  of  the  finest  in  the  State,  is  long 
established  in  this  city. 

Mount  Vernon  is  known  as  the  "  City  of  Homes. ' ' 

It  is  proposed  that  the  city  shall  soon  have  a  City  Hall  of  its 
own,  in  which  to  house  under  one  roof  all  city  officials.  At 
present  the  "City  Hall"  is  leased  property  belonging  to  a 
private  individual. 

It  has  a  public  park,  the  "Hartley  Park,"  named  in  honor 
of  the  man  who  gave  the  land  to  the  city. 

The  Martha  Wilson  Home  for  Aged  Women  was  established 
in  this  city  October  19,  1891,  by  Martha  Wilson  and  her  sister; 
the  twentieth  anniversary  was  celebrated  in  1911,  at  the  home. 

The  population  of  the  city  of  Mount  Vernon,  according  lo 
the  census  of  1910,  is  30,919 ;  in  1900  it  was  21,228,  and  in  1905 
it  was  25,006.  As  a  village,  the  population  in  1880  was  4,586 ; 
in  1890  it  was  10,830,  and  had  more  than  doubled  in  ten  years. 

Prior  to  1850  the  hamlet,  afterward  Moimt  Vernon,  had  but 
few  settlers,  for  the  official  census  of  1850  credits  the  whole 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  143 

town  of  Eastchester  with  but  1,659 ;  in  1845  the  town  had 
1,369;  in  1840,  1,502;  and  in  1835  the  town's  inhabitants  num- 
bered 1,168. 

For  the  early  history  of  this  city  and  vicinity,  see  sketch  of 
the  historic  town  of  Eastchester,  published  elsewhere  in  this 
volume. 

The  electors  of  the  city  of  Mount  Vernon  have  voted  in  favor- 
of  a  commission  form  of  government.  To  accomplish  this  a  bill 
was  introduced  in  the  State  Legislature  of  1911;  this  bill  pro- 
vided for  a  Council  of  five,  and  a  system  of  recalling  elective 
officials  and  a  referendum  for  all  members  if  the  voters  desire  to 
pass  upon  them.     The  bill  failed  to  pass  that  Legislature. 

Mount  Vernon  has  provided  two  County  Judges ;  two  District 
Attorneys,  one  assistant  District  Attorney;  one  Sheriff;  one 
Register  and  one  Deputy  Register;  one  County  Clerk  and  one 
Deputy  County  Clerk;  one  Deputy  County  Treasurer;  four 
School  Commissioners;  two  County  Superintendents  of  the 
Poor,  and  four  Coroners. 

The  Bronx  River,  a  narrow  stream,  which  is  the  dividing  line 
between  this  city  and  Yonkers,  was  at  one  time  a  river  of  some 
importance,  and  afforded  fine  water  power  to  several  manu- 
facturing plants  constructed  along  its  shores.  Yet  it  was  not 
a  river  of  such  magnitude  as  a  high  official  in  England  thought 
it,  when  he  questioned  the  judgment  of  British  officers  in  com- 
mand of  the  navy  at  New  York  in  1776.  This  official  in  Eng- 
land, assisting  in  directing  affairs  in  America,  saw  the  Bronx 
River  mentioned  on  a  map,  and  wanted  to  know  why  at  the 
Battle  of  White  Plains  the  British  fleet  did  not  sail  up  that 
river  and  assist  the  land  forces.  In  fact  the  river  was  not 
navigable  any  distance;  to-day  it  is  but  a  shallow  creek. 

The  old  Hunt's  bridge  over  the  Bronx  River,  and  across  the 
border  line  between  the  two  cities  had  to  be  removed  in  the  early 
part  of  1911,  January  and  February,  to  permit  the  laying  of 
new  and  elevated  tracks  for  the  Harlem  Branch  of  the  New 
York  Central  Railroad,  in  compliance  with  the  law,  to  do  away 
with  track  on  street  crossing  at  the  point  from  which  Yonkers 
Avenue  extends  westward  through  Yonkers  and  Mount  Vernon 
Avenue,  eastward  across  Mount  Vernon. 

On  account  of  Revolutionary  War  history  associated  with  this 
bridge,  attempts  to  remove  it  were  resisted  vigorously  by  resi- 
dents in  the  immediate   vicinity,   and   spirited  hand  to   hand 


144 


^lANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


encounters  between  citizens  and  railroad  employees  were  fre- 
quent. Only  the  strong  arm  of  the  law,  appealed  to  by  the 
railroad  officials,  and  the  stealing  of  a  march  upon  the  citizens 
who  were  put  on  guard  and  who  had  relaxed  their  vigilance  for 
one  night  only,  gained  the  battle  for  the  railroad  and  brought 
destruction  to  the  bridge. 

Hunt's  Bridge,  named  in  honor  of  a  prominent  family  resid- 
ing nearby  in  the  early  days,  was  built  several  years  before  the 
beginning  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  and  was  one  of  the  con- 
necting links  that  joined  New  York  city  with  the  upper  part 
of  "Westchester  County  and  southern  New  England,  and  before 
the  battle  of  AVhite  Plains  bore  the  tattered  and  discouraged 
Continental  soldiers  under  General  Washington  on  their  way 
to  their  winter  encampment  at  White  Plains.  Over  it,  also,  the 
British  army  later  marched.  All  these  historical  facts  were 
dear  to  the  people,  who  prized  the  old  bridge  for  the  service 
it  had  rendered.  But  the  railroad  people,  they — anyway,  should 
sentiment  get  mixed  up  with  business? 


Biographical  Sketches. 


EDWIN  W.  FISKE. 

Edwin  W.  Fiske,  now  serving  his 
sixth  term  as  Mayor  of  Mount  Ver- 
non, a  longer  period  than  any  of  his 
predecessors,  was  bom  in  Shamokin, 
Pa.,  on  July  17,  1861,  a  son  of 
Samuel  and  Amanda  (Stoddart) 
Fiske.  The  family  is  of  English 
descent,  the  Fiskes  having  first  set- 
tled in  Massachusetts;  while  on  his 
mother's  side,  the  Stoddarts  of  Stod- 
dartsville  have  lived  in  Pennsylvania 
for  several  generations;  further  he 
is  a  descendant  of  Eevolutionary  an- 
cestry, of  men  who  fought  in  the 
patriotic  cause.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch,  who  was  born  in  war  times, 
has  likewise  fought  for  the  patri- 
otic cause  in  more  recent  periods, 
and  even  his  friends  the  enemy  ad- 
mit he  is  a  good  fair  fighter. 

While  his  ability  as  a  successful 
political  leader  is  generally  recog- 
nized, his  cleverness  as  a  business 
man  is  prominently  pronounced. 
His  business  training  was  most 
thorough.  He  received  his  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  Harrisburg, 
Pa.  At  an  early  age  he  entered  the 
Pennsylvania  Steel  Company's 
works,  at  Steelton,  Pa.,  for  the  pur- 


pose of  learning  the  Bessemer  pro- 
cess of  steel  making.  Four  years  of 
steady  application  gave  him  a  thor- 
ough grasp  of  the  subject.  He  then 
joined  the  Harrisburg  Foundry  and 
Machine  Works,  where  he  put  in 
three  years  learning  the  machinists' 
trade.  This  practical  experience, 
gained  at  first  hand^  was  of  great 
assistance  to  Mr.  Fiske  in  all  his 
commercial  enterprises  in  which  he 
subsequently  engaged. 

In  1884  he  became  a  resident  of 
New  York  city,  where  he  entered  the 
steam  and  hot  water  heating  busi- 
ness. Eight  years  later,  in  1892,  he 
established  the  Fiske  Heating  & 
Plumbing  Company  in  Mount  Ver- 
non, with  a  branch  in  Yonkers.  This 
concern  continued  in  business  until 
1902,  when  Mr.  Fiske  became  inter- 
ested in  real  estate.  Tackling  the 
subject  in  its  broader  aspects  he 
made  a  specialty  of  real  estate  ap- 
praisement and  expert  witness  on 
same,  and  was  soon  recognized  as 
one  of  the  leading  authorities  in  this 
line.  Since  1905  he  has  been  em- 
ployed as  appraisal  commissioner 
and  expert  witness  on  property  taken 
by  the  City  of  New  York  for  the 
Croton    and    Catskill    water    supply 


l^C^<2^/ll_ 


■K  t- ' 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


145 


systems.  He  also  appraises  property 
for  lawyers  and  for  banks  and  for 
and  against  railroad  corporations. 
As  head  of  the  Edwin  W,  Fiske 
Eealty  Company  with  offices  at  14 
Depot  Place,  Mt.  Vernon,  he  has 
made  a  record  as  an  able  man  of 
affairs. 

Mr.  Fiske  came  to  Mount  Vernon 
to  reside  in  1887.  Had  not  long 
been  a  resident  of  this  county  when 
we  found  him  a  political  factor,  and 
the  ' '  Young  Men  in  Politics ' '  never 
had  a  more  energetic  representa- 
tive. His  genial  ways  and  good- 
natured  disposition  appealed  to  even 
opponents.  His  hustling  activities 
attracted  attention  and  the  old  party 
leaders  were  compelled  to  sit-up  and 
take  notice.  He  was  elected  chair- 
man of  the  Eepublican  General  Com- 
mittee, to  which  position  he  was  re- 
elected several  times.  Many  of  the 
young  men  who  assisted  then  in  his 
advancement  are  his  friends  to-day. 
whenever  he  appears  as  a  candidate 
for  office,  even  though  they  be  Ee- 
publican organization  men.  This  is 
one  reason  accounting  for  his  suc- 
cess at  the  polls. 

In  1889  he  was  elected  a  Village 
Trustee  to  represent  the  Second 
Ward  (where  he  now  resides)  of 
Mount  Vernon.  His  removal  from 
the  ward  in  1890  required  him  to 
relinquish  this  office.  In  1890  he 
was  the  Eepublican  nominee  for 
President  of  the  Village  against 
Jared  Sandford;  though  defeated, 
he  made  a  better  showing  than  any 
previous  Eepublican  candidate  in 
that  strongly  Democratic  locality. 
He  thus  early  demonstrated  his  abil- 
ity as  a  vote  getter.  It  was  evident 
that  had  his  party  adherents  given 
him  united  support  he  would  have 
been  successful,  considering  that  he 
had  a  strong  Democratic  following 
among  young  men  of  the  opposing 
party.  His  treatment  on  this  occa- 
sion no  doubt  influenced  him  to  lis- 
ten to  the  urging  of  friends  to 
"come  over"  and  unite  with  a  po- 
litical party  more  in  harmony  with 
his  political  views.  Immediately  he 
took  in  the  Democratic  party  a  place 
almost  as  prominent  as  that  occu- 
pied by  him  in  the  Eepublican  party. 
As  the  Democratic  candidate  in  1893 
he  was  elected  Alderman  of  the 
Second  Ward  to  which  he  had  re- 
turned.    In  1894  he  was  the  Demo- 


cratic candidate  for  Mayor  against 
the  strongest  candidate  the  Eepub- 
licans  could  produce;  the  election 
was  so  close  that  the  Courts  had  to 
be  called  upon  to  decide.  After 
several  months'  delay  the  Courts 
rendered  a  decision  to  the  effect  that 
Mr.  Fiske  had  been  defeated  by  one 
vote.  The  latter  remained  an  Al- 
derman and  was  elected  President 
of  the  Common  Council  and  Acting 
Mayor.  In  1896  he  was  again  the 
Democratic  nominee  for  Mayor,  and 
was  elected  by  a  majority  of  505. 
In  the  years  1898,  1900  and  1902  he 
was  re-elected  to  succeed  himself. 
Eemarkable  from  the  fact  that 
Mount  Vernon  is  a  Eepublican  city 
on  general  issues,  anywhere  from 
500  to  1,100. 

The  Mayoralty  fight  in  1902  was 
specially  spirited  between  two  spe- 
cially active  men,  Dr.  Edward  F. 
Brush,  who  had  been  the  city's  first 
Mayor  and  was  exceedingly  popular, 
and  Mr.  Fiske,  whose  running  quali- 
ties had  before  been  tested.  The 
result  was  a  personal  triumph  for 
Mr.  Fiske,  he  being  the  only  nominee 
on  the  Democratic  ticket  elected. 
This  goes  to  prove  what  has  here 
been  said,  even  men  belonging  to  the 
"Eepublican  Organization"  who 
were  his  friends  in  the  earlier  days, 
never  desert  Mr.  Fiske  when  he  is  a 
candidate  for  office.  Leaders  of  the 
said  "organization"  admit  the  sit- 
uation,  though  they  may  deplore  it. 

In  1909  Mr.  Fiske  was  again  the 
Democratic  candidate  for  Mayor. 
This  proved  to  be  a  peculiar  elec- 
tion; there  was,  beside  the  Eepub- 
lican candidate,  an  independent 
Democratic  candidate  for  the  office. 
The  Eepublieans  calculated  that  the 
"Popular  Fiske"  would  meet  his 
Waterloo  this  time  sure;  that  the 
Independent  Democrat  would  draw 
off  enough  Democratic  votes  to  elect 
the  Eepublican;  the  Independent  did 
do  remarkably  in  the  way  of  vote 
getting,  but  he  received  most  of  his 
votes  from  the  Eepublieans;  as  us- 
ual, Mr.  Fiske  was  re-elected  by  a 
big  majority.  In  1911  the  Eepubli- 
can party  brought  forth  its  strong- 
est giant  to  combat  the  opposing 
enemy;  Mr.  Fiske 's  opponent  was 
ex-Alderman  Taylor  of  the  Fifth 
Ward,  a  most  excellent  man  and  one 
justly  popular.  The  Eepublieans 
worked   as   they    never   had    worked 


146 


aiANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


before,  but  it  was  of  no  use,  Mr. 
Fiske  -was  again  re-elected  by  a  ma- 
jority fully  as  large  as  before. 

At  this  lATiting  it  is  quite  appar- 
ent that  the  people  of  Mount  Ver- 
non, irrespective  of  politics,  want 
Mr.  Fiske  for  Mayor,  as  long  as  he 
is  willing  to  serve  them  in  that  ca- 
pacity. 

A  bill  which  passed  the  State  Leg- 
islature in  1911  gave  the  Mayor  of 
Mount  Vernon  authority  to  appoint 
officials  under  him  without  consent 
or  confirmation  of  the  Aldermen. 
True  to  this  confidence  placed  in 
him,  Mayor  Fiske  has  selected  men 
for  the  several  city  official  positions 
who  have  given  greatest  satisfaction 
to  citizens  generally.  To  the  May- 
or's credit  it  ought  to  be  mentioned 
that  at  no  time  in  the  eleven  years 
he  has  held  the  office  of  Mayor  has 
there  ever  been  a  public  scandal 
connected  with  his  administration,  or 
even  the  suspicion  of  one;  a  most 
gratifying  record  to  him  and  his 
friends,  surely. 

Mayor  Fiske  is  a  life  member 
Mason,  Knight  Templar,  Mecca 
Shrine,  B.  P.  O.  Elks  No.  1,  N.  Y. 
City;  he  is  also  affiliated  with  the 
Siwanoy  Country  Club  of  Mount 
Vernon,  and  the  City  Club  of  Yon- 
kers.  He  has  always  taken  an  in- 
terest^  in  the  National  Guards,  S.  N. 
Y.,  in  which  organization  he  has 
been  an  officer  for  eleven  years  and 
since  1905  has  been  Quartermaster, 
with  the  rank  of  Captain  in  the  10th 
Eegiment. 

He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of 
Steamer  Engine  Company  No.  3  of 
the  Mount  Vernon  Fire  Department, 
became  its  foreman,  and  served  as 
such  until  1893  when  he  was  elected 
Chief  Engineer  of  the  Department. 
To  him  largely  is  due  the  present 
efficiency   of  the  Department. 

Mayor  Fiske  was  married  June  7, 
1892,  to  Miss  Annie  E.  Smith, 
daughter  of  Henry  C.  and  Annie 
Smith,  of  Mount  Vernon.  Or  this 
union  there  are  four  children,  two 
boys  and  two  girls. 

JOSEPH  S.  WOOD. 

Joseph  Simeon  Wood,  instructor,  a 
leading  lawyer  of  the  County,  former 
public  official,  and  one  of  the  most 
prominent  citizens  of  the  city  of 
Mount  Vernon,  M-as  born  in  the  city 


of  New  York,  on  June  13,  1843,  a 
son  of  Joseph  and  Mary  (Broad- 
meadow)   Wood. 

For  several  generations,  his  an- 
cestors lived  on  Staten  Island.  His 
grandmother  on  his  father's  side  was 
Gertrude  Mersereau.  She  was  a 
daughter  of  Paul  Mersereau,  who, 
with  his  four  brothers,  Joshua, 
Jacob,  John  and  Cornelius,  did  yeo- 
man service  for  the  cause  of  Liberty 
in  the  American  Eevolution.  There 
is  no  record  of  any  other  family 
which  furnished  five  brothers  to  the 
patriot  cause.  These  brothers  were 
the  grandchildren  of  Joshua  Merse- 
reau, who  was  one  of  a  company  of 
French  Huguenots,  who  fled  from 
France  about  1688,  shortly  after  the 
revocation  of  the  edict  of  Nantes, 
and  settled  on  Staten  Island. 

Mr.  Wood's  grandfather,  on  his 
mother's  side,  was  Simeon  Broad- 
meadow,  an  eminent  civil  and 
mechanical  engineer,  who  came  to 
this  country  from  England  in  1828, 
and  was  naturalized  by  a  special  act 
of  the  Congress  of  the  United  States, 
in  the  same  year. 

Mr.  Wood  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  the  city  of  New 
York,  and  graduated  from  the  New 
York  Free  Academy,  now  the  College 
of  the  City  of  New  York,  in  1861, 
with  high  honors. 

For  a  short  time,  he  was  tutor 
of  the  higher  mathematics  in  the 
Cooper  Union  of  New  York  city; 
and  in  December,  1862,  when  only 
nineteen  years  of  age,  became  the 
superintendent  of  that  famous  insti- 
tution. That  position  he  resigned  on 
January  1st,  1865,  to  become  the 
superintendent  of  the  public  schools 
of  Mount  Vernon. 

With  this  beautiful  and  prosperous 
suburb  of  the  city  of  New  York,  he 
has  ever  since  been  identified. 

In  1869,  he  purchased  the  Chroni- 
cle, a  newspaper  published  in  Mount 
Vernon,  and  for  twenty-four  years, 
was  its   editor   and  proprietor. 

Through  its  advocacy  of  reforms 
and  improvements,  and  its  exposure 
of  corruption  and  rascality  in  pub- 
lic office,  this  newspaper  exerted  a 
very  wide  influence,  and  became  a 
great  power  for  good  government 
throughout   Westchester   County. 

Under  Mr.  Wood's  superintend- 
ence, the  public  schools  of  Mount 
Vernon   became   noted  for  their  ex- 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


147 


cellence,  and  many  of  their  graduates 
took  high  honors  in  the  colleges  to 
which  they  were  admitted. 

In  1882,  Mr.  Wood  and  Mr.  John 
Mullaly,  who  was  one  of  the  editors 
of  the  New  York  Herald,  organized 
the  movement  for  the  creation  of  the 
magnificent  system  of  parks  in  the 
Borough  of  Bronx.  For  several 
years  the  struggle  for  the  creation 
of  these  great  parks  was  maintained, 
even  against  the  bitter  opposition  of 
such  men  as  Mayor  Grace  and  ex- 
Mayor  Hewitt. 

Mr.  Wood  was  most  of  all,  inter- 
ested in  Pelham  Bay  Park,  which 
would  not  have  been  made  a  part  of 
the  system  but  for  his  insistence  and 
grim  determination. 

The  other  members  of  the  com- 
mittee who  drew  up  the  original  bill, 
which  was  submitted  to  the  legisla- 
ture, were  afraid  that  an  attempt  to 
create  a  great  park  outside  the  limits 
of  the  city  of  New  York  would  cause 
the  defeat  of  the  whole  project,  es- 
pecially as  that  park  would  be  al- 
most as  large  as  the  Bronx  and  Van 
Courtlandt  parks  combined. 

They  were,  however,  induced 
through  Mr.  Wood's  persistence  and 
persuasion,  to  include  it  in  the  bill, 
and  it  is  now  an  established  fact. 

As  it  is  twice  as  large  as  the  Cen- 
tral Park,  and  has  over  twelve  miles 
of  water  front  on  Long  Island 
Sound,  Pelham  Bay  and  the  Hutchin- 
son Eiver,  it  bids  fair  to  become  not 
only  the  grandest  park  of  New  York 
city,  but  of  the  world. 

In  1876  Mr.  Wood  resigned  the 
superintendency  of  the  public  schools 
of  Mount  Vernon,  and  was  gradu- 
ated from  the  Columbia  Law  School. 

One  of  his  fellow  graduates  was 
the  Hon.  Isaac  N.  Mills,  with  whom 
he  immediately  formed  a  co-partner- 
ship for  the  practice  of  law  in  West- 
chester County,  their  office  being  in 
Mount  Vernon. 

This  co-partnership  lasted  for  six 
years,  and  shortly  thereafter,  Mr. 
Mills  became  the  County  Judge  of 
Westchester  County,  and  is  now  a 
Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court. 

In  1878  Mr.  Wood  was  elected 
School  Commissioner  of  the  First 
School  Commissioner  District  of 
Westchester  County  and  held  that 
office  for  three  years. 

In    1893,    he    sold    the    Chronicle, 


and  has  since  devoted  himself  to  his 
law  practice. 

In  1879,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Susy  E.  Mixsell,  who,  during  the 
years  1909,  1910  and  1911,  was  the 
Eegent  of  the  Daughters  of  the 
American  Eevolution,  for  the  State 
of  New  York. 

Four  children  were  the  issue  of 
this  marriage,  two  sons  and  two 
daughters,  of  whom  one  son,  Fletcher 
H.  Wood,  and  one  daughter, 
Josephine  Wood,   are  living. 

His  eldest  son,  Sydney  M.  Wood, 
graduated  from  Yale  University  in 
1900  with  high  honors,  and  from  the 
New  York  Law  School  in  1903.  He 
at  once  entered  into  partnership 
with  his  father  in  the  practice  of 
law,  and  bade  fair  to  become  one  of 
the  most  distinguished  lawyers  of 
Westchester  County,  After  a  severe 
and  prolonged  attack  of  pneumonia, 
he  was  seized  with  tuberculosis,  and 
died  at  Ashville,  North  Carolina,  on 
the  first  day  of  February  1909  in 
the  twenty-ninth  year  of  his  age. 
This  son  Sydney  married,  in  1905, 
Miss  Clara  Barton  Jacobs,  who  sur- 
vives him,  as  does  a  son,  Joseph 
Broadmeadow  Wood,  aged  five  years. 

Mr.  Wood  senior  was  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  Westchester  County  Bar 
Association  for  two  terms.  He  was 
also  the  President  of  the  Board  of 
Education  of  the  city  of  Mount 
Vernon  for  four  years.  During  his 
administration  many  marked  im- 
provements in  the  school  system  were 
established,  especially  the  creation 
of  a  Commercial  High  School.  A 
Trades  High  School,  which  he  also 
advocated,   has   since   been   created. 

Mr.  Wood  has  also  been  the  presi- 
dent of  the  City  College  Club  and 
the  Board  of  Trade  of  the  city  of 
Mount  Vernon. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  New  York 
Athlethic  Club,  the  Manhattan  Chess 
Club,  the  Transportation  Club,  the 
City  College  Club,  the  City  Club  of 
Mount  Vernon,  the  Westchester 
County  Chamber  of  Commerce,  the 
Mount  Vernon  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce, the  Civic  League  of  West- 
chester County  and  a  number  of 
other  social  and  civic  organizations. 

Mr.  Wood  has  laid  out  and  de- 
veloped three  beautiful  sections  of 
the  city  of  Mount  Vernon,  to  wit: 


148 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


Villa    Park,   Veruon   Wood  and  Dar- 
wood. 

He  has  always  taken  an  active  part 
in  public  aflfairs,  believing  it  to  be 
his  duty  as  a  good  citizen  to  do  so, 
and  has  given  a  considerable  por- 
tion of  his  time  to  securing  addi- 
tional and  better  transportation 
facilities  between  Mount  Vernon 
and  New  York  city,  realizing  that 
the  prosperity  of  the  former  rested 
primarily  on  this  essential. 


MES.  SUSY  E.  WOOD. 

Mrs.  Susy  E.  Wood  (Mrs.  J.  S. 
Wood),  was  born  in  the  city  of  New 
York  on  the  23d  day  of  July,  1858. 

Her  father,  Aaron  Mixsell,  was  a 
piano  manufacturer.  Her  mother, 
Cynthia  J.  Mixsell,  was  a  daughter 
of  Aaron  Burr  Jackson,  whose  father, 
Joseph  Jackson,  Jr.,  was  a  brave 
soldier  in  the  American  Army  during 
the  Eevolution. 

His  father,  Joseph  Jackson,  was 
one  of  the  few  men  who  signed  the 
Association  List  directly  following 
the  Battle  of  Lexington.  These  sign- 
ers pledged  their  property  and  lives 
for  their  country.  His  wife  was 
Sarah  Burr,  daughter  of  John  Burr 
and  Mary  Ward — Mary  Ward  was 
the  daughter  of  Andrew  Ward,  one 
of  the  founders  of  the  city  of  Hart- 
ford, Conn. 

In  1866  her  father  moved  from 
New  York  city  to  Mount  Vernon  in 
Westchester  County.  Mrs.  Wood  has 
never  changed  her  place  of  residence 
since  that  date. 

June  11,  1879,  she  was  married  to 
Mr.  Joseph  S.  Wood,  who  was  then, 
and  is  now,  one  of  the  most  distin- 
guished citizens  of  Mount  Vernon. 

Her  brother.  Dr.  Aaron  J.  Mixsell, 
was,  for  many  years,  one  of  the  most 
prominent  physicians  in. the  eastern 
part  of  Westchester  County. 

She  has  had  four  children,  Sydney 
M.  Wood,  Gertrude  Wood,  Fletcher 
H.  Wood  and  .Josephine  Wood. 

Her  son,  Sydney,  died  February  1, 
1909,  and  her  daughter,  Gertrude, 
November  12,  1891. 

Sydney  graduated  from  Yale  Uni- 
versity in  1900  with  high  honors, 
when  he  was  nineteen  years  old.  He 
was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  New 
York  State  in  1903,  and  bade  fair  to 


become  one  of  the  most  eminent 
members  of  the  legal  profession  in 
Westchester  County. 

Mrs.  Wood  has  always  taken  a 
deep  interest  in  every  movement  in 
the  city  of  Mount  Vernon  for  the 
advancement  of  the  welfare  of  its 
people.  She  has  always  regarded  the 
public  schools  as  of  the  highest  im- 
})ortanee,  and  has  frequently  been  a 
welcome  visitor  therein. 

No  cause  is  to  her  more  sacred 
than  that  of  Patriotism ;  and  she 
never  fails,  when  the  opportunity  pre- 
sents itself,  of  arousing  in  the  breasts 
of  both  young  and  old  the  Love  of 
our  country,  and  of  picturing  the 
Blessings  of  Liberty. 

For  three  years  she  was  the  Ee- 
gent  of  the  Bronx  Chapter  of  the 
Daughters  of  the  American  Revolu- 
tion in  Mount  Vernon,  and  from  1909 
to  1912  was  honored  for  three  suc- 
cessive terms  as  the  New  York  State 
Eegent  of  that  body  of  distinguished 
women.  During  that  period  she  did 
splendid  work  in  adding  new  chap- 
ters to  the  organization  and  in  mak- 
ing the  Spirit  of  Patriotism  a  great 
power  for  good. 

Mrs.  Wood  has  been  the  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  Women's  Club  of  Mount 
Vernon,  one  of  the  most  influential 
bodies  of  women  in  Westchester 
County. 

She  has  been  for  many  years,  and 
is  now,  a  member  of  the  Rubinstein 
Club  and  the  Saint  Cecilia  Club  in 
New  York  city. 

She  is  a  member  of  the  Holland 
Dames,  and  the  Daughters  of  the 
Empire  State. 

Mrs.  Wood  is  one  of  the  leaders 
of  society  in  the  City  of  Mount  Ver- 
non, and  is  a  most  charming  hostess. 

Her  home  is  a  center  of  culture, 
where  lovers  of  art,  music  and  litera- 
ture delight  to  assemble. 

Mrs.  Wood  is  also  an  active  mem- 
ber and  a  worker  in  Trinity  Parish 
of  the  Episcopal  Church  in  the  city 
of  Mount  Vernon,  particularly  in 
those  branches  of  religious  work 
which  bring  her  in  touch  with  the 
young  women  of  the  Church. 

She  is  a  member  of  the  National 
Committee  of  the  Anti-SuflPragists  of 
which  Mrs.  Arthur  M.  Dodge  is  Presi- 
dent, believing  thoroughly  in  the 
rights  of  women  but  not  in  getting 
those  rights  through  the  Ballot. 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


149 


FRANCIS  A.  STRATTON. 

Francis  Augustus  Stratton,  is  a 
conspicuous  representative  of  the 
business  men  in  this  county,  and, 
we  might  add,  of  the  men  of  affairs 
who  take  an  interest  in  politics  of 
the  day  without  desire  to  hold  public 
office,  men  who  do  not  shirk  the 
responsibilities  of  good  citizenship. 

This  book  which  endeavors  to 
present  the  life  stories,  in  condensed 
form,  of  many  of  the  citizens  of 
this  county  who  are  now,  or  have 
been,  at  the  front  of  its  activities, 
and  whose  achievements  are  matters 
of  current  interest;  relates  to  such 
men  as  Mr.  Stratton. 

He  was  born  at  Little  Valley, 
Cattaraugue  County,  N.  Y.,  a  son 
of  Lorenzo  and  Sophia  J.  (Hill) 
Stratton. 

His  family  is  of  English  origin, 
he  being  a  direct  descendant  of 
Resolve  White  who  came  to  Ameri- 
ca in  the  Mayflower.  His  ancestors 
took  part  in  the  Revolutionary  War, 
and  were,  most  of  them,  noted  as 
prominent  and  patriotic  citizens. 
His  father  was  also  a  native  of  New 
York  State,  while  his  mother  was 
a  daughter  of  Henry  Hill,  American 
Consul  to  Brazil  during  President 
Madison's  term  of  office,  and  her 
grandfather  Samuel  Russel,  was  the 
first  postmaster  of  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  became 
a  resident  of  Westchester  County  in 
the  year  1899,  taking  up  his  abode 
in  Mount  Vernon,  where  he  yet 
resides. 

He  soon  became  prominent  in 
activities  for  the  development  and 
success  of  the  county.  One  of  his 
most  notable  achievements  was  the 
placing  upon  a  sound  commercial, 
economical  and  satisfactory  basis 
the  lighting  business  of  the  entire 
county  of  Westchester.  His  cor- 
porations supply  this  County  and  a 
part  of  New  York  City  with  gas  and 
electricity.  He  has  built  and  is  now 
engaged  in  building  electric  rail- 
roads through  the  County.  He  has 
also  been  a  successful  real  estate 
operator;  and,  recently,  was  instru- 
mental in  forming  land  companies 
in  the  northern  part  of  the  County, 
with  a  view  to  forwarding  the 
development  of  this  section. 

Through  a  tract  of  200  acres  of 
land,   owned   by  him   in   the  city   of 


New  Rochelle,  he  gave  a  right  of 
way  to  the  New  York,  Westchester 
and  Boston  Railroad.  It  was  on  this 
property  that  the  railroad  company 
has  established  the  station  of 
' '  Quaker  Ridge, ' '  which  is  destined 
to  become  a  flourishing  settlement. 
In  the  development  of  this  promis- 
ing residential  section  Mr.  Stratton 
has  associated  with  him  many  of  the 
best  known  real  estate  experts  in  the 
State. 

Mr.  Stratton  is  now  president  and 
a  director  of  the  Westchester  Light- 
ing Company,  of  the  Northern  West- 
chester Lighting  Company,  and  the 
Peekskill  Lighting  and  Railroad 
Company.  He  is  also  a  director  of 
the  Putnam  and  Westchester  Trac- 
tion Company,  of  the  Mount  Ver- 
non Trust  Company,  of  the  Quaker 
Ridge  Improvement  Company,  of  the 
Craigdale  Realty  Company,  etc. 

He  finds  his  recreation  in  yachting 
and  other  out-of-door  sports.  Is  a 
member  of  the  New  Rochelle  Yacht 
Club;  the  Wykagyl  Country  Club,  of 
the  Lotos,  the  Lawyers'  and  the 
Transportation  Clubs  of  New  York 
City. 

In  politics  he  is  a  staunch  Republi- 
can; he  is  a  member  of  the  Republi- 
can Club  of  New  York  City,  is  a 
member  of  the  Republican  City  Com- 
mittee, of  Mount  Vernon,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Westchester  County 
Republican  Committee.  In  March, 
1912,  he  was  elected  unanimously  aa 
chairman  of  the  Mount  Vernon  Re- 
publican City  Committee,  to  succeed 
County  Clerk  Frank  M.  Buck,  who 
urged  Mr.  Stratton 's  selection.  The 
new  chairman's  Republican  fellow 
townsmen  are  anticipating  that 
"  something  will  be  doing,  sure,"  if 
the  "  new  Leader  "  takes  hold  of 
his  new  job  with  the  same  active 
spirit  invoked  when  he  tackles  pri- 
vate  business    propositions. 

In  part  recognition  of  valuable 
services  rendered  in  all  localities,  a 
dinner  was  given  him  in  1903. 
Prominent  men  of  the  County,  repre- 
senting all  branches  of  commerce 
and  professions,  were  there  to  do 
him  honor.  The  mayors  of  the  three 
cities  accompanied  by  other  munici- 
pal officers  of  towns  and  villages 
vied  wath  each  other  in  bearing 
testimony  as  to  how  their  localities 
had  been  well  served  by  the  guest  of 
the  evening.  During  the  banquet  Mr. 


150 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


Stratton  was  the  recipient  of  an  ap- 
propriate gift  that  would  ever  re- 
mind him  of  the  sincere  regard  in 
which  he  is  held. 

One  of  his  pleasing  reflections  is 
that   he  is   an  honorary  member   of 
the   "  Fourth    Estate."      Is    associ- 
ated  with    the   Press    Club    of    New 
York   City  and  with   the  "  Journal- 
istic     Combine  "      in      Westchester 
County.       Even    Democratic     editors 
are  willing  to  overlook  his  "  politi- 
cal weakness,"   on  the  ground  that 
he    is    "  an    all-round    goodfellow," 
and  say,  "  despite  your  politics,  we 
love  you   still."     Annually  he  gave 
an  outing  to  members  of   the  press, 
which    always,    to    the    hard-worked 
quill-driver,  proved  a  dispensation  of 
mercy,   with    a   considerable  mixture 
of  a  "  bully-good  time  thrown  in." 
With    him     the    Westchester    news- 
paper men  explored  the  subway  tun- 
nell  before  its  opening  to  the  public; 
with    him,    and   at   his   expense,   the 
County  journalists,  in  company  with 
municipal    officers   and   other   promi- 
nent  men   of    the   County,   were   en- 
abled   to    witness    the    International 
Yacht  Race  in  1903;   to  satisfy  the 
vanity   of    the   newspaper   men,    and 
because  it  was  his  custom,  Mr.  Strat- 
ton  on    this    occasion    gave   to    each 
guest  a   handsome   piece  of   jewelry 
as   a  souvenir   of   the   occasion.     In 
return     for    this    new    evidence    of 
generosity,    the    guests    unanimously 
nominated  and  elected  Mr.  Stratton 
an    "  Admiral,"    because    he    knew 
just  what  to  do  when  out  at  sea. 

Affable  and  pleasing  in  address, 
unpretentious  and  unostentatious  in 
his  demeanor,  yet  with  a  quiet  dig- 
nity and  force  of  character  that 
never  fail  to  win  the  place  his  merits 
claim,  Mr.  Stratton  is  generally  and 
deservedly  popular.  The  important 
trusts  which  have  been  committed  to 
his  charge,  and  the  eminent  position 
which  he  now  holds  justifies  the 
statement  made  at  the  beginning  of 
this   sketch. 

Mr.  Stratton  was  inarriod  in  1883, 
to  Miss  Annie  Wilder,  daughter  of 
General  .John  T.  Wilder,  a  Federal 
Officer  in  the  Civil  War,  then  a  resi- 
dent of  Chattanooga,  Tenn.  Gen. 
Wilder  is  alive  at  this  writing,  aged 
82  years. 

There  is  one  son.  Wilder  Lorenzo 
Stratton,  aged  26  years. 


JOHN  H.  CORDES. 

John  Henry  Cordes,  Comptroller 
of  the  City  of  Mount  Vernon, 
former  Supervisor,  former  City  As- 
sessor, former  City  Fire  Commis- 
sioner, etc.,  was  born  on  June  30, 
1861,  in  Morrisania,  in  this  county, 
of  German  parentage,  a  son  of 
Christopher  and  Elizabeth  Cordes. 
His  parents  became  residents  of 
Mount  Vernon  in  1872,  when  he  was 
eleven  years  of  age. 

He  was  educated  in  public 
schools  of  Morrisania  and  Mount 
Vernon. 

As  a  real  estate  and  insurance 
broker  he  has  a  long  established 
business,  as  remunerative  as  it  is 
extensive. 

He  has  for  years  been  an  active 
figure  in  public  affairs,  performing 
the  duties  associated  with  good  citi- 
zenship. 

Shortly  after  reaching  his  ma- 
jority he  took  interest  in  politics, 
becoming  a  member  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party. 

In  1892  he  was  made  a  City  As- 
sessor, and  held  this  office  until  he 
was  elected  a  Supervisor  to  repre- 
sent the  Fourth  Ward.  The  office 
of  Supervisor  he  held  from  1904  to 
1912,  having  been  elected  in  1911 
as  City  Comptroller  to  serve  until 
November  20,   1913. 

In  1909  he  was  appointed  a  City 
Fire  Commissioner,  and  served  the 
full  term. 

In  1907  Mr.  Cordes  was  the  Demo- 
cratic nominee  for  Mayor,  his  popu- 
larity forcing  his  nomination.  It 
proved  to  be  not  a  Democratic  year, 
and  although  he  polled  a  surpris- 
ingly large  vote,  under  great  disad- 
vantages, he  failed  of  election.  In 
1909  he  received  a  citizens'  nomina- 
tion for  the  same  office;  again  his 
vote  was  large  but  not  enough  to 
elect.  In  1911  he  was  the  Demo- 
cratic nominee  for  City  Comptroller, 
and  was  successful. 

He  has  filled  the  office  of  City 
Comptrollor  so  acceptably  that  a  re- 
election can  be  had  for  the  asking. 
His  friends,  however,  contend  that 
he  should  be  Mayor. 

He  was  never  defeated  for  the 
office   of   Supervisor. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Firemen's 
Benevolent  Fund  Association,  organ- 
ized in   1891.  was  a  charter  member 


JOSEPH  S.  WOOD 


SUSY   E.  WOOD 

(Mrs.  Joseph  S.  Wood) 


FRANCIS  A.  STRATTON 


JOHN  H.  CORDES 


WILLIAM  C.  CLARK 


ROBERT  MASON 


JOSEPH  HENRY  ESSER 


J.  ALBERT  ZIMMERMANN 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


151 


and  its  president  twelve  years;  of 
the  Mount  Vernon  Lodge,  No.  195, 
I.  O.  O.  F.;  of  the  Guiding  Star 
Encampment,  No.  83,  I.  O.  O.  F.; 
of  Washington  Engine  Co.  No.  1, 
now  Chemical  Engine  Co.,  serving  in 
all  offices  and  as  foreman  four 
years;  of  Exempt  Firemen's  Asso- 
ciation of  Mount  Vernon;  of  Mount 
Vernon  Lodge  No.  842,  P.  B.  0.  E.; 
charter  member  of  Mount  Vernon 
Turn  Verein;  of  Mount  Vernon 
Quartette  Club;  of  Mount  Vernon 
Council  No.  2019,  Royal  Arcanum; 
charter  member  of  local  council 
Woodmen  of  the  World,  and  mem- 
ber of  other  fraternal  and  social 
organizations. 

Mr.  Cordes  was  married  on  Octo- 
ber 4,  1887,  to  Miss  Clara  A.  O'Mal- 
ley,  daughter  of  D.  O'Malley  of 
Pelham.  Of  this  union  there  are 
three  children.  Amy  B.,  John  H., 
Jr.,  and  Arthur  V.  Several  years 
following  the  death  of  his  wife,  Mr. 
Cordes  was  again  married,  on  Octo- 
ber 6,  1903,  to  Miss  Caroline  M. 
Eampert,  daughter  of  Albert  Eam- 
pert  of  Mount  Vernon.  Of  the  sec- 
ond marriage  there  are  two  children, 
Herbert  A.  and  Edgar  W. 

WILLIAM   ARCHEE. 

William  Archer,  former  Alderman 
of  the  City  of  Mount  Vernon,  treas- 
urer of  the  Eepublican  County  Com- 
mittee, etc.,  was  born  in  Ireland  and 
came  to  this  country  about  forty-five 
years  ago,  when  a  young  man,  pos- 
sessed of  little  money,  but  well 
equipped  with  energy,  perseverance 
and  a  determination  to  succeed. 

He  landed  in  New  York  in  com- 
pany with  a  young  friend,  also  from 
Ireland,  John  Dawson.  Between 
these  men  friendship  has  been  pure 
and  everlasting.  In  early  days  they 
entered  into  a  partnership  that  ex- 
ists even  unto  this  day.  Both  Archer 
and  Dawson  worked  as  laborers  in 
New  York  city,  and  when,  after  a 
few  years,  they  had  saved  a  little 
money,  they  started  the  partnership 
which  created  a  large  contracting 
business. 

They  both  became  residents  of 
Mount  Vernon  about  thirty  years 
ago,  became  interested  in  public 
affairs  and  contributed  largely  to 
Mount  Vernon's  development  as  a 
"City  of  Homes." 

Mr.  Archer  was  elected  an  Alder- 


man to  represent  the  Fifth  Ward 
and  subsequently  was  unanimously 
chosen  as  Alderman  from  the  same 
ward  to  fill  a  vacancy;  he  was  twice 
the  unsuccessful  nominee  of  the  Re- 
publican party  for  Mayor.  He  has 
been  treasurer  of  the  Eepublican 
County  Committee  for  nearly  fifteen 
years. 

In  1911  the  Eepublican  State 
Convention  nominated  Mr.  Archer 
for  State  Treasurer.  This  year 
proved  to  be  an  unprofitable  one  for 
Republican  nominees,  as  that  particu- 
lar political  party  suffered  from  loss 
of  blood  owing  to  the  cutting  off 
and  running  away  of  a  large  num- 
ber of  former  Republican  faithfuls 
who  joined  the  recently  created  Bull 
Moose  political  party.  Like  others 
worthy  on  the  State  ticket,  Mr. 
Archer  was  defeated,  though  he  lea 
all  candidates  in  the  voting  in  his 
own  county. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  does  not 
make  politics  a  business;  he  con- 
siders it  as  a  diversion,  a  relaxation 
from    business. 

His  business  is  construction  of 
large  buildings.  His  firm  has  its 
offices  in  New  York  city.  The  firm 
built  the  Criminal  Court  Building, 
the  Park  Row  Buildings,  the  Hol- 
land House,  the  Tower  Building,  and 
several  churches,  in  New  York  city, 
and  other  equally  large  buildings  in 
other  sections. 

Mr.  Archer  invested  largely  m 
Mount  Vernon  real  estate,  and  de- 
veloped Corcoran  Manor,  where  he 
resides. 

He  is  a  director  in  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Mount  Vernon  and 
ii  interested  in  other  financial  insti- 
tutions, is  a  trustee  of  the  Chester 
Hill  Methodist  Church,  and  is  a 
member  of  several  societies,  frater- 
nal and  social. 

WILLIAM  C.  CLARK. 

William  Childs  Clark,  Transfer 
Tax  Appraiser  of  the  State  of  New 
York  for  the  county  of  Westchester 
and  Justice  of  the  Peace  of  the 
city  of  Mount  Vernon,  was  born  in 
Laytons,  Sussex  County,  N.  J.,  on 
July  26,  1880,  a  son  of  William  and 
Margaret  (Roe)  Clark.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  Newton,  N.  J.,  High 
School,  the  Centenary  Collegiate  In- 
stitute and  the  New  York  Law- 
School.     He  established  a  residence 


152 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


in  the  city  of  Mount  Vernon,  this 
County,  iu  the  year  IS97.  For  a 
brief  period  he  was  employed  in  the 
County  Clerk's  office,  in  White 
Plaius,  when  he  was  appointed  to  a 
clerkship  in  connection  with  the 
State  Senate  at  Albany.  This  latter 
position  he  filled  acceptably  for  four 
years. 

On  being  admitted  to  practice  at 
the  bar,  he  opened  an  office  in  Mount 
Vernon.  In  1906  he  was  elected  a 
Justice  of  the  Peace  on  the  Eepubli- 
can  ticket  as  a  representative  of 
young  men  interested  in  politics,  of 
which  there  is  a  great  number  and 
of  strong  influence  in  that  city; 
Mr.  Clark  was  but  twenty-six  years 
of  age  when  privileged  to  assume 
the  title  of  "  Judge." 

Personally,  Judge  Clark  is  ex- 
tremely popular  with  all  who  know 
him,  and,  it  is  said,  his  affable  man- 
ners are  irresistible,  so  much  so  that 
even  the  older  politicians  succumb 
and  readily  do  what  he  requires  of 
them,  becoming  his  adherents  as 
loyal  as  are  the  young  men  of  the 
party  who  acknowledge  him  as  a 
leader. 

His  appointment  by  the  State 
Comptroller  to  the  much  coveted  po- 
sition of  Transfer  Tax  Appraiser,  in 
1908,  was  a  great  honor  for  so  young 
a  man.  His  being  given  the  prefer- 
ence for  this  office  over  many  ap- 
plicants from  all  parts  of  the  County, 
vras  a  high  compliment  bestowed. 

The  assurances  of  many  prominent 
citizens  of  the  County,  that  Mr. 
Clark  would  "  make  good,"  was 
sufficient  to  influence  the  State 
Comptroller.  To  convince  the  Comp- 
troller that  he  had  made  no  mistake 
in  placing  him,  to  redeem  the  prom- 
ises of  friends  made  in  his  behalf, 
Mr.  Clark  is  doing  his  utmost,  and  so 
far  has  proven  his  fitness  by  the  in- 
telligent discharge  of  the  duties  of 
his  office. 

Mr.  Clark  was  married  on  Decem- 
ber 20,  1903,  to  Miss  Kathryn  A. 
Eeap,  daughter  of  John  and  Ella 
(Murray)  Reap,  of  Scranton,  Pa. 
Three  children,  two  boys  and  a  girl, 
are  the  result  of  this  union. 

JOSEPH  HENRY  ESSER. 
Josoph  Henry  Esser,  former  Special 
Deputy  Attorney-General,  former  As- 
sistant   Corporation   Counsel   of   city 
of  Mount  Vernon,  was  born  on  No- 


vember 29,  1879,  in  the  city  of  New 
York,  a  son  of  Henry  and  Augusta 
(Hinkel)  Esser.  His  father  was  a 
Trustee  of  the  village  of  Mount 
Vernon,  County  Superintendent  of 
the  Poor  six  years,  and  Treasurer  of 
the  city  of  Mount   Vernon. 

The  son  was  educated  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Mount  Vernon,  to 
which  place  the  family  moved  in 
1884;  in  the  Halsey  Collegiate 
School,  New  York  City,  and  in 
ColumlDia  University,  graduating  in 
1901,  with  the  degree  oi  Bachelor  of 
Arts,  and  graduated  from  the  Law 
School  of  Columbia  University  in 
1903  with  degree  L.  G.  B.  He 
opened  a  law  office  in  city  of  Mount 
Vernon,  where  he  is  at  present  lo- 
cated. 

In  1903  he  was  appointed  Assia^ 
tant  Corporation  Counsel  of  hia 
home  city.  The  State  Attorney- 
General,  in  1909,  appointed  Mr.  Es- 
ser a  Special  Deputy  Attorney-Gen- 
eral in  charge  of  election  cases  in 
Westchester  County,  a  position  he 
yet  holds. 

Mr.  Esser  is  a  member  of  Hia- 
watha Lodge,  No.  434,  F.  and  A.  M., 
is  a  member  of  the  B.  P.  Order  of 
Elks,  a  member  of  the  Larchmont 
Yacht  Club,  a  member  of  the  Re- 
publican L;lub  of  New  i^ork  City, 
and  a  member  of  the  Republican 
City  Committee  or  Mount  Vernon. 

He  was  married  on  June  5,  1907, 
to  Miss  Lena  Boice,  daughter  of 
Zodac  P.  Boice  (Sheriff  of  Ulster 
County),  and  Delia  Boice,  of  Kings- 
ton, N.  Y.  Of  this  union  there  is 
one  child,  Marion  Augusta,  born 
March  11,   1908. 

ROBERT  MASON. 

Robert  Mason,  Assistant  Clerk  of 
the  County  Board  of  Supervisors, 
former  Assistant  Postmaster  at 
Mount  Vernon,  etc.,  was  born  on 
February  9,  1864,  in  the  Ninth  Ward 
of  the  City  of  New  York,  a  son  of 
Robert  and  Mary   (May)   Mason. 

He  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  native  city,  graduating 
from  Grammar  School  No.  3. 

He  became  a  resident  of  this 
county  in  the  year  1891,  locating  in 
the  city  of  Mount  Vernon. 

For  several  years  he  engaged 
largely  in  the  sale  of  real  estate  in 
Mount    Vernon    and    vicinity,    being 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


153 


associated  -with  the  firm  of  McClel- 
lin  &   Hodge. 

In  1898,  on  the  appointment  of 
David  O.  Williams  as  Postmaster  of 
Mount  Vernon,  the  position  of 
Assistant-Postmaster  was  tendered  to 
Mr.  Mason  and  was  accepted.  In  this 
position  Mr.  Mason  proved  most  effi- 
cient; owing  to  the  illness  of  the 
Postmaster  the  whole  responsibility 
of  the  management  of  the  office  fell 
upon  the  Assistant  Postmaster.  The 
Postal  authorities  at  Washington 
took  occasion  to  commend  him  high- 
ly for  unusual  abilities  displayed  in 
discharge  of  duties.  This  position 
he  held  thirteen  years,  from  August 
1,  1898  to  September  15,  1911.  re- 
tiring on  the  latter  date  to  accept 
election  by  the  Board  of  Supervisors 
as  Assistant  Clerk  of  that  body. 

Mr.  Mason  was  a  member  of  the 
Eepublican  Committee  of  the  city 
of  Mount  Vernon,  of  the  Republican 
County  Committee,  of  the  Eepubli- 
can Club  of  New  York  City,  of  the 
Mount  Vernon  Council  of  Royal 
Arcanum,  and  of  other  organizations. 

He  was  married  on  April  8,  1900, 
to  Miss  Ella  E.  Scardefield,  daughter 
of  John  and  Mary  Scardefield,  of 
New  York  city.  Of  this  marriage 
there  are  five  children,  Harold 
Fletcher,  aged  19  years;  Walter 
Roosevelt,  aged  13  years;  Ruth  Bea- 
trice, aged  10  years;  Muriel  Vio- 
letta,  aged  4  years;  and  Ella  May, 
aged  4  months. 

J.   ALBERT    ZIMMERMANN. 

John  Albert  Zimmermann,  lawyer, 
former  Alderman,  etc.,  was  born  on 
November  21,  1876,  in  the  city  of 
New  York,  a  son  of  Frederick  and 
Katherine    (Lynn)    Zimmermann. 

When  he  was  six  years  of  age  his 
parents  removed  from  New  York 
city  to  Stamford,  Conn.,  where  his 
father  engaged  in  mercantile  busi- 
ness; ten  years  later,  in  1892,  the 
family  removed  to  Mount  Vernon, 
this  county,  where  the  head  of  the 
family   is  yet   engaged   in   business. 

Mr.  Zimmermann  was  educated  in 
the  Stamford  public  schools  gradu- 
ating from  the  High  School  of  that 
city.  Arriving  in  Mount  Vernon  he 
decided  on  the  study  of  law  as  his 
life    work,    and    to    adopt    the   legal 


profession.  The  very  year  of  his 
arrival  found  him  entered  as  a  stu- 
dent in  the  law  office  of  Appell  & 
Tompkins,  of  which  law  firm  City 
Judge  George  Appell  was  the  senior 
partner,  he  continued  with  this  firm 
until  1906,  when  the  firm  name  was 
changed  to  Appell  &  McKinnell;  in 
1909  he  was  with  Johnson  &  Mills, 
lawyers,  and  in  1910  was  associated 
with  J.  H.  Esser,  and  at  present 
time  is  in  business  for  himself. 

Quite  naturally  for  an  active  man, 
such  as  Mr.  Zimmermann  is,  he 
takes  kindly  to  politics,  with  pro- 
nounced leanings  toward  the  Repub- 
lican party.  He  has  been  for  a  con- 
siderable period  a  member  of  the 
Mount  Vernon  Republican  General 
Committee  and  of  the  Republican 
County  Committee,  and  is  a  member 
of  the  Republican  Club  of  New 
York  city. 

He  was  chosen  an  Alderman,  to 
represent  the  Fourth  Ward,  during 
the  years  1907-08-09-10.  He  was 
especially  active  in  the  Common 
Council,  being  a  member  of  impor- 
tant committees  of  that  body.  As 
the  head  of  the  committee  on  legis- 
lation he  was  instrumental  in  hav- 
ing laws  enacted  to  greatly  benefit 
Mount  Vernon.  He  was  unceasing 
in  endeavors  to  secure  for  his  city 
an  adequate  supply  of  pure  and 
wholesome  water;  that  Mount  Ver- 
non own  and  control  its  water  sup- 
ply and  not  continue  to  be  the  only 
asset  of  an  insolvent  private  incor- 
poration that  had  attempted  for 
years  to  give  water  to  that  city  and 
as  a  result  had  frequently  left  citi- 
zens in  sore  distress  for  want  of  the 
needful. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  local  lodge 
of  the  B.  P.  O.  Elks. 

In  1910  Mr.  Zimmermann  was  ap- 
pointed by  Supreme  Court  Jnstlco 
Tompkins  as  a  Commissioner  of  Ap- 
praisal in  condemnation  proceedings 
ir,  the  taking  of  land  in  aid  of  the 
New  York  city  water  supply,  and 
appointed  subsequently  on  other 
commissions  to  condemn  lands  to  be 
used  for  public  purposes. 

Mr.  Zimmermann  was  married  on 
July  14,  1893,  to  Miss  Edna  Walton 
Rowlandson,  daughter  of  Oscar  and 
Charlotte  Hopping  Rowlandson,  of 
Mount  Vernon.     No  children. 


For  biographical  sketches  of  other  residents  see  elsewhere  in  this  book, 
and  in  volumes  one  and  two. 


164  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


THE  TOWN  OF  NEW  CASTLE. 


{Continued  from  page  223,  Vol.  1.) 

What  is  now  known  as  the  township  of  New  Castle  was 
formerly  a  part  of  the  town  of  North  Castle,  and  earlier  was 
included  as  a  part  of  the  Manor  of  Scarsdale.  The  town  was 
formed  March  18,  1791.  It  was  called  by  the  Indians  Shappa- 
qua  or  Chappaqua ;  the  latter  name  is  still  retained  by  a  locality 
in  the  southern  section  of  the  town.  The  name  New  Castle 
is  believed  to  have  been  given  on  account  of  an  Indian  palisaded 
fort  or  castle  that  stood  in  the  vicinity. 

The  town's  population  (continued  from  page  223,  volume  1) 
was  in  1900,  2,401;  in  1905  it  was  2,956.  The  last  Federal 
census,  1910,  gives  the  population  as  3,573. 

Mount  Kisco  village,  Chappaqua  and  Millwood  lie  within  the 
township  limits,  and  have  steadily  grown  in  population  and  in 
commercial  importance  during  the  past  ten  years. 

Public  improvements  have  rapidly  advanced;  the  public 
schools  are  up-to-date  and  of  the  best  grade.  The  value  of 
property  has  increased  surprisingly,  and  in  many  localities  real 
estate  has  advanced  in  value  more  than  double.  This  is 
accounted  for  by  the  demand  for  residential  sites  in  desirable 
sections  that  abound  in  all  directions.  Retired  millionaires  and 
wealthy  New  York  business  men  have  acquired  large  estates 
and  built  palatial  residences  here,  within  easy  access  of  New 
York.  The  increased  railroad  facilities  makes  this  town  attrac- 
tive to  New  York  business  men  who  desire  a  country  seat  within 
a  short  distance  of  the  city. 

Mount  Kisco  is  in  all  respects  a  prosperous  village,  possess- 
ing enterprise  among  its  residents  that  does  not  satisfy  wifh 
else  than  the  very  best  in  the  way  of  modern  improvements. 
Good  schools,  an  excellent  supply  of  pure  water  and  a  thor- 
ough sewer  system,  modern  lighting  appliances,  an  efficient  police 
force  and  a  well  equipped  fire  department,  are  some  of  the 
things  provided  to  make  the  village  homelike  and  a  desirable 
place  to  reside  in.  Its  public  institutions,  banks  and  numer- 
ous business  establishments  give  the  place  that  appearance  of 
life  and  activity  that  is  encouraging  and  profitable. 

This  village  was  incorporated  in  1875.  In  1880  it  had  a  popu- 
lation of  728 ;  in  1890  it  had  increased  to  1,095;  in  1900  to  1,346; 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  156 

in  1902  to  1,535;  in  1905  to  1,830.  The  last  Federal  census, 
of  1910,  shows  a  population  of  1,536  lying  in  this  town  and  1,266 
contained  in  that  section  lying  in  town  of  Bedford. 

Rear  Admiral  Winfield  Scott  Schley,  a  notable  figure  in  the 
Navy  of  the  United  States,  the  hero  of  Santiago,  who  was  a 
summer  resident  of  Mount  Kisco,  where  his  daughter,  Mrs.  R. 
M.  Stuart-Wortley  resides,  dropped  dead  in  a  public  street  of 
New  York  city,  on  October  2,  1911 ;  death  was  attributed  to 
cerebral  hemorrhage. 

Chappaqua,  though  an  unincorporated  village,  is,  for  various 
reasons,  quite  important,  and  worthy  to  be  on  the  map,  and 
entitled  to  a  place  in  history.  In  1880  it  boasted  of  a  popula- 
tion, official,  of  330;  ten  years  later,  the  1890  census  gave  it 
credit  for  733.  The  census  of  1910  did  still  better.  It  was 
occupied  by  Indians,  and  settled  by  Quakers. 

Chappaqua  is  known  as  a  "seat  of  learning,"  where  is  located 
a  co-educational  institute  of  some  distinction,  and  as  the  place 
where  resided,  for  many  years,  the  late  Horace  Greeley,  the 
editor,  statesman  and  philanthropist.  It  was  early  settled  by 
the  Quakers,  and  the  habits  of  this  peaceful  people  still  pre- 
vail to  some  extent.  After  the  battle  of  White  Plains  the 
Friends'  Meeting  House  here  was  used  for  a  time  as  a  hospital 
for  the  heroic  American  wounded. 

The  Chappaqua  Mountain  Institute  was  founded  in  the  year 
1869,  by  the  Society  of  Friends.  Its  alumni  numbers  among 
its  membership  many  who  have  become  prominent  men  and 
women,  in  all  walks  of  life. 

In  the  early  eighties  this  town  was  quite  famous  for  its 
''peach  brandy,"  manufactured  in  considerable  quantities  here. 
The  early  Quakers  likewise  had  an  enviable  reputation  on 
account  of  the  superiority  of  the  eider  made  by  them. 

Horace  Greeley,  acting  with  a  few  other  enterprising  resi- 
dents, was  instrumental  in  organizing  the  Chappaqua  Village 
Improvement  Society,  some  fifty  years  ago,  and  he  served  as 
the  society's  first  president.  During  his  term  of  office  much 
was  done  to  make  the  old  Quaker  settlement  attractive. 

In  speaking  of  Chappaqua,  and  describing  its  location,  Horace 
Greeley,  in  1868,  said,  it  is  "Nine  miles  above  White  Plains, 
and  thirty-five  N.  N.  E.  of  our  (New  York)  City  Hall,  on  the 
Harlem  Railroad,  nearly  abreast  of  the  village  of  Sing  Sing, 
and  six  miles  east  of  it;  just  after  entering  the  township  of 
New  Castle,  crosses  a  quite  small,  though  pretty  constant,  mill- 


166  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

stream,  named  by  the  Indians  Chappaqua,  which  is  said  to  have 
meant  falling  or  babbling  water,  and  which,  here  running  to  the 
southeast,  soon  takes  a  southwesterly  turn,  recrosses  under  the 
railroad,  and  finds  its  way  into  the  Hudson  River,  through  the 
Sawmill  or  Nepperhan  Creek  at  Yonkers.  A  highway,  lead- 
ing westward  to  Sing  Sing,  crosses  the  railroad  just  north  of 
the  upper  crossing  of  the  brook,  and  gives  us,  some  twenty  rods 
from  the  northwest  corner  of  my  farm,  a  station  and  a  post- 
office,  which,  with  our  modest  village  of  twenty  or  thirty  houses, 
take  their  name  from  our  mill-stream.  Chappaqua  is  not  a 
very  liquid  trisyllable,  but  there  is  comfort  in  the  fact  that  it 
is  neither  Clinton,  nor  Washington,  nor  Middletow^n,  nor  any  of 
the  trite  appellations  which  have  been  so  often  reapplied,  that 
half  the  letters  intended  for  one  of  them  are  likely  to  bring 
up  at  some  other,  (How  can  a  rational  creature  be  so  thought- 
less as  to  date  his  letter  merely  'Greenfield,'  or  'Jackson,'  or 
'Springfield,'  and  imagine  that  the  stranger  he  addresses  can 
possibly  guess  w^hither  to  mail  the  answer?)  My  brook  has  its 
source  in  wooded,  granite  hills,  on  the  east  southeast,  and  comes 
tinkling  or  brawling  thence  to  be  lost  in  the  Chappaqua,  a  few 
rods  south  of  the  road  to  Pleasantville,  which  forms  my  south- 
western boundary.  As  to  springs,  there  are  not  less  than  a 
dozen,  which  no  drouth  exhausts,  breaking  out  along  the  foot 
of  my  hill,  or  at  the  base  of  a  higher  ridge  which  forms  its  crest." 

When  he  first  went  to  Chappaqua,  to  reside  on  his  ' '  charming 
farm, ' '  Mr.  Greeley  met  a  friend  who  kindly  remarked :  ' '  You 
will  be  sick  of  living  in  the  country  wathin  two  years,  and  your 
place  will  be  advertised  for  sale."  To  which  Greeley  quickly 
responded:  "Then  the  sheriff's  name  will  be  at  the  foot  of  the 
advertisement."  His  continuing  to  reside  there  so  many  years 
proves  that  he  never  tired  of  the  place.  He  endeavored  to  spend 
Saturdays  and  all  the  spare  time  he  could  get  upon  it;  but  his 
wife  spent  most  of  each  year  there,  and  did  so  ever  after  the 
place  was  bought.  As  Mr.  Greeley  once  said:  "The  bare  idea 
of  exchanging  our  place  for  any  other  has  never  suggested  itself 
either  to  my  wife  nor  to  myself.  AVith  a  first-rate  stone  or  brick 
house  to  shut  out  the  cold,  I  doubt  if  either  of  us  would,  of 
choice,  live  elsewhere,  even  in  winter." 

Mr.  Greeley,  who  made  Chappaqua  famous,  owing  to  his  long 
residence  there,  w^as  a  great  admirer  of  Supervisor  Francis  M. 
Carpenter,  and  it  was  his  custom  to  come  up  from  New  York 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  157 

early  in  the  spring,  every  year,  so  as  to  be  at  hand  on  "town 
meeting  day"  and  vote  to  retain  Mr.  Carpenter  in  office. 

The  dwelling  in  which  Mr.  Greeley  lived  was  destroyed  by 
fire  after  his  death. 

Under  the  auspices  of  the  Chappaqua  Historical  Society  the 
hundredth  anniversary  of  Mr.  Greeley's  birth  was  celebrated 
on  February  3,  1911,  at  the  home  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Gabriel 
Greeley  Glendennin,  on  the  Greeley  farm.  Prominent  persons 
from  all  sections  of  the  Union  were  present. 

A  memorial  statue  in  honor  of  Mr.  Greeley,  to  cost  $16,000, 
is  to  be  erected  upon  a  site  on  the  west  side  of  the  Chappaqua 
Railroad  station. 

During  the  life  of  Mr.  Greeley  the  title  to  the  farm  was  held 
in  the  name  of  Mrs.  Greeley.  After  her  death,  and  the  death 
of  her  husband  later,  the  farm  was  subdivided  and  a  great  part 
sold  off  in  parcels.  It  was  deemed  best  to  so  sell  it  in  plots  as 
the  farm,  as  farm  land,  had  little  value,  other  than  that  given 
it  as  having  been  the  place  of  residence  of  a  notable  man.  The 
local  Episcopal  Church,  the  Harlem  Railroad  Station,  the  tele- 
phone building,  several  stores  and  dwellings  are  on  the  farm, 
now  considered  as  a  business  section  of  Chappaqua. 

Localities  in  this  town  are  Mount  Kisco  (part  of  the  village), 
Chappaqua,  Tompkin's  Corners  and  Millwood. 

The  town's  population  in  1830  was  1,336;  in  1835,  1,406;  in 
1840,  1,529;  in  1845,  1,495;  in  1850,  1,800;  in  1855,  1,702;  in 
1860,  1,817;  in  1865,  1,879;  in  1870,  2,152;  in  1875,  2,242;  in 
1880,  2,297;  in  1890,  2,110;  in  1892,  2,187;  in  1900,  2,401;  in 
1905,  2,956;  in  1910,  3,573. 

Horace  Greeley  bought  land  in  Chappaqua  in  1858,  and  went 
to  reside  on  his  farm  there  in  1859.  He  virtually  "grew  up 
with  the  place. ' '  He  was  a  conscientious  member  of  the  ' '  barrel 
brigade"  that  assembled  in  the  general  store  of  Levi  Hunt,  at 
one  time  the  only  store  in  Chappaqua.  Levi  was  credited  with 
boasting  that  his  store  contained  anything  mortal  man,  or 
woman,  needed;  from  a  needle  to  a  hay -press.  To  put  Levi  to 
a  test,  a  number  of  wags  one  day  made  a  bet  that  they  could 
name  something  that  Hunt's  store  did  not  contain;  one  of  their 
number  was  delegated  to  wait  upon  Hunt.  "Mr.  Hunt,"  said 
the  delegate,  "I  want  to  buy  a  pulpit;  do  you  keep  them?" 
"Well,  my  friend,  I  will  see  if  I  can  accommodate  thee,"  replied 
the  Quaker  store-keeper,  "the  demand  for  pulpits  is  not  very 


168 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST, 


great  around  here,  therefore  I  do  not  keep  a  great  supply." 
He  took  his  customers  to  a  nearby  store-house,  and  there  he 
displayed  a  pulpit,  that  he  said  he  could  sell.  Uncle  Levi  proved 
himself  equal  to  the  occasion.  A  short  time  before  a  lot  of 
church  furnishings,  benches  and  pulpit,  had  been  sold  at  auc- 
tion in  the  neighborhood,  and  the  thrifty  Hunt  had  become  their 
purchaser,  and  was  therefore  ready  to  supply  a  demand.  Mr. 
Greeley  in  some  of  his  writings  refers  to  this  countiy  general 
store;  to  the  peculiarities  of  its  honest  proprietor,  and  to  the 
entertaining  meetings  held  in  the  store,  discussing  the  topics  of 
the  day,  as  he  and  others  sat  perched  upon  their  respective  bar- 
rels, reserved  for  them,  and  each  taking  part  in  the  debates. 
The  local  farmers  took  delight  in  asking  Mr.  Greeley  questions 
as  to  what  he  knew  about  farming,  and  particularly  how  soon 
he  hoped  to  fill  "the  bottomless  pit,"  as  a  swamp  on  his  farm 
was  known  to  be.  Much  of  the  farm  is  retained  by  his  daughter 
Gabrielle. 

Col.  Nicholas  Smith,  who  had  served  in  the  Confederate  and 
in  the  Union  Army,  at  different  periods,  married  Mr.  Greeley's 
eldest  daughter  Ida.  Several  children  survive  them.  Col.  Smith 
was  a  candidate  for  Congress  on  the  Greenback  ticket  in  the 
local  district  in  1878-9,  and  was  defeated. 


Biographical  Sketches. 


HAEVEY  B.  GEEEN. 

Harvey  Brown  Green,  former  Su- 
pervisor of  the  town  of  New  Castle, 
Clerk  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors 
of  Westchester  County,  was  born  on 
November  28,  1862,  in  the  Town 
of  Somers,  in  this  County,  a  son  of 
Hachaliah  and  Huldah  (Freden- 
burgh)  Green.  His  ancestors  are 
said  to  have  lived  to  a  good  old  age, 
his  maternal  grandmother  died  quite 
recently,  in  1910,  at  the  age  of  98 
years. 

He  had  the  advantage  of  a  sub- 
stantial education  and  then  entered 
commercial  life,  holding  responsible 
positions  with  H.  H.  &  T.  W.  Fowl- 
er, merchants,  at  Purdy  Station  and 
later  with  Hoyt  Brothers,  merchants, 
at  Katonah,  where  he  received  hia 
first  political  training  under  the  late 
Hon.    Wm.    H.    Eobertson. 

He  is  a  man  of  more  than  ordin- 
ary  ability  and   especially  painstak- 


ing in  all  that  he  undertakes;  as  an 
accountant  he  is  well  known  and  his 
cleverness  in  this  respect  enables 
him  to  fill  to  general  satisfaction  the 
difficult  position  of  Clerk  to  the 
Board  of  Supervisors  of  so  large  a 
county  as  Westchester.  This  posi- 
tion with  its  various  and  intricate 
duties  requires  a  man  of  special 
talents  and  fitness.  It  can  be  read- 
ily understood  how  valuable  an  in- 
telligent and  experienced  clerk  can 
be  to  the  average  citizen,  as  well  as 
to  the  Supervisors,  seeking  informa- 
tion, when  we  consider  the  actual 
routine  of  "  the  Supervisor  busi- 
ness." That  Mr.  Green  has  proven 
to  be  the  right  man  in  the  right 
place,  is  shown  when  we  consider  th© 
years  he  has  been  kept  in  this  office. 
Mr.  Green  was  elected  Supervisor 
of  the  Town  of  New  Castle  and 
served  in  such  office  in  the  years 
1899  and  1900;  the  next  year,  in 
1901,    he    accepted    appointment    as 


HARVEY  B.  GREEN 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


159 


Assistant  Clerk  of  the  Board  of 
Supervisors,  under  Edwin  E.  Hop- 
kins; in  this  capacity  he  served  three 
years,  until  1904,  when  he  was 
elected  Clerk  of  the  Board  to  suc- 
ceed Mr.  Hopkins,  who  retired  on 
account  of  ill  health. 

He  served  as  Clerk  through  the 
year  1904,  in  1905  the  political  com- 
plexion of  the  Board  changed  and 
Mr.  Green  retired  from  the  Clerk- 
ship to  make  room  for  James  J. 
Fleming,  Democrat.  But  the  Super- 
visors were  not  to  lose  the  services 
of  so  valuable  a  man  as  was  Mr. 
Green;  the  new  Court  House  Build- 
ing Committee,  though  Democratic 
by  a  good  majority,  elected  him  as 
Secretary  to  the  committee,  in  this 
latter  position  he  served  until  1908, 
when  he  was  again  elected  Clerk  of 
the  Board  of  Supervisors,  a  position 
he  has  held  through  the  years  of 
1904,  1908,  1909,  1910,  1911  and  has 
been  re-elected  for  the  year  1912. 

Mr.  Green  was  married  on  Novem- 
ber 28,  1889  to  Miss  Phebe  Carpen- 
ter,   daughter    of   James    and    Eliza 

For  biographical  sketches  of  other 
and  in  volumes  one  and  two. 


Jane  Carpenter  of  Chappaqua.  Of 
this  union  there  are  seven  children, 
five  daughters  and  two  sons — Hazel, 
Jane,  Euth,  Charles,  James  and 
Elizabeth  and  Martha,  twins.  The 
family  home  is  at  Chappaqua,  in 
the  Town  of  New  Castle. 

Mr.  Green  by  affiliation  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Society  of  Friends  and 
Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Trustees 
of  the  Friends  Society  at  Chappa- 
qua. He  has  always  been  a  Eepubli- 
can  and  is  at  the  present  time 
Chairman  of  the  Eepublican  Town 
Committee  of  New  Castle,  a  member 
of  the  Eepublican  County  Committee 
and  member  of  the  4th  Assembly 
District  Committee  of  "Westchester 
County. 

Mr.  Green  is  a  member  of  Kisco 
Lodge  No.  708  F.  &  A.  M.,  West- 
chester Lodge,  BJnights  Templars, 
Buckingham  Chapter  Eoyal  Arch 
Masons,  and  is  a  member  of  Mecca 
Shrine.  He  is  also  a  member  of 
Horace  Greeley  Lodge,  No.  69, 
I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  of  White  Plains 
Lodge,  B.  P.  O.  E. 

residents  see  elsewhere  in  this  book. 


CITY  OF  NEW  ROCHELLE. 


(Continued  from  page  224,  Vol.  1.) 

The  New  Rochelle  township  was  formed  March  7,  1788,  A 
part  of  the  town  was  incorporated  as  a  village,  by  act  of  the 
Legislature,  passed  December  7,  1857.  On  March  24,  1899,  the 
State  Legislature  passed  an  act  incorporating  the  whole  town 
as  a  city.  The  city  is  yet  young,  but  for  one  of  its  years  it 
has  a  remarkable  growth.  In  1890,  when  a  village,  the  popu- 
lation was  9,057;  in  1900,  at  the  commencement  as  a  city,  it 
was  14,720 ;  in  1905  it  was  20,479,  showing  a  steady  and  regular 
advance.  The  official  figures  given  by  the  census  of  1910  show 
a  still  greater  growth,  the  enumeration  amounted  to  28,867,  and 
it  is  claimed  that  these  last  figures  represent  300  less  than  the 
true  total. 

It  is  known  as  ' '  The  City  of  Parks, ' '  a  name  doubtless  derived 
from  the  fact  that  it  has,  probably,  more  private  and  public 
parks  than  any  other  city  of  its  size  in  the  State.  The  palatial 
private  residences  add  to  the  charm  of  a  naturally  beautiful 
city. 


160  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

The  very  name  New  Rochelle  tells  the  story  of  the  city's 
origin.  That  its  best  known  settlers  were  Huguenots,  who 
hailed  from  La  Rochelle,  France;  Huguenots  who  suffered 
unnumbered  persecutions,  to  escape  which  they  came  to  America ; 
many  settling  in  this  particular  section  of  Westchester  County, 
choosing  this  most  charming  site  for  homes,  on  the  shores  of 
Long  Island  Sound.  This  new  place  of  abode  they  named  New 
Rochelle,  in  honor  of  the  French  seaport  town  of  La  Rochelle, 
from  which  they  came.  It  was  intended  as  a  high  honor  which 
these  French  exiles,  and  refugees  for  conscience  sake,  sought  to 
confer  upon  this  locality  when  they  called  it  New  Rochelle. 

Following  the  Indians,  the  Dutch  claimed  to  be  the  original 
settlers,  and  doubtless  considered  the  locality  but  a  small,  insig- 
nificant suburb  of  Vredeland.  As  to  what  the  Dutch  did  per- 
form toward  civilizing  this  section  there  is  no  evidence.  More 
than  likely  they  thought  nothing  about  it,  more  than  to  con- 
sider it  one  of  their  possessions.  True,  the  Dutch  were  very 
indignant  when  they  learned  that  an  Englishman,  named  Thomas 
Pell,  had  come  down  from  Connecticut  and  settled  himself  near 
Vredeland,  in  Westchester.  They  sent  Pell  a  notice  to  vacate 
immediately,  and  not  intrude  upon  lands  long  before  bought 
and  paid  for  by  the  Dutch.  But  Pell,  who  had  established  him- 
self in  Pelham  and  had  gone  extensively  into  the  real  estate 
business  there,  and  later  opened  the  first  real  estate  office  in 
New  Rochelle  (where  he  now  has  so  many  imitators),  could  not 
be  frightened  off.  Although  he  was  threatened  with  dispossess 
proceedings  and  something  more  severe.  Pell  held  on,  relying 
upon  a  grant  he  had  received  by  purchase  from  the  Indians. 
Although  the  Dutch  succeeded  in  annoying  Pell  considerably, 
they  were  not  able  to  dislodge  him ;  Pell  finally  secured  peace- 
ful possession  under  English  rule. 

Of  the  Manor  of  Pelham,  of  which  what  is  now  known  as 
New  Rochelle  was  a  part,  John  Pell,  a  descendant  of  Thomas 
Pell,  sold  to  Jacob  Leisler,  in  1689,  and  Leisler  sold  to  the  Hugue- 
nots, in  1690,  six  thousand  and  one  hundred  acres.  Pell  sold 
tlie  six  thousand  acres,  and  threw  in  one  hundred  acres  extra 
for  a  French  Church. 

Residents  of  New  Rochelle,  especially  the  older  ones,  entertain 
a  kindly  feeling  for  Jacob  Leisler,  consider  him  a  good  man  who 
was  influenced  by  noble  principles,  that  he  was  unjustly  accused 
and  killed  in  the  name  of  the  law.  Gabriel  IMinville,  who  was 
appointed  Mayor  of    New  York  City  in  1684,  was  responsible 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  161 

for  the  execution  for  treason  of  Jacob  Leisler  and  his  son-in-law, 
Jacob  ]\Iillborne,  the  only  persons  ever  executed  for  that  crime 
in  the  Province  of  the  State  of  New  York.  Peter  Delanoy,  also 
accused  of  treason  (in  alleged  aiding  the  French),  as  an  asso- 
ciate of  Leisler  was  acquitted,  and  to  express  dissatisfaction  with 
the  act  of  Mayor  Minville,  Delanoy  was  chosen  Mayor  of  the 
city,  almost  immediately. 

In  1911  celebrations  in  honor  of  the  memory  of  Leisler  were 
held  in  New  York  city. 

According  to  Pell's  grant,  the  price  demanded  was  sixteen 
hundred  and  seventy-five  pounds  and  twenty-five  shillings  ster- 
ling, current  silver  money  of  this  province,  to  him  in  hand  paid 
and  secured,  etc.  A  further  stipulation,  in  way  of  payment 
for  land  so  transferred,  was  that  the  purchaser  in  possession 
should,  "for  ever,  yield  and  pay  unto  the  said  John  Pell,  his 
heirs  and  assigns,  lords  of  the  said  Manor  of  Pelham,  to  the 
assignees,  of  him  or  them,  or  their  or  either  of  them,  as  an 
acknowledgment  to  the  lords  of  the  said  manor,  one  fat  calf  on 
every  four  and  twentieth  day  of  June,  yearly  and  every  year 
forever  if  demanded." 

In  1909  the  officials  of  the  City  of  New  Rochelle,  when  cele- 
brating the  city's  tenth  anniversary,  suggested  carrying  out 
that  clause  of  the  Pell  Grant  requiring  the  payment  of  one  fat 
calf.  The  Mayor  succeeded  in  getting  in  communication  with 
George  Hamilton  Pell,  a  descendant  of  the  original  Pell,  and 
notifying  him  that  the  City,  prompted  by  the  celebrating  spirit 
of  the  time,  might  be  willing  to  present  on  the  approaching 
24th  day  of  June,  to  an  heir  of  Lord  Pell,  the  aforesaid  fat 
calf.  In  the  same  spirit  in  which  the  offer  was  made  the  said 
Pell  agreed  to  accept  payment,  and  all  make  merry  over  the 
eating;  that  he  would  be  glad  to  receive  the  City's  representa- 
tives as  well  as  the  said  calf,  and  the  fatted  calf  would  be  killed 
in  celebration  of  the  meeting. 

A  legal  objection  prevented  relative  Pell,  the  city  officials  and 
the  calf  meeting  as  proposed. 

The  tenth  anniversary  of  the  City's  incorporation  was  duly 
celebrated  on  April  26,  1909,  by  public  ceremonies,  under  direc- 
tion of  City  officials,  assisted  by  a  large  committee  of  leading 
citizens.  In  the  parade  local  firemen,  military  and  civic  societies 
were  largely  represented.    A  banquet  in  the  evening  followed. 

In  May,   1909,   the   two  hundredth   anniversary   of   Trinity 


162  IVIANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

Episcopal   Cliurcli,  of  this  city,   was  extensively  observed  by 
public  religious  and  civic  exercises. 

The  old  Tom  Paine  cottage  was  removed  in  1909  from  its 
original  site,  about  half  a  mile  from  North  Avenue,  on  the  old 
See  farm,  to  the  entrance  of  Paine 's  Heights  residential  park 
on  North  Avenue ;  on  July  1-1,  1910,  it  was  formally  opened  as 
a  museum  and  as  the  headquarters  of  the  Huguenot  Association 
of  New  Kochelle. 

June  12,  1909,  was  "Huguenot  Day"  in  this  city.  On  that 
day  thousands  of  residents,  assisted  by  many  visitors  from 
abroad,  celebrated  the  two  hundred  and  twenty-first  anniversary 
of  the  landing  of  the  Huguenots  who  settled  in  New  Rochelle 
in  1688.  A  principal  feature  of  the  day's  program  was  a  great 
water  pageant  at  Echo  Bay;  the  arrival  of  the  Huguenots  and 
their  reception  by  the  native  Indians  was  enacted  in  costume, 
residents  being  assigned  parts,  taking  place  at  Bonnefoi  Point, 
the  scene  of  the  original  landing.  A  vessel,  constructed  to 
resemble  the  caravel  "La  Rochelle,"  which  landed  the  Hugue- 
nots in  New  Rochelle  harbor  in  1688,  came  duly  to  port  as  did 
its  predecessor  years  ago,  and  men,  women  and  children,  dressed 
in  imitation  of  the  early  settlers,  came  from  the  vessel  and  landed 
as  it  is  presumed  their  foreparents  did.  The  characters  of 
Huguenots  and  Indians  were  taken  by  prominent  residents,  cos- 
tumed for  their  several  parts.  The  celebration  was  a  marked 
success  in  all  respects. 

The  old  French  names  brought  here  by  the  early  settlers,  and 
in  late  years  frequently  heard,  as  borne  by  many  prominent 
residents,  are  fast  passing  away. 

In  August,  1911,  residents  of  this  city  sent  a  gold-lined  silver 
loving  cup,  costing  $500,  paid  for  by  popular  subscription,  as  a 
gift,  in  evidence  of  good  will,  to  the  people  of  La  Rochelle, 
France,  to  be  presented  to  the  latter  on  the  occasion  of  the  dedi- 
cation, in  the  French  city,  of  a  monument  to  the  memory  of 
former  Mayor  Jean  Guiton,  on  October  8,  1911.  Henry  M. 
Lester  and  Charles  Pryer,  members  of  the  New  Rochelle  Hugue- 
not Society,  visited  La  Rochelle  as  a  committee  to  take  the  cup 
and  make  the  presentation.  On  the  date  last  named  the  Munici- 
pal Council  of  La  Rochelle  received  the  delegates  from  this  city 
who  presented  the  cup  to  the  Mayor.  In  return  the  Mayor  pre- 
sented to  the  visitors,  for  the  City  of  New  Rochelle,  a  bronze 
reproduction  of  the  statue  of  Jean  Guiton,  to  be  unveiled  at 
La  Rochelle  on  October  22. 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  163 

The  first  public  school  houses,  three  in  number,  were  built  in 
1795. 

In  1764  two  residents  declined  to  serve  as  Tax  Collector ;  evi- 
dently they  thought  the  collecting  of  taxes  distasteful  to  others 
as  well  as  themselves. 

A  monument  to  the  memory  of  Thomas  Paine,  who  lived  and 
died  here,  stands  on  North  Avenue,  at  entrance  to  his  former 
place  of  residence. 

The  first  Town  Hall  was  built  on  corner  of  Main  and  Mechanic 
streets,  in  1828,  with  money,  $1,550,  left  to  the  Town  by  will  of 
William  Henderson.  This  old  building  was  removed,  from 
original  site,  to  Lawton  Street  where  it  now  stands.  The  build- 
ing of  the  second  Town  Hall  was  authorized  by  act  of  the  Legis- 
lature in  1870.  The  present  City  Hall  is  the  second  Town  Hall 
rebuilt  in  1899-1900,  at  a  cost  of  over  $20,000. 

The  first  meeting  of  Village  Trustees  was  held  January  21, 
1853;  Albert  Smith,  M.  D.,  was  first  village  president. 

The  first  attempt,  in  1898,  to  make  New  Rochelle  a  city  failed ; 
the  bill  passed  the  Legislature,  but  Gov.  Black  withheld  his 
signature. 

Fort  Slocum,  located  on  David's  Island,  on  Long  Island  Sound, 
is  within  the  limits  of  this  city,  as  is  Glen  Island,  a  summer 
picnic  park.  David's  Island  was  sold  to  the  United  States 
government  in  1868  for  military  purposes.  Glen  Island,  nearby, 
was  purchased  by  John  H.  Starin,  and  while  he  lived  the  island 
was  used  as  family  picnic  grounds  open  to  the  public. 

New  Rochelle 's  graded  schools  and  its  many  up-to-date  school 
buildings  compare  favorably  with  any  in  the  State. 

Its  police  department  is  efficient  and  its  members  a  fine  body 
of  men.  Its  fire  department  consists  of  five  hundred  willing 
volunteers  and  all  modern  equipment ;  the  fire  houses  are  brick 
buildings  with  modern  conveniences— it  is  a  part  paid  depart- 
ment. 

Its  public  water  system  has  ever  proven  satisfactory.  Its 
sewerage  is  of  the  best. 

The  well  kept  city  parks  on  Long  Island  Sound  shore  front 
are  fully  appreciated,  even  by  out-of-town  people,  who  in  the 
summer  daily  visit  them  in  hundreds.  The  bathing  facilities 
are  unexcelled. 

The  New  Rochelle  Yacht  Club,  the  Huguenot  Yacht  Club,  the 
New  Rochelle  Rowing  Club,  and  similar  clubs  have  their  club 


164  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

houses  on  the  shore  front,  either  on  Echo  Bay  or  Neptune  Bay. 
The  local  branch  of  State  Naval  Militia  is  a  fine  body  of  men. 

New  Rochelle  has,  in  time,  boasted  of  eight  banking  institu- 
tions ;  five  commercial  banks  and  three  savings  banks.  The  first, 
the  Bank  of  New  Rochelle,  an  individual  bank,  was  organized  in 
1844,  and  was  owned  by  D.  Sayre  of  New  Rochelle.  The  next 
organized  was  the  New  Rochelle  Savings  Bank  in  1865 ;  some 
time  after  the  failure  of  this  bank,  Adrian  Iselin,  of  New 
Rochelle,  a  private  banker  in  New  York,  opened  here  a  branch 
to  receive  deposits  for  savings;  in  1881,  when  Mr.  Iselin  estab- 
lished this  branch  there  was  no  regular  savings  bank  in  the  place, 
and  he  decided  there  should  be  some  way  contrived  to  encourage 
the  saving  of  money.  Owing  to  his  advanced  years  and  his 
inability  to  give  further  personal  attention  to  the  New  Rochelle 
branch,  the  same  was  closed  July  1,  1902.  In  1909  the  People's 
Savings  Bank  was  organized.  The  second  commercial  bank,  to 
be  known  as  the  Bank  of  New  Rochelle,  was  organized  in  1888, 
and  steadily  flourished;  this  bank  became  the  New  Rochelle 
Trust  Company  in  1907,  and  continues  to  be  one  of  the  reliable 
financial  institutions  of  the  County  and  State.  The  third  com- 
mercial bank  was  The  City  Bank,  organized  in  1899,  and  was  a 
success  from  the  very  start;  in  1902  it  changed  from  a  State 
Bank  to  a  National  Bank,  taking  the  title  of  The  National  City 
Bank.  In  1910  two  commercial  banks,  in  addition,  were  organ- 
ized under  extremely  favorable  conditions;  the  first  being  the 
North  Avenue  Bank,  and  the  second  being  the  Huguenot  Trust 
Company,  also  located  on  North  Avenue. 

The  city's  advantages  as  a  manufacturing  place  is  being 
rapidly  taken  advantage  of.  Its  many  industries  give  employ- 
ment to  large  numbers  of  residents,  men  and  women. 

The  mayors  of  this  city  have  been,  M.  J.  Dillon,  from  1899 
to  1902 ;  Henry  C.  Clarke,  from  1902  to  1908 ;  George  G.  Ray- 
mand,  1908  to  1910 ;  Harry  C.  Colwell,  1910  to  1912 ;  Frederick 
H.  Waldorf,  1912  to  1914. 

For  names  of  Supervisors  in  town  and  city,  since  organization, 
see  list  of  "Supervisors  of  the  Several  Towns,"  published  in 
volumes  1  and  2. 

The  town's  population,  according  to  the  several  census  enu- 
merations, has  been  as  follows,  in  the  years  given :  In  1830, 
1,274;  in  1835,  1,261;  in  1840,  1,816;  in  1845,  1,977;  in  1850, 
2,548 ;  in  1855,  3,101 ;  in  1860,  3,519 ;  in  1865,  3,968 ;  in  1870, 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  165 

3,915;  in  1875,  4,678;  in  1880,  5,276;  in  1890,  9,057;  in  1902, 
9,990;  in  1900,  as  a  city,  14,720;  in  1905,  20,006;  in  1910,  28,867. 

Commencing  May  13,  1912,  a  week  was  devoted  to  the  celebra- 
tion of  the  Centennial  of  the  reorganization  and  admission  of 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  the  city  into  the  Presbyterian 
denomination  of  America. 

New  Rochelle  was  settled  in  1688.  In  1692  the  first  French 
church  was  built,  which  was  burned  down  in  1723.  In  1709, 
because  of  the  difficulty  in  obtaining  the  services  of  French 
preachers,  all  but  two  members  of  the  congregation  conformed 
to  the  Church  of  England,  the  outgrowth  of  which  is  the  present 
Trinity  Church.  The  two  that  did  not  conform  gathered  later 
French  settlers  and  in  1723  they  erected  another  church,  under 
the  name  of  the  "Reformed  Protestant  Congregation  of  New 
Rochelle."    This  church  decayed  and  was  torn  down  in  1783. 

About  1784  the  congregation  became  allied  with  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  and  on  February  23,  1808,  incorporated  under 
the  title  of  "French  Church  of  New  Rochelle."  A  reorganiza- 
tion under  a  committee  appointed  by  the  Presbytery  of  New 
York  took  place  on  May  30,  1812,  and  a  building  was  raised 
and  dedicated  in  1815  on  land  fronting  on  Huguenot  street, 
which  was  the  gift  of  George  Pelor.  The  present  church  was 
erected  of  native  bowlders  in  1860.  Beneath  the  tower  is  the 
doorstep  of  the  old  Reformed  French  Church. 

The  Huguenot  Association  of  New  Rochelle  is  in  possession  of 
the  original  deed  of  the  6,000  acres  of  land  delivered  by  John 
Pell,  Lord  of  the  Manor  of  Pelham,  and  Rachel,  his  wife,  to  Jacob 
Leisler,  then  acting  Governor  of  the  province  of  New  York,  who 
in  turn  sold  it  to  the  Huguenot  refugees.  This  deed  was  found  on 
January  23,  1912,  by  William  D.  Bonnett,  of  North  avenue,  New 
Rochelle,  in  a  secret  compartment  of  an  old  desk  bequeathed  to 
him  by  his  grandfather.  The  document  is  in  an  excellent  state  of 
preservation,  after  225  years.  The  deed,  which  is  on  a  large  sheet 
of  parchment,  bears  the  signature  of  John  Pell,  the  mark  of  his 
wife  and  the  names  of  five  witnesses.  As  payment  for  the  land, 
Mr.  Leisler,  according  to  this  deed,  gave  "one  thousand  six  hun- 
dred and  seventy-five  pounds,  and  agrees  to  give  to  John  Pell,  his 
heirs  or  assigns,  one  fat  calf  on  every  four  and  twentieth  day  of 
June  yearly  and  every  year  forever  (if  demanded)."  The  deed 
bears  date  "the  twentieth  day  of  September,  in  the  first  year  of  the 
reign  of  our  sovereign  Lord  and  Lady,  William  and  Mary,  King 


166  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

and  Queen  of  England,  and  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand 
six  hundred  and  eighty-nine." 

Through  the  exertions  of  members  of  Huguenot  Chapter, 
Daiighters  of  the  Revolution,  there  was  erected  on  North  Ave- 
nue, this  city,  on  June  25,  1913,  a  colossal  statue  of  Jacob 
Leisler. 

The  Two  Hundred  and  Twenty-fifth  (225th)  Anniversary  of 
the  founding  of  the  town  of  New  Rochelle  by  French  Hugue- 
nots, was  observed  in  June,  1913,  as  a  most  extraordinary  event 
worthy  of  elaborate  celebration  by  citizens  of  the  city  of  New 
Rochelle  and  other  sections  of  the  County  who  attended  in 
thousands  to  make  the  event  a  success.  Not  only  was  the  cele- 
bration of  local  interest,  but  Huguenot  descendants  dwelling  in 
all  parts  of  the  United  States  found  opportunity  to  be  present. 
Officials  representing  La  Rochelle,  France,  the  Huguenot  "home 
city, ' '  were  the  most  honored  guests,  invitations  having  been  ex- 
tended by  officials  of  the  city  of  New  Rochelle  to  the  Mayor 
and  Council  of  La  Rochelle.  Others  among  the  distinguished 
invited  guests  were  the  Ambassador  from  France  to  the  United 
States,  and  the  French  Consul-General  at  New  York  city,  the 
President  of  the  United  States  and  members  of  his  Cabinet, 
the  Governor  of  the  State  of  New  York,  Senators  and  Repre- 
sentatives in  Congress,  members  of  the  State  Legislature,  and 
city  officials  from  all  sections  of  the  State, 

The  celebration  lasted  one  week,  beginning  June  22  and  end- 
ing June  28,  1913.  On  the  first  day,  Sunday,  services  in  the 
local  churches;  on  the  second  day,  a  general  reception  of  guests 
and  citizens  in  the  City  Hall;  automobile  trips  around  the  city 
for  guests ;  evening  reception  at  High  School  building ;  on  third 
day,  military,  firemen's  and  civic  parade;  on  fourth  day.  Hugue- 
not Association  reception— unveiling  of  the  Jacob  Leisler  Monu- 
ment—in the  evening  public  banquet;  on  fifth  day,  entertain- 
ment of  guests  by  sail  on  Long  Island  Sound— parade  of  School 
Children;  on  sixth  day,  reception  for  guests  and  residents  at 
homes  of  private  citizens  during  day;  on  seventh  day,  the  cele- 
bration ended  with  a  Grand  Water  Pageant,  representing  the 
landing  of  the  Huguenots  at  Bonnefoi  Point  (New  Rochelle) 
in  1688;  day  fireworks  and  music  in  parks;  in  the  evening, 
illumination  of  Echo  Bay  Harbor,  music,  fireworks,  and  Water 
Carnival. 


HARRY  E.  COLWELL 


■^•~v,       ^B 


WILLIAM  B.  GREELEY 


SAMUEL  F.  SWINBURNE 


WILLIAM  A.  MOORE 


> 


JOHN  HOLDEN 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


1G7 


Biographical  Sketches. 


HAREY   EDWIN    COLWELL. 

Harry  E.  Colwell,  Mayor  of  New 
Eochelle,  etc.,  was  born  on  May  23, 
1871,  in  Amity,  Orange  County,  New 
York,  a  son  of  Robert  Carpenter  and 
Ida    (Waterbury)   Colwell. 

In  1893  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
became  a  resident  of  New  Rochelle. 
He  received  his  education  in  the 
public  school  of  his  native  town  and 
Goldthwaites  Preparatory  School  in 
Goshen,  N.  Y. 

When  seventeen  years  of  age  he  ac- 
cepted a  position  in  a  clothing  store 
in  Deckertown,  now  Sussex,  N.  J., 
receiving  one  dollar  per  week  and 
board.  In  1890,  three  years  later, 
he  went  to  Goshen,  N.  Y.,  and  en- 
tered the  office  of  a  prominent  real 
estate  broker;  remained  here  three 
years;  after  becoming  familiar  with 
what  he  considered  his  life  work,  he 
decided  on  seeking  a  new  and  wider 
business  field;  he  located  in  New 
Rochelle,  as  a  partner  of  Cortlandt 
I.  Davids,  an  old  established  real 
estate  broker,  and  representative  of 
one  of  the  town's  oldest  families, 
and  at  that  time  Town  Receiver  of 
Taxes. 

In  1894  the  partnership  was  dis- 
solved, Mr.  Colwell  deciding  to  carry 
on  real  estate  and  insurance  busi- 
ness on  his  own  account.  He  soon 
also  became  widely  known  as  a  suc- 
cessful auctioneer,  and  the  only 
prominent  one  in  the  town. 

Genial  manners  and  courteous 
treatment  of  all  with  whom  he  came 
in  contact,  made  him  one  of  the 
most  popular  men  about  town  as 
well  as  one  of  the  most  successful. 
He  became  generally  respected  and 
deservedly  influential.  He  was  fre- 
quently offered  nomination  for  pub- 
lic office  when  nominations  were 
equivalent  to  election ;  these  he  de- 
clined, preferring  to  devote  his  time 
to  his  private  business. 

At  the  organization  of  the  local 
Board  of  Trade  prior  to  1898,  Mr. 
Colwell  was  chosen  secretary,  Hon. 
John  Q.  Underhill  being  elected  first 
president.  This  Board  of  Trade  as- 
sisted materially  in  securing  for  the 
town  of  New  Rochelle  a  city  charter. 
Mr.  Colwell  served  four  years  as 
president  of  the  Board  of  Trade  and 


until  the  Board  was  merged  into  the 
present  Merchants'  Exchange. 

As  the  head  of  the  Board  of  Trade 
he  proved  untiring  in  his  efforts  to 
obtain  desired  public  improvements 
and  to  better  civic  conditions. 

He  not  only  advocated  better 
treatment  of  commuters  by  the  New 
York,  New  Haven  and  Hartford 
Railroad  Company,  but  he,  after  a 
strong  fight,  succeeded  in  bringing 
about  needed  reforms.  Better  tran- 
sit facilities,  cleaner  and  better 
lighted  ears  and  better  service  gen- 
erally on  both  branches  of  said  rail- 
road. He  was  at  the  head  of  the 
fight  against  what  was  considered 
unjust  treatment  of  local  railroad 
commuters  owing  to  said  railroad 
company  increasing  to  an  unreason- 
able amount  yearly  commutation 
rates. 

He  was  one  of  the  leaders  advocat- 
ing the  building  of  the  present  New 
York,  Westchester  and  Boston  rail- 
road running  through  our  city. 

To  his  efforts  is  largely  credited 
the  securing  from  the  United  States 
Government  of  an  appropriation  to 
clear  away  rocks  and  deepen  the 
channel  in  Echo  Bay. 

To  contribute  to  the  natural 
beauty  of  his  city,  he  helped  to 
secure  the  planting  of  trees  along 
many  streets  and  highways,  work 
done  under  direction  of  the  Board 
of   Trade. 

In  politics  Mr.  Colwell  is  a  Repub- 
lican; was  for  several  years  treas- 
urer of  the  Republican  Campaign 
Committee  and  is  a  member  of  the 
New  Rochelle  Republican  Club. 

His  political  party  friends,  after 
great  urging,  succeeded  in  1909  to 
get  Mr.  Colwell  to  accept  their  nomi- 
nation for  Mayor  of  New  Rochelle. 
On  October  7,  that  year,  he  was 
named  as  the  party  candidate;  in 
November  following  he  was  elected 
by  a  large  majority  to  succeed  a 
worthy  Democrat. 

As  Mayor  he  proved  most  popular 
as  he  was  most  conscientious  in 
Vv'hat  he  undertook  to  do.  He  en- 
deavored to  promote  the  welfare  of 
his  constituents,  regardless  of  politi- 
cal party  affiliation.  The  city's 
best     interests    were   his.      He     re- 


168 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


taincd  in  place  faithful  minor 
officials,  persons  efficient  and  com- 
petent appealed  to  him  more  than 
did  mere  political  servitude.  He  was 
a  man  of  action,  a  man  who  did  the 
riglit  thinjr  at  the  right  time — not 
an  official  of  loud  professions  only. 
To  him  is  due  largely  the  bringing 
of  the  question  ot  railroad  commu- 
tation rates  before  the  State  Public 
Service  Commission. 

His  administration  of  city  affairs 
was  wholly  satisfactory,  as  is  ad- 
mitted even  by  political  opponents. 
No  scandal  mars  his  public  career. 
Public  streets  were  made  attrac- 
tive, public  parks  beautified,  an  up- 
to-date  sewerage  system  provided, 
public  works  generally  improved, 
and  taxpayers  were  given  worth  for 
their  money  under  Mayor  Colwell's 
administration. 

Failure  to  give  Mayor  Colwell  a 
re-election,  in  1911,  was,  as  has  been 
admitted,  a  mistake ;  to  rectify  which 
a  citizen's  nomination  and  other  en- 
dorsements were  offered  him,  and  by 
Mm  declined,  in  1913.  His  private 
business  required  all  his  time. 

In  1907  he  was  a  prime  mover  in 
organizing  the  "Westchester  County 
Fire  Insurance  Exchange  and  was 
for  a  time  president  of  that  asso- 
ciation. 

In  all  local  and  county  movements 
to  promote  the  public  welfare  Mr. 
Colwell  is  enlisted,  proving,  as  we 
have  said,  that  he  is  a  man  of  high 
character,  who  does  things. 

He  is  in  business  in  the  same  office 
in  New  Rochelle  occupied  by  him 
for  the  past  twenty  years.  He  is  a 
director  in  the  New  Rochelle  Trust 
Company  and  in  the  North  Avenue 
Bank. 

Is  a  member  of  the  Huguenot  So- 
ciety of  New  Rochelle,  of  the  West- 
chester County  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce, of  the  New  Rochelle  Yacht 
Club,  of  the  Merchants'  Exchange, 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  Men's 
Club,  of  the  Royal  Arcanum  and  of 
the  Republican  Club  of  New  Ro- 
chelle. 

Mr.  Colwell  was  married  February 
13,  189.5,  to  Miss  Katherine  Duer 
Coleman,  daughter  of  Rnswell  C.  and 
Sarah  _W.  Coleman  of  Goshen,  N.  Y. 
Of  this  union  there  are  three  chil- 
dren: Robert  C,  aged  17  years; 
Harry  E.,  Jr.,  age  16  years,  and 
Sarah  K.,  age  10  years. 


WILLIAM  B.  GREELEY. 

William  Bradford  Greeley,  lawyer, 
President  of  the  Board  of  Educa- 
tion, Chairman  of  the  Republican 
City  Committee,  city  of  New 
Rochelle,  was  born  on  November  1, 
1859,  in  Nashua,  N.  H.,  a  son  of  the 
Rev.  Edward  Hanford  Greeley,  D.  D., 
and   Louise   Maria    (Ware)    Greeley, 

His  father  was  pastor  of  the  Con- 
gregational Church  in  Nashua,  N. 
H.,  in  1859,  then  in  Methuen,  Mass., 
and  later  in  Haverhill,  N.  H.,  becom- 
ing Secretary  of  the  N.  H.  Home 
Missionary  Society  in  1874  and  mov- 
ing to  Concord,  N.  H.,  where  he  died 
in  1890. 

Under  the  careful  supervision  of 
his  father,  son  William  was  pre- 
pared for  college.  He  graduated 
from  Dartmouth  College,  in  1881. 
He  taught  one  year  in  Kimball  Un- 
ion Academy,  Meriden,  N.  H.,  and 
was  principal  of  a  grammar  school 
in  Woburn,  Mass.,  for  two  years. 

In  1884,  by  examination,  he  ob- 
tained appointment  as  an  Examiner 
in  the  United  States  Patent  Office 
in  Washington,  D.  C.  This  position 
he  held  from  1884  to  1889,  gaining 
much  valuable  experience  to  be  found 
later  useful  in  his  chosen  profession. 

He  devoted  his  spare  time  to  the 
study  of  law  and  graduated  from 
the  Columbian  University  Law 
School,  Washington,  in  1887  and  was 
admitted  to  practice  in  the  District 
of  Columbia.  In  1889  he  came  to 
New  York;  the  following  year  he 
was  admitted,  in  the  Second  Judicial 
District,  New  York,  to  practice  at 
the  bar. 

He  is,  at  present  writing,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  legal  firm  of  Redding  & 
Greeley,  a  partnership  formed  in 
1895,  with  offices  in  New  York  City, 
their  specialty  being  law  pertaining 
to  patents  and  one  in  which  they 
have  earned  a  high  reputation. 

Mr.  Greeley  became  a  resident  of 
New  Rochelle  in  September,  1892. 
He  rapidly  made  friends  in  his  new 
home;  courteous  in  manner,  with  an 
agreeable  appearance  and  pleasing 
address,  he  is  calculated  by  nature 
to  make  and  hold  friends.  He  is 
a  cultivated  scholar,  and  a  close 
and  logical  lawyer. 

He  was  first  appointed  a  member 
of  the  local  Board  of  Education  in 
1902,   one  of  the  first  appointments 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


169 


made  by  Mayor  Clarke;  this  posi- 
tion he  still  holds,  and  with  ten 
years  of  service  as  a  director  of  pub- 
lic education,  he  is  senior  member  of 
the  board  as  well  as  its  president, 
to  which  latter  office  he  was  elected 
in  1911. 

Shortly  after  his  coming  to  reside 
in  New  Eochfelle  he  enrolled  himself 
in  the  ranks  of  the  Eepublican  party, 
and  was  soon  chosen  a  member  of 
the  New  Eochelle  Republican  City 
Committee.  In  1907  he  was  elected 
as  chairman  of  this  committee,  a 
position  in  which  he  was  enabled  to 
bring  into  play  the  highest  order  of 
administrative  abilities.  He  contin- 
ued as  such  chairman  until  1911.  He 
was  again  elected  chairman  in  1912. 

In  1907  he  was  appointed  by  a 
Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  as  a 
Commissioner  of  Appraisal  in  con- 
demnation proceeding  to  fix  value  of 
land  acquired  by  the  City  of  New 
York,  to  aid  in  securing  an  addition- 
al supply  of  water  for  that  city. 

He  was  chosen  a  Vestryman  of 
Trinity  Episcopal  Church,  New  Eo- 
chelle, in  1904;  a  position  he  yet 
holds,  being  Clerk  of  the  Vestry. 

He  is  one  of  the  governors  of  the 
New  Hampshire  Society,  a  member 
of  the  Camp-Fire  Club  of  America, 
of  the  American  Bar  Association,  of 
the  New  York  State  Bar  Association, 
of  the  Bar  Association  of  New  York 
City,  of  the  Westchester  County  Bar 
Association,  of  the  New  York  County 
Lawyers'  Association,  of  the  New 
York  Eepublican  Club,  of  the  New 
Eochelle  Eepublican  Club,  of  the 
Engineers'  Club  of  New  York  City, 
of  the  American  History  Club  of 
New  Eochelle,  of  the  Men's  Club 
of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church, 
New  Eochelle,  of  the  Huguenot 
Yacht  Club  and  of  the  Wykagyl 
Country  Club  of  New  Eochelle. 

Mr.  Greeley  was  maried  on  April 
15,  1891,  to  Miss  Sarah  Noble  Bur- 
leigh, daughter  of  George  "William 
and  Hannah  Louise  (Bryant)  Bur- 
leigh, of  Somersworth,  N.  H.  There 
are  three  children,  two  sons,  ages 
sixteen  and  fourteen  years,  and  a 
daughter  aged  twelve  years.  Mrs. 
Greeley  died  at  her  home  in  New 
Eochelle  on  October  2,   1910. 


MICHAEL  J.   TIEENEY. 

Michael  James  Tierney,  lawyer, 
former  Police  Justice,  lormer  Vil- 
lage Corporation  Counsel,  former 
City  Corporation  Counsel,  Commis- 
sioner, etc.,  was  born,  where  he  has 
always  continued  to  reside,  in  New 
Eochelle,  on  January  16,  1864,  a  son 
of  Patrick  and  Mary  (Hennessy) 
Tierney. 

He  became  possessed  of  a  good 
education  by  the  aid  of  private 
tutors  and  up-to-date  public  schools 
of  which  his  native  town  was  justly 
proud.  He  has  never  ceased  to  be 
a  student;  after  leaving  school  he 
could  be  found  devoting  his  spare 
time  to  the  higher  branches  of  study 
and  the  accumulation  of  general 
knowledge. 

At  an  early  age  he  entered  as  a 
student  the  law  offices  of  Martin  J. 
Keogh,  now  Supreme  Court  Justice, 
who  even  at  that  time  had  taken  a 
prominent  rank  in  his  profession. 
His  employer  was  not  long  in  recog- 
nizing the  abilities  of  young  Tier- 
ney, and  he  soon  became  Mr. 
Keogh 's  managing  clerk  in  the  New 
Eochelle  office. 

The  first  political  office  Mr.  Tier- 
ney held  was  that  of  a  Town  Auditor, 
and  this  position  came  to  him  soon 
after  he  was  entitled  to  vote  as 
an  elector.  Closely  following  this 
came  his  election  as  Police  Justice 
of  the  village  of  New  Eochelle,  mak- 
ing him  the  youngest  man  ever  hold- 
ing this  important  position.  As  a 
Police  Magistrate  he  served  eight 
years,  until  he  found  that  the  de- 
mands of  his  profession  required  his 
relinquishing  the  discharge  of  pub- 
lic functions. 

He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1885,  and  remained  with  Mr.  Keogh 
until  1895,  when  the  latter  went 
upon  the  bench.  In  the  year  1895 
Mr.  Tierney  swung  out  his  shingle 
and  embarked  in  business  on  his  own 
account,  and  it  is  said  that  from  the 
start  he  attained  success  far  beyond 
the  expectations  of  his  most  san- 
guine well-wisher. 

His  popularity  as  a  citizen  and  as 
a  lawyer  is  responsible  for  his  be- 
ing next  called  to  the  position  of 
Corporation  Counsel  to  the  village 
of  New  Eochelle;  in  this  capacity  he 
served  eight  years,  and  this  long 
period  of  holding  is  evidence  that  he 
discharged  his  duties  acceptably. 


170 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


On  the  incorporation  of  New  Eo- 
chelle  as  a  city  Mr.  Tierney  was 
chosen  its  first  corporation  Counsel, 
and  a  great  part  of  the  intricate 
work  necessary  to  properly  and 
legally  launch  a  city  devolved  upon 
him.  Again  in  1908  the  office  came 
to  him  unsolicited.  The  total  num- 
ber of  years  he  has  served  as  New 
Eochelle's  official  legal  adviser  is 
five,  with  fair  prospects  of  serving 
more  years,  if  he  be  so  inclined. 

Frequently  he  is  named  by  Courts 
to  serve  at  head  of  Commissions  to 
consider  important  matters,  involv- 
ing large  sums  of  money. 

He  was  elected  Vice-President  of 
the  Westchester  County  Bar  Associa- 
tion in  1912. 

It   is   no    unkind     reflection   upon 
other   distinguished  members   of   the 
profession    to    say    that    to-day   Mr, 
Tierney  is  admitted  to  be  the  lead- 
ing member  of  the  bar  in  his  native 
city;   and  has  no  superiors,  and  few 
equals  in  the  county.  As  a  trial  law- 
yer he  has  earned  an  enviable  repu- 
tation.      His     success     recorded     in 
cases  conducted  in  many  sections  of 
this  Judicial  District,  as  well  as  in 
different  portions  of  the  State,  has 
attracted   attention    and   created   an 
unceasing    demand    for    his    services. 
Very  frequently  he   is  found  in  the 
Supreme    Court,    and    in    the    higher 
Courts,  pleading  as  trial  lawyer  the 
cases  of  other  lawyers.  His  popular- 
ity with  jurors  is  marked;  his  man- 
ner of  conducting  a  case  shows  that 
he   has   his   case   well   in   hand,   that 
he  has  come  fully  prepared  by  study 
of   every   feature;     his  graphic  and 
pleasing   description   seldom   fails   to 
enable  a  juror  to  see  things  through 
the  eyes  of  the  pleader.     No  litiga- 
tion of  importance  takes  place  in  his 
home   city   without   introducing    Mr. 
Tierney   as   counsel,   on   one   side   or 
the  other. 

In  speaking  of  Mr.  Tierney  we 
give  no  unjust  praise,  but  strive 
only  to  give  credit  due.  Permit  us 
to  speak  generally,  and  say  that  the 
subject  of  our  sketch  belongs  to  that 
class  of  self-made  men  who,  under 
our  liberal  institutions,  form  the 
most  substantial  portion  of  the  com- 
munity. Without  the  advantage 
of  wealth  or  influence  in  early  life, 
they  work  their  way  slowly  but 
surely  to  positions  of  competence 
and   distinction.     Such  men   are  en- 


titled to  commendation  and  never 
fail,  in  the  end,  of  being  appre- 
ciated by  their  fellow  citizens. 

Mr.  Tierney  is  a  member  of  the 
Westchester  County  Bar  Associa- 
tion; and  being  fond  of  aquatic 
sports,  and  owning  a  yacht  on  which 
his  few  idle  hours  are  spent,  he  is 
a  member  of  the  New  Rochelle 
Yacht  Club,  as  well  as  a  member 
of  the  New  Eochelle  Eowing  Club; 
is  a  charter  member  of  the  local 
lodge  of   Elks. 

He  was  married  on  November  27, 
1888,  to  Miss  Katherine  Brady, 
daughter  of  William  and  Mary 
(Gaffney)  Brady,  of  New  Eochelle. 
Of  this  union  there  are  living  eight 
children,  Martin  J.,  aged  21  years; 
Marie,  aged  19  years;  Katherine 
H.,  Eleanor  E.,  Marguerite,  Jerome, 
Eaphael   and  Beatrice. 

JOHN  HOLDEN. 

John  Holden,  lawyer,  president  of 
the  Board  of  Trustees  Public  Li- 
brary, City  of  New  Eochelle,  etc., 
was  born  on  March  30,  1862,  in  Clif- 
ton, Staten  Island,  N.  Y.,  a  son  of 
Isaac  and  Esther  (Stead)  Holden, 

His  parents  became  residents  of 
Bridgeport,  Conn.,  when  he  was 
quite  young.  He  attended  the  public 
schools  of  that  city  and  graduated 
from  the  Bridgeport  High  School. 
Entered  Yale  College  and  graduated 
therefrom  in  1884.  He  spent  the 
next  two  years  in  California  in  busi- 
ness and  journalism  and  continued 
newspaper  work  up  to  and  for  some 
time  after  his  admission  to  the  Bar. 

The  profession  of  the  law,  which 
in  our  country  has  such  fascination 
for  all  men  who  study,  and  out  of 
their  study  learn  to  reflect  and  rea- 
son, had  its  attractions  for  young 
Holden,  as  he  found  real  life  coming 
out  before  him,  and  he  devoted  him- 
self to  it.  He  attended  the  Colum- 
bia Law  School  and  was  admitted 
to  practice  in  1888. 

He  entered  the  law  offices  of  Gray 
&  Davenport  in  New  York  city  in 
1886, 

He  began  practice  on  his  own  ac- 
count in  1888.  At  present  he  has 
law  offices  at  No.  141  Broadway, 
New  York  city. 

^Ir.  Holden  became  a  resident  of 
New  Eochelle  in  the  year  1894.  Be- 
ing a  man  of  recognized  ability,  in 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


171 


various  directions,  he  early  became 
interested  in  affairs  concerning  his 
residential  town,  and  became  known 
in  political  circles,  in  which  he  has 
since  occupied  a  foremost  position. 
Though  applying  himself  assiduously 
to  the  duties  of  his  profession,  he 
has  found  time  to  bestow  on  literary 
and  political  subjects,  and  is  the  au- 
thor of  several  interesting  papers 
treating  on  important  topics. 

His  election  as  president  of  the 
Public  Library  Board  placed  him  in 
a  position  suiting  his  tastes  and 
gave  to  the  office  a  man  well  fitted 
to  fill  it.  During  his  administration 
as  such  officer  many  desired  reforms 
have  been  inaugurated,  better  adapt- 
ing the  Library  to  the  service  of  the 
public. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  New  Eng- 
land Society,  of  the  New  York  Bar 
Association,  of  the  Westchester 
County  Bar  Association,  of  the  Yale 
Club,  and  of  the  Huguenot  Yacht 
Club,  of  New  Eochelle. 

Mr.  Holden  was  married  on  No- 
vember 22,  1892,  to  Miss  Florence 
Heywood,  daughter  of  Eev.  William 
S.  and  Abbie  (Ballou)  Heywood,  of 
Sterling,  Mass.  There  are  two  chil- 
dren, son  and  daughter,  Heywood 
and  Constance. 


WILLIAM  A.   MOOEE. 

William  A.  Moore,  former  Assist- 
ant District-Attorney,  former  State 
Transfer  Tax  Counsel,  etc.,  was  born 
in  Eutland,  Jefferson  County,  New 
York,  on  July  5th,  1873,  and  is  the 
son  of  George  A.  and  Cornelia  E. 
(Dunlap)  Moore,  both  of  whom  were 
born  in  the  same  town.  His  father 's 
family  had  moved  into  Northern  New 
York  from  Massachusetts  in  the  first 
decade  of  the  19th  century,  driving 
their  team  up  through  the  State  of 
Vermont  across  the  northern  part  of 
New  York  into  the  Black  Eiver 
Valley.  His  mother's  people  were  of 
Scotch  Irish  descent.  His  father  was 
a  farmer  and  his  early  school  years 
were  spent  at  the  country  district 
school  from  which  he  later  went  to 
the  High  School  in  the  neighboring 
city  of  Watertown,  New  York,  where 
he  graduated  as  salutatorian  of  his 
class  in  1890.  The  next  year  he 
spent  in  teaching  in  a  district  school 
and  later  took  up  newspaper  work, 


serving  upon  the  staff  of  the  Water- 
town  Herald;  this  work  was  for  the 
purpose  of  procuring  money  for  his 
college  course.  He  entered  Yale  Col- 
lege the  following  year  and  gradu- 
ated in  the  Class  of  1895.  He  paid 
the  expenses  of  his  college  course 
by  teaching  and  newspaper  work. 
After  graduation  from  College  he 
again  took  up  work  as  a  teacher 
until  1896  when  he  received  an  ap- 
pointment as  a  University  scholar  at 
Columbia  University.  The  succeed- 
ing year  was  spent  in  the  study  of 
political  science  at  that  institution, 
from  which  he  received  the  degree  of 
M.  A.  in  1897.  The  following  year 
he  began  the  study  of  law  at  the 
New  York  Law  School  from  which 
he  received  the  degree  of  LL.B.  in 
1899  and  was  admitted  to  the  New 
York  Bar  in  June  of  that  year.  As 
is  customary  with  most  young  men 
in  New  York  he  began  a  clerkship 
with  a  firm  of  attorneys,  later  en- 
tering the  office  of  Guthrie,  Cravath 
&  Henderson,  where  his  clerkship 
ended  in  1901  by  his  removal  to 
New  Eochelle  where  the  firm  of  Dun- 
lap  &  Moore  was  organized  in  that 
year.  The  following  year  the  firm 
opened  an  office  in  New  York,  tak- 
ing a  third  partner,  Mr.  Joseph  E. 
Swan,  who  had  been  a  classmate  of 
Mr.  Moore  at  college. 

In  1904  he  was  appointed  Assist- 
ant District  Attorney  of  Westchester 
County  by  J.  Addison  Young,  who 
was  at  that  time  District  Attorney 
of  the  County.  Previous  to  this  time 
the  work  of  the  office  had  been  car- 
ried on  by  the  District  Attorney  and 
one  assistant,  but  the  rapid  growth 
and  development  of  the  county 
brought  with  it  a  tremendous  in- 
crease in  the  criminal  business  in  the 
District  Attorney's  office  requiring 
further  assistance.  Mr.  Moore  was 
the  first  to  hold  the  position  of  Sec- 
ond Assistant  District  Attorney, 
which  position  he  held  until  the 
term  of  Mr.  Young  expired  at  the 
end  of  1907.  During  this  period  he 
represented  the  State  in  the  prosecu- 
tion of  a  large  number  of  important 
criminal  cases,  Westchester  County 
securing  a  series  of  convictions  in 
pool  room  cases  which  were  af- 
firmed by  the  Court  of  Appeals  and 
were  the  first  actual  adjudications 
secured  in  this  State  of  the  Percy 
Gray  racing  bill. 


172 


lilANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


Mr.  Moore  also  prosecuted  with 
marked  success  the  cases  growing  out 
of  the  movemeut  in  Peekskill  in 
1906  for  the  civic  improvement  of 
that  prosperous  community  and  re- 
ceived the  generous  commendation  of 
the  citizens  of  Peekskill  for  his  work. 

After  retiring  from  the  District 
Attorney's  office  in  1907,  he  became 
a  member  of  the  firm  of  Eedding, 
Greeley  &  Austin,  38  Park  Eow,  New 
York  city,  who  were  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  both  patent  and  general 
law. 

During  this  time  he  served  upon 
three  successive  charter  commissions 
for  the  City  of  New  Kochelle,  mak- 
ing a  comprehensive  study  of  muni- 
cipal government.  He  prepared  the 
original  draft  from  which  was 
derived  the  present  charter  of  that 
City,  considered  a  model  charter  for 
third  class  cities. 

On  January  1,  1911,  both  Mr. 
Moore  and  his  former  partner,  Mr. 
Swan,  who  also  had  become  a  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  Redding,  Greeley 
&  Austin,  withdrew  and  formed  the 
partnership  of  Swan  &  Moore,  with 
offices  at  29  Liberty  Street,  New 
York  city. 

During  the  years  1910  and  1911 
Mr.  Moore  represented  the  State 
Comptroller  as  attorney  in  transfer 
tax  proceedings,  in  Westchester 
County,  and  established  a  record 
for  the  prompt  disposition  of  all 
questions  which  arose  in  those  pro- 
ceedings. He  established  the  custom 
of  having  regular  office  days  in  the 
Surrogate's  office  at  White  Plains 
and  also  at  his  office  in  New  York, 
where  matters  in  charge  of  _  New 
York  attorneys  received  attention. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Association 
of  The  Bar  of  the  City  of  New 
York;  Westchester  County  Bar  As- 
sociation; the  Republican  Club  of 
New  York;  the  Republican  Club  of 
New  Rochelle;  the  Yale  Alumni  As- 
sociation; the  American  Society  of 
International  Law;  the  Huguenot 
Yacht  Club  and  the  Underwriters' 
Club. 

Mr.  Moore  was  married  on  July 
30,  1903,  to  Miss  Lois  Cooper, 
daughter  of  Charles  Howell  and 
Anna  Churchill  Cooper,  of  Water- 
town,  N.  Y.  Two  children  bless  this 
union,  both  sons:  William  Cooper 
Moore,  aged  six  years,  and  Anson 
Moore,  who  was  born  in  1912. 


SAMUEL  F.  SWINBURNE. 

Samuel  Foster  Swinburne,  City 
Judge,  former  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
former  Police  Justice,  etc.,  was 
born  October  16,  1868,  at  Natick, 
Mass.,  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Sarah 
J.   (McCracken)   Swinburne. 

He  was  educated  in  the  schools  of 
his  native  town  and  graduated  from 
Harvard  College  in  1890. 

He  became  a  resident  of  New  Ro- 
chelle in  the  year  1891;  opening 
law  offices  here,  where  he  was  not 
long  in  establishing  a  prosperous 
business,  principally  relating  to  the 
closing  of  estates  and  appearances 
in  the  Surrogate's  Court,  though  hia 
law  practice  is  general;  his  success 
r.s  a  practitioner  was  marked  and 
continuous.  He  is  justly  rated 
among  the  leading  lawyers  of  the 
county. 

He  has  always  devoted  himself  so 
closely  to  his  profession  as  to  pre- 
vent all  thought  of  political  prefer- 
ment until  1894  when  he  accepted  the 
office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace,  serv- 
ing out  the  term  but  declined  re- 
election on  the  ground  that  demands 
of  his  profession  required  his  un- 
divided attention.  He  has  on  several 
occasions  declined  the  offer  of  a 
nomination  from  his  political  party 
for  the  office  of  Mayor.  He  yielded 
in  1909  to  become  a  candidate  for 
Police  Justice,  and  again  in  1911  to 
be  a  candidate  for  the  new  office 
of  City  Judge,  because  such  official 
positions  were  in  line  with  his  pro- 
fession. 

The  unprecedented  majority  he  re- 
ceived for  the  City  Judgeship  may 
be  considered  as  strong  evidence  of 
his  popularity,  especially  at  an  elec- 
tion when  the  opposing  political 
party  elected  by  large  majorities  the 
Mayor,  Comptroller  and  a  majority 
of  the  members  of  the  Common  Coun- 
cil. 

Judge  Swinburne  is  a  member  of 
the  New  York  State  Bar  Association, 
and  of  Bar  Association  of  city  of 
New  York,  is  a  Past  Master  of 
Hugenot  Lodge,  F.  and  A.  M.,  of 
New  Rochelle,  a  member  of  Mount 
Vernon  Council  Bethlehem  Com- 
mandery  Knight  Templar,  of  Mystic 
Shrine,  served  as  District  Deputy 
Grand  INTaster,  12th  Masonic  District 
in  1909-10;  was  the  first  elected  Ex- 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


173 


alted  Euler  of  the  New  Eochelle 
Lodge  of  Elks,  No.  756,  organized  in 
1902;  a  member  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Foresters  and  a  member  of 
the  Junior  Order  of  American 
Mechanics. 

Judge    Swinburne    is    married    to 


Miss  Emma  R.  Strain,  daughter  of 
P.  H.  and  Margaret  Strain,  of  New 
York. 

He    has    three    children,    Alcester, 
aged    sixteen    years;     Edith,     aged 


twelve 
years. 


years,    and    Ruth,    aged    six 


For  biographical  sketches  of  other  residents  see  elsewhere  in  this  book, 
and  in  volumes  one  and  two. 


TOAVN  OF  NORTH  CASTLE, 


(Continued  from  page  234,  Vol.  1.) 

The  census  of  1910  gives  this  town  a  population  of  1,522.  The 
town  was  organized  March  7,  1788. 

The  "North  Castle  of  the  Revolution"  is  of  special  historic 
interest,  owing  to  scenes  of  strife  enacted  in  the  locality  during 
the  Revolutionary  period. 

The  ' '  Heights  of  North  Castle ' '  is  where  General  Washington 
and  his  small  but  determined  army  camped  after  the  battle  of 
White  Plains. 

In  the  southern  section  of  the  town,  near  the  North  White 
Plains  railroad  station,  stands  the  old  building  that  Gen.  Wash- 
ington occupied  as  his  headquarters,  from  October  23  to  Novem- 
ber 9,  1776,  at  the  time  of  the  Battle  of  White  Plains;  overlook- 
ing these  headquarters  is  "Castle  Heights,"  upon  which  can 
yet  be  seen  the  breastworks,  about  four  feet  high,  which  the 
patriot  soldiers  threw  up ;  a  little  further  east,  is  the  building 
which  Gen.  La  Fayette  occupied  as  his  headquarters,  at  the 
foot  of  ' '  Mount  Misery. ' '  *  On  this  elevation  also  can  yet  be 
seen  the  breastworks  behind  which  the  patriot  soldiers  laid  in 
wait  for  the  coming  enemy.  When  the  writer  visited  them,  in 
the  fall  of  1912,  both  buildings  were  in  excellent  state  of  preser- 
vation, and  to  a  great  degree  in  original  condition. 

In  the  story  relating  to  Major  Andre's  capture  localities  in 
this  town  figure  conspicuously. 

In  the  eventful  month  of  September,  1780,  Col.  Elisha  Shel- 
don, in  command  of  the  Second  Dragoons,  of  the  patriotic  forces, 
was  stationed  at  Sands'  Mills  (later  known  as  Armonk),  and 
the  next  in  command,   Lieutenant-Colonel  Ebenezer  Jameson, 

*  The  patriot  soldiers  who  suffered  great  privations  gave  this  high  ground 
the  name  now  applied  to  it. 


174  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

had  his  headquarters  at  the  Robbins  house,  Kensico.  The  Sec- 
ond Dragoous  is  described  as  having  been  considered  ' '  one  of  the 
finest,"  as  it  was  supplied  with  arms  and  accoutrements  bought 
in  France,  and  was  in  part  mounted.  It  guarded  the  lower 
section  of  the  County,  bordering  on  "neutral  land,"  subject  to 
periodical  invasions  and  depredations  by  the  enemy;  by  the 
skirmishing  squads  sent  out  by  the  British  in  New  York  city, 
and  by  "  Cowboys,"  or  "  Skinners." 

It  w^as  to  this  town  that  Major  Andre  was  brought  after  his 
capture  at  Tarrytown.  His  captors  decided  that  he  be  taken 
forthwith  to  the  nearest  American  military  post,  and  deliv- 
ered up  to  the  officer  in  command.  The  John  Robbins'  house, 
at  Robbin's  Mills  (more  recently  Kensico),  was  being  used  as 
the  headquarters  of  Lt.-Col.  Jameson ;  this  being  the  nearest 
post,  to  this  place  Andre  was  brought,  accompanied  by  Pauld- 
ing, Williams,  Van  Wart  and  their  five  companions.  The  Rob- 
bins'  house  was  a  small  frame  building,  of  the  style  of  architec- 
ture in  vogue  in  those  days,  situated  on  land  acquired  in  1896 
by  the  City  of  New  York  as  part  of  the  reservoir  watershed; 
the  house  was  destroyed  about  two  years  later.  In  Washington 
Irving 's  "Life  of  Washington,"  is  told  the  pathetic  story  how 
when  Andre  and  his  captors  arrived  at  the  Robbins'  house  the 
family  was  at  dinner,  that  Andre  was  asked  to  "sit  by"  and 
become  one  of  their  number  in  partaking  of  the  humble  meal. 
His  reply  was,  in  his  most  polite  manner,  ' '  Oh,  madam,  it  is  all 
very  good,  but  indeed  I  cannot  eat. ' '  Irving  added  that  it  was 
a  very  elderly  lady  who  told  him  of  this  incident,  saying  that 
she  was  a  young  girl  at  the  time  and  one  of  the  company  seated 
about  the  dinner  table,  and  even  in  later  years  when  recalling 
the  scene  she  had  difficulty  in  restraining  her  tears. 

As  Lt.-Col.  Jameson  was  not  found  at  the  Robbins'  house,  the 
captors  and  the  captured  journeyed  on  six  miles  distant  to 
Sands'  Mills  (later  known  as  Armonk),  the  principal  head- 
quarters of  Colonel  Sheldon,  in  whose  stead  Lt.-Col.  Jameson 
was  acting,  the  Colonel  being  absent. 

Williams  (one  of  the  captors),  in  his  narrative  given  later, 
says :  "We  kept  to  the  by-ways,  and  went  as  quickly  and  silently 
as  we  could.  He  (Andre)  suffered  much  in  mind,  as  was  appar- 
ent from  his  great  dejection,  but  he  acted  like  a  gentleman,  can- 
didly and  politely,  and  never  once  attempted  to  escape." 

Sands'  Mills  (known  as  Mile  Square,  and  later  as  Araionk) 
was  a  small  hamlet,  possessed  of  a  saw-mill,  the  Sands'  resi- 
dence, and  little  else. 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  I75 

The  facts  relating  to  Jameson's  mistake  in  attempting  to  send 
the  captured  Andre  and  his  papers  to  Arnold,  to  the  subsequent 
recall  of  Andre,  and  to  the  unfortunate  neglect  to  recall  also 
the  papers,  is  told  elsewhere  in  the  story  relating  to  Andre's 
capture. 

The  guard  under  Lieutenant  Allen  sent  to  convey  Andre  to 
Arnold  did  not  include  any  of  his  captors,  it  was  composed  of 
Connecticut  militia.  It  is  stated  that  when  Allen  received  the 
communication  ordering  him  to  bring  Andre  back  to  Col.  Shel- 
don's headquarters,  his  men,  composing  the  guard,  were  almost 
mutinous  on  being  told  they  would  have  to  return  with  Andre, 
and  Andre  encouraged  them,  making  it  difficult  for  Allen  to 
compel  them  to  return. 

The  order  sent  to  Allen  directed  that  he  take  his  prisoner  to 
Capt.  Jeronemus  Hoogland,  of  Second  Dragoons,  at  Lower 
Salem  (known  as  South  Salem,  now  as  Lewisboro)  ;  but  instead 
(for  some  unexplained  reason)  of  going  to  Lower  Salem,  Andre 
was  taken  back  to  headquarters  at  Sands'  Mills,  arriving  at 
about  9  A.  M.,  on  Sunday,  September  24.  From  latter  place 
Andre  was  sent  to  Lower  Salem.  This  was  after  Major  Tall- 
madge  had  met  Andre  for  the  first  time,  and  from  appearances 
generally  judged  him  to  be  a  British  soldier,  prevailed  upon 
Jameson  to  send  the  prisoner  to  Col.  Sheldon,  then  at  Lower 
Salem.  Under  escort  of  the  valiant  Major  and  a  squad  Andre 
was  marched  to  Lower  Salem.  Paulding,  Williams  and  Van 
Wart,  who  happened  at  Sands'  Mills  headquarters,  accompanied 
the  party  part  of  the  way.  Andre,  on  arriving  at  the  latter  place 
was  taken  to  the  house  of  'Squire  John  Gilbert,  in  Lower  Salem, 
under  an  escort  of  twenty  dragoons,  mounted,  commanded  by 
]\Iajor  Tallmadge.  The  route  was  by  Coman's  Hill,  Bedford 
Village  and  Cross  River  to  Lower  Salem. 

At  the  present  time  the  ownership  of  most  of  this  historic 
land  has  passed  to  New  York  City,  to  be  used  in  endeavor  to  give 
that  fast  growing  municipality  a  sufficient  water  supply. 

On  the  site  of  Kensico  Lake,  in  this  township,  and  covering 
in  addition  thousands  of  acres  of  land  adjoining,  acquired  by 
the  City  of  New  York  to  aid  its  water  supply,  is  to  be  built  one 
of  the  largest  reservoirs  in  the  country,  if  not  in  the  world. 

The  water  of  this  lake  were  drawn  off  and  the  fish  therein 
carefully  removed  and  transferred  to  nearby  Rye  Lake  and 
Grassy  Sprain  Lake,  in  August,  1911. 

There  are  no  incorporated  villages  in  this  town.    The  several 


17G  ]\IANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


principal  localities  are  named  as  Valhalla,  Armonk,  Banksville, 
Byram  Lake,  Wampus  Lake,  Kensico  Reservoir,  part  of  Rye 
Lake,  I\Iianus  River  and  Byram  River. 

The  population  of  the  town  has  been  as  follows:     In  1830, 


1,653 
2,189 
1,996 
1.403 


in  1835,  1,789;  in  1840,  2,058;  in  1845,  2,010;  in  1850, 

in  1855,  2,415;  in  1860,  2,487;  in  1865,  2,198;  in  1870, 

in  1875,  1,961;  in  1880,  1,818;  in  1890,  1,475;  in  1892, 
in  1900,  1,471;  in  1905,  1,483;  in  1910,  1,522. 


For  biograpliieal  sketches  of  other  residents  see  elsewhere  in  this  book, 
and  in  volumes  one  and  two. 


TOWN  OF  NORTH  SALEM. 


(Continued  from   page  235,  Vol.   1.) 

Like  other  towns  in  the  upper  section  of  the  County,  Salem, 
Lower  or  South  Salem,  and  North  Salem,  have  prominent  men- 
tion in  the  story  relating  to  the  capture  of  Major  Andre  in  the 
Revolutionary  period.  It  was  to  Col.  Sheldon's  headquarters, 
in  Lower  Salem,  that  Andre  was  brought,  after  his  capture,  and 
was  there  at  the  time  Gen.  Washington  ordered  his  removal  to 
West  Point.  Andre  arrived  at  'Squire  John  Gilbert's  house  in 
the  morning,  at  about  8  o'clock.  The  Gilbert  house  stood  on 
the  west  side  of  the  road  leading  north  from  Lower  Salem, 
between  where  more  recently  stood  the  residences  of  Mrs.  Abby 
Hoyt  and  John  I.  Bouton.  The  Gilbert  house,  standing  on 
land  recently  acquired  by  New  York  City,  is,  like  many  other 
buildings,  a  thing  of  the  past. 

It  was  in  the  Gilbert  house  that  Andre  wrote  his  first  and 
celebrated  letter  of  appeal  to  Gen.  Washington,  in  endeavor  to 
state  his  position,  under  date  of  September  24,  1780. 

Lieutenant  Joshua  King  (later  a  General),  of  Sheldon's  com- 
mand, was  among  those  who  received  Andre  on  his  arrival,  and 
in  whose  charge  he  was  put.  In  speaking  of  the  prisoner  later. 
Lieutenant  King  said: 

"He  (Andre)  looked  somewhat  like  a  reduced  gentleman. 
His  small-clothes  were  nankeen,  with  handsome  white-top  rid- 
ing boots— in  fact  his  undress  military  clothes.  His  coat  was 
purple,  with  gold  lace,  worn  somewhat  threadbare,  with  a  small- 
brimmed  tarnished  beaver  on  his  head.  He  wore  his  hair  in  a 
queue,  with  long  black  beard  (probably  a  beard  of  several  days' 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  177 

growth,  being  unable  to  get  a  shave  on  the  road),  and  his  clothes 
were  somewhat  soiled  by  dust  and  mud.  In  this  garb  I  took 
charge  of  him.  After  breakfast,  at  which  he  ate  very  sparingly, 
my  barber  came  in  to  attend  to  my  needs,  after  so  doing  I 
requested  the  barber  to  submit  Andre  to  the  same  operation, 
which  he  did.  When  the  ribbon  was  taken  from  his  hair,  I 
observed  the  hair  full  of  powder;  this  circumstance,  with  others 
that  occurred,  induced  me  to  believe  that  I  had  no  ordinary 
person  in  charge.  He  requested  permission  to  take  the  bed 
while  his  shirt  and  smallclothes  might  be  washed.  I  told  him 
that  was  needless,  for  a  shirt  was  at  his  service,  which  he 
accepted.  "VVe  were  close  pent-up  in  a  bedroom,  with  a  vidette 
at  the  door  and  window.  There  was  a  spacious  yard  before  the 
door,  which  he  desired  he  might  be  permitted  to  walk  in  with 
me.  I  accordingly  disposed  of  my  guard  in  such  a  manner  as 
to  prevent  an  escape.  While  walking  together,  he  observed 
he  must  make  a  confidant  of  somebody,  and  he  knew  not  a  more 
proper  person  than  myself,  as  I  had  appeared  to  befriend  a 
stranger  in  distress.  After  settling  the  point  between  us,  he 
told  me  who  he  was,  and  gave  me  a  short  account  of  himself 
from  the  time  he  was  taken  a  prisoner  at  St.  John's,  in  1775." 

Andre  was  confined  in  the  Gilbert  house  while  waiting  orders 
from  Gen.  Washington,  as  to  what  was  to  be  done  with  the 
prisoner. 

At  about  midnight  of  the  25th  day  of  September,  a  messenger 
from  Gen.  Washington  arrived  at  the  Salem  headquarters,  and 
delivered  the  expected  order  to  Lt.-Col.  Jameson.  The  order 
was  as  follows: 

Headquarteks, 

Robinson  House,  7  p.  m., 

25th  September,  1780. 

"Sir:  — I  wish  every  precaution  and  attention  to  be  paid  to 
prevent  his  (Andre's)  escape.  He  will  without  doubt  make  it 
if  possible ;  and  in  order  that  he  may  not  have  it  in  his  power, 
you  will  send  him  under  care  of  such  a  party  and  so  many 
officers  as  to  protect  him  from  the  least  opportunity  of  doing  it. 

"That  he  may  be  less  liable  to  be  recaptured  by  the  enemy, 
who  will  no  doubt  make  every  effort  to  regain  him,  he  had 
better  be  conducted  to  this  place  by  some  upper  road,  rather 
than  by  the  route  of  Crompond.  I  would  not  wish  Andre  to 
be  treated  with  insult;  but  he  does  not  appear  to  stand  upon 


178  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

the  footing  of  a  common  prisoner  of  war;  and  therefore  he  is 
not  entitled  to  the  usual  indulgence  which  they  receive,  and 
is  to  be  most  closely  and  narrowly  watched." 

In  accordance  with  this  order  a  strong  guard  was  organized 
to  escort  the  prisoner  to  West  Point  and  before  Gen.  Washing- 
ton. A  company  of  one  hundred  mounted  dragoons,  under 
direction  of  four  officers,  conuuanded  by  the  intelligent  and 
energetic  Major  Tallmadge,  started  with  the  prisoner  at  an 
hour  when  it  was  raining  very  hard,  so  anxious  were  his  keepers 
to  have  Andre  in  a  place  of  safety,  picked  out  by  the  Com- 
mander-in-Chief. 

From  the  Salem  headquarters  the  troops  rode  north  and  west 
over  Long  Pond  Mountain,  west  of  Lake  Waccabuc  to  the 
church  at  North  Salem.  (Andre  riding  the  same  horse  that  had 
been  of  such  service  through  all  his  trouble.)  Just  as  North 
Salem  was  reached,  a  courier  from  Gen.  Washington  overtook 
Major  Tallmadge  and  his  companions;  the  courier  was  the 
bearer  of  an  order  for  a  change  of  route,  for  fear  of  encounter- 
ing the  enemy  on  the  old  and  much  travelled  road.  The  new 
route  taken  led  past  the  property  owned  and  occupied,  in  1890, 
by  Isaac  H.  Purdy  (father  of  former  Supervisor  Isaac  Purdy), 
a  locality  now  known  as  Purdy 's  Station,  named  for  the  Purdy 
family;  thence  to  Croton  Falls  and  by  the  old  road  to  Lake 
Mahopac  and  Eed  Mills,  now  Mahopac  Falls  (taken  recently 
by  New  York  city),  through  Jefferson  Valley,  to  Scrub  Oak, 
and  by  the  old  road  to  Oregon,  thence  to  Van  Cortlandtville 
and  the  Danbury  tavern,  over  Gallows  Hill  (named  so  because 
an  English  spy  was  executed  there),  on  the  Albany  Post  Road, 
passing  through  Continentalville  (in  town  of  Cortlandt).  A 
short  distance  beyond  the  school  house  they  took  the  road  lead- 
ing west  toward  the  river  to  the  Beverly  Robinson  house.  They 
had  traveled  continuously  and  all  night.  The  next  day,  by 
Gen.  Washington's  order,  Andre  was  conveyed  to  Tappan. 

David  AVilliams,  one  of  the  captors  of  Andre,  removed  from 
South  Salem  to  Livingstonville,  Schoharie  County,  N.  Y.,  where 
he  died,  leaving  a  widow  and  seven  children,  four  sons  and  three 
daughters. 

Darius  Ogden  Mills,  one  of  the  most  widely  known  financiers 
and  philanthropists  in  the  United  States,  was  born  in  this  town, 
of  humble  parentage,  on  September  5,  1825;  he  began  at  the 
bottom  of  the  ladder,  and  through  his  own  exertions  he  became 
famous;  was  a  pioneer  of  California.     His  daughter  was  wife 


\ 


-  7    ■  ■ 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


179 


of  the  late  United  States  Ambassador  to  Great  Britain.  He 
died  at  his  winter  home  in  Millbrae,  Cal.,  Januaiy  3,  1910.  His 
fortune  was  estimated  at  $60,000,000. 

The  localities  in  the  town  are  Purdy's  Station,  Croton  Falls, 
Salem  Centre,  Titieus  Reservoir. 

The  population  of  the  town,  according  to  the  numerous  census 
enumerations  taken,  has  been  as  follows:  In  1830,  1,276;  in 
1835,  1,178;  in  1840,  1,161;  in  1845,  1,228;  in  1850,  1,335;  in 
1855,  1,528;  in  1860,  1,497;  in  1865,  1,522;  in  1870,  1,754;  in 
1875,  1,583;  in  1880,  1,693;  in  1890,  1,730;  in  1892,  1,939;  in 
1900,  1,133;  in  1905,  1,169;  in  1910,  1,258. 

Biographical  Sketches. 


ISAAC  PURDY. 

Isaac  Purdy,  former  Supervisor  of 
the  town  of  North  Salem,  Commis- 
sioner, State  Farming  School  for 
Boys,  etc.  was  born  November  3, 
1853,  at  Purdy's  Station  in  that 
town.  He  is  a  son  of  Isaac 
Hart  Purdy  and  Mary  Willis 
(Lyon)  Purdy.  His  father,  who 
died  in  1891,  held  the  office  of 
Supervisor  of  North  Salem  in  1846 
to  1850  and  1856  and  1857.  Isaac 
Purdy,  his  grandfather,  served  as 
the  town's  Supervisor  in  1823  to 
1829.  Previous  to  this,  Ebenezer 
Purdy,  a  relative,  held  the  office  of 
Supervisor  in  1788  to  1790,  when  the 
town  was  known  as  Upper  Salem, 
and  during  the  change  of  name  to 
North  Salem,  he  again  held  the 
office,  in  1799  to  1801,  and  his  son, 
Ebenezer  Purdy,  Jr.,  held  it  in  1817 
to  1823,  when  Isaac  Purdy,  grand- 
father of  the  present  Isaac  Purdy, 
succeeded   him. 

Surely,  tne  subject  of  this  sketch 
inherited  necessary  ability  to  prop- 
erly discharge  the  responsible  duties 
of  a  Supervisor,  and,  as  we  know,  to 
fill  any  other  official  position  he  will 
accept. 

"When  he  was  chosen  Supervisor  as 
a  Democrat  he  had  a  particular  dis- 
tinction bestowed  upon  him,  as  his 
selection  broke  a  long  line  of  Repub- 
lican Supervisors  who  had  in  re- 
cent years  served  the  town,  which 
had  become  a  safe  "  Republican 
territory."  To  Mr.  Purdy's  per- 
sonal popularity  was  due  the  change 
in  political  sentiment. 

He  was  first  chosen  Supervisor  in 
1896  and  reelected  in  1898.     At  the 


time  of  his  being  elected  in  1896  he 
was  serving  as  a  School  District 
Trustee.  His  holding  the  latter  of- 
fice and  being  a  member  of  a  School 
Board  receiving  moneys  from  the 
Supervisor,  was  considered  as  a  bar 
to  his  serving  as  Supervisor.  The 
question  in  dispute  was  finally  car- 
ried to  the  Courts.  He  served  as 
Supervisor  in  the  years  1896-7,  but 
was  debarred  from  acting  at  the 
opening  of  the  session  of  the  Board 
of  Supervisors  for  1897-8,  by  a  de- 
cision of  the  Courts,  to  the  effect 
that  holding  the  School  Trusteeship 
made  him  ineligible  for  election  as 
Supervisor.  After  he  resigned  the 
School  Trusteeship,  the  Board  of 
Town  Officers,  then  composed  en- 
tirely of  Republicans,  unanimously 
voted  to  appoint  him  as  Supervisor 
to  fill  the  vacancy  created  by  act  of 
the  Court.  His  reelection  later  ap- 
proved this  appointment  as  he  re- 
ceived the  largest  majority  ever 
given   a  Democrat   in   that   town. 

In  1910  he  was  urged  to  accept 
the  Democratic  nomination  for 
State  Senators;  leaders  of  his  party 
believing  his  personal  popularity 
would  insure  his  election.  This 
preferment  he  declined,  as  he  had 
before  declined  nominations  for 
County  office,  Member  of  Assembly, 
etc. 

On  October  16,  1911,  Mr.  Purdy 
was  appointed  by  Gov.  Dix  as  a 
manager  of  the  State  Training 
School  for  Boys. 

Mr.  Purdy  has  held  many  posi- 
tions of  private  as  well  as  public 
trust.  He  is  a  director  in  the  First 
National   Bank  of   White  Plains,   a 


ISO 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


director  in  the  Mount  Kisco  Na- 
tional Bank,  as  well  as  an  oflScial  in 
other  financial  institutions.  He  has 
been  the  trusted  officer  in  the  suc- 
cessful settlement  of  many  estates, 
and  has  otherwise  served  acceptably 
his   fellows. 

He  is  a  bachelor,  forlorn.  He  re- 
sides on  part  of  the  estate  inherited 
from  his  fathers;  a  considerable 
portion  of  this  family  estate  has 
been  taken  by  New  York  City  for 
purposes  of  increasing  the  city's 
water  supply.  Previous  to  this,  Mr. 
Purdy's  father  donated  a  good  sized 
tract  of  land  to  the  Harlem  Railroaa 
Company  to   encourage  the  building 

For  biographical  sketches  of  other 
and  in  volumes  one  and  two. 


of  a  railroad  station  in  that  local- 
ity; in  appreciation  of  this  gift,  the 
Eailroad  Company  namecl  the  sta- 
tion ' '  Purdy, ' '  in  honor  of  the 
donor. 

It  was  near  this  Purdy  estate  in 
what  was  then  known  as  Upper 
Salem,  that  the  American  squadron 
halted  on  its  way  to  West  Point  to 
deliver  Major  Andr6,  as  a  prisoner, 
after  his  capture  at  Tarrytown.  At 
the  Purdy  House  a  Courier  from 
Gen.  Washington  met  officers  in 
command  of  the  squadron  with  or- 
ders to  change  route  of  travel  to 
prevent  Andre's  rescue  by  prowling 
detachments  of  the  enemy, 
residents  see  elsewhere  in  this  book, 


TOWN  OF  OSSINING. 


{Continued  from  page  235,  Vol.  1.) 

This  town  was  separately  organized  May  2,  1845,  Laws  of 
1845,  also  Laws  of  1846,  Chap.  30  sec.  265.  The  laws  of  1845 
gave  the  name  as  Ossinsing,  the  laws  of  1846  changed  name  to 
Ossining,  as  it  is  at  present. 

The  name  is  Indian,  in  Chippeway  denotes  ''a  stone,"  and 
Ossineen  "stones."  Ossin-ing,  the  proper  Indian  orthography 
of  the  word,  variously  written  Sin-Sing,  Sing  Sing,  Sin  Sinck 
and  Sink  Sink,  is  derived  from  ossin  (a  stone)  and  ing  (a 
place)  or  "stone  upon  stone."  At  a  very  early  date  Ossin-ing 
constituted  a  part  of  the  possessions  of  a  powerful  Mohegan 
tribe  called  the  Sint  Sings,  from  these  the  old  village  took  its 
name. 

This  town,  prior  to  1846,  formed  a  part  of  the  township  of 
Mount  Pleasant,  and  like  neighboring  localities  was  originally 
included  within  the  honour  and  fee  of  Philipsburgh. 

The  lands  were  bought  from  the  Indians  in  the  usual  way  of 
the  period,  in  exchange  for  so  many  old  coats,  shirts,  stockings, 
blankets,  kitchen  utensils,  knives,  guns,  tobacco,  rum,  etc. 

The  localities  in  the  town  are  the  charming  residential  sec- 
tion known  as  Scarborough  and  Sparta;  the  ancient  boundary 
line  of  1684,  which  divided  the  two  Colonies  of  New  York  and 
Connecticut  passed  a  short  distance  south  of  Sparta. 

The  two  villages  are  Ossining  and  Briar  Cliff  Manor. 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  181 

In  1776,  some  days  previous  and  subsequent  to  the  memor- 
able battle  of  White  Plains,  British  war  vessels  lay  in  the  Hud- 
son River  opposite  Sing  Sing. 

A  memorial  to  Enoch  Crosby  the  secret  agent  of  the  Commit- 
tee of  Public  Safety  is  erected  in  the  old  Presbyterian  Church 
Cemetery  in  Ossining. 

Among  the  prominent  people  who  have  been  local  residents 
may  be  mentioned  Ma j. -Gen.  Aaron  Ward,  Gov.  John  T.  Hoff- 
man, Philip  Van  Wyck,  Congressman  Orlando  B.  Potter,  Gen. 
E.  A.  McAlpin,  Francis  Larkin,  and  others. 

The  principal  village  of  the  town  is  Ossining,  named  same  as 
the  town.  This  village  was  incorporated  as  early  as  1813,  and 
afterwards  amended  in  1837,  the  oldest  village  in  the  County; 
the  name  under  which  it  was  incorporated  was  Sing  Sing,  but 
this  name  was  changed  recently,  because  the  latter  name  was 
judged  objectionable  owing  to  its  being  associated  with  the 
State  Prison  located  within  the  village  limits.  A  special  act 
of  the  State  Legislature  permitted  the  taking  on  of  the  new 
name,  and  the  leaving  of  the  old  name  with  the  prison.  A 
strong  effort  is  being  made  for  the  removal  of  the  prison  from 
this  town  to  another  and  more  secluded  section  of  the  State. 
The  transforming  of  the  village  into  a  city  by  extending  the 
boundary  lines  has  been  suggested,  but  nothing  has  been  effected 
in  that  direction.  The  last  census,  that  of  1910,  gives  the  vil- 
lage a  population  of  11,480. 

The  site  of  the  present  village  is  supposed  to  occupy  partly 
the  ground  on  which  stood  the  ancient  Indian  settlement  of 
Sint  Sinck,  more  than  two  hundred  years  since.  The  existence 
of  Indian  habitations  upon  this  particular  spot  is  amply  proved 
by  the  vast  number  of  Indian  implements  found  in  the  neigh- 
borhood. The  Dutch  gave  the  name  Sin  Sing.  The  first  vil- 
lage election  was  held  first  Tuesday  in  May,  1813. 

Briar  Cliff  Manor,  incorporated  as  village  in  1902,  lies  partly 
in  this  town,  and  partly  in  the  town  of  Mount  Pleasant. 

For  nearly  half  a  century  the  Sing  Sing  Camp-Meeting 
grounds,  situated  on  the  hills  just  outside  of  the  limits  of  the 
village  of  Ossining,  have  been  vigorously  maintained  by  mem- 
bers of  the  New  York  Methodist  Church  Conference,  aided  by 
Methodists  generally. 

In  and  about  1820  mining  operations  were  carried  on  to  a 
considerable  extent  near  Sing  Sing;  gold,  silver,  iron,  copper, 


182  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

etc.,  was,  it  is  believed,  found  in  small  quantities.  Because 
Sing  Sing  was  celebrated  for  its  marble  quarries,  is  attributed 
the  decision  to  build  a  State  Prison  here.  The  several  large 
prison  buildings,  the  warden's  house,  and  several  ranges  of 
work-shops  were  constructed  from  materials  found  on  the  State's 
farm  here.  The  prison  was  formerly  known  as  the  Mount 
Pleasant  State  Prison,  and  later  the  name  was  changed  to  Sing 
Sing  State  Prison.  In  1828  prisoners  were  first  removed  from  the 
old  State  Prison  in  New  York  city  to  the  new  Mount  Pleasant 
State  Prison. 

The  village  of  Ossining  has  good  schools  and  handsome  school 
buildings;  good  sewer  system;  an  ample  water  supply  and  an 
efficient  fire  department;  churches  of  all  denominations;  is  a 
manufacturing  place ;  has  several  daily  and  weekly  newspapers ; 
gas  and  electric  lighting  and  street  trolley  lines,  and  in  all 
respects  is  up  to  date.    Has  Yacht  Clubs  and  Naval  Militia. 

Many  handsome  residences  are  to  be  seen  located  on  the 
beautiful  high  lands  of  this  charmingly  situated  town. 

The  population  of  the  town  is  given  by  the  census  of  1910 
as  12,828.  The  town's  population,  according  to  the  census 
of  1865  was  6,213;  in  1875  was  8,533;  in  1880  was  8,769;  in 
1890  was  10,058 ;  in  1892  was  8,814 ;  in  1900  was  10,895 ;  in  1905 
was  10,316.     (For  population  of  earlier  years,  see  volume  1.) 

In  Scarborough,  within  this  town,  is  found  the  home  club 
house  of  the  Sleepy  Hollow  Country  Club,  reputed  to  be  the 
wealthiest  country  club  in  the  world,  and  its  officers  represent 
billions.     This    club    occupies    "Woodlea,"    the   residence    and 
grounds  of  the  late  Elliott  F.  Shepard,  whose  wife  was  a  Van- 
derbilt.     The   residence   cost   one   million   dollars;   the   cost   of 
furnishing  the  house  and  laying  out  of  the  grounds,  and  of 
I)uilding  the  expensive  stables  are  not  included  in  this  expendi- 
ture.    Mr.  Shepard  never  lived  to  see  "Woodlea"  completed. 
The   architecture   of   this   great   home   building   is   the   Italian 
Eenaissance   style.     Nearly  every   foot  of  the   grounds,   thirty 
acres,   commands  a  sweeping  view  of  the  stately  flow  of  the 
Hudson  River.     The  club  is  having  laid  out  what  is  destined 
to  be  one  of  the  finest  inland  golf  courses  in  this  country,  and 
it  lies  in  the  territory  where  once  Irving 's  "headless  horseman" 
galloped  at  the  mystic  hour  of  midnight.     The  annual  expense 
of  conducting  this  club  is  $75,000.     The  membership  is  limited 
to  1,000;  the  annual  dues  are  $100. 


GILBERT  M.  TODD 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


183 


Dr.  George  J.  Fisher,  of  Sing  Sing  village,  served  as  Chair- 
man of  the  State  Medical  Society. 

Herbert  G.  Squires,  who  was  United  States  Minister  to  Cuba, 
1902  to  1906,  and  United  States  Minister  to  Panama  from  1906 
to  1910,  died  at  the  age  of  51  years,  in  London,  Eng.,  on  Octo- 
ber 19,  1911.  His  wife,  who  was  Miss  Hattie  AVoodcock,  daugh- 
ter of  Dr.  Woodcock  of  this  town,  and  a  daughter  survive  him. 

Walter  W.  Law,  the  founder  of  Brier  Cliff  Manor,  is  one  of 
the  most  prominent  residents  of  that  charming  village. 

V.  Everitt  Macy,  of  the  Standard  Oil  Company,  has  a  farm 
of  one  hundred  acres  in  the  village  of  Ossining. 

Frank  Vanderlip,  a  former  Deputy  Secretary  of  the  Treas- 
ury at  Washington,  now  a  bank  president  in  New  York  city,  is  a 
resident  of  Scarborough,  as  are  James  Stillman  and  James  Spier, 
bank  presidents  of  New  York  city,  and  H.  Walter  Webb,  rail- 
road financier,  son-in-law  of  Vanderbilt. 

William  Rockefeller,  of  the  Standard  Oil  Company,  owns 
farms  aggregating  1,100  acres  in  this  town  and  Mount  Pleasant, 
and  one  of  the  finest  dwellings  along  the  Hudson  River. 


Biographical  Sketches. 


GILBEET   MEAD   TODD. 

Gilbert  Mead  Todd  who  ably 
served  the  village  of  Sing  Sing  as 
Trustee  for  six  years,  and  the  town 
of  Ossining  as  Supervisor  for  fifteen 
years,  a  longer  period  than  any  of  his 
predecessors  or  successers  served,  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Lewisboro,  this 
county,  on  November  7,  1833,  a  son 
of  Stephen  and  Eliza  (Baker)  Todd. 
The  origin  of  his  family  dates  back 
to  the  early  English  Settlers. 

He  became  a  resident  of  the  town 
of  Ossining  in  1835.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  Mount  Pleasant  Academy 
and  in  the  Peekskill  Academy. 

As  a  business  man  he  was  a  suc- 
cess, driving  his  business  with  energy 
and  exercising  careful  judgment  in 
its  direction.  A  gentleman  of  ster- 
ling probity  of  character,  respected 
for  his  many  public  virtues  by  all. 
A  public  spirited  citizen  to  whom 
Ossining  is  deeply  indebted  for  much 
of  its  present  prosperity. 

His  first  election  to  public  office 
was  in  1879  when  he  was  chosen  a 
member    of    the   Board    of    Village 


Trustees,  composed  of  men  of  ster- 
ling character,  noted  for  thrift, 
liberality  and  enterprise.  He  served 
in  this  office  six  years;  retiring  in 
1885  to  accept  the  office  of  Super- 
visor of  the  town  of  Ossining.  As 
Supervisor  he  served  to  the  end  of 
1901,  fifteen  years. 

He  retired  from  the  office  of 
Supervisor  because  be  considered  his 
private  business  required  his  undi- 
vided attention.  For  several  years 
he  had  been  reelected  to  this  office 
at  the  head  of  town  affairs  at  times 
when  the  opposing  political  party 
has  succeeded  in  electing  all  of  its 
town  candidates  excepting  the 
Supervisor.  This  great  mark  of  re- 
spect was  fully  appreciated  by  Mr. 
Todd.  It  was  evident  that  members 
of  all  political  parties  were  unani- 
mous in  the  desire  to  retain  in 
public  service  a  man  so  fully  capa- 
ble, and  as  long  as  he  was  willing  to 
serve  he  could  be  reelected,  again 
and  again.  On  announcing  his  in- 
tention of  retiring  from  public  office 
holding    he    was    strongly   urged   to 


184 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


reconsider.  In  answer  he  stated  he 
did  not  desire  to  monopolize  the 
honor,  and  though  the  office  of 
Supervisor  was  most  congenial,  he 
felt  he  ought  to  retire,  after  having 
more  than  his  share  of  opportuity, 
that  so  desirable  a  position  and  the 
honored  distinction  of  serving  so  ap- 
preciative a  constituency,  as  that 
of  the  electors  of  his  home  town, 
should  be  bestowed  upon  another. 
Reluctantly  his  declination  was 
accepted. 

Mr.  Todd  ever  exercised  great  in- 
fluence in  the  Board  of  Supervisors 
and  was  considered  one  of  its  ablest 
members.  His  well-known  integrity 
and  strong  character,  and  long  ex- 
perience as  a  County  legislator  won 
for  his  opinions  great  weight,  and, 
owing  to  this,  he  was  able  to  be  of 
substantial  service  to  his  town  in 
various  ways.  His  genial  qualities 
and  phenomenal  good  nature  made 
him  friends  with  all. 

Seven  years  after  his  retirement 
from  the  office  of  Supervisor,  on 
October  7,  1908,  Mr.  Todd  died  at 
his  home  in  Ossining — and  his  native 
county,  as  well  as  his  town,  mourned 
his  passing  away. 

On  the  announcement  of  his  death 
in  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  that 
Board  adopted  the  following: 

"Whereas,  Almighty  God  in  His 
infinite  wisdom  has  called  to  his 
Heavenly  rest  Gilbert  M.  Todd,  who 
departed  this  life  at  his  home  in 
the  village  of  Ossining,  on  the  7th 
day    of    October,    1908,    and 

"Whereas,  Gilbert  M.  Todd  was 
an  honored  citizen  of  the  town  of 
Ossining  and  the  county  of  West- 
chester all  his  life,  and  represented 
the  village  of  Ossining  in  its  Board 
of  Trustees  and  the  town  of  Ossin- 
ing as  its  Supervisor  for  many  years, 
and 

' '  Whereas,  his  services  in  public 

For  biographical  sketches  of  other 
and  in  volumes  one  and  two. 


office  were  valuable  to  his  constitu- 
ents and  honorable  to  him;  his  whole 
career  standing  as  an  example  of 
high  and  efficient  service  and  faith- 
ful devotion  to  the  interests  of  all 
the  people,  therefore  be  it 

"Resolved,  That  a  committee  be 
appointed  to  draw  suitable  resolu- 
tions to  mark  the  death  of  Gilbert 
M.  Todd." 

On  receipt  of  handsomely  en- 
grossed resolutions  of  condolence, 
Mr.  Todd's  family  sent  the  follow- 
ing  to    the   Board    of   Supervisors: 

"Mrs.  Gilbert  M.  Todd  and  fam- 
ily desire  to  express  their  warmest 
thanks  and  appreciation  for  the 
superb  tribute  to  Mr.  Todd's  mem- 
ory, presented  by  the  Board  of 
Supervisors  of  Westchester  county, 
through  their  committee.  The  evi- 
dences of  esteem  in  which  Mr.  Todd 
was  held  by  his  associates  in  the 
Board,  and  the  sympathy  extended 
to  them,  will  ever  be  a  source  of 
comfort  and  consolation  to  his  fam- 
ily who  can  testify  that  Mr.  Todd 
asked  no  greater  reward  for  his  ut- 
most effort  than  the  respect  and 
confidence  of  his  fellow  members  and 
the  community  which  for  so  many 
years  he  served." 

Mr.  Todd  also  served  his  village 
as  a  Water  Commissioner;  he  be- 
came a  member  of  the  Sing  Sing 
fire  department  in  1856;  was  vice- 
commodore  of  the  Sing  Sing  Yacht 
Club;  was  for  many  years  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  Sing  Sing  Savings  Bank, 
a  trustee  of  the  Mount  Pleasant 
Academy,  senior  warden  of  St. 
Paul's  Episcopal  Church,  a  trustee 
of  Dale  Cemetery,  and  in  other  ways 
was  interested  in  local  affairs  up 
to  the  hour  of  his  death. 

Mr.  Todd  was  married  in  January, 
daughter  of  William  Hull  of  Ossin- 
ing. Wife  and  daughters,  Alice  B. 
and   C.   Louise   survive  him. 

residents  see  elsewhere  in  this  book, 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  185 

TOWN  OF  PELHAM. 


(Continued  from  page  238,   Vol.  1.) 

Pelham  was  formed  as  a  township  March  7,  1788.  The  name, 
conferred  upon  the  town  by  the  Pells,  is  said  to  be  derived 
from  the  lordship  of  Pelham,  Herefordshire,  England. 

Pelham,  as  the  original  manor,  including  New  Rochelle,  em- 
braced nine  thousand,  one  hundred  and  sixty -six  acres;  six 
thousand,  one  hundred  acres  of  these  were  sold  to  make  New 
Rochelle  township,  by  Thomas  Pell.  The  word  Pelham  itself 
is  of  Saxon  origin,  and  composed  of  the  two  words  Pel 
(remote)  and  ham  (mansion).  The  former  being  the  ancient 
surname  of  the  manorial  proprietors,  doubtless  affords  a  good 
reason  for  its  adoption  in  connection  with  the  last. 

Is  situated  on  Long  Island  Sound,  on  the  line  of  the  Harlem 
Branch  of  the  New  York,  New  Haven  and  Hartford  Railroad, 
about  fifteen  miles  from  New  York  city. 

The  population  of  the  town  as  shown  by  various  census  enu- 
merations has  been  as  follows:  In  1830,  334;  in  1835,  255;  in 
1840,  789;  in  1845,  486;  in  1850,  577;  in  1855,  833;  in  1860, 
1,025;  in  1865,  1,043;  in  1870,  1,790;  in  1875,  1,538;  in  1880, 
2,540;  in  1890,  3,941;  in  1892,  2,696;  in  1900,  1,571;  in  1905, 
1,841.  A  part  of  the  town,  City  Island  and  a  nearby  section, 
were  annexed  to  the  city  of  New  York,  by  act  of  the  Legisla- 
ture, chapter  934,  Laws  of  1895,  which  accounts  for  the  falling 
off  in  population  between  the  census  of  1892  and  the  census  of 
1900.  The  last  Federal  census,  that  of  1910,  gives  the  town's 
population  as  2,998. 

The  township  contains  three  incorporated  villages,  viz. :  Pel- 
ham Manor,  incorporated  in  1891 ;  Pelham,  incorporated  in 
1896,  and  North  Pelham,  incorporated  in  1896.  The  village  of 
Pelham  Manor  had  in  1898  a  population  of  436 ;  in  1902,  594 ; 
in  1905,  638 ;  in  1910,  the  last  census,  852.  The  village  of  Pel- 
ham's  population  in  1898  was  142  (and  when  incorporated  the 
smallest  village  in  the  State) ;  in  1900  the  population  had  in- 
creased to  303 ;  in  1902  it  was  368 ;  in  1905,  349.  In  1910,  the 
last  Federal  census,  it  was  681. 

The  village  of  North  Pelham  had  in  1898  a  population  of 
627;  in  1900,  684;  in  1902,  693;  in  1905,  850.  The  census  of 
1910  places  the  village's  population  at  1,311. 

City  Island,  formerly  in  this  town,  now  a  part  of  the  city 


186  IklANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

of  New  York  (annexed  by  act  of  the  Legislature  June  6,  1895), 
was  originally  the  proposed  site  of  a  great  city,  to  rival  in 
importance  the  city  of  New  York.  In  the  latter  part  of  the 
seventies,  Benjamin  Palmer,  a  man  of  moderate  means,  who 
resided  in  South  Yonkers,  near  Kingsbridge,  conceived  the  idea 
of  creating  a  city,  facing  Long  Island  Sound,  that  would  equal 
in  number  of  population  and  grandeur  the  big,  growing  city 
on  the  south.  He  selected  as  the  site  the  island  near  the  south- 
east end  of  Westchester  County,  in  the  Manor  of  Pelham,  now 
known  as  City  Island.  The  project  made  no  greater  progress 
than  the  giving  of  the  name  "City"  to  the  island.  Mr.  Palm- 
er's funds  soon  gave  out,  and,  being  unable  to  raise  the  neces- 
sary amount  of  money,  he  had  to  abandon  his  purpose;  in  fact 
he  impoverished  himself  to  such  an  extent  that,  in  1800,  friends 
found  it  necessary  to  raise  funds  to  provide  for  his  actual  needs 
and  in  his  old  age  to  keep  him  from  becoming  a  public  charge. 

Pelham  Manor  was  one  of  two  oldest  Manors  in  the  County; 
the  other  being  the  Manor  of  Fordham,  adjoining  in  the  south- 
ern section.  The  seal  of  James  as  King  of  England  authenti- 
cated the  manor  grant  and  patent  of  Pelham,  and  the  name 
and  seal  of  James  as  Duke  of  York  was  attached  to  the  grant 
and  patent  of  the  Manor  of  Fordham. 

The  Hutchinson's  River,  a  boundary  line  of  this  town,  was 
named  in  honor  of  Mrs.  Anne  Hutchinson,  who  was  the  leading 
spirit  in  a  colony  of  sixteen  persons  which  settled  in  the  vicinity 
of  Pelham  Neck,  and  who  was,  with  several  of  her  friends,  mur- 
dered by  Indians. 

A  sketch  of  Mrs.  Hutchinson,  a  most  remarkable  character, 
cannot  prove  else  than  interesting  to  the  general  reader,  there- 
fore it  is  here  given  as  follows: 

Anne  Hutchinson,  a  Notable  Woman.— There  is,  probably, 
no  more  interesting  character  connected  with  the  early  history 
of  Westchester  County  than  Anne  Hutchinson;  who,  in  the 
beginning  of  1642,  was  the  leading  spirit  in  a  colony  of  sixteen 
persons  which  settled  in  the  vicinity  of  Pelham  Neck,  in  what 
is  now  known  as  Pelham  Manor,  in  the  town  of  Pelham,  in  this 
County.  The  Hutchinson's  (formerly  known  by  the  Indian 
name  of  Aqueanouncke)  River,  which  separates  the  town  of 
Pelham  from  the  city  of  Mount  Vernon  and  part  of  the  old 
town  of  Eastchester,  named  in  her  honor,  and  a  tongue  of  land 
known  as  "Anne's  Hook,"  likewise  named  for  her,  remain  as 
her  only  memorials. 

Mrs.  Anne  Hutchinson  was,  in  all  respects,  a  strong  character, 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  187 

and  demands  a  place  in  the  annals  of  Westchester  County.  If 
ever  a  person  suffered  and  died  for  praiseworthy  principles,  it 
was  she. 

For  the  benefit  of  the  "progressive  women"  of  the  present 
day,  permit  the  remark  to  be  made  here,  that  she  was  the  first 
American  club  woman,  and  is  stated  to  be  the  founder  of  the 
first  Women's  Club  in  America. 

In  Boston  she  organized  the  women  in  her  attempts  to  bring 
about  certain  reforms  in  Church  and  State,  and  the  women,  it 
is  said  to  their  credit,  stood  steadfast  and  true,  but  their  loyalty 
did  not  shield  from  persecution  this  heroic  woman. 

Mrs.  Hutchinson  was  born  in  Lincolnshire,  England,  in  1590. 
When  she  was  forty-four  years  of  age,  in  September,  1634,  she, 
with  her  husband  and  family,  came  to  Boston,  where  they 
resided  several  years,  and  as  long  as  they  were  able  to  with- 
stand unjust  persecution.  To  enjoy  liberty  of  thought  and 
action,  which  she  was  given  to  understand  could  be  freely  exer- 
cised in  the  newly  settled  country  to  which  her  oppressed  coun- 
try people  were  flocking,  she  came  to  Boston,  as  has  been  said, 
to  find  her  expectations  grievously  shattered. 

Persecuted  nigh  unto  death  on  account  of  her  religious  beliefs 
and  her  unwillingness  to  sacrifice  principles  for  personal  gain, 
she  was  compelled  to  leave  Boston,  after  standing  up  in  public 
places  and  defying  her  persecutors,  while  hurling  unanswerable 
truths  at  her  biased  judges.  Leaving  Boston  she  and  her  family 
became  residents  of  the  State  of  Rhode  Island,  where  they  were 
welcomed  by  Roger  Williams  and  other  patriots ;  their  residence 
in  Rhode  Island  was  broken  up  in  1642,  by  the  death  of  her 
husband,  William  Hutchinson.  Then  with  the  remaining  mem- 
bers of  her  family,  Mrs.  Hutchinson  sought  refuge  still  further 
from  the  influence  of  the  hostile  Bostonians,  and  made  her 
home  in  the  outskirts  of  the  Manhattan  Colony,  among  the 
Dutch,  in  what  is  now  known  as  Pelham  Manor,  settling  along 
side  of  a  stream  of  water  now  known  as  Hutchinson's  River, 
named  for  her. 

Mrs.  Hutchinson  was  not  left  long  to  enjoy  the  quiet  of  this 
conservative  Dutch  settlement,  when  a  savage  Indian  war  broke 
out.  In  August,  1643,  the  Indians  set  upon  the  settlement  and 
in  the  dead  of  night  slew  her  and  all  her  family,  except  one  child 
who  was  taken  captive. 

It  was  a  sad  ending  of  a  brave,  brilliant  woman,  one  of  the 
most  distinguished  of  the  dames  of  Colonial  days.  She  stands 
out  as  one  of  the  most  notable  and  picturesque  figures  on  the 


188  ]MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

first  pages  of  American  history— an  intellectual  force,  when 
intellectuality  was  esteemed  the  prerogative  of  the  magistrate 
and  the  minister.  A  woman  who  could  not  be  frightened  into 
aji  abandonment  of  her  faith ;  a  woman  who  had  more  wit,  more 
daring  and  more  real  independence  than  the  clergy  and  rulers 
of  the  State.  Her  life  may  be  regarded  as  a  prophecy  of  that 
liberty  for  which  America  has  stood  for  generations. 

The  town  in  this  County  now  called  Eastchester  was  originally 
known  as  Hutchinsons,  named  in  honor  of  Anne  Hutchinson. 

Pelham  was  long  distinguished  as  "Manor  of  Anne  Hoock's 
Neck."  Mrs.  Hutchinson  was  cut  off  before  she  could  complete 
the  purchase  and  obtain  patent. 

In  recalling  the  trials  and  persecutions  she  suffered,  it  is  satis- 
faction to  find  that  time  brought  its  own  revenge;  and  that  a 
descendant  of  the  woman  whom  Massachusetts  cast  out,  a 
Hutchinson,  became  the  ruler  of  that  Colony,  as  the  last  royal 
Governor. 

The  population  of  the  township,  as  shown  by  various  census 
enumerations,  has  been  as  follows:  In  1830,  334;  in  1835,  255; 
in  1840,  789 ;  in  1845,  486 ;  in  1850,  577 ;  in  1855,  833 ;  in  1860, 
1,025;  in  1865,  1,043;  in  1870,  1,790;  in  1875,  1,538;  in  1880, 
2,540;  in  1890,  3,941;  in  1892,  2,696;  in  1900,  1,571;  in  1905, 
1,841;  in  1910,  2,998. 

The  decrease  in  population,  as  shown  in  the  census  of  1900, 
is  accounted  for  by  the  fact  that  a  large  section  of  the  town 
was  annexed  to  New  York  city  in  1895,  by  act  of  the  State 
Legislature. 

The  original  grant  of  Pelham  Manor  from  the  Indians,  to 
Thomas  Pell,  is  dated  November  14,  1654,  and  conveyed  9,166 
acres,  bounded  as  follows: 

"Embracing  all  that  territory  bounded  on  the  east  by  a 
stream  called  Stony  Brook,  or  river,  runs  eight  English  miles 
into  the  woods;  thence  west  to  Bronck's  River  to  a  certain  bend 
in  the  said  river;  thence  by  marked  trees  south  until  it  reaches 
the  tidewaters  of  the  Sound  which  lieth  between  Long  Island 
and  the  mainland,  together  with  all  the  Islands  in  the  Sound, 
&c.,  &c.,  &c. 

Signed  by  the  Sachem,  Ann  Hook,  and  five  chiefs." 

This  town  has  been  described  as  "one  of  the  garden  spots 
in  the  beautiful  county  of  Westchester."  Lying  close  to  the 
boundary  line  dividing  the  town  and  New  York  city  (that  city 
having  recently  annexed  a  part  of  the  town),  many  prominent 
city  business  men  have  been  attracted  to  it  as  a  desirable  place 


EDGAR  C.  BEECROFT 


!ir:':r 


I  '-■ 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


189 


for  all-year-round  homes.  Many  costly  residences  have  been 
erected  here  and  the  whole  town  has  been  laid  out  as  one 
beautiful  park.  To  the  development  of  the  town  as  an  ideal 
refined  residential  locality,  much  credit  is  due  Hon.  Benjamin 
L.  Fairchild,  former  Representative  in  Congress,  and  present 
resident.  He  was  one  of  the  first  to  discover  possibilities  in 
the  way  of  public  improvements  to  make  surroundings  attrac, 
tive,  and  knowing  what  to  do,  went  about  doing  it,  with  that 
determination  and  energy  for  which  he  is  well  known.  The  re- 
sult of  his  labors,  aided  by  others,  is  evident  everywhere. 

Biographical  Sketches. 

EDGAE  C.  BEECEOFT. 

Edgar  Charles  Beecroft,  lawyer, 
Supervisor,  Counsel  to  the  Bronx 
Sewer  Commission,  Corporation 
Counsel,  former  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
etc.,  was  born  in  Oak  Park,  111.,  on 
February  16,  1876,  a  son  of  John  E. 
and  Elizabeth  Beecroft. 

He  graduated  at  Trinity  College 
(Hartford,  Conn.)  and  at  the  New 
York  Law  School. 

He  was  admitted  to  practice  at  the 
bar  in  1899,  and  early  took  a  promi- 
nent place  in  the  profession.  His  ad- 
vance was  steady  and  honorable.  A 
studious  analysis  of  all  the  rules  and 
practices  of  law,  a  knowledge  of  the 
very  best  productions  of  distin- 
guished jurists,  enables  him  to  re- 
tain the  honorable  position  he  holds 
in  the  legal  fraternity. 

The  chief  characteristics  of  Mr. 
Beecroft,  as  an  official  as  well  as  a 
lawyer,  are  his  great  industry  and 
his  unbending  integrity.  In  personal 
appearance  he  is  commanding;  his 
features  wear  the  stamp  of  intellect; 
he  is  cool  and  self-possessed  under 
every  circumstance,  and  never  finds 
himself  in  a  situation  for  which  he 
has  not  adequate  resources. 

When  he  was  three  years  of  age 
his  parents  came  to  this  State,  set- 
tling in  Pelham.  He  has  since  re- 
sided in  that  town,  his  present  abode 
being  in  Pelham  Manor. 

Mr.  Beecroft  has  acted  with  the 
Democratic  party,  and  has  always 
been  a  conspicuous  and  able  de- 
fender of  the  principles  it  was  es- 
tablished to  maintain.  His  influence 
in  his  own  town  added  to  his  per- 
sonal popularity  has  resulted  in  his 
repeated  election  to  public  office, 
when  the  town  was  normally  largely 


Eepublican;  he  is  certainly  appre- 
ciated where  he  is  best  known. 

He  served  as  a  Justice  of  the 
Peace  for  eight  years,  from  1901  to 
1909;  while  holding  the  position  of 
Justice  he  was,  in  1907,  elected 
Supervisor  of  the  town  of  Pelham, 
holding  both  offices  until  1909.  In 
1909  he  was  re-elected  Supervisor, 
and  again  re-elected  in  1911,  notwith- 
standing a  strong  opposition  deter- 
mined if  possible  to  defeat  him  by 
the  usual  Eepublican  majority  given 
at  a  general  election.  The  re-elec- 
tion of  Supervisor  Beecroft  proves 
that  the  people  can  be  trusted  when 
it  comes  to  approving  the  acts  of  a 
faithful  official. 

In  1910  at  the  urgent  request  of 
leaders  of  his  party  he  consented  to 
accept  the  Democratic  nomination 
for  District-Attorney,  when  there 
was  not  the  slightest  possibility  of 
success,  so  great  was  the  opposition 
party's  majority  in  the  county.  His 
loyalty  to  the  principles  of  his 
party  justified  his  making  a  sacri- 
fice. As  was  expected,  he  was  de- 
feated; yet  he  had  the  satisfaction 
of  knowing  that  the  number  of  votes 
he  received  far  exceeded  that  given 
any  other  nominee  of  the  party  for 
that   office  in  recent  years. 

He  was  chosen  Corporation  Coun- 
sel of  the  Village  of  North  Pelham 
in  March,  1911,  and  he  still  retains 
the  position. 

On  the  reorganization  of  the 
Bronx  Valley  Sewer  Commission, 
under  special  act  of  the  State  Legis- 
lature, by  Commissioners  appointed 
by  Governor  Dix,  in  1911,  Mr.  Bee- 
croft was  unanimously  chosen  to  hold 
the  highly  responsible  position  of 
Counsel   to   the   Commission. 


190 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


He  is  counsel  to  the  Pelham 
Board    of    Sewage    Disposal    Works. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  York  Lodge, 
F.  and  A.  M.,  and  of  the  Alpha 
Delta   Phi  Fraternity. 

Mr.  Beecroft  was  married  July  2, 
1904,  to  Miss  Grace  L.  Lowry, 
daughter  of  Clarence  and  Ida  (Havi- 
land)  Lowry,  of  New  York  city. 
They  have  two  children,  John  Robert, 
aged  six  years,  and  Lavinia,  aged 
live  months. 

FREDERICK  H.  ALLEN. 

Frederick  Hobbes  Allen,  a  former 
President  of  the  village  of  Pelham 
Manor,  Corporation  Counsel,  Chair- 
man of  the  Democratic  County  Com- 
mittee, etc. 

His  parents  were  Hon.  Elisha 
Hunt  Allen  and  Mary  Harrold 
(Hobbes)  Allen,  and  his  birth-place, 
Honolulu,  where  his  father  was 
Chief  Justice  and  Chancellor.  He 
is  a  descendant  of  the  puritan  fa- 
thers, in  an  unbroken  line  from  a 
member  of  Cromwell's  famous 
"Ironsides,"  Edward  Allen  who 
settled  in  Northfield,  Mass.,  in  1685. 
The  property  then  acquired  by  him 
has  been  in  the  family  up  to  tlie 
present   day. 

He  was  graduated  from  Harvard 
University  with  the  degree  of  A.  B. 
in  1880  and  three  years  later  re- 
ceived the  degree  of  LL.  B.,  in 
course,  also  the  degree  of  A.  M. 

At  this  period,  1882,  he  became 
secretary  to  the  Hawaiian  legation 
at  Washington,  D.  C,  over  which 
his  father  then  presided  as 
Hawaiian  Minister  and  held  the  fur- 
ther distinction  of  Dean  of  the  Dip- 
lomatic Corps.  Upon  his  father's 
death  the  following  year  he  was  ap- 
pointed Charge  d'  Affaires.  Mr. 
Allen's  association  with  representa- 
tive men  in  Washington  life  gave 
him  a  taste  for  matters  of  State 
and  politics  and  an  experience  which 
became  useful  to  him  later. 

Leaving  W^ashington  in  1884,  Mr. 
Allen  came  to  New  York  and  en- 
tered the  law  office  of  Holmes  & 
Adams.  He  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  during  the  same  year  and  be- 
came managing  clerk  for  Messrs. 
Miller,  Peckham  &  Dickson.  A  few 
years  later  he  became  associated 
"with   Col.  Hugh  I.  Cole,  with  offices 

For  biographical  sketches  of  other 
and  in  volumes  one  and  two. 


at  59  Wall  Street  and  in  1896 
formed  the  firm  of  Adams  &  Allen. 
This  partnership  continued  until  the 
death  of  Mr.  Adams  in  1900,  after 
which  a  new  firm  was  formed  known 
as  Allen  &  Cammann,  and  which  stiU 
exists. 

Soon  after  arriving  in  New  Y'ork 
he  came  to  Pelham  Manor  to  reside, 
and  there  soon  became  interested  in 
local  affairs.  It  is  a  testimony  to 
his  good  work  in  the  town's  behalf 
that  he  was  first  chosen  Corporation 
Counsel  of  Pelham  Manor  which 
position  he  held  three  years;  and 
then  President  of  that  village,  the 
only  Democrat  ever  elected  to  latter 
office. 

In  1904  Mr.  Allen  was  chosen 
chairman  of  the  Democratic  County 
Committee  of  Westchester  County, 
which  position  he  held  until  the  fall 
of  1911,  when  he  voluntarily  retired. 
His  ability,  as  an  organizer  and 
manager  has  been  further  recog- 
nized in  his  appointment  to  be  a 
member  of  the  Executive  Committee 
of  the  Democratic  State  Committee 
for  New  York  State,  a  position  high 
in  the  councils  of  the  party. 

Mr.  Allen  was  married  June  30, 
1892,  to  Adele  Livingston  Stevens. 
Six  children  have  been  born,  Fred- 
erick Stevens,  Mary  Dorothy  Adele, 
Barbara  Frances  Gallatin,  joau 
Livingston,  Julian  Broome  Livltigs- 
ton  and  Priscilla  Alden  Sampson. 
The  family  home,  Bolton  Priory,  is 
beautifully  situated  at  Pelham 
Manor,  one  of  New  York's  exclusive 
suburbs. 

It  is  one  of  the  historical  spots 
of  that  section  for  here  lived  Anne 
Hutchins,  who  was  killed  by  Indians 
in    1643. 

Mr.  Allen's  social  affiliations  in- 
clude the  Union  Club,  the  Knicker- 
bocker, the  City  Club,  New  York 
Athletic  Club,  and  the  Westchester 
Country  Club,  of  which  he  is  presi- 
dent; is  a  member  of  the  patriotic 
society  of  the  Colonial  Wars  and  the 
Song  of  the  Revolution. 

Possessing  recognized  ability  in 
his  profession  and  an  enviable  posi- 
tion in  the  Democratic  organiza- 
tion of  his  County  and  State,  of 
which  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  Den- 
ver convention  of  1908,  Mr.  Allen 
has  ably  maintained  the  dignity  and 
traditions  of  his  worthy  ancestor. 

residents  see  elsewhere  in  this  book. 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  191 


TOWN  OF  POUNDRIDGE. 


(Continued  from  page  240,  Vol.  1.) 

This  township  was  organized  on  March  7,  1788.  It  is  bounded 
north  and  east  by  the  town  of  Lewisboro,  southeast  by  the 
State  of  Connecticut,  and  west  by  the  towns  of  Bedford  and 
North  Castle, 

Poundridge  was  originally  included  in  the  Indian  grant  of 
Toquams,  made  to  John  Turner,  of  Quinnipiacke  or  New  Haven, 
on  July  1,  1640.  Besides  Poundridge  this  sale  also  embraced 
the  greater  part  of  the  town  of  Bedford,  in  this  County,  and 
the  townships  of  Stamford,  Darien,  New  Canaan  and  Green- 
wich in  Connecticut.  Until  the  final  arrangement  of  the 
boundary  lines  in  1731,  Stamford  extended  over  the  greater 
part  of  the  present  town.  By  this  final  settlement  of  boundary 
line,  confirmed  May  14,  1730,  Poundridge  was  transferred  from 
Connecticut  to  the  Province  of  New  York. 

The  town  was,  in  1760,  called  "Old  Pound"  in  town  records. 
In  church  matters  Poundridge,  prior  to  1775,  constituted  one 
of  the  precincts  of  Rye.  In  1816  Episcopal  services  were  per- 
formed here.  The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  first  incor- 
porated in  1822. 

Of  the  prominent  families  connected  with  the  town's  history 
mention  should  be  made  of  the  Lockwoods,  as  several  members 
thereof  held  high  official  positions  in  the  County ;  John  Fancher, 
who  held  office  in  1750;  William  Fancher,  son  of  the  John 
Fancher,  was  a  judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  in  this 
County  and  a  captain  of  the  Minute  Men  during  the  Revolu- 
tionary War ;  Joseph  Ambler ;  Major  Samuel  Lewis,  who  resided 
here  in  1777;  James  Searles,  Nathan  Slawson,  and  others. 

During  the  Revolutionary  War  residents  of  Poundridge  were 
loyal  to  the  patriot  cause.  A  sub-committee  of  the  White  Plains 
Committee  of  Public  Safety  had  its  headquarters  here. 

Major  Ebenezer  Lockwood,  of  this  town,  and  head  of  the 
family  of  that  name  so  prominent  in  Westchester  County,  and 
which  in  later  years  gave  many  men  to  hold  County  ofificial 
positions,  was  a  most  ardent  and  vigorous  patriot,  for  whose 
head  forty  guineas  had  been  offered  by  the  British  commanding 
General  in  New  York.  He  lived  to  become  County  Judge,  serv- 
ing from  1791  to  1794,  was  custodian  of  County  moneys,  and 


192  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

served  many  terms  in  tlie  Provincial  Congress  and  the  State 
Legislature,  and  was  otherwise  honored. 

During  the  Revolutionary  War  period  skirmishes  were  fre- 
quent between  the  American  troops  and  British  troops  in  the 
local  streets. 

Surely  Poundridge  was  "in  the  midst  of  the  conflict"  in  the 
days  of  the  Revolution. 

David  Williams,  one  of  the  captors  of  Andre  at  Tarrytown, 
and  to  whom  we  owe  a  minute  description  of  the  capture,  stated 
in  his  defense  of  the  charge  that  he  and  his  companions  were 
"  Cowboys"  or  "Skinners,"  gives  the  particulars  about  these 
bands,  of  which  the  American  Army  officers  in  upper  West- 
chester County,  and  even  Gen.  Washington  himself,  were  appre- 
hensive. He  says  "Cowboys"  had  raided  Poundridge  (the  east- 
most  town  in  the  County,  lying  next  to  Connecticut),  and  that 
they  were  led  by  a  noted  Tory.  While  this  band  was  raiding 
the  cattle  on  a  farm  belonging  to  a  man  named  Palmer,  in 
Poundridge,  at  midnight,  driving  off  his  live  stock.  Palmer  had 
run  out  in  his  nightshirt  in  hopes  of  saving  his  property,  when 
the  ruffians  killed  him.  It  was  to  avenge  Palmer's  murder  that 
Williams  joined  the  men  who  had  started  out,  on  September 
22,  1780,  with  the  object  of  capturing  Cowboys  and  other  similar 
bands. 

Poundridge 's  general  surface  is  uneven,  and  much  of  it  stony ; 
in  the  northern  portion  of  the  town  is  a  steep  and  lofty  ridge 
of  mountains  called  the  "Stoney  Hills,"  which  runs  principally 
in  a  northeast  direction  far  the  space  of  three  or  four  miles. 
The  climate  is  pronounced  as  "delightful."  The  population  in 
1910  was  725.     For  population  in  other  years,  see  volume  1. 

For  biographical  sketches  of  other  residents  see  elsewhere  in  this  book, 
and  in  volumes  one  and  two. 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  193 


TOWN  OF  RYE. 


(Continued  from  page  242,  Vol.  1.) 

The  township  of  Rye  formerly  included  the  present  towns  of 
Harrison  and  White  Plains,  and  was  separately  organized  March 
27,  1788. 

It  is  situated  directly  in  the  southeast  angle  of  Westchester 
County,  bordering  Long  Island  Sound;  bounded  on  the  east 
(directly  adjoining)  by  the  State  of  Connecticut  and  the  By  ram 
River;  on  the  south  by  Long  Island  Sound,  and  on  the  west 
and  north  by  the  townships  of  Harrison  and  North  Castle. 

The  town's  name  is  derived,  as  one  writer  puts  it,  "from  old 
Rye,"  meaning,  doubtless,  Rye  in  the  County  of  Sussex,  Eng- 
land. As  a  fact,  the  inhabitants  of  Rye  are  a  staid,  temperate 
people. 

Peningoe,  Peninggoe,  or  Piningoe,  the  Indian  name  of  Rye, 
is  apparently  derived  from  Ponus,  the  title  of  the  aboriginal 
proprietor  of  this  territory,  A.  D.  1640.  Ponus  was  one  of 
the  ruling  sagamores  of  the  Rippowams  (Stamford)  in  1640. 

Indians  inhabited  the  territory  thickly,  even  dwelling  numer- 
ously on  Manussing,  or  Mennewies  Island,  off  of  Rye  Neck. 

As  was  the  custom,  the  Indians  sold  to  the  Dutch  West  India 
Company,  w-ho  obtained  a  grant  of  lands  extending  from  Nor- 
walk.  Conn.,  to  the  North  River,  on  April  19,  1640.  This  doubt- 
less accounts  for  Rye  belonging  to  the  Province  of  Connecticut. 

The  successors  of  the  Dutch  Company,  in  1660,  of  the  town- 
ship of  Rye  were  Peter  Disbrow,  John  Coe  and  Thomas  Stud- 
well,  who  were  residents  of  nearby  Greenwich,  Conn. 

When  the  lands,  now  comprising  the  township  of  Harrison, 
were  purchased  by  John  Harrison  and  were  taken  from  the 
town  of  Rye,  a  strong  and  general  protest  went  forth  from  Rye 
residents,  who  used  every  endeavor  to  prevent  the  taking.  In 
his  history  of  Rye,  in  which  he  resided,  the  Rev.  Charles  W. 
Baird,  in  speaking  of  this  loss  of  territory,  says:  "By  this 
summary  measure,  the  people  of  Rye  were  despoiled  of  a  most 
important  part  of  their  rightful  possessions.  It  was  a  loss  felt 
by  each  proprietor,  for  each  had  an  interest  in  the  undivided 
lands,  to  the  distribution  of  which  he  looked  forward  as  a  pro- 
vision for  his  children.  The  only  show  of  reason  for  this  act 
of  spoliation  was  in  the  fact  that  the  inhabitants  of  Rye  were 


194  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

as  yet  without  a  patent  for  their  lands  under  the  government  of 
New  York.  In  1G85  Governor  Dongan  had  issued  a  proclama- 
tion to  the  inhabitants  of  Rye  and  Bedford  (also  in  this  County) 
requiring  them  to  appear  before  him  and  prove  their  title  to 
the  lands  upon  which  they  were  seated.  This  summons,  it 
appears,  had  not  been  obeyed.  The  sympathies  of  the  people 
were  with  the  Colony  (Connecticut)  from  which  they  came, 
and  to  which  they  yet  hoped  permanently  to  belong.  Their 
rights,  besides,  had  been  amply  recognized  by  Connecticut,  and 
they  doubtless  saw  no  propriety  in  the  requirement  to  obtain 
a  patent  from  New  York. 

The  protests  and  pleas  of  Rye  residents  proved  unavailing; 
the  Governor  and  Council  of  New  York  turned  a  deaf  ear,  and 
the  lands  were  granted  to  Harrison.  The  indignant  people  of 
Rye  "revolted"  back  to  the  Colony  of  Connecticut,  their  first 
love.  In  1700,  by  the  King's  order,  they  returned  to  New  York, 
probably  satisfied  with  being  close  upon  if  not  in  Connecticut. 

The  early  history  of  this  township  is  specially  and  par- 
ticularly interesting.  Our  space  permits  of  only  a  passing 
reference. 

In  1692,  by  an  act  of  the  Assembly  of  New  York,  Rye  was 
erected  into  a  market  town,  that  was  entitled  to  the  extraordi- 
nary privilege  of  holding  and  keeping  a  yearly  fair,  on  the 
second  Tuesday  in  October,  to  last  four  days,  "for  selling  of 
all  country  produce  and  other  effects  whatsoever,"  but  Rye 
did  not  exercise  the  privilege  until  1771. 

Courts  of  Sessions  were  held  in  Rye  during  the  Colonial 
dynasty. 

A  ferry  was  established  between  the  town  and  Oyster  Bay, 
Long  Island,  in  1739,  and  was  called  the  "Rye  Ferry."  It 
ran  sixty  years  or  more. 

The  early  records  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  state  that  the 
Board's  first  meeting  was  held  in  the  school  house  in  Rye,  on 
Tuesday,  October  6,  1772. 

The  General  Court,  in  October,  1669,  announced  that  it  was 
"informed  that  the  people  of  Rye  are  yet  destitute  of  an 
orthodox  minister."  At  the  present  time  there  are  numerous 
churches  of  all  denominations,  and  the  town  is  noted  for  its 
many  costly  church  edifices. 

The  residents  of  this  town,  on  January  3,  1910.  celebrated 
the  two  hundred  and  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  purchase  of  the 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  195 

town  of  Rye  from  the  Dutch  Company  by  Disbrow,  Coe  and 
Studwell. 

Manussing,  or  Mennewies  Island,  about  a  mile  in  length, 
which  lies  east  of  what  was  known  as  Poningoe  Neck,  and  sep- 
arated from  it  only  by  a  narrow  channel,  w^as  purchased  from 
the  Indians  on  June  29,  1660,  the  price  paid  by  Messrs.  Dis- 
brow, Coe  and  Studwell  being  "eight  cotes  and  seven  shirts, 
fifteen  fathom  of  wampone,  which  is  in  full  satisfaction  for 
the  parcel  of  land  mentioned."  This  bill  of  sale  is  signed  by 
thirteen  Indian  chiefs  in  authority.  In  recent  years  this  island 
has  belonged  to  private  owners.  In  October,  1911,  part  of 
the  property  then  belonging  to  the  Cornell  family  was  sold  for 
$150,000,  to  be  used  for  club  house,  etc.  Evidently  there  is 
some  difference  between  the  purchase  and  the  selling  price. 
The  island  has  been  owned,  at  different  times,  by  the  Van 
Rensselaer,  Cromwell,  Erving  and  Cornell  families. 

General  John  Dix,  a  former  Governor  of  this  State,  was  for 
a  considerable  period  a  resident  of  this  town. 

Pine  Island  (Milton  Point)  at  this  date  said  to  be  valued  at 
more  than  $1,000,000,  is  reported  to  have  been  purchased,  in 
early  days,  when  the  price  was  a  cow. 

It  may  appear  unbelievable,  the  assertion  that  Pine  Island, 
one  of  the  finest  pieces  of  shore  property  along  Long  Island 
Sound,  and  in  the  town  of  Rye,  once  sold  for  a  very  common 
domestic  animal,  but  the  story,  astonishing  as  it  may  appear, 
is  vouched  for  by  old  residents  of  this  town.  As  the  narrative 
runs,  all  that  section  of  Milton  Point  was  originally  owned  by 
a  man  named  Brown.  He  held  the  property  for  some  time, 
and  finally  sold  it  to  "Uncle"  Gideon  Reynolds.  In  speaking 
of  this  real  estate  transaction,  an  old  resident  recently  said: 
"I  often  heard  Gideon  tell  how  he  came  to  buy  Pine  Island; 
he  had  secured  all  the  property  from  Brown  clean  dow'n  to  the 
Clubhouse,  w^hen  Brown  said  to  him,  'Gideon,  you  have  got  all 
the  farm  now,  and  I  think  you  ought  to  have  the  island,  too ! ' 
To  this  Gideon  replied,  'no,  I  have  got  about  all  the  property 
I  want.'  Brown  evidently  wanted  him  to  buy  the  island  pretty 
bad,  so  he  offered  to  sell  the  whole  island  for  a  farrow  cow 
owned  by  Gideon.  A  bargain  was  struck.  The  said  cow  changed 
hands.  Brown  took  the  cow,  Gideon  took  the  island."  "Yes," 
added  our  informant,  "that  was  a  good  day's  work  for  Gideon, 
if  he  had  the  island  to  sell  now  it  would  be  valued  at  20,000 
farrow  cows,  worth  $50  a  piece." 


196  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

Names  of  prominent  families,  settlers  in  the  town,  are  even 
prominent  at  this  late  date,  and  include  those  of  Disbrows,  Stud- 
wells,  Goes,  Merritts,  Browns,  Budds,  Aliens,  Odells,  Fowlers, 
Hortons,  Knapps,  Sherwoods,  Lyons,  Purdys,  Boyds,  Kniffens, 
Travis',  Brushs,  Smiths,  Banks,  Ogdens,  Parks,  Peeks,  Ander- 
sons, Vails,  Hiatts,  Millers,  Mills,  Johnsons,  Wrights,  Stevens, 
Slaters,  Beattes,  Jenkins,  Bishops,  Bloomers,  Carpenters,  Brun- 
diges,  Havilands,  Dusenberrys,  Van  Rensselaer,  Cromwell, 
Lounsburys,  Haights,  Baileys,  Meads,  Johnsons,  Parkers. 

Within  the  township  there  are  two  thriving  villages  and  a 
part  of  another  prosperous  village:  Port  Chester,  in- 
corporated in  1868;  has  a  population,  in  1910,  of  12,809;  Rye, 
incorporated  in  1904;  has  a  population,  in  1910,  of  3,964;  part 
(Rye  Neck)  of  the  village  of  Mamaroneck,  incorporated  in 
1895;  has  a  population,  in  1910,  of  2,285. 

The  whole  town's  population  in  1910  was  19,652  (for  popula- 
tion of  earlier  years,  see  volume  one). 

Port  Chester,  one  of  the  most  thriving  villages  in  the  County, 
a  manufacturing  center  and  an  up-to-date  business  community, 
managed  by  "live  people,"  was  known  as  "Saw  Pit"  from 
April  23,  1823,  to  March  11,  1837 ;  on  latter  date  the  name  Port 
Chester  was  adopted. 

Among  those  w^ho  have  served  as  President  of  the  Village  of 
Port  Chester,  of  more  recent  date,  and  are  yet  alive,  are  John 
W.  McCarthy,  Norton  J.  Sands,  M.  D.,  and  the  present  incum- 
bent, William  Ryan,  who  is  a  former  Member  of  Assembly  and 
former  Congressman. 

Port  Chester  has  furnished  more  Sheriffs  to  the  County  than 
any  other  locality,  and  all  have  proven  the  "right  man  in  the 
right  place." 

The  Port  Chester  Library  and  Reading  Room  was  founded 
by  Jared  V.  Peck  in  1776. 

Addison  Johnson,  who  was  Supervisor  of  this  town  from  1892 
to  1895,  served  later  as  Sheriff',  and  as  Agent  and  Warden  of 
Sing  Sing  Prison.    An  efficient  public  servant  in  all  positions. 

It  has  two  banks  of  deposit  and  an  old  established  Savings 
Bank;  all  as  solid  as  the  Rock  of  Gibraltar. 

Here  is  manufactured  and  distributed  many  of  the  stoves,  of 
all  kinds,  made  in  this  country. 

The  New  York.  New  Haven  and  Hartford  Railroad  passes 
through  this  village;  Ihe  station  of  this  road  now  stands  where 
was  once  the  head  of  Adee  Street,  and  doubtless  recalls  to  resi- 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  197 

dents  the  exciting  incident  which  occurred  in  1872,  when  Stephen 
A.  Marshall  was  president  of  the  village.  The  railroad  com- 
pany attempted  to  close  the  upper  end  of  Adee  Street  to  elimi- 
nate street  crossing  tracks;  to  do  this  the  company  ran  heavily 
freighted  cars  to  that  locality  and  securely  blocked  the  cross- 
ing. The  village  authorities,  headed  by  President  Marshall, 
accepted  the  evident  challenge  to  war  and  began  rallying  the 
people  to  action  against  the  railroad  invasion;  the  church  bells 
were  soon  engaged  in  ringing  a  fire  alarm;  people  in  droves  hur- 
ried to  the  Adee  Street  railroad  crossing,  and  on  being  directed 
as  to  the  service  required  gave  willing  hands  to  pushing  back 
the  freight  cars,  specially  heavy  though  they  were.  After  this 
experience  the  railroad  officials  did  not  undertake  again  to  "steal 
a  march"  upon  "the  unsuspecting  public,"  but  acquired  the 
property  in  legal  form. 

Among  the  principal  industries  of  the  thriving  village  of 
Port  Chester,  the  Port  Chester  Transportation  Company  holds 
a  conspicuous  place.  This  company  has  for  years  run  a  fleet 
of  vessels  carrying  freight  between  the  village  and  New  York 
city;  to-day  steam  freight  boats  of  this  line,  replacing  sailing 
sloops,  make  daily  communication  to  and  from  the  big  city,  and 
are  admitted  to  be  among  the  finest  fast-sailing  boats  that  ply 
upon  Long  Island  Sound. 

The  newest  of  these  steamboats  is  named  "Port  Chester,"  in 
honor  of  the  home  port.  On  occasion  of  the  boat's  first  trip 
from  New  York,  direct  from  the  ship-builder's  yard,  on  Sep- 
tember 28,  1907,  the  local  merchants  and  tradespeople,  as  a 
whole,  presented,  accompanied  by  appropriate  ceremonies,  a 
"stand  of  colors  and  eagle  for  the  pilot  house,"  in  the  name 
of  the  people  whose  homes  and  whose  interests  are  centered  about 
Port  Chester — people  who  appreciated  as  a  compliment  the  giv- 
ing of  the  name  "Port  Chester"  to  the  handsome  craft. 

In  accepting  the  gift  and  accompanying  resolutions,  Captain 
Edwin  F.  Studwell,  president  of  the  Transportation  Company, 
in  part  said: 

"It  will  be  fifty  years  this  fall  since  Captain  Nelson  Stud- 
well,  my  uncle,  first  came  to  this  village,  at  the  request  of  Cap- 
tain Thomas  Bird,  to  run  the  sloop  'James  H.  Holdane'  (in 
place  of  the  sloop  'Sarah  Adee,'  which  had  been  wrecked  a 
short  time  before),  until  he  could  find  a  suitable  boat  for  him 
to  buy  to  run  on  the  same  route.     Captain  Bird  was  so  well 


198  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

pleased  with  the  lioldane'  and  Capt.  Nell,  that  he  never  looked 
for  another  boat,  or  at  least  he  never  bought  one. 

"In  1870  Captain  Bird  died,  and  I,  having  shipped  on  the 
'Holdane'  :March  7,  1860,  and  having  been  captain  of  the  boat 
for  several  years,  succeeded  to  the  business,  and  have  been  in 
charge  to  the  present  time. 

"Captain  Nelson  Studwell,  David  P.  Ferris  and  myself  built 
the  first  'Port  Chester'  in  1879,  and  during  that  year  we  organ- 
ized a  stock  company  with  David  P.  Ferris  as  president.  Nelson 
Studwell,  vice-president,  Edwin  F.  Studwell,  secretary  and 
treasurer,  with  Andrew  Ferris  and  William  H.  Ferris,  directors. 
"In  1886  w^e  built  the  'Glenville,'  with  the  intention  of  run- 
ning the  two  boats,  but  after  a  trial  of  two  years  we  found  we 
were  ahead  of  the  times,  as  we  could  not  make  the  two  boats 
pay ;  we  therefore  sold  the  '  Port  Chester, '  lengthened  the  '  Glen- 
ville,' and  have  run  but  one  boat  since.  The  company  recently 
decided  that  the  time  had  really  arrived  when  we  should  have 
another  up-to-date  steam  propelling  boat  plying  between  this 
village  and  New  York  city,  to  give  to  our  patrons  the  proper  ser- 
vice which  is  due  them,  as  our  village  is  rapidly  growing  and 
we  want  to  keep  up  with  the  times ;  so  after  much  thought  we 
decided  to  build  a  boat  and  this  is  the  result. 

' '  This  boat  was  built  under  the  supervision  of  my  son,  Edwin 
A.  Studwell,  Superintendent  of  the  Company." 

The  village  has  an  excellent  fire  department,  equipped  with 
most  modern  apparatus ;  the  fire  houses  are  fine  brick  and  stone 
structures  well  located  in  different  sections. 

Former  Sheriff  James  S.  Merritt  is  Chief  Engineer  of  the 
Fire  Department  for  1912-13. 

Its  excellent  public  graded  schools  and  spacious  buildings  are 
numerous  and  well  adapted  to  the  needs  of  a  growing  com- 
munity. 

The  village  of  Rye,  as  well  as  Port  Chester,  contains  many 
handsome  residential  places  and  the  homes  of  many  New  York 
business  men. 

State  Laws  of  1907,  Chap.  711,  and  of  1908,  Chap.  408,  pro- 
vide for  the  acquiring  of  certain  lands  for  a  public  park  in  the 
town  of  Rye,  laying  out,  constructing  and  maintaining  a  public 
park.  These  lands  include  property  lying  on  the  shores  of  Long 
Island  Sound,  such  as  the  well-known  Rye  Beach  and  adjacent 
bathing  beaches. 


EDWIN  F.  STUDWELL 


JOSEPH   HAIGHT 


JOHN  W.  LOUNSBURY 


CHARLES  E.  LOUNSBURY 


JOHN  F.  MILLS 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


199 


Biographical  Sketches. 


JOSEPH  HAIGHT. 

Joseph  Haight,  Supervisor  of  the 
town  of  Rye,  former  Town  Clerk, 
etc.,  was  born  just  over  the  county 
border  line,  in  Greenwich,  Conn.,  on 
September  16,  1859,  a  son  of  Joseph 
and   Adeline    (Rich)    Haight. 

He  was  educated  in  the  schools 
of  his  native  town  and  in  the  Fort 
Edward  Institute,  Fort  Edward, 
N.  Y. 

He  became  a  resident  of  Port 
Chester,  in  the  town  of  Rye,  his  pres- 
ent place  of  abode,  in  1876. 

Entering  upon  a  business  career 
he  filled  the  responsible  position  of 
Assistant  Superintendent  of  the  ex- 
tensive bolt  manufactory  of  Russell, 
Birdsall  &  Ward,  which  position  he 
retained  seven  years  from  1886.  He 
resigned  his  place  with  this  company 
in  1893  to  engage  in  business  on  his 
own  account,  in  which  he  was  suc- 
cessful. At  the  present  writing  he 
is  president  of  the  Port  Chester 
Hygeia  lee  Company,  and  is  Treas- 
urer of  the  Rye  Realty  Company. 

He  was  elected  Clerk  of  the  Town 
of  Rye  in  1905,  receiving  an  unpre- 
cedented majority,  and  served  in 
this  office  during  the  years  1906- 
7-8-9. 

In  the  fall  of  1909  he  was  pro- 
moted to  the  office  of  Supervisor, 
again  by  a  large  majority.  Ag 
Supervisor  he  served  during  1910-11, 
and  was  re-elected  Supervisor  in 
1911,  for  the  years  1912-13. 

His  career  as  a  County  legislator 
has  been  quiet  and  unpretending;  but 
the  industry,  ability  and  success  with 
which  he  has  discharged  his  duties 
to  constituents  and  the  county  has 
not  failed  to  establish  his  reputa- 
tion as  a  safe  legislator,  fully  cap- 
able of  successfully  filling  still 
higher  and  more  important  positions 
at  the  hands  of  his  fellow  citizens. 

He  has  ever  taken  a  prominent 
part  in  the  proceedings  of  the  Board 
of  Supervisors,  and  has  exercised 
much  influence  in  enacting  county 
legislation.  He  has  held  prominent 
place  on  most  important  commit- 
tees; he  is  now  serving  his  third 
year  as  chairman  of  one  of  the  lead- 
ing committees,  that  on  Good  Roads. 
Being  a  man  of  systematic  habits 
and  a  believer  in  what  is  worth 
doing   is   worth    doing   well,   he   has 


introduced  many  changes  in  manage- 
ment of  details  that  great  good  has 
resulted  in  conducting  duties  of  his 
committees.  For  several  years  he 
has  been  also  a  member  of  the 
active  committee  on  Repairs  and 
Supplies. 

In  addition  to  his  duties  as  Super- 
visor he  is  chairman  of  the  Rye  Park 
Commission,  and  as  such  has  been 
influential  in  perfecting  plans  to 
meet  the  ideas  of  his  fellow  towns- 
men who  consider  this  Long  Island 
Sound  front  pleasure  park  as  one  of 
the  town's  greatest  accessions. 

Mr.  Haight  was  married  on  June 
5,  1901,  to  Miss  Susan  M.  Marshall, 
daughter  of  Joseph  H.  Marshall,  of 
Port  Chester.  Of  this  union  there 
is  one  son,  Joseph  Walton  Marshall 
Haight,  aged  eight  years. 

EDWIN  F.  STUDWELL. 

Edwin  Francis  Studwell,  former 
Supervisor  of  the  town  of  Rye, 
former  Chief  Engineer  of  the  Port 
Chester  Fire  Department,  etc.,  was 
born  in  Greenwich,  Conn,  (not  far 
from  his  present  place  of  abode  in 
Port  Chester,  this  County),  on  April 
8,  1843,  a  son  of  George  0.  and  Jo- 
hanna   (Buckhout)    Studwell. 

He  attended  school  in  the  city  of 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  receiving  a  good, 
practical  education  that  fitted  him 
for  a  successful  business  career. 

"Captain  Ed,"  as  he  is  univer- 
sally known,  has  a  wide  acquaintance 
among  the  citizens  of  the  County, 
and  among  the  ' '  river  tradesmen  ' ' 
he  has  been  popular  from  the  day 
he  first  trod  the  deck  of  his  sailing 
craft,  plying  between  the  local  port 
and  the  big  city.  He  served  "  be- 
fore the  mast  ' '  in  all  capacities, 
reaching  the  position  he  now  holds 
as  president  and  principal  owner  of 
the  Port  Chester  Transportation 
Company.  The  title  of  captain  he 
earned  as  active  commander  of 
"  ships  of  the  line." 

All  rural  communities  possess  one 
or  more  men  to  whom  neighbors  feel 
free  to  go  for  advice  on  all  kinds 
of  subjects,  pains  or  ailments,  real 
or  imaginary  troubles.  This  advice 
is  expected  to  be  given  free  gratis, 
for  nothing,  as  a  father  would  give 
to  his  children.  For  years  Captain 
Studwell  has  held  this  enviable  posi- 


200 


]\LiNUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


tion,  as  ' '  adviser  for  the  public 
good." 

The  Captain  is  a  man  of  com- 
manding presence;  tall,  •well  propor- 
tioned and  is  one  who  would  attract 
attention  in  any  assembly  of  men. 
Of  great  energy,  sagacity  and  perse- 
verance, in  whose  sterling  integrity 
not  only  his  immediate  neighbors  in 
the  village  of  Port  Chester  and  the 
town  of  Kye,  but  the  people  of  the 
County    have    perfect   confidence. 

Several  years  ago  Capt.  Studwell 
was  chosen  chief  of  the  local  Fire 
Department,  a  position  that  as  a 
rule  is  entrusted  to  one  of  the  local- 
ities most  leading  citizens.  No  man 
was  ever  better  titted  for  the 
"  job,"  in  every  respect;  wherever 
Chief  Studwell  went  and  appeared 
at  the  head  of  Port  Chester's  most 
excellent  department,  he  was  recog- 
nized as  "  the  ideal  Chief."  For 
four  years  he  held  this  position,  fill- 
ing it  to  the  improvement  or  the  ser- 
vice and   to  general  satisfaction. 

He  relinquished  the  oflSce  of  Su- 
pervisor in  November,  1909,  after 
serving  the  town  eight  years.  In 
the  Board  of  Supervisors  he  was 
one  of  its  most  prominent  and  use- 
ful members,  serving  at  the  head  of 
at  least  two  principal  committees, 
and  the  County's  business  was  never 
performed  in  a  more  business-like 
manner.  As  a  legislator  he  was  ever 
prompt,  industrious  and  watchful  of 
the  interests  of  his  constituency. 
He  does  not  claim  to  be  an  orator, 
but  his  "  talks  "  to  his  colleagues  in 
the  Board  possessed  so  much  good 
sense  and  logic  that  close  attention 
was  always  given  and  the  accom- 
panying advice  heeded. 

He  was  foremost  among  those  citi- 
zens who  conceived  the  idea  that  the 
attractive  water  front  and  popular 
beach  known  as  Oakland  Beach,  in 
the  village  of  Rye,  should  belong  to 
the  town  of  Rye,  and  be  laid  out  as 
a  public  park.  He  supported  earn- 
estly the  bill  before  the  State  Legis- 
lature providing  for  such  a  park.  On 
the  bill  becoming  a  law  he,  as  Su- 
pervisor, with  all  his  might  entered 
into  the  work  of  securing  the  de- 
sired result,  and  before  he  retired 
from  nftice  the  beautiful  public  park 
was  assured.  It  is  with  just  fdeas- 
ure  he  can  remomber  the  part  ho  had 
in  securing  to  his  town  this  valuable 
property. 


It  is  in  a  great  part  due  to  the 
persistent  efforts  of  Capt  Studwell 
that  an  appropriation  was  secured 
from  the  United  States  Government 
for  the  improvement  of  Port  Chester 
Harbor.  Thirty  years  ago  the  first 
appropriation  was  secured.  Since 
that  time  several  appropriations  ag- 
gregating many  thousands  of  dollars 
each  were  obtained.  Now  the  chan- 
nel is  100  feet  wide  and  10  feet 
deep. 

For  a  number  of  years  Capt. 
Studwell  has  been  vice-president  of 
the  long  established  Port  Chester 
Savings   Bank. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  local  coun- 
cil of  Royal  Arcanum. 

Was  married  on  January  29,  1868, 
to  Miss  Mary  Anna  Ferris,  daughter 
of  John  and  Mary  (Huested)  Ferris. 
Of  this  union  there  are  the  following 
children,  Nettie,  Edwin  A.,  Nelson 
F.,  Mabel  E.,  Chester  A.,  and  Lester 
W.,  all  grown. 

CHARLES  E.  LOUNSBURY. 

Charles  Edwin  Lounsbury,  Village 
Trustee  and  present  Member  of  the 
Board  of  Education,  former  Chief 
of  the  Port  Chester  Fire  Depart- 
ment, and  a  "man  of  affairs"  gen- 
erally, is  a  native  of  this  County. 
He  was  born  on  October  21,  1860, 
cot  far  from  where  he  now  resides  m 
the  village  of  Port  Chester,  the  fourth 
and  youngest  son  of  one  of  the  lead- 
ing families  of  the  town,  his  parents 
being  John  William  and  Jane  A. 
(Redfield)  Lounsbury.  His  educa- 
tion is  one  of  the  good  common 
school  sort,  built  on  what  his  father 
would  designate  as  "  a  horse-sense 
foundation. ' '  On  expressing  a  pre- 
ference for  a  business  career,  he  en- 
tered his  father's  large  grocery 
store  as  a  clerk,  where  he  received 
that  thorough  practical  education 
which  has  proven  of  so  much  benefit 
to  him  in  these  later  days. 

The  youthful  Lounsbury  early 
gave  evidence  of  the  qualities  es- 
sential to  the  making  of  a  man  of 
affairs,  and  wise  heads  predicted 
that  he  would  prove  a  creditable  suc- 
cessor of  a  worthy  sire.  The  care- 
ful consideration  given  to  matters 
submitted  to  him.  his  conservatism 
and  other  characteristic  traits  be- 
spoke a  coming  merchant  who 
would  justly  earn  an   enviable  posi- 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


201 


tion  in  the  mercantile  world.  His 
present  standing  among  his  asso- 
ciates justifies  this  prediction. 

It  is  not  only  his  mercantile  posi- 
tion that  commends  him;  though  yet 
a  comparatively  young  man  we  find 
him  taking  a  leading  part  in  the 
civic  life  of  the  community.  For 
six  years,  beginning  with  1900,  he 
ably  served  as  a  Trustee  of  the  vil- 
lage, assisting  materially  in  per- 
fecting needed  public  improvements, 
many  of  which  he  suggested.  He 
was  again  elected  a  Village  Trustee 
in  April,  1911.  Since  1901  he  has 
been  a  member  of  the  local  Board  of 
Education,  and  it  is  owing  greatly 
to  his  efforts  that  Port  Chester  has 
at  this  time  some  of  the  best  graded 
schools  in  the  State. 

His  association  with  volunteer  fire- 
men, his  untiring  endeavors  to  pro- 
mote the  efficiency  of  the  brave 
**  fire-fighters,"  and  make  the  local 
fire  department  an  ideal  one,  has 
earned  for  him  the  distinction  of 
having  a  local  fire  engine  company 
named  in  his  honor;  the  "  C.  E. 
Lounsbury  Hose  Company  "  is  one 
of  the  most  thriving  firemanic  or- 
ganizations in  the  County.  He  be- 
gan running  with  the  "  machine  " 
when  little  more  than  a  lad.  He  en- 
tered into  the  discharge  of  his  du- 
ties here  energetically  and  with  a 
vim  usual  for  him  to  display  in  all 
his  undertakings.  His  popularity 
advanced  him  through  all  grades  un- 
til he  reached  the  command  of  Re- 
liance Fire  Engine  Company;  from 
the  foremanship  he  graduated  to 
Assistant-Chief  Engineer,  and  up  to 
Chief  Engineer,  at  the  head  of  the 
Fire  Department  in  1908,  to  be  un- 
animously re-elected  Chief  in  1910, 
serving  until  succeeded  by  James  S. 
Merritt. 

His  father  was  the  first  Chief  En- 
gineer of  the  local  Fire  Department, 
at  its  organization;  it  is  but  fitting 
that  his  son  should  hold  the  same 
position  to-day.  No  one  could  fill 
the  position  better  than  did  the  first 
Chief,  and  the  son  is  giving  satis- 
faction equal  to  that  given  by  the 
father.  The  late  Chief  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  local  Firemen's  Benevolent 
Association ;  a  member  of  the  State 
Volunteer  Firemen's  Association  and 
a  member  of  the  National  Fire 
Chief's  Association. 

At   an   early   age    Mr.   Lounsbury 


achieved  a  reputation  as  a  financier, 
and  a  business  man  of  superior  qual- 
ities. At  the  death  of  his  father  he 
was  promptly  chosen  to  take  the  lat- 
ter's  place  as  a  director  of  the  local 
First  National  Bank,  and  later  he 
took  his  father's  place  at  the  head 
of  a  long  established  and  prosperous 
grocery  business  in  Port  Chester, 
which  position  he  at  present  holds. 

Mr,  Lounsbury  is  prominent  in 
fraternal  orders,  principally  the  Ma- 
sonic; he  is  a  member  of  Mamaro 
Lodge,  No.  653,  F.  and  A,  M.,  a 
member  of  Armor  Chapter,  a  mem- 
ber of  Bethlehem  Commandery, 
Mount  Vernon  and  of  other 
branches  of  the  order;  is  a  member 
of  Lodge  No.  863,  of  the  order  of 
Elks.  He  is  chairman  of  the  Repub- 
lican Town  Committee  and  repre- 
sents his  village  on  the  Republican 
County  Committee,  a  position  long 
held  by  his  father,  a  recognized 
leader  of  his  party  in  the  county. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
married  on  November  12,  1884,  to 
Miss  Ida  Gertrude  Ritch,  daughter 
of  William  M.  and  Elizabeth  Ritch, 
of  Greenwich,  Conn.  Of  this  union 
there  are  two  children,  sturdy  sons; 
Walter  Edwin,  now  aged  twenty- 
three  years,  and  Frederick  Norton, 
aged  nineteen  years. 

JOHN   W.   LOUNSBURY. 

John  W.  Lounsbury,  a  former  Su- 
pervisor of  the  town  of  Rye,  a 
former  President  of  the  village  of 
Port  Chester,  merchant,  financier, 
etc.,  was  born  April  29,  1825,  a  son 
of  Edward  and  Nancy  (Peek) 
Lounsbury.  His  early  life  was  spent 
on  his  father's  farm  in  Flushing,  L. 
I.,  where  he  was  born,  and  he  was 
only  privileged  to  attend  school  dur- 
ing the  winter  months.  His  educa- 
tion was  obtained  principally  in  the 
School  of  Experience.  At  the  age 
of  fourteen  he  entered  upon  his  mer- 
cantile career  as  a  "  get-around- 
quick  ' '  boy  "  in  a  grocery  store  in 
New  York  city;  being  a  bright  lad, 
endowed  with  what  he  termed  good 
horse-sense,  he  soon  acquired  much 
useful  knowledge.  In  1842  he  left 
the  big  city  and  settled  in  Port  Ches- 
ter, when  that  place  was  but  a  strug- 
gling hamlet.  As  "  a  pioneer,"  with 
required  hustling  qualities,  young 
Lounsbury    soon    proved    himself    to 


202 


MAXUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


be  the  right  man  in  the  right  place. 
He  took  hold  with  a  will  and  in- 
spired others  to  do  their  best  in  the 
development  of  Port  Chester.  He 
was  thrifty  and  saved  his  money.  He 
became  a  blacksmith's  apprentice 
anil  later,  after  mastering  the  trade, 
bought  out  his  employer.  Making 
enough  money,  he  embarked  in  the 
general  grocery  business.  His  effi- 
cient business  ability,  his  standing  fi- 
nancially and  general  popularity  soon 
suggested  him  for  political  prefer- 
ment; he  was  elected  Supervisor  of 
the  town  of  Eye  in  1861;  held  the 
office  of  Village  Trustee  three  years 
and  then  was  elected  Village  Presi- 
dent; he  was  one  of  the  original 
trustees  of  the  Port  Chester  Library 
and  Free  Beading  Room;  a  director 
and  Vice-President  of  the  Port  Ches- 
ter First  A'ational  Bank,  a  trustee  of 
the  local  Savings  Bank,  a  director  of 
the  Mount  Vernon  Peoples'  (now 
National)  Bank,  a  director  of  the 
New  Rochelle  City  Bank,  a  director 
of  the  Westchester  Fire  Insurance 
Company,  a  director  of  the  White 
Plains,  Tarrytown  and  Mamaroneck 
Electric  Railway,  and  was  connected 
with  other  financial  institutions. 
He  was  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
which  occurred  May  18,  1905,  one  of 
the  largest  individual  real  estate 
owners  in  the  town  of  Rye.  A  local 
park  was  named  in  his  honor  re- 
cently. 

In  politics  he  was  a  power,  a  poli- 
tician of  the  old  school,  and  exer- 
cised considerable  influence  in  the 
councils  or  his  party.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  County  Republican 
Executive  Committee  and  an  inti- 
mate and  political  friend  of  Judge 
William  H.  Robertson.  In  his  town 
he  was  the  master  mind,  cool,  calcu- 
lating and  resourceful.  His  busi- 
ness ability  fitted  him  for  leadership 
among  men.  The  present  recognized 
county  loader  of  the  Repilblican 
party,  William  L.  Ward,  as  a  young 
man  profited  by  the  teachings  of 
Mr.  Lounsbury  under  whom  he  was 
a  lieutenant;  former  Sheriffs  Addi- 
son Johnson  and  James  S.  Merritt 
also  started  in  polities  under 
"  Boss  "  Lounsbury.  The  latter  did 
not  make  politics  a  business,  only  a 
pastime,  to  aid  ambitious  friends. 
He  was  eenorous  and  men  can  re- 
membor  the  "  helpine;  hand  "  he 
eare.   pven    outside   of   politics.      He 


was  well  informed  on  general  sub- 
jects, and  amply  equipped  to  occupy 
the  position  forced  upon  him,  of  ad- 
viser to  his  fellow-citizens  who 
needed  guidance  in  matters  of  every- 
day life;  this  advice  he  gave  with- 
out charge,  though  "  hearings  "  on 
occasions  took  much  of  his  valuable 
time. 

His  death  was  a  great  loss  to  the 
community.  The  children  surviving 
him  are  Daniel  M.,  Herbert  S.,  and 
Charles  E.  One  son,  George  R., 
died  in  1888,  aged  37  years. 

(See  page  14(5,  volume  1.) 


JOHN  F.  MILLS. 

John  Eraser  Mills,  a  former  pub- 
lic official  of  prominence,  filling  with 
distinction  many  positions  of  trust 
in  the  town  of  Rye  and  a  business 
man  of  more  than  ordinary  abil- 
ity, was  born  in  Jersey  City,  N.  J., 
on  October  8,  1843,  a  son  of  Ben- 
jamin and  Jane  (Fraser)  Mills  and 
grandson  of  John  Mills,  who  fought 
in  the  Revolutionary  War.  He  was 
educated  in  the  Andover-Phillips 
Academy  of  Andover,  Mass. 

When  quite  young  Mr.  Mills  came 
to  Port  Chester,  in  this  County, 
and  accepted  a  position  with  the 
Abendroth  Brothers  Company,  a  firm 
then  in  its  infancy.  The  sterling 
qualities  of  the  boy,  his  honest  labor 
and  manifest  intention  of  making 
himself  useful  to  his  employers,  rap- 
idly earned  advancement  for  him; 
step  by  step  he  progressed,  until  he 
became  superintendent  of  the  com- 
pany's great  business  and  later  be- 
came vice-president  and  general 
manager  of  the  concern.  At  the 
time  of  his  death,  on  December  5, 
IftOl,  he  was  president  of  the  com- 
pany. 

The  energy  displayed  by  Mr.  Mills 
in  dispatching  business  was  once  de- 
scribed by  a  friend  as  being  of  the 
"  one-hundred-horse-power  sort." 
He  was  capable  of  doing  in  one  day 
as  much  work  as  three  ordinary  men, 
with  little  friction  and  surprising 
smoothness.  He  certainly  was  a 
"  hustler."  His  knowledge  of  the 
business,  which  he  had  gained  by 
actual  service  as  an  apprentice  in 
every  department,  fitted  him  to  di- 
rect men  and  get  the  best  results 
from    systematized    labor.      To    un- 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


203 


tiring  energy  and  close  application 
to  business  on  part  oi  Mr.  Mills 
was  due  greatly  the  success  attained, 
and  yet  held,  by  the  Abendroth 
Brothers  Company.  In  the  business 
world  he  was  highly  respected;  for 
his  sterling  qualities,  his  upright- 
ness and  his  being  a  stickler  for  do- 
ing things  ' '  open  and  above  board, ' ' 
and  because  it  was  right  so  to  do. 
He  was  tirm  for  what  he  considered 
just,  and  ever  ready  to  assist  where 
his  assistance  was  needed. 

Not  only  as  a  successful  business 
man  was  he  known.  He  believed 
that  good  citizenship  required  some 
sacrifice  of  time,  though  ever  so 
valuable,  for  the  public  good.  Na- 
turally he  was  sought  after  when  his 
fellow  townsmen  needed  a  proper 
person  to  fill  a  specially  important 
position  of  public  trust;  he  consid- 
ered every  otfice  connected  with  the 
public  service  a  public  trust.  Though 
he  might  truly  have  pleaded,  as  an 
excuse,  that  his  every  moment  was 
fully  occupied,  that  he  had  no  time 
to  give  owing  to  exacting  business 
demands,  yet  he  consented  without 
unnecessary  protest  to  accept  posi- 
tions of  usefulness  rather  than  those 
to  which  was  connected  remunerative 
salary. 

Writing  a  sketch  of  Mr.  Mills  Is 
like  writing  a  history  of  Port  Ches- 
ter, so  closely  identified  was  he  with 
events  in  the  village's  history. 

He  came  to  Port  Chester  when 
aged  19  years,  was  with  Abendroth 
Brothers;  for  a  time  was  in  real  es- 
tate and  insurance  business;  pub- 
lished the  first  local  newspaper;  in 
his  oflfice  in  1865  the  first  meeting 
was  held  to  organize  the  Port  Ches- 
ter Savings  Bank,  W.  P.  Abendroth 
was  elected  first  President  and  Mr. 
Mills  first  cashier;  six  months  later 
Mr.  Mills  returned  to  Abendroth 
Brothers  as  Superintendent;  in  1881 
he  was  elected  Secretary  of  the  Sav- 
ings Bank,  which  position  he  held 
until  elected  President  of  the  bank 
shortly  following  the  death  of  W. 
P.  Abendroth;  was  a  trustee  of  the 
Athletic    Association    of    Port    Ches- 


ter; was  a  Mason  of  high  degree; 
belonged  to  local  Lodge  F.  and  A. 
M.;  was  a  Hoyal  Arch  Mason  and  a 
Knight  Templar;  was  one  of  the 
organizers  of  the  Piremen's  Benevo- 
lent Fund  Association  and  a  trustee 
at  time  of  death;  one  of  the 
first  trustees  of  the  Port  Chester 
Library  and  Free  Heading  Room,  or- 
ganized to  manage  gift  of  Hon. 
dared  V.  Peck;  was  a  Royal  Ar- 
canumite;  was  a  member  of  Harry 
Howard  Hook  and  Ladder  Company 
thirty  years;  vice-president  of  Port 
Chester  Water  Company;  member  of 
Iron  Founders'  Association  of  the 
U.  S. ;  of  Hospital  Association; 
vestry  man  and  senior  warden  of  St. 
Peter's  Episcopal  Church. 

Mr.  Mills  was  married,  on  August 
4,  1865,  to  Miss  Maria  Fraser  Aben- 
droth (who  died  in  1899),  daughter 
of  William  P.  Abendroth  (head  of 
the  firm  of  Abendroth  Brothers), 
and  Anna  Maria  Fraser  Abendroth. 
Of  this  union  there  are  four  stalwart 
sons,  grown  to  useful  manhood,  viz.: 
William  A.,  John  F.,  Benjamin  and 
Frank  M,  John  F.  succeeded  his 
father  as  president  of  the  Aben- 
droth Brothers  corporation  now 
grown  to  even  greater  proportions 
than  ever  anticipated  by  the  highest 
hopes  of  its  founders.  The  last 
named  John  F.  Jr.,  died  suddenly  of 
pneumonia  on  April  9,  1912. 

John  F.  Mills,  Jr.,  was  born  April 
28,  1870,  in  Port  Chester,  where  he 
ever  after  resided.  He  was  a  worthy 
son  of  a  noble  sire. 

Was  educated  in  the  Port  Chester 
public  schools,  graduated  from  the 
High  School  in  Class  of  1888. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
Order  and  of  its  several  branches, 
a  member  of  Sons  of  the  Revolu- 
tion,  etc. 

Was  married  on  December  10, 
1895,  to  Miss  Lillian  Wilcox,  daugh- 
ter of  Josiah  N.  and  Henrietta 
(Lyon)  Wilcox,  of  Port  Chester. 
Of  this  union  there  were  two  chil- 
dren, John  F.,  3d,  and  Josephine 
Wilcox.  Wife  and  children  survive 
him. 


For  biographical  sketches  of  other  residents  see  elsewhere  in  this  book, 
and  in  volumes  one  and  two. 


204  MANUAL  ASD  CIVIL  LIST. 

TOWN  OF  SCARSDALE. 


{Continued  from  page  246,  Vol.  1.) 

The  town  of  Scarsdale  was  originally  a  part  of  the  Manor  of 
Scarsdale,  which  Manor  in  the  early  date  included  not  only 
Scarsdale,  but  also  other  nearby  towns. 

Col.  Caleb  Heathcote  was  first  Lord  of  the  Manor.  (See  page 
246,  volume  1.)  The  name  given  to  the  Manor  interpreted 
means  the  rocky-valley;  "Scars"  being  the  Saxon  for  rocky 
crags  and  "dale"  signifies  valley.  The  Manor  of  Scarsdale 
originally  embraced  the  present  towns  of  Scarsdale,  White 
Plains,  Mamaroneck  and  parts  of  North  Castle  and  Harrison, 
It  was  named  after  Scarsdale,  in  the  county  of  Derby,  England, 
where  Col.  Heathcote  was  born  and  w^here  for  many  generations 
his  forebears  had  been  prominent.  He  received  the  Manor 
Grant  from  William  the  Third,  which  bore  the  date  of  March 
21,  1701. 

Colonel  Heathcote  was  born  March  6,  1665 ;  he  arrived  in  New 
York  in  1692.  He  was  Judge  of  this  County  from  1695  to  1721 ; 
was  a  Colonel  of  the  County  Militia ;  first  Mayor  of  the  Bor- 
ough of  Westchester,  a  Councillor  and  Surveyor-General  of 
the  Province ;  Commander  of  the  Colony  forces,  and  Mayor  of 
New  York  for  three  years. 

Col.  Heathcote  was  Mayor  of  New  York  commencing  1711, 
and  from  all  accounts  proved  to  be  one  of  the  most  useful  of 
the  thirty  Mayors  that  city  had  had  up  to  that  period.  An  his- 
torical reference  to  him  says :  "He  was  active  in  public  improve- 
ments, grading  the  streets  of  the  city  from  Maiden  lane  up  to 
the  'Common,'  where  is  now  Chambers  street."  He  became 
Mayor  by  appointment  from  the  Governor  of  the  Province. 

Col.  Heathcote  held  the  office  of  Receiver-General  of  the  Cus- 
toms for  all  North  America  from  1705  to  the  date  of  his  death, 
in  1721. 

The  estates  passed  down  from  one  descendant  to  another.  At 
the  present  time  but  a  small  portion,  if  any,  of  the  estates 
remain  in  possession  of  the  descendants  of  Col.  Caleb  Heathcote. 

Daniel  D.  Tompkins,*  the  fourth  Governor  of  this  State  and 
later  Vice-President  of  the  United  States,  was  born  in  this 
town,  the  seventh  son  of  Jonathan  G.  Tompkins  who  served  as 

•  A  biographical  sketch  of  Daniel  D.  Tompkins,  who  died  June  11, 
1825,  aged  51  years,  will  be  found  in  Volume  1. 


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MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  205 

a  member  of  the  State  Convention  which  met  in  White  Plains, 
approved  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  and  adopted  the 
first  Constitution  of  the  State ;  was  town  Supervisor ;  was  a 
member  of  the  State  Legislature  during  the  Revolutionary  War 
period ;  was  Judge  of  the  County  from  1794  to  1797,  and  later  a 
Regent  of  the  State  University;  he  died  shortly  after  his  son 
was  inaugurated  Vice-President. 

The  Westchester  County  Historical  Society  was  instrumental 
in  having,  in  1898,  a  tablet  erected  in  this  town  to  mark  the 
birthplace  of  Daniel  D.  Tompkins,  on  land  now  belonging  to 
Charles  Butler. 

Caleb  Tompkins,  also  of  this  tovm,  and  a  relative,  held  the 
office  of  Judge  of  the  County  from  1807  to  1820,  and  again 
from  1823  to  1846,  forty  years  in  all.  He  was  clerk  of  the 
Board  of  Supervisors  in  1807. 

Robert  Palmer,  of  this  town,  served  as  the  second  elected 
County  Treasurer,  from  1852  to  1855. 

Benjamin  Nieoll,  of  this  town,  was  County  Clerk  from  1746 
to  1760. 

This  township  has  been  favored  by  having  three  of  its  citizens 
elected  Chairman  of  the  County  Board  of  Supervisors ;  Richard 
M.  Popham  in  1828,  Richard  Palmer  in  1843  and  Chauncey  T. 
Secor  in  1893,  1897,  1898,  and  1905. 

Many  of  the  Supervisors  during  the  Town's  history  held  that 
office  for  many  years ;  William  Barker,  who  later  became  Sheriff, 
was  Supervisor  eleven  years;  Jonathan  G.  Tompkins,  father  of 
Governor  Daniel  D.  Tompkins,  held  it  for  thirteen  years ;  Caleb 
Tompkins,  who  was  Judge  of  County  forty  years,  held  it  eleven 
years,  and  was  also  Clerk  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors;  Richard 
M.  Popham  held  it  six  years  and  was  Chairman  of  Board  one 
year;  Richard  Palmer  held  it  thirteen  years,  and  was  Chairman 
of  Board  one  year;  Francis  Secor,  father  of  the  recent  Super- 
visor, held  the  office  twenty-six  years;  the  late  Chauncey  T. 
Secor,  who  retired  in  1912,  served  twenty-eight  years,  and  was 
Chairman  of  the  Board  four  years.     (See  Autobiography.) 

At  a  public  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  Scarsdale,  held  in  the 
School  House,  on  the  evening  of  January  16,  1912,  it  was 
decided  to  present  a  testimonial  to  ex-Supervisor  Chauncey 
T.  Secor,  giving  expression  of  public  appreciation  of  services 
well  performed  as  Supervisor  of  the  town  during  the  past 
twenty-eight  years.  The  following  is  a  fac-simile  of  the  testi- 
monial presented: 


20G  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

Tcstinioiiial  uroscnled  to  chaunecy  Tompkins  Secor  by  The  Citizens 
of  The  Town  of  !Sears(hile,  including  members  of  all  political  parties, 
recognizing  the  Fidelity,  Honesty,  and  Ability  with  which  their  fellow- 
townsman,  ("hauncey  Tompkins  Secor  has  performed  his  duties  as  Super- 
visor of  the  Town  of  Scarsdale  and  desiring  not  only  to  show  their  ap- 
preciation of  such  satisfactory  performance  of  a  public  trust,  but  also 
to  approve  the  principle  that  public  servants  who  demonstrate  their 
fitness  for  office  should  be  commended,  whatever  their  party  affiliations 
niav  be,  join  in  the  presentation  of  this  testimonial. 

Vvith  brief  intervals  from  the  time  of  the  Eevolutionary  War  the 
Supervisorship  of  the  Town  of  Scarsdale  has  been  held  by  members  of 
his  ancestral  lines.  His  Great  Grandfather,  Jonathan  G.  Tompkins,  hav- 
ing been  the  first  Supervisor  of  the  Town  and  his  Father,  Francis  Secor, 
having  been  Supervisor  for  twenty-five  years  prior  to  the  election  of 
Chauncey  Tompkins  Secor  in  the  year  eighteen  humlred  and  eighty-three. 
As  a  mark  of  our  appreciation  for  his  twenty-eight  years  of  continuous 
faithful  public  services,  his  personal  integrity,  his  high  sense  of  honorable 
dealing,  his  commendable  devotion  to  the  interest  of  the  Town  of 
Scarsdale,  and  his  creditable  and  conspicuous  services  impartially  ren- 
dered to  the  people  of  Westchester  County. 

We  consider  it  a  pleasure  as  well  as  a  duty  in  meeting  assembled  to 
publicly  acknowledge  his  praiseworthy  record  and  subscribe  to  the  senti- 
ments expressed  by  this  testimonial. 

Subscribed   this   twelfth   day   of   January   in   the   year   one   thousand   nine 
hundred  and  twelve. 

A.  B.  CRANE, 

BENEDICT   J.   CAEPENTEE, 
CORNELIUS  B.  FISH, 
BRADFORD  RHODES, 

Citizens  of  the  Town  of  Scarsdale. 
JOHN    R.   ROSS, 
WILLIAM  H.  SAGE, 
SAM'L    WOOLVEETON, 
DAVID  WELCH, 

Committee. 

Within  a  few  recent  years  movements  in  real  estate  in  this 
town  have  been  very  active.  Many  handsome  residential  parks 
have  been  laid  out  and  many  costly  homes  have  been  erected. 
Fine  roads  have  been  constructed,  and  the  general  development 
of  the  town  is  marked. 

]\rany  business  men  of  New  York  have  come  to  this  delight- 
ful suburb  to  establish  homes. 

The  present  population  of  the  town  is  (in  1910)  1,300. 

According  to  previous  census  enumerations  the  town  had  a 
population  in  1830  of  317 ;  in  1835,  326 ;  in  1840.  225 ;  in  1845, 
341;  in  1850,  342;  in  1855,  445;  in  1860.  548;  in  1865,  557;  in 
1870,  517;  in  1875,  529;  in  1880,  614;  in  1890,  683;  in  1892,  594; 
in  1900,  885;  in  1905,  1,018. 


CHAUNCEY  T.  SECOR 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


207 


Biographical  Sketches. 


CHAUNCEY  T.  SECOR. 

Chauncey  Tompkins  Secor,  former 
Justice  of  the  Peace  and  former 
Supervisor  of  the  town  of  Scarsdale, 
former  Chairman  of  the  Board  of 
Supervisors,  Chairman  of  the  Build- 
ing Committee  of  the  new  County 
Court  House,  etc.,  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Rye,  while  his  mother  (a 
resident  of  Scarsdale)  was  on  a  visit 
to  her  parents,  on  December  28,  1844, 
a  son  and  only  child  of  Francis  and 
Sarah  A.  (Lyon)  Secor,  of  Scarsdale. 

The  name  of  the  Secor  family  has 
been  variously  spelled  Sicard,  Secord 
and  Secor. 

In  1690,  Ambroise  Sicard,  who 
was  a  French  Huguenot,  came  to 
this  country,  and  settled  in  this 
county.  He  married  Jennie  Perron, 
and  the  first  entry  upon  the  records 
of  the  Huguenot  Church  in  New 
York  city  (now  the  French  Church 
Due  St.  Esprit)  is  that  of  the 
baptism  of  a  daughter  of  Ambroise 
Sicard,  the  exile.  Five  children 
were  named  in  his  will,  as  follows: 
Ambroise,  Daniel,  Jacques  or  James, 
Marie,  wife  of  Guillaune  Landrian, 
and  Silvie,  wife  of  Francis  Co- 
quiller. 

Ambroise  Sicard  settled  with  his 
sons  at  New  Rochelle,  this  county, 
and  on  the  9th  of  February,  1692, 
purchased  one  hundred  and  nine 
acres  of  land  in  New  Rochelle,  from 
on  Guillaume  Le  Count,  for  which 
he  paid  thirty-eight  pistoles  and 
eight  shillings,  current  money  of 
New  York,  equal  to  about  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  dollars  in  gold. 

It  is  from  the  second  son,  Daniel, 
that  Francis  Secor  descended.  How 
many  children  Daniel  had  is  not 
certain.  James,  his  son,  born  in 
1700  married  Mary  A.  Arvon  in 
1724  and  had  seven  sons  and  three 
daughters.  Their  fourth  child, 
Francis,  was  born  in  1732.  He  pur- 
chased the  homestead  at  Scarsdale 
(now  owned  by  heirs  of  Chauncey  T. 
Secor)  in  1775,  the  original  deed  of 
which  is  still  in  possession  of  the 
family. 

He  married  Sarah  Horton  in 
1761,  and  had  three  sons  and  five 
daughters.  His  oldest  son,  Caleb, 
born  in  1763,  married  Anna  Tomp- 
kins,    daughter     of     Jonathan     G. 


Tompkins  and  sister  of  Daniel  D. 
Tompkins,  Governor  of  State  of 
New  York,  and  later  Vice-President 
of   the  United   States. 

He  had  one  son  and  three 
daughters. 

The  son  Francis  (father  of 
Chauncey  Tompkins  Secor)  was  the 
oldest  child  and  was  born  June  5th, 
1810.  He  spent  his  early  life  upon 
the  farm,  from  which,  as  a  result 
of  his  labors,  he  accumulated  a  con- 
siderable property. 

He  was  a  man  of  fixed  and  un- 
swerving principle,  quick  to  decide, 
and  ever  ready  to  perform  any  labor 
to  which  his  conscience  pointed  him 
as  a  duty. 

In  1849  he  was  elected  Supervisor 
of  the  town  of  Scarsdale,  and  the 
office  remained  in  his  hands  for 
twenty-five  years. 

For  thirty  years  he  was  an  active 
and  consistent  member  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church  of  White  Plains, 
and  the  confidence  of  his  brethren 
in  his  integrity  was  manifested  by 
their  election  of  him  to  the  elder- 
ship. 

His  death  took  place  at  his  home, 
May  8th,   1885. 

He  was  connected  with  all  the 
laudable  enterprises  of  Scarsdale 
and  was  lamented  by  a  large  circle 
of   acquaintances   and   friends. 

Chauncey  Tompkins  Secor,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  was  the  son 
and  only  child  of  the  last  named 
Francis  and  was  a  great-grandson 
of  Jonathan  G.  Tompkins,  who  was 
one  of  the  original  Regents  of  this 
State,  serving  until  he  resigned  in 
1808,  who  also  served  as  the  first 
elected  Supervisor  of  the  town  of 
Scarsdale,  from  1783  to  1794,  then 
resigning  to  accept  the  position  of 
County  Judge,  an  appointive  office. 
The  next  Tompkins  of  whom  we 
have  record  as  having  served  in  the 
office  of  Supervisor  of  Scarsdale  was 
Caleb  Tompkins,  in  the  years  1798 
to  1808,  and  again  in  1822.  The 
first  of  the  Secor  ancestors  men- 
tioned as  having  held  the  office  of 
Supervisor,  is  James  Secor,  a  son  of 
a  Secor  who  had  become  a  tenant  of 
the  Heathcote  family,  who  owned 
most  of  the  old  manor  of  Scarsdale; 
James  Secor  married  a  daughter  of 
Jonathan  G.  Tompkins,  and  thereby 


208 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


became  grandfather  of  Chauncey  T. 
Secor;  grandfather  Sccor  served  as 
Supervisor  from  1808  to  1812,  when 
he  was  succeeded  liy  lOnoch  Tomp- 
kins, of  the  same  family  of  tnat 
name,  which,  as  the  history  of  the 
town  sliows,  gave  Scarsdale  many 
able  men  to  serve  it  as  Supervisors, 
besides  giving  to  the  State  a  Gov- 
ernor, in  1807,  and  the  Nation  a 
Vice-President,  in  1817-21,  in  the 
person  of  Daniel  D.  Tompkins,  who 
was  a  brother  of  Chauncey  T.  Secor's 
grandmother. 

The  office  of  Supervisor  from  the 
year  1822  to  1847  was  held  by  others 
than  immediate  members  of  the 
Tompkins  family;  in  1847  Jonathan 
G.  Tompkins  was  again  elected  and 
served  two  years;  then,  in  the  year 
1849,  Francis  Secor,  father  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  elected 
Supervisor;  he  served  during  the 
years  1849,  1851,  1853  to  1862, 
1863  to  1867,  1868  to   1879. 

For  many  years  Chauncey  T. 
Secor,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
served  as  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

Four  years  later  the  son  suc- 
ceeded the  father  as  Supervisor, 
Chauncey  T.  Secor  being  elected  in 
the  year  1883,  and  served  continu- 
ously until  1912.  Four  times  he 
was  elected  Chairman  of  the  Board 
of  Supervisors,  in  the  years  1893-4, 
1897-8,    1898-9,    1905-6. 

His  happy  and  genial  traits  of 
character,  his  patience  and  cheerful- 
ness, the  utter  lack  of  worry  and 
fretfulness  in  his  disposition,  as 
well  as  his  calm  and  equable  tem- 
perament made  him  a  most  popular 
and  successful  presiding  officer  over 
that   important   body. 

At  the  termination  of  his  last, 
term,  his  last  term  because  he  de- 
clined to  serve  longer,  he  and  his 
ancestors  had  served  the  town  of 
Scarsdale,  as  Supervisor,  for  about 
one  hundred  years,  and  the  service 
had  been  as  faithful  and  honest  as 
it  had   been   long. 

Prior  to  his  final  retirement, 
Chaimcey  T.  Secor  frequently  ex- 
pressed a  desire  to  relinquish  office 
liolfling  and  to  make  way  for  a  new 
man;  he  thought  it  but  just  that 
opportunity  he  civen  to  another  to 
fill  an  ofTicp  thnt  hnd  been  held  by 
men  so  di-itinirui«hod  in  their  time 
as  tho-e  in  that  township.  Hi<  ox- 
pressed  purpose  to  withdraw  and  be 


no  longer  a  candidate  for  the  office 
of  Supervisor,  found  answer  in  his 
being  made  the  unanimous  nominee 
of  all  political  parties  and  in  his 
unanimous   re-election. 

He  was  one  of  the  most  punctual 
members  at  sessions  of  the  Board 
of  Supervisors,  every  day  found  him 
in  his  seat,  which  he  modestly 
selected  at  the  rear  of  the  hall.  He 
ever  attended  carefully  to  business 
under  consideration,  and  in  the  in- 
terest of  his  town,  as  well  as  of 
the  county  at  large,  he  questioned 
with  judgment  e.xpenditures  of  pub- 
lic monies  and  ever  urged  economy 
where  economy  served  best  interests. 
His  straight-forward  manner,  his 
close  attention  to  business  and  his 
constant  endeavors  to  enhance  the 
thrift  of  the  county,  won  for  him 
the  confidence  and  respect  of  all 
who  knew  him.  This  confidence 
suggested  his  appointment  as  chair- 
man of  the  Supervisors  committee 
designated  to  spend  several  hundred 
thousands  of  dollars  in  constructing 
recent  additions  to  the  County  Court 
House  in  White  Plains.  His  being 
at  the  head  of  so  important  a  com- 
mittee was  considered  sufficient 
guarantee  of  satisfaction  as  to  work 
performed.  When  this  work  of 
construction  was  completed,  and 
accepted  with  thanks  by  the  Board 
of  Super\'isors,  Supervisor  Secor  ex- 
pressed himself  as  being  content  and 
willing  to  relinquish  to  one  of  the 
many  able  men  of  his  town  the  office 
held  so  long  by  himself  and  rela- 
tives. To  his  retirement  he  could 
not  get  unanimous  consent;  his 
constituents  knew  him  for  a  man  of 
deeds  rather  than  words — a  man  of 
work  rather  than  of  theories — a 
man  of  facts  and  not  of  fancies; 
alive  to  the  public  interests,  indus- 
trious in  advancing  them,  and  free 
from  suspicion.  In  face  of  this,  it 
is  not  strange  that  his  retirement 
from  the  service  of  his  native  town 
was   generally   regretted. 

The  Board  of  Supervisors,  on  De- 
cember 27,  1911,  passed  preambles 
and  resolutions,  to  wit :  Whereas, 
Chauncey  T.  Secor  saw  fit  to  refuse 
a  rennmination  to  the  office  of  Su- 
pervisor, and  his  term  therefore  will 
expire  on  the  thirty-first  day  of  De- 
cember, 1911;  and,  whereas,  this 
Boanl  recognizes  the  valued  service 
rerdered    to    the    Town    of    Scarsdale 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


209 


and  County  of  Westchester  through 
these  many  years,  and  realizes  the 
loss  of  an  honest  and  efficient  pub- 
lic official  in  his  retirement,  there- 
fore  be   it 

Eesolved,  that  to  Chauneey  T.  Se- 
sor,  who  has  served  twenty-eight 
years  as  Supervisor  of  the  Town  of 
Scarsdale,  this  Board  desires  to 
convey  an  expression  of  its  sincere 
appreciation  and  regard  for  the  hon- 
est, efficient  and  untiring  service 
that  he  has  rendered  as  a  member 
of  this  Board,  and  particularly  for 
the  fairness,  courtesy,  ability,  and 
wise  counsel  as  a  chairman  of  this 
Board. 

On  the  evening  of  January  16, 
1912,  an  unusual  and  notable 
gathering  of  citizens  of  the  township 
of  Scarsdale  took  place  in  the  local 
school  house,  the  purpose  being  to 
present  a  testimonial  from  an  appre- 
ciating constituency  to  the  retiring 
Supervisor,  Chauneey  T.  Secor — the 
testimonial  being  in  the  shape  of 
handsomely  engrossed  resolutions, 
expressing  in  well  chosen  words  the 
gratitude  of  every  resident  appre- 
ciating the  long  term  of  public 
service  of  their  respected  townsman. 
This  testimonial  expressing  popular 
feeling,  was  paid  for  by  subscrip- 
tions raised  of  one  dollar  each — no 
sum  greater  than  that  amount  being 
accepted,  that  all  residents  might 
be  included  in  the  giving  and  be 
priWleged  to  take  part  in  the  good- 
will expression. 

This  gift,  which  came  as  a  great 
surprise  to  Mr.  Secor,  was  cherished 
as  one  of  his  greatest  possessions, 
and  will  ever  be  prized  by  his 
descendants. 

Members  of  the  Scarsdale  Town 
Board  passed  resolutions  expressing 
regret    for   his   retirement   and   this 


testimonial  handsomely  engrossed 
was  also  presented  to  Mr.  Secor. 
This  Board  also  decided  to  hang  a 
portrait  of  Mr.  Secor  in  the  Town 
Hall. 

Supervisor  Secor  was  a  Democrat 
of  the  old  school,  and  was  ever  true 
to  the  principles  of  his  party. 
Happy  over  the  success  of  his  party 
in  1912,  he  attended,  with  his  whole 
family,  the  inauguration  of  Wood- 
row  Wilson  as  President  and 
Thomas  R.  Marshall  as  Vice-Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  at  Wash- 
ington, on  March  4,  1913. 

Supervisor  Secor  was  educated  at 
the  Alexander  Institute,  in  WTiite 
Plains,  after  which  he  engaged 
actively  in  farming.  On  September 
2,  1896,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Henrietta  Fish,  daughter  of  William 
H.  and  Catherine  (Sutton)  Fish,  of 
Scarsdale,  known  to  each  other  from 
early  childhood.  Of  this  union 
there  are  five  children  now  living, 
namely:  Frances,  Chauneey  T.,  Jr., 
Catherine  Henrietta,  Herbert  Lyon 
and    William    Watson. 

Mr.  Secor  died  suddenly  on  March 
12,  1913,  after  a  brief  illness.  The 
announcement  of  his  death  came  as 
a  great  shock  to  his  many  friends 
in  all  parts  of  the  county  who  had 
not  heard  of  his  being  ill.  The 
Board  of  Supervisors  took  appro- 
priate action  on  learning  of  his 
death,  attended  the  funeral  in  a 
body,  and  presented  to  the  family 
pertinent  resolutions  handsomely 
engrossed. 

At  the  time  of  his  death,  and 
since  organization  of  the  corpora- 
tion, Mr.  Secor  was  a  director  of 
the  Citizens'  Bank,  of  White  Plains. 

Of  recent  date  Mr.  Secor  and 
family  were  residents  of  White 
Plains. 


For  biographical  sketches  of  other  residents  see  elsewhere  in  this  book, 
and  in  volumes  one  and  two. 


210  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


TOWN  OF  SOMERS. 


{Continued  from  page  247,  Vol.  1.) 

The  town  of  Somers  is  situated  in  the  northern  part  of 
the  County  of  Westchester,  and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by 
Putnam  County,  easterly  and  southerly  side  by  Croton  River, 
and  on  the  west  by  Yorktown.  It  was  formerly  a  part  of  the 
allotment  to  Stephanus  Van  Cortlandt  of  Cortlandt  ]\Ianor.  The 
town  was  organized  under  the  laws  of  the  State  of  New  York 
in  1788,  and  named  Stephenstown  in  honor  of  Stephen  Van 
Cortlandt,  the  principal  proprietor.  The  town's  population  in 
1910  was  1,228. 

The  town  is  well  adapted  to  agriculture.  Its  rolling,  sandy 
and  clay  ridge  being  diversified  by  numerous  fertile  valleys; 
Croton  River  valley  being  on  the  east  and  southern  part;  and 
Museoot  River  and  Plum  Brook  cutting  through  the  central 
and  western  parts  of  the  town,  making  it  a  well-watered  town. 

The  town  contains  a  number  of  small  unincorporated  villages, 
notably,— Somers  Town  Plain,  AYest  Somers,  Somers  Centre  and 
Baldwin  Place. 

One  of  the  first  country  banks  in  the  County  was  established 
here  in  1829,  having  a  capital  of  $111,000,  namely,  the  old 
"Farmers  &  Drovers  National  Bank,"  which  passed  out  of 
existence  only  a  few  years  ago.  The  notes  of  this  bank  were 
always  redeemed  at  par. 

Somers  Town  Plain  and  vicinity  was  in  the  early  days 
quite  a  cattle  market;  through  it  were  driven  great  droves  of 
cattle  on  their  way  to  the  city  of  New  York.  ]\Iuch  trading  was 
done  here  between  the  drovers  and  the  surrounding  farmers  in 
cattle  and  sheep.  As  many  as  five  thousand  head  of  cattle  in 
one  season  passed  through  this  village  in  such  droves. 

Much  of  the  old  characteristics  of  Somers  Town  still  prevails 
there.  Recently,  however,  a  Catholic  Protectory  has  established 
itself  at  Somers  Centre,  which  was  formerly  Teeds'  Corners, 
and  the  name  since  then  has  been  changed  to  Lincolndale. 

The  growth  and  prosperity  of  the  town,  as  well  as  the  pro- 
prietorship of  most  of  it,  has  been  brought  about  and  vested  in 
the  old  families,  noticeably  of  which  are,  the  Baileys,  Crains, 
Greens,  Browns,  Finches,  Todds,  Tompkins,  Teeds,  Whitlocks, 
Bedells,  Nelsons,  Barretts,  Sejinours,  Carpenters  and  Hallocks. 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  211 

The  town  was,  during  all  the  early  struggles  of  the  countr)% 
neutral  ground,  and  no  general  historical  event  took  place 
within  its  limits. 

Enoch  Crosby,  the  famous  American  spy,  of  Revolutionary 
times,  came  here  to  get  his  wife ;  he  married  a  Bailey,  and  the 
last  of  her  mortal  remains  rest  now  in  the  local  Bailey  family 
burial  plot. 

In  1808,  the  name  of  the  town  was  changed  to  that  of  Somers 
in  honor  of  the  American  patriot,  Captain  Somers. 

The  captain  was  a  young,  brave  and  dashing  officer  in  the 
United  States  Navy  attached  to  the  squadron  that  was  engaged 
in  warfare  on  the  Turkish  fleet  in  the  Mediterranean  Sea,  that 
was  at  least  fostering  piratical  expeditions  from  north  of 
Africa.. 

After  a  severe  encounter  between  the  United  States  Squadron 
and  the  Turkish  fleet  off  Tripoli,  the  Turkish  armament  with- 
drew in  the  harbor  of  Tripoli,  and  no  effort  on  the  part  of  the 
American  commanders  would  entice  them  to  renew  the  struggle. 
That  evening  a  vessel  was  filled  with  combustibles,  and  explo- 
sives, and  Captain  Somers  and  a  few  picked  men,  including 
Lieutenant  Wadsworth,  volunteered  to  navigate  it  across  the 
mole  to  the  midst  of  the  Turkish  fleet,  and  then  set  fire  to  the 
train  and  escape  in  the  vessel's  boat  as  best  they  could.  They 
were  accompanied  by  the  United  States  fleet  as  far  as  was  deemed 
practicable,  then  unaccompanied,  the  few  fated  souls  started  out 
on  their  doomed  journey.  The  vessel  passed  from  sight  and 
hearing  of  the  American  War  vessels,  and  shortly  after  crossing 
the  bar,  the  Turkish  battery  opened  fire,  presumably  on  the  vessel ; 
in  a  few  moments  there  occurred  a  terrific  explosion  that  lit  up 
the  heavens  and  caused  a  bright  glare  over  the  sea  for  miles; 
then  all  was  darkness.  The  war  vessels  remained  at  their  posts 
on  watch  for  the  possible  return  of  the  brave  men,  and  con- 
tinued their  vigil  long  after  daylight,  even  to  the  middle  of  the 
next  day,  hoping  for  a  possible  return.  But  these  young  heroes 
were  never  again  heard  of,  though  they  will  ever  be  to  memory 
dear. 

In  the  year  1815  Hachalias  Bailey  brought  to  Somers  Town 
Plain  the  first  elephant  '(Old  Bet)  that  was  imported  to  America. 
This  event  was  the  nucleus  of  the  American  show  business. 
Here  annually  was  housed  in  the  winter  time  the  then  famous 
menagerie  known  as  ''The  June,  Angevine  Van  Amburgh  and 
Titus  Polvtechnic  Institute." 


212  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

William  Bailey,  of  Somers,  gives  us  facts  relative  to  the 
" introduction,  of  the  first  living  elephant,"  by  a  member  of  the 
Bailey  family,  some  of  whom  have  in  recent  years  become  great 
show  people. 

In  1815,  Hachalias  Bailey,  then  keeper  of  the  "Old  Bull  Head 
Hotel,"  at  23d  Street  and  3d  Avenue,  New  York  city,  heard  of 
the  incoming  of  an  African  elephant.  To  advertise  his  business 
somewhat,  he  purchased  it  and  had  it  driven  along  the  highways 
after  dark  to  Somerg  Town  Plain,  where  she  was  first  exhibited 
in  a  barn.  Afterward,  she  was  driven  about  the  County  and 
exhibited  in  barns  near  villages.  (Her  itinerancy  always  being 
at  night.)  So  successful  was  the  enterprise,  that  her  owner 
determined  to  show  her  through  the  State  of  Connecticut.  The 
people  of  that  State,  learning  of  its  intended  visit,  became  much 
excited  over  the  sacrilegious  display  of  shows  in  their  midst, 
determined  to  prevent  such  a  profane  proceeding.  A  few  pious 
enthusiastic  objectors,  to  emphasize  their  opposition,  armed  them- 
selves with  muskets  and  secreted  themselves  in  an  old  mill  situ- 
ated a  few  miles  within  the  State,  and  awaited  the  coming  of 
the  offending  yet  innocent  elephant.  On  the  elephant's  reaching 
the  front  of  the  mill  a  signal  was  given  and  there  followed  the 
fatal  firings  into  the  body  of  the  poor  creature,  bringing  her  to 
the  groimd,  where  she  died  in  great  agony  in  an  hour  or  two. 

About  the  year  1820,  was  built  the  then  famous  Elephant 
Hotel  at  Somers  Town  Plain,  which  contains  a  spacious  ball- 
room, and  which  during  its  continuance  as  a  public  house  down 
to  a  recent  period,  was  the  scene  of  annual  social  events  patron- 
ized by  the  best  people  of  upper  Westchester  County.  On  the 
village  "Green"  about  the  year  1825,  a  granite  monument  was 
erected  which  is  still  standing  surmounted  hy  a  miniature  ele- 
phant commemorating  the  death  of  "Old  Bet." 

Somers  Town  Plain  received  its  severest  blow  when,  in  1825, 
it  wa.s  visited  by  cholera,  and  nearly  one-half  of  the  people  were 
swept,  away  by  its  ravages. 

One  evening  in  the  summer  of  that  year,  on  the  arrival  of  the 
stage  from  Danbury,  a  passenger  was  found  to  be  seriously  ill. 
In  the  course  of  an  hour  or  two  it  was  discovered  that  he  had 
Asiatic  cholera.  He  was  immediately  quarantined  in  a  vacant 
house  in  the  village,  and  in  a  day  or  two  died  with  this  dreaded 
disease,  which  at  that  time  assumed  the  most  malignant  form. 

The  bedding  on  which  the  man  died  was  burned  in  the  yard 
back  of  the  house.     The  smoke  from  the  fire  slowly  drifted  up 


GEORGE  TURNER 


r 


I  AC'  '• 


F       .»*.*' 


rri  1.  i? 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


213 


the  main  street  of  the  village  and  entered  the  open  doors  and 
windows  of  houses.  A  few,  on  the  smoke's  approach,  closed  their 
windows  and  doors,  they  alone  escaped.  All  the  others  were 
taken  with  the  disease  and  died. 

One  of  the  pathetic  instances  connected  with  this  terrible  visi- 
tation was  the  fact  that  a  man  by  the  name  of  Barrett  acted  as 
nurse  for  every  stricken  person,  also  as  undertaker  and  grave 
digger,  and  the  next  morning  after  he  had  buried  the  last  victim, 
he  called  to  a  neighbor,  at  four  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  told 
him  he  too  was  attacked  by  the  disease,  and  at  ten  o'clock  the 
same  morning  he  died,  alone  and  unattended. 

Localities  in  this  town  are  Somers,  Somers  Centre  or  Lincoln- 
dale,  Mahopac,  Baldwin  Place,  Muscoot  Reservoir  and  West 
Somers. 

The  population  of  the  to\^Ti  is  given  as  1,997  in  1830 ;  in  1835, 
1,900;  in  1840,  2,082;  in  1845,  1,761;  in  1850,  1,722;  in  1855, 
1,744;  in  1860,  2,012;  in  1865,  1,695;  in  1870,  1,721;  in  1875, 
1,631;  in  1880,  1,630;  in  1890,  1,897;  in  1892,  1,743;  in  1900, 
1,338;  in  1905,  1,175;  in  1910,  1,228. 


Biographical  Sketches. 


GEORGE  TURNER. 

George  Turner,  Supervisor  of  the 
Town  of  Somers,  former  Justice  of 
the  Peace,  etc.,  was  born  in  the  town 
he  now  represents  in  the  county 
Legislature,  at  Somers  Center,  on 
January  10,  1874,  a  son  of  Augustus 
and   Julia    (Teed)    Turner. 

He  was  educated  in  private  schools 
and  in  the  Chappaqua  Mountain  In- 
stitute. He  spent  many  of  his  best 
days  on  his  father's  farm,  and  to- 
day he  is  proud  to  say  he  is  a 
farmer. 

His  present  place  of  residence  is 
Lincolndale,  formerly  Somers  Centre. 

At  an  early  age  he  began  taking 
an  active  interest  in  polities,  attach- 
ing himself  to  the  Democratic  party. 
When  only  twenty-four  years  of  age 
he    was    elected    a    Justice    of    the 


Peace  of  his  town,  and  when  his 
term  of  office  had  expired  he  was  re- 
elected, serving  from  1898  to  1907, 
In  1907  he  was  elected  Supervisor, 
and  was  re-elected  Supervisor  in 
1909,  and  again  in  1911  to  serve  until 
1914.  He  is  one  of  the  youngest 
members  in  the  County  Board  of 
Supervisors  and  one  of  its  most  use- 
ful members,  always  on  the  alert  to 
serve  the  best  interests  of  his  town. 

Mr.  Turner  is  of  the  most  genial 
nature,  which  tends  to  make  him 
popular  with  his  associates.  He  be- 
longs to  several  associations,  both 
fraternal  and  social,  among  them 
being  the  Peekskill  Lodge  of  Elks, 
No.  744,  the  National  Democratic 
Club  of  New  York  city,  and  the 
Westchester  Chamber  of  Commerce, 
the  Bedford  Farmer's  Club. 

Mr.  Turner  is  unmarried. 


For  biographical  sketches  of  other  residents  see  elsewhere  in  this  book, 
and  in  volumes  one  and  two. 


214  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

TO^^'  OF  AVHITE  PLAINS. 


(Continued  from  page  249,  I'oi.  1.) 

This  township  was  formed  in  1725,  by  act  of  the  General 
Assembly,  when  it  was  known  as  the  White  Plains  Precinct. 
The  land  upon  which  it  is  founded  was  purchased  from  the 
Indians,  in  1683,  over  which  the  Chief  Orawaupum  ruled.  The 
precinct  of  AVhite  Plains  was  originally  a  part  of  the  town  of 
Rye  and  belonged  to  the  manor  of  Scarsdale.  It  was  created  a 
town  on  March  7,  1788. 

In  1759,  by  act  of  the  General  Assembly,  White  Plains  was 
made  the  "Shire  Town"  of  the  County,  and  it  has  remained 
the  County-seat  ever  since. 

This  town  holds  a  prominent  place  in  the  County's  history— 
it  was  ever  in  the  midst  of  "a  scene  of  strife"  during  the  Revo- 
lutionary War  period. 

In  the  spring  of  1775,  when  news  came  of  the  battles  of  Lex- 
ington and  Concord,  the  whole  town  was  aroused,  and  people 
took  sides,  for  or  against  the  King.  The  indignant  patriotic 
citizens  assembled  at  Oakley's  tavern,  opposite  the  Court  House, 
for  the  purpose  of  giving  expression  to  their  feelings.  Col. 
Lewis  Morris  presided  over  the  meeting.  The  more  conserva- 
tive citizens,  who  did  not  want  to  appear  disloyal,  gathered  at 
Capt.  Hatfield's  tavern,  not  far  distant.  At  the  patriots'  meet- 
ing strong  resolutions  were  adopted  denouncing  the  course 
Parliament  had  pursued  in  opposing  the  English  subjects  in 
America;  advocated  immediate  separation  and  armed  revolu- 
tion, and  appointed  deputies  to  meet  the  deputies  from  other 
counties  at  New  York,  to  elect  delegates  to  the  first  Continental 
Congress,  to  convene  in  Philadelphia.  The  second  gathering  at 
Hatfield's  tavern  adopted  a  protest  against  warlike  action  on 
part  of  their  neighbors,  and  adjourned  singing,  "God  Save 
Great  George,  our  King." 

In  this  way  White  Plains,  in  fact  the  whole  County,  was  com- 
mitted to  the  patriotic  cause  in  the  Revolution. 

Here  was  established  the  headquarters  of  the  Committee  of 
Public  Safety,  over  which  John  Jay  and  Pierre  Van  Cortlandt 
presided. 

Battle  Hill,  or  Chatterton  Hill,  where  the  Battle  of  White 
Plains  was  fought  on  October  28,  1776,  is  in  the  village  of 
White  Plains. 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  215 

In  this  town  the  State  was  given  birth,  after  the  Declara- 
tion of  Independence  had  been  publicly  read  and  pub- 
lished broadcast,  "with  beat  of  drum  at  White  Plains,"  as 
directed  by  Congress.  Members  attending  the  Convention,  to 
assist  in  the  State's  formation,  came  on  horseback,  led  by  Pierre 
Van  Cortlandt,  of  this  County,  its  president.  ' '  The  members  on 
horseback  were  called  to  order  and  business  began." 

At  the  time  of  Major  Andre's  capture  the  command  of  the 
traitor  Arnold  extended  to  and  included  this  town. 

The  first  Masonic  Lodge  holding  meetings  in  the  town  met 
here  in  latter  part  of  1799 ;  when  Huguenot  Lodge,  No.  49,  of 
New  Rochelle,  was  privileged  to  meet  here  on  stated  dates. 
Meetings  were  held  at  the  home  of  Joseph  Hatfield.  Local 
Masonic  ceremonies  were  held  at  the  Court  House  on  February 
22,  1800,  to  pay  honor  to  the  memory  of  General  Washington, 
recently  President,  who  had  just  died. 

The  Harlem  Railroad,  running  to  White  Plains,  was  completed 
on  October  26,  1837,  a  single  track  road.  In  1903  the  road  was 
double  tracked  as  far  as  Mount  Kisco,  and  in  1905  double  tracks 
were  laid  from  the  latter  place  to  Brewsters. 

The  town's  population  shows  remarkable  growth;  from  one 
census  enumeration  to  the  next,  the  population  had  doubled. 
For  statement  of  population  of  town  prior  to  1910,  see  volume  1, 
page  249. 

The  town's  population  in  1910  was  15,045;  the  population  of 
White  Plains  village  (including  a  portion  of  the  town  of  Green- 
burgh),  15,949.  The  latter  is  claimed  to  be  the  largest  village 
in  the  State,  and  the  town  is  credited  with  having  some  of  the 
finest  and  most  costly  private  residences. 

The  first  State  Road  (No.  1)  in  this  County,  built  from 
White  Plains  village  to  Kensico  Lake,  in  North  Castle,  and 
beyond,  sixteen  miles  long,  was  constructed  in  1901. 

The  estate  of  the  late  Whitelaw  Reid,  United  States  Ambas- 
sador to  Great  Britain,  consisting  of  750  acres,  lies  partly  in 
this  town  and  partly  in  town  of  Harrison. 

White  Plains  has  many  newspapers,  which  is  evidence  of  the 
intelligence  of  its  people:— T^e  Eastern  State  Journal,  the  West- 
chester News,  the  Westchester  County  Reporter  (weekly  and 
daily),  the  Argus  (weekly  and  daily),  and  the  Daily  Record— 
all  good,  up-to-date  journals. 

The  organization  of  local  Military  Company  L,  of  the  10th 
Regiment    (49th  Separate  Company)   was  completed  in  1907; 


216  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

the  date  it  was  nmstored  in  being  May  28  of  that  year.  The 
membership  then  being  64.  Ralph  M.  Glover  was  captain; 
Hiram  D.  Rogers,  first  lieutenant,  and  Frederick  W.  Cobb, 
second  lieutenant. 

The  village  of  White  Plains  contains  the  Court  House  and 
other  County  buildings,  Bloomingdale  Asylum,  and  various  well- 
known  incorporated   institutions. 

The  late  Supreme  Court  Justice  Jackson  0.  Dykman,  of  this 
town,  was  the  author  of  special  magazine  article  entitled  "The 
Last  Twelve  Days  of  Major  Andre,"  published  in  1889. 

Lewis  C.  Piatt  Sr.,  of  this  town,  was  the  first  Surrogate  of  the 
County,  and  served  nine  years  as  Supervisor  of  White  Plains, 
and  belonged  to  a  family  noted  for  its  loyalty  to  the 
American  cause  in  the  Revolutionary  War  period;  Jonathan 
Piatt,  a  relative,  was  a  member  of  the  Committee  of  Public 
Safety,  other  relatives  were  officers  in  the  patriot  army.  His 
sons'  relatives,  on  maternal  as  well  as  paternal  side,  were  offi- 
cers in  the  American  Army,  and  representatives  on  both  sides 
were  members  of  the  guard  placed  over  Major  Andre  just 
before  his  execution. 

To  Supervisor  Ffarrington  M.  Thompson's  influence  is  in  a 
great  part  due  the  credit  for  the  County's  purchasing  the  site 
of  the  old  Court  House,  on  Broadway,  the  birthplace  of  the 
State,  that  it  might  be  preserved  to  the  State  on  account  of  its 
historic  associations.  Mr.  Thompson  was  re-elected  as  Super- 
visor November  7,  1911,  by  the  unprecedented  majority  of  507. 
The  town  gave  nearly  400  majority  to  Republican  candidates 
other  than  Supervisor. 

The  local  police  force  is  an  efficient  one,  organized  on  modern 
lines. 

This  township  contains  but  one  incorporated  village— White 
Plains,  incorporated  in  1866,  by  special  act  of  the  State  Legis- 
lature. 

In  1909  an  unsuccessful  attempt  was  made  to  secure  from  the 
Legislature  a  city  charter  for  AVhite  Plains. 

Under  original  charter,  the  people  elected  the  Village  Presi- 
dent ;  later,  by  amendment,  the  Board  of  Village  Trustees  was 
empowered  to  elect  a  person  to  act  as  President  of  the  village, 
also  to  elect  a  Village  Assessor,  a  Village  Treasurer,  a  Collector 
of  Taxes,  a  Police  Justice,  a  Corporation  Counsel,  a  Village 
Engineer,  a  Supi^rintendent  of  Highways,  Police  Commissioners, 
a  Building  Inspector  and  a  Superintendent  of  Fire  Alarm. 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  237 

Under  amendments  to  the  village  charter,  passed  by  the  Legis- 
lature in  1911  and  signed  by  Gov.  Dix  July  21,  the  power  to 
choose  certain  village  officials  is  taken  from  the  Village  Trustees, 
and  bestowed  upon  the  people,  who  wnll  elect  a  President,  a 
Treasurer,  a  Police  Justice,  an  Assessor,  a  Collector  of  Taxes  and 
Assessments  and  one  Village  Trustee  for  each  ward,  to  be 
chosen  at  a  charter  election,  the  first  on  November  21,  1911.  Vil- 
lage President,  so  elected,  is  empowered  to  name  a  Corporation 
Counsel,  Police  Commissioners,  a  Village  Engineer,  a  Superin- 
tendent of  Highways,  a  Building  Inspector,  and  a  Superintend- 
ent of  Fire  Alarm. 

Another  amendment  to  the  charter,  passed  in  1911,  takes 
from  the  Village  Trustees  power  to  appoint  Fire  Commissioners 
from  among  their  own  number,  and  requires  them  to  select  three 
Fire  Commissioners  who  are  not  Village  Trustees.  On  the  pass- 
age of  this  act  so  amended,  Robert  C.  Brorom,  a  former  Chief 
of  the  Fire  Department,  Frederick  W.  Cobb,  a  former  Village 
Trustee,  and  George  K.  Cox,  were  appointed  Fire  Commission- 
ers. They  organized  August  15,  1911,  with  Mr.  Bromm  chair- 
man; Mr.  Cox,  secretary  and  Mr.  Cobb,  treasurer. 

That  section  of  the  town  of  White  Plains  now  known  as  the 
village  of  White  Plains,  had  a  population  of  about  900  in  the 
year  1845. 

The  youngest  brother  of  Governor  Daniel  D.  Tompkins,  George 
Washington  Tompkins,  w^as  father  of  the  late  Joseph  Warren 
Tompkins,  a  prominent  lawyer  of  the  town. 

As  early  as  1845  residents  began  an  agitation  for  the  or- 
ganization of  a  local  Fire  Department,  but  nothing  further  was 
accomplished  than  the  organization  of  a  "  hand-bucket  brigade, ' ' 
when  necessity  demanded;  in  December,  1851,  an  especially  big 
fire  on  what  is  now  known  as  South  Broadway,  proved  the  need 
of  regular  fire  engines ;  the  burning  of  the  "Orawaupum  House," 
February  17,  1854,  woke  the  people  up,  and  one  fire  engine 
was  bought;  another  large  fire,  on  April  12,  1861,  stirred  the 
people  to  action,  and  on  May  12,  1861,  Union  Hook  and  Lad- 
der Company  No.  1,  was  organized.  The  organization  of  Hope 
Engine  Company  followed  soon  after;  to-day  White  Plains  has 
one  of  the  best  fire  departments  in  the  State,  composed  of 
several  companies — and  in  its  membership  includes  its  best 
citizens.  Owing  to  trouble  with  Village  Trustees  Hope  Com- 
pany members  disbanded  July  30,  1874;  for  some  reason  Union 


218 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


Company  disbanded  in  May,  1876.  In  October,  1883,  the  fire 
department  was  reorganized. 

AVhite  Plains  has  had  its  share  of  disastrous  fires,  destroying 
thousands  of  dollars  worth  of  property.  The  most  recent  was 
the  one  on  February  3,  1907,  that  of  the  Meade  building  on 
Railroad  avenue,  at  which  John  C.  Cromwell,  Caleb  F.  Under- 
hill  and  Charles  E.  Cooley,  local  firemen,  lost  their  lives  while 
in  performance  of  duties;  and  later,  in  1911,  when  fire  de- 
stroyed nearly  a  block  of  stores  and  dwellings  in  the  business 
section  on  East  Side,  opposite  the  Harlem  Railroad  station,  and 
when  several  firemen  were  severely  injured. 

The  White  Plains  Hospital  was  established  in  1893.  In  1909 
it  was  housed  in  its  present  handsome  new  building. 

This  towm  has  handsomely  laid  out  broad  streets,  either  paved 
or  macadamized. 

Ffarrington  M.  Thompson  was  re-elected  Supervisor  on  No- 
vember 7,  1911,  for  another  term,  which  expires  January  1, 
1913,  He  has  served  in  this  office  since  1902.  At  the  termina- 
tion of  his  new  term  he  will  have  served  a  longer  period  in  this 
position  than  any  of  his  predecessors.  That  he  has  been  elected 
for  so  many  terms  is  an  especially  high  honor. 


Biographical  Sketches. 


FFARRINGTON    M.    THOMPSON. 

Ffarrington  M.  Thompson,  lawyer, 
Supervisor  of  the  town  oit  White 
Plains,  Former  School  Commissioner 
of  the  Second  School  Commissioner 
District,  and  former  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  was  born  in  Cold  Spring, 
Putnam  County,  N.  Y.,  on  April  14, 
1865,  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Selina  H. 
(Glover)  Thompson.  Two  years 
after  his  birth  his  parents  removed 
to  "White  Plains,  where  he  has  re- 
sided ever  since. 

He  is  a  graduate  of  the  excellent 
White  Plains  High  School,  and  ever 
increasing  interest  in  the  public 
school  system  of  the  State  led  to  his 
selection  as  a  School  Commissioner 
in  1893,  and  his  continuance  in  this 
office  until  1896.  He  still  maintains 
his  affection  for  the  local  district 
schools,  as  is  manifest  by  his  fre- 
quent offering  of  gold  medals  to  in- 
spire present  pupils  to  higher  pro- 
ficiency. 

Mr.  Thompson  began  his  public 
career  when   in  his  youth  he  served 


as  Assistant  Postmaster  of  White 
Plains,  entering  this  position  almost 
immediately  after  graduating  from 
school;  in  this  office  he  served  seven 
years.  Next  we  find  him  occupying 
the  responsible  office  of  Village 
Clerk  of  White  Plains,  serving  sev- 
eral years,  and  on  his  retirement  being 
commended  for  his  efficiency  by  spec- 
ial resolutions  adopted  by  the  Board 
of  Village  Trustees.  Following  this 
he  became  School  Commissioner,  and 
then,  from  1896  to  1903,  he  credit- 
ably filled  the  office  of  Justice  of 
the  Peace  and  Police  Justice,  the 
latter  offices  he  resigned  on  being 
chosen  Supervisor,  to  fill  a  vacancy 
caused  by  the  death  of  William  S. 
Sterling  (who  died  April  14,  on  Mr. 
Thompson's  birthday,  1903).  In  the 
fall  of  1903,  Mr.  Thompson  was  the 
nominee  of  the  Democratic  party  for 
the  office  of  Supervisor;  notwith- 
standing the  fact  that  the  town  had 
proven  repeatedly  for  many  years 
that  it  was  Republican,  politically, 
by  a  good  stiff  majority,  Mr.  Thomp- 


'-^   ?ovX 


>. 


ll 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


219 


eon's  popularity  carried  him  to  vic- 
tory, as  it  has  done  for  each  suc- 
ceeding two  years  ever  since.  Of  re- 
cent years  "White  Plains  has,  at  gen- 
eral elections,  given  between  four 
and  five  hundred  majority  to  Repub- 
lican candidates,  but  from  under  this 
overwhelming  majority  Mr.  Thomp- 
son, Democrat,  has  come  up  with 
his  usual  smile,  a  victor,  with  a  score 
of  at  least  three  hundred,  which  af- 
fords ample  proof  that  the  people 
of  his  town,  regardless  of  political 
party  affiliation  want  him  for  their 
Supervisor,  believing  him  to  be  safe 
and  sane. 

At  the  Town  election  held  Novem- 
ber 7,  1911,  Mr.  Thompson  repeated 
his  unprecedented  success  of  being 
elected  Supervisor  as  a  Democrat  in 
a  Eepublican  Town,  receiving  507 
majority,  when  Republican  candi- 
dates, other  than  for  Supervisor,  were 
elected  by  about  400  majority.  His 
new  term  is  for  1912-13. 

For  several  years  Mr.  Thompson 
was  associated  with  Judge  William 
Popham  Piatt  in  the  practice  of  law; 
in  1902  after  Mr.  Piatt  had  been 
elected  County  Judge,  this  partner- 
ship was  dissolved,  and  Mr.  Thomp- 
son established  business  on  his  own 
account  in  White  Plains,  where  he 
now  has  a  very  extensive  and  lucra- 
tive practice.  His  specialty  in  the 
law  being  probate,  real  estate  and 
the  settling  of  estates,  in  which 
branches  of  the  law  and  practice  he 
is  recognized  as  an  authority. 

As  Supervisor  Mr.  Thompson  has 
taken  the  initiative  in  the  forma- 
tion of  legislation  benefiting  his 
Town  and  the  County  at  large.  He 
strongly  advocated  the  construction 
of  the  Bronx  Parkway  to  run  through 
the  County  connecting  with  New 
York  city,  and  destined  to  add  much 
to  the  value  of  real  property  in  the 
County.  The  success  of  the  project 
to  secure  the  property  in  White 
Plains,  formerly  the  site  ot  the  old 
Court  House,  in  which  was  adopted 
the  first  Constitution  of  the  State, 
and  hold  it  in  the  name  of  the  State 
and  County,  was  due  principally  to 
his  efforts,  and  that  there  is  now 
erected  on  this  property  one  of  the 
handsomest  armories  in  the  State, 
housing  one  of  the  finest  militia 
companies,  is  also  due  to  his  per- 
sistent  efforts. 

Mr.     Thompson     is     a    Mason    of 


prominence,  a  member  of  White 
Plains  Lodge,  No.  473,  F.  and  A. 
M.,  in  which  he  has  held  high  of- 
fices, beginning  at  the  lowest;  he 
was  made  Knight  of  Bethlehem 
Commandery  of  Mount  Vernon,  No. 
53,  and  member  of  Irving  Chapter 
of  Royal  Arch  Masons,  of  Tarry- 
town,  and  is  now  a  member  of  Cru- 
sader Commandery  of  White  Plains, 
and  of  White  Plains  Chapter  of 
Royal  Arch  Masons,  of  White  Plains, 
is  a  member  of  the  Mason's  Veter- 
an's Association,  and  is  a  thirty- 
second  degree  Mason  of  the  New 
York  Consistory  and  a  Noble  of 
the  Mystic  Shrine. 

Is  an  Elk,  a  member  of  the 
White  Plains  Lodge,  B.  P.  0.  E,,  a 
member  of  the  Westchester  County 
Society  for  the  Prevention  of  Cru- 
elty to  Children,  an  honorary  mem- 
ber of  the  Eastside  Hose  Company 
of  White  Plains,  and  a  member  of 
the  National  Democratic  Club  and 
has  long  been  identified  with  the 
Democratic  organization  of  White 
Plains. 

Mr.  Thompson  is  not  married. 

LEWIS  C.  PLATT. 

Lewis  Canfield  Piatt,  had  the  dis- 
tinction of  being  the  first  President 
of  the  Village  of  White  Plains, 
elected  direct  by  the  people  in  re- 
cent years;  was  former  President  of 
the  Board  of  Water  Commissioners, 
former  Town  Clerk,  and  former  Clerk 
in  Surrogate's  Court,  etc. 

He  was  born  on  September  20, 
1862,  in  White  Plains  (where  he  has 
always  resided),  a  son  of  Judge 
Lewis  Canfield  and  Laura  (Sher- 
brook  Popham)  Piatt.  He  came  of 
good  American  revolutionary  stock; 
relatives  on  both  his  paternal  and 
maternal  sides  took  important  parts 
aiding  the  patriots  in  the  struggle 
for  American  independence.  He  is 
a  direct  descendant  of  Jonathan 
Piatt  of  North  Castle,  who  served 
his  town  as  Supervisor  in  1777,  was 
a  member  of  the  Provincial  Congress 
in  trying  times,  in  1776  and  1777, 
was  a  member  of  the  Convention  held 
in  White  Plains  which  created 
the  State  of  New  York,  and  was  alec 
a  member  of  the  Committee  of 
Safety,  a  body  of  men  for  whose  cap- 
ture a  price  had  been  offered  by  the 
British  General. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  edu- 


220 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


cateil  ill  public  and  private  schools 
of  his  native  town.  He  began  the 
stuilv  of  law  in  the  oflBce  of  his 
father. 

His  father  was  the  first  elected 
Surrogate  of  this  county,  and  from 
the  fourth  elected  Surrogate,  Owen 
T.  Coffin,  Mr.  Piatt,  Jr.,  received  his 
first  political  position,  that  of  re- 
cord clerk  in  the  Surrogate's  Court; 
this  position  he  held  from  August 
7,  1887,  to  March  1,  1896,  serving 
the  last  two  months  under  Surrogate 
Silkman.  Mr.  Piatt  resigned  to  de- 
vote his  time  to  the  practice  of  law, 
having  been  admitted  to  the  bar  on 
December   11,   1894. 

When  only  twenty-four  years  of 
age,  in  1886,  he  was  elected  Chief 
Engineer  of  the  White  Plains  Village 
Fire  Department,  serving  during  the 
years  1886-87. 

At  the  spring  town  election  in  1898 
he  was  elected  Town  Clerk,  which 
office  he  held  several  years. 

He  next  was  elected  a  Water  Com- 
missioner of  the  Village  of  White 
Plains,  in  1902.  He  was  elected 
president  of  the  Board  of  Water 
Commissioners  and  continued  as  such 
officer  until  his  retirement  in  1910. 
The  important  part  he  took  in  suc- 
cessful endeavors  to  supply  residents 
with  pure  and  wholesome  water  was 
appreciated  by  his  fellow  citizens, 
as  was  shown  when  he  was  a  candi- 
date for  the  Village  Presidency. 

The  first  election  held  under  the 
village  charter,  amended  in  1911, 
permitting  the  electors  of  the  village 
to  vote  direct  for  village  officials, 
took  place  on  November  21,  1911. 
This,  on  account  of  the  large  number 
of  officials  to  be  chosen,  proved  to  be 
a  most  exciting  election.  Both  po- 
litical parties  made  good  nomina- 
tions, and  all  candidates  were  will- 
ing to  be  judged  on  their  merits. 
The  village  had  been  carried  by  sev- 
eral hundred  majority  for  Eepublican 
town  candidates,  excepting  the  Su- 
pervisor. Two  weeks  later  the  whole 
Democratic  village  ticket,  headed  by 
Mr.  Piatt,  candidate  for  President, 
was  elected  by  good-sized  majorities; 
Mr.  Piatt  won  by  301,  over  John  T. 
Eehill,  who  hail  ably  served  twenty 
years  as  a  Village  Trustee. 

As  a  lawyer  Mr.  Piatt  has  a  large 
practice,  principally  pertaining  to 
Surrogates  Courts,  settlements  of  es- 
tates,  etc. 


Besides  being  a  member  of  the 
local  Fire  Department,  he  is  a 
member  of  White  Plains  Lodge,  No. 
473,  F.  and  A.  M.,  of  White  Plains 
Lodge  of  Elks,  and  of  other  frater- 
nal and  social  organizations. 

Mr.  Piatt  was  married  on  June 
15,  1892,  to  Miss  Fannie  A.  Arm- 
bruster,  daughter  of  John  and  Eliza- 
beth Armbruster,  of  White  Plains. 

President  Piatt  died,  after  a  brief 
illness,  at  his  home,  on  February  22, 
1913.  His  unexpected  death  came 
as  a  great  shock  to  citizens  gener- 
ally, who  were  anticipating  his  ac- 
cepting a  re-election  to  the  Village 
Presidency,  a  position  he  had  filled 
so  acceptably. 

JOHN  J.  BROWN. 

John  James  Brown,  former  Presi- 
dent of  the  village  of  White  Plains, 
Bronx  Valley  Sewer  Commissioner, 
etc.,  was  born  on  October  1,  1854,  in 
the  city  of  Newburgh,  N.  Y.,  a  son 
of  James  and  Mary  J.  (Miller) 
Brown.  He  was  educated  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  his  native  city  and  at 
the  Newburgh  Free  Academy. 

He  became  a  resident  of  this 
County  in  1892,  when  he  came  to 
dwell  in  the  village  of  White  Plains. 

He  w^as  elected  a  member  of  the 
local  Board  of  Education  and  served 
two  terms.  During  the  same  period 
he  served  as  a  Water  Commissioner 
of  the  village  of  White  Plains,  re- 
signing both  official  positions  to  ac- 
cept the  Village  Presidency. 

Was  first  elected  Village  Presi- 
dent, to  succeed  Samuel  C.  Miller, 
by  the  Board  of  Village  Trustees  in 
1900,  and  has  been  re-elected  con- 
tinuously, excepting  one  year,  1909, 
up  to  and  including  1911. 

Tn  1903  Gov.  Odell  appointed  Mr. 
Brown  as  Commissioner  of  United 
States  Funds,  for  Westchester 
County;  this  position  he  still  retains. 

He  was  named  a  member  of  the 
Bronx  Valley  Sewer  Commission  in 
the  act  passed  by  the  State  Legis- 
lature in  1905,  authorizing  the  con- 
struction  of   said    sewer. 

By  appointment  of  Supreme 
Court  Justice  Keogh,  INfr.  Brown  was 
a  Commissioner  in  Ashokan  Aque- 
duct land  condemnation  proceedings. 

He  has  been  for  eleven  years  secre- 
tary of  the  Westchester  Republican 
County  Committee. 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


221 


Notwithstanding  the  demands  of 
public  business,  for  which  he  is  es- 
pecially adapted,  he  takes  plenty  of 
time  to  attend  to  vast  private  in- 
terests which  give  opportunity  to 
display  business  ability.  He  is  gen- 
eral manager  for  the  States  of  New 
York,  Connecticut,  Massachusetts 
and  Ehode  Island  for  the  Keeley 
Institute.  Was  a  director  of  the 
County  Trust  Company  in  White 
Plains,  and  is  interested  in  other 
similar  institutions. 

Has  long  been  prominent  in  the 
Masonic  order,  is  a  member  of 
White  Plains  Lodge,  F.  and  A.  M. ; 
a  member  of  the  Eepublican  Club 
of  New  York  city,  of  the  Trans- 
portation Club  of  New  York  citj, 
of  the  Larchmont  Yacht  Club,  and 
of    the    White    Plains    Club. 

Mr.  Brown  was  married  on  Aug- 
ust 3,  1905,  to  Mrs.  Eay  Russell 
Rockwell,  daughter  of  the  late  Jacob 
Voorhis,  Jr.,  of  New  York  city,  for- 
merly Commodore  of  the  New  York 
Yacht  Club. 

EBENEZER  H.  P.  SQUIRE. 

Ebenezer  Hurd  Pray  Squire,  a 
practicing  lawyer,  Village  Trustee, 
acting  President  of  the  Village,  a 
former  Justice  of  the  Peace,  etc.,  of 
the  town  of  White  Plains,  was  born 
in  the  city  of  New  York,  on  Novem- 
ber 13,  1861,  a  son  of  Alfred  Louis 
and  Mary  Aims  (Pray)  Squire. 

WTien  Mr.  Squire  was  eight  years 
of  age  his  parents  removed  to  White 
Plains  auu  took  up  their  residence 
in  the  commodious  stone  house  at 
the  junction  of  Broadway  and  West- 
chester avenue,  belonging  to  young 
Squire's  maternal  grandfather, 
Ebenezer  H.  Pray.  The  property 
surrounding  the  Pray  mansion  con- 
sisted of  twenty  acres  of  choice  land 
in  the  most  desirable  residential  lo- 
cality, which  is  now  cut  up  into  city 
lots  on  which  have  been  built  beauti- 
ful private  residences;  the  owner  of 
the  mansion  and  land  thus  contrib- 
uting his  share  to  the  rapid  de- 
velopment of  the  charming  village. 
The  population  of  White  Plains  in 
1869   was   a   little   more  than   3,000. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
educated  in  the  Alexander  ^lilitary 
Institute.  White  Plains,  preparatory 
to  his  entry  into  Columbia  College, 
frovn   which   he  was   graduated  with 


a  degree  or  A.  B.,  and  later  gradu- 
ating from  the  Columbia  Law 
School   with    the   degree    of    LL.    B. 

He  served  his  clerkship  in  the  law 
office  of  Close  &  Robertson,  where  so 
many  Westchester  County  lawyers 
secured  their  first  instruction.  He 
was  admitted  to  practice  in  1885. 

He  served  as  a  Justice  of  the 
Peace  from  January  1,  1904,  to 
January  1,  1908.  Although  a  Demo- 
crat he  was  elected  by  a  large  plu- 
rality in  the  town  of  White  Plains, 
which  was  at  that  time  Republican 
by  about  250.  He  is  secretary  of 
Board  of  Health  of  the  village  of 
White  Plains. 

On  November  21,  1911,  he  was 
elected  Village  Trustee  by  a  majority 
of  87,  in  a  ward  that  had  invariably 
elected  Republicans  to  this  office. 

On  the  death  of  President  Piatt, 
Trustee  Squire  was  unanimously 
chosen  Acting  Village  President. 

In  1898,  when  his  country  called 
for  volunteers  to  serve  during  the 
Spanish-American  War,  Mr.  Squire 
forsook  all  things  else  and  enlisted 
in  the  United  States  Navy  as  an 
"  Ordinary  Seaman."  He,  at  the 
time  war  was  aeclared,  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  New  York  State  Naval 
Militia,  and  received  leave  of  ab- 
sence to  serve  in  the  U.  S.  Navy. 
He  served  his  term  of  enlistment,  to 
the  end  of  the  war,  and  for  merit- 
orious service  was  promoted  to 
"Able  Seaman."  He  is  justly 
proud  of  his  record  in  the  Navy,  and 
he  deserves  credit  for  being  willing 
to  serve  his  country  in  any  capacity, 
even  if  it  is  not  in  an  office  bedecked 
with  gold  braid.  He  served  ten 
years  in  the  New  York  State  Naval 
Militia  before  and  after  the  Spanish 
War,  and  held  the  rank  of  "  Gun 
Captain." 

When  he  became  a  candidate  for 
public  office  his  neighbors  remem- 
bered the  patriotic  service  he  had 
rendered. 

Mr.  Squire  is  a  member  of  the 
Westchester  County  Bar  Association, 
of  the  Society  Medical  Jurispu- 
dence,  secretary  of  the  Westchester 
County  Historical  Society,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Columbia  College  Alumni 
Association,  of  the  society  of  the 
Early  Eighties  Columbia  University, 
Delta  Tau  Delta;  a  member  of  the 
sociefy  of  United  Spanish  War 
Veterpps.    of   the    Columbia    Unlver- 


222 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


Bity  Club,  of  the  White  Plains  Club, 
of  the  New  York  Association  for  the 
Improvement  of  the  condition  of  the 
Poor,  of  the  Society  for  Prevention 
of  Cruelty  to  Children,  of  the  So- 
ciety for  Prevention  of  Cruelty  to 
Animals,  one  of  the  governors  of  the 
^Tiite  Plains  Hospital,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  B.  P.  O.  Elks. 

Mr.  Squire  marriea  Miss  Theodora 
M.  Schmid,  eldest  daughter  of  Dr. 
H.  Ernest  Schmid,  a  prominent  physi- 
cian of  White  Plains  and  Westchester 
County,  October  26,  1910. 

HENRY  R.  BARRETT. 

Henry  Kobertson  Barrett,  former 
Corporation  Counsel  of  White  Plains, 
was  born  in  the  tovrn  of  Bedford,  this 
County,  on  August  19,  1869,  a  son 
of  Joseph  and  Emma  H.  (Robert- 
eon)  Barrett.  His  early  education 
was  obtained  in  the  district  schools 
of  his  native  town  and  in  the  Bed- 
ford Academy,  and  in  the  Blair 
Academy,  Blairtown,  N.  J.;  he  then 
entered  LaFayette  College,  Easton, 
Pa.,  from  which  he  graduated. 

He  chose  law  as  his  profession, 
and  began  his  studies  with  the  lead- 
ing law  tirm  of  the  County,  Close  & 
Robertson,  in  White  Plains;  the  last 
named  partner  in  the  tirm  being  his 
uncle,  Hon.  William  H.  Robertson, 
who  bad  been  County  Judge  and  had 
held  various  other  local.  County, 
State  and  Federal  oificcs,  and  was 
one  of  the  most  distinguished  citi- 
zens of  the  County. 

On  graduating  with  his  degree, 
Mr.  Barrett  became  managing 
clerk  in  the  office  where  he  had 
served  as  student.  Shortly  after  the 
death  of  the  senior  member  of  the 
firm,  which  occurred  in  1894,  Mr. 
Barrett  took  the  place  of  Mr.  Close 
and  became  associated  in  business 
with  his  uncle,  under  the  firm  name 
of  Robertson  &  Barrett.  This  part- 
nership continuing  until  the  death 
of  Judge  Kobertson,  on  December  6, 
1898.  Later  ^[r.  Barrett  formed  a 
partnership  with  ^I.  S.  Buckbee,  who 
also  had  studied  law  with  .Judge  Rob- 
ertson, and  the  firm  becnme  known  as 
that  of  Barrett  &  Buckbee,  as  it  is 
at  this  writing,  with  offices  in 
White  Plains. 

The  new  firm  virtually  continuing 
the  law  practice  of  C'lope  &  Robert- 
son, which  began  in  1853,  and  from 
its  first  year  to  the  date  of  its  dis- 


solution, did  an  extensive  business; 
clients  coming  from  all  directions, 
from  New  York  city,  and  from  the 
various  sections  of  the  County  and 
State,  \oung  men  desiring  to  be- 
come lawyers  considered  it  an  honor 
and  suflficient  compensation  to  be 
permitted  to  be  connected  with  Close 
&  Robertson's  office  as  a  student. 
There  are  many  successful  lawyers 
of  the  present  period,  not  of  the 
County  alone,  who  allude  with  pride 
to  the  time  when  they  as  young  men 
were  students,  like  Mr.  Barrett, 
under  tuition  in  the  office  of  active 
practice  conducted  by  two  such  ami- 
able legal  gentlemen. 

"A  good  student  usually  makes  a 
good  lawyer,"  it  has  been  said. 
Mr.  Barrett  had  the  reputation  of 
being  an  industrious  student.  As  a 
lawyer,  and  successor  of  the  old  firm, 
he  has  been  able  to  retain  all  that 
remains  of  the  old  business,  and  be- 
sides has  added  among  numerous 
new  clients  many  who  are  descend- 
ants of  those  who  in  the  long-ago 
considered  Close  &  Robertson  as  their 
"  family    barristers." 

When  quite  a  young  man,  and  we 
might  say  naturally,  on  account  of 
associations  among  men  of  affairs, 
politics  and  public  life  appealed  to 
Mr.  Barrett.  \Mien  he  reached  the 
voting  age  he  connected  himself  with 
the  Republican  party  of  which  his 
uncle  was  the  acknowledged  leader 
;n  the  County.  He  served  on  the  Re- 
publican Committee  of  the  town  of 
Bedford  in  1898,  and  up  to  1901,  and 
for  the  same  length  of  time  was  a 
r.iember  of  the  Republican  County 
Committee.  When  he  removed  to 
White  Plains,  in  1900,  in  response  to 
requests  of  party  friends,  he  be- 
came a  member  of  the  Republican 
Committee  of  the  town  of  White 
Plains  and  a  member  of  the  County 
Committee  representing  that  town. 
He  is  a  personal  as  well  as  a  po- 
litical friend  of  Hon.  William  L. 
Ward,  the  present  Republican  leader 
of  Westchester  County,  who,  recog- 
nizes his  ability  and  being  desirous 
of  profiting  by  his  knowledge  of  poli- 
tics, jiast  and  present,  is  ever  ready 
to  consider  Mr.  Barrett  as  an  ad- 
visor as  well  as  a  friend. 

Besides  being  Corporation  Coun- 
sel, to  which  position  he  was  elected 
in  the  early  part  of  1910.  Mr.  Bar- 
rett is  counsel  to  the  Countv  Treas- 


LEWIS  C.  PLATT 


J*^'^ 


JOHN  J.  BROWN 


EBENEZER   H.  P.  SQUIRE 


FREDERICK  B.  VAN  KLEECK,  Jr. 


HENRY  ERNEST  SCHMID,  M.  D. 


FRANK  J.  LAMB 


CHARLES  L.   PRIGGE 


BENONI PLATT 


FREEMAN  H.  MERRITT 


RALPH    M.    GLOVER 


I  ,  ••    ^  *  •  V 


A"' 


fs:. 


JOHN  N.  HEENEY 


'^ 


'.,  '.'■  ■:  .1  7'  r  m: 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


223 


urer,  a  position  held  by  him  thirteen 
years;  is  counsel  to  the  Sheriif,  serv- 
ing his  ninth  year;  is  counsel  to  the 
Good  Roads  Proceedings,  and  luis 
been  for  five  years;  is  counsel  tor 
the  Citizens  'Bank  of  White  Plains; 
is  counsel  for  the  Kensico  Cemetery 
Association,  and  legal  representative 
of  other  corporations,  realty  and  fin- 
ancial. He  has  been  appointed  by 
Courts  as  referee  in  matters  involv- 
ing large  sums  of  money,  and  has 
been  associated  as  counsel  with  some 
noted  litigations.  He  retired  as  Cor- 
poration Counsel  January  1,  1912. 

He  is  director  in  the  Citizens' 
Bank,  in  the  Lawyers'  Westchester 
Title  Company,  in  the  Westchester 
County  Chamber  of  Commerce,  in 
the  Kensico  Cemetery  Associatici., 
and  has  been  a  trustee  in  the  White 
Plains  Home  Savings  Bank  eight 
years. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Delta 
Kappa  Epsilon  Fraternity,  and  mem- 
ber of  the  Benevolent  and  Protective 
Order  of  Elks,  White  Plains  Lodge, 
No.  535. 

Mr.  Barrett  was  married  on  De- 
cember 30,  1900,  to  Miss  Anna 
Parker,  daughter  of  Benajah  and 
Deborah  Parker  of  Kingstow^n,  In- 
diana. Five  children  blessed  this 
union,  viz. :  Henry  R.,  Emily,  lone, 
Donald  and  Dorothy. 


FREDERICK    B.    VAN    KLEECK, 
Jr. 

Frederick  B.  Van  Kleeck,  Jr., 
Corporation  Counsel  of  the  Village 
of  White  Plains,  etc.,  was  born  in 
White  Plains  on  August  31,  1871,  a 
son  of  Rev.  Frederick  B.  Van 
Kleeck,  D.  D.,  and  Estelle  M.  (Ham- 
ilton) Van  Kleeck. 

His  father  comes  from  good  Hol- 
land stock,  his  ancestry  settling  in 
New  York  city  and  on  Long  Island 
prior  to  1700;  his  mother's  people 
resided  principally   in   Maryland. 

His  father  is  rector  of  Grace 
Episcopal  Church,  White  Plains,  a 
position  he  has  held  for  forty-two 
years;  he  recently  resigned  as  Arch- 
deacon of  the  Archdeaconry  of 
Westchester,  comprising  the  counties 
of  Westchester,  Rockland  and  Put- 
nam, after  a  service  in  the  latter 
oflSce  of  twenty-five  years. 

Mr.  Van  Kleeck,  Jr.,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  was  educated  at  Trin- 


ity School  at  Tivoli  on  the  Hudson, 
at  Columbia  Law  School  and  at  the 
New   York   Law   School. 

He  began  the  practice  of  law  in 
1893,  opening  offices  in  his  native 
town.  His  experience  as  a  general 
practitioner,  and  his  serving  as 
Special  Counsel  of  the  City  of  New 
York  in  condemnation  proceedings, 
particularly  adapt  him  to  fill  the 
position  of  Corporation  Counsel  of 
the  Village  of  WTiite  Plains,  to 
which  office  he  was  appointed  on 
January  1,  1912. 

He  was  appointed  under  the 
amended  village  charter,  which  per- 
mits the  President  of  the  Village  to 
select  the  official  legal  advisor. 
Prior  to  the  passage  of  laws  amend- 
ing the  village  charter,  by  the  Legis- 
lature of  1911,  the  Village  Trustees 
chose  the  Corporation  Counsel.  Mr. 
Van  Kleeck  was  at  one  time  con- 
nected with  the  office  of  Harry  T. 
Dykman,  who  was  formerly  Corpora- 
tion Counsel  of  the  Village. 

Mr.  Van  Kleeck  is  a  veteran  of  the 
Spanish-American  War.  He  served 
in  the  12th  New  York  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, enlisting  as  a  private  and 
coming  home  as  a  commissioned  offi- 
cer, promoted  for  efficient  service  in 
the  field. 

He  is  Past  Master  of  the  White 
Plains  Lodge,  F.  and  A.  M,,  No. 
473;  is  a  member  of  the  West- 
chester County  Bar  Association,  a 
director  in  the  Westchester  County 
Society  for  the  Prevention  of  Cruelty 
to  Children,  a  member  of  the  execu- 
tive committee  of  the  Democratic 
County  Committee,  president  of  the 
White  Plains  Democratic  Club,  and 
a  member  of  the  White  Plains  Club. 

Mr.  Van  Kleeck  was  married  on 
March  30,  1901,  to  Miss  Alice 
Penner,  daughter  of  William  H. 
Penner  of  Little  Falls,  N.  Y.  Of 
this  union  there  are  three  children, 
Alice  Hamilton,  aged  eight  years; 
Frederick  B.,  Ill,  aged  five  years, 
and  Susan  Julia  Mayer,  aged  three 
years. 

H.    ERNEST    SCHMID,   M.    D. 

Henry  Ernest  Schmid  was  born  in 
Thuringia,  Province  of  Saxony  of  the 
Kingdom  of  Prussia  on  May  1,  1834. 
His  parents  were  both  natives  of  the 
Kingdom  of  Saxony.  His  father, 
like  many  of  his  relatives,  was  a 
publisher.     He  intended  his  son  for 


224 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


the  same  career  and  gave  him  a  first- 
class  education  for  that  purpose.  He 
was  first  taught  by  private  tutor  at 
home,  then  he  entered  the  Latin  Col- 
lege (Lateinische  Schule)  which  was 
a  part  of  the  great  institution  called 
Franke  's  Waisenhaus,  in  the  city  of 
Halle,  whose  university  has  always 
been  made  famous  by  scores  of  dis- 
tinguished names.  He  then  began  a 
higher  literary  course  but  his  father 
in  publishing  a  weekly  paper  unfor- 
tunately incurred  the  censure  of  the 
government  and  by  this  was  changed 
the  whole  tenor  of  the  son's  life, 
who  then  came  to  this  country  in 
18.53.  Soon  after  went  to  Virginia 
where  he  became  engaged  as  teacher 
in  the  public  schools.  Being  situated 
near  Winchester  and  having  a  pre- 
dilection for  medicine  he  began  the 
study  of  medicine  at  the  ' '  surgical 
school"  then  existing  there — after 
which  he  attended  the  medical  de- 
partment of  the  University  of  Vir- 
ginia at  Charlottesville,  and  finally 
graduated  at  the  University  of  Penn- 
sylvania in  Philadelphia.  He  then 
passed  examination  for  entrance  in 
the  navy  but  never  entered  there, 
having  concluded  to  go  to  Japan  as 
a  medical  missionary.  He  resided  at 
Nagasaki  till  1862  where  he  estab- 
lished a  small  hospital  in  a  Biiddliist 
temple  and  had  a  large  practice 
amongst  the  natives.  His  health  fail- 
ing he  accepted  the  invitation  of  the 
commander  of  an  English  surveying 
fleet  to  go  with  him  through  the 
inland  sea  as  interpreter  and  later 
on  to  accompany  him  on  his  voyage 
home  to  England  through  Corea, 
Northern  China,  Java  and  Sumatra. 
He  made  extensive  tours  in  Southern 
Africa,  the  ship  having  narrowly 
escaped  destruction  by  a  typhoon, 
which  forced  going  to  Simons  Bay 
in  South  Africa  for  repairs.  After 
this  he  visited  St.  Helena — the 
Azores  and  landed  at  Portsmouth, 
England.  He  returned  to  America 
and  began  practice  of  medicine  at 
"V\Tiite  Plains  where  he  lives  the 
7>resent  time.  While  in  .Japan  he 
made  collections  of  snakes  for  the 
Smithsonian  Institution  in  Washing- 
ton. 

He  was  made  a  member  of  the 
Amorican  Oriental  Society  and  of  the 
American  Association  for  the  Ad- 
vancement of  Science.  He  became  a 
member  of  many  New  York  societiea. 


He  was  president  of  the  board  of 
education  for  30  years,  of  the  board 
of  health  for  many  years,  of  the  Free 
rublie  Library  he  is  still  president, 
and  of  the  Westchester  Historical 
Society.  He  is  member  of  the  West- 
chester County  Miedieal  of  the  State 
Medical,  of  the  American  Medical 
Association,  of  the  Psychological  So- 
ciety, of  the  Medical  Jurisprudence 
Society,  he  is  a  trustee  of  the  New 
York  Society  for  Widows  and  Or- 
phans of  Medical  Men,  he  is  chief 
of  the  White  Plains  Hospital,  con- 
sultant to  the  county  branch  of  the 
New  York  Orthopedical  Hospital. 
He  started  St.  Vincent's  Retreat  for 
the  Insane  at  Harrison  and  was  solo 
physician  for  a  number  of  years,  and 
is  still  the  consultant.  He  is  attend- 
ant to  Caroline  Rest  at  Hartsdale 
and  Presbyterian  Rest  at  White 
Plains. 

He  has  always  been  an  independent 
Democrat.  He  is  a  Mason,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Episcopal  church,  has 
been  married  twice,  first  wife  a 
daughter  of  Eugene  L.  Preud'homme 
and  his  present  wife  a  daughter  of 
Edward  G.  Sutherland  who  owneil  the 
Eastern  State  Journal  and  was  active 
in  political  life.  He  has  three 
daughters,  the  oldest  of  whom  is 
married  to  Mr.  E.  P.  H.  Squire  the 
present   President  of  the  village. 

BENONI  PLATT. 

Benoni  Piatt,  former  Clerk  to  the 
Surrogate's  Court,  former  Deputy 
County  Clerk,  etc.,  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Scarsdale,  this  county,  on 
August  22,  1857,  a  son  of  Judge 
Lewis  Canfield  and  Laura  (Sher- 
brook  Popham)  Piatt.  He  is  elder 
brother  of  County  Judge  William 
Popham  Piatt  and  of  Hon.  Lewis  C. 
Piatt,  President  of  the  village  of 
White   Plains. 

His  ancestors  were  of  the  sturdy 
stock  which  produced  men  of  charac- 
ter and  force.  They  were  very  con- 
spicuously identified  with  the  early 
history  of  this  nation.  Relatives,  on 
both  his  paternal  and  his  maternal 
sides,  served  during  the  Revolution; 
from  a  private  in  the  ranks  to  of- 
ficers  in   command. 

Wlien  he  was  one  year  old  his 
parents  removed  from  Scarsdale  to 
the  adjoining  town  of  White  Plains, 
and  the  latter  place  has  been  his 
place  of  residence  since. 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


225 


He  is  a  graduate  of  the  excellent 
public  schools  of  White  Plaius. 

Even  before  arriving  at  the  re- 
quired age  of  a  native  born  elector, 
he  took  active  interest  in  public  af- 
fairs, and  became  a  leader  among 
young  men.  Possessing  open  and 
courteous  manners,  and  most  gener- 
ous impulses — a  man  of  ability  and 
strong  common  sense,  his  irreproach- 
able character  and  searching  insight 
into  human  nature,  his  willingness 
to  extend  a  courteous  greeting  to 
all,  whether  in  exalted  or  humble 
station,  in  his  intercourse  with  his 
fellow  citizens,  insured  for  him  en- 
viable popularity  and  made  friends 
for  him  everywhere. 

His  father  was  the  first  elected 
Surrogate  of  this  county  and  a  Dem- 
ocrat; quite  naturally,  the  son,  like 
father,  took  kindly  to  politics, 
though  disinclined  to  accept  nomi- 
nation for  election  to  public  office. 
In  fact,  it  was  only  on  the  persist- 
ent urging  of  Surrogate  Coffin,  a 
close  friend  of  the  young  man's 
father,  that  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  consented  to  accept,  in  1881, 
a  clerkship  in  the  Surrogate's  office. 
In  those  days  the  work  of  that  of- 
fice was  not  divided  among  so  many 
clerks  as  now,  as  there  was  not  so 
much  to  do,  but  the  one  clerk,  then 
serving  in  many  capacities,  had  his 
time  fully  occupied  attending  to 
important  duties.  That  young  Piatt 
performed  his  various  duties  well 
and  fully  was  openly  attested  by  the 
Surrogate.  With  Surrogate  CoflBji 
he  remained  until  1895,  when  the 
Surrogate  retired  from  office  after 
serving  twenty-four  years.  On  John 
M.  Digney  becoming  County  Clerk, 
in  1886,  he  offered  the  position  of 
Deputy  County  Clerk  to  Mr.  Piatt, 
and  the  latter  accepted,  holding  the 
office  ten  years  and  until  Leverett 
F.  Crumb,  a  Republican,  succeeded 
Mr.  Digney. 

Next,  Mr.  Piatt,  capable  and  ex- 
perienced, became  manager  of  the 
Westchester  County  Branch  of  the 
Lawvers'  Title  Company  of  New 
York. 

Some  years  ago  Mr.  Piatt  heeded 
the  call,  "Back  to  the  Farm,"  and 
became  possessed  of  one  of  the 
finest  farms  in  the  county,  and  de- 
voted what  time  he  could  spare  from 
public  duties  to  the  occupation  of 
"a  gentleman  farmer."    As  a  raiser 


of  prize  stock  he  became  well 
known,  and  his  ability  as  an  expert 
judge  of  high  grade  horses  and  cat- 
tle was  unquestioned. 

During  recent  years  he  has  fre- 
quently served  as  a  member  of  com- 
missions appointed  by  the  State  Su- 
preme Court  in  land  condemnation 
proceedings,  notably  on  commissions 
appointed  to  fix  value  of  various 
properties  taken  to  extend  the  New 
York  city  water  supply.  His  ex- 
perience, acquired  in  connection  with 
laud  values  during  discharge  of  pub- 
lic and  private  duties,  for  many 
years,  fully  equipped  him  for  ser- 
vice on  these  commissions,  and,  ow- 
ing to  experience,  his  services  were 
in   demand   as   an   official   appraiser. 

He  is  a  member  of  various  socie- 
ties, prominent  among  them  being 
the  Odd  Fellows,  a  member  of 
Guiding  Star  Encampment  of  Mount 
Vernon,  and  Hebron  Lodge  No.  229, 
of  White  Plains,  and  of  the  Benevo- 
lent and  Protective  Order  of  Elks. 

Mr.  Piatt  was  married  on  April 
15,  1903,  to  Miss  Carrie  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Harvey  Handon  and 
Harriett  Putney  Hoffman,  of  Bel- 
mont, N.  Y. 

FRANK  J.  LAMB. 

Frank  Joseph  Lamb,  lawyer,  Police 
Justice,  former  Town  Clerk,  etc.,  was 
born  July  21,  1877,  in  White  Plains, 
a  son  of  Michael  and  Mary  (Don- 
nelly)   Lamb. 

His  education  was  obtained  at  the 
common  school;  he  made  better  use 
of  his  advantages  than  many  others 
who  have  had  better  facilities  for 
acquiring  a  good  education.  During 
his  boyhood  he  was  studious  and  re- 
served, reading  much  of  literature 
that  is  wholesome  and  lasting,  being 
far  in  advance  of  most  boys  of  his 
age.  The  profession  of  law  at- 
tracted him  and  to  that  he  turned 
on  leaving  the  district  school ;  in 
1903  he  graduated  from  the  New 
York  Law  School,  and  was  imme- 
diately admitted  to  practice,  open- 
ing a  law  office  on  his  own  account 
at  the  County-seat. 

In  19u5  he  was  elected  Town  Clerk 
of  the  town  of  ^Vhite  Plains,  in  a 
year  when  but  few  candidates  on  his 
party  ticket  proved  successful.  To 
this  position  he  was  re-elected,  and 
in  all  served  four  years,  declining  a 


226 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


re-election,  believing  that  his  in- 
creasing law  jiractico  should  be  given 
his  umlivided  attention.  He  is  one 
of  the  youngest  members  of  tne 
County  bar,  and  an  orator  of  ac- 
knowledged ability. 

He  was  chosen  Police  Justice,  the 
first  elected  direct  by  the  people,  by 
the  great  majority  of  756,  on  No- 
vember 21,  19il. 

He  is  a  member  of  White  Plains 
Lodge,  No,  532,  B.  P.  O.  Elks,  a 
member  of  the  White  Plains  Club, 
member  of  the  \^Tiite  Plains  Council, 
Knights  of  Columbus,  a  member 
of  the  Heptasophs  Society  of  Medi- 
cal Jurisprudence,  a  member  of 
the  Westchester  County  Bar  Asso- 
ciation, and  a  member  of  the  local 
Owl    Bowling    Club. 

Mr.  Lamb  was  married  on  May  8, 
1907,  to  Miss  Marguerite  A.  Bleakie 
of  Boston,  Mass.  Two  children  have 
been  born  to  them :  Francis  B.,  born 
March  1,  1908,  and  Margaret,  born 
April   20,   1909. 

They  reside  on  Miller  place.  White 
Plains. 

CHARLES  L.  PRIGGE. 

Charles  Louis  Prigge,  Treasurer  of 
the  Village  of  White  Plains,  Bank 
Cashier,  etc.,  was  born  in  WTiite 
Plains,  in  this  county,  on  October 
18,  1877,  a  son  of  John  C.  L.  and 
Louise  (Fenkhouse)  Prigge. 

He  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  town;  he  was 
a  studious  lad  and  ambitious  to 
earn  the  good  will  of  those  older 
than  himself. 

He  secured  employment  in  a  bank, 
his  best  recommendation  being  his 
known  integrity  which  w-as  accepted 
as  a  guarantee  that  he  would  dis- 
charge his  duties  faithfully  and  hon- 
estly. 

From  the  humblest  place  he  arose 
to  the  position  of  bank  cashier;  this 
position  he  now  holds  in  the  First 
National  Bank  of  White  Plains  a 
leading  financial  institution  of  the 
county. 

Though  "  not  of  the  political 
faith,"  ^fr.  Prigge  was  chosen  by 
the  Republican  majority  in  the  Board 
of  Village  Trustees,  in  1909,  as  Vil- 
lage Treasurer.  Of  the  high  esti- 
mate in  which  his  character  is  held 
as  a  citizen  and  a  man  by  those  who 
know  him  best,  no  stronger  assur- 
ance could  be  given  than  this  vote. 


In  the  village  election,  held  in 
November,  1911,  when  the  Village 
Treasurer,  in  accordance  with  the 
amended  village  charter,  was  chosen 
direct  by  vote  of  the  people,  Mr. 
Prigge  was  placed  in  nomination  for 
Village  Treasurer  by  the  Democratic 
party,  to  run  against  a  popular  op- 
ponent. His  election  was  secured  by 
several  hundred  majority.  His  large 
majority  was  attributed  in  part  to 
the  desire  that  the  office  be  not  made 
a  partisan  one,  many  Republicans 
maintaining  that  his  name  should 
have  been  placed  also  upon  the  Re- 
publican ticket. 

His  term  of  office  commenced 
January  1,  1912,  to  end  January  1, 
1914. 

Mr.  Prigge  is  a  prominent  member 
of  the  Masonic  order  and  is  con- 
nected with  its  several  branches;  be- 
longs to  the  local  lodge  F.  and  A. 
M.,  to  various  lodges  in  New  York 
city,  is  a  Knight  Templar,  a  Shriner, 
etc.,  besides  having  reached  the  ex- 
alted rank  of  32d  degree  Mason.  Has 
been  a  member  of  the  local  Fire 
Department  twelve  years;  connected 
with  Union  Hook  and  Ladder  Com- 
pany; is  a  Royal  Arcanumite,  and 
member  of  other  organizations,  fra- 
ternal and  social. 

Mr.  Prigge  was  married  on  June 
3,  1903,  to  Miss  Mabel  Taylor, 
daughter  of  Moses  W.  and  Jane 
(Gibson)  Taylor,  of  Unionville,  this 
county.  Of  this  marriage  there  are 
three  children,  Charles  Russell,  bom 
1904;  Jean  Gibson,  born  1907,  and 
Alan   Taylor,   born   -1909, 


WILLIAM  P.  FIERO. 

William  Piorson  Fiero,  lawyer, 
State  Senator,  former  First  Assistant 
United  States  Attorney,  etc.,  was 
born  in  Catskill,  N.  Y.,  in  1848. 

He  is  son  of  Joshua  Fiero,  who 
served  two  terms  as  Member  of  As- 
sembly and  then,  in  1860,  was  elected 
a  State  Senator  in  the  same  district 
(the  Catskill  district,  then  the  10th) 
now  represented  by  his  son,  and  be- 
came President  pro  tem  of  the  Sen- 
ate. The  present  Senator  Fiero 'a 
maternal  grandfather,  William  Pier- 
son,  was  a  relative  of  Abraham  Pier- 
son,  the  first  President  of  Yale  Col- 
lege, and  was  a  Member  of  Assem- 
bly from  Greene  County  in  1840. 

Senator  Fiero  was  admitted  to  the 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


227 


Bar  at  Albany  in  1870,  and  has  con- 
tinuously practiced  his  profession 
forty  years  in  State  and  National 
Courts,  with  offices  in  New  York 
city  and  White  Plains. 

The  only  public  office  he  ever  held, 
previous  to  this  one,  was  that  of  First 
Assistant  United  States  Attorney  in 
New  York  city,  from  1878  to  1883; 
and  during  that  time  he  represented 
the  United  States  in  many  promi- 
nent jury  trials  and  in  appeals  in 
the  United  States  Supreme  Court  in 
many  important  and  precedent  es- 
tablishing cases.  He  prepared  and 
procured  the  enactment  of  amend- 
ments to  the  navigation  laws  for  the 
better  protection  of  life  and  property 
in  the  waters  of  the  Unitel  States; 
the  act  establishing  a  National 
prison,  and  several  of  the  most  im- 
portant amendments  to  the  Internal 
Bevenue  statutes. 

Senator  Fiero  has  a  wide  reputa- 
tion as  a  pleasing  public  speaker, 
and  for  the  past  thirty-five  years  has 
made  political  speeches  during  State 
and  National  campaigns  in  this  and 
other  States;  after  the  re-election  of 
President  Cleveland,  in  1892,  he  de- 
clined the  offer  of  a  United  States 
Judgeship. 

He  became  a  resident  of  White 
Plains  in  the  year  1890,  and  dwelt  in 
residence  he  owned,  situated  on  the 
site  of  former  County  Court  House, 
in  which  the  State  Convention  met, 
in  1776,  and  adopted  the  first  State 
Constitution,  and  created  the  State 
of  New  York.  Here  Mr.  Fiero  and 
family  resided  until  1908,  when  the 
County  of  Westchester  bought  the 
property  to  preserve  it  on  account 
of  its  historic  value. 

In  the  fall  of  1904  he  was  nomi- 
nated for  District  Attorney  of  West- 
chester County;  he  polled  a  large 
vote,  leading  other  candidates  on  the 
ticket,  but  failed  of  election  in  a 
strong  Eepublican  County. 

He  was  the  orator  in  "Home 
Week"  exercises  in  his  native  county 
of  Greene,  held  at  Catskill,  in  1910. 

In  the  same  year  he  was  asked  to 
accept  the  Democratic  nomination  for 
State  Senator,  to  represent  the  27th 
Senate  District,  composed  of  the 
counties  of  Ulster  and  Greene.  He 
was  elected  by  a  handsome  majority, 
in  a  district  that  had  previously  been 
strongly  Eepublican. 

Senator   Fiero   in    getting   desired 


legislation  aided  Westchester  County 
greatly. 

He  died  quite  unexpectedly,  on 
October  28,  1912,  and  was  buried 
from  the  home  of  his  daughter,  Mrs. 
Ernest  Carpenter,  in  White  Plains. 
He  is  survived  by  his  widow,  twu 
sons  and  three  daughters. 

EALPH  M.  GLOVEE. 

Ealph  Murray  Glover,  Mortgage 
Tax  Deputy  for  Westchester  County, 
and  Captain  49th  Separate  Company, 
N,  G.,  N.  Y.,  was  born  on  February 
7,  1863,  in  the  city  of  New  York,  a 
son  of  Charles  S.  and  Sarah  C. 
(Hendrick)  Glover,  representatives 
of  old  Westchester  County  families. 

He  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  New  York  city  and 
trained  for  a  commercial  life.  When 
he  was  quite  young  his  parents  be- 
came residents  of  Mount  Vernon,  in 
this  County.  After  being  engaged 
many  years  at  business  in  New  York 
city.  Captain  Glover  accepted  a  posi- 
tion as  a  deputy  in  the  Westchester 
County  Eegister's  office,  removing 
with  his  family  to  White  Plains,  the 
County-seat.  In  1909  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  Edward  B.  Kear,  County 
Eegister,  to  his  present  official  posi- 
tion, as  Mortgage-Tax  Deputy  in  the 
Eegister's  office. 

At  the  time  the  Spanish-American 
War  was  declared,  in  1898,  Mr. 
Glover  had  been  several  years  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Eleventh  Separate  Com- 
pany, National  Guard,  State  of  New 
York,  and  on  enlisting  for  the  war 
was  mustered  in  as  First  Lieutenant 
of  Company  "  K,"  202nd  INew  York 
Vol.  Infty.  His  regiment  was  the 
first  American  regiment  to  enter  the 
city  of  Havana,  Cuba.  During  his 
service  in  this  war  period  he  was 
appointed  Provost-Marshal  for  the 
city  of  Athens,  Ga.,  and  later  was 
appointed  Overseer  of  the  Poor  for 
the  Province  of  Puia  Del  Eio,  Cuba, 
where  he  gave  to  the  starving 
Cubans,  in  the  name  of  the  United 
States  Government,  over  600,000  ra- 
tions. He  was  mustered  out  of  the 
service,  with  his  regiment,  at  Savan- 
nah, Ga.,  at  the  termination  of  his 
enlistment. 

When  it  was  decided  to  organize 
the  sturdy  young  men  of  the  County- 
seat  into  a  State  Militia  company 
Governor  Hughes  decided  upon  Lien- 


228 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


tenant  Glover  as  a  proper  person  to 
command  the  new  company;  the  lat- 
ter's  excellent  military  record  in 
tluencing  the  choice.  The  new  Com- 
pany became  known  as  the  49th  Sep- 
arate Comjjany. 

To  Captain  Glover's  untiring  ef- 
forts, to  a  great  degree,  is  due  the 
fact  that  White  Plains  has  to-day 
one  of  the  best  drilled  Militia  Com- 
panies in  the  State. 

Captain  Glover  enlisted  as  a  pri- 
vate in  the  eleventh  Separate  Com- 
pany, N.  G.,  N.  Y.,  at  Mount  Ver- 
non, in  188i!,  and  has  advanced  in 
every  grade  up  to  his  present  posi- 
tion as  Captain. 

He  has  been  many  years  an  active 
Mason,  being  a  member  of  White 
Plains  Lodge,  F.  and  A.  M.,  and  is 
a  member  of  the  association  of  Span- 
ish-American War  Veterans. 

Captain  Glover  was  married  on 
December  17,  1888,  to  Miss  Jennie 
S.  Bennett,  daughter  of  Judge  John 
A.  and  Jennie  Bennett  of  New  York 
city.  Of  this  union  there  is  one  son, 
Ealph  M.  Glover,  Jr.,  aged  twenty 
years. 

FEEEMAN  H.  MEKRITT. 

Freeman  Hancock  Merritt,  Post- 
master, White  Plains,  was  born  on 
December  21,  1862,  at  Greenwich, 
Conn.,  a  son  of  John  0.  Merritt.  His 
grandfather  on  his  father's  side  was 
William  Merritt,  of  English  descent; 
his  grandmother  on  his  father's 
side  was  Jane  Ann  Hancock,  a  des- 
cendant of  the  Holland  Dutch  fam- 
ily of  V^on  Torn;  his  grandfather  on 
his  mother's  side  was  William 
Parker,  who  with  his  family  were 
among  the  first  settlers  of  the  town 
of  Rye,  and  he  a  successful  New 
York  city  business  man  of  the  old 
days;  his  grandmother  on  his 
mother's  side  was  Deborah  Havi- 
land,  of  a  family  equally  prominent 
among  the  old  settlers  of  the  town 
of  Rye. 

When  Mr.  Merritt  was  quite  young 
his  parents  removed  to  Port  Ches- 
ter, in  this  County,  whore  they  yet 
reside.  He  attended  jmblic  school, 
was  a  private  pupil  of  the  late  Pro- 
fessor George  W.  Smith  (at  one 
period  a  School  Commissioner  of  the 
County),  and  later  attended  a  mili- 
tary academy. 

In  deciding  upon  a  business  career, 


he  chose  tnat  lollowed  by  his 
father,  that  of  a  general  contractor, 
entering  upon  his  work  at  an  early 
age,  shortly  after  leaving  school,  and 
this  he  has  followed  up  to  the  pres- 
ent time.  Many  pieces  of  private 
and  public  work  are  monuments  tes- 
tifying to  his  business  capacity  and 
ability.  All  sections  of  the  County 
produce  samples  of  his  handiwork  as 
a  builder,  many  of  the  finest  and 
most  costly  buildings  being  of  his 
construction.  Fully  ninety  per  cent, 
of  all  the  troiiy  roadbeds  in  the 
County  were  laid  by  him  as  were 
miles  upon  miles  of  macadam  roads; 
in  most  every  County  of  the  State  he 
has  built  State  roads;  in  cities  and 
towns  of  the  County  he  has  built 
sewers  and  made  other  public  im- 
provements, in  every  instance  scor- 
ing success  that  has  made  his  firm 
a  State-wide  enviable  reputation. 

As  a  successful  business  man  he 
is  known,  rather  than  as  a  politician. 

By  appointment  received  from 
President  Roosevelt,  he  became  Post- 
master of  White  Plains  on  January 
1,  1907,  serving  until  1911. 

Mr.  Merritt  married  on  April  14, 
1887,  Miss  Jeannie  Wilson,  of  Port 
Chester. 

JOHN  N.   HEENEY. 

John  N.  Heeney,  former  Superin- 
tendent of  the  White  Plains  Water 
Department,  Contracting  Engineer, 
etc.,  was  born  in  Verplanck's 
Point,  this  county,  in  1874,  a  son  of 
John  and  Margaret  Heeney. 

He  was  educated  in  public  and 
private  schools.  He  came  to  White 
Plains   to   reside  in   the  year    1893. 

He  was  appointed  Superintendent 
of  the  White  Plains  Water  Depart- 
ment in  1901,  a  position  which  he 
was  particularly  adapted  to  fill, 
owing  to  education  and  experience. 
This  position  he  held  until  1911, 
when  he  resigned  to  go  into  private 
business,  as  a  contracting  engineer, 
making  water  supply  and  sewage  dis- 
Tiosal  a  specialty;  he  is  considered  to 
rank  with  the  foremost  in  his  profes- 
sion. 

Mr.  Heeney  was  marrieil  March  9, 
1909,  to  Frances  E.  Steeves  of  New 
York  city. 

He  is  member  of  a  number  of  so- 
cieties including  the  White  Plains 
Lodge  of  Elks. 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


229 


JOHN  E.  BUSHONG. 

John  Roberts  Bushong,  lawyer, 
Village  Trustee,  President  pro  tem 
of  the  Village  of  White  Plains,  etc., 
was  born  on  May  24,  1877,  in  Read- 
ing, Penn.,  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Lillie 
(Roberts)  Bushong. 

The  name  Bushong  was  originally 
the  old  Huguenot  French  (Alsace 
Loraine)  name  of  Beauchamp,  abbre- 
viated for  the  sake  of  convenience, 
his  father's  ancestors  coming  from 
France  by  way  of  England,  settled 
in  Shenandoah  Valley  and  then  came 
up  to  Lancaster  County  and  from 
there  to  Berks,  together  with  other 
exiles,  of  which  number  many  found 
an  abiding  place  at  New  Rochelle, 
in  this  County.  His  father  was 
a  Democrat  and  prominent  banker 
of  Reading,  Pa.,  serving  twenty-five 
years  as  president  oi  the  Select 
Council,  and  was  chairman  of  its 
first  Water  Board. 

In  1908  he  was  the  Democratic 
candidate  for  Member  of  Assembly 
in  a  hopelessly  Republican  district, 
and  was  defeated  by  George  W. 
Mead  by  2,800;  he  made  so  good  a 
showing  at  the  polls  that  his  party 
nominated  him  again  in  1909,  again 
he  was  defeated  by  John  Ambrose 
Gardwin  by  1,265,  but  not  downcast. 
He  is  a  firm  believer  in  persistency, 
that  success  comes  to  him  who  keeps 
' '  Pegging  away ' '  in  the  right  direc- 
tion. He  was  unsuccessful  in  run- 
ning for  School  Director  in  1910;  he 
tried  for  election  as  Village  Trustee 
in  1910  against  a  candidate  that  had 
never  been  defeated;  he  succeeded  in 
cutting  down  his  opponent 's  ma- 
jority to  25.  He  noted  one  thing 
that  gave  him  encouragement  to  try 
again,  and  that  was  that  every  time 
he  ran  for  office,  and  got  better  ac- 
quainted, his  vote  was  larger;  he 
knew  that  if  he  kept  on  gaining  ne 
would  surely  get  there  some  time. 
In  1911  victory  came;  he  carried  the 
hide-bound  Republican  third  ward 
by  72  majority  and  became  a  Vil- 
lage Trustee.  On  the  organization 
of  the  Board  of  Village  Trustees  in 
January,  1912,  he  was  elected  presi- 
dent pro  tem,  and  during  President 
Piatt's  absence  from  the  village  he 
was  Acting  President. 


Mr.  Bushong  is  a  member  of 
White  Plains  Lodge,  No.  473,  F.  and 
A.  M.,  of  White  Plains  Lodge  of 
Elks,  No.  535,  of  the  White  Plains 
Club,  of  the  Yale  Club  of  New  York 
city,  of  the  Westchester  Bar  Associa- 
tion, Chamber  of  Commerce  of  West- 
chester County,  etc. 

Owing  to  ill  health  and  his  re- 
moval from  the  village,  Mr.  Bushong 
resigned  his  Trusteeship  in  January, 
1913. 


JAMES  J.  SHAW. 

James  J.  Shaw,  former  President 
of  the  White  Plains  Board  of  Edu- 
cation, Secretary  Bronx  Valley  Sewer 
Commission,  former  Record  Clerk  in 
County  Clerk's  office,  former  Chief 
Clerk  to  the  Sheriff  and  former 
Town  Clerk  of  the  town  of  White 
Plains,  was  born  on  June  7,  1862, 
in  White  Plains,  a  son  of  James  J. 
and   Margaret    (Trainor)    Shaw. 

His  education  began  in  the  public 
schools  of  Dobbs  Ferry,  where  his 
parents  went  to  live;  he  ended  his 
scholastic  career  at  Manhattan  Col- 
lege, New  York  city,  graduating  with 
special  honor.  He  later  returned  to 
White   Plains,   where  he   resides. 

Under  County  Clerk  John  M.  Dig- 
ney,  Mr.  Shaw  served  as  Record 
Clerk  in  the  County  Clerk's  office, 
from  1887  to  1889,  resigning  this  po- 
sition to  accept  the  Chief  Clerkship 
to  the  Sheriff,  appointed  by  Sheriff 
Frank  G.  Schirmer;  in  this  latter 
office  he  served  until  January  1, 
1893.  He  next  became  an  official 
searcher  in  the  County  Register's  of- 
fice. In  1899  he  was  elected  'iown 
Clerk  of  the  town  of  White  Plains, 
by  an  unprecedented  majority  given 
for  that  office;  in  this  official  posi- 
tion he  served  several  terms,  com- 
mencing 1900  and  ending  1905,  re- 
tiring to  accept  a  highly  responsible 
position  with  the  Westchester  and 
Bronx  Title  and  Mortgage  Guaranty 
Company,  as  Superintendent  of  Plant 
Department. 

.Mr.  Shaw  was  married  on  April 
24.  1887,  to  Miss  Katherine  L. 
Grace,  daughter  of  William  and 
Hannah  Grace,  of  Tarrytown.  Of 
this  union  there  are  two  children. 


For  biographical  sketches  of  other  residents  see  elsewhere  in  this  book, 
and  in  volumes  one  and  two. 


230  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

TOWxN  AND  CITY  OF  YONKEKS. 


This  city,  according  to  population,  ranks  in  size  as  the  fifth 
in  the  State. 

It  is  the  largest  of  the  three  cities  in  Westchester  County,  lies 
adjacent  on  the  south  to  the  city  of  New  York,  and  on  the  east 
joins  the  city  of  Mount  Vernon.  Its  residents  boast  of  Yonkers 
as  being  "  next  to  the  largest  city  in  the  United  States,"  mean- 
ing, of  course,  New  York  as  the  largest  city,  yet  citizens  of 
adjaicent  Mount  Vernon  will  persist  in  professing  to  believe  that 
their  city  is  alluded  to,  and  they  accordingly  feel  complimented, 
and  aire  almost  persuaded  to  forget  the  rivalry  existing  between 
the  two  largest  AVestchester  County  cities. 

The  census  of  1910  credits  Yonkers  with  a  population  of 
79,803,  showing  an  increase  in  population  of  39,972  in  ten  years. 
Its  rapid  growth  promises  soon  to  make  it  the  fourth  largest  city 
in  the  State. 

The  most  wonderful  and  least  to  be  explained  transformation 
seems  to  have  taken  place  within  fifty  years  after  settlement. 
That  was  of  the  Indian  name  of  Yonkers  villa^ge,  from  Nap- 
peckamack  to  Nepperhaem.  The  intermediate  stages  are  entirely 
missing,  and  can  only  be  guessed  at.  But  no  sooner  had  the 
Dutch  fastened  the  latter  name  upon  the  place  than  the  cor- 
ruption of  it,  in  turn,  began.  It  was  for  one  man  Neperha,  and 
for  another  Nippierha.  To  some  it  was  Neppiran,  to  others 
Nepran  and  Nepperan,  and  Governor  Dongaai,  combining  several 
of  these  in  one,  calls  it  Nippirhan.  In  one  conveyance  we  find 
the  present  spelling,  Nepperhan,  "  or  Napoekamack."  Or  at 
least  so  it  is  recorded  in  Mrs.  "  Geesie  "  Lewis's  deed  to  old 
Mr.  "  Phillipps  "  in  the  now  somewhat  remote  year  of  1686. 
Verily,  there  was  a  great  vairiety  of  spelling  in  those  days. 

Lemuel  Wells,  who  owned  a  great  part  of  Yonkers,  320  acres 
of  good  farm  land  located  in  what  is  now  the  center  of  the 
city's  business  section,  died  well  advanced  in  years,  in  February, 
1842,  without  issue.  His  wife,  Eliza  H.,  survived  him.  He 
had  four  brothers,  Elisha,  Levi,  Plorace  and  Jared.  One  of 
the  prominent  streets  of  Yonkers,  running  from  Broadway  to 
the  Hudson  River,  is  nfiniod  for  him.  When  he  died  the  estate 
was  sold  by  t]ip  Chancellor. 

The  first  residents  of  Yonkers  were  few  in  number,  but  they 
were  enterprising. 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  2;U 

At  this  period  the  town,  including  Riverdale,  Kingsbridge, 
Mosholu  and  Spuyten  Duyvil,  had  about  5,000  inhabitants,  and 
the  conditions  were  rural. 

Main  Street  was  a  block  long,  running  from  Broadway  west. 
Wells  Avenue  ran  a  block  from  Broadway  west,  to  Mr.  Wells' 
blacksmith  shop,  where  he  made  a  specialty  of  shoeing  oxen. 
Dock  Street  was  the  only  one  open  to  the  Hudson  River. 

The  Getty  House,  the  principal  hotel,  was  erected  in  1851 
by  Robert  P.  Getty,  facing  Getty  Square,  and  still  stands.  The 
hotel  was  run  by  maaay  managers,  one  of  them  being  the  late 
William  H.  Doty,  many  years  City  Clerk,  and  recently,  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  president  of  the  First  National  Bank.  In 
this  hotel,  in  the  early  period,  was  the  only  public  assembly 
hall  (the  Lyceum)  for  many  years. 

The  first  volunteer  fire  engine  company,  "  Protection,"  was 
organized  in  1852,  preceding  but  ai  short  time  Hope  Hook  and 
Ladder  and  Lady  Washington  Engine  Company. 

Passengers  on  the  Hudson  River  Railroad  from  Yonkers  were 
landed  in  Chamber  Street,  New  York  city;  fare  from  Yonkers 
was  twenty-five  cents  each  way. 

There  were  in  the  early  fifties  five  churches  in  the  village. 

The  burning  of  the  steamboat  Henry  Clay,  off  Yonkers, 
occurred  in  1852.  Many  persons  perished,  and  their  charred 
remains  were  found  strewn  all  along  the  shore  south  of  where 
Vark  Street  now  is. 

The  first  newspaper  published  in  the  town  was  the  Yonkers 
Herald,  established  in  1852;  later  came  the  Yonkers  Examiner, 
published  by  Mathew  F.  Rowe,  which  name  after  wae  changed 
to  The  Statesman;  the  Daily  Statesman  succeeded,  and  was 
owned  by  John  W.  Oliver  and  others ;  The  Statesman  is  still  an 
able  and  influential  newspaper,  conducted  by  Edward  Oliver, 
son  of  John  W.  Oliver,  who  died  February  9,  1908,  in  the  93d 
year  of  his  age.     Mr.  Rowe  resides  in  Ossining. 

James  Norwell,  a  veteran  newspaperman,  recently  published 
his  recollections  of  events  since  his  coming  to  Yonkers  in  1852, 
in  which  he  says:  "  I  learned  the  type-setting  trade  when  a 
boy.  In  1852  I  came  to  Yonkers  and  for  a  time  was  employed 
on  the  Yonkers  Herald,  which  was  then  started  by  Thomas 
Smith." 

"  The  first  newspaper  printed  and  published  in  Yonkers  was 
the  Herald.  It  was  a  four-page  sheet  and  was  printed  on  a 
hand   press.     It   was   issued   every   Saturday   morning   at   two 


232  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

cents  a  copy.  Thomas  Smith  was  the  editor  and  proprietor. 
He  was  a  man  of  forcible  character.  He  was  many  times 
elected  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  became  a  political  power 
and  wielded  considerable  influence.  In  fact  he  was  the  '  boss.' 
He  was  a  leading  spirit  in  the  Board  of  Education,  was  one  of 
the  organizers  of  the  Fire  Department,  being  a  member  of 
Protection  Engine,  etc.,  etc.  He  was  elected  as  a  member  of 
the  Board  of  Village  Trustees,  and  held  the  office  for  some 
time." 

The  first  daily  newspaper  was  sta^rted  in  this  city  in  1864, 
called  the  Yonkers  Daily  Herald,  by  Thomas  Smith,  editor  and 
proprietor. 

The  first  directory  of  the  city,  in  1858,  was  published  also 
by  Mr.  Smith. 

To-day,  Yonkers  has  three  daily  newspapers,  and  most  excel- 
lent ones  they  are,  the  Statesman,  the  Yonkers  Herald  and  the 
Daily  Neivs.  The  Yonkers  Gazette,  that  succeeded  the  weekly 
edition  of  the  first  Yonkers  Hearld,  is  still  published  by  Mr.  Dan. 
Nolan. 

Hat  manufacturing  was,  in  the  early  fifties,  the  mainstay 
of  the  town,  giving  employment  to  a  greater  portion  of  its 
inhabitants.  Three  of  the  town's  most  active  citizens,  Anson 
Baldwin,  Ethan  Flagg  and  John  T.  Waring,  were  at  the  head 
of  this  industry,  and  the  Yonkers  factories  were  the  best  knowTi 
hat  manufactories  in  this  country,  if  not  in  the  world. 

The  first  horse  car  line  was  organized  in  1858  and  ran  from 
Getty  Square  to  North  and  South  Yonkers,  the  fare  either  way 
being  five  cents.  The  whole  outfit  was  crude;  wooden  rails 
capped  with  bands  of  iron  were  used.  The  venture  did  not 
prove  a  paying  one,  and  therefore  did  not  last  long. 

The  local  Common  Council,  on  February  8,  1886,  granted  the 
first  franchise  to  operate  trolley  cars  in  Yonkers,  and  the  first 
electric  cars  were  run  on  the  Riverdale  Avenue  line. 

Yonkers  had  at  one  time  a  lady  Postmistress,  Mrs.  Esther  A. 
Bashford,  widow  of  former  Postmaster,  in  1850.  The  post- 
office  was  on  lower  Dock  Street. 

Bailey  Hobbs,  who  was  Town  Assessor  and  later  City  Treas- 
urer, came  to  Yonkers  January  2,  1840,  when,  as  he  often  said, 
all  of  Yonkers  was  owned  by  one  man— Lemuel  Wells.  Mr. 
Hobbs  died  in  1911,  in  the  93rd  year  of  his  age,  at  the  time  of 
his  death  he  was  not  only  the  oldest  man  in  Yonkers,  in  length 
of  life,  but  also  in  length  of  residence  here. 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  233 

Town  elections  were  held  in  the  spring,  each  year,  at  one 
polling  place,  not  far  from  Getty  Square,  or  on  Dock  Street, 
near  the  river.  The  candidate  who  could  afford  to  hire  carry- 
alls to  bring  voters  in  from  the  rural  districts  was  the  one  pretty 
sure  to  win  out  in  the  election. 

Warburton  Avenue,  now  one  of  the  principal  residential 
streets,  was  named  in  honor  of  William  Warburton  Scrugham, 
a  resident  of  the  town,  and  the  first  resident  of  the  County  to 
be  elected  to  the  Supreme  Court  bench. 

Yonkers  was  incorporated  as  a  village  on  April  12,  1855,  as 
the  result  of  persistent  efforts  on  part  of  progressive  residents, 
among  whom  were  William  Radford,  James  C.  Bell,  Robert  P. 
Getty,  Thomas  Smith,  W.  W.  Woodworth,  John  T.  Waring  and 
others.  Mr.  Radford  was  the  first  village  President,  and  was 
succeeded  in  their  turn  by  Mr.  Woodworth,  Mr.  Getty,  Mr. 
Waring  and  Mr.  Bell,  etc. 

When  the  Wells  estate,  embracing  all  Yonkers  in  fact,  was 
sold,  Mr.  Ludlow  bought  a  large  portion  of  the  southern  section 
of  the  estate  (now  known  as  Ludlow  in  Yonkers),  and  Edward 
F.  Shonnard  secured  many  acres  in  the  northern  section. 
Both  Mr.  Ludlow  and  Mr.  Shonnard  opposed  incorporation; 
therefore  the  village  boundaries  were  confined  to  the  section 
between  the  Ludlow  and  Shonnard  properties. 

Presidents  of  the  Village  of  Yonkers  served  in  the  following 
order :  William  Radford,  1855-6 ;  AVilliam  W.  Woodworth,  1857- 
58;  Robert  P.  Getty,  1859;  Thomas  F.  Morris,  1860;  John  T. 
Waring,  1861-62 ;  Everett  Clapp,  1863-64 ;  James  C.  Bell,  1865- 
66 ;  Justus  Lawrence,  1867-68 ;  Isaac  H.  Knox,  1869-70 ;  Robert 
P.  Getty,  1871  to  June,  1872,  date  of  Yonkers  becoming  a  city. 

The  term  of  office  of  all  village  officials  expired  the  first 
Tuesday  after  the  first  city  election,  in  1872. 

Robert  P.  Getty,  who  besides  being  Village  President,  was 
City  Treasurer  at  the  time  of  his  death  on  March  28,  1902.  He 
was  born  May  1,  1811. 

Yonkers  promptly  fulfilled  all  obligations  growing  out  of 
demands  made  upon  it  by  the  Civil  War.  More  than  was 
required  was  furnished  of  its  able-bodied  men  as  volunteers. 

In  1866  the  local  police  system  was  changed,  from  "  the  town 
constable  sort,"  to  a  uniformed  metropolitan  police  force.  The 
new  order  of  things  began  August  10,  1866.  As  Westchester 
County  was  a  part,  with  New  York  city,  of  the  metropolitan 
police  district,   an   application,   approved  by  the  Westchester 


234  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

County  Board  of  Supervisors,  caused  the  required  number  of 
experienced  New  York  police  officers  to  be  assigned  to  Yonkers. 
Later  the  New  York  policemen  were  withdrawn,  and  new  police- 
men were  appointed  to  fill  their  places,  continuing  a  most  efficient 
police  system. 

We  remember  when  Benjamin  Starr  was  Chief  and  the  whole 
local  police  force,  and  when,  later,  Daniel  Blauvelt  commanded 
the  first  "uniformed  force"  (four  men),  with  headquarters  at 
No.  3  Main  street. 

The  city  of  Yonkers  was  erected  from  the  town  of  Yonkers 
(excepting  a  section  in  the  southern  portion  known  as  Kings- 
bridge,  embracing  Mosholu  and  South  Yonkers)  by  an  act  of 
the  State  Legislature,  passed  June  1,  1872. 

That  section  of  the  town  known  as  Kingsbridge,  and  imme- 
diate vicinity,  whose  residents  objected  to  being  made  a  part 
of  the  new  city  of  Yonkers,  w^as  created  a  town  by  itself  on 
December  12,  1872,  by  act  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors.  Later, 
by  act  of  the  Legislature,  Laws  of  1873,  Kingsbridge,  including 
Mosholu  and  South  Yonkers,  was  annexed  to  New  York  city. 

The  first  election  for  city  officers  in  Yonkers  was  held,  as  the 
act  provided,  on  the  third  Tuesday  after  the  approval  of  the 
act  by  the  Governor.  At  present  city  officers  are  chosen  at  fall 
elections,  every  two  years. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  Common  Council  of  the  new  city 
was  held  on  June  25,  1872,  and  organized  by  electing  Ethan 
Flagg  president,  to  preside  in  the  absence  of  Mayor  Courter. 
Members  of  this  Council  were :  First  Ward,  John  Brennan  and 
Eli  Seger,  Democrats;  Second  Ward,  Albert  Keeler  and  William 
Macfarlane,  Republicans;  Third  Ward,  Ethan  Flagg  and  Hyatt 
L.  Garrison,  Republicans;  Fourth  Ward,  Henry  R.  Hicks  and 
Zeb.  H.  Brower,  Republicans.  The  Council  was  Republican, 
with  a  Democratic  Mayor.  Quite  naturally  Democratic  nomi- 
nations were  not  confirmed,  as  the  Mayor  found  when  he  named 
Henry  T.  Smith  for  City  Clerk  and  followed  with  naming  other 
Democrats  for  positions.  William  H.  Doty,  a  most  efficient 
officer,  was  made  clerk,  and  continued  in  the  position  he  held 
under  the  village  government.  Of  members  of  this  Common 
Council  only  Henry  R.  Hicks  is  still  living. 

The  city  water  system  was  ajdopted  in  1873;  in  Ju]y,  1876, 
the  first  water  was  turned  on  from  a  hydrant  in  Getty  Square. 

The  following  named  persons  have  held  the  office  of  Mayor, 
in  the  years  here  given: 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


2o5 


James  C.  Courier  (D.),  from  June,  1872,  to  April,  1874; 
Joseph  Hasten  (D.),  1874-75;  William  A.  Gibson  (R),  1876-77; 
Joseph  Masten  (D.),  1878-79;  Norton  P.  Otis  (R.),  1880-81; 
Dr.  Samuel  Swift  (D.),  1882-83;  William  G.  Stahlnecker  (D.), 
1884-85;  J.  Harvey  Bell  (D.),  1886-87-88-89;  James  Millard 
(R.),  1890-91 ;  James  Weller  (R.),  1892-93;  John  G.  Peene  (R.), 
1894  to  December  1,  1897  (the  Laws  of  1895  made  terms  ter- 
minate Dee.  1);  L.  Sutherland  (R.),  1897  to  Dec.  1,  1902; 
Michael  J.  Walsh  (D.),  1902  to  Dec.  1,  1904;  John  E.  Andrus 
(R.),  1904  to  Dec.  1,  1906;  John  Coyne  (D.),  1906  to  January 
1,  1908  (time  of  termination  of  office  again  changed,  owing  to 
Yonkers  becoming  a  second-class  city)  ;  Dr.  N.  A.  Warren  (R.), 
1908-09;  James  T.  Lennon  (D.),  1910-11-12-13. 

The  population  of  the  town  of  Yonkers  was  in  1830,  1,761 
in  1835,  1,879;  in  1840,  2,968;  in  1845,  2,517;  in  1850,  4,160;  in 
1855,  7,554;  in  1860,  11,848;  in  1865,  12,756;  in  1870,  18,357 
as  a  city  in  1875,  17,232 ;  in  1880,  18,892 ;  in  1890,  32,033 ;  in 
1892,  31,419;  in  1900,  47,930;  in  1905,  61,716;  in  1910,  79,803 

The  population  of  Yonkers,  since  its  incorporation  as  a  city 
by  wards  has  been  as  follows: 

First  Ward,  in  1875,  4,475;  in  1880,  5,149;  in  1890,  8,422 
in  1892,  7,543 ;  in  1900,  6,008 ;  in  1905,  6,878 ;  in  1910,  8,268. 

Second  Ward,  in  1875,  6,230 ;  in  1880,  6,917 ;  in  1890,  12,351 
in  1892,  13,266 ;  in  1900,  5,802 ;  in  1905,  6,643 ;  in  1910,  6,596. 

Third  Ward,  in  1875,  5,587 ;  in  1880,  5,953 ;  in  1890,  10,146 
in  1892,  9,173 ;  in  1900,  4,678 ;  in  1905,  6,426 ;  in  1910,  6,730. 

Fourth  Ward,  in  1875,  940 ;  in  1880,  873 ;  in  1890,  1,114 ;  in 
1892,  1,249;  in  1900,  7,832;  in  1905,  9,999;  in  1910,  11,037. 

Fifth  Ward,  in  1900,  11,542 ;  in  1905,  16,371 ;  in  1910,  12,272. 

Sixth  Ward,  in  1900,  8,345 ;  in  1905,  10,318 ;  in  1910,  12,568. 

Seventh  Ward,  in  1900,  3,724;  in  1905,  4,779;  in  1910,  9,939. 

Eighth  W^ard,  in  1910,  3,661. 

Ninth  Ward,  in  1910,  5,138. 

Tenth  Ward,  in  1910,  3,594. 

Land  valuations  have  increased  according  to  its  growth  in 
the  last  ten  years.  In  1901  the  assessed  valuation,  real  and 
personal  estate,  was  $45,571,064 ;  in  1902,  $48,519,593 ;  in  1903, 
$50,294,072 ;  in  1904,  $50,907,888 ;  in  1905,  $53,732,961 ;  in  1906, 
$68,468,599 ;  in  1907,  $71,201,661 ;  in  1908,  $73,393,808 ;  in  1909, 
$72,972,089;  in  1910,  $81,338,959. 

The  city,  in  1911,  had  within  its  limits  property  valued  at 
$11,000,000  exempt  from  taxation. 


236  ilANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

In  proof  that  it  is  a  progressive  and  up-to-date  city,  mention 
may  be  made  of  the  fact  that  it  has  one  hundred  and  thirty  milea 
of  improved  streets,  about  one  hundred  of  which  are  paved 
either  with  sheet  asphalt,  granite  blocks  or  vitrified  bricks,  etc. 

It  has  five  miles  of  deep  water  front;  36  miles  of  trolley  rail- 
road ;  19  railroad  stations ;  271  passenger  trains  daily ;  two  rail- 
roads, the  New  York  Central  and  Hudson  River,  and  the  Put- 
nam Division  Railroad,  pass  through  the  city. 

The  city's  police  department  is  composed  of  a  chief,  3  cap- 
tains, 13  lieutenants,  15  sergeants,  and  120  patrolmen.  The  city 
is  divided  into  three  precincts  and  one  sub-station. 

Has  a  paid  fire  department,  comprised  of  13  fire  companies, 
auto  fire  engines,  motor  fire  apparatus,  120  men,  and  10  fire 
houses. 

Its  public  schools  are  of  the  best;  in  the  Department  of  Public 
Education  there  are  21  schools  and  370  teachers;  nearly  16,000 
pupils  are  enrolled.  The  parochial  schools  have  an  enrollment 
of  more  than  4,000. 

Hais  one  of  the  handsomest  City  Halls  in  the  State,  just  com- 
pleted, at  a  cost  of  $500,000. 

The  Hospitals,  six  in  number,  are  most  modernly  equipped. 

The  local  Post  Office  gives  employment  to  75  letter-carriers 
and  21  clerks. 

Churches,  of  all  denominations,  to  the  number  of  61. 

Has  five  public  parks  and  playgrounds.  Has  three  public 
baths.     Has  one  hundred  fraternal  societies. 

Large  Library  building  contains  thousands  of  volumes  of 
useful  knowledge. 

As  a  manufacturing  city  it  is  widely  known.  Has  the  largest 
carpet  works  in  the  world;  the  largest  elevator  works  in  the 
world:  the  largest  hat  factory  in  the  world;  the  largest  sugar 
refineries,  with  a  daily  output  of  eleven  thousand  barrels;  a 
laiTge  cooperage  plant  and  extensive  wire  works,  and  many  other 
manufactories. 

One  of  the  most  prominent  of  many  historic  landmarks  in 
this  County  is  the  building  in  the  city  of  Yonkers  known  as 
Manor  Hall,  formerly  known,  in  the  early  period,  as  the  Philipse 
Manor  House,*  and  occupied  during  the  American  Revolution 

*  It  hag  been  claimed  that  this  building  was  erected  in  the  year  1682,  but 
members  of  the  Yonkers  Historical  Society  dispute  this,  and  say  it  waa 
erected  at  a  later  date,  in  172f);  that  it  was  constructed  by  English,  not 
Dutch;  that  the  charter  bestowing  land  ownership  was  not  obtained  until 
after  the  earlier  date. 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  237 

by  Mr.  Frederick  Philipse  (owner  of  the  manor)  and  family, 
and  where  General  Washington  was  ever  a  welcome  guest.  The 
association  of  Washington  with  this  place  adds  materially  to 
general  interest,  influencing  patriotic  citizens  in  these  later  years 
to  inaugurate  a  movement  having  for  its  purpose  the  purchase 
atnd  maintenance  of  building  and  grounds  as  a  reminder  of  the 
historic  past.  The  Manor  House  was  occupied  as  a  private  resi- 
dence until  the  year  1868,  when  it  was  purchased  by  the  village 
of  Yonkers  (from  James  C.  Bell,  at  the  instigation  of  Village 
Trustee  Thomas  Smith)  and  converted  into  a  Village  Hall,  for 
the  housing  of  the  different  local  officials. 

At  the  time  of  proposed  purchase  by  the  village  of  the  old 
Manor  House,  much  opposition  developed ;  it  being  claimed  that 
the  expense  w^as  unnecessary,  as  there  was  no  need  for  such 
a  large  building  for  village  purposes.  Public  spirited  citizens 
insisted  and  the  purchase  was  made.  Time  gave  approval  of 
this  action. 

During  necessary  alterations  to  fit  it  for  purposes  intended, 
hidden  closets  in  the  building  and  underground  passage-ways, 
from  the  house  to  the  Hudson  River,  were  discovered.  In  the 
period  when  occupants  of  dwellings  lived  in  fear  of  attack  from 
roving  bands  of  Indians  it  was  deemed  necessary  to  construct 
underground  passage-ways  as  a  means  of  escape  to  the  river, 
in  case  of  attack.  The  hidden  closets  were  receptacles  of  valu- 
ables put  out  of  the  way  of  those  inclined  to  periodical  inva- 
sions and  depredations. 

Since  Yonkers  became  a  city  the  Manor  House  continued 
to  be  used  as  a  municipal  building.  In  1908  the  city  authori- 
ties yielded  to  the  petitions  of  the  Historical  Society  and  agreed 
to  sell  the  property  that  it  might  pass  into  the  custody  of  the 
State  for  preservation  as  an  historical  relic.  The  new  City 
Hall  was  not  a  fact  until  1911.  The  restoration  of  Manor  Hall 
to  its  former  genuine  Colonial  style  will  be  completed  as  soon  as 
possible,  and  when  all  is  done  the  building,  exterior  and  interior, 
is  expected  to  look  as  it  did  when  it  was  first  built. 

The  price  which  the  city  agreed  to  accept  for  the  property 
was  $50,000,  much  less  than  its  real  value,  as  was  admitted ;  the 
reduction  being  charged  to  worthy  patriotism. 

The  $50,000  necessary  to  secure  forever  the  preservation  of 
Manor  Hall  was  given  as  a  free  gift  by  Mrs.  Eva  Smith  Cochran, 
in  1908.  The  donor  never  lived  to  see  the  Manor  House  formally 
taken  possession  of  by  those  to  whom  she  presented  it.     Mrs. 


238  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

Cochran,  who  was  known  as  Yonkers'  great  benefactress,  owing 
to  her  many  charities  and  philanthropic  works,  ever  reserved 
and  unostentatious,  died  February  3,  1909. 

The  principal  city  officiaLs  in  1911-12-13  were  James  'i\  Len- 
non,  oMayor;  Thomas  F.  Curran,  Corporation  Counsel;  ]\Iax  Co- 
hen, Deputy;  Joseph  F.  O'Brien,  City  Clerk,  John  T.  Geary  and 
Emil  J.  Craft,  Deputies;  Joseph  H.  Beall,  City  Judge;  Joseph 
Miller,  Comptroller,  James  D.  Mclntyre,  Deputy;  Gideon  H. 
Peck,  City  Treasurer,  Ethelbert  B.  Embree,  Deputy;  James  J. 
Fleming,  Commissioner  of  Public  Safety,  Deputy,  George  C. 
Kearns ;  John  A.  Brady,  Commissioner  of  Public  Works ; 
Samuel  L.  Cooper,*  City  Engineer;  Tax  Receiver,  Charles  E. 
Hartshorn,  Jr.;  Health  Officer,  Dr.  William  S.  Coons ;  Super- 
intendent of  Water  Works,  Edward  L.  Peene;  Board  of 
Assessors,  Robert  H.  Neville,  John  J.  Loehr,  Daniel  W.  Car- 
roll and  Frederick  D.  Breithack,  William  H.  Fisher,  Clerk; 
Daniel  Woltf,  Chief  of  Police,  William  H.  Lent,  Hugh  D. 
Brady  and  George  Cooley,  Captains;  James  J.  Mulcahey,  Chief 
of  Fire  Department;  Alfred  Fox,  Commissioner  of  Charities; 
William  H.  Rubien,  President  Civil  Service  Commission ;  J.  Sim* 
Bartley,  Building  Inspector;  William  R.  Stuart,  Bernard  E. 
Reardon,  Oswald  W.  Potter  and  Jacob  Wolff,  Justices  of  the 
Peace. 

The  public  school  sj^stem  of  Yonkers  is  one  of  the  best  in  the 
State.  In  the  city  there  are  twenty-one  school  buildings,  built 
according  to  advanced  ideas  of  school-house  construction ;  and 
property  valued  at  more  than  $2,000,000.  Completed  in  1911, 
is  a  Trades  School,  the  gift  of  the  late  Ervdn  Saunders  who 
was  educated  in  the  Yonkers  public  schools  and  who  realized 
considerable  wealth  as  a  Yonkers  manufacturer.  The  school  is 
a  memorial  to  his  father,  the  late  David  Saunders. 

John  Hobbs,  who  later  became  a  Superintendent  of  Schools 
and  a  member  of  the  Yonkers  Board  of  School  Trustees,  was 
the  first  known  teacher  of  public  school  in  Yonkers.  In  1832 
he  taught  in  the  little  school  house,  a  one-stoiy  building,  on 
the  east  side  of  Broadway,  just  north  of  the  corner  of  Ashburton 
Avenue.  Mr.  Hobbs  lived  many  years  at  the  corner  of  Ash- 
burton and  Palisades  Avenue,  where  he  died. 

The  school  house  on  the  ]\Iile  Square  Road  is  where  the  chil- 
dren of  the  early  fifties  were  in  the  habit  of  attending.     Among 


Comniissioner  Cooper  died  in  1913. 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  239 

its  pupils  were  the  late  Mayor  John  G.  Peene  and  many  others 
who  later  became  prominent  citizens. 

The  school  over  which  JMr.  Hobbs  presided  thirteen  years  was 
removed  to  a  street,  nearer  the  center  of  the  village,  which  was 
given  the  name  of  School  Street  for  its  principal  building ;  this 
school  house  grew  to  fair  proportions  and  for  years  was  the 
village's  educational  mainstay.  The  boys  of  long  ago  will  recall 
Moses  B.  Patterson,  commonly  called  "  Billy,"  who  was  the 
principal  of  this  school  many  years,  and  his  worthy  wife,  who 
was  in  charge  of  the  girls'  department.  The  writer's  memory 
goes  back  to  those  days  when  he  had  "  the  time  of  his  life," 
but  he  did  not  know  it  then.  How  apt  in  our  youth  we  are  to 
neglect  the  opportunities  before  us.  This  school  came  to 
be  known  later  as  No.  2, 

In  1862  was  opened  a  new  public  school  house  on  Ashburton 
Avenue,  between  "Warburton  Avenue  and  Broadway,  and  for 
a  time  there  was  considerable  rivalry  between  the  pupils  of 
No.  2  and  No.  6  as  the  new  school  was  called.  The  latter 
school  later  became  known  as  the  John  W.  Mason  school,  named 
in  honor  of  the  first  president  of  the  Board  of  Education  Dis- 
trict No.  6.  Thomas  Smith,  editor  and  proprietor  of  the 
Yonkers  Herald,  was  at  the  head  of  the  Board  of  Education  in 
District  No.  2. 

At  that  period  the  town  was  divided  into  six  school  districts, 
each  having  a  school  house.  It  lost  one  district  when  the 
southern  section  was  annexed  to  New  York. 

In  1881  the  schools  were  consolidated  and  came  under  the 
direction  of  one  Board  of  Education,  of  which  Duncan  Smith 
was  elected  president.  John  A.  Nichols  was  first  Superin- 
tendent of  schools,  serving  one  year;  Andrew  J.  Rickoff  came 
next  and  served  little  over  a  year;  Charles  E.  Gorton  was 
appointed  to  the  position  on  November  1,  1883,  and  still  con- 
tinues as  Superintendent,  giving  entire  satisfaction.  In  1912-13 
Charles  Philip  Easton  is  President  of  the  Board  of  Education, 
and  John  F.  Brennan  Vice-President ;  positions  held  by  them 
continuously  several  years. 

Miss  Helen  Ring,  a  teacher  in  Public  School  No.  6  left  Yon- 
kers in  1893  and  went  to  Colorado  for  the  benefit  of  her  health. 
Later  she  married  and  her  name  became  Mrs.  Helen  Ring  Rob- 
inson. In  'June,  1913,  she  visited  Yonkers,  when  she  was  a 
State  Senator  of  Colorado,  the  only  woman  Senator  in  this 
country. 


240  MANUAL  AND  L'iVlL  LIST. 

The  Palisade  Boat  Club,  the  Yonkers  Yacht  Club,  the  Yonkers 
Canoe  Club  and  the  Yonkers  Corinthian  Yacht  Club  have  homes 
along  the  water  front  in  this  city. 

Social  and  club  life  is  at  all  times  active;  many  organizations 
in  the  city  contributing  their  share  toward  "  driving  dull  care 
away,"  as  there  are  also  many  societies  devoted  to  more  serious 
pursuits. 

How  many  remember,  when  Manor  Hall  grounds  extended 
to  the  Hudson  River?  When  the  first  steam  railroad  train 
stopped  at  Yonkers?  When  Nepperhan  Creek  was  a  majestic 
river,  and  heavy  freighted  sloops  sailed  along  the  same,  the 
railroad  drawbridge  opening  to  let  them  in?  When  the  popular 
meeting  place  of  residents  Sunday  afternoons  was  the  steam- 
boat dock,  foot  of  Main  Street,  and  remember  "Billy"  Oakley 
who  rang  the  bell?  When  a  freshet,  like  a  flood,  carried  away 
the  Broadway  bridge  and  the  Factory  Street  bridge,  which 
spanned  the  Nepperhan  River?  When  Radford  Hall  was  con- 
sidered a  theatre,  the  only  one  in  town,  and  Mr.  Darby,  "the 
candy  man"  (we  won't  say  "Darby's  ghost"),  ran  regular 
negro  minstrel  shows  there?  When  the  local  militia  company 
"went  to  war"  (30  days),  in  1861,  and  was  given  duty  in  Fort 
McHenry,  near  Baltimore,  Md.  ?  When  Lillinthal's  tobacco  fac- 
tory building,  at  junction  of  Dock  and  Nepperhan  Streets,  was 
used  as  a  barracks  for  out-of-town  soldiers  in  1860?  When  in 
the  same  period  troops  were  lodged  on  "Chicken  Island?" 
When  the  bedstead  factory  building  foot  of  Vark  Street,  was 
also  a  soldiers'  barracks?  When  the  present  Waring 's  Hat 
Manufactory  building,  on  Vark  Street,  was  the  "Star  Armory," 
in  which  was  manufactured  guns,  etc.,  for  the  U.  S.  Army  dur- 
ing the  Civil  War?  When  "Bob"  Buckley  was  the  first  man- 
ager of  the  Getty  House?  When  the  "Lyceum,"  on  Mechanic 
Street,  was  the  only  public  hall  for  society  functions?  When 
the  Town  Pump  in  Getty  Square  was  the  public  water  supply? 
When  Captain  Garrison,  Sr.,  ran  sloops  between  Yonkers  and 
New  York  city?  When  the  local  police  force  consisted  of  one 
Chief  and  a  patrolman?  When  "Valentine's  Lane"  was  "way 
out  of  town?"  When  the  Yonkers  Debating  Society  developed 
local  orators  ?  When  North  Broadway  ran  along  on  the  shore  of 
the  Nepperhan  River,  before  the  building  of  Wheeler's  row,  and 
a  mountain  of  solid  rock  lined  the  east  side  of  that  street? 
When,  in  the  year  1856,  the  date  of  the  organization  of  the 
Republican  party,  and  John  C.  Fremont  ran  for  President,  the 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  241 

only  election  polling  place  in  town  was  in  the  Franklin  House, 
on  lower  Dock  Street?  When  the  village  hall  was  on  Factory 
Street  (now  Palisade  Avenue),  in  building  now  used  as  a  fire 
engine  house? 

When  the  Reformed  Church  was  started  in  the  second  story 
of  a  frame  building  on  south  corner  of  Broadway  and  Main 
Street?  When  the  St.  John's  Episcopal  Church,  the  pioneer 
church  edifice,  was  a  small,  modest  structure,  when  Rev.  Dr. 
A.  B.  Carter  was  rector?  When  St.  Mary's  Church,  an  unas- 
suming edifice  on  St.  Mary's  Street,  had  Rev.  Father  Lynch  for 
pastor?     It  was  then  the  only  Catholic  Church  in  the  town? 

When  an  opportunity  was  had  to  use  Dr.  DeWitt  C.  Kel- 
linger's  liniment,  good  for  all  ailments,  made  right  in  the  town? 
When  Dr.  Kellinger  ran  a  stage  line  between  New  York  and 
Albany? 

When  the  hotels  in  town  were  the  Getty  House,  the  Franklin 
House,  the  Denslow  House,  opposite  the  railroad  station,  the 
Mansion  House  on  South  Broadway,  and  the  Broadway  House, 
on  Broadway  near  Main  Street,  and  later,  when  the  Sherman 
House  was  at  No.  8  Main  Street?  When  the  post-office  was  in 
Post's  store,  corner  of  Broadway  and  Main  Street,  and  later  was 
on  South  Broadway  in  the  "Nesbitt  Row,"  and  then  was  at  No. 
8  Main  Street?  When  the  office  of  the  Yonkers  Herald,  the 
first  newspaper  in  town,  was  at  No.  2  North  Broadway,  near 
corner  of  Main  Street,  and  later  at  No.  3  Main  Street,  in  the  first 
brick  building  erected  on  that  street?  When  the  first  police 
headquarters  was  established  on  Main  Street?  (Dr.  D.  C.  Kel- 
linger's  *'  Mansion  House,"  erected  in  1833,  was  torn  down  in 
first  part  of  April,  1912.) 

When  the  annual  masquerade  ball  of  Lady  Washington  En- 
gine Company  was  the  prominent  local  society  function? 

When  Devoe's  saw-mill  was  located  where  Peene's  wharf  now 
is,  at  the  foot  of  Dock  street?  When,  in  1852,  people  passed  lo 
and  fro  across  the  Hudson  River  on  the  ice,  with  teams  and 
afoot?  When  the  only  semblance  to  a  dock  was  near  what  is 
now  Glen  wood,  and  at  foot  of  Valentine's  Lane. 

Residents  of  Yonkers  had  financial  interest  in  the  first  ele- 
vated railroad  built  in  New  York  city,  an  endless-chain  road,  run- 
ning between  Vestry  and  Watt  streets.  A  venture  that  failed, 
and  proved  disastrous  to  investors. 

The  Mozart  Regiment  of  New  York  city,  which  was  quartered 
in  the  Lillinthal  tobacco  factory  building,  between  Dock  and 


242  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

Nepperhan  streets,  used  as  a  soldiers'  barracks,  left  Yonkers  for 
the  seat  of  war  on  July  -i,  1861. 

The  old  "Mansion  House,"  later  known  as  "Arlington  Inn," 
on  South  Broadway,  was  torn  down  in  April,  1912.  The  build- 
ing was  erected  by  Dr.  DeWitt  C.  Kellenger,  manufacturer  of 
a  well  known  liniment  that  bore  his  name.  At  the  time  the 
Doctor  was  the  owner  of  a  stage  line  running  between  New  York 
and  Albany,  and  the  Mansion  House  was  the  first  stopping  place 
on  the  northward  journey.  The  stages  were  discontinued  in 
1840.  For  many  years  the  hotel  was  continued  up  to  the  time  of 
the  Doctor's  death.  At  one  period  the  Doctor  conducted  the 
first  theatre  in  Yonkers,  established  in  an  annex  of  the  hotel  on 
the  south  side.  After  the  Doctor's  death  the  property  passed 
into  the  hands  of  R.  N.  Judson,  of  Bridgeport,  Conn.,  whose 
heirs  owned  it  recently. 

The  property  in  South  Yonkers,  now  known  as  Van  Cort- 
landt  Park  and  adjacent  property,  had  been  held  by  the  Van 
Cortlandt  family  since  1669.  Acquired  by  a  colonial  grant 
received  by  the  Van  Cortlandts  from  the  English  crown. 

The  Yonkers  Fire  Department  was  organized  in  1853,  a  calam- 
itous fire  in  May  of  that  year,  which  destroyed  property  to 
a  large  amount,  having  shown  the  necessity  of  such  an 
organization. 

Of  the  churches  existing  in  1860,  St.  John's  Episcopal  was 
organized  in  1753;  the  Methodist  Episcopal,  in  1828;  the  Re- 
formed in  1842;  St.  Mary's  Catholic,  in  1848;  the  Mount  Olivet 
(later  Warburton  Avenue)  Baptist,  in  1849;  the  Presbyterian, 
in  1852 ;  the  Unitarian,  in  1853 ;  the  Westminster  Presbyterian, 
in  1858;  the  St.  Paul  Episcopal,  in  1858;  the  Methodist  Con- 
gregational, in  1858. 

District-Attorney  Francis  A.  Winslow  was  elected  chairman 
of  the  Yonkers  Republican  City  Committee  on  March  11,  191  :J. 

President  Wilson,  on  June  21,  1913,  nominated  to  the  Senate 
Thomas  E.  Ewing,  Jr.,  of  Yonkers,  to  be  Commissioner  of 
Patents,  and  latter  was  sworn  into  office  on  August  15,  following. 

This  city  has  a  strong  company  of  New  York  State  National 
Guards. 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


243 


Biographical  Sketches. 


THOMAS  SMITH. 

Thomas  Smith  was  Editor,  Judge, 
President  of  Board  of  Education, 
Deputy  Collector  of  Port  of  New 
York,  Village  Trustee,  President  of 
Board  of  Health,  Police  Commis- 
sioner, ir'resident  Fire  Department 
Association  and  held  various  other 
public  positions. 

Became  a  resident  of  Yonkers  in 
1852,  and  immediately  started  the 
first  newspaper  there,  the  Yonkers 
Herald.  He  also  published  the  first 
Directory  of  the  town,  in  1860,  and 
the  first  daily  newspaper  m  1864. 

Through  his  newspaper  he  urged 
the  incorporation  of  Yonkers  as  a 
village,  and  was  one  of  the  com- 
mittee appointed  to  arrange  for  in- 
corporation effected  in  1855. 

On  the  establishment  of  the  Union 
Free  School  District,  he  was  chosen 
one  of  the  fijst  Trustees,  and  later 
became  president  of  the  Board  of 
Education. 

To  secure  for  the  town  a  proper 
fire  department  the  Firemen's  Asso- 
ciation was  organized  in  1855,  when 
Mr.  Smith  was  elected  the  Associa- 
tion's first  president. 

In  1857  he  was  appointed  Deputy 
Collector  of  the  Port  of  New  York, 
under  Collector  Augustus  Schell,  and 
held  that  office  until  1861,  when  his 
political  party  went  out  of  power. 

In  1860  he  was  a  delegate  to  the 
Democratic  National  Convention, 
held  at  Charleston,  S.  C.  For  nearly 
twenty  years  he  was  a  regular  at- 
tendant as  delegate  to  losal  ana 
State  Conventions. 

At  the  Democratic  State  Conven- 
tion, held  in  Syracuse,  in  1862,  he 
declined  the  nomination  for  Lieuten- 
ant-Governor, saying  that  he  held 
enough  offices  in  his  own  County  to 
take  up  all  the  time  he  could  spare 
from  his  newspaper  business  and 
other  interests. 

While  a  Village  Trustee,  and 
through  the  influence  of  his  news- 
paper he  advocated  the  purchase  of 
Manor  Hall,  to  preserve  it  for  its 
historic  value  and  for  use  as  a  Vil- 
lage Hall.  The  building  was  then 
occupied  as  a  private  residence  by 
Judge  "William  W.  Woodworth  and 
family.  Many  persons  were  opposed 
to  the  purchase,  claiming  that  it  was 
an   unnecessary   extravagance.     Fin- 


ally the  purchase  was  agreed  upon, 
and  Mr.  Smith  was  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  complete  negotiations. 
Time  has  proven  how  judicious  this 
purchase  was. 

He  held  the  office  of  Justice  of  the 
Peace  and  Police  Justice  for  sixteen 
years,  the  two  offices  being  com- 
bined. 

Also  ser%-ed  as  president  of  the 
Town  Health  Board,  as  a  Police 
Commissioner,  and  in  several  other 
public  official  positions. 

He  was  closely  identified  with 
local  and  county  public  affairs;  a 
recognized  power,  owing  to  his  abil- 
ity as  an  editor  and  an  orator,  from 
1852  to  time  of  his  death. 

(See  biography  in  volume  one, 
page  262.) 

He  was  born  in  1816,  a  son  of 
James  and  Mary  Smith,  in  New  York 
City;  of  Scotch  descent.  Married 
Miss  Amanda  Smith,  a  daughter  of 
Caleb  L.  Smith,  M.  D.,  and  not  re- 
lated; of  this  union  there  were  thir- 
teen children,  of  whom  six  survive: 
James  H.,  Henry  T.,  Augustine, 
Amelia,  Belle,  and  Lillie.  Emma 
A.,  who  followed  Henry  T.,  died 
January  1,   1913,  aged  58  years. 

Mr.  Smith  died  in  August,  1874. 

JOHN   BEENNAN. 

John  Brennan,  former  Alderman 
of  Yonkers,  etc.,  was  born  in 
Ireland,  in  September,  1823,  and 
came  to  this  country  in  1852;  for  a 
time  he  resided  in  New  York  city, 
and  later  went  to  Boston  to  reside, 
coming  to   Yonkers  in  March,   1868. 

He  had  not  resided  long  in  Yonkers 
before  his  ability  as  a  conservative 
business  man  was  recognized.  He 
gained  the  confidence  and  respect  of 
his  neighbors  not  by  outward  show 
or  by  proclaiming  his  good  qualities 
from  the  house-tops,  for  he  was  a 
silent  man;  the  minding  of  his  own 
business  well,  attracted  attention  to 
him. 

When  Yonkers  became  a  city,  in 
1872,  Mr.  Brennan  was  elected  one 
of  the  first  Aldermen,  from  the  First 
Ward,  and  was  one  of  only  two 
Democratic  Aldermen  elected  in  the 
city,  though  the  Mayor  elected  was 
a  Democrat. 

Mr.  Brennan  later  held  an  impor- 
tant position  in  the  Department  of 


244 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


Public  Works  in  the  city  of  Yonkers. 

He  was  a  member  of  several  socie- 
ties   and    fraternal    organizations. 

He  died  at  his  home  on  Riverdale 
avenue,  Yonkers,  on  April  25,   1903. 

Two  children  survive  him,  John  F. 
Brennan,  lawj-er,  and  Emma  M. 
Brennan,  teacher  in  public  schools; 
both  reside  in  Yonkers.  Another 
daughter,  Mary  L.,  who  married 
Joseph  F.  Daly,  the  well  known  law- 
yer of  Yonkers,  died  in  1902,  hus- 
band and  wife  dying  on  the  same 
day,  within  a  few  minutes  of  each 
other. 

Joseph  Russell  Daly,  a  grandson, 
aged  25  years,  died  December  4, 
1911.  , 

JAMES  T.  LENNON. 

James  Thomas  Lennon,  Mayor  of 
Yonkers,  former  Receiver  of  Taxes, 
City  Comptroller,  etc.,  was  born  in 
Yonkers  on  April  6,  1869,  a  son  of 
John  and  Ellen    (Kiely)   Lennon. 

He  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  city,  and  re- 
ceived more  particularly  a  business 
training.  On  leaving  school  he  se- 
cured employment  in  a  local  drug  es- 
tablishment; here  he  was  soon  able 
to  master  the  science  of  drugs  sufl&- 
ciently  to  be  considered  a  safe  com- 
pounder. He  graduated  from  the 
School  of  Pharmacy  and  later  be- 
came the  proprietor  of  one  of  the 
principal  drug  stores  in  the  city. 

Like  many  other  bright  men,  Mr. 
Lennon  took  kindly  to  politics  when 
he  was  quite  young;  but  not  in  a 
way  to  get  prescriptions  mixed ;  he 
considered  business  first  and  enjoyed 
the  game  of  politics  as  a  relaxation 
in  off  hours.  It  is  quite  singular 
that  the  three  young  men  who  to- 
gether served  their  apprenticeship 
in  that  particular  drug  establish- 
ment, all  later  became  prominent  in 
politics — two  were  Coroners  of  the 
county  and  Mr.  Lennon  went  from 
one  grade  to  another  in  city  offices 
until  he  reached  the  high  rung  as 
Mayor  of  his   native   city. 

He  has  been  several  times  a  can- 
didate for  office  before  the  people, 
and  he  has  the  distinction  of  never 
hrving  been  defeated  for  an  elective 
office.  He  never  ran  for  office  out- 
side of  his  home  city;  he  prefers  to 
remain  where  he  is  known  best,  con- 
fident that  creditable  public  service 


will  be  duly  appreciated  and  amply 
rewarded  by  his  neighbors,  of  all 
parties. 

Mayor  Lennon  has  always  stood 
high  with  the  Democratic  party,  of 
which  he  has  been  an  active  and  in- 
fluential member,  ever  since  he  was 
a  voter  as  may  be  inferred  by  the 
expressions  of  confidence  he  has  re- 
ceived in  the  way  of  nominations  for 
important  positions.  For  many 
years  he  has  been  chairman  of  the 
Democratic  General  Committee  of 
Yonkers. 

Mr.  Lennon  served  as  Receiver  of 
Taxes  in  1902-3,  and  again  in  1906- 
7. 

In  1907  he  was  the  only  Demo- 
cratic nominee  on  the  city  general 
ticket  elected,  when  he  was  chosen 
by  a  decisive  majority  as  City  Comp- 
troller; he  served  in  this  position 
during  the  years  1908-9.  As  Comp- 
troller he  introduced  many  needed 
reforms  and  became  known  as  "the 
watch-dog  of  city  monies. ' ' 

His  faithful  services  in  latter  of- 
fice suggested  his  nomination  and 
election  as  Mayor  in  1909.  He 
served  through  the  years  1910  and 
1911, 

He  is  always  found  promptly  at 
his  post  in  the  discharge  of  his  offi- 
cial duties,  and  is  singularly  efficient 
in  the  dispatch  of  public  business. 
He  is  not  a  public  speaker,  but  he 
is  an  ideal  listener,  preferring 
others  to  do  the  talking  while  he 
thinks.  i^riends  compare  his  dis- 
position to  that  of  the  late  Presi- 
dent Grant — though  he  does  not  have 
the  smoking  habit  so  pronounced. 
He  never  puts  on  any  airs  of  as- 
sumed dignity,  but  is  sociable,  pleas- 
sant,  setting  all  who  approach  him 
at  the  most  perfect  ease. 

In  the  prompt,  intelligent  and  sat- 
isfactory discharge  of  the  duties  of 
Mayor,  he  has  displayed  his  marked 
executive  talent.  Under  his  adminis- 
tration numerous  reforms  and  im- 
provements have  been  inaugurated 
until  the  business  matters  of  the 
city  have  been  reduced  to  the  same 
thorough  system  which  ever  char- 
acterizes the  prudent  management  of 
private  affairs. 

In  1911  Mayor  Lennon  was  a  can- 
didate for  re-election  against  the 
strongest  candidate  the  opposition 
could  put  up.     Lennon  won. 

In  April,  1912,  he  was  chosen  by 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


245 


the  Democratic  State  Convention  as 
a  delegate  to  the  Democratic  Nation- 
al Convention,  to  be  held  in  Balti- 
more, Md. 

Mayor  Lennon  is  a  member  of 
various  fraternal  and  social  organiza- 
tions: the  City  Club,  the  Elks, 
Knights  of  Columbus,  Catholic 
Benevolent  Legion,  Foresters,  Royal 
Arcanum,  Eed  Men,  Loyal  Order  of 
Moose. 

Mayor  Lennon  was  married  on 
September  28,  1893,  to  Miss  Wini- 
fred E.  Butler,  daughter  of  Edward 
Butler  of  Yonkers.  To  them  was 
born  nine  children;  all  are  living; 
viz.:  Helen,  17  years  old;  James,  15 
years;  Winifred,  13  years;  Marion, 
10  years;  Agnes,  eight  years; 
Frances,  six  years;  Albert,  five 
years;  Irene,  three  years,  and  Ed- 
mund, aged  14  months. 

The  Mayor  is  ever  referring  with 
just  pride  to  his  large  brood  of 
youngsters,  and  remarks  that  they 
all  turn  out  to  help  him  when  he 
runs  for  ofl&ce.  President  Roosevelt 
congratulated  the  Mayor  upon  his 
fine  showing,  remarking  that  it 
might  come  to  pass  that  "the  family 
vote"  would  secure  him  any  office, 
without  making  appeal  to  outsiders. 

In  1909  Mr.  Lennon 's  opponent 
for  Mayoralty  was  a  bachelor;  is 
it  strange  that  Mr.  Lennon  won? 
In  1911  his  opponent  could  not  show 
so  large  a  family  following;  again 
Lennon  won. 


JOHN  F.  BRENNAN. 

John  Francis  Brennan,  lawyer, 
Vice-President  State  Bar  Associa- 
tion, former  President  Westchester 
County  Bar  Association,  Vice-Presi- 
dent of  Board  of  Education,  Com- 
missioner, Bar  Examiner,  etc.,  was 
born  in  the  city  of  New  York,  on 
December  3,  1853,  a  son  of  John  and 
Margaret  (Russell)  Brennan.  When 
he  was  but  an  infant  Mr.  Brennan 's 
parents  removed  to  Yonkers,  whre  he 
has  continued  to  reside.  His  father 
was  ever  active  in  the  early  develop- 
ment of  Yonkers,  and  when  it  be- 
came a  city  he  was  one  of  the  first 
elected  Alderman,  representing  the 
first  ward.  Like  the  father,  the  son 
was  destined  to  become  a  useful  citi- 
zen. 

John,  Jr.,  received  his  preparatory 


education  in  the  public  schools  of 
Yonkers,  and  graduated  with  special 
honors  from  Manhattan   College. 

As  a  lad  John  was  ambitious;  this 
fact  being  recognized,  his  father,  a 
plain  man  possessed  of  uncommon 
good  sense,  agreed  that  the  boy  be 
allowed  to  foUoAV  his  own  inclina- 
tions relative  to  choosing  a  trade  or 
a  proiession;  accordingly  John  de- 
cided to  become  a  lawyer.  He  dili- 
gently devoted  his  time  to  study,  to 
the  accumulation  or  general  knowl- 
edge, and  particularly  that  pertain- 
ing to  law.  A  good  student  fre- 
quently makes  a  good  lawyer,  it  has 
been  said.  in  this  particular  in- 
stance the  saying  has  proven  true, 
the  good  student  has  made  good  as  a 
lawyer,  as  people  who  know  John 
will  agree. 

;\[r.  Brennan  was  admitted  to  prac- 
tice at  the  bar  in  May,  1877,  before 
Justice  Barnard,  sitting  in  Pough- 
keepsie,  and  almost  immediately  took 
a  prominent  rank  in  his  profession. 

Politically  speaking,  Mr.  Brennan 
is  a  Democrat,  and  he  is  proud  of  it. 
His  extensive  law  practice,  occupy- 
ing his  time  fully,  prevents  his  ac- 
tive participation  in  politics,  other 
than  as  an  advisor.  As  evidence  of 
his  readiness  to  assist  his  party  in 
times  of  emergency,  instances  may 
be  referred  to;  two  are  here  recalled, 
in  a  year  when  sure  defeat  looked 
the  party  in  the  face,  Mr.  Brennan 's 
name  was  put  upon  the  Democratic 
ticket  as  the  candidate  for  District- 
Attorney.  Though  defeated  his  run- 
ning had  the  good  effect  of  adver- 
tising his  good  qualities,  admitted 
to  surpass  the  bad,  ana  of  proving 
to  him  that  he  is  popular  with  the 
people,  as  he  ran  in  advance  of  his 
ticket  generally.  Again,  his  good 
nature  was  imposed  upon,  when  in 
1907  he  was  made  to  accept  the 
Democratic  nomination  for  Justice 
of  the  Supreme  Court  in  the  recently 
created  Ninth  Judicial  District, 
which,  it  was  generally  estimated  at 
the  time,  would  give  a  normal  Re- 
publican majority  of  about  15,000. 
Though  defeated,  after  running 
ahead  of  his  ticket,  the  election 
justly  afforded  Mr.  Brennan  con- 
siderable satisfaction,  especially  as 
he  had  the  opportunity  of  learning 
what  his  immediate  neighbors  think 
of  him  as  a  man  and  as  a  citizen; 
in   his  home  city  of  Yonkers,  which 


2-itJ 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


gave  majorities  to  other  Republican 
candidates,  Mr.  Breuuan,  DLinocrat, 
received  a  majority  of  several  thou- 
sand, and  the  largest  majority  ever 
given  a  candidate  for  public  office  in 
that  city. 

In  1892  Mr.  Brennan  was  ap- 
pointed by  the  Supreme  Court  as  u, 
Bar  Examiner,  which  responsible  po- 
sition he   held   several  years. 

He  was  appointed  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Education,  city  of  Yon- 
kers,  in  1892,  and  at  this  time  con- 
tinues to  hold  this  office,  finishing 
his  nineteenth  year  as  a  Supervisor 
of  Public  Instruction.  He  is  Vice- 
President  of  the  Board. 

He  served  as  President  of  the 
Westchester  County  Bar  Association 
in  the  years  1905  and  1906;  two 
years,  the  full  time  any  member  can 
serve,  according  to  ' '  the  unwritten 
law." 

Is  one  of  the  original  trustees  of 
the  County  ijaw  Library,  appointed 
by  Governor  Hughes. 

He  was  elected  Vice-President  of 
the  New  York  State  Bar  Association 
in  1910. 

He  has  served  for  some  time  and 
is  now  the  President  of  the  Yonkers 
Public  Library. 

He  has  acted  frequently  as  Com- 
missioner or  Referee,  in  important 
matters,  by  appointment  of  the  Su- 
preme  Court. 

Is  senior  member  of  the  law  firm 
of  Brennan  &.  Curran  of  Yonkers. 

Is  a  member  of  several  organiza- 
tions, fraternal  ana  social;  as  many 
as  can  be  properly  attended  by  a 
very  busy  man.  For  recreation  he 
makes  yearly  trips  to  Europe,  where 
he  spends  about  two  months  during 
the  summer  vacation  season,  between 
Court  terms. 

Mr.  Brennan  was  married  on  April 
24,  1889,  to  Miss  Madge  Tiernan, 
daughter  of  Hugh  Tiernan,  of  Dobbs 
Ferry,  N.  Y.     There  are  no  children. 


JAMES  M.  HUNT. 

James  Monroe  Hunt,  former 
Corporation  Counsel  of  Yonkers,  for- 
mer T'ounscl  to  the  Board  of  Super- 
visors, former  Counsel  to  the  Bronx 
Valley  Sewer  Commission,  etc.,  was 
born  in  Clarence,  Erie  County,  N. 
Y.,  on  April  6,  1858,  a  son  of  Rev. 


Harrison  P.  and  Caroline  (Holmes) 
Hunt.  (See  biography,  page  260, 
vol.  1.) 

Mr.  Hunt  s  legal  practice  has  been 
extensive  and  varied,  and,  in  some 
way,  in  recent  years  he  has  been  con- 
nected with  much  of  the  important 
litigation  in  the  County. 

In  1896  he  was  counsel  for  Emmet 
in  the  contest  before  the  Courts,  be- 
tween Emmet  and  Ennis,  for  the  Re- 
publican nomination  for  Member  of 
Assembly,  mentioned  elsewhere  in 
this  volume.  His  energetic  work  in 
conducting  the  several  proceedings, 
getting  a  decision  from  a  Supreme 
Court  Justice,  two  decisions  from  the 
Appellate  Division  and  one  from  the 
Court  of  Appeals,  all  in  one  week, 
led  Supreme  Court  Justice  Keogh  to 
later  remark  to  him,  ' '  Mr.  Hunt,  if 
you  hear  people  boast  about  speed 
in  legal  procedure,  you  can  fold  your 
arms,  and  say,  I  beat  that,  for  your 
record  in  that  case  (the  Emmet-En- 
nis),  can  never  be  equalled." 

When  the  City  of  Yonkers  became 
a  city  of  the  second  class,  and  the 
then  City  Administration  decided 
that,  under  the  law  governing,  each 
Ward  was  entitled  to  but  one  Alder- 
man, and  one  of  the  two  from  each 
Ward  then  serving  must  retire  from 
office,  Mr.  Hunt  was  retained  on  be- 
half of  the  Aldermen  that  were  to 
be  ousted.  The  contest  was  carried 
up  to  the  Court  of  Appeals,  and  re- 
sulted in  a  victory  for  Mr.  Hunt. 

In  1907  Mr.  Hunt  was  attorney 
for  the  plaintiff  in  the  case  of  Duell 
against  the  Comptroller  of  the  State 
of  New  York;  this  case  grew  out  of 
the  attempt  of  State  Comptroller 
Martin  J.  Glynn  to  appoint  .John  J. 
Sullivan,  of  Yonkers,  as  Transfer 
Tax  Clerk  in  the  office  of  the  Surro- 
gate in  this  County,  without  first  re- 
ceiving a  recommendation  of  the  Sur- 
rogate, as  it  was  contended  the  law 
required.  Surrogate  Millard  had 
recommended  to  the  Comptroller  the 
appointment  of  William  C.  Duell,  of 
Tarrytown,  as  such  Clerk;  this  re- 
commendation was  ignored;  then  Mr. 
Hunt,  as  attorney,  was  called  in. 
The  case  was  carried  to  the  Court  of 
Appeals,  and  that  Court  decided,  in 
accordance  with  Mr.  Hunt's  conten- 
tion, that  the  State  Comptroller 
must  appoint  such  Clerk  only  on 
recommendation  of  the  Surrogate  of 
Westchester   County.      Mr.    Sullivan 


THOMAS  SMITH 


'^'-'^   .Jj'j', 


JOHN  BRENNAN 


JAMES  T.  LENNON 


JOHN  F.  BRENNAN 


JAMES  M.  HUNT 


THOMAS  F.  CURRAN 


GIDEON  H.  PECK 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


247 


retired,  and  Mr.  Duell  is  the  present 
Transfer  Tax  Clerk. 

In  the  year  1910,  when  the  City 
Administration  of  Yonkers  decided 
that  Chief  of  Police  Daniel  Wolff 
was  holding  his  office  illegally,  rela- 
tive to  the  manner  of  his  appoint- 
ment, and  the  Chief  in  accordance 
with  such  decision,  retired  from  of- 
fice, Mr.  Hunt  was  retained  to  se- 
cure his  reinstatement.  After  a  hard 
fought  battle,  through  the  Courts, 
Mr.  Hunt  won,  and  the  present  Chief 
of  Police  in  that  city  is  Mr.  Wolff. 

Mr.  Hunt  was  Counsel  for  former 
Mayor  Leslie  Sutherland,  who  had 
just  retired  from  the  office  of 
County  Clerk,  in  the  proceedings 
brought  by  the  Comptroller  of  the 
State  to  recover  from  Mr.  Suther- 
land the  sum  of  $60,000  claimed  to 
be  over  charges  collected  by  Suther- 
land while  he  was  County  Clerk;  a 
8um  it  was  claimed  Sutherland  was 
not  entitled  to,  and  which  the  State 
Comptroller  was  endeavoring  to  re- 
cover. The  case  is  still  being  con- 
sidered by  the  Courts. 

Mr.  Hunt  was  especially  honored 
in  being  selected  to  take  the  lead- 
ing part,  on  the  opposing  side  in 
the  famous  debate,  which  took  place 
in  the  Yonkers  armory  in  May,  1911, 
on  the  question  of  annexing  Yonkers 
to  New  Y^ork  city;  a  bill  was  then 
pending  in  the  State  Legislature  to 
effect  this  annexation.  Mr.  Hunt 
had  for  his  opponent  the  well  known 
New  York  city  lawyer,  Samuel  Un- 
termyer,  who  was  also  a  prominent 
resident  of  Yonkers.  Both  lawyers 
justly  renowned  for  their  brilliancy 
in  oratory,  were  at  their  best,  and 
the  debate  proved  a  great  treat  for 
those  present  in  the  crowded  assem- 
bly hall.  Former  Mayor  J.  Harvey 
Bell  presided. 

In  1905  Mr.  Hunt  received  the  un- 
solicited appointment  as  Counsel  to 
the  Bronx  Valley  Sewer  Commission, 
to  which  he  gave  his  undivided  at- 
tention, to  the  expense  of  other  legal 
practice.  His  task  as  such  Counsel 
was  no  easy  one;  the  act  creating 
the  Bronx  Valley  Sewer  Commission 
was  bitterly  contested  upon  the 
ground  that  it  was  unconstitutional 
ar.d  in  view  of  the  fact  that  no 
sewer  had  ever  been  constructed  in 
the  State  of  New  York  through  dif- 
ferent municipalities,  the  questions 
raised  in  regard  to  the  constitution- 


ality of  the  act  were  not  only  im- 
portant but  presented  new  questions 
of  law  never  before  passed  upon  by 
the  Courts  of  this  State. 

Upon  Mr.  Hunt  fell  the  burden  of 
the  contest  in  supporting  the  consti- 
tutionality of  the  original  act.  He 
succeeded  in  obtaining  from  Judge 
Keogh  a  decision  that  the  act  was 
constitutional  and  obtained  a  unani- 
mous decision  of  the  Appellate  Di- 
vision affirming  Judge  J\.eogh's  de- 
cision and  finally  secured  the  unan- 
imous decision  of  the  Court  of  Ap- 
peals sustaining  the  constitutionality 
of  the  act. 

Mr.  Hunt  is  a  member  of  the 
State  Bar  Association,  of  the  New 
York  City  Bar  Association  and  of 
the  Westchester  County  Bar  Associa- 
tion; a  member  of  the  St.  Andrews 
Golf  Club,  the  oldest  golf  club  in 
America;  a  member  of  the  New  York 
Republican  «^lub;  a  member  of  the 
Alpha  Delta  Phi  Club;  of  the  Bear 
Lake  Fish  and  Game  Club  of  Can- 
ada, with  which  club  he  has  gone 
hunting  every  season  for  the  past 
twelve  years;  is  a  member  of  the 
Finance  Committee  of  the  Board  of 
American  Baptist  Home  Mission  So- 
ciety, and  a  Trustee  of  the  Warbur- 
ton  Avenue  Baptist  Church  of  Yon- 
kers. 

THOMAS  F.  CURRAN. 

Thomas  Francis  Curran,  lawyer, 
Corporation  Attorney  of  Yonkers, 
Commissioner,  etc.,  was  born  on  No- 
vember 24,  1876,  in  Yonkers,  a  son 
of  Patrick  and  Margaret  (McGrath) 
Curran. 

Mr.  Curran,  though  yet  a  young 
man,  holds  a  most  responsible  posi- 
tion in  the  public  service.  That  he 
has  held  it  several  years  is  testi- 
mony sufficient  that  he  has  proven  an 
efficient  public  servant.  When  he 
was  first  appointed  as  legal  counsel 
of  Yonkers,  with  its  70,000  inhabi- 
tants, he  had  just  passed  his  twenty- 
ninth  birthday,  and  had  the  distinc- 
tion of  being  one  of  the  youngest 
(and  he  was  claimed  to  be  the 
youngest)  men  ever  holding  such  po- 
sition in  this  State. 

Mr.  Curran  may  truly  be  termed  a 
self-made  man,  having,  by  his  own 
energy  and  perseverance,  worked  his 
way  to  the  present  prominent  posi- 
tion he  occupies  in  the  legal  frater- 
nity, without  the  advantage  of  a  col- 


248 


JklANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


legiate  eJueation,  which  many  of  our 
public  meu  have  had.  He  had  a  good 
common  school  education,  and 
though  "  he  went  to  work  early," 
he  did  not  forget  that  education  was 
an  important  essential  to  a  person's 
success.  He  has  by  close  application 
and  untiring  energy  fitted  himself 
for  the  duties  that  present  them- 
selves, far  better  than  most  men 
upon  whom  a  small  fortune  has  been 
spent  in  academical  training.  Few 
men  ever  started  to  fight  life's  bat- 
tles at  an  earlier  age,  and  few  have 
achieved  the  same  success  within 
such  a  short  period. 

He  began  the  study  of  law  with 
John  F,  Brennan,  in  Yonkers,  the 
able  lawyer,  with  whom  he  is  now  as- 
sociated in  partnership,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Brennan  dfc  Curran. 

Mr.  Curran  was  in  1895  admitted 
to  practice.  He  found  plenty  of 
clients  awaiting  him  in  his  native 
town.  As  his  business  increased  he 
found  numbered  in  his  list  clients 
representing  all  sections  of  the 
County,  and  even  from  the  greater 
city  adjoining. 

Few  men  are  more  popular  than 
"  Tom  "  Curran;  in  the  profession 
or  out  of  it,  he  is  ever  the  plain, 
everyday  citizen;  "  plain  as  Dick's 
hat-band,  with  no  frills." 

Mr.  Curran  is  a  good  general  de- 
bater, and  though  not  gifted  with 
that  plethora  of  language  which 
characterizes  many  of  our  public 
men,  yet  he  is  possessed  of  those 
more  essential  qualities  of  a  prac- 
tical and  successful  lawyer — a  clear 
and  attractive  manner  of  presenting 
a  question,  concise  and  logical 
method  of  exposition,  quickness  of 
perception,  both  as  to  his  own  po- 
sition and  opportunities,  as  well  as 
those  of  his  opponents. 

Soon  after  he  became  of  age  Mr. 
Curren  commenced  taking  an  active 
part  in  politics,  more  as  an  adviser 
than  as  an  office-seeker ;  his  legal 
business  not  permitting  of  indulg- 
ence in  side  issues  such  as  political 
office-holding.  He  affiliated,  then  as 
now,  with  the  Democratic  }iarty,  and 
from  the  beginning  has  been  a  leader 
of  the  young  Democracy.  His 
congenial  nature  and  firmness  in 
friendship  makes  him  a  favorite  with 
all,  the  old  as  well  as  the  young,  of 
all   political   creeds. 

Tt    was    not     until     lOOfi    that    he 


could  be  prevailed  upon  to  accept 
jjublic  office,  and  then  only  he  con- 
sented because  the  position  was  with- 
in his  chosen  profession;  in  the  year 
named,  Mayor  Coyne  took  office,  and 
requested  his  intimate  friend  to  aid 
his  administration  by  serving  as 
City  Attorney;  this  important  office 
was  held  by  Mr.  Curran  two  years, 
until  a  successor  of  Mayor  Coyne 
was  elected.  In  1910,  when  Mayor 
Lennon  was  elected  the  city's  chief 
magistrate,  he  announced  immedi- 
ately that  he  had  not  decided  upon 
whom  he  should  name  as  members 
of  his  cabinet,  excepting  that  Mr. 
Curran  had  agreed  to  again  serve  the 
city  as  its  Corporation  Counsel.  It, 
apparently  has  come  to  be  an  ac- 
cepted fact  in  Yonkers,  no  matter 
who  is  elected  by  the  Democrats  for 
Mayor,  "  Tom  "  Curran  has  to  be 
the  city's  law  officer,  if  he  will  ac- 
cept the  job.  He  is  a  safe  advisor; 
probably  that  accounts  for  it. 

On  the  re-election  of  Mayor  Len- 
non, which  took  place  on  November 
7,  1911,  Mr.  Curran  was  continued  as 
Corporation  Attoruev,  to  serve  until 
1914. 

Mr.  Curran  has  declined  his 
party's  nomination  for  Mayor,  say- 
ing that  such  would  take  him  outside 
his   "  line    of   trade." 

Mr.  Curran  has  served  on  numer- 
ous Commissions  appointed  by  the 
Supreme  Court  Justices  and  has 
acted  as  referee  by  Court  appoint- 
ment times  too  numerous  to  men- 
tion. 

His  practice  includes  both  civil 
and    commercial   cases. 

While  City  Attorney  he  defended, 
on  behalf  of  the  City,  a  noted  case 
involving  the  dredging  in  front  of 
the  private  property  along  the 
Hudson  River  in  front  of  the  city. 
In  this  case  Mr.  Curran  was  success- 
ful through  all  the  Courts,  saving' 
Yonkers  City  millions  of  dollars. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  local  lodge 
of  Elks,  of  the  Hibernians  and  of 
the  Eed  Men. 

Mr.  Curran  on  August  .5,  1904, 
married  Miss  Elizabeth  Lavelle  of 
Yonkers.  There  are  no  children.  The 
family  residence  is  in  Yonkers. 

GIDEON  H.  PECK. 

Gideon  Hopkins  Peck,  City  Treas- 
urer of  y^onkers,  former  Fire  Com- 
missioner, etc.,  was  born  in  Yonkers, 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


249 


on  November  7,  1861,  a  son  of  Sid- 
ney Starr  and  Anna  (Hopkins) 
Peek. 

He  was  educated  in  the  excellent 
graded  public  schools  of  his  native 
town. 

His  father  was  for  many  years  a 
leading  citizen  and  merchant  in 
lonkers,  and  the  sou,  succeeding  to 
his  father's  business,  today  holds 
a  place  equally  prominent.  From 
the  time  young  Peck  assumed  charge 
as  proprietor,  the  business  has  stead- 
ily increased  and  kept  in  pace  with 
the  growth  of  the  prosperous  manu- 
facturing city.  Mr.  Peck,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  has  won  by  his  cour- 
tesy and  fair  dealing  the  confidence 
of  his  townsmen,  who  esteem  him  for 
his  personal  worth  and  capabilities. 
Throughout  his  life  he  has  adhered 
strictly  to  the  principles  of  honor 
and  comity  that  mark  the  true  gen- 
tleman, and  has  aimed  to  live  for  the 
good  of  those  about  him  rather  than 
for  self-aggrandizement.  His  genial 
warmth  has  won  for  him  many 
friends,  and  has  made  him  popular 
outside  of  his  own  political  party. 
His  neighbors  and  friends  have 
borne  frequent  witness  to  the  ster- 
ling probity  of  his  character  by  sev- 
eral elections  to  the  all  important 
position  of  financial  officer  of  a  large 
city.  In  nominating  him  for  City 
Treasurer,  in  electing  him  to  be  a 
watchdog  over  the  City's  monies, 
was  an  exhibition  of  public  confi- 
dence in  that  old  Eoman  integrity 
and  the  rugged  far-seeing  intellect 
of  the  successful  business  man. 

Mr.  Peck  was  elected  City  Treas- 
urer  in    1907,    and    served   his   first 


term  during  the  years  1908-9;  re- 
elected in  1909,  he  is  serving  a  term 
ending  December  31,  1911,  with  a 
fair  prospect  of  retaining  the  office 
as  long  as  he  is  so  inclined.  He  is 
a  business  man,  rather  than  a  poli- 
tician, in  the  general  understanding 
of  ihe  word.  As  the  position  of 
financial  agent  of  the  city  is  not  a 
political  one,  the  elector  in  selecting 
a  man  to  fill  the  office  of  City  Treas- 
urer is  not  always  influenced  by  poli- 
tical considerations;  an  honest  man 
may  be  a  politician,  and  many  are, 
but  at  all  times  the  man  who  is  en- 
trusted with  charge  of  the  people's 
money  must  be  a  man  of  well  estab- 
lished integrity,  whose  politics  are  a 
matter  of  minor  consideration  with 
the  thoughtful  men  who  vote. 

Mr.  Peck  was  re-elected  City  Treas- 
urer in  November,  1911,  to  serve 
during  the  years   1912-13. 

The  only  other  public  office  held 
by  Mr.  Peck  was  that  of  Fire  Com- 
missioner of  the  city  of  \onkers,  to 
which  position  he  was  appointed  by 
Mayor  Millward,  in  1890,  and  in 
which  he  served  two  and  a  half 
years,  when  he  resigned. 

Mr.  Peck  is  a  Mason,  a  member  of 
Nepperhan  Lodge,  F.  and  A.  M.,  of 
Yonkers,  is  a  member  ol  the  local 
Council  of  the  Eoyal  Arcanum,  and 
a  member  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  of   ionkers. 

He  was  married  on  October  22, 
1884,  to  Miss  Ella  J.  Pereival, 
daughter  of  William  and  Sarah 
(Kniffin)  Pereival,  of  Yonkers.  Of 
this  union  there  are  two  children, 
Pereival  Starr  Peck,  age  26,  and 
Gladys  Anna  Peck,  age  19. 


For  biographical  sketches  of  other  residents  see  elsewhere  in  this  book, 
and  in  volumes  one  and  two. 


250  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

TOWN  OF  YORKTOWN. 


{Continued  from  page  265,  Vol.  1.) 

This  town,  like  others,  originally  was  a  part  of  the  Manor 
of  Cortlandt,  purchased  from  the  Indians  by  Stephanas  Van 
Cortlandt,  in  1683. 

The  town  first  possessed  the  Mohegan  name  of  "Appamagh- 
pogh." 

The  Indians  known  to  have  been  the  early  dwellers  in  this 
and  adjoining  towns  were  the  Kitchewonks,  of  the  Mohegan 
tribe,  that  gave  to  the  nearby  beautiful  lakes  its  name.  The 
Lakes  Mohegan,  most  charming  streams  of  water,  and  sur- 
rounding enchanting  scenery,  are  most  attractive. 

During  the  Revolutionary  War  period  this  town  was  the 
center  of  warlike  activity,  and  is  frequently  mentioned  in  the 
narrative  relating  to  the  capture  of  Major  Andre  published  in 
this  volume.  Its  people  were  ever  patriotic,  and  in  "the  times 
that  tried  men's  souls"  they  rendered  every  assistance  possible 
to  aid  the  American  cause. 

The  several  localities  in  the  town  are,  Yorktown,  Yorktown 
Heights,  Pine  Bridge,  Jefferson  Valley,  Mohegan,  Kitchanan, 
Huntersville,  Shrub  Oak,  Croton  Dam,  Mohansic  Lake,  Osceola 
Lake,  Mohegan  Lake;  a  part  of  Croton  Reservoir  lies  in  this 
town. 

The  town  is  the  largest  as  to  acreage  in  the  County,  having 
23,620  acres. 

Its  high  hills  add  to  the  natural  beauty  of  scenery.  Bald 
Mountain  is  688  feet  high. 

The  great  dam  of  the  old  Croton  Aqueduct  is  situated  in  the 
southeast  corner  of  the  town. 

The  last  census  enumeration,  that  of  1910,  credits  the  town 
with  a  population  of  3,020.  At  one  period  this  town  possessed 
a  population  in  advance  of  many  towns  in  the  County.  In  1820, 
its  population  exceeded  that  of  Yonkers  by  436— Yonkers  to-day 
has  a  population  of  79,803.  The  census  of  1820  credits  thia 
town  with  five  slaves. 

In  1830  the  town's  population  was  2,141;  in  1835,  2,212;  in 
1840,  2,819;  in  1845,  2,278;  in  1850,  2,273;  in  1855,  2,346;  in 
1860,  2,231;  in  1865,  2,559;  in  1870,  2,625;  in  1875,  2,610;  in 
1880,  2,481 ;  in  1890,  2,378 ;  in  1892,  2,241 ;  in  1900,  2,421 ;  in 
1905,  2.294;  in  1910,  3,020. 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  251 

The  beautiful  country  land  in  this  section  is  being  rapidly 
acquired  for  use  as  gentlemen 's  country  seats,  and  already  many 
charming  villas  have  been  laid  out  upon  the  sightly  hills  here- 
abouts, 

Pierre  Van  Cortlandt,  who  was  most  active  on  the  patriot  side 
during  the  Revolution,  was  first  Supervisor  and  served  fifteen 
years;  Elijah  Lee,  who  was  Supervisor  from  1789  to  1792,  and 
1804-5  was  an  Assemblyman  and  County  Judge  ;Ebenezer  White, 
Jr.,  was  Supervisor,  Assemblyman  and  Surrogate ;  Henry  White 
was  Surrogate  from  1815  to  1819;  Robert  P.  Lee,  of  this  town, 
was  the  first  District- Attorney  chosen  for  the  County;  Joseph 
Lee  was  County  Clerk  from  1684  to  1688,  and  1691  to  1698; 
David  D.  Webbers,  Sherift',  from  1829  to  1832;  Benjamin  D. 
Miller  was  Supervisor  in  1848-49,  1858-59-60-63,  and  Sheriff 
from  1850  to  1853 ;  Samuel  Tompkins  w^as  a  Justice  of  Sessions 
in  1858-59,  Walter  H.  Jones  held  this  office  in  1892  and  Edward 
B.  Kear  in  1895-96 ;  Thomas  Tompkins  was  Supervisor  in  1814 
to  1822  and  1823  to  1826,  and  was  chairman  of  the  Board  of 
Supervisors  in  1820,  1823-4-5;  William  James  Horton  was  Su- 
pervisor six  years ;  Edward  B.  Kear  held  the  office  of  Supervisor 
from  1896  to  1907,  when  he  resigned  on  being  elected  County 
Register, 

The  town  suffered  a  serious  loss  w'hen  its  former  Supervisor 
Edward  B.  Kear  died,  August  31,  1911.  He  had  held  the  office 
of  Town  Clerk,  Justice  of  the  Peace,  Justice  of  Sessions,  Super- 
visor and  County  Register.  He  was  a  worthy  citizen,  of  the 
kind  whose  place  it  is  difficult  to  fill. 

Mr.  Kear  held  the  office  of  Supervisor  thirteen  years,  one  of 
the  longest  periods  any  Supervisor  held  it.  While  he  was  in 
office  the  town  was  classified  as  a  Republican  town,  after  his 
retirement  Democrats  were  able  to  elect  the  Supervisor,  and  a 
Democrat  is  now  in  that  position  at  the  head  of  town  affairs. 

The  town  has  no  indebtedness,  which  is  evidence  that  its 
affairs  are  conducted  properly  and  businesslike. 

A  list  of  Supervisors  who  served  the  town  from  time  to  time 
will  be  found  commenced  in  volume  1  and  continued  elsewhere 
in  this  volume. 

In  this  town  is  located  a  State  Training  School  for  boys,  and 
the  Mohansie  State  Hospital;  both  on  Yorktown  Heights. 

For  bio£?raphical  ske^-ches  of  other  residents  see  elsewhere  in  this  book, 
and  in  volumes  one  and  two. 


252  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


COLONY  BOUNDARY  LINE   IN  1664. 

Report  of  the  Commissioners  concerning  the  boundary  between 
New  York  (in  Westchester  County)  and  Connecticut. 

"  By  virtue  of  his  Majesties  Commission  wee  have  heard  the 
Differences  aboutt  the  bounds  of  the  Pattents  granted  to  his 
Roy  all  highnesse  the  Ducke  oft'  Yorke  and  his  Majesties  CoUony 
off  Conetticot  and  having  deliberatlly  considered  all  the  reasons 
alledged  by  Mr.  Allyn  Serr  Mr  Gold  Mr  Richards  and  Cap't 
Winthrop  appointed  by  the  assembly  held  at  hartfort  the  13th 
day  off  Octob'r  1664,  to  accompany  John  Winthrop  Esq'r  (the 
governor  of  his  ^Majesties  Collony  off  Conneticot)  to  New  Yorke 
and  by  Mr.  Howell  and  Cap't  Young  off  Long  Island,  why  the 
s'd  Long  Island  should  be  under  the  government  off  Connecticot 
which  one  to  Long  here  to  be  recited. 

"  Wee  doe  declare  and  order  that  the  Southern  bounds  off 
his  Maj'ies  Collony  off  Connecticot  is  the  sea  and  that  Long 
Island  is  to  be  under  the  government  of  his  Royall  highnesse 
the  Ducke  of  Yorke  as  is  Exprest  by  plain  words  in  the  s'd 
pattents  respectively  And  also  by  virtue  of  his  Maj'ies  Com- 
mission and  the  Consent  of  both  Govern 'rs  and  the  Gen't  above 
named  wee  also  order  and  declare  that  the  Creeke  or  River  called 
Mamarownack  w'h  is  Reported  to  be  about  twelve  miles  to  the 
East  of  Westchester.  And  a  line  Drawn  from  the  East  point 
or  side  when  the  fresh  water  falls  into  the  salt  at  high  water 
marke.  North  north  wes  to  the  Line  of  the  Machatuchets,  Be 
the  westerne  bounds  off  the  said  Colony  of  Conecticot  and  all 
plantations  Lying  westward  off  that  Creeke  and  Line  soe 
Drawne  to  be  under  his  Royall  highnesse  governm't  and  all 
Plantations  Lying  Eastward  off  that  Creeke  and  Line  to  be 
under  the  governm't  of  Conecticot." 


When  inaugurated  as  President  of  the  United  States,  Wood- 
row  Wilson  kissed  the  same  Bible  used  when  he  was  inaugu- 
rated as  Governor  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey,  when  taking  the 
oath  of  office.  He  kissed  the  sacred  volume  on  a  page,  turned 
to  at  random,  his  lips  touching  upon  the  119th  Psalm,  41st  and 
48th  verses,  inclusive. 


SUPERVISORS  OF  THE  SEVERAL  TOWNS  AND 

CITIES. 


{Continued  from  page  62,  Voluvie  1.) 

The  Supervisor,  except  in  cities,  is  required  by  law  to 
receive  and  pay  out  all  moneys  raised  for  defraying  town 
charges,  except  what  is  raised  for  the  support  of  highways  and 
bridges,  which  is  under  the  control  of  Highway  Commissioners, 
and  he  is  required  to  prepare  and  file  with  the  Town  Clerk 
annually  a  full  and  complete  statement  of  the  financial  affairs 
of  the  town.  He  must  keep  a  just  and  true  account  of  his 
receipts  and  expenditures  and  account  for  all  moneys  so  received 
by  him.  Supervisors  representing  Towns  and  Supervisors  rep- 
resenting City  Wards  are  required  to  attend  all  meetings  of  the 
County  Board,  of  which  they  are  members. 

The  original  Town  law  provided  that  Supervisors  and  other 
Town  officers  shall  be  elected  annually.  The  laws  of  1893, 
chapter  344,  amended  the  original  law  by  providing  that  Super- 
visors and  Town  Clerks  shall  hold  office  for  two  years.  By  laws 
of  1897,  chapter  481,  Boards  of  Supervisors  were  empowered  to 
pass  laws  in  their  respective  counties  providing  for  biennial 
town  meetings.  Laws  of  1898,  chapter  363,  provides  that 
Supervisors,  Town  Clerks,  Assessors,  Commissioners  of  High- 
ways, Collectors,  Overseers  of  the  Poor,  Constables  and  Inspec- 
tors of  Elections,  when  elected  shall  hold  their  respective  offices 
for  two  years,  and  authorizes  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of 
each  county  to  provide  for  the  holding  of  town  meetings  at  the 
time  of  the  general  elections.  Laws  of  1899,  chapter  145,  pro- 
vides that  Towns  may  change  date  of  holding  town  meetings, 
and  fixes  two  years  as  term  of  town  officers.  Laws  of  1900, 
chapter  688,  provides  that  the  act  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors 
of  the  County  of  Westchester,  in  fixing  the  time  for  holding 
the  next  biennial  town  meetings  in  said  county  on  the  first 
Tuesday  after  the  first  Monday  in  November  in  the  year  1901, 
and  every  alternate  year  thereafter,  is  hereby  legalized,  ratified 
and  confirmed,  and  the  town  meetings  to  be  held  in  the  year 
1901  shall  be  held  only  on  that  day. 

The  State  Legislature,  Laws  of  1902,  Chap.  342,  fixed  the 
meeting  day  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  on  the  first  Monday 
in  each  and  every  calendar  month,  and  at  such  other  times  as 

253 


254  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

the  Board  of  Supervisors  may  fix  by  resolution.  The  same  act 
provides  for  the  salary  of  the  Supervisors;  each  Supervisor 
shall  receive  as  compensation  for  his  services  as  a  member  of 
the  Board  of  County  Canvassers  and  as  a  Supervisor  a  stated 
salary  of  not  less  than  $350,  nor  more  than  $600  per  annum, 
to  be  fixed  by  the  Board  and  paid  in  equal  monthly  installments, 
on  the  last  day  of  each  month,  by  the  County  Treasurer.  No 
Supervisor  shall  receive  any  other  or  greater  sum  for  his  ser- 
vices, except  fees  now  allowed  by  law  for  copying  or  extending 
the  assessment  rolls  and  except  for  such  services  as  may  be  by 
law  a  town  charge.  The  act  further  provides,  such  salaries 
should  commence  with  the  first  day  of  June,  1902.  (The  law 
giving  them  choice  as  to  amount  of  salary  they  would  accept, 
the  Supervisors  in  their  wisdom  chose  to  take  $600  per  annum.) 

A  special  act  of  the  State  Legislature,  passed  in  1909,  fixes 
the  salary  of  a  Supervisor  of  Westchester  County  at  $1,000  per 
annum,  providing  the  fees  of  said  Supervisors,  received  from 
various  sources,  does  not  reach  a  pres.cribed  amount.  Under  this 
new  law  Supervisors  from  City  Wards  and  the  smaller  Towns 
will  receive  the  increase  of  salary  after  January  1,  1912. 

Besides  amount  fixed  as  salary,  each  Supervisor  is  entitled  to 
receive  mileage  at  rate  of  8  cents  a  mile  for  each  mile  actually 
traveled  in  going  from  his  place  of  residence  to  place  of  meet- 
ing, once  in  each  month;  expenses  actually  incurred  by  any 
Supervisor  under  authority  and  direction  of  said  Board  of 
Supervisors  outside  the  limits  of  White  Plains,  the  place  where 
meetings  of  the  Board  are  held,  may  be  allowed  and  paid. 

Laws  of  1903,  Chap.  483,  empowers  the  Board  of  Supervisors 
to  appoint,  in  addition  to  a  clerk,  one  or  two  deputy  clerks,  to 
serve  during  pleasure  of  Board,  and  to  fix  compensation  of  each 
such  appointee. 

The  Board  of  Supervisors  is  empowered  by  law  to  establish 
and  define  boundary  lines  between  toAvns  of  the  county. 

The  State  Legislature,  by  special  act.  Laws  of  1900,  Chap. 
688,  ratified  the  act  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  fixing  the  time 
of  the  biennial  tovm  meetings. 

Westchester  County  raises  $60,000  annually  to  pay  to  the 
State  Comptroller  for  Supreme  Court  salaries. 

The  Laws  of  1901,  Chap.  87,  permits  towns  to  make  appro- 
priation for  the  purpose  of  defraying  expense  of  proper  observ- 
ance of  ^Memorial  Day  by  members  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic. 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  255 

The  Board  of  Supervisors,  September  13,  1909,  appropriated 
$2,500  to  properly  represent  the  County  of  Westchester  at  the 
Hudson-Fulton  celebration. 

The  State  Constitution  provides  that  there  shall  be  in  each 
county  of  this  State,  except  in  a  county  wholly  included  in  a 
city,  a  Board  of  Supervisors,  to  be  composed  of  such  members 
and  elected  in  such  manner  and  for  such  period  as  is  or  may 
be  provided  by  law.  In  a  city  which  includes  an  entire  county, 
or  two  or  more  entire  counties,  the  powers  and  duties  of  a 
Board  of  Supervisors  may  be  devolved  upon  the  municipal 
assembly,  common  council,  board  ci  aldermen  or  other  legisla- 
tive body  of  the  city. 

The  Legislature  shall,  by  general  laws,  confer  upon  the  Boards 
of  Supervisors  of  the  several  counties  of  the  State  such  further 
powers  of  local  legislation  and  administration  as  the  Legislature 
may,  from  time  to  time,  deem  expedient. 

The  Legislature  shall  not,  nor  shall  the  common  council  of  any 
city,  nor  any  Board  of  Supervisors,  grant  any  extra  compensa- 
tion to  any  public  officer,  servant,  agent  or  contractor. 

Following  a  census  enumeration  and  after  the  State  Legisla- 
ture shall  have  made  an  apportionment  of  the  number  of  mem- 
bers of  the  Assembly  to  which  each  county  is  entitled,  the 
Board  of  Supervisors  shall  meet  and  prescribe,  and  divide  such 
counties  into  Assembly  districts  as  nearly  equal  in  number  of 
inhabitants,  excluding  aliens,  as  may  be,  of  convenient  and  con- 
tiguous territory  in  as  compact  form  as  practicable,  each  of 
which  shall  be  wholly  within  a  Senate  district  formed  under 
the  same  apportionment,  equal  to  the  number  of  members  of 
Assembly  to  which  such  county  shall  be  entitled,  and  shall  cause 
to  be  filed  in  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  State  and  of  the  Clerk 
of  such  county,  a  description  of  such  districts,  specifying  the 
number  of  each  district  and  of  the  inhabitants  thereof,  exclud- 
ing aliens,  according  to  the  last  preceding  enumeration;  and 
such  apportionment  and  districts  shall  remain  unaltered  until 
another  enumeration  shall  be  made. 

Following  are  the  names  of  Supervisors  representing  the  sev- 
eral cities  and  towns  of  Westchester  County,  and  the  years  in 
%hieh  they  served  as  such  Supervisors  in  the  County  Board; 
also,  names  of  Chairmen,  Clerks  and  other  officials  elected,  from 
time  to  time,  by  the  several  Boards  of  Supervisors  :* 


*For  names  of  Supervisors  in  earlier  years,  see  Volume  1. 


256 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


■5 -p  T\  TJt  pv  O  T\ 

Isaac  W.  Turner,  1896-7-8-9,  1900- 

1-2-3-4. 
Edward  V.    Barrett,    1905-6-7-8-9- 

10-11-12-13,  present  incumbent. 

CORTLANDT. 

James  H.  Haight,  1899,  1900-1-2. 
S.  Fletcher  Allen,  1903-4-5-6-7-8-9- 
10-11-12-13,   present   incumbent. 

Eastchestisr. 

Herbert  D.  Lent,  1899,  1900. 
William  D.  Granger,  M.  D.,  1901-2. 
Henry  C.  Merritt,  1903-4-5-6-7-8-9- 
10-11-12-13,  present  incumbent. 

Greenburgh. 

George  C.  Menzies,   1899,   1900.** 
Alexander  McClelland,    1901-2-3-4- 

5-6. 
Charles  D.  Millard,  1907-8-9-10-11- 
12-13,  present  incumbent. 

Harrison. 

George  T.  Gray,  1899,  1900-1-2, 
George  T.  Burling,  1903-4. 
Benjamin  Irving  Taylor,  1905-6-7- 
8-9-10-11-12-13,    present    incum- 
bent      (elected      to      Congress, 
1912). 

Lewisboro  (formerly  Salem). 

James   F.    Lawrence,    1893-4-5-6-7- 

8-9-1900-1-2.     (Died  in  1909.) 
George    W.    Mead,    1903-4-5-6-7-8. 

(Eesigned,   1909,   on  election   to 

Assembly.) 
William  C.  Hull  (appointed  in  place 

of     Mead),     1909;     elected    for 

term    of    1910-11-12-13,    present 

incumbent. 

Mamaroxeck. 

Charles  M.  Baxter,  1899,  1900. 
Frank  Hardy,  1901-2. 
John  H.  McArdle,  1903-4-5-6-7-8-9- 
10-11-12-13,  present  incumbent. 

Mount  Pleasant. 

Charles  M.  Lane,  1894  to  1900. 
(Died,  while  Sheriff,  in  1909.) 

John  J.  Sinnott,  1901-2-3-4-5-6-7-8- 
9-10-11-12-13,  present  incum- 
bent. 

Mount  Vernon. 
First  Ward. 

Harry      J.      Robinson,      1897-8. 

(Accidentally     killed,     falling 

from  a  scaffold,  July  3,  1911.) 

Edward   W.  Storms,  1899,  1900- 

1-2. 
William  H.  Bard,  1903-4. 


John  B.  Cortright,  1905-6  (ap- 
pointed County  Election 
Commissioner). 

Louis   Elrodt,    1907-8-9-10-11-12- 
13,  present  incumbent. 
Second  Ward. 

Stephen  Van  Tassell,  1899,  1900- 
1-2. 

Duncan  C.  Campbell,  1903-4. 

H.  Eugene  Smith,  M.  D.,  1905-6- 
7-8-9-10-11-12-13,  present  in- 
cumbent. 

Third  Ward. 

Charles  C.  Bigelow,  1899,  1900- 

1-2. 
Charles  H.  Weiss,  1903-4. 
Benjamin  Howe,  1905-6.     (Later 

elected  Mayor.) 
John  S.  Lyons,  1907-8-9-10-11. 
Andrew      Bridgeman,      1912-13, 

present  incumbent. 
Fourth  Ward. 

Albert  S.  Jenks,  1899,  1900-1-2-3. 
John   H.   Cordes,    1904-5-6-7-8-9- 

10-11. 
Clarence     Farrington,      1912-13, 

present  incumbent. 
Fifth  Ward. 

Edgar  K.  Brown,  1899-  1900-1- 

2-3-4-5-6. 
James  K.  Fuller,  1907-8-9-10-11- 

12-13,  present  incumbent. 

Mount  Vernon  Supervisors  take  of- 
fice at  the  first  meeting  of  the  Board 
of  Supervisors  in  the  month  of  June 
after  their  election. 

New  Castle. 

Harvey     B.      Green,      1899,     1900 

(later  elected  Clerk  of  Board). 
John  W.  Bowron,  1901-2-3-4-5-6-7- 

8-9-10,  resigned  April  8,  1911. 
Howard    E.    Washburn,    appointed 

April    8,    1911,    to    fill   vacancy. 

Elected  for  1912-13. 

New  Rochelle. 

Michael  J.  Dillon,  1898.     (Mayor 
in  1899.) 
First  Ward. 

William  E.  Moore,  1899,  1900  to 

April,  1904. 
Adam  Kistinger,  April,  1904,  to 

April,  1906. 
John    F.    New,    April,    1906,    to 

April,  1908. 
Frank  A.  Raymond,  April,  1908, 
to  April,  1910. 
Henry  A.   Anthes,  April,   1910-11. 
Edward    Carson,    1912-13,    present 
incumbent. 


Died  September  8,  1912,  aged  55   years. 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


257 


Second  Ward. 

G.  H.  Crawford,  April,  1899,  to 
April,  1902. 

William  U.  Wheeler,  April,  1902, 
to  April,  1904. 

Henry  Scherp,  April,  1904,  to 
April,  1905.  (Eesigned  to  ac- 
cept other  office.  Later  elected 
Sheriff,  died  October  9,  1911.) 

William  F.  Hoffkins  (appointed 
in  place  of  Scherp),  1905,  to 
April,  1907. 

Walter  M.  Bermingham,  April, 
1907,  to  April,  1910. 

William  F.  Hoffkins,  April,  1910- 
11-12-13,  present  incumbent. 

Third  Ward. 

Jacob  E.  Wilkins,  April,  1899,  to 
1900,  when  he  resigned  on  ac- 
count of  ill  health ;  died  in 
1908. 

Frank  J.  Holler,  appointed  in  the 
place  of  Wilkins,  qualified  Dec. 
24,  1900,  and  served  until 
April,  1902. 

George  E.  Leviness,  April,  1902; 
resigned  during  year  to  accept 
other  office. 

Fred.  L.  Merritt,  appointed  in 
place  of  Leviness;  served  to 
April,  1903,  when  he  began 
serving  term  for  which  he  was 
elected,  1903  to  1905,  and  has 
been  continuously  re-elected ; 
is  incumbent  in  1913. 
Fourth  Wai-d. 

Peter  Doern,  April,  1899,  to 
April,  1902. 

Frank  Breucher,  April,  1902,  to 
April,  1906. 

William  H.  Boardingham,  April, 
1906,  to  April,  1908.  (Died 
in  1908.) 

Frank  Breucher,  April,  1908-9- 
10-11-12-13,  present  incumbent. 

Supervisors  in   New  Eochelle  take 
office  April  1,  after  general  election. 

North  Castle. 

Joseph  B.  See,  1899-1900.  (Later 
appointed  Under  Sheriff  and 
elected  County  Treasurer.) 

A.  Smith  Hopkins,  1901-2-3-4-5-6. 
(Elected  County  Superintendent 
of  Poor;  died  April  23,  1908.) 

Charles  McDonald,  1907-8-9-10-11- 
12-13,  present   incumbent. 

North  Salem. 

Isaac  Purdy,  1899,  1900. 


Frank  S.  Eeynolds,  1901-2-3-4-5-6- 
7-8-9-10-11-12-13,  present  incum- 
bent. 

OSSINING. 

Gilbert     M.     Todd,     1899,     1900. 

Eobert  T.  Dennis,  1901-2-3-4. 

T.  George  Barnes,  1905-6-7-8. 

Jasper  W.  Travis,  1909-10-11;  re- 
elected to  serve  during  1912-13; 
died  June   16,   1912. 

John  F.  Jenkins,  appointed  to 
serve  out  Travis'  term. 

Pelham. 

John  M.  Shinn,  1899,  1900-1-2-3-4. 
Louis  C.  Young,  1905-6. 
Edgar  C.  Beecroft,  1907-8-9-10-11- 
12-13,  present  incumbent. 

POUNDRIDGE. 

George  I.  Euscoe,  1893,  continu- 
ously to  and  including  1913, 
present  incumbent. 

Eye. 

Charles      Eldridge,      1899,      1900. 
Edwin  F.  Studwell,  1901-2-3-4-5-6- 

7-8-9. 
Joseph       Haight,       1910-11-12-13, 

present  incumbent. 

Scarsdale. 

Chauncey    T.     Secor,*    1883,    con- 
tinuously and  including  1911. 
Alexander      M.      Crane,      1912-13, 
present   incumbent. 

SOMERS. 

James  P.  Teed,  1899,  1900. 
Samuel   M.  Lounsbury,   1901-2-3-4- 

5-6.     (Died  May  22,  1910.) 
George    Turner,    1907-8-9-10-11-12- 

13,  present  incumbent. 

White  Plains. 

William  S.  Sterling,  1899,  1900-1-2. 
Ffarrington  M.  Thompson,  1903-4- 
5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13,  present  in- 
cumbent. 

YONKERS. 

First  Ward. 

J.   Frank   Curran,    1899,   1900-1- 

2-3-4. 
George    Engle,     1905-6-7-8-9-10- 

11-12-13,  present  incumbent. 

Second  Ward. 

Hall  B.  Waring,  1899,  1900. 


Died  March  12,  1913. 


258 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


John  I.  Pruvn.  1901-2. 

John  W.  Wiieaton,  1903-4. 

Henry  Koster,  1905-6. 

Alfred  lies,  part  of  1907;  re- 
signed on  being  elected  Coro- 
ner. 

William  Welsh,  appointed,  served 
out  lies'  term. 

Arthur  Barrett,  1910-11-12-13, 
present  incumbent. 

Third  Ward. 

Edward  W.  Forsrth,  1S96,  con- 
tinuouslv  to  and  including 
1913,  present  incumbent. 

Fourth  Wai-d. 

Thomas  A.   Browne,  1S99,  1900- 

1-2. 
Harry    Haines,    1903-4.      (Later 

an  Assemblyman.) 
Edwin  J.  Goodhart,  1905-6. 
John  J.  Stahl,  1907-S-9-10-11-12- 

13,  present  incumbent. 

Fifth  Ward. 

Edward  J.  Earl,  1S99,   1900. 
Otto  Olsen,  1901-2. 
Alfred  M.   Krug,   1903-4. 
James  L.  Hares.  1905-6. 
Arthur   Maudlin,   1907-8-9-10-11. 
Thomas     J.     O'Brien,     1912-13, 
present  inctimbent. 

Sixth  Ward. 

Patrick  Whalen,  1899, 1900-2-3-4. 
John  F.  Cody,  1905-6-7-8.    (Died 

while  in  office,  in  Nov.,  1908.) 
Michael  J.  Eeagan,  appointed  in 

place  of  Cody,  1909. 


Michael  J.  Nolan,  1910-11-12-13, 
present  incumbent. 

Seventh  Ward. 

Walter   B.   Dixon,   1S99,   1900-1- 

2-3-4. 
John  Wise,  1905-6. 
James     G.     Andrews,     1907-8-9- 

10-11. 
William  Dunn,  1912-13,  present 

incumbent. 

Under  a  new  reapportionment,  in 
1907,  the  Sth,  9th  and  10th  Wards 
were  created  by  division  of  original 
wards. 

Eighth    Ward. 

Alfred  M.  Bailey,   1908-9-10-11- 
12-13,  present  incumbent. 

yinth  Ward. 

P.  F.  Cullinan.  190S-9. 
Frederick  Marshall,  1910-11. 
Benjamin  Fitz  Ijibbon,  1912-13, 

present  incumbent. 

Tenth  Ward. 

E.  U.  Eernolds,  1908-9. 
Michael    J.    Molloy,    1910-11-12- 
13,  present  incumbent. 

YORKTOWX. 

Edward  B.  Kear,  1899,  1900-1-2-3- 
4-5-6-7.  (Elected  County  Kegis- 
ter;  died  August  31,  1911.) 

Wellington  Lounsburv,  1908-9-10- 
11. 

James  X.  Strang,  1912-13,  present 
incumbent. 


CHAIRMEN  AND  CLERKS. 

{Continued  from  page  64,  Volume  1.) 

Following  are  the  names  of  Supervisors  who  have  been 
elected  and  served  as  Chairmen  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors 
of  this  County,  and  the  names  of  Clerks,  Assistant  Clerks  and 
other  officers  of  the  same  body,  from  time  to  time : 

CHAIRMEN. 

Charles  M.  Lane.  Mount  Pleasant,  1899,  1900.     (Died  1909.) 
John  M.  Shinn,  Pelham,  1901. 
Frank  Hardy,  ^Mamaroneck,  1902. 
Edgar  K.  Brown,  Mount  Vernon,  1903-4. 
Chauncey  T.  Secor,  Scarsdale,  1893,  1897,  1898,  1905.     (Died 
1913.) 

John  J.  Sinnott,  Mount  Pleasant,  1906-7. 
Edward  A.  Forsyth,  Yonkers,  1908-9-10-11. 
Edward  Percy  Barrett,  Bedford,  1912-13. 


:manual  and  civil  list.  259 

CLERKS. 

Edwin  R.  Hopkins,  North  Castle,  1899,  1900-1-2-3. 
Harvey  B.  Green,  Chappaqua,  1904. 
James  J.  Fleming,  Yonkers,  1905-6-7. 
Harvey  B.  Green,  Chappaqua,  1908-9-10-11-12-13. 

ASSISTANT    CLERKS. 

Harvey  B.  Green,  Chappaqua,  1901-2-3. 

John  H.  Bangs,  New  Rochelle,  1904.    (Died  August  29,  1910.) 

Clinton  T.  Taylor,  :\Iount  Yernou,  1905-6. 

David  S.  Murden,  Peekskill,  1907-8-9-10. 

Robert  Mason,  :\Iount  Vernon.   1910-11-12-13. 

UBRARL\X    AXD    PAGE. 

George  A.  Thompson,  White  Plains,  1899,  1900-1-2-3-4. 
Harry   R.   Koster,   Yonkers,   1905-6-7-8-9;    1910-11-12-13,    as 
Page  and  Assistant  Librarian. 

COUNTY   ATTORNEY. 

(Advisor  to  the  Board  of  Supervisors.) 

Edward  Hughes,  Yonkers,  1907-8. 

Charles  A.  Van  Auken,  New  Rochelle,  1909-10-11-12-13. 


Note. — Biographies  of  Members  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  Chairmen 
and   Clerks,   are   published  under  head  "Towns  in  the   Countv. " 


ITEMS    OF    INTEREST. 

The  Cabinet  of  President  Wilson,  announced  by  him  on 
March  5,  1913,  was  composed  as  follows:  "William  Jennings 
Bryan,  of  Nebraska,  as  Secretary  of  State;  William  Gibbs 
McAdoo,  of  New  York,  as  Secretary-  of  the  Treasury;  Lindley 
Murray  Garrison,  of  New  Jersey,  as  Secretary  of  War;  James 
Clark  McReynolds.  of  Tennessee,  as  Attorney-General;  Albert 
Sidney  Burleson,  of  Texas,  as  Postmaster-General;  Josephus 
Daniels,  of  North  Carolina,  as  Secretary  of  the  Navy;  Franklin 
Knight  Lane,  of  California,  as  Secretary  of  the  Interior :  David 
Franklin  Houston,  of  Missouri,  as  Secretary  of  Agriculture; 
William  Cox  Redfield,  of  New  York,  as  Secretary-  of  Commerce ; 
William  Bauchop  AVilson,  of  Pennsylvania,  as  Secretary  of 
Labor.  The  act  of  Congress  creating  a  Department  of  Labor 
and  providing  for  a  Secretary'  of  Labor  in  the  Cabinet  was 
passed  in  March.  1913,  and  the  signing  of  the  bill  was  one  of 
the  last  official  acts  of  President  Taft. 


260  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


HEADLESS-HORSEIilAN'S  BRIDGE. 

Sleepy  Hollow  and  the  Headless-Horseman's  Bridge,  familiar 
to  the  readers  of  Washington  Irving 's  story,  are  situated  in  the 
town  of  Mount  Pleasant. 

As  we  read  Irving 's  story  fancy  may  have  led  us  to  hear 
the  clatter  of  horse's  hoofs  as  the  headless  horseman  rode  over 
an  old-style  wooden  bridge;  the  allusion  will  be  spoiled  when 
one  beholds  the  present  Headless-Horseman's  Bridge.  The 
march  of  progress  and  up-to-date  ideas  has  eliminated  the  old 
bridge  structure  that  Irving  made  famous.  The  wealth  that 
summer's  itself  beyond  Sleepy  Hollow  believes  in  an  up-to-date 
approach  to  its  domain.  It  has  not  sponged  out  the  legendary 
name,  but  a  tablet  in  bronze  informs  the  wayfarer  that  the 
existing  bridge  owes  its  being  to  the  estate  owners  beyond  the 
creek.  Nothing  survives  of  the  span  that  Irving  immortalized. 
The  wild  ride  such  as  he  described  would  be  impossible  over 
granite  arches  and  modern  brick  pavement.  As  at  many  other 
places  famous  in  legend,  one  must  carry  an  active  imagination 
along  with  a  proper  sense  of  things  as  they  are. 

But  even  wealth  has  not  despoiled  Sleepy  Hollow  of  its  rare 
natural  setting,  nor  has  it  yet  touched  some  of  the  artificial 
adjuncts  that  impart  romantic  flavor  to  the  scene.  The  old 
Sleepy  Hollow  Dutch  Church  remains,  surrounded  by  all  its 
historic  interest.  No  rude  hand  can  disturb  Sleepy  Hollow 
Cemetery,  abreast  of  which  Ichabod  Crane  first  saw  his  un- 
canny pursuer.  Across  the  field  stands  the  Manor  House,  its 
exterior  looking  much  as  it  did  when  Frederick  Philipse  took 
Catherine  Van  Cortlandt  there  more  than  two  hundred  years 
ago.  The  inclosing  hills  are  beautiful  in  their  forest  growth. 
It  is  a  lazy,  droning  spot,  and  a  visitor  in  the  right  spirit  may 
ignore  the  invasion  of  the  modern. 

Sleepy  Hollow  Cemetery  is,  as  may  be  said,  divided  into  two 
divisions,  the  old  and  the  new;  the  original  part,  near  the 
church,  and  an  extension  up  the  hill.  Old  residents  are  laid 
in  the  old  graveyard  and  their  descendants  lay  at  rest  in  the 
new  section.  Irving  is  buried  near  the  upper  end  of  the  old 
section,  with  his  younger  relatives  through  several  generations, 
to  the  number  of  about  thirty.  A  plain,  unpretentious  marble 
slab  marks  the  place  where  the  remains  of  Irving  were  laid,  the 
present  being  the  third  slab  erected;  vandals  carried  away  for- 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  261 

mer  slabs  in  chips  as  souvenirs;  an  iron   fence  was  recently- 
erected  to  protect  the  grave. 

The  old  church  is  frequently  opened  on  Sundays  in  summer 
for  afternoon  services,  under  charge  of  the  pastor  of  the  First 
Reformed  Church  of  Tarrytown,  Members  of  many  of  the  old 
families  residing  in  and  about  Sleepy  Hollow  have  been  buried 
from  this  church.  The  interior  of  the  church  is  as  it  was  200 
years  ago,  when  it  was  built  by  Frederick  Philipse  and  his 
wealthy  wife. 


THE  BRONX  PARKWAY. 

(Continued   from  page   320,    Vol.   2.) 

The  proposed  Bronx  Parkway,  which  is  to  extend  from  Bronx 
Park,  in  New  York  city,  through  Westchester  County,  running 
north,  to  the  proposed  new  Kensico  Dam  at  Valhalla,  in  the 
town  of  North  Castle,  it  is  estimated,  will  be  of  great  value  to 
our  county,  benefiting  all  that  section  through  which  its  route 
is  laid,  since  it  will  beautify  all  the  waste  and  unsightly  land 
along  the  Bronx  River. 

The  Parkw^ay  will  be  fifteen  miles  long,  and  will  connect  New 
York  city's  park  system  in  Bronx  Borough  with  the  city's 
watershed  in  Westchester  County.  It  was  undertaken  by  New 
York  city  and  Westchester  County  as  the  best  means  of  relief 
from  intolerable  pollution  of  the  Bronx  River. 

Following  the  Bronx  River  and  the  Harlem  division  of  the 
New  York  Central  Railroad,  the  Parkway  will  extend  from  the 
northerly  end  of  Bronx  Park  through  Williamsbridge,  Wood- 
lawn,  Mount  Vernon,  Bronxville,  Tuckahoe,  Scarsdale,  White 
Plains  and  the  town  of  North  Castle  to  the  new  Kensico  Reser- 
voir, one  of  the  largest  in  the  world.  The  terminal  will  be  at 
the  ten  million  dollar  dam  now  under  construction  by  New 
York  city.  The  country  at  this  point  in  Westchester  County 
has  many  natural  charms,  which  will  be  enhanced  by  a  water 
garden  of  one  thousand  fountains  to  aerate  the  water  brought 
down  by  the  Catskill  Aqueduct. 

The  cost  of  constructing  this  Parkway  is  to  be  borne  by  New 
York  city  and  Westchester  County ;  the  county  paying  a  minor 
portion.  There  are  1,130  acres  divided  into  1,200  parcels,  in 
the  fifteen  miles  of  the  proposed  parkway.  It  is  estimated  the 
entire  cost  to  the  city  of  New  York  will  be  about  $4,000,000. 


262  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

This  is  the  estimated  amount  for  acquiring  the  total  reservation 
at  the  present  time  (1913),  including  a  substantial  sum  for  the 
protection  of  existing  park  features,  planting  and  replanting 
of  denuded  districts,  straightening  the  river  for  flood  regula- 
tion and  the  sanitary  measures  required  against  pollution. 

Members  of  the  Bronx  Park  Commission,  it  is  said,  will  en- 
deavor to  make  a  record  for  economy  in  the  purchase  of  the 
lands  for  this  public  use.  A  large  number  of  substantial  dona- 
tions of  lands  have  been  obtained,  largely,  it  is  said,  because 
large  property  owners  are  willing  to  give  to  aid  a  project  cal- 
culated to  improve  and  make  more  valuable  all  abutting  prop- 
erty. These  will  be  the  first  lands  taken  over  by  the  Commis- 
sion. The  next  step  will  be  to  acquire  lands  on  which  options 
have  been  obtained  at  less  than  present  market  value.  There 
are  more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  in  this  class. 

Where  agreements  cannot  be  reached  by  direct  negotiations, 
the  lands  will  ultimately  be  condemned,  but  it  is  the  announced 
intention  of  the  Commission  to  delay  such  condemnation  pro- 
ceedings for  several  years,  so  that  those  who  sell  at  a  fair  figure 
can  realize  much  more  quickly  on  their  lands  than  by  holding 
out  for  an  excessive  speculative  price. 

The  construction  of  this  Parkway  is  authorized  by  Act  of  the 
State  Legislature,  Laws  of  1907,  Chapter  594. 


ARNOLD  AND  PEGGY  SHIPPEN. 

In  Volume  two,  in  the  specially  prepared  narrative  relating 
to  the  treachery  of  Benedict  Arnold  and  the  capture  of  his 
aiding  conspirator,  Major  Andre,  mention  has  been  particularly 
made  of  Peggy  Shippen,  the  pretty  eighteen-year-old  daughter 
of  a  prominent  Philadelphia  Tory,  whom  Gen.  Arnold  courted, 
and  whom  it  has  been  said,  influenced  him  to  incline  in  favor 
of  Tories,  and,  Anally,  to  turn  traitor  to  the  cause  he  had  sworn 
to  serve. 

The  love  story  of  Arnold  and  Peggy  Shippen  is  full  of  interest 
even  in  its  tragic  ending. 

When  Arnold  took  command  of  the  Continental  Army  in 
Philadelphia,  crippled  with  honorable  wounds  in  the  service  of 
his  country,  and  reputed  to  be  a  man  of  courage,  it  is  not  strange 
that  he  should  have  won  the  heart  of  the  beautiful  and  fascinat- 
ing Miss  Shippen,  who  was  just  past  eighteen  years  of  age,  and 
less  than  half  the  age  of  Arnold. 

It  was  not  long  after  his  arrival  in  the  "City  of  Brotherly 
Love"  that  Arnold  was  declared  a  suitor  for  the  hand  of  Miss 
Shippen.  On  the  twenty-fifth  of  September,  1778,  he  made  to 
her  a  formal  declaration  of  his  love  and  offer  of  his  hand.  In 
part  this  letter  was  as  follows: 

' '  Dear  Madam : — Twenty  times  have  I  taken  up  my  pen  to 
write  to  you,  and  as  often  has  my  trembling  hand  refused  to 
obey  the  dictates  of  my  heart — a  heart  which  though  calm  and 
serene  amidst  the  clashing  of  arms  and  all  the  din  and  horrors 
of  war — trembles  with  diffidence  and  the  fear  of  giving  offense 
when  it  attempts  to  address  you  on  a  subject  so  important  to 
its  happiness.  Dear  madam,  your  charms  have  lighted  up  a 
flame  in  my  bosom  which  can  never  be  extinguished;  your 
heavenly  image  is  too  deeply  impressed  ever  to  be  effaced. 

"My  passion  is  not  founded  on  personal  charms  only:that 
sweetness  of  disposition  and  goodness  of  heart,  that  sentiment 
and  sensibility  which  so  strongly  mark  the  character  of  the 
lovely  Miss  P.  Shippen,  renders  her  amiable  beyond  expression, 
and  will  ever  retain  the  heart  she  has  once  captivated.  On  you 
alone  my  happiness  depends,  and  will  you  doom  me  to  languish 
in  despair?  Do  you  feel  no  pity  in  your  bosom  for  the  man 
who  would  die  to  make  you  happy?     Dear  Peggy,  suffer  that 

263 


264  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

heavenly  bosom  to  expand  with  a  sensation  more  soft  and  more 
tender  than  friendship. 

*  *  *  "Whatever  my  fate  may  be,  my  most  ardent  wish  is 
for  your  happiness,  and  my  latest  breath  will  be  to  implore  the 
blessing  of  Heaven  on  the  idol  and  only  wish  of  my  soul.  Adieu, 
dear  Madam,  and  believe  me  unalterably,  your  sincere  admirer 
and  devoted  humble  servant,  B.  Arnold." 

It  appears  that  his  ardent  passion  was  soon  reciprocated,  for 
on  the  eighth  of  February,  1779,  he  writes  to  her  with  the 
fervor  of  an  accepted  lover: — 

"My  Dearest  Life: — Never  did  I  so  ardently  long  to  see  or 
hear  fom  you  as  at  this  instant.  I  am  all  impatience  and  anx- 
ious to  know  how  you  do;  six  days'  absence,  without  hearing 
from  my  dear  Peggy,  is  intolerable.  Heavens!  what  must  I 
have  suffered  had  I  continued  my  journey — the  loss  of  happi- 
ness for  a  few  dirty  acres !  I  daily  discover  so  much  baseness 
and  ingratitude  among  mankind  that  I  almost  blush  at  being  of 
the  same  species,  and  could  quit  the  stage  without  regret  were 
it  not  for  some  gentle,  generous  souls  like  my  dear  Peggy,  who 
still  retain  the  lively  impression  of  their  Maker's  image,  and 
who,  with  smiles  of  benignity  and  goodness  make  all  happy 
around  them. 

"The  day  after  tomorrow  I  leave  here  and  hope  to  be  made 
happy  by  your  smiles  on  Friday  evening.  Till  then  all  nature 
smiles  in  vain;  for  you  alone  heard,  felt  and  seen,  possess  my 
every  thought,  fill  every  sense  and  pant  in  every  vein. 

"Clarkson  will  send  an  express  to  meet  me  in  Bristol;  make 
me  happy  by  one  line,  to  tell  you  are  so.  ]\Iy  prayers  and 
best  wishes  attend  my  dear  Peggy.  Adieu !  and  Ijelieve  me,  sin- 
cerely and  affectionately  thine^  B.  Arnold." 

On  the  twenty-second  of  March,  1779,  General  Arnold,  in 
anticipation  of  his  marriage,  purchased  the  fine  old  country  seat 
called  Mount  Pleasant,  situated  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Schuyl- 
kill, and  made  a  settlement  of  the  estate  on  himself  for  life, 
"remainder  to  his  wife  and  children."  Two  weeks  thereafter 
General  Arnold  and  Peggy  Shippen  were  married  at  the  resi- 
dence of  her  father,  a  fine  substantial  mansion  on  the  west  side 
of  Fourth  street. 

The  story'  of  Arnold's  treason,  the  capture  of  Major  Andre 
at  TarrytoAvn,  in  this  county  (as  told  in  Volume  2,  page  175), 
the  flight  of  Arnold  to  Europe,  is  all  told  in  history.  After  the 
Revolution  Arnold  lived  in  England,  where  his  last  years  were 
embittered  by  remorse.  He  died  in  London,  June  14,  1801.  Mrs. 
Arnold  died  in  the  same  city  three  years  later,  aged  forty-four. 


THE  BATTLE  OF  WHITE  PLAINS. 


The  autumn  of  1776  has  been  described  as  among  "the  dark 
days"  for  the  patriot  army,  as  in  fact  the  American  heroes  had 
many  such  days. 

On  October  28,  in  that  year,  occurred  the  Battle  of  White 
Plains,  which  has  been  described  "as  a  contest  of  arms  it  takes 
no  rank  among  the  great  battles  of  history,  but  its  bearings  in 
the  future  of  the  American  Nation  were  of  the  utmost  impor- 
tance." 

The  War  of  the  Revolution  began  with  the  "Battle  of  Lex- 
ington in  April,  1775,  and  a  year  later  the  British  government 
found  the  Americans  as  defiant  and  determined.  The  English 
Parliament  had  appropriated  £1,000,000  to  carry  on  the  war  of 
conquest;  skilled  Hessian  soldiers  had  been  hired  from  Ger- 
many to  swell  the  British  ranks.  The  intention  was  to  concen- 
trate a  large  British  army  in  New  York  city,  take  possession  of 
the  Hudson  River  and  thus  cut  oft:  connection  between  New 
England  and  other  Colonies.  In  August,  1776,  the  British 
landed  a  large  army  on  Staten  Island,  with  intention  of  mov- 
ing on  New  York  city.  Gen.  Washington,  with  a  force  num- 
bering 14,000,  was  entrenched  on  Brooklyn  Heights,  for  the 
protection  of  the  city.  A  few  days  later  the  British  landed  at 
Gravesend  Bay,  south  of  Brooklyn;  then  followed  the  Battle 
of  Long  Island,  in  which  the  patriot  army  suffered  defeat  and 
great  loss.  During  the  night  Gen.  Washington  succeeded  in 
getting  his  scattered  troops  together  on  Harlem  Heights.  The 
British  under  Gen.  Howe  took  possession  of  New^  York  city,  and 
a  large  body  of  troops  was  sent  out,  under  Gen.  Howe,  in  hopes 
of  intercepting  Gen.  Washington,  exterminating,  with  one  blow, 
the  patriot  army  and  ending  the  war.  Gen.  Howe  and  his  forces 
landed  at  Throgg's  Neck,  in  this  County.  Gen.  Washington, 
correctly  interpreting  Howe's  purpose,  sent  a  detachment  to 
Throgg's  Neck  to  cheek  hini;  this  last  move  had  the  effect  of 
holding  Gen.  Howe  at  latter  place  for  five  days,  giving  Gen, 
Washington  time  to  move  his  army  in  the  direction  of  White 
Plains,  as  he,  by  this  time,  realized  that  he  would  have  to  leave 
New  York  city  in  possession  of  the  enemy.     Leaving  Fort  Wash- 

265 


266  MAI^UAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

ington,  on  the  Hudson  River,  with  a  garrison  of  3,000  men,  Gen. 
Washington,  at  the  head  of  the  remainder  of  his  army,  hurried 
along  over  King's  Bridge,  over  Valentine's  Hill,  Yonkers, 
through  j\Iiles  Square,  and  on  to  what  was  afterward  known  as 
Mount  Vernon,  crossed  Hunt's  Bridge,  spanning  the  Bronx 
River,  and  marched  along  the  east  bank  of  the  Bronx  River 
to  White  Plains,  where  the  stores  had  already  been  concen- 
trated; the  army  arrived  on  October  21,  and  camped  on  high 
ground  north  of  the  village;  their  lines  extending  from  the 
Bronx  River  over  Dusenbury's  Hill,  across  Broadway  and  east- 
ward to  the  rocky  hills  at  Horton's  Pond,  now  St.  Mary's  Lake. 
Here,  within  the  next  two  days,  breastworks  were  thrown  up. 
Gen.  Lee  arrived  from  the  South  with  troops  sufficient  to  increase 
Gen.  Washington's  army  to  25,000;  but  one-half  of  these  were 
sick  or  otherwise  unfit  for  service;  the  remaining  number  were 
raw  recruits,  farmers'  boys,  undisciplined,  mostly  un-uniformed, 
ragged,  ill-fed  and  disheartened,  and  hundreds,  their  terms  of 
enlistment  having  expired,  were  daily  leaving  the  ranks  and 
going  home.  The  situation  must  have  been  extremely  painful  to 
Gen.  Washington,  who  in  every  way  possible  endeavored  to  rally 
his  men  to  renewed  efforts  and  prepare  for  the  battle  that  was 
sure  at  hand. 

The  British  Gen.  Howe,  realizing  that  Gen.  Washington  had 
out-witted  him,  withdrew  his  forces  from  Throgg's  Neck  and 
landed  them  at  Pelham,  further  up  in  the  County.  Here  he 
mustered  an  army  of  15,000  veteran  troops,  well-disciplined  and 
well  fed,  and  decided  to  follow  Gen.  Washington  and  his  army, 
and  carry  out  his  avowed  purpose  of  extermination.  The  Brit- 
ishers marched  through  New  Roehelle,  up  the  Post  road  and  into 
Scarsdale,  where  the  patriot  army  pickets  were  met  and  driven 
in ;  the  British  lines  were  spread  eastward  over  the  Plains  from 
the  Bronx  to  the  Mamaroneck  River.  It  is  said  that  a  detach- 
ment of  British  troops  entered  White  Plains  by  way  of  Pur- 
chase, separating  from  main  force  at  New  Roehelle. 

Gen.  Washington  assigned  five  regiments  with  some  artillery, 
under  command  of  Gen.  MacDougal,  to  hold  Chatterton  Hill 
(now  in  village  of  White  Plains  and  in  town  of  Greenburgh). 

Gen.  Howe,  the  British  commander,  sent  a  strong  force,  con- 
sisting of  English  and  Hessian  troops,  to  dislodge  the  patriots  on 
Chatterton  Hill ;  these  troops  crossed  the  Bronx  at  the  ford,  sup- 
posed to  be  near  where  the  village  disposal  works  are  now  located, 
and  marched  along  Mill  Lane,  covered  by  the  fire  of  the  British 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  267 

cannon  located  on  the  plateau  on  the  east  side  of  the  Bronx ;  sud- 
denly facing  to  the  left,  in  a  long  line,  they  rushed  up  the  steep 
and  rugged  hill  in  the  face  of  a  fierce  and  deadly  fire  from  the 
summit.  The  trained  British  soldiers  pushed  on  in  their  charge 
regardless  of  results,  that  their  comrades  were  falling  fast  under 
the  raking  fire  of  the  patriots;  it  appeared  as  if  the  latter  had 
won  the  day,  when  two  regiments  of  Hessian  troops  appeared 
over  the  brow  of  the  hill  from  the  west  and  opened  a  merciless 
cross-fire  on  the  American  defenders  of  the  hill.  The  tide  was 
turned  by  overwhelming  numbers  of  the  enemy;  the  Americans, 
to  prevent  a  further  loss  of  men,  beat  a  hasty,  though  orderly, 
retreat  down  the  hill,  across  the  bridge  and  up  to  Gen.  AVash- 
ington's  camp  on  Dusenbury's  Hill,  leaving  Chatterton  Hill  in 
possession  of  the  enemy.  The  battle  was  short,  but  decisive. 
The  loss  of  the  Americans  was  not  over  one  hundred ;  the  British 
loss  was  three  times  that  number. 

Had  the  British  General  followed  up  his  advantage,  and  car- 
ried out  his  purpose  of  annihilation,  history  might  have  a  dif- 
ferent story  to  tell  to-day  relative  to  the  result  of  the  American 
war  for  Independence. 

Instead  of  continuing  the  attack,  Gen.  Howe  rested  in  camp 
three  days  waiting  for  troops  he  had  ordered  from  New  Rochelle 
and  New  York. 

Gen.  Washington  retreated  with  his  troops  to  the  heights  of 
North  Castle,*  a  few  miles  north  of  White  Plains;  here  breast- 
works were  thrown  up,  and  the  soldiers  settled  down  as  if  in- 
tending to  remain  there  all  winter. 

Gen.  Howe  decided  not  to  molest  Gen.  Washington  and  his 
army  in  their  impregnable  position  on  the  North  Castle  high 
hills,  believing  success  doubtful  even  after  a  long  winter 
siege;  therefore  Howe  moved  his  army  to  Dobbs  Ferry  and 
thence  by  the  river  road  towards  New  York  city.  On  his  way 
Howe  was  able  to  capture  Fort  Washington,  owing  to  the  treach- 
ery of  an  officer  of  the  garrison,  and  make  prisoners  of  the  3,000 
officers  and  men  Gen.  Washington  had  left  there  on  his  way  to 
White  Plains. 

On  November  9,  1776,  Gen.  Washington  and  the  main  body  of 
his  army  broke  camp  in  North  Castle  and  marched  across  the 
County  and  into  New  Jersey.  Gen.  Lee,  with  a  detachment  of 
several  thousand  troops,  remained  in  North  Castle  for  two  weeks, 
to  look  after  Howe  in  case  he  should  decide  to  come  back. 


*See  account  under  title  "Town    of   North   Castle. 


268  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

The  night  following  the  departure  of  the  British  army  from 
White  Plains  a  number  of  Massachusetts  Militia  became  hilarious 
and  to  celebrate  the  departure  of  the  British,  set  fire  to  the 
County  Court  House,  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  many  pri- 
vate dwellings  and  stores  in  the  village  of  White  Plains.  (See 
page  33,  volume  1.) 

The  flag  carried  by  the  patriot  army  during  the  Battle  of 
White  Plains  was  that  known  as  "  the  battle  flag  of  White 
Plains,"  and  bore  the  "Liberty  Cap,"  together  with  the  sword 
and  staft'  and  the  words  of  Patrick  Henry,  "Liberty  or  Death." 

The  stars  and  stripes  as  the  national  flag  was  not  adopted 
until  June  14,  1777. 

The  Battle  of  White  Plains  taught  the  cautious  Washington 
the  advantages  his  enemy  possessed  in  organization,  arms  and 
discipline.  These  were  difficulties  to  be  mastered  by  his  own 
vigilance  and  care.  Drawing  ofl:'  his  troops  to  the  heights,  in 
and  around  North  Castle,  he  had  bidden  defiance  to  the  attacks 
of  the  royal  army,  and  Sir  William  Howe  fell  back  to  the  enjoy- 
ment of  his  barren  conquest — a  deserted  city.  Never  afterward 
did  the  opposing  armies  make  the  trial  of  strength  within  the 
limits  of  Westchester  County. 

The  135th  anniversary  of  the  Battle  of  White  Plains  was 
observed  on  October  28  (known  as  Battle  Day),  1911,  with  a 
patriotic  celebration,  during  which  an  American  flag  was  un- 
furled from  a  tall  pole  at  the  top  of  Chatterton  Hill.  Arrange- 
ments perfected  by  the  White  Plains  Chapter  of  the  Daughters 
of  the  American  Revolution  provided  for  a  parade  of  the 
militia,  war  veterans,  civic  societies,  school  children,  etc.,  ad- 
dresses and  vocal  and  instrumental  music.  It  was  estimated 
that  fully  five  thousand  people  attended  the  ceremonies. 

Mrs.  Joseph  S.  Wood,  of  Mount  Vernon,  State  Regent,  Daugh- 
ters of  the  American  Revolution,  made  the  address  of  greeting 
to  the  assembled  people. 

Former  Village  President  Frederick  S.  Barnum,  of  White 
Plains,  delivered  the  oration. 


COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY  AND  ENOCH 

CROSBY. 

The  Committee  of  Safety  for  the  State  had  its  headquarters 
in  White  Plains,  this  County,  at  the  commencement  of  the 
American  Revolution.  John  Jay,  of  Bedford,  who  later  held 
many  official  positions,  Pierre  Van  Cortlandt,  of  Croton 
Landing,  who  later  was  the  first  Lieutenant-Governor  of 
the  State,  in  1777,  and  other  residents  of  Westchester 
County,  who  became  prominent  by  other  evidences  of  patriotism 
during  the  trying  times  of  the  Revolution,  were  members  of 
this  Committee  on  whose  heads  the  British  Government  had 
placed  a  price.  This  Committee  held  sessions  in  White  Plains 
as  long  as  it  was  deemed  advisable;  later  meetings  were  held 
at  Fishkill  Landing  and  at  other  points  along  the  Hudson  River 
and  the  Committee  was  ever  active  until  the  closing  hours  of 
the  struggle  for  American  Independence.  The  country  was  full 
of  Tories  operating  secretly  against  the  loyal  Americans,  and 
the  Committee  of  Safety  found  it  desirable  to  get  the  fullest 
information  regarding  Tory  movements.  The  question  as  to 
how  best  to  get  this  information  proved  difficult  of  solution. 
A  secret  agent  who  could  mingle  with  Tory  settlements,  become 
a  part  of  same,  and  become  possessed  of  secrets  as  to  contem- 
plated action  in  support  of  the  King's  army  by  said  Tories,  and 
later  contrive  to  escape  and  bring  the  valuable  news  to  the  Com- 
mittee of  Safety,  was  the  sort  of  man  much  needed  at  this  time. 

In  the  fall  of  1776  such  a  person  presented  himself,  as  if  in 
answer  to  the  sincere  prayers  of  members  of  the  Committee. 
This  was  Enoch  Crosby,  a  young  man  twenty-six  years  of  age, 
six  feet  in  height,  slender  in  build.  He  was  a  shoemaker  who 
had  recently  finished  his  time  as  a  shoemaker's  apprentice. 
While  working  at  the  cobbler's  bench  he  heard  his  Country's 
call  for  volunteers  to  join  the  American  Army  then  in  the  field ; 
inspired  even  then  by  particularly  strong  patriotism  that  char- 
acterized and  influenced  him  all  through  his  career,  he  laid 
down  his  implements  of  trade  and  hastened  to  tender  his  ser- 
vices as  an  American  soldier.  He  had  served  in  Canada  under 
Generals  Schuyler  and  Montgomery.    In  September,  1776,  Crosby 

269 


270  MANUAL  AND  aVIL  LIST. 

decided  that  he  wanted  to  lead  the  strenuous  life  of  a  soldier, 
that  he  desired  to  be  engaged  in  the  thickest  of  the  fray,  where 
he  could  make  a  record  that  would  prove  everlasting  and  long 
remembered.  With  this  intention  he  started  on  a  journey  of 
many  miles ;  from  Connecticut,  where  he  was  temporarily  resid- 
ing, through  AVestchester  County  to  Peekskill,  near  which  place 
he  learned  the  American  Army  lay.  As  his  youth  had  been 
spent  in  the  vicinity  of  Peekskill,  he  was  familiar  with  the 
country  in  the  neighborhood,  as  he  was  with  the  upper  part  of 
the  County  generally.  In  his  travels,  as  night  overtook  him, 
he  was  compelled  to  seek  lodging  at  farm  houses  en  route;  at 
such  times,  in  conversation  with  farmers  and  members  of  their 
families,  he  became  acquainted  with  the  prevailing  sentiment 
relative,  to  the  war;  many  of  the  families  with  whom  he 
lodged  manifested  strong  Tory  affiliation,  and  many  were  the 
invitations  he  received  to  tarry  and  attend  secret  Tory  gather- 
ings for  the  formation  of  military  companies  to  enlist  in  aid 
of  the  King.  At  first  his  determination  to  push  on  and  join 
the  American  Army  up  the  river  influenced  him  to  leave  these 
Tory  localities,  but  his  meeting  on  all  sides  what  his  patriotic 
nature  condemned  as  rank  disloyalty  on  the  part  of  certain  of 
his  countrymen  had  the  effect  of  changing  his  entire  course  as 
to  his  duty  in  the  desire  to  aid  his  struggling  countrymen.  He 
believed  he  saw  a  way  by  which  information,  forced  upon  him 
by  Tories  he  met  along  the  roadside,  might  be  made  valuable  if 
turned  to  account  in  benefiting  the  cause  for  which  he  was  will- 
ing to  give  his  life.  He  considered  the  risks  he  would  encounter, 
and  realized  that  the  penalty  for  failure  would  be  the  loss  of  his 
life;  yet  he  did  not  falter  in  his  determination  to  act  when  his 
duty  was  made  plain.  From  this  time  on  he  accepted  readily 
requests  extended  to  attend  meetings  held  by  Tories  to  devise 
ways  and  means  for  the  enlistment  and  equipment  of  soldiers 
to  fight  for  the  King  and  against  their  more  patriotic  neighbors. 

Soon  Crosby  learned  that,  though  single  handed  in  an  extra 
hazardous  undertaking,  he  could  accomplish  more  to  encourage 
and  aid  his  fellow-patriots  than  he  would  have  done  had  he 
persisted  in  his  first  intention  of  joining  the  American  Army 
iccated  up  the  river. 

The  Committee  of  Safety,  in  session  at  White  Plains,  was  not 
long  left  in  ignorance  as  to  Crosby  and  the  value  he  might 
prove  if  his  services  could  be  secured  and  directed  by  the  Com- 
mittee.    Accordingly,  Crosby  was  asked  to  meet  with  the  Com- 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  271 

mittee  in  White  Plains.  After  thanking  him  for  services  ren- 
dered, the  Committee  assured  him  that  he  had  not  only  won 
their  confidence  but  also  the  high  regard  of  every  true  Ameri- 
can familiar  with  loyal  aid  rendered  in  his  honest  and  sincere 
manner.  It  was  explained  to  Crosby  that  more  drastic  measures 
had  to  be  employed  to  defeat  attempts  of  Tories  in  their  move- 
ments to  prevent  enlistments  in  the  American  Army  and  in 
devious  ways  to  contribute  to  the  success  of  the  King. 

Crosby  explained  to  the  Committee  his  intention  of  going  into 
the  army.  It  was  at  the  Committee's  earnest  urging  that  Crosby 
consented  to  adopt  the  role  of  spy,  instead  of  going  into  the 
army.  It  was  not  necessary  to  explain  to  him  that  his  choice 
was  an  extremely  dangerous  service.  Crosby  fully  realized  it; 
he  was  full  of  patriotic  valor  and  he  did  not  hesitate  to  accept 
the  proposition  of  the  Committee;  in  return  for  services  he 
might  render  in  his  country's  behalf  he  merely  stipulated  that 
if  he  fell  doing  his  duty,  full  justice  should  be  done  his  memory. 
This  the  Com.mittee  gladly  promised. 

How  well  Enoch  Crosby  proved  himself  worthy  of  the  con- 
fidence reposed  in  him,  history  tells  us.  How  he  mingled  with 
Tories,  became  possessed  of  their  secrets  unfolded  at  midnight, 
out-of-the-way  places  of  meeting,  how  he  led  bands  of  Conti- 
nental soldiers  to  such  places  and  captured  whole  companies  of 
Tories ;  how  he  was  mainly  instrumental  in  driving  from  locali- 
ties along  the  Hudson  River,  through  Westchester  and  Putnam 
Counties,  residents  known  to  be  Tories  and  others  secretly  in 
sympathy  with  the  British  Army.  His  life  in  these  trouble- 
some days  was  certainly  an  eventful  one.  His  mission  was  a 
secret  one;  that  he  was  the  trusted  agent  of  the  Committee  of 
Safety  was  supposed  to  be  known  only  to  members  of  the  Com- 
mittee. He  had  many  narrow  escapes,  and  frequently  he  had 
a  realizing  impression  that  his  life  was  at  stake.  When  he  fell 
into  the  hands  of  the  Continental  forces  and  believed  to  be  a 
British  spy  to  pay  the  sentence  by  death,  the  Committee  had  to 
secretly  exert  influence  to  have  his  life  spared  and  secure  his 
liberty;  when  arrested  by  the  British  as  an  American  spy,  and 
judged  to  die,  as  on  one  occasion  or  more,  he  contrived  to  escape 
and  return  to  his  chosen  work  of  attendance  on  Tories  in  the 
interest  of  the  American  cause.  Owing  to  the  fact  that  he  had 
to  represent  himself  as  being  in  sympathy  with  the  invading 
British  to  curry  favor  with  Tories,  and  the  necessity  of  his 
being  seen  frequently  in  close  intimacy  with  Tories,  naturally 


272  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

led  the  uninformed  to  believe  that  he  was  himself  a  Tory,  there- 
fore his  arrest  by  Continental  troops  is  not  surprising.  His 
getting  mixed  up  with  the  "  lower  party,"  as  the  British  troops 
in  New  York  city  and  vicinity  were  known  to  be,  might  also  be 
expected. 

Enoch  Crosby  did  not  fail  in  what  he  undertook  to  do  for 
his  country;  though  he  did  not  fall,  the  Committee  of  Safety 
endeavored,  with  all  its  power,  that  full  justice  be  done  his 
memory.  Fellow-patriots  were  made  to  know  him  and  love  him, 
for  what  he  did,  when  and  where  his  services  were  most  needed. 

After  the  Revolution  Enoch  Crosby,  and  his  brother  Benja- 
min, purchased  from  the  Commissioners  of  Forfeiture  a  farm 
of  256  acres  in  the  village  of  Southeast,  where  he  resided  during 
the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was  happily  married  to  a  widow, 
resident  of  Somers  in  this  County.  For  many  years  he  was  a 
Justice  of  the  Peace,  was  one  of  the  Associate  Judges  of  Common 
Pleas  in  1812-13,  and  Supervisor  of  Southeast  during  these  years. 
He  died  June  26,  1835,  at  the  age  of  85  years,  5  months  and  21 
days. 

Enoch  Crosby  was  born  in  Harwich,  Mass.,  a  son  of  Thomas 
and  Elizabeth  Crosby,  on  January  4,  1750.  When  Crosby  was 
three  years  old  his  parents  removed  to  Putnam  County  and 
settled  in  a  locality  not  far  from  the  Westchester  County  line. 
When  sixteen  years  of  age  Enoch  left  home  to  depend  upon  his 
own  ability;  his  parents'  limited  means  prohibited  their  giving 
him  much  assistance  to  help  him  on  his  way.  That  determina- 
tion and  grit,  that  stood  him  well  in  after  years,  were  his  prin- 
cipal resources  now.  He  became  an  apprentice  to  a  shoemaker 
in  Peekskill  and  completed  this  service  when  he  became  21  years 
of  age;  shortly  after  this  he  left  the  bench  for  the  life  of  a 
soldier. 

His  remains  are  interred  in  the  local  cemetery  in  Southeast 
township,  over  which  has  been  erected  a  tombstone  suitably 
inscribed. 

Enoch  Crosby  is  generally  believed  to  have  been  the  original 
of  "  Harvey  Birch,"  the  hero  of  James  Fenimore  Cooper's 
famous  novel,  "  The  Spy;"  the  scenes  of  that  story  being  laid 
in  Westch-?ster  County. 

Cooper  tells  how  his  hero,  Harvey  Birch,  "near  the  close  of 
the  year  1780.  as  a  solitary  traveler,  was  seen  pursuing  his  way 
throuG'b  oD'^  of  the  numerous  little  valleys  of  Westchester." 
The  Cnnnty  op  Wo.st Chester,  at  that  period,  after  the  British  had 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  273 

obtained  possession  of  New  York,  became  common  ground,  in 
which  both  parties  continued  to  act  for  the  remainder  of  the 
war  of  the  Revolution.  As  Cooper  truthfully  asserts,  "  a  large 
proportion  of  its  inhabitants,  either  restrained  by  their  attach- 
ments or  influenced  by  their  fears,  affected  a  neutrality  they 
did  not  feel.  The  lower  towns  of  the  county  were,  of  course, 
more  particularly  under  the  dominion  of  the  crown,  while  the 
upper  towns,  finding  a  security  from  the  vicinity  of  the  Con- 
tinental troops,  were  bold  in  asserting  their  revolutionary  opin- 
ions and  their  right  to  govern  themselves.  Great  numbers,  how- 
ever, wore  masks,  which  even  to  this  day  (in  1822  the  year  in 
which  Cooper  wrote  his  book)  had  not  been  thrown  aside;  and 
many  an  individual  has  gone  to  the  tomb,  stigmatized  as  a  foe 
to  the  rights  of  his  countrymen,  while,  in  secret,  he  has  been 
the  useful  agent  of  the  leaders  of  the  Revolution;  and,  on  the 
other  hand,  could  the  hidden  repositories  of  divers  flaming 
patriots  have  been  opened  to  the  light  of  day,  royal  protectiona 
would  have  been  discovered  concealed  under  piles  of  British 
gold."  Both  Washington  and  Sir  Henry  Clinton  had  an 
unusual  number  of  secret  agents  scattered  throughout  West- 
chester County;  during  the  war  that  partook  so  much  of  a 
domestic  character,  and  in  which  the  contending  parties  were 
people  of  the  same  blood  and  language,  it  could  scarcely  be 
otherwise. 

It  is  generally  accepted  as  a  fact  that  Enoch  Crosby  was  the 
man  referred  to  by  the  member  of  the  Committee  of  Safety 
who  related  to  Mr.  Cooper  the  story  used  as  the  foundation  of 
the  latter 's  novel  and  the  creation  of  the  character  "  Harvey 
Birch."  Though  Mr.  Cooper  distinctly  states  that  his  inform- 
ant did  not  mention  the  name  of  his  agent,  from  more  recent 
information  is  gained  the  knowledge  identifying  Harvey  Birch 
as  Enoch  Crosby,  and  John  Jay  as  the  member  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Safety  who  related  Crosby's  story  to  Mr.  Cooper. 
At  the  date  of  Mr.  Jay's  death,  Mr.  Crosby  was  still  alive, 
residing  not  many  miles  distant  from  the  residence  of  Mr. 
Jay  in  Westchester  County.  Had  Mr.  Jay,  in  his  latter  days, 
thought  it  advisable,  he  could  have  brought  the  author  Cooper 
and  ex-Secret  Agent  Crosby  together. 

It  is  understood  that  Mr.  Cooper  refers  to  John  Jay  in  the 
introduction  of  his  book,  "  The  Spy,"  when  he  says:  "  Many 
years  since,  the  writer  of  this  volume  was  at  the  residence  of 
an  illustrious  man,  who  had  been  employed  in  various  situa- 


274  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

tions  of  high  trust  during  the  darkest  days  of  the  American 
Revolution."  It  is  known  that  both  Jay  and  Cooper  were 
residents  of  AVestchester  County  at  the  time  "  The  Spy  "  waa 
written  (in  1822),  and  for  several  years  after. 

It  is  quite  evident  that  it  was  Mr.  Jay  who  gave  Mr.  Cooper 
the  facts  relative  to  the  employment  of  Crosby  as  a  secret  agent, 
of  a  secret  committee  named  by  Congress,  to  counteract  the 
influence  of  Tories  in  endeavors  to  "  raise  various  corps  of 
provincial  troops,  to  be  banded  with  those  from  Europe,  to 
reduce  the  young  republic  to  subjection."  "  Of  this  Com- 
mittee," says  Mr.  Cooper,  "  Mr. ,  the  narrator  of  the 

anecdote,  was  chairman."  As  Mr.  Jay  was  chairman  of  that 
committee,  it  proves,  quite  conclusively,  that  Mr.  Cooper  secured 
facts  for  his  story  from  the  distinguished  Mr.  Jay.  Again, 
Mr.   Cooper  refers  to  his  informant  in  this  wise:     '*  In  the 

year Mr. was  named  to  high   and  honorable 

employment  at  a  European  Court.  (In  1794  Mr.  Jay  was 
appointed  Minister  to  England.)  Before  vacating  his  seat  in 
Congress  (Mr.  Jay  was  member  of  the  first  Congress  and  con- 
tinued in  Congress  until  there  was  a  demand  for  his  patriotic 
services  in  other  fields)  he  reported  to  that  body  an  outline  of 
the  circumstances  related,  necessarily  suppressing  the  name  of 
his  agent,  and  demanding  an  appropriation  in  behalf  of  a  man 
who  had  been  of  so  much  use,  at  so  great  risk.  A  suitable  sum 
was  voted,  and  its  delivery  was  confided  to  the  chairman  (Mr. 

Jay)  of  the  Secret  Committee.     Mr. took  the  necessary 

means  to  summon  his  agent  to  a  personal  interview.  (It  is 
understood  that  Crosby  was  at  that  time  located  on  a  farm  not 
far  distant.)  They  met  in  a  wood  at  midnight.  Here  Mr. 
complimented  his  companion  on  his  fidelity  and  adroit- 
ness; explained  the  necessity  of  their  communications  being 
closed;  and  finally  tendered  the  money.  The  other  drew  back 
and  declined  receiving  it.  '  The  country  has  need  of  all  its 
means, '  he  said ;  '  as  for  myself,  I  can  work,  or  gain  a  liveli- 
hood in  various  ways.'  Persuasion  was  useless,  for  patriotism 
was  uppermost  in  the  heart  of  this  remarkable  individual;  and 

Mr. departed,  bearing  with  him  the  gold  he  had  brought 

and  a  deep  respect  for  the  man  who  had  so  long  hazarded  his 
life,  unrequited,  for  the  cause  they  served  in  common.  The 
writer  is  under  an  impression  that  at  a  later  day  the  agent  of 
Mr. consented  to  receive  a  remuneration  for  what  he 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  275 

had  done;  but  it  was  not  until  his  country  was  entirely  in  a 
condition  to  bestow  it." 

In  fact,  Mr.  Crosby  was  on  several  occasions  questioned  as 
to  his  being  the  origin  of  Mr.  Cooper's  story,  and  as  to  he  being 
the  "  spy  "  alluded  to,  and  Mr.  Crosby  never  made  denial. 

Mr.  Crosby's  son,  Dr.  Edward  Crosby,  resided  in  Somertown 
Plain  many  years,  removed  to  Mount  Kisco  in  1876,  where  he 
died  in  1886. 


ITEMS  OF  INTEREST. 
Mrs.  Flora  Adams  Darling,  founder  of  the  Daughters  of  the 
Revolution  and  also  the  Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution, 
who  died  recently,  was  the  widow  of  the  Confederate  gen- 
eral, Edward  Irving  Darling,  and  a  sister  of  John  Quincy 
Adams,  of  New  York.  In  1864,  when  her  husband  was  dying 
in  the  South,  she  started  to  him  under  a  safe  conduct  issued 
by  General  Banks.  She  was  arrested  by  the  Federal  military 
authorities,  regardless  of  her  credentials,  and  her  personal  prop- 
erty confiscated.  Congress  later  awarded  her  $5,682  for  her 
claim. 


Recently,  in  a  Congressional  debate,  the  question  was  raised 
when  and  where  the  Civil  War  closed.  Lee  surrendered  at 
Spottsylvania  Court-House  April  9,  1865;  Johnston  at  Durham 
Station,  N.  C,  April  26;  Taylor  at  Citronelle,  Ala.,  May  6; 
while  the  battle  of  Palmito  Ranch,  in  Texas,  was  fought  May  13, 
the  Confederates  winning  the  victory.  As  a  matter  of  conven- 
ience the  Government  decided  that  the  war  closed  June  1,  1865, 
while  the  Supreme  Court,  as  appeared  by  citations  in  the  debate, 
has  assigned  different  dates  to  mark  the  legal  termination  of 
the  war.  It  is  really  said  to  have  closed  at  different  times  in 
different  States.  By  an  act  passed  in  March,  1867,  Congress, 
for  certain  purposes  it  had  then  in  mind,  even  decided  that  the 
war  ended  officially  on  August  20,  1866. 

As  to  the  place  where  the  last  gun  was  fired,  that  distinction 
appears  to  belong  to  Texas.  Representative  Sheppard  of  that 
State  pointed  out  that  the  battle  of  Palmito  Ranch  was  fought 
on  the  spot  where  nineteen  years  earlier  Gen.  Taylor  with  2,000 


276  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

American  troops  defeated  a  Mexican  army  of  6,000  under  Arista, 
at  Palo  Alto,  the  opening  conflict  of  the  Mexican  war. 

Although  the  coincidence  that  the  opening  battle  of  the 
Mexican  War  and  the  closing  encounter  of  the  Civil  War  were 
fought  on  the  same  spot  has  no  significance,  the  fact  in  itself  is 
memorable,  and  in  time,  as  Mr.  Sheppard  suggests,  may  be 
commemorated  by  a  suitable  monument. 


This  County  has  three  Militia  Companies,  N.  Y.  S.  N.  G.  at 
Yonkers,  Mount  Vernon  and  White  Plains,  and  two  State  Naval 
Militia  organizations,  at  New  Rochelle  and  Ossining. 


THE  BIG  BLIZZARD. 

March  12,  1888,  was  the  date  on  which  the  Great  Blizzard 
visited  this  section  of  the  globe— an  event  unique  in  the  weather 
history  of  New  York. 

Railroad  commuters  residing  in  this  county  and  doing  busi- 
ness in  New  York  were  kept  days  from  their  homes.  Horse 
cars  were  the  rule  then  in  New  York  city,  the  cable  road  in 
One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fifth  street  being  the  only  exception. 
The  elevated  trains  were  drawn  by  the  bobtailed  steam  engines 
whose  smoke  and  noise  are  still  remembered  as  nuisances  patheti- 
cally long  endured.  These  means  of  transit  yielded  quickly  to 
the  advance  of  the  heavy  snow,  under  command  of  the  fierce 
wind,  and  walking  became  the  order  of  the  day  for  anybody 
who  was  forced  to  get  anywhere,  even  then  through  tunnels 
made  in  the  deep  snow. 

Supplies  were  shut  ofi'  as  if  by  a  military  cordon.  Food 
prices  soared.  Babies  cried  in  vain  for  milk.  Condensed  milk 
took  the  place  of  fresh  dairy  product  in  ordinary  combinations 
from  oyster  stew  to  eafe-au-lait.  The  schools  closed  or  suffered 
a  decimated  attendance.  Among  the  sights  of  the  time,  briefly 
witnessed,  were  dogs  and  people  crossing  the  East  River  on  the 
ice.  The  weather  siege  had  its  effect  on  the  death-roll  too,  and 
Roscoe  Conkling's  name  was  among  those  finally  on  the  list  of 
the  blizzard's  dead. 


New  York  city  has  had,  including  Mayor  Gaynor,  in  1911, 
seventy-nine  different  Mayors  in  its  history. 


PRESIDENTIAL  ELECTION  IN  EIGHTEEN 

SIXTY. 

The  Presidential  ejection  which  stands  prominent  fis  the 
most  momentous  in  the  history  of  our  Nation  was  the  four- 
cornered  fight  in  1860. 

Then  we  had  as  candidates  for  President,  Douglas,  Democrat ; 
Lincoln,  Republican;  Breckinridge,  Democrat,  and  Bell,  Inde- 
pendent, the  latter  the  candidate  of  newly  organized  Constitu- 
tional Union  party. 

With  the  heretofore  victorious  Democratic  party  split  into 
two  factions,  each  determined  to  outdo  the  other,  and  an  inde- 
pendent party  nominee  in  the  field,  the  friends  of  Abraham 
Lincoln,  the  Republican  candidate,  were  quite  confident  of 
success.  Yet  the  latter  realized  that  the  unexpected  might  hap- 
pen, as  it  frequently  does. 

There  was  a  possibility  in  that  campaign  that  the  opposition 
to  Lincoln  could  poll  enough  electoral  votes  to  prevent  him 
from  getting  a  majority,  and  a  hope  that  the  election  thus 
would  be  thrown  into  the  House  of  Representatives.  It  was 
figured  that  in  a  House  election  the  best  Lincoln  could  do 
would  be  to  get  the  votes  of  fifteen  States,  while  Breckinridge 
could  expect  twelve  States.  The  other  States  would  probably 
go  to  Douglas  first  and  then  to  Breckinridge,  giving  the  latter 
the  Presidency;  or,  failing  that,  Lane,  the  Vice-Presidential 
candidate  on  the  Breckinridge  ticket,  in  the  mean  time  would 
be  elected  Vice-President  by  the  Senate  and  would  succeed  to 
the  Presidency. 

But  the  situation  feared  by  the  friends  of  Lincoln  did  not 
present  itself.  The  result  of  the  election  proved  quite  positive 
in  favor  of  a  change  in  the  political  affairs  of  the  Nation.  Lin- 
coln, according  to  the  returns,  had  secured  a  necessary  majority 
of  the  electoral  vote,  although  receiving  only  two-fifths  of  the 
popular  vote.  There  was  a  fusion  of  the  anti-Lincoln  tickets 
in  the  States  of  New  York,  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey,  but 
this  fusion  availed  little  as  to  the  result. 

The  division  in  the  National  Democratic  party,  it  is  explained, 
came  about  in  this  way:  The  National  nominating  convention 
of  the  party  was  regularly  called  to  meet  in  Charleston,  S.  C. 

277 


278  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

(Judge  Thomas  Smith,  of  Yonkers,  attended  as  a  delegate, 
representing  the  Congressional  district  of  which  Westchester 
County  was  a  part.) 

Douglas  went  to  the  Convention  with  a  majority  of  the  dele- 
gates in  his  favor;  but  California  and  Oregon  voting  with  the 
South  gave  the  anti-Douglas  forces  control  of  the  committees, 
and  the  Convention  soon  came  to  a  disagreement  over  the  word- 
ing of  the  platform.  The  Douglas  men  wanted  a  platform 
similar  to  the  one  adopted  by  the  Convention  nominating 
Buchanan  four  years  previous.  Those  in  opposition  to  Douglas, 
being  in  majority  on  the  platform  committee,  reported  a  plat- 
form pronouncing  slaves  property,  and  gave  a  citizen  the  right 
to  take  them  wherever  he  would.  About  fifty  bolted  the  Con- 
vention, the  anti-Douglas  platform  was  adopted;  the  Conven- 
tion, unable  to  agree  on  candidates  to  be  nominated,  had  to 
agree  to  an  adjournment — it  was  decided  to  meet  several  weeks 
later  in  Baltimore,  Md.,  the  more  conservative  hoping  that  when 
they  again  met  an  amicable  settlement  of  differences  would  be 
brought  about  and  the  destruction  of  the  party  avoided. 

The  reassembling  of  the  Convention  in  Baltimore  found  little 
apparent  change  in  the  sentiment  of  the  delegates.  When  the 
Southern  delegates  discovered  that  the  Douglas  men  were  likely 
to  control  the  Convention  and  carry  off  the  prizes,  the  South- 
erners promptly  withdrew.  The  Convention  proceeded  to  busi- 
ness and  gave  Douglas  the  regular  party  nomination.  The  bolt- 
ing Convention  chose  John  C.  Breckinridge,  Vice-President 
under  Buchanan,  as  its  nominee  for  President,  and  the  bolters 
from  the  Charleston  Convention  endorsed  the  nomination  of 
Breckinridge,  at  a  Convention  held  in  Richmond,  Va. 

To  his  credit  it  should  be  said  that  Douglas  regretted  very 
much  the  happenings  that  promised  to  disrupt  his  party.  He 
sent  a  letter  to  the  Baltimore  Convention  saying  that  if  he  stood 
in  the  way  of  harmony  his  name  should  be  removed  from  con- 
sideration. When  this  letter  was  suppressed  by  overzealous 
friends,  he  sent  a  telegram  containing  same  declarations,  to  the 
chairman  of  the  New  York  State  delegation,  but  the  telegram 
shared  a  fate  similar  to  that  of  the  letter,  and  Douglas  was 
nominated.  In  a  speech  on  the  stump  he  said  that  if  he  had 
received  the  unanimous  nomination  of  his  party  on  the  platform 
adopted  by  the  party  four  years  before,  Lincoln  would  have 
secured  no  other  electoral  votes  than  those  of  Massachusetts  and 
Vermont. 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  279 

Later,  Bell,  the  Constitutional  Union  candidate  for  President, 
suggested  that  Douglas,  Breckinridge  and  himself  withdraw  as 
candidates  and  concentrate  on  one  man  to  oppose  Lincoln, 
Breckinridge  expressed  a  willingness  to  agree  to  such  an  arrange- 
ment, but  Douglas  declared  that  matters  had  gone  too  far  for 
him  to  withdraw,  since  he  believed  that  his  withdrawal  would 
mean  that  many  of  his  supporters  would  rally  to  the  aid  of 
Lincoln. 


ITEMS    OF    INTEREST. 

The  salary  of  the  President  of  the  United  States  is  $75,000 
per  annum,  with  a  special  allowance  of  $25,000  per  annum 
for  traveling  expenses.  The  salary  of  a  Vice-President  is 
$12,000  per  annum.  The  salary  of  a  cabinet  officer  is  $12,000 
per  annum. 


The  Court  of  Common  Pleas  of  New  York,  which  had  been 
in  existence  for  two  hundred  years,  was  merged  by  the  new 
Constitution  into  the  Supreme  Court  on  January  1,  1896. 


The  name  of  Pope  Pius  X  is  Giuseppe  Sarto  (Joseph  Taylor, 
in  English). 


In  resigning  the  Governorship  of  New  Jersey  on  the  eve  of 
his  inauguration  as  President  of  the  United  States,  Gov.  Wilson 
made  a  speech  to  the  Legislature  in  which  occurred  these  words, 
foreshadowing  the  spirit  which  is  now  guiding  his  Administra- 
tion: 

' '  The  rarest  thing  in  public  life  is  courage,  and  the  man  who 
has  courage  is  marked  for  distinction;  the  man  who  has  it  not 
is  marked  for  extinction  and  deserves  submersion.  The  people 
of  this  country  are  going  to  be  served  by  conscience  and  not 
by  expediency." 


Of  all  the  stately  Colonial  houses  that  once  were  the  pride 
of  New  York  only  two  survive,  the  Roger  Morris  house,  com- 
monly known  as  the  Jumel  Mansion,  and  the  Van  Cortlandt 


280  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

house  in  Van  Cortlandt  Park.  These  have  been  preserved  to 
us  after  many  struggles,  and  we  ought  to  value  them  as  a 
heritage  from  the  golden  days  of  our  fathers,  and  as  interesting 
examples  of  domestic  architecture.  The  question  is,  how  much 
longer,  in  this  era  of  progress,  will  these  buildings  be  per- 
mitted to  stand? 


AVilliam  Gaston  Hamilton,  son  of  John  Church  Hamilton, 
and  grandson  of  General  Alexander  Hamilton,  first  United 
States  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  born  September  15,  1832, 
died  at  his  home  in  New  York  city  on  January  23,  1913. 


The  Interstate  Commerce  bill  passed  Congress  and  was  en- 
acted into  law  in  1887,  and  gave  life  to  the  then  latent  powers 
of  the  Constitution  over  commerce  between  States.  The  law 
was  at  first  considered  a  novelty,  but  much  of  the  political  and 
industrial  history  of  the  United  States  for  almost  a  generation 
has  been  influenced  by  it. 


An  act  of  the  State  Legislature,  passed  April  30,  1900,  Chap. 
699,  enabled  the  United  States  Government  to  purchase  from 
New  York  city  a  part  of  Hart's  Island  located  in  Westchester 
County,  the  said  land  to  be  used  for  the  purpose  of  the  erec- 
tion  of  a  light  house  or  light  houses,  and  a  fog  signal  station. 


South  Carolina  in  convention,  on  December  20,  1860,  adopted 
the  ordinance  of  secession.  It  is  said  that  this  convention  was 
mostly  composed  of  gray-headed  men;  the  youngest  being  over 
thirty  years  of  age. 


Mrs.  Gore,  wife  of  the  blind  Senator  Thomas  P.  Gore,  from 
Oklahoma,  graduated  from  a  law  school  so  as  to  help  her  has- 
band.  He  collaborates  with  her  on  his  speeches,  and  when  he 
wants  to  memorize  a  fine  oration,  she  reads  it  to  him  until  he 
knows  it  by  heart. 


HOW     APPARENTLY     UNIMPORTANT     INCIDENTS 
CHANGE    THE    COURSE    OF    HISTORY. 

By  Hon.  Chauncey  M,  Depew.* 

In  1864  the  late  Judge  Robertson  of  AA^estchester  and  myself 
went  to  the  National  Republican  Convention  at  Baltimore  (which 
was  to  nominate  President  Lincoln  for  the  second  term),  by  way 
of  AVashington,  in  order  to  consult  with  Secretary  of  State 
AVilliam  H.  Seward,  our  State  leader.  AVe  dined  with  Mr. 
Seward,  and  after  dinner  he  told  us  that  it  had  been  thought 
Avise  by  the  National  leaders  of  the  party  in  renominating 
President  Lincoln,  to  drop  Vice-President  Hannibal  Hamlin, 
who  was  a  straight  Republican,  and  nominate  a  AVar  Demo- 
crat in  his  stead.  There  had  been  a  general  agreement  upon 
Daniel  S.  Dickinson  of  New  York  for  the  place.  Mr.  Seward 
said  that  he  could  not  speak  for  the  President,  nor  would  the 
President  take  any  position,  but  for  himself  he  was  opposed 
to  the  nomination  of  Dickinson.  In  his  own  contests,  covering 
many  years,  with  Mr.  Dickinson  as  the  leader  of  the  opposi- 
tion, he  had  found  him  the  most  bitter  of  partisans  and  very 
narrow.  He  believed  that  if  by  any  accident  the  President 
was  removed  and  Dickinson  should  become  President  it 
would  be  most  unfortunate  for  the  country.  He  thought 
that  the  Unionists  in  the  Border  States  who  had  risked  every- 
thing for  the  Union  should  receive  the  conspicuous  recognition 
of  a  nomination  for  the  Vice-Presidency.  He  said  that  Andrew 
Johnson  of  Tennessee  had  risked  more,  done  more  and  evinced 
more  high  courage  and  patriotism  than  anyone  under  those 
perilous  conditions.  He  thought  that  the  nomination  of  Andrew 
Johnson  for  Vice-President  would  be  most  helpful  in  the  Border 
States.  Judge  Robertson  and  I  started  for  Baltimore  with  this 
mission.  It  was  a  delicate  one  because  we  could  not  quote 
Mr.  Seward,  nor  speak  with  authority  for  the  Administration. 
We,  however,  did  our  best  with  the  Seward  men  among  the 
delegations  who  had  supported  him  so  loyally  for  President 
four  years  before.     The  controversy  became  so  acute  that  by 

*  Written  by  Senator  Depew  expressly  for  this  book.     The  story  is  now 
told  for  the  first  time. 

281 


282  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

general  consent  the  matter  was  left  to  the  New  York  delega- 
tion. There  was  a  hot  discussion  in  that  delegation  which  lasted 
xuitil  nearly  daylight,  when,  on  a  vote,  Andrew  Johnson  was 
declared  to  be  its  choice  by  one  majority.  This  verdict  was 
accepted  by  the  Convention,  and  Andrew  Johnson  became  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States. 


WHAT  WILL  HAPPEN   CANNOT  ALWAYS   BE 

FORETOLD. 

The  principal  objection  Seward  had  to  the  nomination  of 
Dickinson,  was  that  he  feared  that  in  case  Dickmson,  here- 
tofore a  staunch  Democrat,  was  elected  Vice-President,  and  by 
chance  Lincoln  died,  Dickinson  would  become  President,  and 
then  show  he  was  more  of  a  Democrat  than  he  was  a  Republi- 
can. Johnson,  Democrat,  was  nominated  and  elected  Vice- 
President;  Lincoln  died;  Johnson  proved  to  be  first  a  Demo- 
crat; the  Republican  leaders  sought  to  drive  him  from  office 
by  impeachment;  a  few  Republican  senatorial  votes  saved  him. 

John  B.  Henderson,  who  died  in  Washington  recently,  was 
the  last  to  survive  of  the  seven  Republican  Senators  who  voted 
against  the  impeachment  of  Andrew  Johnson. 

The  vote  of  the  Senate  was  35  to  19,  or  one  short  of  the 
two-thirds  necessary  to  convict.  Had  one  of  the  seven  who 
stood  by  their  convictions  yielded  to  the  entreaties  of  their 
associates  and  their  constituents,  President  Johnson  would  have 
been  removed  from  office,  Benjamin  F.  Wade  would  have  be- 
come President,  and  the  whole  course  of  history  would  have 
been  changed. 

It  was  nearly  thirty  years  ago  that  Blaine  wrote  that  "the 
sober  reflection  of  later  years  has  persuaded  many  who  favored 
impeachment  that  it  was  not  justifiable  on  the  charges  made, 
and  that  its  success  would  have  resulted  in  greater  injury  to 
free  institutions  than  Andrew  Johnson  in  his  utmost  endeavor 
was  able  to  inflict." 

The  seven  RepiTblicans  who  voted  ''not  guilty"  at  the  close 
of  the  most  notable  trial  in  our  history  were  Fessenden,  of 
Maine;  Fowler,  of  Tennessee;  Grimes,  of  Iowa;  Henderson,  of 
Missouri;  Ross,  of  Kansas;  Trumbull,  of  Illinois,  and  Van  Win- 
kle, of  West  Virginia. 


WESTCHESTER  COUNTY  SOLDIERS  IN  THE 

CIVIL  WAR. 

This  County  contributed  many  men,  equal  to  if  not  more  than 
its  quota,  to  serve  in  the  United  States  Volunteer  Army  during 
the  Civil  War.  Many  a  regiment  organized  in  various  sections 
of  this  State  included  in  its  ranks  patriotic  men  hailing  from 
the  ever  patriotic  County  of  Westchester. 

Of  the  regiments  in  which  our  County  had  many  represen- 
tatives mention  is  here  made  of  only  a  few. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-fifth  New  York  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, later  the  Sixth  New  York  Heavy  Artillery ;  the  Second 
New  York  Volunteer  Cavalry  (Harris  Light)  ;  the  Seventeenth 
New  York  Volunteer  Infantry  (Westchester  Chasseurs)  ;  the 
Fifth  New  York  Volunteer  Infantry  (Duryea's  Zouaves)  ;  the 
Ninth  New  York  Volunteer  Infantry  (Hawkins'  Zouaves)  ;  the 
One  hundred  and  Sixty-eighth  Volunteers ;  the  Fifth  New  York 
Veteran  Infantry;  the  Second  Heavy  Artillery;  the  Second 
Mounted  Rifles;  and  the  3d,  the  12th,  the  13th,  N.  Y.  S.  M., 
the  22d,  the  27th,  the  38th,  the  39th,  the  42d,  the  47th,  the 
71st,  the  79th,  the  91st,  the  106th,  the  124th,  the  133d,  the 
139th,  the  143d,  the  145th,  the  155th,  the  170th  and  the  Mozart 
Regiment,  New  York  State  Volunteer  Infantry,  the  last  named 
regiment  (composed  principally  of  men  enlisted  from  New 
York  city),  was  quartered  in  Yonkers  and  left  latter  place  for 
the  seat  of  war. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-fifth  New  York  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, later  the  Sixth  New  York  Heavy  Artillery,  was  gen- 
erally recognized  as  a  Westchester  County  regiment,  as  a  con- 
siderable majority  of  its  members  had  enlisted  from  this  county, 
though  many  men  were  recruited  for  the  regiment  also  in  the 
counties  of  Rockland  and  Putnam. 

On  August  14,  1862,  the  Governor  of  the  State  of  New  York 
authorized  Colonel  Lewis  G.  Morris,  of  Morrisania  (this  county), 
to  raise  a  regiment  of  infantry  within  the  Tenth  Congressional 
district,  composed  of  the  counties  of  Westchester,  Rockland 
and  Putnam. 

The  work  of  organizing  such  regiment  was  entrusted  to  Wil- 

.283 


284  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

liam  H.  Morris,  of  Morrisania,  who  later  became  its  Colonel, 
assisted  by  J.  Howard  Kitehing,  of  Peekskill,  who  became  its 
Lieutenant-Colonel.  The  other  officers  of  the  regiment  were, 
James  A.  Robinson,  Major;  Charles  H.  Leonard,  Adjutant; 
Frederick  Tompkins,  Quartermaster;  Jared  D.  Wood,  Surgeon; 
Robert  Rae  and  Ryekman  D.  Bogart,  Assistant  Surgeons;  Rev. 
Henry  W.  Sculler,  Chaplain. 

The  headquarters  of  the  new  regiment  was  in  Yonkers. 

On  April  2,  1863,  Colonel  Morris,  belonging  to  a  Westchester 
County  family  of  fighting  men,  was  promoted  to  Brigadier- 
General,  and  on  April  11,  following,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Kitehing 
was  advanced  to  the  head  of  the  regiment  as  Colonel. 

When  given  the  position  of  Colonel,  to  succeed  Morris,  Kiteh- 
ing was  but  twenty-five  years  of  age.  His  popularity  with  his 
men  was  pronounced  and  deserved.  He  died  in  Yonkers,  Janu- 
ary 16,  1865,  from  the  effects  of  wounds  received  at  the  battle 
of  Cedar  Creek,  Va.,  October  19,  1864.  A  Grand  Army  Post 
in  Yonkers,  known  as  No.  60,  organized  in  1868,  is  named  in 
his  honor. 

When  the  command  was  changed  into  a  heavy  artillery  regi- 
ment, on  October  6,  1862,  it  was  made  into  three  battalions  of 
four  companies,  each  battalion  commanded  by  a  major. 

To  succeed  Ijieutenant-Colonel  Kitehing,  Capt.  Ralph  E. 
Prime  (of  Yonkers),  of  the  Fifth  New  York  Volunteers  (Dur- 
yea's  Zouaves),  was  appointed  on  January  12,  1863.  This  latter 
appointment,  made  by  the  Governor,  was  not  approved  by  the 
rank  and  file,  who  preferred  that  a  selection  be  made  from 
officers  of  the  regiment ;  Capt.  Prime  deemed  it  wise  to  resign, 
which  he  did  on  March  19,  1863.  Major  Edmund  R.  Travis 
was  chosen  to  fill  the  vacant  position  of  Lieutenant-Colonel. 

The  original  135th  Regiment  left  this  State  on  September  5, 
1862.  Its  first  assigned  duty  was  in  defense  of  Baltimore,  Md., 
and  was  quartered  near  Fort  McHenry.  Here  it  remained  for 
a  time  to  permit  thorough  drill  of  the  raw  recimits  in  the 
manual  of  arms  and  also  in  the  handling  of  heavy  ordinance. 
The  location  of  the  camp  was  next  changed  to  Maryland  Heights, 
near  Harper's  Ferry,  Va.  The  last  named  locality  proved  a 
most  unhealthy  one,  where  typhoid  fever  became  epidemic;  no 
time  was  lost  in  breaking  camp  and  getting  off  to  a  more 
healthy  zone. 

Members  of  the  regiment  proved  to  be  fighters  and  always 
ready  for  action— brave  and  efficient  soldiers,  creditable  to  the 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  285 

sections  of  the  State  from  which  they  came.  Through  their 
term  of  enlistment  they  saw  much  active  service. 

The  local  Sixth  Artillery  Regiment  suffered  quite  severely 
in  the  battle  of  Cedar  Creek.  It  had  one  officer  and  eleven 
enlisted  men  killed,  three  officers  and  eleven  men  mortally 
wounded  (one  of  the  number  being  Col.  Kitching),  two  officers 
and  fifty  men  wounded  that  recovered  therefrom  and  sixteen 
enlisted  men  missing,  the  majority  of  whom  died  while  prison- 
ers of  war. 

In  the  early  part  of  December,  1864,  the  Sixth  Artillery  left 
the  Shenandoah  Valley  and  joined  the  besieging  forces  near 
Petersburgh.  On  April  2,  1865,  it  joined  in  the  assault  on 
Petersburgh,  and  on  the  afternoon  of  that  day  entered  the 
evacuated  city. 

The  regiment  was  mustered  out  of  service  on  April  24,  1865. 

Likewise,  Westchester  County  was  largely  represented  in  the 
United  States  Navy  during  the  Civil  War. 


FILLING  A  VACANCY  IN  OFFICE. 

The  Election  Laws  of  the  State  of  New  York  provide  a  way 
for  filling  vacancies  in  County  Offices,  by  death  or  otherwise. 
Provision  for  such  a  contingency  as  the  death  of  a  Sheriff,  as 
occurred  in  this  County  on  October  9,  1911,  is  made  in  Section 
292  of  the  Election  Laws,  part  of  the  Consolidated  Laws  oi 
the  State  of  New  York,  which  reads : 

"  A  vacancy  occurring  before  October  15  of  any  year  in  any 
office  authorized  to  be  filled  at  a  general  election,  shall  be  filled 
at  the  general  election  held  next  thereafter^  unless  otherwise 
provided  by  the  Constitution,  or  unless  previously  filled  at  a 
special  election." 

The  State  Constitution  provides  that  "  the  Governor  may 
appoint  to  fill  vacancies  in  office;  no  person  appointed  to  fill  a 
vacancy  shall  hold  his  office  by  virtue  of  such  appointment 
longer  than  the  commencement  of  the  political  year  next  suc- 
ceeding the  first  annual  election  after  the  happening  of  the 
vacancy." 

The  Constitution  also  provides  that  the  political  year  shall 
begin  on  the  first  day  of  January. 


THE  COUNTY'S  MEMBERS  OF  ASSEMBLY 

(Continued  from  page  260,  volume  2. ) 

One  Hundred  and  thirty-sixth  Session — 1913 — Tracey  P. 
Madden  of  Yonkers,  Verne  M.  Bovie  of  New  Rochelle,  Wilson  R. 
Yard  of  Pleasant ville  and  Mortimer  C.  O'Brien  of  White  Plains. 


Biographical  Sketches 


VERNE  M.  BOVIE 

Verne  Morgan  Bovie,  Member  of 
Assembly  representing  the  Second 
District  of  Westchester  Coimty,  was 
born  on  March  10,  1877,  in  Gallipolis, 
Ohio,  a  son  of  Frederick  M.  and 
Lucy  Vernon  (Alexander)   Bovie. 

He  was  educated  in  public  schools 
and  at  Marietta  College,  graduating 
from  latter  college  in  Class  of  1898, 
ealutatorian  of  the  class,  receiving 
honors  in  history  and  political  sci- 
ence. Elected  member  of  Phi  Beta 
Kappa;  manager  of  baseball  and 
football  teams,  playing  on  both. 
Editor-in-Chief  of  College  paper. 
President  of  Phi  Gamma  Literary 
Society,  and  President  of  local  chap- 
ter of  Delta  Upsilon  Fraternity. 
Left  College  upon  breaking  out  of 
Spanish  War  to  recruit  a  company 
of  volunteers  at  Gallipolis,  of  which 
he  was  elected  Captain,  and  served 
at  head  of  Company  "  C,"  7th 
Ohio  U.  S.  Volunteer  Infantry 
throughout  the  war,  returning  from 
the  field  to  graduate.  Attended  Co- 
lumbia University  Law  School  and 
New  York  Law  School.  Graduated 
from  the  latter  in  1902,  in  which 
year  he  was  admitted  to  the  New 
York  Bar.  He  then  became  a  resi- 
dent of  New  Rochelle,  in  this  County. 

He  has  since  1902  practiced  his 
profession  in  New  York  city,  with 
branch  office  in  New  Rochelle.  Is 
president  of  Gradiiates'  Club  of 
Now  York  city;  Vice-President  of 
the  National  Fraternity  Delta  Up- 
silon. 

At  the  general  election  held  in  No- 
vember, 1912,  he  was  elected  a  Mem- 
ber   of    Assembly    to    represent    the 


second  district  of  Westchester 
County. 

His  career  as  representative  of 
this  County  in  the  State  Legislature 
of  1913  is  both  a  credit  to  his  con- 
stituents and  to  himself.  His  course 
was  dictated  by  a  sincere  desire  to 
represent  the  real  sentiment  of  the 
people  of  his  district  and  of  the 
County  and  uphold  the  honor  of 
what  he  conceived  to  be  the  real 
principles  of  the  Democratic  party 
to  which  he  belongs. 

Mr.  Bovie's  record  in  the  Assembly 
is  an  enviable  one.  His  vote  was  re- 
corded on  the  right  side  of  every 
proposition,  serving  the  best  inter- 
ests of  the  people.  He  voted  in  favor 
of  an  honest  Statewide  Primary 
Law,  to  enact  which  his  political 
party  stood  committed;  he  voted 
against  impeaching  Governor  Sulzer, 
acts  that  made  him  many  friends 
outside  his  political  party. 

He  stands  conspicuous  among  the 
Legislative  delegation  from  West- 
chester County  as  one  independent 
and  strong  enough,  indifferent  alike 
to  threats  and  flattery  ,to  repel  out- 
side political  influence,  tempting  him 
to  serve  a  questionable  purpose  by 
promise  of  future  reward. 

His  ability  as  a  speaker  is  recog- 
nized: in  argument  he  is  logical, 
forcible  and  convincing;  his  future 
career  promises  to  be  most  brilliant 
as  a  lawyer  and  as  a  public  servant, 
where  integrity  and  faithfulness  is 
appreciated. 

in  191.S  he  was  urged  for  the 
■NTnyorality  nomination  in  New 
Rochelle. 

Mr.  Bovie  is  married  to  Miss  Mary 
Tinker,  of  New  York  city.  They 
have  one  son,  Henry  Tinker  Bovie. 


286 


VERNE  M.  BOVIE 


r^nsl iC  llh?'r.M^ 


SERVED  AS  COUNTY  OFFICIALS. 


SURROGATES  OF  COUNTY. 

(Continued  from  page  145,  Vol.  2.) 
William  A.  Sawyer,  of  Port  Chester,  from  1913,  now  acting, 

COUNTY  TREASURERS.  ■ 

(Continued  from  page  105,  Vol.  1.) 

The  County  Treasurer  must  receive  and  hold,  subject  to  the 
orders  of  Courts  or  proper  County  officers,  all  moneys  belong- 
ing to  the  County  or  held  as  trust  funds,  bail  moneys  and  fines. 

The  County  funds  are  derived  from  taxation,  from  fees  paid 
by  litigants  in  the  Courts  of  the  County  and  from  fines  imposed 
upon  persons  who  have  violated  the  laws,  and  from  authorized 
sale  of  bonds. 

He  is  required  to  keep  accurate  accounts  showing  all  moneys, 
revenues  and  funds  received  by  him,  specifying  each  kind  of 
funds  authorized  by  law. 

He  must  countersign  all  orders  for  the  disbursement  of  the 
County  money,  and  is  required  to  report  to  the  County  Board 
of  Supervisors,  every  three  months,  the  condition  of  the  funds 
of  the  County. 

The  term  of  office  is  three  years.  The  salary  is  $10,000  per 
annum,  fixed  by  the  Board  of  Supervisors  in  1907.  The  salary 
of  the  Deputj'  County  Treasurer  is  $3,000  per  annum;  Clerk, 
$1,500  per  annum;  Stenographer,  $500  per  annum. 

The  following  named  persons  were  elected  and  served  as 
County  Treasurers,  in  this  County,  in  the  years  here  mentioned : 

Francis  M.  Carpenter,  Moimt  Kisco,  1897-8-9-1900-1-2. 

Joseph  B.  See,  North  Castle,  1903-4-5-6-7-8. 

George  T.  Burling,  White  Plains,  1909-10-11;  reelected  in 
1911,  for  another  term. 

DEPUTY    COUNTY    TREASURERS. 

Samuel  C.  Miller,  White  Plains,  1897-8-9-1900-1-2. 

Leonard  E.  Teed,  White  Plains,  1903  to  date,  now  acting. 

Zopher  Carpenter,  Mount  Kisco,  Clerk,  1902  to  date,  now 
acting. 

Josephine  M.  Sutton,  White  Plains,  Stenographer,  appointed 
in  1910. 

287 


288  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  ft       : 

COUNTY  CLERKS. 

(Continued  from  page  106,  Vol.  1.) 

The  County  Clerk  has  the  custody  of  records,  books  and 
papers  of  the  County.  Is  the  keeper  of  the  seal  of  the  County, 
which  must  be  used  by  him  in  numerous  cases  where  he  is 
required  by  law  to  authenticate  his  acts  by  the  use  of  an  official 
seal.  He  is  to  keep  an  accurate  record  of  all  official  bonds  filed 
in  his  office,  and  details  relating  to  same.  He  is  required  to 
give  to  persons  demanding  the  same,  and  paying  the  lawful 
fee  therefor,  a  copy  of  any  record,  paper  or  account  in  his  office. 
He  must  also  perform  such  other  duties  as  may  be  required  of 
him  by  law. 

The  term  of  office  is  three  years.  The  salary  is  $10,000  per 
annum,  fixed  by  the  Board  of  Supervisors. 

State  Laws  of  1909,  chap.  318,  changes  the  mode  of  com- 
pensating a  County  Clerk  in  this  County,  as  such  law  author- 
izes the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  the  County  of  Westchester  to 
declare  on  January  1,  1911,  the  office  of  County  Clerk  of  such 
County  a  salaried  office,  and  to  fix  and  determine  the  amount 
of  the  compensation  and  regulating  the  management  of  such 
County  Clerk's  office;  and  fix  salaries  of  deputy  clerks.  Salary 
not  to  be  changed  during  term;  Clerk  to  perform  all  services 
heretofore  performed  by  occupant  of  such  office  and  moneys 
collected  as  fees  to  be  turned  over  and  to  belong  to  the  County. 
The  said  County  Clerk  and  his  deputies  are  to  give  bonds  to 
the  County  to  insure  faithful  discharge  of  duties. 

Under  a  recent  decision  of  the  Court  of  Appeals,  County 
Clerks  have  power  to  appoint  clerks  to  Supreme  and  County 
Courts. 

The  Governor  may  remove  from  office  a  County  Clerk,  as  he 
can  a  Sheriff,  District- Attorney,  Register  or  other  County  officer, 
within  the  term  for  which  he  has  been  elected;  giving  to  such 
officer  a  copy  of  the  charges  against  him,  and  an  opportunity 
of  being  heard  in  his  defense.  No  person  appointed  to  fill  a 
vacancy  shall  hold  his  office  by  virtue  of  such  appointment 
longer  than  the  commencement  of  the  political  year  (January  1) 
next  succeeding  the  first  annual  election  after  the  happening 
of  the  vacancy. 

Though  no  law  prevents,  unless  it  is  an  *'  unwritten  law  " 
of  political  party  organization,  of  recent  years  no  person  has 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  289 

held,  in  this  County,  this  office  for  more  than  two  terms,  six 
years. 

Under  special  acts  of  the  Legislature  the  County  Clerk  of 
this  County  provided  printed  official  ballots  and  stationery  for 
elections,  designated  newspapers  in  which  election  notices  and 
names  of  candidates  to  be  voted  for,  and  the  official  canvass  of 
votes  cast  were  published;  since  1908  the  work  of  printing 
ballots  and  designating  newspapers  has  been  looked  after  by 
the  County  Commissioners  of  Elections. 

In  addition  to  the  list  published  (in  volume  one),  the  posi- 
tion of  County  Clerk  has  been  filled  by  the  following  named 
persons  in  the  years  here  given : 

John  M.  Digney,  1886  to  1896. 

Leverett  F.  Crumb,  Peekskill,  1896-7-8-9-1900-1. 

L.  Sutherland,  Yonkers,  1902-3-4-5-6-7. 

Frank  M.  Buck,  Mount  Vernon,  1908-9-10,  and  re-elected  in 
1910,  for  years  1911-12-13. 

DEPUTY    COUNTY    CLERKS. 

Robert  Coward,  Port  Chester,  1897,  up  to  the  time  of  his 
accidental  death,  February  15,  1906. 

Charles  Hepenstal,  of  Yonkers,  appointed  February  19,  1906, 
to  succeed  Mr.  Coward,  is  now  acting. 

Charles  J.  F.  Decker,  Frank  Montross  and  Charles  E.  Long, 
Supreme  Court  Clerks. 

The  attaches  of  the  County  Clerk's  office,  1911,  appointed  in 
accordance  with  the  law  making  the  office  of  County  Clerk  a 
salaried  one,  are  as  follows:  Walter  Y.  Paulding,  Mount  Ver- 
non, second  deputy;  George  W.  Elrodt,  Mount  Vernon,  third 
deputy;  Harold  H.  Bailie,  Port  Chester,  Certificate  Clerk;  Les- 
ter A.  Conkling,  of  Peekskill,  Bookkeeper  and  General  Clerk; 
Charles  A.  Marshall,  Port  Chester,  Document  and  General 
Clerk;  Margaret  M.  Magee,  Mount  Vernon,  Stenographer  and 
Typewriter. 


DISTRICT-ATTORNEYS  OF  THE  COUNTY. 

(Continued  from  page  104,  Vol.  1.) 

The  District-Attorney  is  the  prosecuting  officer  of  the  County. 
He  is  elected  by  the  people  and  holds  office  for  the  term  of 
three  years. 

He  is  principally  concerned  with  the  prosecution  of  criminal 


290  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

offenders  against  the  law,  but  he  also  performs  many  other 
duties  imposed  upon  him  by  various  statutes  of  the  State. 

The  ofdce  is  of  great  importance,  and  the  incumbent  is  required 
to  be  possessed  of  ability  and  energy  in  order  to  meet  the 
demands  of  his  official  position.  Westchester  County  has  been 
specially  fortunate  in  being  able  to  get  most  prominent  mem- 
bers of  the  bar  to  serve  as  District- Attorney  and  as  assistants 
to  the  District-Attorney. 

Subsequent  to  1846,  District- Attorneys  have  been  elected  by 
the  people  in  each  county  of  this  State.  The  office  was  created 
in  this  State  on  April  4,  1801,  and  a  certain  number  was  appor- 
tioned to  districts  composed  of  several  counties.  An  act  of  the 
State  Legislature,  passed  in  1818,  made  each  county  a  district, 
to  possess  each  a  District-Attorney,  solely  its  own.  Until  their 
election  by  the  people  was  provided  for,  in  1846,  District- Attor- 
neys in  this  State  were  appointed  by  Courts  of  Sessions  in  each 
county. 

The  Legislature  can  not  extend  term  of  office  of  District- 
Attorney  while  he  is  in  office.  (People,  ex  rel.  Eldred,  vs. 
Palmer,  21  App.  Div.  101.) 

The  Governor  may  remove  a  District-Attorney  on  proven 
charges,  after  a  hearing. 

The  Board  of  Supervisors,  by  an  act  of  the  State  Legislature, 
of  April  14,  1852,  is  authorized  to  make  the  office  of  District- 
Attorney  a  salaried  one,  and  fix  the  salary  thereof,  but  the 
salary  can  not  be  changed  while  the  incumbent  is  in  office. 

State  Laws  of  1906,  chap  319,  empowers  the  District- Attorney 
of  Westchester  County  to  appoint  two  assistants,  to  be  called 
first  and  second  Assistant  District-Attorneys.  Salaries  of  said 
officials  to  be  fixed  by  the  Westchester  County  Board  of 
Supervisors. 

The  salary  of  the  District-Attorney  in  this  County,  fixed 
by  the  Board  of  Supervisors  in  1910,  is  $8,500  per  annum.  The 
salary  of  an  Assistant  District- Attorney  $3,500  per  annum; 
of  Clerk,  $1,500  per  annum. 

Following  are  the  names  and  addresses  of  persons  holding  this 
office,  in  this  County,  and  the  years  they  served,  from  1896  to 
and   including  1913: 

George  C.  Andrews,  Tarrytown,  1896-7-8-9-1900-1. 

J.  Addison  Young,  New  Rochelle,  1902-3-4-5-6-7. 

Francis  A.  Winslow,  Yonkers,  1908-9-10;  re-elected  in  1910, 
for  years  1911-12-13. 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  291 

ASSISTANT    DISTRICT-ATTORNEYS. 

Frederick  E.  Weeks,  White  Plains,  from  1896  to  1907. 

Frederick  E.  AVeeks,  first  assistant,  from  1907  to  date. 
William  A.  Moore,  New  Rochelle,  second  assistant,  from  April 
27,  1906,  to  January  1,  1908. 

Lee  P.  Davis,  Yonkers,  second  assistant,  from  1908  to  date. 

CLERKS. 

Frank  E.  Clarke,  White  Plains,  February  6,  1908,  to  1910. 
John  Wheatley,  Yonkers,  1910,  now  acting. 
For  names  of  others  who  have  held  official  positions  in  the 
District-Attorney's  office,  prior  to  1896,  see  page  104,  Volume  1. 


SHERIFFS  OF  THE  COUNTY. 

{Continued  from  page  110,  Vol.  1.) 

The  Sheriff  is  one  of  the  most  important  executive  officers 
of  the  County.  The  office  of  Sheriff  originated  in  England 
and  is  of  great  antiquity.  By  some  authorities  the  office  of 
Sheriff  is  said  to  have  been  created  by  King  Alfred,  but  others 
are  of  the  opinion  that  the  office  is  of  still  greater  antiquity  and 
that  it  existed  in  the  time  of  early  Romans. 

It  is  the  duty  of  a  Sheriff  to  execute  the  orders  of  the  Court 
in  civil  as  well  as  in  criminal  actions. 

In  case  of  riot  or  the  unlawful  assemblage  of  persons  within 
the  county,  it  is  the  duty  of  the  Sheriff  to  enforce  and  maintain 
the  law,  and  to  this  end  he  has  the  right  to  call  upon  any  and 
all  able-bodied  citizens  in  the  county  to  assist  him.  Thus  he 
and  his  deputies  perform  the  duties  in  the  county  which  are 
delegated  to  police  officers  in  cities. 

Relative  to  the  office  of  Sheriff,  the  State  Constitution 
says:  "  Sheriffs  shall  be  chosen  by  the  electors  of  the  respec- 
tive counties,  once  in  every  three  years  and  as  often  as  vacancies 
shall  happen.  Sheriffs  shall  hold  no  other  office  and  be  ineli- 
gible for  the  next  term  after  the  termination  of  their  offices. 
They  may  be  required  by  law  to  renew  their  security,  from 
time  to  time ;  and  in  default  of  giving  such  new  security,  their 
offices  shall  be  deemed  vacant.  But  the  county  shall  never  be 
made  responsible  for  acts  of  the  Sheriff.     (The  act   making 


292  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

counties  liable  for  damages  by  mobs  and  riots  does  not  conflict 
witb  this.)  The  Governor  may  remove  any  officer  within  the 
term  for  which  he  shall  have  been  elected,  on  charges  proven. 
(One  elected  to  fill  a  vacancy  serves  for  a  full  term  of  three 
years,  as  the  Courts  have  decided.) 

Sheriffs  have  been  elected  by  the  people  of  this  State  since 
the  year  1846 ;  prior  to  that  period  they  were  appointed  by 
the  Governor  of  the  State.  The  duties  of  a  Sheriff  are  similar 
in  all  counties  of  the  State.  They  are  justly  termed  the  strong 
arm  of  the  Courts  in  enforcing  law  and  order. 

In  former  years  Sheriff's  of  Westchester  County  were  com- 
pensated for  their  services  by  fees  received  from  the  County 
and  in  civil  cases  in  which  fees  were  paid  by  private  parties. 
He  was  required  to  pay,  out  of  such  fees,  for  all  assistance 
employed  by  him  in  the  discharge  of  his  official  duties.  Court 
Officers,  appointed  by  the  Sheriff,  to  be  in  attendance  on  the 
several  Courts  (Supreme  and  County  Courts)  held  within  the 
County,  were  a  charge  on  Westchester  County,  and  were  paid 
at  the  rate  of  two  dollars  per  day. 

By  act  of  the  Legislature,  Chap.  687,  Laws  of  1894,  the  office 
of  Sheriff',  in  AVestchester  County,  became  a  salaried  one;  the 
salary  to  be  fixed  by  the  Board  of  Supervisors  at  a  sum  not  to 
exceed  $10,000  per  annum,  payable  monthly;  in  addition  he  is 
permitted  to  retain  the  Sheriff' 's  fees  and  perquisites  in  all  civil 
cases  in  which  the  same  are  to  be  paid  by  private  parties.  By 
this  act,  also,  the  Sheriff  was  permitted  to  employ  a  Clerk  at 
an  annual  salary  of  $1,200 ;  a  Jailor  at  an  annual  salary  of 
$1,200;  a  day  and  night  Watchman  at  $600  per  annum  each; 
a  Cook  and  other  servant,  together,  $500.  These  officials  to  be 
hereafter  paid  by  the  County,  in  monthly  installments.  In 
addition  to  his  salary,  the  Sheriff  is  permitted  to  charge  the 
County  with,  and  be  entitled  to,  his  actual  fee  or  other  dis- 
bursements for  travel,  lodging  and  food  incurred  while  attend- 
ing to  the  transportation  of  juvenile  delinquents  and  any  other 
person  whom  he  is  required  by  law  to  transport,  where  the  cost 
of  such  transportation  is  by  law  a  County  charge. 

The  act  of  1894,  relating  to  the  Sheriff  of  Westchester,  was 
amended  by  act  of  the  Legislature  in  the  following  year,  Chap. 
420,  Laws  of  1895.  This  act  benefits  the  occupant  of  the  Sher- 
iff's office,  by  lessening  the  drain  on  his  salary  and  private  fee 
account,  by  causing  the  County  to  share  in  the  office  expense 
account.  By  this  act  it  was  provided  that  the  County  pay 
salaries  of  certain  employees  of  the  Sheriff,  as  follows:  a  Clerk 


MANUAL  A^B  CIVIL  LIST.  293 

at  $1,200  per  annum;  a  Jailor  at  $1,200  per  annum;  a  Deputy 
Sheriff  at  $1,500  per  annum;  a  Day  Watchman  at  $600  per 
annum ;  a  Night  Watchman  at  $600  per  annum ;  a  Cook  at  $500 
per  annum. 

Then  next  followed  an  act  of  the  Legislature,  which  became 
a  law,  authorizing  the  Sheriff  to  appoint  in  place  of  the  two 
dollars  a  day  Court  Officers,  number  unlimited,  nine  uniformed 
Court  Officers  who  would  devote  their  entire  time  to  the  dis- 
charge of  their  duties ;  it  being  deemed  necessary  to  have  a  regu- 
lar force  of  Court  officers  always  on  duty,  especially  as  there  are 
quite  frequently  at  the  County-seat  as  many  as  three  Supreme 
Courts  and  a  County  Court  in  session  on  the  same  days. 

The  office  of  Under  Sheriff  was  from  the  date  of  its  origin, 
in  1847,  to  the  year  1900,  but  an  honorary  one,  with  no  desig- 
nated duties,  and  was  bestowed  by  newly  elected  Sheriffs  upon 
cherished  friends,  personal  or  political,  whom  it  was  desired 
particularly  to  honor.  These  Under  Sheriffs  were  given  neither 
salary  nor  fee.  Some  of  Westchester  County's  most  distin- 
guished citizens  have  held,  and  were  proud  to  hold,  this  office. 
Fortunately,  none  were  called  upon  to  fill  the  higher  office 
owing  to  vacancy  caused  by  death  of  the  Sheriff. 

The  Legislature  in  1899  passed  an  act  (Chap.  310,  Laws  of 
1899)  which  in  a  considerable  degree  reconstructed  the  work- 
ings of  the  Westchester  County  Sheriff's  office.  The  Under 
Sheriff  was  made  the  head  of  the  staff  and  put  on  the  active  list 
of  those  assisting  the  Sheriff'  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties  and 
is  the  recognized  director  in  the  absence  of  the  Sheriff.  The 
act  further  provides  for  a  Counsel  at  $1,500  per  annum;  a 
Clerk  at  $1,200;  a  Jailor  at  $1,200  per  annum;  an  Assistant 
Jailor  at  $900  per  annum ;  three  Deputy  Sheriffs  at  $1,500  each 
per  annum;  a  Day  Watchman  at  Jail  at  $900;  a  Night  Watch- 
man at  Jail  at  $900  per  annum;  a  Cook  at  Jail  at  $500  per 
annum,  which  sums  shall  be  paid  in  monthly  installments  by 
the  County  Treasurer. 

By  further  enactment  of  the  Legislature,  in  1905,  the  Sheriff 
is  authorized  to  employ  an  Assistant  Clerk  at  a  salary  of  $1,200 
per  annum. 

In  1910,  the  Board  of  Supervisors  fixed  salaries  of  officials 
connected  with  the  Sheriff' 's  office  as  follows,  per  annum: 
Sheriff,  $10,000;  Under  Sheriff,  $2,500;  three  Deputy  Sheriffs 
at  $1,800  each;  Counsel  to  Sheriff,  $2,000;  Clerk  to  Sheriff, 
$1,500;  Assistant  Clerk,  $1,200;  Court  Officers  at  $1,200  each; 
Warden   to   County  Jail,   $1,500;   Assistant   Warden,    $1,000; 


294  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

Physician  to  Jail,  $400 ;  Day  and  Night  Watchmen  at  Jail,  $1,000 
each;  Matron  to  Jail,  $600;  Cook  and  other  servant,  $600; 
Night  Watchman  at  Court  House,  $900;  Janitor  and  assistants 
at  Court  House,  $4,000;  Chief  Engineer,  Court  House,  $1,500. 

The  following  named  residents  acted,  in  years  given,  as 
Sheriffs  of  this  County.  The  term  of  the  office  is  three  years, 
and  under  the  Constitutional  law  a  Sheriff  cannot  be  elected 
to  succeed  himself.  The  recently  adopted  rule  not  to  elect  the 
same  person  twice  to  this  office,  in  this  County,  is  not  one  pre- 
scribed by  law.  An  eligible  person  can  be  elected  as  Sheriff 
as  often  as  the  people  desire  to  elect  him,  provided  he  is  not 
elected  to  immediately  succeed  himself,  for  two  or  more  suc- 
cessive terms: 

Addison  Johnson,  Port  Chester,  1895  to  1898. 

William  V.  Molloy,  New  Rochelle,  1898-9-1900. 

Samuel  C.  Miller,  White  Plains,  1901-2-3. 

James  S.  Merritt,  of  Port  Chester,  1904-5-6. 

Charles  M.  Lane,  Pleasantville,  1907-8  to  April  23,  1909. 
Sheriff  Lane  died  April  23,  1909 ;  Under  Sheriff  Henry  Scherp 
acted  as  Sheriff  until  January  1,  1910. 

Henry  Scherp,  New  Rochelle,  1910   (died  October  9,  1911). 

William  J.  Doyle,  Katonah,  1912,  for  full  term. 

UNDER  SHERIFFS. 

The  following  named  persons  were  duly  appointed  by  the 
several  Sheriffs  of  the  County  to  serve  in  the  capacity  of  Under 
Sheriff',  terms  commencing  on  the  dates  given,  and  for  a  term 
of  three  years: 

John  McNally,  Ossining,  1898. 

Joseph  B.  See,  North  Castle,  1901. 

Charles  M.  Lane,  Pleasantville,  1904. 

Henry  Scherp,  New  Rochelle,  1907. 

William  J.  Doyle,  of  Bedford,  1910  to  1912. 

Ulrich  Wiesendanger,  Yonkers,  1912,  now  acting. 


Officials  connected  with  the  Sheriff' 's  office  in  1913,  other  than 
those  heretofore  named,  are  as  follows: 

Counsel,  Henry  R.  Barrett. 
Deputy  Sheriff",  Charles  E.  Nossitter. 
Deputy  Sheriff',  William  F.  Wagner. 
Deputy  Sheriff,  Charles  Lent. 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  295 

COUNTY  REGISTER  OF  DEEDS. 

{Continued  from  page  107,  Vol.  1.) 

The  duties  of  this  office  is  explained  in  its  title— to  register 
deeds.  Prior  to  1858  the  duties  of  Register  were  performed 
by  the  County  Clerk  in  this  County,  as  is  now  done  in  all 
counties  of  the  State,  excepting  three,  New  York,  Kings  and 
Westchester. 

A  law  enacted  by  the  Legislature,  taking  effect  on  April  16, 
1858,  created  the  office  of  Register  of  Deeds  for  Westchester 
County. 

Laws  of  1904,  Chap  465,  directed  the  Register  of  the  County 
of  Westchester  to  prepare  and  certify  copies  of  all  instruments 
and  maps  affecting  the  title  to  real  estate  formerly  in  West- 
chester County  but  now  within  the  county  of  New  York,  and 
transmit  same  to  the  Register  of  the  county  of  New  York;  for 
this  service  the  county  of  New  York  paid  the  Register  of  West- 
chester County. 

The  term  of  office  is  three  years.  The  Register  is  com- 
pensated by  fees  received.  Following  is  given  the  names  and 
addresses  of  persons  who  have  held  the  position,  together  with 
the  years  in  which  they  served,  from  1896  to  and  including 
1910: 

Thomas  R.  Hodge,  Mount  Vernon,  1896-7-8-9-1900-1.* 

William  G.  Barrett,  Katonah,  1902-3-4-5-6-7. 

Edward  B.  Kear,  Yorktown  Heights,  1908-9-10,  re-elected  in 
1910.     (Died  August  31,  1911.) 

James  F.  Martin,  Peekskill,  from  September  29,  1911,  to 
January  1,  1912;  appointed  by  Governor  Dix  to  fill  vacancy 
caused  by  death  of  Mr.  Kear. 

Isaac  H.  Smith,  Peekskill,  elected  in  1911  for  the  full  term. 


Charles  D.  Hoyt,  Pleasantville,  Deputy  Register. 
Ralph  M.  Glover,  Mortgage  Tax  Deputy. 

Note.— William  J.   Graney,  who  was  Eegister  from  1893  to  1896,  died 
May  26,  1913. 


Died  October  9,  1908,  aged  65  years. 


296  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

COUNTY  SUPERINTENDENTS  OF  POOR. 
{Continued  from  page  111,  Vol.  1.) 

Superintendents  of  the  Poor  were,  previous  to  1846,  appointed ; 
after  that  year  they  were  elected.  The  present  salary  attached 
to  the  office  is  $5,000  per  annum,  as  fixed  in  1911  by  Board  of 
Supervisors. 

The  office  has  been  held  by  the  following  named  persons  since 
1890. 

Henry  Esser,  of  Mount  Vernon,  served  from  1895  to  1898, 
when  he  was  re-elected  for  a  term  of  three  years  to  December  31, 
1901 ;  he  died  while  in  office  in  April,  1901. 

Charles  M.  Lane,  resigned  as  Supervisor  of  town  of  Mt. 
Pleasant  and  was  appointed  Superintendent  to  fill  vacancy, 
serving  until  1902. 

Edward  B.  Long,  of  White  Plains,  1902-3-4-5-6-7. 

A.  Smith  Hopkins,  of  North  Castle,  1908;  died  suddenly 
April  23,  1908. 

William  C.  Lawrence,  of  Ardsley,  was  appointed  to  fill  the 
vacancy  until  1909 ;  in  1908  he  was  elected  to  serve  out  balance 
of  the  term  until  1911 ;  in  1910  he  was  re-elected  to  serve  from 
1911  to  1914. 


CORONERS  OF  THE  COUNTY. 

(Continued  from  page  116,  Vol.  1.) 

The  office  of  Coroner  is  classified  with  that  of  Sheriff,  Justice 
of  the  Peace  and  Constables  connected  with  the  government 
of  early  English  counties  after  which  county  governments  in 
this  country  pattern,  and  the  duties  of  the  office  of  Coroner 
are  the  same  now  as  they  were  in  the  earlier  period.  In  primi- 
tive days  a  County  Court,  composed  of  eight  Justices  of  the 
Peace,  appointed  by  the  Governor,  had  among  its  duties,  in 
addition  to  its  judicial  functions,  the  construction  and  care  of 
bridges  and  highways  and  the  appointment  of  certain  county 
officials  including  Coroners.  Since  1847  Coroners  have  been 
elected  by  the  people  in  this  State. 

It  is  the  duty  of  a  Coroner  to  investigate  and  report  upon  all 
cases  of  death  from  unexplained  causes,  where  there  is  reason 
to  believe  that  a  crime  has  been  committed  or  a  serious  acci- 
dent has  occurred. 

The  Coroner  also  performs  some  of  the  duties  of  the  Sheriff 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  297 

in  executing  the  processes  of  Courts  of  law.  In  case  a  suit  is 
brought  against  the  Sheriff,  it  is  the  duty  of  the  Coroner  to 
serve  the  summons  notifying  the  Sheriff  to  appear  in  Court 
and  answer  the  charges  against  him,  because  it  would  be  mani- 
festly absurd  to  require  the  Sheriff'  to  summon  himself. 

The  term  of  office  of  a  Coroner  is  three  years.  The  salary 
in  this  County,  recently  fixed,  is  $2,000  per  annum  and  actual 
expenses. 

The  following  named  persons  have  held  the  office,  in  the 
years  mentioned,  from  1894: 

Aaron  J.  Mixsell,  M.  D.,  Mamaroneck,  1892-3-4. 

Charles  A.  Miles,  M.  D.,  Yonkers,  1894-5-6-7-8-9. 

Archibald  T.  Banning,  M.  D.,  Mount  Vernon,  1894-5-6-7-8-9- 
1900-1-2. 

Charles  E.  Birch,  M.  D.,  White  Plains,  1895-6-7-8-9-1900. 

Charles  S.  Apgar,  Peekskill,  to  fill  vacancy  and  full  term, 
Sept.  6,  1895,  to  1899. 

Perley  H.  Mason,  M.  D.,  Peekskill,  1899-1900-1-2-3. 

John  A.  Schafmeister,  M.  D.,  Ossining,  1899-1900-1-2-3-4. 

Frank  E.  Russell,  M.  D.,  Tarrytown,  1901-2-3-4-5-6. 

Albert  Van  Houten,  Yonkers,  1903-4-5. 

Ulrich  Wiesendager,  Yonkers,  1903-4-5-6-7-8. 

John  L.  Silleek,  Peekskill,  1905-6-7-8-9-10. 

Philip  S.  Van  Patten,  M.  D.,  Mount  Vernon,  1906-7-8. 

Amos  0.  Squires,  M.  D.,  Ossining,  1907-8-9-10-11-12. 

Alfred  H.  lies,  Yonkers,  1909-10-11 ;  reelected  in  1911. 

Hilmer  B.  Boedecker,  Mount  Vernon,  1909-10-11  (died  April 
5,  1911). 

James  H.  Brennan,  M.  D.,  New  Roehelle,  appointed  to  fill 
vacancy  May  11,  1911,  to  serve  to  December  31,  1911. 

William  H.  Livingston,  New  Roehelle,  elected  in  1911. 

James  P.  Dunn,  Yonkers,  elected  in  1912. 

Note. — John  Mathews,   of   New  Roehelle,  who  was  a   Coroner  in  1889, 
died  on  September  4,  1911. 


COUNTY  SUPERINTENDENTS  OF  SCHOOLS. 
(Continued  from  page  117,  Vol.  1.) 

By  an  act  of  the  State  Legislature,  passed  April  17,  1843, 
the  office  of  County  Superintendent  of  Common  Schools  was 
created,  to  be  appointed  by  the  Board  of  Supervisors.     Samuel 


298  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


L.  Holmes,  of  Bedford,  and  John  Hobbs,  of  Yonkers,  were  duly- 
appointed  and  they  served  in  1843  to  March  13,  1847,  at  which 
date  the  office  was  abolished. 


SCHOOL  COMMISSIONERS  OF  COUNTY. 

(Continued  from  page  120,  Vol.  1.) 

The  following  list  gives  names  of  persons  elected  to  the  office 
in  the  several  districts  and  the  years  in  which  they  served: 

FIRST    DISTRICT: 

Walter  T.  Allerton,  Mount  Vernon,  1893  to  1900. 
John  C.  Rockwell,  Port  Chester,  1900  to  1911,  when  the  office 
was  abolished. 

SECOND  DISTRICT: 

Ffarrington  M.  Thompson,  White  Plains,  1894  to  1897. 
J.  G.  Miller,  Sing  Sing,  1897  to  1900. 
Bertha  E.  H.  Barbert,*  of  Hastings,  1900-1-2. 
Charles  H.  Cheney,  of  White  Plains,  1903  and  to  1911. 

THIRD   DISTRICT: 

William  G.  Barrett,t  of  Bedford,  1895  to  1902. 
George  H.  Covey,  of  Bedford,  1902  to  1911. 

By  Laws  of  1910  the  office  of  School  Commissioner  was  abol- 
ished, and  instead  the  office  of  Superintendent  of  Schools  was 
created.  In  the  early  days  Superintendents  supervised  the 
schools  in  this  County. 


SCHOOL  SUPERINTENDENTS. 

Pursuant  to  section  381  of  the  Education  Law,  as  amended 
by  Chapter  607,  Laws  of  1910,  Supervisors  of  the  Towns  of  the 
County  and  the  School  Commissioners  of  said  County  met  on 
April  18,  1911,  and  divided  the  County  into  four  school  super- 
visory districts,  as  follows: 

District  No.  1,  to  bo  composed  of  the  Towns  of  White  Plains, 
Harrison,    Rye,  Mamaroneck,   Scarsdale,  Eastchester  and  Pel- 

*  The  only  woman  elected  to  this  oflSce  in  this  County, 
t  Resigned  on  being  elected  County  Register. 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  299 

ham.  District  No.  2,  to  be  composed  of  the  Towns  of  Green- 
burgh,  Mount  Pleasant  and  North  Castle.  District  No.  3,  to  be 
composed  of  the  Towns  of  Ossining,  New  Castle,  Bedford,  Lewis- 
boro  and  Poundridge.  District  No.  4,  to  be  composed  of  Cort- 
landt,  Yorktown,  Somers  and  North  Salem. 

Under  the  Laws  of  1910,  each  town  comprised  in  a  district 
elects  two  school  directors,  the  directors  from  these  several  towns 
meet  in  their  respective  districts  and  select  a  proper  person  to 
act  as  Superintendent  of  Schools  in  that  district. 

In  accordance  with  this  law  the  directors  in  the  Second  Dis- 
trict met  on  August  15,  1911,  and  elected  Charles  H.  Cheney, 
of  White  Plains,  as  such  School  Superintendent. 

In  the  Third  District,  the  directors  met  on  August  15,  1911, 
and  elected  George  A.  Covey,  of  Bedford,  as  School  Superin- 
tendent. 

On  same  date,  the  directors  of  the  Fourth  District  met 
and  elected  Robert  D.  Knapp,  of  Croton  Falls,  as  School 
Superintendent. 

In  the  First  District  the  election  was  delayed  until  Septem- 
ber 7,  1911,  owing  to  a  spirited  contest  for  the  place.  Samuel 
J.  Preston,  of  Mamaroneck,  was  elected  School  Superintendent. 


COUNTY  ATTORNEYS. 

State  Laws  of  1907,  Chap.  280,  provides  that  the  Board  of 
Supervisors  of  any  county  may  appoint  a  County  Attorney 
who  shall  be  removable  at  its  pleasure.  The  term  of  office  of  a 
County  Attorney  so  appointed  shall  be  two  years,  unless  sooner 
removed,  and  his  salary  shall  be  fixed  by  the  Board  of  Super- 
visors and  be  a  County  charge.  The  Board  of  Supervisors  may, 
by  local  law,  prescribe  the  duties  of  the  County  Attorney, 
which  duties  may  include  the  sessions  of  town  boards,  and 
town  officials  when  not  in  conflict  with  the  interests  of  the 
County. 

He  prepares  all  legal  documents  necessary  to  be  executed  by 
the  officers  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  and  advises  all  com- 
mittees of  the  Board  requiring  legal  information.  He  also 
represents  the  Board  in  all  litigation  in  which  the  Board  may 
be  involved. 


300  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

The  Board  of  Supervisors  has  fixed  the  salary  of  the  present 
County  Attorney  at  $3,000  per  annum,  payable  in  monthly 
installments. 

Following  are  names  and  addresses  of  persons  holding  this 
office,  and  the  years  they  served,  from  date  of  creation  of 
office: 

Frederick  Hughes,  Yonkers,  from  June,  1907,  to  December, 
1908. 

Charles  E.  Van  Auken,  New  Rochelle,  from  December,  1908; 
present  incumbent. 


COMMISSIONER  OF  JURORS. 

{Continued  from  page  118,  Vol.  1.) 

Is  appointed  at  joint  meeting  of  the  County  Judge,  the 
County  Treasurer,  the  District- Attorney  and  the  Sheriff.  The 
term  of  office  is  for  three  years.  The  Deputy  is  appointed  by 
the  Commissioner. 

The  State  Legislature,  Laws  of  1904,  Chap.  161,  fixed  the 
compensation  to  be  paid  to  jurors  in  this  County  at  the  rate 
of  three  dollars  per  day,  while  serving  as  jurors,  and  mileage 
at  the  rate  of  five  cents  for  each  mile  necessarily  traveled  by 
him  in  going  to  and  returning  from  the  place  where  the  court 
is  held,  once  in  each  calendar  week  during  the  term.  This  act 
took  effect  September  1,  1904. 

The  present  salary  of  the  Commissioner  of  Jurors  is  $2,500 
per  annum;  salary  of  Deputy  Commissioner,  $1,400. 

The  office  of  Commissioner  of  Jurors,  created  in  1892,  by) 
special  act  of  the  Legislature,  has  been  held  by— 

I.  Howard  Kinch,  from  1892  to  1897. 

John  Sells,  from  1897  to  date. 


DEPUTY   COMMISSIONERS. 

George  W.  Burlington,  1892  to  1894  (died  August  22,  1910). 

Harold  Kinch,  1894  to  1897. 

John  J.  Mahaney,  1897  to  1901  (dead). 

Joseph  Hudson,  1901  to  1909. 

Paul  M.  Cables,  1909,  now  acting. 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST,  301 

COUNTY  ENGINEER  AND   SUPERINTENDENT   OF 

HIGHWAYS. 

These  positions  are  filled  by  appointment  of  the  Board  of 
Supervisors. 

The  salary  is  $2,500  per  year,  with  an  allowance  for  expenses 
of  $1,500  per  annum. 

The  position  has  been  filled  by  the  following  named  persons : 

George  R.  Byrne,  of  White  Plains,  1902  to  1906. 

Eberhard  J.  Wulff,  of  Tarrytown,  from  1906,  present  incum- 
bent. 


COUNTY  SEALER  OF  WEIGHTS  AND  MEASURES. 

This  officer  is  appointed  by  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  and 
holds  office  during  the  pleasure  of  the  Board. 
The  position  has  been  held  by- 
James  F.  Moen,  of  Yonkers,  appointed  1910,  present  incum- 
bent. 


SUPERINTENDENT   OF   COUNTY  BUILDINGS. 

The  Board  of  Supervisors  passed  an  act,  in  June,  1910, 
creating  the  office  of  Superintendent  of  County  Buildings.  This 
officer  is  to  have  supervision  of  buildings,  attend  to  repairs, 
etc.  The  salary  was  fixed  at  $2,000  per  annum,  payable  monthly. 
This  office  is  held  subject  to  the  pleasure  of  the  Board  of  Super- 
visors. 

Benjamin  F.  Wild,  of  White  Plains,  received  the  appoint- 
ment June  7,  1910. 


SIDEPATH  COMMISSIONERS. 

The  Laws  of  1899,  Chap  152,  relates  to  the  use  of  bicycles 
on  sidepaths,  for  licensing  bicycles,  provides  for  the  appoint- 
ment of  Sidepath  Commissioners,  and  provides  for  the  con- 
struction, maintenance,  regulation,  preservation  and  shading 
of  sidepaths;  authorizes  the  County  Judge  to  appoint  Com- 
missioners upon  petition  of  fifty  resident  wheelmen,  said  Com- 
missioners to  hold  office  five  years,  from  January  1,  after 
appointment. 


302  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

In  August,  1899,  the  following  named  persons  were  appointed 
Commissioners  from  this  County: 

William  P.  Maynard,  of  White  Plains;  William  Porter  Allen, 
of  Rye;  S.  Olin  Washburn,  of  Ossining;  Stephen  H.  Sarles,  of 
Mount  Kisco;  John  Walker,  of  Pleasantville ;  George  H.  Mairs, 
of  Irvington,  and  Edward  F.  Hill,  of  Peekskill. 

A  part  of  the  duty  of  the  Commissioners  was  to  collect  money 
by  subscriptions  to  pay  expenses  incurred.  The  Commissioners 
to  serve  without  salary  or  fees. 

No  successors  of  above  named  Commissioners  were  appointed. 
A  new  Highway  Law  repealed  act  under  which  such  Commis- 
sioners were  designated. 


PRESIDENTIAL  ELECTORS. 

(Continued  from  page  87,  Vol.  2.) 

At  the  general  election  held  November  4,  1912,  the  electors 
of  the  two  Congressional  districts,  of  which  Westchester  County 
is  a  part,  chose  the  following  named  as  representatives  in  the 
Electoral  College: 

In  the  Twenty-fourth  District,  composed  of  the  Southern 
Section  of  Westchester  County  and  portion  of  the  Borough  of 
the  Bronx,  John  D.  Jones,  of  the  Bronx,  Democrat. 

In  the  Twenty-fifth  District,  composed  of  Westchester  County, 
except  that  portion  lying  within  the  city  of  Yonkers,  the  city 
of  Mount  Vernon,  the  town  of  Eastchester  and  the  town  of 
Pelham  (in  the  Twenty-fourth  District),  and  the  whole  of  the 
county  of  Rockland,  Gouverneur  Morris  Carnochan,  of  New  City, 
Rockland  County,  Democrat. 

These  Congressional  Districts  were  organized  under  the  State 
Apportionment,  passed  by  the  Legislature  September  30,  1911. 


COUNTY  BUREAU  OF  ELECTIONS. 

(Continued  from  page  312,  Vol.  2.) 

Commissioners  of  Elections  in  the  County  of  Westchester, 
provided  for  in  Election  Laws  passed  by  the  State  Legislature 
of  1911,  and  de.signated  by  the  County  Board  of  Supervisors, 
are  John  B.  Cortright  of  Mount  Vernon  and  George  S.  Bailey 
of  Port  Chester.  The  latter  was  appointed  to  serve  from  Au- 
gust 1,  1913,  to  fill  vacancy  caused  by  the  resignation  of  William 
J.  Wallen. 


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IN  MEMORY  OF  THEODORE  H.  SILKMAN. 

Former  Surrogate  of  County. 

A  meeting  in  memory  of  Theodore  Hannibal  Silkman,  former 
Surrogate  of  Westchester  County  (who  died  August  22,  1910), 
held  in  County  Court  Chambers  at  the  County  Court  House, 
in  White  Plains,  on  Friday,  November  18,  1910,  at  2  o'clock 
p.  M.,  was  well  attended  by  citizens  from  all  sections  of  the 
County,  many  being  members  of  the  bar  who  held  the  late  Sur- 
rogate in  high  esteem;  the  County  Bar  Association  was  largely 
represented,  Mr.  Silkman  having  served  the  Association  as 
president  for  two  terms,  was  one  of  the  original  members 
and  contributed  much  toward  securing  success  for  the  Asso- 
ciation. His  upright  course  as  a  Judge  made  for  him  many 
admirers. 

This  meeting  was  arranged  by  a  committee  of  lawyers,  Messrs. 
Jerome  A.  Peck,  Joseph  S.  Wood  and  Henry  C.  Henderson, 
appointed  by  the  Supreme  Court  and  the  Surrogate's  Court. 

Supreme  Court  Justice  Martin  J.  Keogh  presided,  and  opened 
the  proceedings  with  a  few  pertinent  remarks  as  to  the  object 
of  the  gathering;  on  the  right  of  the  presiding  Justice  sat 
Supreme  Court  Justice  Arthur  S.  Tompkins  and  County  Judge 
William  P.  Piatt,  on  his  left,  Supreme  Court  Justice  Isaac  N. 
Mills  and  Surrogate  Frank  V.  ^lillard. 

Addresses  were  delivered  by  Justice  Tompkins,  Joseph  S.  Wood 
of  Mount  Vernon,  Surrogate  Millard,  Charles  Philip  Easton 
president  of  the  Board  of  Education  of  Yonkers,  Henry  C. 
Henderson  of  White  Plains,  and  others. 

The  invocation  was  given  by  Archdeacon  Frederick  B.  Van 
Kleeck,  of  White  Plains. 

Mr.  Jerome  A.  Peck,  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Arrange- 
ments, spoke  as  follows : 

"  The  committee  appointed  by  Mr.  Justice  Tompkins  and  Mr. 
Surrogate  Millard  to  arrange  a  memorial  service  for  our  late 
friend  Theodore  H.  Silkman,  acting  upon  the  suggestion  of  the 
Court,  have  asked  you  to  set  aside  a  part  of  one  day  in  your  busy 
lives,  to  pay  tribute  and  respect  to  him  who  so  lately  moved 
among  us  in  the  full  vigor  of  manhood. 

303 


304  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

"As  was  said  by  the  Court  upon  the  occasion  when  a  minute 
was  made  of  the  decease  of  our  late  brother,  his  character  and 
prominence  as  a  member  of  the  profession,  and  as  Surrogate  of 
the  County  for  so  many  years,  make  it  meet  that  proper  respect 
should  be  shown  his  memory;  and  it  is  pleasing  to  have  this 
meeting  so  well  attended  by  members  of  the  Bench,  and  so 
many  of  the  leading  members  of  the  Bar  in  Westchester  County. 

"Others  who  have  been  prevented  from  attending  the  meet- 
ing by  reason  of  their  judicial  duties  or  unavoidable  professional 
engagements,  have  expressed  to  the  committee  their  regret  that 
they  could  not  be  with  us;  and  all  have  spoken  in  unmeasured 
terms  of  endearment  and  praise  of  him  whose  memory  we  have 
met  to-day  to  honor." 

Impressive  remarks  by  Mr.  Henry  C.  Henderson,  an  intimate 
friend,  followed.  He  spoke  from  the  fullness  of  his  heart,  as 
a  friend  should  speak  of  a  friend.  Mr.  Philip  Charles  Easton, 
another  close  friend,  invited  by  the  presiding  justice,  in  well 
chosen  words,  bore  testimony  of  the  high  regard  in  which  the 
late  jurist  was  held  by  members  of  the  bar  and  by  others,  who 
knew  him  best. 

Joseph  S.  Wood,  a  former  president  of  the  County  Bar  Asso- 
ciation, spoke  in  these  words: 

"In  this  checkered  life  of  ours,  there  is  a  time  to  mourn  and 
a  time  to  rejoice— to  mourn  for  what  we  have  lost,  and  to  rejoice 
in  what  we  have  won.  In  these  exercises  of  to-day,  in  commem- 
oration of  the  life  and  services  of  Theodore  H.  Silkman,  we  have 
caiLse  for  much  sorrow,  and  great  rejoicing. 

"We  mourn  for  the  loss  of  a  dear,  whole-souled,  abiding 
friend,  one  concerning  whose  position  there  was  never  a  doubt 
or  shadow  of  turning. 

"When  he  took  you  by  the  hand,  and  you  gazed  into  his  clear, 
penetrating  eyes,  and  saw  the  genial,  warm,  wistful,  half  melan- 
choly smile  which  played  around  the  corners  of  his  mouth,  you 
knew  that  you  stood  in  the  presence  of  a  man,  to  whom  you  could 
cntriLst  your  life,  your  fortune  and  your  honor. 

"He  seemed  ever  to  keep  in  view  the  advice  of  Polonius  to 

his  son  Laertes: 

'The   friends   thou   hast,   and   their   adoption   tried, 
Grapple  them   tn   tliy  soul  with  hooks  of  steel.' 

' '  It  was  in  such  bonds  he  held  us  in  close  friendship  and  sym- 
pathy :  and  we  mourn  to-day,  because  those  bonds  have  been 
sundered  by  that  Almight}^  Power  by  which  all  ties  are  broken. 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  305 

"We  mourn  for  the  loss  of  one  of  the  ablest  members  of  the 
Westchester  County  Bar,  a  man  who  reflected  high  honor  on  our 
profession. 

"He  was  not  a  brilliant  orator,  who  carried  men  off  their  feet 
with  a  torrent  of  eloquence ;  he  made  no  effort  whatever  to  sway- 
men 's  minds  by  appealing  to  their  passions,  their  hates,  their 
prejudices  or  their  fears. 

"He  appealed  to  their  reason.  His  mind  was  essentially  a 
logical  one.  He  was  patient,  deliberate,  studious,  painstaking; 
and  when  the  time  for  trial  came,  he  was  always  thoroughly  pre- 
pared.    Therein  lay  the  secret  of  his  success. 

"As  a  la"wyer  he  was  more  than  learned  in  the  law.  He  was 
the  embodiment  of  its  ethics.  He  was  one  of  the  old  school, 
who  never  forgot  that  the  law  is  a  profession,  and  that  the  first 
requisite  of  a  lawyer  is  to  be  a  gentleman. 

"He  had  a  profound  contempt  for  the  pettifogger,  for  the 
man  who  strove  to  win  by  subtle  and  devious  technicalities. 

"He  was  always  courteous  to  his  adversaries,  and  sought  to 
win  his  cases  on  their  merits. 

"He  lived  up  to  the  traditions  of  the  Bar  of  Westchester 
County ;  traditions  which  it  is  our  solemn  duty  to  keep  inviolate, 
and  to  hand  down,  in  all  their  vigor  and  purity,  to  our  successors. 

"If  you  seek  for  the  secret  of  the  success  of  Yale,  Harvard, 
Princeton,  Oxford  and  Cambridge,  you  will  find  it  in  their 
traditions. 

"Each  has  an  atmosphere  of  its  own,  hallowed  by  the  mem- 
ories of  generations. 

* '  And  so  it  is  with  these  walls,  wherewith  we  are  now  enclosed. 
They  are  the  photographic  plates  and  the  phonographic  records, 
in  which  the  features,  forms,  gestures,  voices  and  manners 
of  a  line  of  distinguished  jurists  and  lawyers  are  indelibly 
impressed. 

"I  never  enter  this  court-room  without  seeing,  in  my  mind's 
eye,  Judge  Barnard  or  Judge  Dykman  sitting  where  Your 
Honors  now  sit,  dispensing  justice  with  firmness,  gentleness, 
wisdom  and  mercy. 

"And  here  at  the  Bar,  stood  the  genial  good-tempered  Judge 
Robertson,  the  rugged,  sturdy,  honest,  fearless  Frank  Larkin, 
the  able,  persuasive  Calvin  Frost,  the  incisive,  self-poised,  learned 
Odle  Close,  and  a  score  more  like  them,  at  whose  feet  Your 
Honors  and  I  sat,  and  by  whom  we  were  inspired,  with  the 


306  MA2TOAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

noblest  traditions  of  our  profession  and  the  highest  standards 
of  legal  ethics. 

"It  is  the  glory  of  the  AVestchester  County  Bar,  that  the 
standards,  ethics,  and  traditions  these  forefathers  preserved, 
from  John  Jay  of  the  Town  of  Bedford,  the  presiding  Justice 
of  the  Supreme  Court,  to  Theodore  H.  Silkman,  Surrogate  of 
our  County,  have  been  handed  down  as  a  precious  heritage  to 
the  men  we  delight  to  call  Your  Honors. 

"When  we  use  those  words,  let  us  always  do  so  reverently 
and  with  a  full  sense  of  their  meaning.  Let  them  never  be 
uttered  flippantly,  perfunctorily  or  as  a  matter  of  indifference. 

"I  have  called  Theodore  H.  Silkman  Your  Honor  many  times 
as  he  sat  on  the  Bench  and  I  stood  at  the  Bar. 

"It  is  a  source  of  pride  and  joy  to  recall  the  fact  that  I 
meant  those  words  should  apply  to  the  man,  as  well  as  to  the 
position  he  held. 

"We  mourn  not  for  what  Judge  Silkman  did,  but  for  what 
he  would  have  done  had  not  Death  brought  him  to  an  untimely 
end,  in  the  prime  of  life,  the  ripening  of  his  manhood,  the  fru- 
ition of  his  wisdom  and  experience.  We  mourn  not  for  the 
actualities,  but  for  the  potentialities. 

' '  His  record  for  twelve  years  as  the  Surrogate  of  Westchester 
County,  succeeding,  as  he  did,  one  of  the  ablest,  most  conscien- 
tious, delightful  and  successful  of  all  the  surrogates  New  York 
State  ever  had,  is  a  triumph  of  which  every  one  of  the  West- 
chester Bar  is  proud,  and  the  memory  of  which  will  ever  keep 
the  name  of  Theodore  H.  Silkman  as  a  priceless  treasure  to  his 
family  and  descendants.  In  this  we  rejoice  greatly.  It  is  in 
his  unfinished  work  we  grieve. 

"We  mourn  the  loss  of  one  who  bade  fair  to  become  an  emi- 
nent jurist. 

"There  are  thousands  of  successful  lawyers  at  the  Bar,  but 
there  are  few  who  have  the  qualifications  to  make  a  successful 
judge. 

"I  am  sure  my  brethren  at  this  Bar  unite  with  me  in  saying, 
that  Theodore  H.  Silkman  possessed  in  an  eminent  degree,  quali- 
ties which  fitted  him  to  be  a  judge.  He  was  patient,  suave, 
courteous,  and  commanding,  without  being  overbearing.  He 
was  always  ready  to  listen,  and  then  ready  to  decide.  He  knew 
how  to  separate  the  chaff  from  the  wheat,  to  eliminate  the  non- 
essentials from  the  essentials. 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  307 

"He  had  an  almost  intuitive  sense  for  reaching  the  pith  of 
the  case,  and  applying  to  it  the  correct  theory  of  law. 

"It  was  for  such  qualities  of  mind  that  we  regarded  him  as 
fit  for  still  higher  duties  than  those  with  which  the  people  of 
Westchester  County  had  honored  him.  It  is  because  we  have 
lost  a  man  fitted  with  such  qualifications  that  we  mourn. 

"We  mourn  the  loss  not  only  of  a  dear  friend,  an  honored 
lawyer,  a  distinguished  jurist,  but  a  public-spirited  citizen. 

"He  was  always  ready  with  his  name,  his  tongue,  his  pen 
and  purse,  to  advocate  the  rights  of  the  people,  and  to  espouse 
the  cause  of  those  who  had  to  fight  against  odds. 

"He  was  a  friend  of  the  poor,  the  down-trodden  and  the 
oppressed,  as  my  brother  Easton,  who  was  very  close  to  him  in 
this  line  of  work,  has  attested  to-day;  and  none  mourn  his  loss 
more  than  those  in  poverty  and  distress,  to  whom  he  was  a 
very  present  help  in  the  hour  of  trouble. 

' '  I  have  said  that  this  is  a  time  to  rejoice  as  well  as  to  mourn. 

"There  is  much  more  in  the  life  of  Theodore  H.  Silkman,  in 
addition  to  what  I  have  said,  which  should  cause  us  to  rejoice. 

"First  of  all,  that  he  has  done  more  than  any  other  man  to 
make  the  Bar  of  AVestchester  County  a  brotherhood.  He  was 
not  only  the  president  of  the  Westchester  County  Bar  Associa- 
tion for  two  years,  but  one  of  its  moving  spirits  for  many  years. 

' '  In  it,  through  it,  and  out  of  it,  he  sought  to  establish  a  good- 
fellowship,  an  intimacy,  a  brotherhood  among  us. 

"How  well  he  succeeded,  these  memorial  services  abundantly 
attest. 

"By  reason  of  this  better  acquaintance,  of  this  knowing  one 
another,  we  are  not  only  brought  more  closely  together,  but  are 
led  to  deal  with  one  another  on  a  higher  plane,  in  a  more  liberal 
and  generous  manner.  We  are  a  club,  not  an  exchange.  There 
is  more  of  the  spirit  of  knighthood  in  our  encounters,  and  less 
that  of  the  broker. 

"We  rejoice  in  his  career  as  a  lawyer,  we  rejoice  in  his  career 
as  a  surrogate,  we  rejoice  in  his  career  as  the  President  of  the 
Westchester  County  Bar  Association,  and  we  rejoice  in  his  career 
as  a  public-spirited  citizen  and  a  benefactor. 

"We  rejoice  in  his  memory  as  a  jurist,  as  a  lawyer,  as  a 
philanthropist  and  as  a  friend. 

' '  Take  him  for  all  in  all,  he  was  a  man. ' ' 

The  principal  address,  by  Supreme  Court  Justice  Tompkins, 
was  as  follows: 


308  MAXUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

"As  oui'  friends  one  by  one  are  called  out  from  the  ranks 

of  the  living  to  join  the  innumerable  throng  that  moves  on 

through  the  Valley  of  the  Shadow  of  Death,  the  truth  is  brought 

home  to  us  with  startling  force  *  that  in  the  midst  of  life  we 

are  in  death,'     Verily,  '  We  spend  our  years  as  a  tale  that  is 

told.' 

'Like  a  swift  fleeting  meteor,  a  fast  flying  cloud, 
A  flash  of  the  lightning,  a  dash  of  the  wave, 
Man  passeth  from  life  to  his  rest  in  the  grave. ' 

"And  in  the  face  of  this  unfathomable  mystery— death— this 
relentless  enemy  of  life,  man  stands  mute  and  helpless.  And 
the  mystery  of  it  all  is  only  intensified  and  deepened  when  it 
claims  for  its  victim  one  at  the  meridian  of  life,  and  one 
apparently  at  the  very  zenith  of  a  successful  and  prosperous 
career,  with  mental  faculties  undimmed  and  seemingly  with 
capacity  and  opportunities  for  many  years  of  useful  service. 
No,  we  cannot  solve  or  penetrate  the  mystery  of  the  death  of 
Theodore  H.  Silkman,  at  the  age  of  fifty-three  years,  just  at 
a  time  when  he  and  his  loved  ones  were  reaping  and  enjoying 
the  abundant  fruits  of  his  industry,  integrity  and  affection — 
nor  need  we  solve  it,  or  attempt  to,  nor  should  we  grieve  and 
lament  over  it,  but  rather  give  thanks  for  what  he  was  and  did, 
and  with  submission  and  reverence  bow  to  the  decree  of  Him  in 
whose  sacred  keeping  are  the  issues  of  life  and  death,  knowing 
that  '  He  doeth  all  things  well  '  and  that  '  the  judgments  of 
the  Lord  are  true  and  righteous  altogether.' 

"  We  are  here,  lawyers  and  judges,  to  pay  a  tribute  of 
respect  to  the  memory  of  one  who  was  a  good  citizen,  an  hon- 
ored professional  associate,  a  delightful  companion  and  to  some 
of  us  an  intimate  friend,  and  to  testify  our  appreciation  of  his 
friendship  and  the  high  esteem  in  which  he  was  held  as  a 
lawyer  and  judge,  as  a  neighbor  and  friend,  and  it  is  most 
fitting  that  we  should  pause  in  our  work  to  do  honor  to  one 
who  in  his  career  at  the  Bar  brought  honor  to  our  profession 
and  whose  judicial  work,  covering  a  period  of  twelve  years  in 
this  County,  inspired  confidence  in,  and  respect  for,  our  courts. 

"  The  temptation  and  the  tendency  of  such  an  occasion  as 
this  is  to  indulge  in  extravagant  eulogy,  and  to  describe  a  cata- 
logue of  virtues  that  the  most  intimate  friend  of  the  decedent 
would  hardly  recognize,  and  that  is  not  a  very  bad  trait  of 
human  nature  either.     It  is  far  better  for  us  to  praise  than  to 


M.-mUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  309 

condemn  the  dead.  And  if  we  look  sharply  we  shall  find  some 
good  to  speak  of— something  worthy  of  emulation  in  every  life; 
but  that  tendency  to  exaggerate  has  not  been  followed  in  the 
addresses  of  this  afternoon.  They  have  all  been  well  within 
the  limits  of  fact  and  truth,  and  what  little  I  may  say  will  be 
confined  to  what  I  know  from  observation  of  and  contact  with 
our  late  friend  Judge  Silkman. 

'  *  For  fifteen  years  it  was  my  very  great  privilege  to  know  him, 
and  during  a  part  of  that  time  to  know  him  well  and  inti- 
mately, and  to  have  and  enjoy  his  esteem  and  confidence,  but 
it  would  not  be  proper  here  to  speak  of  those  intimate  personal 
relations  that  were  a  pleasure  and  joy  to  me  while  he  lived,  and 
will  be  a  precious  memory  in  the  years  to  come. 

"  The  simple  truth  concerning  Judge  Silkman  is  that  as  a 
man  he  was  genial,  cordial,  gentle,  cheerful  and  manly,  irradi- 
ating the  spirit  of  kindness  and  brotherly  love,  and  we  shall 
miss  his  cordiality,  his  true  simplicity,  his  unfailing  gentleness 
and  his  glorious  optimism. 

"  As  a  member  of  the  Bar  in  the  practice  of  his  profession 
he  manifested  those  qualities  of  mind  and  heart  that  make  the 
practice  of  the  law  a  joy  and  delight  and  bring  honor  to  our 
profession.  He  was  honest  with  his  client,  fair  and  courteous 
in  his  treatment  of  his  adversary,  unselfish  and  generous  in  his 
dealings  with  his  associates,  and  always  exhibiting  toward  the 
court  that  candor  and  frankness  that  compel  respect  and 
confidence. 

"  It  was  as  a  Judge  that  he  was  best  known.  As  Surrogate 
he  did  his  best  work.  The  records  of  the  Surrogate's  Court  of 
this  County  from  1895  to  1907  speak  and  will  ever  speak,  of  his 
fidelity  as  a  public  servant;  of  his  capacity  for  hard  work;  his 
learning  and  ability  as  a  lawyer,  and  his  fairness  and  impar- 
tiality as  a  judge,  and  the  law  reports  containing  the  decisions 
rendered  by  him  during  these  twelve  years  bear  testimony  to 
the  patience,  fairness,  ability  and  efficiency  with  which  he  filled 
and  discharged  the  duties  of  one  of  the  most  difficult  and 
important  positions  in  our  judicial  system.  Such,  in  brief, 
was  Judge  Silkman  as  we  knew  him  as  a  man,  a  lawyer  and 
a  judge. 

"  There  have  been  more  brilliant  men  and  stronger  men  and 
more  spectacular  men,  but  I  have  never  known  a  kinder,  truer 
and  nobler  one  or  one  who  was  more  faithful  to  all  the  tasks 
of  life  than  was  Theodore  H.  Silkman.     The  eloquent  addresses 


310 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


to  which  we  have  listened  and  these  simple  words  of  mine  are 
designed  to  serve  as  a  tribute  to  his  memory  and  it  is  proper 
that  we  should  so  speak,  but  after  all  said  and  done  the  fact 
remains  that  he  reared  his  own  monument,  honored  and  per- 
petuated his  own  name  and  wrote  his  own  epitaph,  by  his 
own  life  and  works  and  influence  as  every  man  must  do,  and 
all  that  those  who  remain  behind  can  do  is  to  pay  a  tribute  of 
respect  and  honor  to  the  memory  of  the  dead,  and  the  most 
sensible  method  of  honoring  our  dead  is  to  imitate  their  virtues. 

"  We  shall  best  honor  them,  not  by  scattering  flowers  that 
wither  in  a  day  over  their  resting  places,  not  by  extravagant 
eulogy  and  fulsome  praise,  not  even  by  chiselling  their  names 
and  deeds  in  marble  and  granite ;  no,  we  shall  honor  our  revered 
dead  most  when  we  gather  up  from  their  lives  lessons  for  our 
own  inspiration  and  guidance,  and  incorporate  into  own  own 
characters  the  qualities  and  virtues  that  adorned  and  beautified 
their  lives. 

' '  We  shall  not  see  his  face  again  nor  hear  his  voice  nor  touch 
his  hand,  but  his  memory  will  abide,  and  the  good  influence  of 
his  life  and  of  his  gentle  manners  and  the  warmth  and  glow 
of  the  friendships  that  have  been  severed  by  his  death— these 
will  all  abide,  and  the  world  will  be  better  and  richer  and  life 
will  be  sweeter  and  more  wholesome  because  he  lived  and  loved 
and  wrought." 

Surrogate  Frank  V.  Millard  spoke  most  feelingly  of  his  prede- 
cessor. Ending  with  "  no  surrogate  in  the  State  of  New  York 
was  held  in  higher  esteem  than  Surrogate  Silkman,  whose  deci- 
sions were  sustained  by  the  highest  court  of  the  State." 

Hon.  J.  Addison  Young,  president  of  the  County  Bar  Associa- 
tion, moved  that  the  resolutions  adopted  be  made  part  of  the 
Court's  record  and  that  an  engrossed  copy  of  same  be  sent  to  the 
late  Surrogate  Silkman 's  family. 

Justice  Keogh  directed  that  this  be  done. 


Biographical  Sketches. 


THEODORE  H.  SILKMAN 
Theodore  Hannibal  Silkman,  for- 
mer Surrogate,  Police  Commissioner, 
etc.,  was  born  in  the  city  of  New 
York,  on  March  25,  1858,  only  son 
of  James  Baily  and  Harriet  Van 
Cortlandt  (Crosby)  Silkman.  He 
early  became  a  resident  of  the  County 
and  was  ever  a  valued  citizen. 
An    interesting    biography    giving 


details  of  Mr.  Silkman 's  useful  life 
will  be  found  on  page  159,  of  Vol- 
ume 1. 

Mr.  Silkman  was  second  President 
of  the  "Westchester  County  Bar  As- 
sociation. 

He  served  as  Surrogate  of  this 
County  from  1895  to  1907,  twelve 
years,   the  specified  two   terms. 

He    held    many    important    public 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 


311 


offices  in  the  city  of  Yonkers,  and 
was  ever  foremost  in  public  affairs. 

After  his  retirement  from  the  Sur- 
rogateship  members  of  the  County 
Bar  combined  and  had  painted  in 
oil  a  full-sized  portrait  of  Judge 
SUkman  which  they  presented  to  the 
County,  through  Joseph  S.  Wood, 
who  was  president  of  the  County  Bar 
Association;  the  address  of  accept- 
ance was  made  by  John  J.  Sinnott, 
Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Super- 
visors. 

The  bill  which  passed  the  State 
Legislature  creating  the  Ninth  Judi- 
cial District  was  drafted  by  Judge 
Silkman. 

Though  urged  by  many  friends  to 
become  a  candidate  for  the  office  of 
Supreme  Court  Justice,  at  the  first 
election  in  the  new  Judicial  district, 
he  declined  to  do  so,  and  returned  to 
active  practice  of  the  law,  having  his 
offices  in  New  York  city. 

His  practice  became  large  and  he 
had  to  labor  hard  to  keep  up  with 
demands  for  his  services.     In  many 


cases  of  conspicuous  importance  he 
appeared  as  attorney,  and  he  took  a 
position  at  the  bar  equal  to  his  high 
attainments  as  a  lawyer. 

His  legal  labors  proved  so  arduous 
that  the  strain  began  to  tell  upon 
him  and  his  friends,  fearing  for  his 
health,  advised  a  rest,  and  the  tak- 
ing of  time  to  build  himself  up;  but 
faithfulness  to  clients  was  his  first 
consideration,  and  he  kept  at  work; 
at  last  he  went  to  his  home  in  Yon- 
kers an  ill  man;  he  had  overtaxed 
his  strength;  he  rallied  by  spells  and 
then  the  end  came  on  August  22, 
1910,  on  the  fourth  day  after  his 
return  home;  ptomaine  poisoning  was 
given  as  the  cause  of  death. 

Proceedings  of  the  meeting  held 
in  memory  of  Judge  Silkman,  under 
auspices  of  the  Bar  Association  and 
a  committee  appointed  by  the  Su- 
preme Court  and  the  Surrogate's 
Court,  will  be  found  printed  else- 
where, under  proper  title,  in  this 
volume. 


UNITED  STATES  COURTS. 

The  proposal  that  the  membership  of  the  United  States  Su- 
preme Court  be  changed  from  nine  to  eleven  involves  no  start- 
ling innovation.  The  legal  number  has  varied  at  various  periods 
in  the  country's  history. 

The  Constitution  of  the  United  States  merely  provides  that 
*'the  judicial  power  of  the  United  States  shall  be  vested  in 
one  Supreme  Court,  and  in  such  inferior  courts  as  the  Congress 
may  from  time  to  time  ordain  and  establish."  The  first  Su- 
preme Court,  appointed  by  "Washington  in  1789  in  accordance 
with  an  act  of  the  First  Congress,  consisted  of  a  Chief  Justice 
and  five  Associate  Justices,  of  whom  four  should  make  a 
quorum.  Since  then  the  legal  membership  of  the  court  has 
ranged  from  six  to  ten,  as  Congress  saw  fit  to  provide.  At 
present  it  is  nine,  not  because  of  any  constitutional  requirement 
but  by  statutory  provision. 

In  the  beginning  there  was  little  need  for  a  large  court.  In 
the  first  year  of  Chief  Justice  Marshall's  term  only  ten  cases 
were  filed.    A  century  later,  in  1901,  383  cases  were  filed. 


312  MANUAL  A^'D  CIVIL  LIST. 

What  experience  has  most  thoroughly  demonstrated  is  the 
necessity  of  an  uneven  number  of  Justices,  a  fact  that  Wash- 
ington and  his  contemporaries  did  not  realize.  Neither  could 
they  foresee  the  place  the  court  was  to  occupy  in  the  coming 
years  in  the  Government  of  the  United  States. 


SUPREME  COURT  LIBRARY  AT  WHITE  PLAINS. 

(Continued  from  page  162,  volume  2) 

Governor  Sulzer,  January  21,  1913,  appointed  Frank  V.  Mil- 
lard as  Trustee  of  the  Supreme  Court  Library,  to  succeed  him- 
self; William  A.  Sawyer  of  Port  Chester,  Surrogate  of  the 
County,  as  a  Trustee  of  the  Supreme  Court  Library,  to  succeed 
J.  Addison  Young,  of  New  Rochelle,  whose  term  of  office  had 
expired ;  and  ex-County  Clerk  John  M.  Digney,  of  White  Plains, 
as  Trustee  of  the  Supreme  Court  Library,  to  succeed  David  H. 
Hunt,  of  White  Plains,  who  was  appointed  as  librarian  of  this 
Library. 

The  Supreme  Court  Library  at  AMiite  Plains  is  one  of  the 
few  libraries  of  that  character  open  to  the  general  public.  It 
has  all  the  advantages  of  a  library  of  the  Appellate  division 
because  all  the  cases  and  printed  points  used  in  all  appeals 
are  furnished  this  library  where  they  are  bound  under  the 
direction  of  the  librarian.  The  indices  to  these  volumes  are 
very  valuable  as  affording  a  key  to  briefs  made  t>y  eminent 
counsel. 


ITEMS   OF  INTEREST. 

It  has  been  officially  determined,  to  settle  disputes,  that  the 
Civil  War  ended  in  1866,  though  claimed  to  have  closed  June  1, 
1865.  It  is  really  said  to  have  closed  at  different  times  in  dif- 
ferent States.  By  an  act  passed  in  March,  1867,  Congress,  for 
certain  purposes  it  had  in  mind,  even  decided  that  the  war  ended 
officially  on  August  20,  1866. 


OLD  AND  NEW  SOURCES  OF  WATER 

SUPPLY. 


CROTON  AQUEDUCT. 

A  public  celebration  of  the  completion  of  the  Croton  Aqueduct 
took  place  October  14,  1842,  in  New  York  City  and  Westchester 
County. 

In  the  year  1793  Dr.  Joseph  Brown  proposed  to  supply  the 
City  of  New  York  with  water,  by  bringing  the  river  Bronx  to 
Harlem  in  an  open  canal,  raising  it  to  the  required  height  by 
steam  and  conducting  it  to  the  city  in  a  six-inch  pipe.  Propo- 
sitions were  subsequently  made  by  William  Weston  and  others 
with  reference  to  the  same  source.  The  Croton,  in  Westchester 
County,  was  first  recommended  in  the  year  1832  by  Col.  DeWitt 
Clinton.  In  1833  the  State  Legislature  authorized  surveys.  In 
1834  a  permanent  board  of  Water  Commissioners  was  organized. 
In  1835,  on  February  18,  the  Commission  reported  recommend- 
ing the  work  of  construction.  On  March  4,  1835,  the  proposed 
plan  was  adopted  by  the  New  York  City  Common  Council.  On 
April  13,  1835,  the  citizens  decided  by  a  distinct  vote  that  the 
work  should  be  constructed;  May  7,  following,  the  Commis- 
sioners were  directed  to  proceed.  Water  was  introduced  July 
4,  1842. 

The  Croton  Aqueduct  in  1842,  at  time  of  its  completion,  was 
described  as  follows:  ''The  Aqueduct  commences  at  the  Croton 
River,  five  miles  from  the  Hudson,  in  Westchester  County. 
The  dam  is  250  feet  long,  70  feet  wide  at  bottom,  and  7  at 
top ;  height  40  feet ;  built  of  stone  and  cement.  It  sets  the  river 
back  5  miles,  covering  400  acres,  and  holds  five  hundred  millions 
of  gallons.  From  the  dam  the  Aqueduct  proceeds,  sometimes 
tunneling  through  solid  rock,  crossing  valleys  by  embankments, 
and  brooks  by  culverts,  until  it  reaches  Harlem  River,  a  dis- 
tance of  thirty-three  miles.  It  is  built  of  stone,  brick  and 
cement,  arched  over  and  under,  6  feet,  9  inches  wide  at  bottom, 
7  feet,  5  inches  at  top  of  side  walls,  and  8  feet  5  inches  high. 
It  will  discharge  in  twenty-four  hours  sixty  millions  of  gallons, 
descent  thirteen  and  one-quarter  inches  per  mile.    It  will  cross 

313 


314  MAmJAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

the  Harlem  River  on  a  maguiticent  bridge  of  stone,  1,450  feet 
long,  with  fourteen  piers,  eight  of  80  feet  span  and  seven  of 
50  feet  span.  From  high  tide  to  soffit  of  arch  100  feet,  to  top 
of  bridge  114  feet,  cost  about  nine  hundred  thousand  dollars. 
Water  is  for  the  present  conducted  across  in  an  iron  pipe  laid 
as  an  inverted  syphon.  The  Manhattan  Valley  at  Harlem  is 
passed  by  two  inverted  syphons  of  cast  iron  three  feet  in 
diameter,  descending  105  feet  below  the  grade  line,  two  and 
a  half  miles  from  termination  of  Aqueduct  of  Masonry,  it 
passes  Clendening  Valley,  with  arches,  over  streets  and  side- 
wallvs,  about  ten  feet  high.  The  Receiving  Reservoir  is  at 
86th  street,  New  York  city,  thirty-eight  miles  from  the  dam, 
it  covers  thirty-five  acres  and  contains  one  hundred  and  fifty 
millions  of  gallons.  The  water  is  conveyed  to  the  Distributing 
Reservoir  on  Murrays  Hill,  40th  street,  New  York  city,  in  iron 
pipes.  It  is  forty-one  miles  from  the  dam,  covers  four  acres, 
built  of  stone  and  cement,  height  forty-three  feet  above  the 
street,  resembling  a  spacious  castle  or  fort.  It  holds  twenty 
millions  of  gallons.  From  this  reservoir  iron  pipes  are  laid, 
underground,  through  the  city.  Water  will  rise  in  any  part 
114  feet  above  tide,  nearly  as  high  as  the  clock  of  the  City 
Hall.  Over  one  hundred  and  ten  miles  of  pipes  are  already  laid. 
The  whole  cost  will  be  about  Twelve  Millions  of  Dollars. ' ' 

THE  GREAT  ASHOKAN  RESERVOIR. 

In  August,  1913,  it  is  expected,  the  great  Catskill  reservoir 
will  be  flooded,  and  a  new  water  supply  will  be  provided  for 
New  York  city;  water  passing  through  mains  laid  almost  the 
entire  length  of  Westchester  County. 

One  of  the  greatest  reservoir  in  the  world  is  the  one  at 
Ashokan,  which  is  so  soon  to  go  into  commission.  The  daily 
supply  of  New  York  city— 500,000,000  gallons— could  be  drawn 
from  it  without  causing  anybody  to  notice  it. 

The  authorization  to  begin  the  Catskill  water  reservoir  con- 
struction was  given  in  1907,  and  the  work  progressed  rapidly. 
The  main  reservoir,  fourteen  miles  from  Kingston,  is  now  prac- 
tically completed,  as  is  the  great  aqueduct  which  is  to  convey 
water  to  New  York.  The  tunnel  under  the  Hudson  river  has 
been  completed.  A  large  portion  of  the  great  water  tunnel 
under  New  York  city  hundreds  of  feet  below  the  surface,  cut 
in  rock,  is  completed  as  far  south  as  Union  Square,  in  May,  1913. 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  315 

The  water  which  is  to  course  through  these  tunnels  is  to  be 
gathered  from  the  Esopus  Creek  watershed,  which  drains  into 
the  great  Ashokan  Reservoir.  Using  the  four  drainage  areas 
in  the  new  water  system  for  New  York  designed  to  supplement 
that  of  the  Croton,  in  Westchester  County,  it  is  estimated  that 
even  in  the  driest  kind  of  weather  770,000,000  gallons  of  water 
a  day  can  be  easily  dispensed  to  the  city,  more  than  127  miles 
distant. 

It  is  estimated  that  from  the  reservoir  at  the  foothills  of  the 
Catskills  it  will  take  the  water  three  days  to  reach  Staten  Island, 
in  Greater  New  York,  to  which  it  is  the  intention  to  convey 
water  through  a  continuation  of  the  tunnel.  The  journey  of 
the  water  to  the  Borough  of  Richmond  involves  a  passage  under 
the  Hudson  river,  under  mountains  and  deep  below  the  sur- 
face of  busy  Manhattan  and  then  under  the  Narrows. 

It  is  estimated  that  the  cost  of  the  Ashokan  Reservoir,  includ- 
ing the  expense  of  relocating  highways  and  paying  for  eleven 
miles  of  railroad  track,  is  nearly  $18,000,000.  If  all  the  water 
which  this  great  repository  can  hold  were  turned  over  New 
York  it  would  cover  the  city  under  twenty-eight  feet  of  flood. 
The  whole  area  of  the  reservoir  is  about  equal  to  that  of  New 
York  city  from  the  Battery  to  116th  street.  Around  the  reser- 
voir highways  are  being  graded.  It  is  estimated  that  the 
capacity  of  Ashokan  Reservoir  is  132,000,000  gallons,  resting 
upon  8,180  acres.  This  volume  of  water  is  held  in  place  by 
dams  and  dikes.  The  main  dam,  a  structure  of  reinforced  con- 
crete and  rubble,  is  4,650  feet  in  length,  or  nearly  a  mile;  220 
feet  in  height,  190  feet  thick  at  its  base  and  23  feet  at  its  top. 
The  maximum  length  of  the  great  reservoir  is  three  miles  and 
its  average  width  one  mile. 

There  is  a  natural  basin  at  the  point  where  the  reservoir  is 
built,  but  in  order  to  complete  the  work  2.960,000  cubic  yards 
of  earth  and  rock  were  excavated,  8,069,000  cubic  yards  of 
embankment  set  and  984,000  cubic  yards  of  masonry  laid.  The 
City  has  so  far  bought  1,187,000  barrels  of  cement  to  use  in 
the  concrete  construction.  On  an  average  3,000  men  a  day 
have  been  employed  on  this  gigantic  task. 

Sixty-four  miles  of  highways  were  discontinued  and  forty 
miles  more  were  built.  One  of  the  last  big  tasks  of  the  enter- 
prise was  the  removal  of  eleven  miles  of  tracks  of  the  Ulster 
and  Delaware  Railroad,  which  was  diverted  in  order  to  give 
room  for  the  reservoir.     The  railroad  had  to  build  new  tracks 


316  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

around  the  reservoir.  Up  to  the  last,  however,  it  was  permitted 
to  send  its  trains  through  a  gap  in  the  walls. 

All  inhabitants  of  eight  villages  and  many  farms  had  to 
evacuate  by  May  1,  1913,  and  go  their  way  to  other  abodes,  to 
make  room  for  the  main  feeder  of  the  great  aqueduct  system 
by  which  the  big  metropolis  is  to  be  provided  with  necessary 
water. 

According  to  reports  submitted  in  March,  1913,  the  total  cost 
of  the  Catskill  Aqueduct  system  was  $184,000,000. 

To  give  New  York  city  an  additional  and  adequate  supply  of 
water,  many  millions  of  dollars  are  being  spent.  The  new  sup- 
ply is  to  be  obtained  from  the  Catskills,  ninety-six  miles  away; 
carried  under  the  Hudson  river,  through  tunnels  down  along 
the  east  bank  of  the  river,  stored  mostly  in  Westchester  County 
and  distributed  in  the  greater  city  through  a  mighty  aque- 
duct—running through  the  heart  of  the  city. 

The  proposed  aqueduct  will  be  IJi/o  miles  long  and  14  feet 
in  diameter. 

It  Avill  run  through  solid  rock  through  the  heart  of  the  city 
and  at  an  average  depth  of  400  feet  below  the  surface  of  the 
streets. 

At  some  points  the  depth  below  the  street  will  be  600  feet. 

The  aqueduct  is  to  run  from  Hillview  reservoir,  Yonkers, 
under  Jerome  avenue,  under  the  Harlem  river  opposite  Dyck- 
man  street,  under  Amsterdam  and  Eighth  avenues  to  One  Hun- 
dred and  Tenth  street,  diagonally  under  Central  Park  to  Fifty- 
ninth  street  and  Sixth  avenue,  under  Sixth  avenue  to  Broadway, 
under  Broadway  to  Union  Square,  under  the  square  and  Fourth 
avenue  to  the  Bowery,  to  Canal  street,  to  East  river,  and  under 
the  river  and  Flatbush  avenue  extension  to  Willoughby  street, 
Brooklyn. 

It  is  estimated  that  the  aqueduct  will  add  about  $25,000,000 
to  the  cost  of  the  Catskill  water  system. 

The  extra  supply  of  water  which  New  York  city  expects  to 
get  from  the  Catskills  is  to  be  carried  through  a  tunnel  bored 
through  Bull  Mountain  (or  Mount  Touris)  and  an  aqueduct 
under  the  Hudson  River,  estimated  to  be  constructed  about 
eleven  hundred  feet  below  the  surface  of  the  river,  crossing  from 
the  west  to  the  east  side  at  a  point  just  south  of  Cornwall,  on 
the  west  side,  and  runninir  to  a  point  about  2,000  feet  north  of 
Cold  Spring,  in  Putnam  County,  on  the  east  side;  the  river  here 
is  knrnvu  as  the  Narrows,  and  is  the  deepest  point,  about  400 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  317 

feet  in  depth.  The  preliminary  surveys  for  the  work  have  been 
made.  The  proposed  aqueduct  is  to  be  constructed  through 
Putnam  and  Westchester  Counties.  The  distributing  plant 
passes  in  this  County  through  the  towns  of  Cortlandt,  York- 
town,  New  Castle,  Mount  Pleasant  and  then  into  North  Castle 
and  the  Kensico  Reservoir,  which  is  to  be  the  main  receiving 
reservoir.  The  second  principal  reservoir  will  be  at  Hillview, 
in  Yonkers. 


ELECTING  A  PRESIDENT. 

At  a  joint  session  of  the  United  States  Senate  and  House  of 
Eepresentatives,  held  February  12,  1913,  Woodrow  Wilson,  of 
New  Jersey,  and  Thomas  R.  INIarshall,  of  Indiana,  were  declared 
elected  President  and  Vice-President  of  the  United  States.  At 
a  joint  session  of  the  Senate  and  House  the  electoral  votes  of 
the  several  States  were  counted  and  the  choice  of  the  people 
announced.  The  official  vote,  as  announced,  was  divided  as 
follows:  Wilson  and  Marshall  had  received  435  electoral  votes, 
Roosevelt  and  Johnson  88,  and  Taft  and  Butler  8. 

The  mode  of  electing  a  President  and  Vice-President  of  these 
United  States  has  been  characterized  as  "a  dangerous  farce." 

Prior  to  the  date  fixed  for  Congress  to  act  in  announcing  the 
names  of  those  elected,  since  the  popular  election  held  in 
November,  1912,  it  has  been  known  that  Wilson  and  Marshall 
were  duly  elected  and  they  have  been  treated  as  President  and 
Vice-President-elect.  According  to  existing  law  bearing  upon 
the  subject,  neither  was  entitled  to  the  distinction.  Neither 
had  been  elected.  Neither  had  any  constitutional  right  to 
assume  his  election.  No  one  of  the  15,034,800  men  who  went  to 
the  polls  in  November  had  voted  for  them  or  the  other  Presi- 
dential tickets.  Constitutionally  speaking,  the  men  actually 
elected  in  November  as  Presidential  electors  were  not  bound  to 
vote  for  any  of  these  tickets.  Constitutionally  they  were  bound 
to  exercise  their  judgment  regardless  of  these  tickets. 

How  these  chosen  electors  actually  voted  was  not  officially 
known  until  February  12,  1913.  Their  votes,  cast  in  the  several 
States  early  in  January,  1913,  were  kept  under  seal  in  the  care 
of  messengers  and  in  the  vaults  of  Congress,  until  February  12. 
Some  of  them  were  miscarried  and  arrived  later  than  the  legal 
time.     Others  might  have  been  lost.     Others  might  have  been 


318  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

tampered  with  or  tangled  up  iu  legal  snarls  whose  fine  points 
are  temptingly  challenged  by  a  process  so  indirect  and  circuitous. 

As  a  matter  of  form  the  ceremonial  in  Congress  was  im- 
pressive. As  a  matter  fact,  is  it  not  as  solemn  a  farce  as  ever 
appealed  to  the  humor  of  a  great  Nation. 

AVhat  think  you,  is  it  not  time  to  end  this  quadrennial  comedy 
so  fraught  with  the  possibilities  of  tragedy  as  at  times  past 
it  has  proved  to  be.  This  should  be  the  last  time  the  antiquated 
and  dangerously  cumbersome  machinery  of  the  Electoral  Col- 
lege be  used  to  pound  and  rattle  out  an  election  of  President 
and  Vice-President  of  these  United  States. 


POLITICAL  PATKONAGE. 

Woodrow  Wilson,  President  of  the  United  States,  the  day 
after  his  inauguration,  in  1913,  found  it  necessary  to  issue  the 
following  statement: 

"The  President  regrets  that  he  is  obliged  to  announce  that 
he  deems  it  his  duty  to  decline  to  see  applicants  for  office  in 
person,  except  when  he  himself  invites  the  interview.  It  is  his 
purpose  and  desire  to  devote  his  attention  very  earnestly  and 
very  constantly  to  the  business  of  the  government  and  the 
large  questions  of  policy  affecting  the  whole  nation;  and  he 
knows  from  his  experience  as  Governor  of  New  Jersey— where 
it  fell  to  him  to  make  innumerable  appointments— that  the 
greater  part  both  of  his  time  and  of  his  energy  will  be  spent  in 
personal  interviews  with  candidates  unless  he  sets  an  invariable 
rule  in  the  matter.  It  is  his  intention  to  deal  with  appoint- 
ments through  the  heads  of  the  several  executive  departments." 

Every  American  citizen  is  a  sovereign,  and  holding  office  is 
one  of  the  perquisites  of  sovereignty.  Hence  the  siege  of  the 
President  of  the  United  States  who  has  patronage  to  bestow. 

Yet  it  is  easy  to  overestimate  the  patronage  troubles  of  a 
Chief  Executive,  especially  a  Chief  Executive  who  has  no  ambi- 
tion to  construct  a  pei-sonal  political  machine.  The  country 
does  not  take  the  Federal  office-holder  so  seriously  as  it  once 
did.  No  newly-elected  President  would  now  be  likely  to  suffer 
the  fate  of  Taylor,  who  was  practically  killed  by  the  pres.sure 
of  patronage.  Nor  would  it  now  be  possible  even  for  a  Conk- 
ling  to  disrupt  a  great  party  over  the  Collectorship  of  the  Port 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  319 

of  New  York,  as  when  William  H.  Robertson,  of  this  County, 
was  appointed  Collector.  Nor  would  a  Lincoln  be  obliged  to 
divert  his  mind  from  civil  war  to  the  postmasterships. 

A  President  who  can  make  himself  a  leader  of  the  American 
people  has  little  to  fear  from  disappointed  politicians.  The 
Presidents  Avho  have  had  the  most  trouble  with  patronage  are 
those  who  were  made  with  patronage  or  who  relied  upon  patron- 
age to  carry  out  their  policies. 

President  Wilson,  otherwise  all  right,  may  not  meet  the  ex- 
pectations of  the  office-seekers.  No  President  ever  did.  Jeffer- 
son was  forced  to  write  one  of  his  matchless  letters  on  the 
subject.  The  elder  Harrison  was  hurried  to  his  death  by 
importunity.  The  easy-going  Garfield  was  murdered  by  a  dis- 
appointed applicant.  How  shall  this  craze  for  position  be 
mitigated  ? 

Exclusive  of  the  army  and  navy  and  the  laborers  at  Panama, 
the  Government  service  embraces  391,000  persons.  No  doubt 
somebody  wants  to  displace  every  one  of  them.  Is  it  possible 
to  imagine  a  President  of  the  United  States  newly  in  olHce 
attempting  in  a  week  or  a  month  to  meet  and  to  pass  upon 
the  claims  of  all  these  aspirants'?  Is  it  even  conceivable  that 
he  could  do  so  with  the  assistance  of  every  member  of  his  Cabi- 
net and  every  member  of  Congress? 

The  new  President  takes  refuge  behind  the  Civil  Service 
laAvs,  behind  the  tenure-of-office  law  and  behind  his  high  sense 
of  duty,  but  most  of  all  behind  his  ideas  of  right  and  decency 
and  order.  Everything  in  this  world  is  relative,  especially  in 
high  places.  The  greater  must  not  be  sacrificed  for  the  less. 
Details  must  not  destroy  essentials.  The  interests  of  indi- 
viduals must  not  be  pleaded  as  against  the  general  welfare. 


U.  S.  PRESIDENT'S  CABINET. 

The  Cabinet  selected  by  President  Washington  in  1789  com- 
prised Thomas  Jefferson  as  Secretary  of  State,  Alexander  Ham- 
ilton as  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  Henry  Knox  as  Secretary  of 
War,  Samuel  Osgood  as  Postmaster-General  and  Edmund  Ran- 
dolph as  Attorney  General.  The  first  Secretaiy  of  the  Navy 
was  named  in  1801  under  President  Jefferson ;  the  first  Secre- 
tary of  the  Interior  in  1849  under  President  Taylor;  the  first 


320  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

Secretary  of  Agriculture  in  1889  under  President  Cleveland. 
The  Department  of  Commerce  and  Labor  was  created  during 
President  Roosevelt's  first  administration,  in  1903,  bringing  the 
Cabinet  up  to  nine  members.  In  1913,  at  the  extreme  end  of 
President  Taft's  administration,  the  Department  of  Labor  was 
created,  ami  it  was  President  Wilson's  duty  to  appoint  the 
first  Secretary  of  Labor,  the  tenth  member  of  the  President's 
Cabinet, 


THE  EXECUTIVE-CABLXET-APPOIXTMEXTS. 

The  Executive  branch  of  the  LTnited  States  Government,  at 
the  head  of  which  is  the  President,  known  as  the  Chief  Execu- 
tive, is  divided  into  nine  divisions,  called  the  Department  of 
State,  Treasury,  AVar,  Xavy,  Post  Office,  Justice,  Interior,  Agri- 
culture and  Commerce  and  Labor.  The  Constitution  mentions 
executive  departments  in  only  a  few  instances,  but  these  allu- 
sions show  that  the  framers  of  that  instrument  contemplated 
the  creation  of  these  departments  as  necessity  might  require. 
The  heads  of  these  several  departments  constitute  the  Presi- 
dent's Cabinet.  This  is  an  advisory  body,  which  holds  regular 
meetings  to  give  the  President  information  concerning  the  sev- 
eral departments  and  to  recommend  the  methods  to  be  em- 
ployed in  dealing  with  the  numerous  questions  constantly  arising 
in  the  governmental  affairs  of  our  wealthy  and  populous  nation. 
The  existence  of  the  President's  Cabinet  is  due  rather  to  cus- 
tom and  necessity  than  to  any  provision  of  the  Constitution  or 
any  law  of  Congress.  "While  all  of  the  offices  held  by  members 
of  the  Cabinet  have  been  created  by  laws  of  Congress,  these 
laws  make  no  provision  for  the  association  of  the  heads  of  the 
departments  as  a  Cabinet.  Therefore,  as  a  body,  the  Cabinet  has 
no  powers  and  duties  except  to  advise  and  assist  the  President. 

The  power  of  appointing  to  office  is  vested  by  the  Constitu- 
tion in  the  President,  unless  Congress  provides  for  their  appoint- 
ment by  the  heads  of  the  departments.  History  tells  ns  that  in 
the  early  days  of  the  Republic  civil  officers  who  were  honest  and 
competent  retained  their  positions  through  successive  adminis- 
trations, but  even  then  the  temptation  to  fill  the  offices  with 
political  friends  caused  some  of  the  early  Presidents  to  swerve 
from  the  strict  line  of  duty.  As  an  example,  we  are  told  that 
President  John  Adams  spent  the  last  hours  of  his  term  of  office 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  32L 

in  making  appointments  to  important  public  positions,  in  order 
to  forestall  the  action  of  Mr.  Jefferson,  who  was  to  succeed  him 
as  President  within  a  few  hours.  So  zealous  was  Adams  to  com- 
plete the  work  that  when  the  clock  struck  the  hour  which  ended 
his  term  of  office  he  was  still  at  his  desk,  signing  commissions 
as  rapidly  as  they  could  be  placed  before  him.  When  Andrew 
Jackson  became  President,  in  1828,  we  are  told  he  at  once  re- 
moved a  large  number  of  clerks  and  subordinate  officers  and 
appointed  in  their  places  persons  belonging  to  his  own  political 
party ;  and  with  a  zeal  (;qually  as  strenuous  his  example  has  been 
faithfully  imitated  as  far  as  possible  by  nearly  every  President 
who  has  succeeded  him.  The  excuse  was  in  former  days  as  it  is 
to-day,  probably;  which  is,  "  to  the  victor  belongs  the  spoils," 
and,  "  an  active  politician  is  worthy  of  his  hire." 

After  many  years  of  discussion  and  agitation.  Congress,  in 
1883,  enacted  the  Civil  Service  Law,  which  requires  that  certain 
minor  appointments  to  public  office  shall  be  based  upon  merit 
alone  and  that  they  shall  not  be  distributed  as  rewards  for 
political  services.  Whether  or  not  this  last  command  is  observed 
to  the  letter  of  the  law,  at  this  present  day,  is  an  open  question. 
There  are  said  to  be  many  ways  by  which  a  law  can  be  avoided, 
and  probably  this  Civil  Service  Law  is  not  an  exception.  Civil 
Service  Commissioners  receive  their  appointments  from  officials 
elected  by  a  political  party  and  are  interested  in  the  success  of 
their  particular  political  organization.  As  a  general  rule.  Civil 
Service  Commissioners,  especially  in  municipalities,  go  out  of 
office  with  the  power  which  appointed  them,  and  new  Commis- 
sioners, representing  other  politics,  succeed  them.  This  mode 
of  proceeding  doubtless  gives  color  to  the  belief  that  preference 
is  given,  when  possible,  to  political  friends  of  the  party  then 
in  power. 


3_'-2  IMAXrAL  AXD  CIVIL  LIST. 

STATE  ELECTION  RESULTS. 

The  State  of  New  York,  politically  speakinj]:,  has  swung  from 
one  side  to  the  other  with  almost  the  regularity  of  a  pendulum 
in  its  general  elections.  The  results  show  the  oscillation  since 
1872: 

Republican.  Democratic. 

1872-President 53,524      1874-Governor 50,317 

1879-Governor 42,727      1876-President 32,818 

1880— President 21,033      1882— Governor 192,854 

1883 -Secretary  State.     18,583      1884-President 1,047 

1888— President 13,002      1888- Governor 19,171 

1893— Secretary  State.     24,484     1889- Secretary  State.     20,527 

1894— Governor 156,108      1891— Governor 47,937 

1896-President 268,469      1892-President 45,518 

1898- Governor 17,868      1897- Judge 60,889 

1900— President 143,551      1906— All  State  Officers  except 

1902— Governor 9,752  Governor. 

1904-President 175,552 

1906— Governor 75,734 

1907— Appeals  Judges   (only  State  Officers)   union  candidates. 

1908— President 202,602      1910- Governor 67,401 

1912— President,  Governor  and 
all  State  Officers. 

In  1912  the  vote  cast  for  Presidential  Electors  in  the  State, 
was  as  follows: 

Democratic,  655,475;  Republican,  455,428;  National  Pro- 
gressive, 390,021 ;  Socialist,  63,381 ;  Prohibition,  19,427 ;  Social- 
ist Labor,  4,251. 

For  Governor,  in  the  State,  in  1912,  the  vote  was  divided 
as  follows :  Democratic,  649,559 ;  Republican,  444,105 ;  National 
Progressive  and  Independence  League  (united  on  one  candidate), 
393,183 ;  Socialist,  56,917 ;  Prohibition,  18,990 ;  Socialist  Labor, 
4,461 ;  Blank,  40,644 ;  Void,  3,792. 


COUNTY  ELECTION,  1912. 

The  vote  cast  in  Westchester  County  at  the  General  Election 
held  on  November  4,  1912,  was  divided  as  follows: 

For  Electors:— Democratic,  21,160;  Republican,  15,838; 
National  Progressive,  15,051;  Socialist,  1,345;  Prohibition,  291; 
Socialist  Labor,  74. 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  323 

For  Governor:— Democratic,  20,196;  Republican,  15,116; 
National  Progressive  and  Independent  League  (united  on  Gov- 
ernor), 14,639;  Socialist,  1,195;  Prohibition,  287;  Socialist 
Labor,  93. 

For  Representative  in  Congress:— Twenty-fourth  district— 
Westchester  County,  Democratic,  8,845 ;  Republican,  5,788 ; 
National  Progressive,  6,092.  Borough  of  Bronx,  Democratic, 
8,959 ;  Republican,  2,431 ;  National  Progressive,  6,464. 

For  Representative  in  Congress, — Twenty-fifth  district— 
Westchester  County,  Democratic,  11,865 ;  Republican,  10,178 ; 
National  Progressive,  6,571;  Independent  League  (endorsed 
Democratic  candidate),  256.  Rockland  County,  Democratic, 
4,005;  Republican,  2,344;  National  Progressive,  1,988;  Inde- 
pendent League  (endorsed  Democratic  candidate),  42. 

For  State  Senator: — Democratic,  20,123;  Republican,  16,155; 
National  Progressive,  12,654;  Socialist,  1,249;  Prohibition,  304. 

For  Member  of  Assembly: — First  district — Democratic,  5,995; 
Republican,  3,611 ;  National  Progressive,  3.606. 

For  Member  of  Assembly :  — Second  district— Democratic, 
5,330 ;  Republican,  3,935 ;  National  Progressive,  3,878. 

For  Member  of  Assembly: — Third  district — Democratic, 
5,130 ;  Republican,  4,797 ;  National  Progressive,  2,490. 

For  Member  of  Assembly: — Fourth  district — Democratic, 
4,323 ;  Republican,  4,005 ;  National  Progressive,  2,302. 

For  Surrogate:— Democratic,  20,189;  Republican,  17,351; 
National  Progressive,  12,329;  Socialist,  1,250. 

For  Coroner: — Democratic,  20,195;  Republican,  16,658;  Na- 
tional Progressive,  12,547;  Socialist,  1,254;  Prohibition,  312. 


BEAUTIFUL  STATE  PARKS. 

Residents  of  New  York,  generally,  have  no  idea  how  vast  and 
valuable  are  the  lands  belonging  to  the  State  and  devoted  to'  the 
people's  use  as  Public  Parks. 

No  State  east  of  Colorado  owns  anything  comparing  with 
them  in  beauty;  in  extent  they  are  worthy  to  be  named  with 
the  new  Federal  Reservations  in  the  West,  spoken  of  so  highly. 

Beginning  in  the  south,  and  lying  west  of  the  shores  of  this 
County,  the  State  owns  a  half  interest  in  the  Palisade  Park, 
whose  floral,  bird  and  animal  life  so  near  a  great  city  are  remark- 
able.    Here,  where  the  stars  show  clear  long  before  sunset,  and 


aa*'  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

where  springs  and  streams  flow  unseen  by  river  passengers  sailing 
on  the  majestic  Hudson  River,  "the  American  Rhine,"  populous 
"tent  cities"  every  summer  show  that  the  Park  is  appreciated. 

This  park,  known  as  the  "Palisades  Interstate  Park,"  is  owned 
jointly  by  the  State  of  New  York  and  by  the  State  of  New 
Jersey,  and  is  under  control  of  ten  commissioners,  five  appointed 
by  the  Governor  of  New  York  and  five  appointed  by  the  Gov- 
ernor of  New  Jersey. 

Further  north,  along  the  Hudson  River,  is  reached  the  Catskill 
State  Park,  Avhieh  runs  almost  to  the  southern  fringe  of  the  Adi- 
rondack Park.    ]\Iost  of  these  lands  were  acquired  by  purchase. 

It  is  proposed  to  establish  another  State  Park,  which  will  lie 
between  the  Palisade  Park  and  the  Catskill  Park,  converting 
the  10,000  acres  of  land  at  Arden,  situated  in  Rockland  and 
Orange  Counties,  presented  to  the  State,  for  park  purposes,  by 
]\Irs.  Edward  H.  Harriman,  widow  of  the  noted  railroad  mil- 
lionaire. Mrs.  Harriman  accompanied  the  land  with  a  gift  of 
$1,000,000  with  which  to  purchase  additional  property  lying- 
between  the  original  grant  and  the  river.  In  her  letter  to  Gov- 
ernor Hughes,  dated  December  15,  1909,  informing  him  of  her 
proposed  gift,  Mrs.  Harriman  states  that  she  makes  these  gifts 
in  conformity  to  the  wishes  of  her  late  husband,  and  suggested 
that  the  Palisade  Park  Commission  have  jurisdiction  over  the 
new  park. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  year  1910,  the  president  of  the 
Palisade  Park  Commission  announced  that  subscriptions  of 
$1,625,000  had  been  subscribed  by  sixteen  wealthy  men  of  New 
York  city  and  vicinity  to  assist  in  the  extension  of  Palisade 
Park  from  its  present  limits  at  Piermont  northward  as  far  as 
Newburgh,  so  that  the  magnificent  scenery  of  the  Hudson  River 
might  be  preserved. 


ORIGIN    OF    NAMES    OF    TOWNS,    VILLAGES, 
AND    CITIES    IN    COUNTY. 

YoNKERS — At  different  periods  written  Younkers,  Younckers, 

Jonkers,  and  Yonkers ;  is  derived  from  the  Dutch  ' '  Jonker, ' ' 

or    "Jonkheer, "   meaning   in   that   language   the    "young 

gentleman,"  a  common  appellation  for  the  heir  of  a  Dutch 

family. 
Mount  Vernon— For  the  home  of  General  Washington, 
New  Rochelle— Named  for  La  Rochelle,  France,  from  which 

came  the  Huguenots  who  settled  in  this  town. 
White  Plains— Suggested  by  the  former  spontaneous  growth 

of  white  balsam  on  these  plains. 
Bedford— From  tow^n  of  similar  name,  Bedfordshire,  England. 
CoRTLANDT— In  honor  of  family  of  Van  Cortlandts,  first  grantees 

from  the  Indians. 
Greenburgh — Dutch  origin,  Gein   (grain)   burgh   (borough  or 

town),  to  be  known  as  the  grain  town. 
Eastchester— Like  the  county,  for  Chester,  England. 
Harrison --In  honor  of  John  Harrison,  who  purchased  the  land, 

on  which  the  town  was  erected,  from  the  Indians. 
Lewisboro— For  John  Lewis,  a  liberal  contributor  to  establish 

a  fund  to  aid  in  the  maintenance  of  the  town's  public 

schools. 
Mam  aroneck— Originally    known    as    Merrinack— Of    Indian 

origin ;    interpreted   means,    ' '  The   place   where   the    fresh 

water  falls  into  the  salt." 
Mount  Pleasant— Derived  from  its  pleasant  location  upon  high 

hills. 
New  Castle— From  an  Indian  palisade  fort  or  castle  that  stood 

on  site  of  town. 
North  Castt^e- From  same. 
"North  Salem — English  origin. 
OssiNiNG— From  Ossin  (a  stone)  and  ing  (a  place),  or  "stone 

-upon  stone. " 
iPelham — In  honor  of  Thomas  Pell,  who  purchased  from  the 

Indians,  in  1654,  the  land  on  which  the  town  was  erected. 

325 


326  MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  Li.^T. 

PouNDRiDGE— From  the  ancient  "  Indian  Pound,"  which  stood 

at  the  foot  of  a  "  high  ridge." 
Rye— For  Rye,  County  Sussex,  England. 
SoMERS— In  honor  of  Lieutenant  Richard  Somers,  famous  for 

bravery  displayed  in  the  Tripolitan  War,  in  1804. 
ScARSD ALE— This  towu  acquired  its  name  from  the  Heathcote 

family,  who  originally  came  from  Scarsdale,  Derbyshire, 

England. 
YORKTOWN— For  York,  England,  and  the  name  of  the  town 

was  formerly  "York." 
Peekskill— or  Peek 's-kill— The  name  was  given  by  the  Dutch, 

in  honor  of  Jans  Peek,  one  of  the  early  navigators  who  first 

erected  a  habitation  in  this  locality, 
Croton— For  an  Indian  Chief. 
Tarrytov^n—  Originally  known  as  Tarwetown,  from  the  Dutch 

word  tarwe  (wheat),  "  the  wheat  town,"  probably  so  called 

from  the  abundant  culture  of  that  grain  in  this  locality. 

The  town  was  settled  by  the  Dutch  in  1680. 
DoBBS  Ferry — Derived  its  name  from  the  ancient  family  of 

Dobs  (represented  by  Jeremiah  Dobs  former  proprietor  of 

the  ferry),  who  were  the  early  ferrymen. 
Irvington— In  honor  of  Washington  Irving,  who  lived  and  died 

here. 
Hastings— For  a  town  on  the  southeast  coast  of  England. 
Ardsley— English  origin. 

Elmsford— formerly  Hall's  Corners— Suggested  by  the  abund- 
ance of  elms  growing  in  the  locality. 
Sing   Sing— now  known  as  the  village  of   Ossining— Derived 

its  name  from  a  Mohegan  tribe  of  Indians  called  Sint  Sings. 
Mount  Kisco— Indian  name  for  village  by  a  brook  and  hill. 
Katonah— Name  of  an  Indian  Chief  wdiose  tribe  owned  the  land 

in  this  locality. 
Bronxville— For  James  Bronck,   an  original   and  large  land 

owner  in  this  locality,  commencing  with  1637. 
TucKAHOE— An  Indian  name,  meaning  bread. 
Hartsdale— For  the  Hart  family,  early  settlers. 
Hawthorne — formerly  Unionville — In  honor  of  Nathaniel  Haw- 
thorne, an  American  author. 
Purdy's  Station— In  honor  of  Isaac  H.  Purdy  and  present 

family  of  that  name,  o-umers  of  the  land  on  w^hich  the  place 

was  built. 


MANUAL  AND  CIVIL  LIST.  327 

Ceoton  Falls— Derived  from  a  series  of  falling  rapids  in  the 

Croton  River. 
Valhalla — formerly     Kensico — An     Indian    name,     meaning 

paradise. 
Purchase— The  name  by  which  the  town  of  Harrison  was  first 

knowTi  was  "  The  Purchase,"  undoubtedly  relating  to  the 

purchase  of  the  land  from  the  Indians.     A  hamlet  within 

the  town  of  Harrison  retains  the  name. 
Pleasantville — Meaning  a  pleasant  village. 
Chappaqua— From  the  abundant  growth  of  laurel  found  here, 

which  the  Indians  called  "  Chappaqua." 
Golden 's  Bridge— For  Golden,  the  original  owner  of  the  land 

in  this  locality. 
Wakefield— Name    of    a   village    in    Goldsmith's    "  Vicar    of 
y         Wakefield." 

WiLLiAMSBRiDGE— In  honor  of  John  Williams  who  bought  the 

land  from  the  Indians. 
Chatterton  Hill — Named  in  honor  of  a  family  of  that  name, 

who  bought  the  property  and  settled  there  in  1736. 


328  MANUAL  AXD  CIVIL  LIST. 

ITEMS  OF  INTEREST. 


HOW  COLUMBUS  WAS  PAID. 

* '  Columbus, ' '  said  a  Chicago  antiquary,  ' '  got  a  salaiy  of  $320 
a  year— less  than  $1  a  day.  His  Captains  got  $180  a  year  each. 
His  crew  got  $2.25  a  month. 

"To  equip  the  expedition  that  discovered  America  cost  $2,800. 
The  total  cost  of  discovering  America  was  $7,200." 


Clarkson  Nott  Potter,  of  New  Rochelle,  when  a  Representa- 
tive in  Congress  from  the  Westchester  County  district,  in  1871, 
was  the  first  to  suggest  that  the  official  terms  of  the  President 
and  the  Vice-President  of  the  United  States  be  limited  to  six 
years.  He  succeeded  in  getting  the  Judiciary  Committee  of 
the  House  to  report  a  proposed  Constitutional  amendment  fixing 
such  limit,  but  said  report  failed  to  get  favorable  action. 


THE  BRONX  RIVER. 

This  river,  which  appeared  on  the  map  of  early  days,  and 
incited  an  official  in  England  to  inquire  why  the  British  fleet 
did  not  sail  up  the  Bronx  River  and  attack  White  Plains  during 
the  Battle  of  White  Plains,  is  a  narrow  stream  measuring  any- 
where from  twelve  to  twenty  feet  wide,  and  shallow  in  most 
places. 

The  river  rises  to  the  east  of  Chappaqua ;  Wampus  Lake  being 
its  practical  source. 

It  runs  through  the  towns  of  New  Castle,  North  Castle,  White 
Plains,  Scarsdale,  Eastchester,  IMount  Vernon,  Wakefield,  Wil- 
liamsbridge,  West  Farms,  in  the  Borough  of  the  Bronx,  and 
empties  into  Long  Island  Sound.  At  its  southern  end  the  river 
is  widest  and  deepest,  permitting  ladened  vessels  to  pass  a  dis- 
tance up  the  stream. 


Washington  Irving  was  given  the  undisputed  title  of  "Father 
of  American  Literature." 


GENERAL  INDEX 


*Al8o  3ee  Volumes  1  and  2 


A  "Market  Town,"  194 
*Andre,  Caijture  of,  99,  119,  120,  132, 
173,   174,   176,  215,  216,  250,  262 

Allen,  Frederick  H.,  190 
*Andrus,  John  E.,  235 
.Anne'.s  Hook,  186 

Anthes,  Henry  A.,  256 
*Archer,  William,  151 
*Ardsley,  Village  of,  119,  123 

Armonk,    174,   176 
*Arnold  and  Peggy  Shippen,  263 
*Assemblymen,    323 
.Assemblymen,  Vote  for,  323 
Ashokan  Reservoir,   314 

B 

Bailey,  George  S.,  302 

Bailey's  First  Great  Show,  211,  212 

Bald  Mountain,  250 
*Barrett,  Edward  Percy,  93,  256,  258 
*Barrett,  Henry  R.,  222,  294 
*Barrett   Joseph,   94 
*Barrett,  William  G.,  295,  298 
*Battle   of    White    Plains,    121,    127, 
143,   173,   178,  214,  265 

"  Battle  Flag  of  White  Plains,"  268 
*Bedford,  Town  of  50,  87,  175,  256, 

325 
Bedford  Academy,  91 
*Bedford  Court  House,  88,  89 
Beecher,  Rev.  Henry  Ward,  100 
*Beecroft,  Edgar  C,  189,  257 
Beekman,  Mrs.  Cornelia   Van  Cort- 

landt,   132 
Bell,  James  C,  233,  237 
Berry,  John,   20,   112 
Big  Blizzard,  1888,  276 
Bovie,  Verne  M.,  286 
Brennan,   John,    234,   244 
*Brennan,  John  F.,  240,  245 
Bridgeman,  Andrew,  142,  256 


*Brier  Cliff  Manor,  136,  181 

Breucher,  Frank,  257 
*Briggs,  William  H.,  102 

Bronck,  Jonas,    113 
*Bronx   Parkway,   261 
*Bronx  River,    143,  261,  286 
*Bronxville,   Village   of,    113 
*Brown,  John  J.,  220 

Brundage  Family,   132 
*Buck,  Frank  M.,  289 
*BurIing,   George   T.,   287 
Bushong,  John  R.,  229 

Burning  of  Steamboat  Henry  Clay 
231 

Burnt  the  Court  House,  88 
*Burr,  Aaron,  98,  108 

Byram  River,   176 
*Byrne,  George   R.,  301 


Cabinet,   President's,   259,   319,   320 

*Captors  of  Andre,  99,  119,  132,  173, 
174,   215,    216,   250,   262 

^Carpenter,  Francis  M.,  16,  70,  156, 
287 

*Carpenter  Zopher,  287 

Calf,  part   payment,   161 

Carried  the  House  Away,   115 

Carson,   Edward,  256 
*Chappaqua,  28,  154,  327 

Chatterton  Hill,  121,  327 

Cholera  in  Early  Days,  212,  213 

"  City  of  Homes,"  138 
*City  Island,  185,  186 

"  City  of  Parks,"  159 
*Civil  War,  234,  242,   275,  277,  312 
*CIark,  William   C,   151 
*Clarke,  Frank  E.,  291 

Cockran,  William  Bourke,  20 
*Coffin,  Owen   T.,    102 

Colony  Boundaiy  Line,  252 

Colwell,  Harry  E.,   167 


329 


330 


INDEX. 


•Commissioners  of  Jurors,  300 

Committoe  and  Enoch  Crosby,  2G'J 
♦Committee  of  Public  Safety,  48,  78, 

191,  214,  216,  209 
•Congress,  Members  of,  20,  85,  323 
•Cooper   James   Fenimore,    130,   272, 
274 
Cordes,  John  H.,  151,  260 
•Cornell,  Gov.  Alonzo  B.,  99,  100 
•Coroners,  296 

•Cortlandt,  Manor  of,  4,  98,  107,  210 
•Cortlandt,    Town    of,   98,    256,    317, 

325 
♦Cortright,  John  B.,  256,  302 
County   Agricultural   and   Horticul- 
tural Society,  122 
County  Attorney,  299 
•County  Bar  Association,  303,  307 
•County  Courts,  88,  194 
•County  Court  Houses,  88,  216,  208 
County    Engineer    and    Superinten- 
dent of  Highways,  301 
County  Election,  322 
•County  Register,  295 
County     Sealer     of     Weights     and 

Measures,  301 
County  Soldiers  in  Civil  War,  281 
•County  Treasurers,   287 
Cow  was  the  Price,  195 
*"  Cowboys "    and    "  Skinners,"    174, 

192 
•Cromwell,  David,  21,  112 
•Crosby,  Enoch,   101,    131,    178,  211, 
269 
Cross  River,  87,  128,  175 
•Croton  Aqueduct,  250,  313 
Croton  Dam,  250 
•Croton   Falls,   179,  327 
•Croton-on-Hudson,  98,  102,  132,  326 

Croton   Reservoir,  250 
•Crumb,  Leverett  F.,  102,  289 
Curran,  Thomas  F.,  238,  248 


Darling,  William,  92 
•Davis,  Lee  P.,  291 
♦Decker,  Charles  J.  F.,  289 
•Depew,  Chauncey  M.,  3,  18,  91,  100, 

10.3,   108,  281 
♦Depew,  Isaac,  3,  100 


Depew,  Park,  103 
*Dcputy    County    Oliicers,    287,    289, 
291,  294,  295 

Dickinson  vs.  Johnson,  15,  281 
•Digney,   John   M.,   289,   312 
♦District  Attorneys,  289 

Di;x,  Gen.  John  A.,  195 
*Dobbs  Ferry,   119,   120,  121,  326 
*Doyle,  William  J.,  294 
•Drake,  Joseph  Rodman,  M.  D.,   142 

Dunn,  James  P.,  297 
*Dykman,  Jackson  0.,  100,  216 

E 

•Eastchester,  Town  of,  112,  256,  325 
•Eastchester  Green,   112 
•Eastview,  13o 

Electing   a   President,   317 

Election  Bureau,  302 

Election  in  County,   1912,  322 
^Electors,   Presidential,   301 

Elephant  the  Whole  Show,  211,  212 
•Elmsford,  Village  of,  119,  326 
*Emmet,  William  Temple,  83 

Esser,  Joseph  H.,  152 

Ewing,  Thomas  E.,  Jr.,  243 

F 

•Fairchild,  Benjamin  L.,  189 

Farmers'     and     Drovers'     National 

Bank,  210 
*Farragut,  Admiral  David  G.,  122 

Field,  Cyrus  W\,  122 

Field  Family,  126 

Fiero,  William  P.,  226 

Filling  Vacancy  in  Office,  285 
•Fire  Departments,  217,  231,  236,  242 

First  Elevated  Railroad,  242 
•Fiske.  Edward  W.,  141,  144 

Fleming,  James  J.,  238,  259 

Fort  Slocum,  163 

Four    Cornered    Presidential    Fight, 
277 

Frost,  Calvin,  102 

G 

Getty,  Robert  P.,  231.  233 
•Gifford,  Silas  D.,  115 
i  Glover,  Ralph  M.,  216,  227,  295 


INDEX. 


331 


Golden's  Bridge,   128,  327 
Gould,  Helen  M.,  20,  122 
Governor  of  the  State,  204 
Governor,  Vote  for,  322 
Great  Ashokan  Reservoir,  314 
Greeley  Family,  28,  35,  36,  157 

*Greele'y,    Horace,    10,    28,    67,    138, 
139,   155 
Greeley,  William  B.,  168 
Green,  Harvey  B.,  158,  256,  259 

*Greenburgh,  Town  of,  119,  256,  325 

H 

Haight,  Joseph,  199,  257 
*Haines,  Charles,  95 
♦Hamilton,    Alexander,    37,    90,    108, 
120 
Hamilton  Family,  42,  280 
♦Hamilton,  James  A.,  42,   120 
Hammond  Family,  134 
Harlem  Railroad,  92,  115 
Harrison,  John,  126 
♦Harrison,  Town  of,   126,  256,  325 
♦Hart,  Robert  S.,  90 
Hartsdale,   119,   326 
Hart's  Island,  280 
♦Hastings,  Village  of,   119,  326 
Haviland  Family,  127 
Hawthorne,   135,  326 
Headless-Horseman's  Bridge,  260 
♦Heathcote,  Caleb,  130,  204 
Heeney,   John  N.,   228 
y  ^Hepenstal,  Charles,  289 
/    ♦Hiekey,  Daniel  C,  21 

Hid  Money  in  this  County,  89 
Hobbs,  Bailey,  233 
Hoe,  Robert,  123,  124 
♦Hodge,  Thomas  R.,  295 
Hoffkins,  William  F.,  257 
Holden,  John,  170 
"Home  Industrial  Association,"  138 
♦Horton,  Stephen  D.,  100,  107 
How  Johnson  was  Substituted,  281 
How  Many  Remember?,  240 
Hudson  River  Railroad,  231 
♦Husted,  Harvey, 

♦Husted,  James  W.,  90,  91,  101,  103 
♦Husted,  James  W.,  Jr.,  108 
Huguenot    Anniversary,    161,    162, 
165,  166 


♦Huguenot   Settlers,  3,  45,   101,   162, 
165,  166 

Hunt's  Bridge,  143,  266 
♦Hunt,  David  H.,  312 
♦Hunt,  James  M.,  246 

Hunt,  Levi,   157 

Hutchinson,  Anne,  186 

Hutchinson   River,   186 

Hoyt,  Charles  D.,  137 


Incidents    Change    Course    of    His- 
tory, 281 
Indian  Massacre,  186 
Initial  Show  Business,  211,  212 
Irving   Family,   122 
♦Irving,    Washington,    18,    108,    121, 

122,  124,  174,  260,  286 
♦Irvington,  Village   of,   119,   326 
♦Items    of    Interest,    259,    275,    279, 
280,  286,  312 


♦Johnson,  Addison,  196,  202,  294 
Johnson  vs.  Dickinson,   15,  281 
Jay  Family,  51,  89,  90 

♦Jay,    John,    45,    89,    91,    131,    136, 
269,  274 

♦Justices  U.  S.  Supreme  Court,  311 

K 

♦Katonah,  93,  326 

♦Kear,  Edward  B.,  251,  258,  295 

Kearney,    Gen.    Phillip,    92 
♦Kensico,  174 
♦Kensico  Lake,  175,  215,  317 

Kensico  Reservoir,  175,  317 
♦Keogh,  Martin  J.,  303 

King's  Bridge,  62,  115,  234 
♦Kitching,  Col.  J.  Howard,  284 


LaFayette,  General,  79,   173 

Lamb,  Frank  J.,  225 
♦Lane,  Charles  M.,  256,  258,  294,  296 
♦Larchmont,  Village  of,  130 
♦Larkin,  Francis,  181 
♦Law  Library,  County,  312 

Law,  Walter  W.,  183 


332 


INDEX. 


Lawrence,  Arthur  \V.,  116 
♦Lawrence,  William  C,  296 
♦Leisler,  Jacob,  ICO,  161,  165,  166 

Lennon,  James  T.,   235,   238,   248 

LeRoy  Family,  GO,  80,  81 
*Lewisboro,   Town   of,   128,   175,  256, 
325 

Livingston,  William  H.,  297 

Lockwood  Family,  191 

Lodges,  102,  215 
♦Lord  Pell,  161,  165,  185 
*Lounsbury,  John  W.,  201 

Lounsbury,  Charles  E.,  200 


M 

*Mamaroneck,    Town    of,    129,    196, 

256,  325 
*Mamaroneck,  Village  of,  130,  196 
♦Manor  Hall,.Yonkers,  237 

"  Manor    of    Anne    Hoock's    Neck," 
188 
♦Manor    of    Pelham,    160,    165,    185, 
186 

Manor   of   Scarsdale,    154,   204,   214 

Manussing   Island,    195 

"Mark  T^vain  "   (Clements),  122 
♦Martin,  James  F.,  295 

Mason,  Robert,  152,  259 

Masonic,   102,  215 
♦McAlpin,  Gen.  Edwin  A.,  181 

Mekeel,  Lieut.  John.  135 

Merritt,   Freeman   H.,   228 

Merritt,   Fred.   L.,  257 
♦Merritt,  James  S.,  198,  202,  294 
♦Meyer,  William  J.,  M.  D.    (volume 

2) 
♦Militia.  X.   Y.  S.   N.  G.,    142,  215, 
243,    276 

Militia,  State  Naval,  164,  182,  276 

Mills,  Darius  Ogden,  52,  71,  178 

Mills,  John  F.,  202 

Mills,  John  F.,  Jr..  203 

Millard,  Charles  D.,  124 
•Millard,   Frank   V.,   312 
♦Miller,  Samuel  C,  294 

Mixsell,  Aaroi.  J.,  M.  D.,  131,  297 

Mohansic  Lake,  250 

Mohegan  Lake,  250 
•Moore,  William  A.,  171,  291 


Montross,  David  G.,  101 
•Montross,   Frank,  289 
♦Morschauser,       Joseph,       Supreme 

Court  Justice   (volume  2) 
♦Morris,  Gouverneur,   59  . 
♦Morris,  Lewis,  58,  215 
♦Morris,  Lewis   G.,   284 

Morris,   Robert   Rutherford,   59 

Morris,  William  li.,  284 
♦Mount  Kisco,  154,  215,  326 
•Mount  Pleasant,  Town  of,  132,  180, 

317,  325 
*]\Iount  Vernon,  Town  and  City,  138, 
230,  256,  266,  325 

"Mount  Misery,"  173 

N 

Naval  Militia,  State,  164,  182,  276 
Nelson,  Thomas,  6,   109 
Nelson,  Thomas,  Jr.,  110 
♦Nelson,  William,  6,  8,  99,  100,  103, 

106 
♦New  Castle,  Town  of,  154,  256,  317, 

325 
♦Newspapers,  County,  215,  231,  232 
♦New   Rochelle,  Town  and  City,  45, 

159,  256,  266,  325 
♦New  York  Water  Supply,  313 
Nolan,  Dan,  232 
♦North    Castle,    Town    of,    173,    257, 

267,   317 
♦North  Pelham,  185 
♦North  Salem,  To\vii  of,  52,  123,  I'l, 
257,  325 
North  Tarrytown,  132,  133,  135,  328 

O 

Of  Many  Occupations,  116 

Old    and    New    Sources    of    Water 
Supply,   313 

Oldest  Postmaster,   115 

Oliver,  John  W.,  231 

"  One  Fat  Calf,"  161 

Orienta  Point,  130 

Original  Deed,  Pell  to  Leisler,  165 

Origin    of   Names,    Towns,    Villages 
and  Cities,  325 

Osceola    Lake,  250 
•Ossining.  Town  of,  180,  257,  325 
♦Ossining,  Village  of,  52,   180,  276 


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I9I3 


INDEX. 


333 


*Paine,  Thomas,  162,  163 

Palmer,  Francis  I.,  92 

Patriots  Assembled,  214 

Paulding,  Admiral   Hiram,  61 

Paulding  Family,   119 
•Paulding,    John,    61,    99,    119,    133, 
134,  174,  175 

Peck,  Gideon  H.,  249 
*Peck,  Jared  V.,  61,  196 

Peek,   Jans,   98 

Peekskill  Academy,  6 
•Peekskill,  Village  of,  5,  98,  99,  270, 

325 
*Pelham  Manor,  160,  165,  185,  186 
*Pelham,  Town  of,  185,  257,  325 
*Pelham,  Village  of,  185 
*Pelham,  Village  of  North,   185 
*Pell,  Thomas,  160,  188 
•Pell,   John,   160,   165 

PhiUpse   Manor,    136,   237,   260 

Pine  Island,  195 

*Platt,  Lems  C,  Sr.,  63,  91,  216 
*Platt,  Benoni,  63,  224 
*Platt,  Lewis  C,  Jr.,  62,  219 
•Piatt,  William  P.,  62,  303 
•Pleasantville,  Village  ot,    134,   135, 
327 

Pocantico  Hills,  135 

Poe,  Edgar  Allan,  62 

Political  Patronage,  318 

Popham,  Major  William,  63 
•Population,  see  Towns 
•Port  Chester,  Village  of,  196,  197 
*Potter,  Clarkson  N.,  64,  286 

Potter,  Orlando  B.,  38,   181 
r  *'iPoundridge,  Town  of,  191,  257,  326 

Presidential  Election  1860,  277 
•Presidential  Electors,  301 

Prigge,   Charles   L.,   226 
•Pugsley,  Cornelius  A.,  99,   108 
•Purchase,   126,   127,  327 
•Purdy,  Isaac,  179 
*Purdy,  Isaac  H.,  178 
•Purdy  Station,  179,  326 

Q 

Quakers,  127,  155 

Quick  Action  Period,  115 


R 

Railroad,  a   first  horse  car,  232 
•Raymond,  Henry  J.,  120 

Recalling  the  Past,  240 

Reed  Tavern,   120 
•Register,  County,  295 
•Reid,  Whitelaw,  18,  58,  66,  127,  216 
•Representatives  in  Congress,  20,  85j 

323 
•Rhodes,  Bradford,  206 
•Robertson,   William   H.,   14,  90,  91, 
281 

Robinson,   Senator  Helen  Ring,  240 
•Romer  Family,  134 

Rowe,  Mathew  F.,  231 

Rye  Ferry,  194 
•Rye,    Town    of,    45,    126,    193,    194, 

214,  257 
•Rye  Lake,  175,  176 
•Rye,  Village  of,  195,  198 


S 
Saunders,  Ervin,  238 
Sawyer,  William  A.,  287,  312 
Scarborough,   180,   182 
•Scarsdale,  Manor   of,   154,   204,   214 
•Scarsdale,  Town  of,  204,  257,  326 
Schley,  Admiral  Winfield  Scott,  155 
Schmid,   Henry  Ernest,  M.   D.,   223 
•School  Commissioners,  298 
•Secor,  Chauncey  T.,  205,  206,  207, 

257,   258 
•Secor,  Francis,  205,  207 

Secor  Testimonials,  205,  206,  208 
•See,  Joseph  B.,  257,  287,  294 
•Served  as  County  Officials,  287 
•Seymour,  Gov.  Horatio,   120 
•Sheriffs,   196,  291 
Showing  the  Elephant,  211,  212 
Sidepath  Commissioners,   301 
•Silkman,  Theodore  H.,  303,  310 
•Sing  Sing,  178 
•Sleepy  Hollow,  135,  136,  260 

Sleepy  Hollow  Church,  260,  261 
•Smith,  Alfred  E.,  113,  115 
•Smith,   Capt.    Ebenezer,    72 
•Smith,  Henry  T.,   1,  2,  235,  328 
•Smith,  Isaac  H.,  108,  295 


334 


INDEX. 


♦Smith,  Thomas,  232,  234,  239,  243, 
278 

Soldiers  in  «,  ivil  War,  283 

Somers,  Captain,  211 
*Somers,  Town  of,  210,  257,  326 

South  Salem,  175 

Spuyten  Duyvil,  231 

Squire,  Ebenezer  H.  P.,  221,  224 
♦State's  Birthplace,  215 

State  Election  Results,  322 
*State  Institutions,  92,  251 

State  Military  Camp,  101 

State  Officers,  83 

State  Parks,   323 

State  Senator,  Vote  for,  323 
*State   Superintendent  of   Insurance, 

83 
♦Stevens,  John,  138,  139,  141 

Stratton,  Francis  A.,   148 

Studwell,  Edwin  F.,  197,  198,  199 

"Sunnyside,"   121,   122,  124 

Superintendent    of    County    Build- 
ings, 301 
♦Superintendents  oi  Poor,  296 
♦Superintendents  of  Schools,  298 
♦Supervisors  of  County,   194 
♦Supreme  Court,  311 
♦Supreme  Court  Library,  312 
♦Surrogates,  287 

Swinburne,   Samuel  F.,  172 


♦Tappan,  Abraham  B.,  20 
♦Tarrj-town,  Village  of,  119,  120,  133, 

326 
Taylor,  Benjamin  I.,  85 
♦Teed,  Leonard   E.,  287 
Thomas   Family,   126 
♦Thompson  Ffarrington  M.,  210,  218, 

257,  298 
♦Tilden,  Samuel  J.,  73 
♦Tiernoy,  Michael  J.,  169 
To  Rival  New  York  City,   185,  186 
♦Todd,  Gilbert  M.,   183,  257 
♦Tompkins,  Arthur  S.,  122,  303,  307, 

308 
♦Tompkins,  Daniel  D..  90.  204,  205, 

207,  217 
♦Tompkins,  Jonathan  G.,  18,  204,  205 
♦Tompkins,   Joseph   Warren,   89,  217 


♦Towns  in  County,  87 

Travis,  David  W.,  102 

Travis,  Eugene  B.,  102 
♦Tuckahoe,  Village  of,   113,  114,  326 

Turner,  George,  213,  257 
♦Turner,  Isaac  W.,  96,  256 

U 

♦Underbill,  John  Q.,  167 
♦UnderhiU,   Lancaster,   115 
♦United   States  Courts,   311 
United  States  Executive — Cabinet — 

Appointments,  320 
United    States    President's    Cabinet, 
319 


Valhalla,  176,  327 
*Van  Cortlandt   Family,   77 

Van  Cortlandt,  Augustus,  80 
♦Van  Cortlandt,  Lt.  Gov.  Pierre,  77, 

99,  132,  214,  215,  251 
♦Van  Cortlandt,  Gen.  Philip,  79,  98, 

121 
♦Van  Cortlandt,  Stephenus,  98,  210 

Vanderbilt,  William  H.,  10,  11,  92 

Van  Kleeck,   Frederick  B.,  Jr.,  223 
♦Van  Wart,  Isaac,  121,  134 

Vice-President  of  United  States,  204 

Verplanck,  Philip,  79 
♦Verplanck's  Point,  98,  103 

W 

Waketield,  327 

Wampus  Lake,  176 
♦Ward,  Stephen,   115 
♦Ward,   Gen.   Aaron,    121 
♦Ward,  William  L.,  202 
♦Washington's  Headquarters,  98,  120, 
173,  237 

Webb,   Capt.  John,   132 

Webster,  Daniel,  60,  79 

Webster,   Mrs.   Daniel   LeRoy,    79 
♦Weeks,   Frederick    E.,  291 

Wells,  Edward,  102 

Wells,  Lemuel,  230 
♦Westchester   County, 

What  will   Happen   Cannot  Always 
be  Foretold,  282 


INDEX. 


335 


*White   Plains,   Battle   of,    121,    127, 

143,   173,   178,  214,  265 
*White  Plains,  Town  of,  47,  71,  88, 

214,  257,  265,  269,  276,  325 
*White  Plains,  Village  of,   119,   215, 

266 
*Wiesendanger,  Ulricli,  294,  297 
*Williams,  David,  134,  174,  178,  192 

Williamsbridge,  327 
*Winslow,  Francis  A.,  243,  290 
*Wood,   Joseph   S.,   146,   303,  304 
Wood,   Susy   E.    (Mrs.   J.    S.),    147, 

268 
*Worden,  Admiral  John  Lorimer,  136 


Yacht  Clubs,  130,  163,  182,  240 
*Yonkers,  Town    and   City,   73,    138, 

230,  257,  283,  315,  325 
♦Yonkers  Manor  Hall,  237,  238 
*Yorktown  Heights,  250,  251 
*Yorktown,  Town  of,  250,  258,   317, 

326 
*  Young,  Frank  L.,  17 
*Young,  J.  Addison,  290,  310,  312 


Zimmermann,  J.  Albert,   153