USA > New York > Westchester County > Biographical history of Westchester County, New York, Volume I > Part 18
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ROBERT BARTNETT.
A contractor and builder of New Rochelle, New York, Mr. Bartnett has long been a resident of this place and is classed among its substantial and thoroughly reliable business men.
Mr. Bartnett is a native of the Emerald Isle. He was born in county Cork, Ireland, in the year 1838, and is a son of John and Mary E. (Hildgrove) Bartnett, both natives of Ireland, the former born in county Cork and the latter in county Waterford; both parents died in the old country.
In county Cork Robert Bartnett grew to manhood. He attended the common school one month and after that had a private teacher until he was about fourteen, when he entered upon an apprenticeship to the trade of mason, serving under a competent workman and becoming proficient in every department of the trade, including stone and brick work, plastering, etc. He worked at his trade in Ireland until 1863, when he decided upon immigration to this country, and that year he made the voyage to New York city, landing at Castle Garden. He spent a little over one year in work, at his trade in
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New York city. In August, 1865, he came to New Rochelle and entered the employ of John O'Connor, who was then engaged in the erection of the late Castle Inn. Afterward he was employed by John Stephenson, the car- builder of New York city. For a period of nineteen years he worked for different parties, and in 1880, having been careful and saving, he had suffi- cient means with which to engage in business for himself, which he did, and since that date has been a successful contractor and builder. He has built many of the dwellings in New Rochelle from cellar to completion, and has also taken and completed a number of contracts in adjoining towns. He has a reputation both as a skilled and reliable workman and as a man whose word is as good as his bond. All with whom he has had dealings repose the high- est confidence in him.
Mr. Bartnett has a pleasant home at No. 106 Church street. He was married in 1866 to Miss Ellen Harley, like himself, a native of county Cork, Ireland, and to them have been born thirteen children, six of whom died in infancy. Four are still living, namely: Patrick, Robert J., Peter E. and Frank A. Their daughter, Mrs. James W. Oldfield, died December 6, 1896, leaving three children, two sons and a daughter. James W. Bartnett died August 11, 1896, and another son, Thomas Bartnett, died when in his ninth year. Mr. Bartnett and his family are members of the church of the Blessed Sacrament.
WILLIAM P. PLATT.
One of the leading law firms of White Plains is that of Platt & Thomp- son, of which William Popham Platt is the senior member. He has attained to a distinguished position among the representatives of the legal fraternity in Westchester county, his ability winning many forensic victories and the commendatory notice of his fellow practitioners. He was born in the village of White Plains, May 16, 1858, and is the second son of Lewis Canfield and Laura (Popham) Platt. He was reared and educated in the village of White Plains, completing his literary studies in the high school. He then began reading law with his father, and after thorough preparation was admitted to the bar, on the 15th of May, 1879-the day before his twenty-first birthday, on which day he was legally of age.
Mr. Platt then entered into partnership with his father under the firm name of 1 .. C. & W. P. Platt, this business relation being maintained until the death of the father, March 13, 1893. William Popham Platt then suc- ceeded to the business and after practicing alone for a time formed a partner- ship with Ffarrington F. Thompson, under the firm name of Platt & Thompson, which relationship is still continued. Mr. Platt has always engaged in general practice and is well versed in the various branches of
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M. Popham Platt.
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jurisprudence. It is to his perseverance and indomitable energy that he owes his success in life, as well as to his keen and brilliant mind. He pre- pares his cases with great thoroughness and does not confine his reading to the limitations of the questions at issue, but goes beyond and compasses every contingency, providing not alone for the expected but also for the unexpected, which happens quite as frequently in the courts as elsewhere. He has been retained as counsel and advocate in many very important civil and criminal cases, and has defended in some of the most important murder cases that have been tried in Westchester county. He was the counsel for the defense at the trial of Frank Brouty, charged with the murder of Con- stable Wood, of Mount Vernon, New York. The case was fought stubbornly through the court of appeals, the charge being murder in the first degree; but while the defendant was convicted his life was saved, and the victory was one which reflected great credit upon the ability of Mr. Platt as a trial lawyer.
In the fall of 1889 he was nominated by the Democracy as a candidate for district attorney of Westchester county and elected for a term of three years. So faithfully and promptly did he discharge his duties that on the expiration of his term he was renominated and filled the office for six years. In 1896 he received the nomination of his party for the office of county judge, and though not successful his defeat amounted almost to a victory, for he lost by a majority of only three hundred votes, when the other Re- publican majorities were from two to three thousand. Recently he was again unanimously nominated for district attorney, and in the election ran so far ahead of his ticket and so near a majority as, at this writing, to leave the case in doubt.
On his retirement from the office of district attorney in 1895 he resumed the private practice of law and has been concerned in much of the important litigation heard in . Westchester county. He is especially strong as a trial lawyer, being skillful in the examination of witnesses and introducing his evidence with telling effect. He was retained on the defense in the trial of Peter Jacques, charged with the murder of Walker Adams; and of James Kelly, charged with the murder of William Mead, of Poundridge, and in both was victorious. He is now engaged in the prosecution affecting the estate of Isaac McCaffery, in the probate court of Chicago, Illinois, which suits involve large sums. He now has a large clientele and the important character of his business indicates his superior ability.
In 1890 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Platt and Miss Sarah Dean, of White Plains, a daughter of Moses W. and Sara (Stewart) Dean. Their home has been blessed with one son, Stewart Dean Platt. They have a fine country residence, with attractive surroundings, situated within the corporate 10
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limits of White Plains, and their home is the center of a cultured society circle. Mr. Platt is a valued member of White Plains Lodge No. 473, A. F. & A. M., belongs to the Medico-Legal Society of the United States, to the Democratic Club, of New York City, and to the Knollwood Country Club. He is a vestryman in Grace Church of White Plains, and in all places and under all circumstances is a gentleman loyal to truth, honor and right, justly regarding his self-respect and the deserved esteem of his fellow men as infinitely more valuable than wealth, fame or position.
MICHAEL FRANCIS MITCHELL.
Probably there is not in the city of Yonkers a better representative of that type of the successful business man to whom Americans point with pride, the self-made man, than is found in the person of the gentleman whose name stands at the head of this review and the history of whose life and success is here recorded. His achievements are emulating precepts of the great opportunities the less economic conditions of our industrial system open to industry, ability, integrity and a determination to succeed.
He is a son of Thomas and Mary (Quinn) Mitchell and was born in Car- bondale, Pennsylvania, September 6, 1855. His father soon thereafter removed to Yonkers, where Mr. Mitchell has since resided. He attended Public School No. 2 and St. Mary's Parochial School until fourteen years of age, when he took up the hatting trade, an industry which has been the step_ ping-stone to successful careers of so many prominent Yonkers business men of to-day. That occupation he pursued diligently for six years, providently husbanding his earnings and slowly building that business foundation, in habits of economy, industry and strict attention to business and the interests of his employer, that was to stand him in such good stead in the future. At the early age of twenty-one years he was thus enabled to launch out in a business venture on his own account. He accordingly established himself in the hotel business at the corner of Wells and Warburton avenues, where he continued in the successful and exemplary conduct of that enterprise for thirteen years. The close attention he gave to the management of the same and the many new and novel ideas he introduced won the approval of the most critical, and his was pronounced a model place. At the expiration of thirteen years, through his very profitable business venture and wise invest- ments, he was able to retire upon a competency, when yet in the prime of life, to enjoy the fruits of his very short but active career in business. Hold- ing considerable real-estate interests, in which he had invested from time to time, after three and a-half years he entered actively into the real-estate brokerage business, in which he soon built up one of the most extensive
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trades of any dealer in the city of Yonkers. Having always made a study of real-estate values in the city, he early acquired a reputation for his good judgment and wise investments, which brought him some of the most prom- inent men in the city as his clients. During this time he also served as trustee, executor and assignee for a number of important estates.
Mr. Mitchell's familiarity with real-estate values, and his good business ability and judgment, as well as his reputation for honesty and fairness, recommended him as a reliable and capable man for the office of city assessor of Yonkers. He was accordingly elected May 23, 1893, to that board, con- sisting of three members, including himself, Caleb F. Underhill and Edward F. Underhill. He has been twice re-elected, and is now serving his third term in that important capacity. The citizens of Yonkers endeavor to elect their best men to that office, and the gentlemen who comprise the pres- ent board are from the ranks of the very best business men in the city.
Mr. Mitchell is a Democrat, but has never sought preferment and was appointed to the assessorship by a Republican mayor and a Republican board of aldermen. He is a member of St. Mary's Roman Catholic church and the Knights of Honor, and is secretary and one of the directors of the Dis- trict Telegraph Company. He served thirteen years in Protection Engine Company, Yonkers fire department, and was first assistant foreman when twenty-one years of age.
He was happily married June 6, 1887, to Miss Martha Shaughnessy, a daughter of Stephen Shaughnessy, who was superintendent for many years of the Delamater Iron Works, of New York city, but resided in Yonkers. Their children are Mary Louise, Frank J. and Walter B.
JOHN KOELLMER.
The proprietor of the Bon Ton fish market, No. 228 Main street, New Rochelle, is John Koellmer, who was born here September 8, 1857. Mr. Koellmer is a son of German parents (Adam and Anna M. Koellmer), who, shortly after their marriage, embarked on a sailing vessel for America, and after a voyage of several weeks' duration landed in safety in New York. The father was for some time engaged in mercantile business in New York city, whence he came to New Rochelle, and here he spent the closing years of his life, and here his death occurred. His widow survives him and is still a resident of New Rochelle, her home at No. 356 Main street.
John Koellmer received his early training in the public schools of New Rochelle. Later he was a student in a private school in Jersey City, New Jersey, where he pursued his studies till he was sixteen. At that age he ent- ered the employ of N. J. Ray, of Jersey City, with whom he remained a short
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time. Returning then to his native town, he was employed by Charles Hoff- meister, proprietor of a meat market, and in this establishment remained four years, within which time he thoroughly learned the butcher business. In 1884 he started up in business for himself, opening up a fish market in New Rochelle, and for the past fourteen years has done a successful and increasing business, dealing exclusively in fish, and buying and selling only the best. the market affords.
April 4, 1880, Mr. Koellmer was united in marriage to Miss Anna Wolf, daughter of Jacob Wolf, a well known and much respected citizen of New Rochelle. They have five children living, namely: Frank A., John J., Edward A., Clifford J. and William J. The eldest son, Frank A., is his father's assistant in the fish market.
The greater part of his life having been spent in New Rochelle, Mr. Koellmer naturally has been interested in its growth and development. Rec- ognized as a public-spirited and enterprising citizen, he has been granted local honors, and has served efficiently as a town officer. For two terms he was trustee of the village, and at this writing is tax collector, having been elected for a term of two years. He is also assistant chief of the fire department of New Rochelle, and politically he is a stanch Democrat.
JOHN I. TOMPKINS.
The family which is represented in Tarrytown by John I. Tompkins is one of the old and respected families of New York state, many illustrious men in various walks of life having borne the name. He is the youngest of five children-two daughters and three sons-of William J. and Priscilla (DeRond) Tompkins: William M. is now a resident of Long Island; Ella is the wife of Leander Van Tassell; Thomas S. is a citizen of St. Paul, Minne- sota; and one child died when young. The father, William J. Tompkins, was born in the town of Mount Pleasant, New York, and by occupation was a merchant. His last years were passed in retirement at his home in Tarry- town, and bere his death took place June 16, 1871. The wife and mother survived many years, and entered the silent land January 28, 1894. She was a daughter of John DeRond, of New York city, and of French descent, and she, too, was a native of the metropolis.
November 25, 1855, is the date of the birth of John I. Tompkins, the event occurring upon the paternal homestead in the town of Greenburg, Westchester county. His boyhood was chiefly spent in Tarrytown, in whose excellent public schools he acquired a liberal education. Subsequently, he was a student in a select school for some time, and upon the completion of his school life he entered the business world as a clerk in a local store. Having
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thoroughly mastered the varied details of a successful business, and having amassed an adequate amount of capital, he decided to embark in business on his own account. In August, 1896, he opened a flour, feed and hay store in Tarrytown, and by strict attention to the wants of his patrons and by a mani- fest desire to please and accommodate them, he has won the good will of all with whom he has had dealings, and has built up an extensive trade. He is a member of Westchester Lodge, No. 350, I. O. O. F., and belongs to the Junior Order of United American Mechanics. In national and state issues he votes in accordance with the Republican party principles, while in matters which affect only this immediate locality he is strictly independent, voting for the man whom he considers best calculated to carry out the wishes of the better class of our citizens.
Twenty years ago, in 1879, Mr. Tompkins wedded the lady of his choice, Miss Matilda Carson, of this place. Her parents, Thomas and Grace (Ferguson) Carson, were both natives of Scotland, coming from leading and wealthy or well-to-do families. The only child of our subject and his estimable wife is a daughter, Grace S., who is still attending school.
JAMES S. MERRITT.
This gentleman, who is a member of the firm of Johnson & Merritt, bot- tlers at Port Chester, is a native of this place, born November 9, 1859. His father, Clark S. Merritt, a native of Greenwich, Connecticut, came to Port Chester when a boy, and when a young man engaged in the grocery business, which he continued until his death, at the age of forty-nine years. His wife, whose name before marriage was Emily Parker, was a native of Harrison township, this county, and her death occurred February 4, 1897, when she had reached the age of sixty-five years. Their two children were James S. and Irine, the latter of whom is now the wife of John Duffy, of this county.
Young James remained an inmate of his parental home until he was married, after which time his widowed mother made her home at his resi- dence until her death. He was educated at the public schools and at Profes- sor Smith's private school at Port Chester, then was employed as a clerk in a store and in various other capacities. At length he entered the real-estate business, which he has since followed and in which he has established an honorable record. In 1885 or '86 he entered into partnership with Addison Johnson in the bottling business. In 1894 Mr. Johnson was elected sheriff, when Mr. Merritt purchased his interest, and in 1896 Mr. Johnson bought again a half interest in the enterprise, which he has since held. The estab- lishment is small but doing a paying business, while Mr. Merritt's real- estate operations are extensive, in which he is engaged in buying lots, im-
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proving them and erecting buildings on them, etc., and he is financially successful. Since March, 1898, however, he has been out of business.
In matrimony Mr. Merritt was united with Miss Emma S. Gidney, of Rye. Politically, he is a stanch Republican, active in local politics and even an influential leader. He is a popular young man. He has always been an active member of the fire department, of which he was elected cap- tain in 1895.
EDWARD M. CLARK, M. D.
Dr. Edward M. Clark, a successful practitioner of the healing art in Mamaroneck, was born September 7, 1862, in the village of Rye, Westches- ter county.
His father, Ebenezer Clark, was a native of the same place, where he has spent the most of his life as a farmer. He has been retired some twelve years, living now with the children. He is now sixty-four years of age. In his religious predilections he is a Presbyterian, and in his political a Repub- lican. His father, Andrew Clark, was a native of New York city, and accumulated considerable property in New York. Late in life he retired from business and purchased a farm, in 1821, at Rye, Westchester county, where he passed the remainder of his life, dying September 14, 1847, at the age of seventy-eight years. Religiously he was a member of the Presby- terian church, in which he held the office of ruling elder. Among his many liberal donations to the church was a gift of five thousand dollars for the erection of the house of worship at Rye. He was very strict in his religious principles. Being solicited on one occasion to take stock in the New York & New Haven railroad, he refused unless the company should agree to run no trains on Sunday.
Mr. Ebenezer Clark married Miss Emily Peck, of Black Rock, Connecti- cut, who departed this life when about forty-four years of age, leaving two children-the subject of this sketch and Annie K., who became the wife of Alfred Butterworth, of Cincinnati, Ohio. Mrs. Clark was an intelligent and zealous member of the Presbyterian church.
The great-grandfather, Ebenezer Clark, was a wagon-maker and mer- chant, who came to Rye in 1821, where he died, aged eighty-seven years. He was a successful man of business, and took a prominent part in church work, giving five thousand dollars to build the church at Rye. He took a most active part in all local matters.
Dr. Edward M. Clark, whose name heads this brief sketch, was reared at his parental home, attending the public schools and the Park Institute at Rye. At the age of eighteen years he entered the Bellevue Hospital Med- ical College, of New York city, where, in March, 1885, he graduated. After
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spending a few months as assistant physician in the out-patient department of Bellevue Hospital, at the same time engaging in general practice in the city, he came to Mamaroneck, and since July, 1896, he has been a practi- tioner here with the success that follows thoroughness and painstaking care. A few months of this time, however, he temporarily filled the place of an absent physician in New York. He is a member of the Westchester County Medical Association, and is examining physician for the Royal Arcanum of Mamaroneck.
Dr. Clark was united in matrimony with Miss Eleanor L., daughter of Rev. Joseph Pullman, of Mamaroneck, and they have one son, whom they have named Edward R.
In his political principles the Doctor is a Republican, but is not active in political movements; and in religion he is a member of the Methodist church. He is also a member of the Royal Arcanum and of the Order of Foresters of America.
DAVID E. ALLEN.
David E. Allen is a son of James and Abigail (Westwood) Allen, and was born at Mount Savage, Maryland, July 12, 1861. The Allen family are of Scotch and English origin. David Allen, the grandfather of David E., was born at Princess End, Staffordshire, England, where he passed an active and useful life, engaged in the foundry business. He was an honorable, upright, conscientious man, a member of the Episcopal church, and had the respect of all who knew him. He lived to the age of eighty-five years, and his wife, whose maiden name was Mary Vaughn, was past eighty when she died. They had a family of six children, two of whom died in infancy. The four that reached adult years were as follows: William, who succeeded his father in the foundry business, was a successful business man, and was in turn suc- ceeded by his son, who still operates the plant; Mrs. Martha Oliver; Mrs. Eliza Meacham, and James, the father of our subject.
James Allen was born at Princess End, Staffordshire, England, and at his native place received a common-school education and learned the trade of foundryman in his father's shops. Later, with his brother, he owned an interest in the foundry. Selling his interest to his brother in 1860, he came to the United States, accompanied by his wife, and first located at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Soon afterward he removed to Mount Savage, Maryland, but later returned to Pittsburg. His next move was back to England to the scenes of his early life, where he continued to reside for ten years, and at the end of that time he again came to America, this time locating at Jersey City, New Jersey, and other places, and finally settled at Yonkers, New York, where he has since resided. For a time he was interested in the foundry
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business here. He and his wife are the parents of fourteen children, namely: David E .; Mrs. Evangeline Spight; Mrs. Florence Ihmer; Adelaide, deceased; Lilly; Horace J., deceased; Adelaide Louise; Mary Elizabeth; Horace P .; Jennie; William; and Simeon Garfield, Charlotte and Elsie, all the last three deceased.
David E., the immediate subject of this sketch, was educated in the public schools of this country and England, where his boyhood was spent, and at an early age he started out to make his way in the world. The suc- cess he has attained is due wholly to his own efforts. Like his father and other male members of the family, he went to work in the foundry in his youth, and this has been his main occupation, learning his trade in New York city, where he spent ten or twelve years. When a boy of fourteen or fifteen he had a great desire for adventure, and this he satisfied by going to sea on board a merchant vessel which plied the waters of the Atlan- tic and the Mediterranean and Baltic seas, touching at a number of impor- tant ports. He spent two years in this way. At one time he was wrecked off the coast of Spain. Mr. Allen came to Yonkers, New York, in 1888, and in 1896, with Edward Irvin, succeeded to the ownership of the Terrace City Foundry, which they have since conducted successfully. Their plant occupies a building 100 x 50 feet, besides store house, etc., and at the present time they employ a force of twenty-two men, doing a general foundry busi- ness, working in iron, bronze, brass, etc.
Fraternally, Mr. Allen is identified with several organizations. He has been an active and influential member of the Iron Molders' Union at Yon- kers, in which he has passed all its chairs. Shortly after he reached his majority he received the degrees of Tecumseh Lodge, No. 487, F. & A. M., and Union Chapter, in New York city, of both of which he is still a mem- ber in good standing. A Democrat and a member of the Iroquois Club, of Yonkers, he takes an active interest in political matters, and at this writing was a candidate for alderman from the first ward.
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