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1
Melian & Robertson
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
OF
WESTCHESTER COUNTY,
NEW YORK.
ILLUSTRATED.
VOLUME II.
CHICAGO: THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY. 1899. 1
CORNE! UNIVER'S
775
F 127 W5B61+ v. 2
A676752
Proof H. Schiff
*
JJ34800 + -
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
JUDGE WILLIAM H. ROBERTSON.
The distinguished gentleman whose name introduces this memoir had passed his seventy-fifth mile-post when death released him from this mortal life, on December 6, 1898, and could look back with just pride over a public career replete with activity and usefulness. No one who has been a citizen of White Plains is more deserving of honorable mention in the present work than he.
Mr. Robertson was born at the family homestead in Bedford, Westches- ter county, October 10, 1823, a son of Henry Robertson. His boyhood was spent on his father's farm, and his early education was obtained in the public schools of the district in which they lived and at Union Academy, in Bedford. For some time he taught school in Bedford and Lewisboro. Early selecting the law for his profession, he pursued its study in the office of Judge Robert S. Hart, in Bedford, and in 1847 was admitted to the bar. In 1854 he formed a partnership with Odle Close, under the firm name of Close & Rob- ertson, for the practice of law, and this association continued until his death.
The Judge's taste for politics had its beginning while he was yet in his 'teens. He took a deep interest in the Harrison campaign of 1840, in 1844 cast his first presidential vote, for Henry Clay, and the next spring was elected to the position of superintendent of town schools, which he filled for several years. He was four times supervisor of Bedford and twice chairman of the board of supervisors.
His legislative career began in 1848, when he was elected to the assem- bly, and he was re-elected the following year. In 1853 he was chosen to the state senate, where he at once took a prominent position. Among the public acts, he introduced a bill for establishing the department of public instruc- tion, which may justly be considered one of the most important events in the educational history of the state. In 1855 he was elected county judge, was. twice re-elected to that responsible position, and thus filled the office twelve years. He served six years as inspector of the Seventh Brigade of New York militia, was chairman of the military committee appointed by Governor Mor- gan in 1862 to raise and organize state troops in the eighth senatorial district, and was commissioned to superintend the draft in Westchester county. In. 1860 he was a member of the electoral college, and voted for Abraham Lin- coln. He supported him again in the national convention of 1864, and during.
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WESTCHESTER COUNTY.
his whole administration was one of his most loyal and faithful adherents. In 1866 he was elected a representative to the fortieth congress, and while a member of that body he voted for the impeachment of President Johnson, and took an active part in the legislation which led to the restoration of the southern states to the Union.
Judge Robertson's second term of service in the state senate began in 1872 and continued without interruption for a period of ten years, during the last eight of which he was president pro tem. of that body. He served as chairman of the committees on commerce and navigation, rules, literature and judiciary, being for eight years at the head of the judiciary com- mittee, a place of great responsibility, which he ably filled. In 1876 he was one of three gentlemen who, at the request of the president, visited Florida to supervise the counting of the votes for the office of president. On two occasions-in 1872 and 1879-the personal and political friends of Judge Robertson made a strong effort to place him in nomination for governor of New York, and, while he was each time defeated, the support given him was indeed flattering.
In February, 1880, Judge Robertson was appointed a delegate to repre- sent his state in the national convention to be held in Chicago in June. A vote was passed at the state convention instructing its delegates to vote as a unit, the purpose being to enable the majority of the delegates to carry it en masse for General Grant. Soon after the adjournment of the state conven- tion, Judge Robertson published a letter in the Albany Journal, in which he repudiated the principles of the unit rule, and declared for Blaine. The let- ter attracted attention throughout the country and gave its author great prominence in the opposition to the "third-term " movement. It is general- ly conceded that it was his leadership and organizing ability, more than those of any other man, that broke the power of the " unit " rule in Republican conventions and defeated the " third-term " candidate.
In March, 1881, Mr. Robertson was nominated by President Garfield for collector of the port of New York. His political acts having been distaste- ful to the senators from his state, they demanded the withdrawal of his nom- ination by the president. This being refused, a bitter contest followed, which was ended by the resignation of the senators in May and the comfirm- ation of Mr. Robertson soon afterward. He did not, however, assume the collectorship until the first of August, and the legislature (he being in the senate) did not adjourn until late in July. His judicial and legislative ex- perience had prepared him for the most difficult duty of the position, -the consideration and decision of intricate points of revenue law,-and he dis- charged its obligations to the satisfaction of the importers and with the al- most universal commendation of the public press.
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WESTCHESTER COUNTY.
Mr. Robertson was conspicuous and influential in local and state con- ventions for many years, took an active part in the national conventions of 1864, 1876, 1880 and 1884, and was for fifteen years a member of the Re- publican state committee. In his political life he was remarkably successful, having never been defeated when a candidate before the people, although his principal canvasses have been made in a district in which the party majority was against him, He achieved this result by the strength of his personal character, his fidelity to friends, his sincere and uniform courtesy, his unques- tioned integrity and his legal and business ability. He possessed, in an un- usual degree, the "genius of common sense," an acute knowledge of human nature and thorough self-control. He was also of a literary taste and of studious habits, and valued no less than his political honors the degree of LL. D., which was conferred upon him by Williams College in 1876.
In 1865 Judge Robertson married Miss Mary E. Ballard, a daughter of Hon. Horatio Ballard, who was a prominent lawyer of Cortland county, New York, and well known throughout the state. In 1869 he built the house at Katonah where he resided until his death. In the community where he lived he was a judicious and willing counselor of all who sought his advice, a liberal contributor to religious and charitable objects, a public-spirited citi- zen and a valued friend.
GEORGE N. RIGBY.
The gentleman whose name furnishes the title to this brief biographical sketch is a rising lawyer and popular citizen of Yonkers, still young in years and with worthy achievements which foreshadow his future success. He received his primary education in the public schools of Yonkers and was grad- uated from the high school in 1891. He was graduated in the electrical engineering course at Cornell University in 1895, and in law from the New York Law School in 1897. Thus equipped educationally, and endowed with first-class talents intellectually, he entered upon the practice of his profession in Yonkers, determined that his career at the bar should be a successful one, and he is amply meeting the expectations of his most enthusiastic well- wishers.
He early took an interest in political affairs and views national questions from a Republican point of view. He is financial secretary of the Republic- an Club of Yonkers, was secretary of the assembly convention of 1898, and has been a delegate to county, judicial and various other conventions. He has ably filled the office of justice of the peace since November, 1896.
Mr. Rigby is a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon and other college fraternities, and of the Cornell University Club, of New York.
484
WESTCHESTER COUNTY.
He was married April 6, 1897, to Miss Maude Lawrence, of Yonkers, daughter of William Fred and Mary (Weddle) Lawrence.
Franklin H. Rigby, Mr. Rigby's father, is a prominent resident of Yon- ers, and is connected with the Prudential Life Insurance Company in New York city. He married Mary Mockridge, daughter of George N. and Marinda (Lyon) Mockridge. Her father was a wholesale hardware merchant in New- ark, New Jersey, and her mother was a descendent of "Robert Bond, the planter, " of Elizabethport, and also of Henry Lyon, a founder of Lyon's Farms, New Jersey, and a representative of another distinguished old family of New Jersey. Franklin Rigby's mother was, before her marriage, Miss Mary E. Adams, who descended in the Virginia line of Adamses. Elihu Bond, one of the ancestors of Mrs. Franklin Rigby, was captain in the patriot army during the Revolutionary war, and performed gallant service for the cause of inde- pendence. Mr. Rigby has one brother, Frank Rigby, Jr., and three sisters, named in the order of their birth, Norma, Pansy and Florence.
George N. Mockridge, after whom George N. Rigby was named, was a son of Elihu Mockridge, who was one of Newark's wealthiest land-owners during the early part of this century. The old homestead, which is still stand- ing on Franklin street, has been used by the family for over one hundred years, and is still entailed, somewhat after the manner of English estates.
Elihu Mockridge was the son of William Mockridge, who came over from Wales as a boy some time before the Revolution. He married Jonnah Baldwin, who was a descendant of Joseph Baldwin and wife, née Sarah Cooley, who were among the first settlers of New Jersey.
HICKSON F. HART, M. D.
The subject of this sketch is one of the leading young physicians of York- town, New York, and belongs to a family which has long been identified with Westchester county. Hickson Field Hart, his grandfather, was one of the first settlers of the county. He married Mary Ann Knowlton, a native of the county, and their son Stephen L. was the father of our subject. Stephen L. Hart and his wife, whose maiden name was Jane Drake Morgan, are the parents of five children, namely: Hickson F., whose name heads this sketch; Alonzo K., of Peekskill, New York; Stephen B., engaged in business in Brooklyn, New York; Joseph Waldo and Georgianna. The father has long been a man of prominence in the county, affiliating with the Demo- cratic party and taking an active interest in its cause. Several terms he has served as sheriff of the county. He is now engaged in farming.
Hickson Field Hart entered the Peekskill Military Academy when a boy and is a graduate of that institution, with the class of 1882. Then he took
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WESTCHESTER COUNTY.
up the study of medicine, pursuing his studies under the tuition of Dr. A. O. Snowdon, of Peekskill, New York, and in due time engaged in the practice of this profession. For six years he has been located at Yorktown, and has been successful in gaining a large and lucrative practice here. The Doctor is a member of the Westchester County Medical Society, of which he has served as vice-president, and is also a prominent member of the New York State Medical Society, at Albany.
Dr. Hart was married, June 25, 1891, to Miss Mona Ward, a native of Albany, New York, and a daughter of Thomas Ward and Maria (Van Buren) Ward, his wife. Mr. and Mrs. Ward had six children, of whom four are living, two sons and two daughters, -Julia Robinson, Mona, Thomas Ward, Jr., and Albert. Dr. and Mrs. Hart have two sons, -Ward Van Buren, born October 2, 1893, and Morgan Drake, born January 8, 1899. Mrs. Hart was educated in Albany, New York, and is a woman of culture and refinement. She is a member of the Presbyterian church, while the Doctor is a Methodist, of which church his parents are members. Socially he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and his political views are those set forth by the Democratic party.
HENRY R. HICKS.
The ancestral history of the Hicks family is one of close indentification with the colony of Massachusetts. The Mayflower, which brought the little band of Pilgrims to the shores of the New World, was followed the next year by the stanch little barque Fortune, which, sailing from London, arrived at Plymouth, Massachusetts, on the IIth of November, 1621. Among its passengers was Robert Hicks, the founder of the family in America. He was a leather-dresser from Bermondesey street, Southwark, London. His father, James Hicks, was lineally descended from Sir Ellis Hicks, who was knighted by Edward, the Black Prince, on the battle-field of Poinctiers, September 9, 1356, for bravery in capturing a set of colors from the French. Margaret, the wife of Robert Hicks, with her children, came to America in the ship Ann, which arrived at Plymouth in the latter part of June, 1622. The family settled in Duxbury, Massachusetts, but two of the sons, John and Stephen, about 1642, removed to Long Island. In October, 1645, Governor Kieft granted a patent to Thomas Farrington, John Hicks and others for the township of Flushing, Long Island. John Hicks seems to have taken a leading part in the affairs of the settlement, and was appointed at various times to fill the most important offices. His name and that of his son Thomas appear in connection with almost every public measure for many years.
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WESTCHESTER COUNTY.
Robert Hicks was twice married. He first wedded Elizabeth Morgan and had four children, -Elizabeth, Thomas, John and Stephen. Before leav- ing England he married Margaret Winslow, and their four children were named Samuel, Ephraim, Lydia and Phebe. John Hicks, the second of the family, married Rachel Starr, and of their children-Thomas, Hannah and Elizabeth-the eldest was the second in the line of descent to him whose name heads this sketch. Thomas Hicks wedded Mary Washburn, and their children were Thomas and Jacob. The mother died and he later married Mary Doughty, by whom he had ten children, namely: Isaac, William, Stephen, John, Charles, Benjamin, Phebe, Charity, Mary and Elizabeth. Of this family Isaac Hicks married a lady whose first name was Elizabeth, but whose surname is not known. Their children were Charles, Benjamin, Isaac, Gilbert, James, Thomas, Henry, John, Edward, Margaret, Mary. Isaac Hicks, the son of Isaac and Elizabeth Hicks, married Charity Esmond, and their union was blessed with five children, Edward, Charles, Amy, Sarah and Margaret. The second son, Charles, was the great-grandfather of our subject. He married Mary Hicks, and their children were Rodman, Oliver, Charles, Sarah, Philetta and Lindley.
Oliver Hicks, the grandfather of our subject, was born on Long Island and there spent the greater part of his life. He married Susan Vermillyea, whose father was a resident of Horseneck, Westchester county. By occupa- tion he was a farmer and at the time of the Revolutionary war he loyally served his country as a colonel in the American army. Unto Oliver and Susan Hicks were born two sons and three daughters: Charles, Eliza, Scott, Susan A. and Jane.
Charles Hicks, the father of our subject, was born on Long Island, near Hicksville, and was a relative of the celebrated Elias Hicks, the founder of the Hicksite branch of Friends, one of the early branches of that society. Mr. Hicks became a member of the firm of Schenck, Downing & Company, dealers in paints and glass at Nos. 106 and 108 Fulton street, New York city, and thus continued for many years, having formerly been engaged in merchandising. For about ten years before his death he lived retired from business cares, enjoying a well earned competence, which supplied him with all the necessities and many of the luxuries of life. In politics he was a stanch Democrat, but voted for Abraham Lincoln and was a strong Union man, placing the country's good before party preferment at the time of the nation's peril. He was also one of the first to advocate the issue of bonds for the purpose of carrying on the war. In his early life he served as a cap- tain in the Twenty-seventh Regiment of the New York state militia, and was ever a valued citizen of the community in which he made his home. He died May 29, 1866, at the age of sixty-nine years. His wife, who bore the
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WESTCHESTER COUNTY.
maiden name of Jane Ann Sackett, was a representative of one of the prom- inent old families of Westchester county. She is deceased, and, like the others of the name, lies buried in the cemetery at Bedford.
Henry R. Hicks, the only child of Charles and Jane A. (Sackett) Hicks, was born in New York city, December 14, 1835, and pursued his education in school No. 7, and in the grammar school of Columbia College. At the age of sixteen he entered upon his business career, securing a clerkship with the firm of John Haslam & Sons, hardware merchants, with whom he continued until 1858, and after that was in the employ of Read & Towsley until 1860. From that year until 1874 he was employed in the engineering department of the Brooklyn navy yard, acting as storekeeper from 1865 until the close of his connection with that business. On resigning his place, in 1874, he retired to private life and has since resided in the seventh ward in Yonkers, upon a farm of thirty acres, which has been his place of abode for thirty-six years. He was one of the organizers of the Citizens National Bank, and from the beginning has continuously served on its directorate, he and Charles Dusenberry being the only charter members of the bank who are now acting as directors.
For many years Mr. Hicks has occupied positions of distinctive prefer- ment in connection with the public life of Yonkers. In his political affilia- tions he is a stanch Republican, and has long been a recognized leader in the ranks of the party. From the old fourth ward of the city he was elected a member of the city council in 1872, and served in that capacity for six con- secutive terms, -a longer continuous service than any other member of that body. His long retention in the office was certainly a high tribute to his ability and to the fidelity with which he discharged his duties, and for three terms he had the honor of being president of the council. He exercised his official prerogative for the benefit and progress of the city, supporting all measures which he believed would advance the general welfare. He has been one of the police commissioners of Yonkers since September, 1892, when he was appointed to that office, and by reappointment, received in 1897, he will continue to serve until 1901. Socially he is a member of the Rising Star Lodge of Masons.
On the 21st of May, 1863, Mr. Hicks was united in marriage to Miss Isabell Weed, a daughter of Isaac Weed, an agriculturist of Yonkers. They have two daughters: Eveline W., wife of Dr. Karl H. Krober, a physician of Yonkers; and Isabell, wife of Rudolph Eickemeyer, Jr. Such in brief is the history of one who for many years has been a distinguished and repre- sentative citizen of Yonkers. In all his business dealing and official duties he has been scrupulously exact and fair. In the former he has been very suc- cessful, as the result of ability, discrimination and enterprise. The life of
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WESTCHESTER COUNTY.
such a man is an object lesson of real value to the observing and thoughtful. It brings out prominently the characteristics that win, offers encouragement to young men who are willing to work with their minds and with their hands, and affords another proof of the familiar adage that there is no royal road to wealth or distinction in this republic. The achievement depends upon the man.
JACOB READ.
Mr. Jacob Read, a representative of the Yonkers people who were engaged in farming during 1825 and 1855 and intervening years, is still (1896) a resident of the town, which for fifteen years he served as supervisor. In 1895 he said, in substance: 1
I came to Yonkers in February, 1829, when a boy in my eleventh year. I recall distinctly the prominent farmers of Yonkers from 1829 to 1855, and their mode of life. I also recall the kind of crops they raised, and how they marketed their produce. Through the '20s and '30s and up to the '40s, the principal crops were pats, rye, wheat, corn, hay, potatoes and pickles. The potatoes were of the "blue nose " and " kidney " variety. Afterward came the " Early Rose." We did not have, as farmers do now, a number of varieties, all dug out of the same hill. The fruits were apples, peaches, pears and cherries. The apples were " Pound Sweets," "Catheads," and " Fall Pippins." The peaches of Yonkers in the latter part of the '30s and the first of the '40s were very fine. The cherries were of the Dyckman variety, a sour cherry and excellent. We used to call tomatoes "love apples;" but nobody ate them. I never ate tomatoes until 1847. We had good walnuts and chestnuts. The garden truck the farmers raised was for their own use only. None was sent to market until 1835. All the cabbage for market, for example, was raised on Bergen Point and Long Island. Nor did the Yonkers farmers send any milk to New York. It was kept in milk-rooms, for there were no ice-houses. The milk-rooms had stone bottoms, and were cool. Tables in those days were supplied with plenty of fresh meat. I remember that Mr. David Horton, with whom I lived, would kill a sheep in summer, or a lamb or a pig in the fall, so as to have fresh meat, and would send a quarter over to Mr. Vermilye Fowler's, or Mr. Nattie Valentine's, or Mr. David Oakley's; and when they killed, they returned the favor. The poultry in the farm-yards also supplied the tables. Barrels of salted meats and hogsheads of cider, as also butter, lard, turnips and potatoes stocked the cellar. Blacksmiths, wheelwrights and carpenters made many agricultural instruments which they are not expected to make to-day.
Beef and ham were smoked in the farmers' smoke-houses. Up to 1845 sheep were kept. The lambs were sold in New York. A man came up from Manhattan island during a period of years and bought lambs of the farmers. Pork and poultry were also sent to New York. Large droves of cattle and sheep from the north passed through Yonkers down the Albany post-road. Perhaps as many as two hundred or two hundred and fifty cows and from three hundred to five hundred sheep would be in a single drove. Two or three men or two men and a boy could manage a drove, as the line fences were all up and the gates were closed. The drovers " put up " at old Uncle Post Dyckman's, on the other side of Kingsbridge.
Hay was sold in New York. Marketing was done by land as well as by river. A team would be sent to New York with a load on Sunday night in order to be there for the Monday morning market. The team was returned the next day and again sent down on Wednesday, back Thursday, and down again on Friday. Butter sold at from ten cents to a shilling a pound. Loose sugar, that is, brown sugar for every-day use, was purchased in quantities of seven pounds. White sugar was purchased by the " loaf." A " loaf" of white sugar weighed about
Jacob Read.
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ten or twelve pounds. It was more expensive than brown sugar. We didn't see any of that white sugar around except when there was company. Then it was cut off the loaf and placed on the table. We used to count money by pounds, shillings, and pence up to about 1841. " One and three pence " was fifteen cents; " one and ninepence," twenty-two cents; "two and tupence," twenty-seven cents. In these early days we used " dips," that is, tallow candles. The candles were made by hanging wicks over alder rods (from which the bark had been peeled) and dip- ping them into the mixed mutton and beef tallow; the beef tallow hardened the candles. The alder rods were selected because they were light and easily handled. After the candles were made the rods were carefully stored away for the next year's use. In later years sperm oil and kerosene oil were used. Coal was not in use in Yonkers until about 1839 or 1840. Then Mr Ebenezer Baldwin, who kept a lumber yard, brought in twenty tons; but its sale was slow. Nobody at first had a coal-stove. Everybody used open fireplaces or " Frank- lın " stoves. The " Franklin" was used in parlors. It was open in front like a fire-place. On one side stood the tongs and on the other the shovel, their brass tops polished bright.
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