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MANUAL
ARCHIVES
OF
WESTCHESTER COUNTY. PAST AND PRESENT.
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SEAL.
CIVIL LIST TO DATE.
1898.
Containing specially prepared articles relative to the County, written by distinguished residents; matters concerning the County's history; organization of Towns, Villages and Cities; population as shown by the various census enumerations, with other statistics and general facts of interest and value. Names and addresses of present officials in County, Towns, Cities and Villages, together with a complete list of Lawyers practicing in the several localities.
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. 1898.
Copyright by HENRY T. SMITH. 1898. All rights reserved.
F 127 W556
608649
24.5.55
PREFACE.
The compilation and presentation of this work is largely due to the urgent solicitation and support of prominent officials and residents of Westchester County. Recognizing the necessity of securing, while data is yet available, as complete a record as possible of officials connected with the County's history, and estimating that the preservation of such record, in convenient book form, will be of practical value, in the future as well as at the present time, the author and compiler, at great expense, has completed the work. He trusts that as a book of reference it will be found invaluable.
An effort has been made to secure all names, with residence, of persons entitled to a place in the County's civil list. These have been arranged in such a manner as to enable those who consult the book to trace the official history of every person at any time connected with the County government or with its local branches. As far as possible the development of each department has been shown.
Special articles, relative to matters deemed of public import. ance, have been recorded in the hope that they may prove inter- esting and instructive.
In the preparation of biographies, it has been the desire to indulge in no undeserved praise, or fulsome laudation. Every man has been accorded the credit he honestly deserves, and it has been the author's sincere purpose to bring to public recog. nition the characteristics and traits of each official who has been deemed worthy of biographical consideration.
The aim of the author has been to make the work authentic in facts and dates. A great amount of tedious and exacting labor has been found necessary to render it so, partly owing to the fact that the compilation of such a work has never before been attempted in this county. In the absence of authenti- cated records, in many cases dependence had to be placed upon the memory of old residents. It is therefore possible, that despite most conscientious and indefatigable labor, an occa- sional error may be found. ,
The author takes this occasion to publicly tender his thanks to all who have rendered assistance to him, assuring them that but for such invaluable aid his labor might have been more than disproportionably increased.
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MANUAL AND CIVIL LIST.
THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
Westchester County has the proud distinction of being one of the twelve original counties of the State of New York, under the English rule. It was erected by the act of 1683. The twelve counties were, Albany, Cornwall, Dukes, Dutchess, Kings, New York, Orange, Queens, Richmond, Suffolk, Ulster and Westchester. Two of these, Cornwall and Dukes counties, were subsequently attached to other States.
Prior to the formation of counties, and under the Dutch rule, the only divisions were the cities and towns. In 1665, a district, or Sheriffalty, called Yorkshire, was erected. It comprised Long Island, Staten Island and a part of what is now Westchester County. For judicial purposes it was divided into three ridings. What is now Westchester County was united with what is now Kings County, Staten Island and Newtown, to form the West Riding.
The act of 1683, referred to, reads: "An Act to divide the Province of New York and dependencies into Shires and Coun- tys, etc." "Having taken into consideration the necessity of dividing the Province into respective Countys, for the better governing and settling courts in the same, be it enacted by the Governor, Council and the Representatives, and by the author- ity of the same, that the said Province be divided into twelve Countys as followeth : The County of Westchester, to con- teyne West and Eastchester, Bronx-land Fordham, Anne Hook's Neck, Richbells, Miniford's Islands, and all the land on the maine to the eastward of Manhattan's Island as farre as the government extends, and the Yonker's land, and northward along Hudson's River as farre as the Highland." "This bill having been three times read before the Governor and Council, is assented to, the first of November, 1683."
It is presumed that the county was named in honor of Chester, England, the title having been bestowed after the English occupancy. As it was named subsequent to the town of Westchester, which was created in 1667, it is therefore al- leged that the town gave to the county its title. Governor Nicoll, who had changed the name of the province from New Netherland to New York, and named nearly all the other settle- ments after the various titles which King James, then Duke of York, possessed, such as York, Albany, etc., and styled what is now Westchester County and Long Island as Yorkshire, gave the first patent to the town which he directed should be called Westchester, describing the town within the same boundaries it had when it was, recently, annexed to New York city.
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MANUAL AND CIVIL LIST.
William Smith, the historian, of New York, in 1756, thus de- scribed the county : "Westchester County is large, and in- cludes all the land beyond the Island of Manhattans along the Sound to the Connecticut line, which is its eastern boundary. It extends northward to the middle of the Highlands, and west- ward to Hudson's River. A great part of this county is con- tained in the manors of Philipsburg, Pelham, Fordham, and Courtlandt, the last of which has the privilege of sending a rep- resentative to the General Assembly. The county is tolerably settled. The lands are in general rough but fertile, and there- fore the farmers run principally on grazing. It has several towns, Eastchester, Westchester, New Rochelle, Rye, Bed- ford and North Castle. The inhabitants, are either English, or Dutch Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Quakers, and French Protestants. The former are the most numerous. The two Episcopal missionaries are settled at Rye and Eastchester, and receive each £60 annually taxed upon the county. The town of Westchester is an incorporated borough, enjoying a Mayor's court and the right of being represented by a Member in As- sembly."
Beside the Hudson River and Long Island Sound, forming the western and eastern boundaries, there are in the county sev- eral small streams, Peekskill Creek and Croton River, which rise in Dutchess and Putnam counties, run south westward across the northwestern part of the county to the Hudson; the Saw Mill River runs from Mount Pleasant to the Hudson River at Yonkers; the Bronx River, the Hutchinson River and the Mamaroneck River run south into the Long Island Sound; the Byram River runs from Westchester, principally in Con- necticut, and forms two miles of the State boundary from its mouth in Long Island Sound, which receives some other small streams from the southeast angle of Westchester County, direct across the southwest angle of Connecticut.
The county was divided by the act of March 7, 1788, into twenty towns, viz: Bedford, Cortlandt, Eastchester, Green- burgh, Harrison, Mamaroneck, Mount Pleasant, New Rochelle, North Castle, North Salem, Pelham, Poundridge, Rye, Salem, Scarsdale, Stephentown, Westchester, White Plains, Yonkers and Yorktown. The county having an area of 500 square miles.
The name of the town of Salem, was changed to South Salem, April 6, 1806, and to Lewisboro, February 13, 1840, and a part of North Salem was annexed April 26, 1844. Ossining was formed from Mount Pleasant, May 2, 1845. New Castle was formed from North Castle, March 18, 1791, and a part of Somers annexed May 12, 1846. The name of Stephentown was changed to Somers,
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MANUAL AND CIVIL LIST.
April 6, 1808. West Farms was formed from Westchester, May 13, 1846. Morrisania was formed from West Farms, December 7, 1855. Kingsbridge was formed from Yonkers, December 16, 1872.
At present there are twenty-two towns in the county, viz: Bedford, Cortlandt, Eastchester, Greenburgh, Harrison, Lewis- boro, Mamaroneck, Mount Pleasant, New Castle, New Rochelle, North Castle, North Salem, Ossining, Pelham, Poundridge, Rye, Scarsdale, Somers, White Plains, Yorktown, the city and town of Mount Vernon, and the city and town of Yonkers.
The village and town of Yonkers were chartered as a city in 1872. The former village of Mount Vernon, in the town of Eastchester, was chartered as a city in 1892; the remaining portion of the town was continued under the name of the town of Eastchester.
Reference is made elsewhere to the early courts of the county, established at the county's organization in the borough of Westchester, and remained there until 1759. Courts continued to be held alternately at the court house in White Plains, and in the court house in Bedford, until 1870, when, by chapter 550 of the laws of 1870, it was enacted that the courts in and for Westchester County should be hereafter held at the court house in White Plains.
By an act passed by the Legislature, April 15, 1857, the coun- ties of New York, Westchester, Kings and Richmond were united in one Police District, to be known as the Metropolitan Police District. By an act passed in 1866 the Police Board and four Sanitary Commissioners were made to compose a Board of Health for the district, and the said Board of Health was given power to grant licenses for the sale of intoxicating liquors within the district, except in the County of Westchester. The laws relating to the Metropolitan Sanitary District and Board of Health so far as they applied to Westchester County, were repealed by the laws of 1871, chapter 433.
The limits of the county as first established and as organized by the general acts of 1788 and 1801 remained the same up to January 1, 1874, when by an act of the Legislature, passed May 23, 1873, the towns of Morrisania, West Farms and Kingsbridge were annexed to the city and county of New York.
By an act of the Legislature, passed June 6, 1895, more ter- ritory belonging to Westchester County was annexed to the city and county of New York; territory lying within the incorporated villages of Wakefield, Eastchester and Williamsbridge, the town of Westchester and portions of the towns of Eastchester and Pelham. As the act reads: "All that territory comprised
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MANUAL AND CIVIL LIST.
within the limits of the towns of Westchester, Eastchester and Pelham which has not been annexed to the city and county of New York, at the time of the passage of this act, which lies southerly of a straight line drawn from the point where the northerly line of the city of New York meets the centre line of the Bronx River, to the middle of the channel between Hunt- er's and Glen Islands, in Long Island Sound, and all that terri- tory lying within the incorporated limits of the village of Wake- field, which lies northerly of said line, with the inhabitants and estates therein, is hereby set off from the county of West- chester and annexed to, merged into and made part of the city and county of New York, and of the twenty-fourth ward of said city."
The population of the county, as shown by the several census enumerations, taken in 1698 and subsequently, was as follows: In 1698, 1,063; in 1703, 1,946; in 1712, 2,815; in 1723, 4,409; in 1731, 6,033; in 1737, 6,745; in 1746, 9,235; in 1749, 10,703; in 1756, 13,257; in 1771, 21,745; in 1790, 24,003; in 1800, 27,347; in 1810, 30,272; in 1814, 26,367; in 1820, 32,638; in 1825, 33,131; in 1830, 36,456; in 1835, 38,789; in 1840, 48,686; in 1845, 47,394; in 1850, 58,263; in 1855, 80,678; in 1860, 99,497; in 1865, 101,167; in 1870, 131,348; in 1875, 103,564; in 1880, 108,988; in 1890, 146,772; in 1892, 147,830.
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MANUAL AND CIVIL LIST.
General Election, November 8, 1898.
The State Constitution adopted in 1894 re-arranges the terms of office and times of elections of the Governor, Lieutenant- Governor, State Officers, Senators and municipal officers so that the elections for State Officers will occur on the even-num- bered years and the elections for municipal officers on the odd- numbered years.
The term of office of the Governor and the Lieutenant-Gover- nor has been changed from three to two years, commencing January 1, 1897; it is also provided that an election for Secre- tary of State, State Comptroller, State Treasurer, Attorney- General and State Engineer shall be held in the year one thou- sand, eight hundred and ninety-eight, and every two years thereafter their successors shall be chosen for the term of two years. For the first time in the history of the State, all the above named State Officers will be chosen at one election, to be held on November 8, 1898.
A Governor, in place of Frank S. Black.
A Lieutenant-Governor, in place of Timothy L. Woodruff.
A Secretary of State, in place of John Palmer.
A Comptroller, in place of James A. Roberts.
A State Treasurer, in place of Addison B. Colvin.
An Attorney-General, in place of Theodore E. Hancock.
A State Engineer and Surveyor, in place of Campbell W. Adams.
At the same election, the electors of this county will also vote for:
A Justice of the Supreme Court, for the Second Judicial District, in place of Augustus Van Wyck.
A Justice of the Supreme Court, for the Second Judicial Dis- trict, in place of Jesse Johnson, appointed to fill vacancy, caused by death of Justice Osborn.
A Congressman, in place of William L. Ward.
A State Senator, in place of James Irving Burns.
A Member of Assembly, First District, in place of Jared Sandford.
A Member of Assembly, Second District, in place of William J. Graney.
A Member of Assembly, Third District, in place of John Gibney.
A County Clerk, in place of Leverett F. Crumb.
A Register, in place of Thomas R. Hodge.
A District Attorney, in place of George C. Andrews.
A Superintendent of the Poor, in place of Henry Esser.
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MANUAL AND CIVIL LIST.
A Coroner, in place of Charles S. Apgar.
At the election held in 1895, Leverett F. Crumb, (R.) received for the office of County Clerk, 13,416 votes, to 12,307 votes cast for Jared Sandford, (D.). Thomas R. Hodge, (R.), received for Register, 13,450 votes, to 12,174 votes cast for William J. Graney, (D.). For District Attorney, George C. Andrews, (R.), received, 13,900 votes, to 11,971 votes cast for John F. Brennan, (D.). For Superintendent of the Poor, Henry Esser, (R.), re- ceived 13,485 votes, to 12,242 votes cast for Miles Adams, (D.). For Coroner, Charles S. Apgar, (R.), received 13,355 votes, to 11,772 votes cast for Edward F. Sheehan, M. D., (D.).
For State Senator, James Irving Burns, (R.), received in Westchester County 13,929 votes, in the Annexed District 913 votes-total 14,842; Charles P. McClelland, (D.), received in Westchester County 11,868 votes, in the Annexed District 1,384 votes-total 13,252.
The vote for Congressman in this (the 16th) district, in 1896, was given as follows: William L. Ward, (R.), received in Westchester County 18,176 votes, in the New York city 34th and 35th Assembly Districts, and the Annexed District, 12,533 votes -total 30,709; Eugene B. Travis, (D.), received in Westchester County 12,088 votes, in the New York city 34th and 35th As- sembly Districts, and the Annexed District, 11,368 votes-total 23,456; James V. Lawrence, (Ind. D.), received in Westchester County 1,119 votes, in the New York city 34th and 35th Assembly Districts, and the Annexed District, 578 votes-total 1,697; Ben. L. Fairchild, (Ind. R.), received in Westchester County 382 votes, in the New York city 34th and 35th Assembly Dis- tricts, and the Annexed District, 388 votes-total 770.
(Note .- Ben L. Fairchild was not an independent candidate for Congress. His name was printed on the official ballot as such as a result of a dispute as to who was the regular Republi- can nominee. The statute required his name to be printed in a separate column. By an error it was printed in the inde- pendent column. Mr. Fairchild, on discovering this, immedi- ately disclaimed the independent candidacy and issued a cir- cular urging his friends to stand by the straight Republican ticket.)
In 1897, November 2, in the First Assembly District, for Mem- ber of Assembly, Alfred E. Smith, (R.), received in that portion of the county being a part of the district, 4,798 votes, and in the portion composed of the annexed territory, 138 votes; Jared Sandford, (D.), received in the county 5,392 votes, and in the annexed territory 332 votes. In the Second Assembly District,
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MANUAL AND CIVIL LIST.
for Member of Assembly, George H. Mairs, (R.), received in the county 4,059 votes, and in the annexed territory 930 votes; William J. Graney, (D.), received in the county 3,983 votes, and in the annexed territory 1,951 votes. In the Third Assembly District, John Gibney, (D.), received 4,006 votes; James K. Ap- gar, (R.), received 3,845 votes.
For Sheriff, William V. Molloy, (R.), received 12,877 votes; John J. Broderick, (D.), received 12,169 votes; Louis W. Elliott, (Pro.), received 1,428 votes. For Coroner, Charles E. Birch, (R.), received 13,084 votes; Charles Hilbert, (D.), received 12,331 votes; Bartholomew R. Washburn, (Pro.), received 667 votes.
For Chief Justice of the Court of Appeals, William J. Wal- lace, (R.), received 13,371 votes; Alton B. Parker, (D.), received 12,997 votes. For Justice of the Supreme Court, Joseph A. Burr, (R.), received 13,117 votes; Willard Bartlett, (D.), received 12,691 votes. On January 26, 1898, the Board of Supervisors, by order of the court, recanvassed the votes cast in the 5th district of the town of Cortlandt, for the office of Supreme Court Justice, and allowed to Coleridge A. Hart five (5) votes, the whole number of votes given and cast, "For Justice of Supreme Court to fill vacancy in place of Calvin E. Pratt, deceased."
NOTES RELATIVE TO GENERAL ELECTION.
There are one hundred and one election districts in the county of Westchester.
Election Day occurs on November 8, 1898; polls open from 6 a. m. to 5 p. m.
Day of Registration-In all cities and villages having a popu- lation of 5,000 or more: Friday, October 7, Saturday, October S, Friday, October 14, and Saturday October 15. In all election districts other than in cities and villages having 5,000 inhabit- ants, Saturday, October 8, and Saturday, October 15.
Nominations to be filed with the County Clerk, or City Clerk: Regular party, from October 5 to 15; Independent, from Octo- ber 20 to October 30. Nominations to be filed with Town or Village Clerk; Regular Party, from October 20 to October 25; Independent, from October 20 to October 30.
Declination of Nominations-Regular Party, to be filed with a Town or Village Clerk not later than October 30; Independent not later than November 2. Regular Party, with County Clerk or City Clerk, not later than October 20; Independent not later than October 22. Regular Party, with Secretary of State, not later than October 15; Independent, not later than October 20.
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MANUAL AND CIVIL LIST.
Within three days after filing of any certificate of nomina- tion, objection can be made.
A list of all candidates shall be published in the newspapers, not later than November 3.
November 18, last day for candidates to file statement of expenses.
All County Boards of Canvassers meet on Tuesday, Novem- ber 15, for canvass of votes.
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MANUAL AND CIVIL LIST.
Representatives in the Colonial Assemblies.
In the Colonial days elections for the selection of town offi- cers were held on the first Tuesday in April in each of the towns, and as often as writs of election directed to the sheriff were issued for the purpose of choosing members of the As- sembly. The representative of the county was first elected in the southern portion of the county, later, under act of Novem- ber 25, 1751, elections were held in the vicinity of the Presby- terian meeting house, at White Plains. The electors made known their choice by a viva voce vote. Voting by ballot was provided first by the Constitution of 1777.
This county was represented in the General, or Colonial, As- semblies by the following named residents, who were, as the law at that time required, freeholders; they received as their compensation the sum of six shillings, or seventy-five cents per day, the same being paid direct by their constituents:
John Pell, from 1691 to 1693.
John Pell and Joseph Theale, 1693 to 1694.
John Pell and Humphrey Underhill, 1694 to 1695.
Joseph Purdy and Joseph Theale, 1695 to 1698.
John Drake and Joseph Purdy, 1698 to 1699.
John Drake and John Hunt, 1699 to 1701.
Henry Fowler and William Willett, 1701 to 1702.
William Willett, Joseph Purdy and Josiah Hunt, 1702 to 1705.
William Willett, Edmund Ward and Josiah Hunt, 1705 to 1709
Joseph Purdy, John Drake and Josiah Hunt, 1709 to 1710.
William Willet, Edmund Ward and Josiah Hunt, 1710 to 1711.
William Willet, Edmund Ward (died in office), John Holte and Lewis Morris, 1711 to 1713.
William Willet, Joseph Drake and Lewis Morris, 1713 to 1715. Josiah Hunt, Jonathan Odell and Lewis Morris, 1715 to 1716.
William Willet, Joseph Budd, (died in office in 1722), Lewis Morris and Adolph Philipse, 1716 to 1726.
William Willet and Frederick Philipse, 1726 to 1739.
Lewis Morris, 1726 to 1738.
Lewis Morris, Jr., 1738 to 1739.
Frederick Philipse, Daniel Purdy and Lewis Morris, Jr., 1739 to 1743.
Philip Verplanck, 1734 to 1768.
Frederick Philipse and John Thomas, 1743 to 1750.
Lewis Morris, Jr., 1743 to 1745, 1747 to 1750.
Lewis Morris, 1745 to 1747.
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MANUAL AND CIVIL LIST.
Col. Frederick Philipse (died in office), 1750 to 1751.
John Thomas and Peter Delancey, 1750 to 1775. Frederick Philipse, 1751 to 1775.
Pierre Van Cortlandt, 1768 to 1775.
Isaac Wilkins, 1772 to 1775.
The last session of the last General Assembly, the thirty- first, was held on April 3, 1775.
Adolph Philipse was speaker in 1725, and from 1739 to 1745. Lewis Morris, Jr., was speaker in 1737.
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MANUAL AND CIVIL LIST.
Provincial Congress Deputies.
The State Colonial Assembly was succeeded by the Pro- vincial Congress, in 1775.
The first sessions of this Congress were held in the city of New York, from May 22, to July 8, from July 26, to September 2; from October 4, to November 4, 1775. The Deputies repre- senting this county were, Gouverneur Morris, Lewis Graham, James Van Cortlandt, David Dayton, Philip Van Cortlandt, Stephen Ward, Joseph Drake, John Thomas, Jr., William Paulding, John Holmes and Robert Graham.
The Second Provincial Congress met in New York on Decem- ber 6, 1775 and continued its sessions until May 13, 1776. Lewis Graham, Pierre Van Cortlandt, Stephen Ward, John Thomas, Jr., Joseph Drake, William Paulding, Robert Graham, Eben- ezer Lockwood and Gilbert Drake, served as Deputies from this county.
The Third Provincial Congress, convened in New York May 18, 1776, and continued until June 30, of same year. This county was represented by Lewis Morris, Peter Fleming, Samuel Haviland, Pierre Van Cortlandt, Jonathan G. Tomp- kins, Benjamin Smith, Gouverneur Morris, Gilbert Drake, Zebediah Mills, Ebenezer Lockwood, Jonathan Platt and Lewis Graham.
The Fourth Provincial Congress, which assembled at the court house, in the town of White Plains, in this county, con- tinued in session from July 9, to July 27, 1776; on July 29, a session was held at Harlem which continued until August 29, and after holding sessions at Fishkill and Kingston, the Con- gress finally dissolved, at the latter place, on May 13, 1777. Jonathan G. Tompkins, Pierre Van Cortlandt, Ebenezer Lock- wood, William Paulding, Lewis Graham, Gouverneur Morris, Jonathan Platt, Lewis Morris, Samuel Haviland, Benjamin Smith, Zebediah Mills, Gilbert Drake, attended as this county's representatives.
Pierre Van Cortlandt, of this county, acted as president of the Council of Safety, which was appointed on May 3, 1777, after the formation of the State Constitution, as a temporary form of government, to serve until a Governor could be elected and the Legislature meet. The council was composed of fifteen members, Gouverneur Morris and Jonathan G. Tompkins, of this county, were among the number.
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MANUAL AND CIVIL LIST.
In the United States Senate.
In the long list of United States Senators, representing this State, the name of only one person from this county is found, that of Gouverneur Morris, of Westchester, who was elected on April 3, 1800, and served until February 1, 1803.
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