USA > New York > Westchester County > Biographical history of Westchester County, New York, Volume I > Part 17
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August 10, 1880, Mr. Fitzgerald married Mary Ann O'Connor, who was born August 10, 1857, and who died August 1, 1894, leaving one son, John. Mr. Fitzgerald's second wife bore the maiden name of Catherine Flynn, her parents being Michael and Ann (Curran) Flynn, of Brooklyn. This marriage was celebrated on the 6th of November, 1895.
FREDERICK GORLICH.
Mr. Gorlich, postmaster and a dealer in groceries and produce in Hast- ings, Westchester county, New York, is a young man of more than ordinary business acumen, and is a native of the village in which he now resides, having been born there, March 5, 1870. His parents were both natives of Germany, but have resided in this country since early youth, The father, John Gorlich, was a carpenter and builder, many of the buildings in Hastings and vicinity being of his construction. He was married in the village of Hastings to Miss Margaret Kurtz, who died in 1885. He still lives in this vicinity.
Frederick Gorlich was reared to manhood in his native village, and edu- cated in the Fraser free school. After completing his education he entered the employ of S. G. Dorland, and continued as a clerk in his grocery store for eleven years. He then opened a store of his own, aiming to please all
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classes of trade and give them the best possible value for their money. He is succeeding in a wonderful degree, as the patronage of his store attests.
June 5, 1894, he was united in marriage to Miss Hattie Miller, a native of the Fatherland. Mr. Gorlich is a stanch Republican and served two years as tax collector. In May, 1897, he was appointed postmaster, and took charge of the office the 15th of the same month. He owes his appointment to Postmaster General Smith. He is a member of Springville Lodge, No. 158, I. O. O. F., and belongs to the Hastings Protective Association, the local fire department.
EDWARD L. PEENE.
Coming from one of the old and influential families of Yonkers, Edward L. Peene, superintendent of the city water-works, has always been a much respected citizen of the flourishing place mentioned. Born in Yonkers, March1 1, 1856, he grew to manhood here, was educated in our public schools and had been actively associated with all movements of progress and im- provement in this community, his influence, at least, ever being cast on the side of enterprise and advancement along all lines. In business, fraternal and social circles he is very popular. For a period of nine years he has been the president of the Exempt Firemen's Association. Previously, he was a member of Hope Hook & Ladder Company for some nine years, and is still numbered among the veterans of that society. Few men have taken more thorough interest in the fire department of this city than he, and no one was ever more faithful and reliable in time of need.
In tracing the history of Edward L. Peene it is found that he is of good old English stock, and that his father, Stephen R. Peene, one of the best known citizens of Yonkers, was born in the town of Lynn, England, in 1829. He was but a small lad when he came to this city, with the destinies of which his own have since been closely interwoven. As a boy, too, he began run- ning on a sloop which plied between New York city and Yonkers, and from that time forward he followed the river during his entire active life. At the time that he retired he was one of the oldest river pilots in the service, and for years had been a captain on passenger steamers of the Ben Franklin Transportation Company. He was very active in the fire department, belonging to Lady Washington Engine Company, and is now a member of the Exempt Firemen's Association. For his wife he chose Sarah Williams, who departed this life October 7, 1895, at the age of sixty-six years. Of their seven children, Thomas and Ida are deceased; Edward L. is the subject of this sketch; Stephen J. is an engineer; Laura Sawyer is a teacher in Yonkers school No. 7, and Stella Holland and Hattie Blackburn are at home.
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Edward L. Peene learned the printer's trade in his youth, and for some time was employed in the hat factory of John T. Waring. He then served an apprenticeship at the machinist's trade, and became an engineer on Hud- son river steamboats. For fourteen years he held a position as chief engin- eer on boats of the Ben Franklin Transportation Company, his run being between Yonkers and New York city. His next occupation was that of steam-fitting, to which line of business he gave his time and attention for two and a half years. In 1895 he became connected with the Yonkers water- works plant as an inspector, and as such served for three years or more. Upon the death of Joseph L. Lockwood, the superintendent, in May, 1898, Mr. Peene succeeded him in the office. He has the supervision of the whole system, consisting of sixty-six miles of pipe-line, which conveys water from distributing reservoirs, by the force of gravity. One of the water-works towers, one hundred and thirty-five feet high, is the highest tower of the kind in the country. The source of the water supply is Grassy Sprain brook, which empties into Grassy Sprain lake, -a lake having a capacity of four hundred millions of gallons. Mr. Peene employs, in different positions, about forty men to assist him in his labors, and among other things, he has to look after some forty-three hundred meters. The same faithfulness to duty which has ever characterized his work, is manifested by him in his new position, and everything relating to the management of the water-works is certain to receive his constant and watchful attention. Socially as well as in business circles he is very popular. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and to the Royal Arcanum.
In January, 1879, Mr. Peene married Miss Sarah Ainsworth, of Yonkers. She is a daughter of Joseph Ainsworth, for years a well known citizen of this place. Mr. and Mrs. Peene lost their elder daughter, Edna, but have one left to them, Bertha, who is at home.
HENRY ERNEST SCHMID, M. D.
The world instinctively and justly renders deference to the man whose success in life has been worthily achieved, who has attained a competence by honorable methods, and whose high reputation is solely the result of pre- eminent merit in his chosen profession. We pay a deservedly high tribute to the heroes who in the bloody battle-fields of war win glorious victories and display their invincible courage, but we perhaps fail to realize that just as much courage and skill are required to wage the bloodless conflicts of civil life. Especially in the arduous career of a physician are required all the qualities which go to make the ideal soldier, -courage, daring, self-control, and the keen judgment necessary to make an instant decision when life itself
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is at stake. Absolute indifference to physical comfort as contrasted with his duty, combined with a thoroughly hardy frame and a complete knowledge of his profession; these they must have in common, but the physician must add to all these the divine gift of sympathy and a personal magnetism which often does more for his patients than his medicine.
It is these traits of character which have combined to render Dr. Henry Ernest Schmid, of White Plains, New York, the subject of this sketch, one of the foremost physicians of Westchester county. He was born in Saxony, Prussia, May 1, 1834. His father, who was a publisher and connected with the famous house of Tauchnitz, intended his son to follow the same career, and after acquiring his early education in the great Latin school at Halle the young man commenced a higher literary course, with the view of follow- ing out his father's plans. The latter, however, unfortunately incurred the censure of the government through his political views, and this circumstance changed the whole tenor of the son's life.
In 1853 young Schmid came to this country and was led to settle in Virginia. Having a natural predilection for the science of medicine, he pur- sued the study of his profession in Winchester and afterward at the University of Virginia, at Charlottesville, and at the University of Pennsylvania. For a while he was connected with newspaper work in Baltimore, and in 1859 was sent as " medical missionary " to Japan, under the auspices of the Episcopal Board of Foreign Missions. While at Nagasaki he established a large hos- pital (the first of its kind), and his practice soon grew to enormous propor- tions, for the natives were quick to recognize the superiority of his methods over their antiquated Oriental practices.
After a time, however, owing to his intense application to work in such an enervating climate, Dr. Schmid's health failed and he accepted a position as interpreter on board the flag-ship of an English surveying fleet. In that capacity he visited Corea, northern China, Borneo, Java and Sumatra. The vessel, having narrowly escaped destruction in a typhoon, put in at Cape Town for repairs and Dr. Schmid embraced the opportunity to make an ex- tensive tour in southern Africa. He afterward visited St. Helena, the island of the Ascension and the Azores, went thence to England, and finally returned to the United States in 1862. The wide experience and culture gained in these years of travel in the Orient have been of inestimable value to him both professionally and socially. Before leaving America in 1859 Dr. Schmid had made a short visit to White Plains, and upon his return to the New World he decided to settle in that town, and has since made it his home. Here he has engaged most successfully in the practice of his profes- sion, to which he has brought a comprehensive and an accurate knowledge of the science of medicine, as well as a keen insight into human nature. A
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conscientious member of what is known as the " old school " of medicine, Dr. Schmid is open-minded and liberal in his views, and notwithstanding his immense practice, which has made constant demands upon an exception- ally fine constitution, he manages to keep abreast of the latest thought, both in his own profession and in other branches of science and literature, and to be, in a word, thoroughly " up to date." He is justly considered one of the leading physicians of the county and is a valued member of the American Medical Association, the State Medical Society and the Westchester County Medical Society, to all of which he has contributed valuable medical papers. He is also physician in charge of St. Vincent's Retreat for the Insane, and is chief of the White Plains Hospital.
Soon after his return to White Plains Dr. Schmid married Eugenia, a daughter of Mr. E. T. Prend'homme. Mrs. Schmid died in 1884, leaving three daughters. In 1888 Dr. Schmid married Mrs. D. J. Tripp, of White Plains. Their home is a prominent center of hospitality and pleasure.
Dr. Schmid is president of the board of health and of the board of edu- cation, senior warden of Grace church (Episcopal) and one of the most prominent men of the town. He is a man of scholarly attainments and broad general culture, a thorough musician and imbued with a devoted love and never failing enthusiasm for his profession. While in Japan Dr. Schmid made many valuable collections for the Smithsonian Institution, at Washing- ton, and was made a member of the Oriental Society and of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
HON. EDMUND G. SUTHERLAND.
America owes much of her progress and advancement to a position fore- most among the nations of the world to her newspapers; and in no line has the incidental broadening out of the sphere of usefulness been more marked than on this same line of journalism. New York has enlisted in its news- paper field some of the strongest intellects in the nation -- men of broad mental grasp, cosmopolitan ideas and notable business sagacity. Prominent among the men who have given the state prestige in this direction was Mr. Sutherland, of this review.
He was born in the town of Plymouth, Chenango county, New York. His father, Silas Sutherland, was a native of Vermont, and of Scotch de- scent. He held a commission in the volunteer forces of New York in the war of 1812; served on the northern frontier under General Gaines; and at the sortie from Fort Erie was wounded in the left arm by a piece of bomb- shell. The grandfather, John Sutherland, was a millwright and built the mills on Otter creek, in Rutland county, Vermont, known as Sutherland's
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mills. The mother of our subject was born in New England, of English Puritan ancestry, and was a daughter of Philemon Tiffany, who took part in the battle of Bunker Hill and served in the ranks of the army until the close of the Revolutionary struggle.
Owing to the limited circumstances of his family, Senator Edmund G. Sutherland did not have those facilities for an early education which are within the reach of the more favored youths of the present day, and he was forced to content himself with the scanty instruction imparted at district schools, at interrupted intervals, in Tompkins, Cortland, Monroe and Madi- son counties, New York, where his parents successively resided, those schools being generally conducted in log school-houses, which distinguished that sec- tion of the state at that day. In 1830-31 he attended the winter term of the Polytechnic Academy at Chittenango, and, graduating in the spring, entered the printing office of the Troy Statesman, a weekly political paper which was then started by a half-brother, Thomas Jefferson Sutherland, who, in 1838, figured somewhat conspicuously in the Canadian patriot war. The publication of the Statesman was continued but one year, after which the young printer went to North Adams, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, and worked for another year in the printing office of the Berkshire Advocate, a National Republican paper. This paper also, like many similar enterprises of that description, sank to premature decay, and the proprietor, preferring the free state of New York to the imprisonment-for-debt statutes of Massa- chusetts, made a secret assignment of the Advocate and its assets to his printer and another creditor, Dr. Elihu S. Hawks, and left for this state, leaving behind him a batch of personal and ill-natured editorial and other articles for the forthcoming issue of the Advocate, which was duly put to press under the imposing firm name of Hawks & Sutherland, assignees. In justice to Dr. Hawks, it should be said that he was not consulted as to the character of the contents of this issue. The edition was only partly worked off and sent out, when that usually quiet village was thrown into consider- able excitement, the establishment was abruptly taken possession of by Dr. Hawks and his friends, the junior partner was put under arrest for libel, and the columns of the Advocate, charged with censure and invective, turned upon the late but absconded editor. The excitement partially died away in a few days and the complaint was dropped; the printer, a youth of nineteen, not being held to account for the acts of the real offender.
In the fall of 1834 Mr. Sutherland went to Haverstraw, Rockland county, New York, and worked in the office of the North River Times-a paper started in the interest of the Whig party, which was then organized by a fusion of the National Republican and Anti-Masonic parties. He remained there, in the mixed capacities of journeyman, foreman and proof-reader, for two years,
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at the end of which time (in the fall of 1836) he sailed for New Orleans, where he worked on the New Orleans Observer, a weekly Presbyterian pub- lication, the office of which was burned January 1, 1837; then on the True American, and read proof, as an occasional pastime, for George W. Kendall, who was the chief writing editor of the New Orleans Picayune, which was started that winter by Kendall & Lumsden. In the meantime he was induced to become interested, with three other young men, in fitting out one of the first vessels, a sloop, which sailed from Galveston on the conclusion of the armistice between Mexico and Texas, with a cargo of groceries and provisions, which proved to be a profitable venture; a second cargo was sent to Houston, with a like result. In the latter part of May, Mr. Sutherland returned north by steamers up the Mississippi and Ohio rivers to Louisville and Cincinnati, crossing through Ohio by way of Columbus, over the Alleghanies, down to Baltimore by stage coach; and, in the fall of 1837, accepted the situation as foreman in the office of the Hudson River Chronicle, which was then being started, by the late Alexander H. Wells, at Sing Sing, Westchester county. This position he held until the spring of 1840, when, Mr. Wells having been appointed surrogate of the county, he purchased that gentleman's undivided interest in the paper, party on account of arrears of wages due, and published it until 1844, when he sold his interest to James B. Swain. In the summer and fall of that year, in the interest of his friends, he published a campaign paper, called the Protector, which supported the nomination of Henry Clay for the presidency.
In 1843 and 1844 Mr. Sutherland read law in the office of Messrs. Ward & Lockwood, in Sing Sing, though he never followed the legal profession. On the Ist of May, 1845, he established the Eastern State Journal, at White Plains, which he continued to publish, as a Democratic paper, for several years, it being the leading Democratic organ of Westchester county and yielding a handsome income. During the first eleven months of its publica- tion he had associated with him his half-brother, General Thomas Jefferson Sutherland.
In 1853 and 1854 Mr. Sutherland held the office of superintendent of common schools for the town of White Plains. He was elected a member of the assembly from the second district of Westchester in 1857, and was a member of the printing committee and also the select committee on census at the session of 1857. The following year he was returned to that body, in which he was chairman of the committee on state prisons, and was a member of the committee on railroads. At the annual session of the board of super- visors of Westchester county in 1858 he was elected clerk of the board, and re-elected, holding the office for three years. He was chairman of the board in 1863, 1864 and 1865. Mr. Sutherland also represented his town on the
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board of supervisors in 1862, 1866, 1872, 1873 and 1878. The duties of the office of supervisor were onerous and responsible during the continuance of the civil war; and the raising and disbursing of moneys to fill the town's quotas of men for the United States service, in order to avoid the necessity of drafts, and the care and distribution of moneys to the families of volun- teers, were discharged to the satisfaction of all. After 1850 he was fre- quently sent as a delegate to the Democratic state conventions, and was a member of the Democratic state committee in 1862. In 1868 he was elected trustee of the newly incorporated village of White Plains. In 1871 he was elected president of the village, and in 1880 was president pro tom. and a member of the board of trustees of the village.
Mr. Sutherland was elected to the state senate in 1865, and was appointed on the committees on railroads, state prisons and printing. He was one of five Democrats in the senate at that time. He was a gentleman of commanding presence and fine social qualities, was a cool and discreet politician, true to his party, possessing much tenacity of purpose, and conse- quently exercised a controlling influence in the political affairs of his county and senatorial district. His death occurred May 16, 1883. Mr. Sutherland, possessing a very retentive memory, had gathered a wide store of informa- tion from reading and from contact with prominent statesmen and scholars, and this he used to the greatest advantage in conversation and in the com- position of his editorials. Up to his death he exercised a controlling influence in the political affairs of the county.
EZRA E. MUNSON.
Ezra E. Munson was born in the city of New York, but has been a res- ident of Hastings-on-Hudson since early childhood. He was born in May, 1839, being a son of George and Fanny (Jones) Munson. His parents were- also natives of the Empire state, the father following the vocation of a car- penter, builder and quarryman. He worked at his trade for some time and then became foreman for large contractors. In 1850 he moved to this village, which he made his permanent home, and where he built the foundations of many of the dwellings, store and business blocks. He was an industrious, hard-working man, and was engaged in his work until his death, in 1883. He was a Republican, and held the office of highway commissioner, doing much to improve the condition of the highways under his supervision. He married Miss Fanny Jones, a daughter of James and Esther Jones, who is now in her seventy-fifth year, and a remarkably bright, interesting lady.
Ezra E. Munson first attended the public schools of Hastings, then he entered a private school, and later became a student of the Clavarack Insti-
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tute, of that village. After leaving school he went to visit a sister living in Illinois, and there enlisted in Company C, Thirty-sixth Illinois Infantry. His regiment was under Colonel Greusel and later under Colonel Miller, with General Sigel in command. Mr. Munson served his country three years and two months, taking part in many close engagements, being in the battles of Perryville, Murfreesboro, Stone river and Missionary Ridge, where he received a gunshot wound which disabled him for some time. He remained with his regiment and served with it until his discharge, in October, 1864. He then returned to Hastings and opened a lumber and coal business, which he con- ducted very successfully for a period of ten years. In 1878 he became associated with a wholesale grocery house in New York city, as traveling salesman, and finding the work pleasant as well as profitable he has contin- ued in that business ever since.
In 1864 Mr. Munson was united in matrimony with Miss Emma Czar, by whom he has five children: Lillian L., Herbert E., Lester D., Laura M. and Leonard W. He is a Republican in his political affiliations, although not an active politician. He is an upright, honorable man, whose sterling worth is well recognized, while his genial, hearty, and unaffected manner makes him a general favorite. He has been chosen as executor in settling up the family estate.
JOHN A. WEIS.
This highly respected citizen of Yonkers is still a resident of his native place, being born here April 28, 1861. He was educated here in the parochial schools, and while attending St. Joseph's school and while yet a boy, he assumed the duties of sexton of the buildings, devoting two periods a day to study, of one and a half hours each. Quitting school at the age of sixteen years, he devoted his whole time to his position as sexton, ever since then being sexton of St. Joseph's church, Roman Catholic, and of also the Church of the Sacred Heart on Monastery avenue in Yonkers. In the execution of his duties in this interesting capacity, he has gained considerable familiarity with the business of undertaking, following this occupation ever since Octo- ber, 1889, and attending to all the business in this line for the parishes of the two churches mentioned, which amounts to one of the most extensive in the city. He employs ten horses, four coaches and three hearses, besides other vehicles, etc. Mr. Weis has a handsome residence, surrounded with spacious and beautiful grounds.
Politically he is an enthusiastic Democrat, and at the present writing is a prominent candidate for nomination for the office of coroner of Westchester county. Ile has always taken great interest in public affairs. In his social relations he is a member of the orders of Knights of Honor, Knights of Pythias,
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Red Men, Foresters of America and the Catholic Benevolent Legion. He is also a member of the Palisade Hose Company in the fire department of Yonkers. His ecclesiastical membership he holds in St. Joseph's church, Roman Catholic, and he is also superintendent of St. Joseph's cemetery at Yonkers.
Mr. Weis was married November 29, 1883, to Margaret B., a daughter of Fred William and Catharine (Maurer) Becker, and they have had six chil- dren, of whom the living are Joseph, Margaret and Agnes.
Henry Weis, the father of John A., came from Metz, in Alsace-Lorraine, France, in 1848, but in the same year he returned to the old country. He came again to this country, however, and remained a resident here, the first three years in New York city. In 1853 he moved to Yonkers, where he bought property, on Vineyard avenue, which place he made his home dur- ing the remainder of his life. He was a cooper by trade, following his occupa- tion at Peak's mills. Politically he was a Democrat, and in his religious relations he was a member of the old St. Mary's church, Roman Catholic, where he was a member of the choir. He married Miss Catherine Reisse, a daughter of Wilhelm Reisse, a wine merchant of Paris. He passed away August 14, 1896, and his faithful wife died June 21, 1888. Their children were: Nicholas, who died April 14, 1888; Henry, who died November 15, 1888; George, who has been absent from home for over fifteen years; Emma (Mrs. Lewis Lecham); Mary (Mrs. James O'Lone); and John A., the sub- ject of the foregoing sketch.
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