USA > New York > Westchester County > Biographical history of Westchester County, New York, Volume I > Part 27
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" In the elder days of art, Builders wrought with greatest care Each minute and unseen part, For the gods see everywhere."
Mr. New was a member and one of the founders of the St. Paul's Ger- man Methodist Episcopal church, to which his family also belong. He was an earnest Christian, and the prosperity of the church was his uppermost thought. When there existed no house of worship as yet for the congrega- tion he opened the doors of his house for service to be conducted therein. Through his endeavors it was made possible to erect the present house of worship, and he himself constructed the building. He was a constant helper and friend to the pastor. Hardly ever was he absent from divine service, except in cases of illness. For many years he was trustee, steward, class- leader and exhorter in the church, and proved himself conscientious in the fulfillment of his duties.
In politics Mr. New was a Prohibitionist. His interest in the temperance cause was unabating, and he did everything in his power toward advocating this good and noble work. He attended many state conventions of this party, and took a great interest in all temperance movements. He was also a member of the Law and Order League, Charity Organization, Educational Association, Citizens' League, a charter member of the Board of Trade, and other organizations of the town. He owned some valuable real estate in New Rochelle, including his late residence.
In 1853 Mr. New married Miss Mary Ann Kreitler, a native of Germany, and at the time of their marriage a resident of New York city. The union was blessed with ten children, seven of whom are still living, namely: Mary A., wife of S. W. Dassler, of New Rochelle; Albert B., contractor and builder, of New Rochelle; Frank J., who was in partnership with his father; Dena J .; Charles F., who is in the mail service; Emma S., and Amelia L.
During the civil war Mr. New enlisted in Company E, Seventeenth New 15
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York Volunteer Infantry, and remained in the army until the close of hos- tilities. He was an esteemed member of the Flandreau Post, G. A. R., and was a member of the Soldiers' Memorial Association, which erected the soldiers' monument a few years ago.
The deepest interest of Mr. New centered, however, in his church and in charitable work. The poor and needy found in him a true friend, and he gave generously in cases of distress, and always without ostentation. His death occurred January 19, 1899, and the community lost one of its best citizens. His son Frank J. succeeded to his business, which he still conducts under the old firm name of John New & Son.
REV. CORNELIUS W. BOLTON.
The rector of the church of the Redeemer, Pelham, N. Y., Rev. C. W. Bolton, has been identified with this place fifty years. His history is there- fore of interest in this connection, and is as follows:
Rev. Cornelius Winter Bolton was ushered into life at Bath, England, June 3, 1819, and may be said to belong to a family of ministers, his father and grandfather having passed their lives in the active work of the ministry. His parents, the Rev. Robert Bolton and Anna (Jay) Bolton, were natives respectively of Savannah, Georgia, and England. Robert Bolton was edu- cated in England and entered the ministry there, and was there married and lived for a number of years. In 1836, accompanied by his wife and family of thirteen children, he returned to the United States and settled near Pel- ham, New York, having purchased a farm near that place. He was the rec- tor of St. Paul's Episcopal church at East Chester, New York; built Christ church at Pelham, and finally returned to England and died there. His wife's death occurred a few years later.
The grandfather of our subject, Robert Bolton, was a native of Geor- gia and was for several years a merchant in Savannah, that state. The maternal grandfather of Mr. Bolton was Rev. William Jay. He was a Con- gregational minister and was well known, being the author of the work enti- tled the " Morning and Evening Exercises," which became famous through- ought the civilized world.
Cornelius Bolton spent the first eighteen years of his life in England, receiving his early education at Millhill and Henley, and in 1836 coming with his parents and other members of the family to this country and settling, as already stated, on a farm near Pelham. For ten years he lived on his fath- er's farm and in that time gained a practical knowledge of agriculture. From farming he then turned to the ministry. Entering Alexander Theological Seminary, in Virginia, he pursued a course in that institution, and graduated
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in 1847. After his graduation he accepted a position as assistant minister of Christ church in Baltimore, Maryland, where he remained four years. At the expiration of that time he returned to Pelham, where he spent the next two years, and was called thence to Kingsbridge, New York, which was the scene of his labors the next year. After this he was in mission work, at St. George's church, New York city, for six years and a half, and from there went to Mount Kisco and Armonk, New York. Again returning to Pelham, he became rector of the church of the Redeemer, where he has served his congregation very acceptably ever since.
Rev. Mr. Bolton married Miss Cornelia Van Rensselaer, daughter of Cornelius G. Van Rensselaer. She was born and reared in Albany, New York, is a cultured and charming woman, and with becoming grace presides over her husband's home. They have no children.
GEORGE T. KELLY.
This gentleman, one of the enterprising young contractors and builders of Yonkers, was born in this city, September 30, 1869, son of Thomas H. and Maria (Ryan) Kelly. The late Thomas H. Kelly was a son of Michael Kelly, of Poughkeepsie, New York, and came from that place to Yonkers about forty years ago, where he passed the rest of his life, dying in 1896, at the age of fifty-two years. He was for many years a hotel-keeper, and was well known throughout the state. Assemblyman James Ryan, of Troy, New York, is an uncle of George T. Kelly.
At an early age George T. Kelly learned the trade of brick and stone mason, and has for two years been engaged in contracting and building. He built the city public bath-house No. 2. His work, however, has chiefly consisted in the erection of residences and apartment houses, and at times he employs as many as sixty men, doing an annual business of forty-five thou- sand dollars. Mr. Kelly learned his trade of P. J. Flannery, of Yonkers. Having for his motto, "Live and let live," Mr. Kelly believes in paying the bricklayer a fair remuneration in return for his services, and is regarded as the friend of the laboring people. He has done some public speaking and campaigning in the interest of labor and has been president of the Brick- layers' Association. Politically, he is a Democrat and the local ranks of this party have found in him an active and efficient worker in campaign times. He is a member of Lady Washington Hose Company, No. 2. Fre- quently he has served as delegate to firemen's conventions. He is a member of St. Mary's Catholic church and of the Knights of Columbus.
Mr. Kelly was married October 14, 1896, to Jennie A. Fitzpatrick, and they have one child.
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ARTHUR H. SERGEANT.
Mr. Sergeant, who is the senior member of the firm of Sergeant Broth- ers, masons, contractors and builders in Mount Vernon, was born August 3, 1855, at Brigg, Lincolnshire, England, educated in the public schools, learned the mason's trade, and came to America in 1880, locating in New York city, where he was employed at his trade. For several years he was foreman for the large firm of Dawson & Archer, New York city-to the time of his coming to Mount Vernon, in 1886. In 1895 he formed the present partnership with his brother, William H., under the name of Sergeant Brothers, engaged in the business of contracting and building, including mason work. They built the gas and water establishment, the Lenox laun- dry, the electric-light station, and are now just finishing the new city hall, known as the Lucas building. Besides, they have put up a hundred or more smaller structures. In the fulfillment of some of their contracts they have employed as many as a hundred men at a time.
The father of our subject, George Sergeant, is a native of Lincolnshire, England, has been a stone mason and extensive contractor during his active life, and is now retired at the age of seventy-one years or more, still a resi- dent of his native country. He married Miss Ann Carr, and they had six children: Charles Thomas, Arthur H., George E., Frederick J., William H. and Herbert, the last mentioned deceased. The mother of these children also is still living, now aged about sixty-five years.
Thomas Sergeant, the father of George, was a native of Brigg, Lincoln- shire, England, was a farmer and also a stone mason and contractor. He married a lady whose parents were absent in America as players on the stage.
The subject of this sketch, in his views of national politics, is a Repub- lican. For his wife, he was united in marriage with Miss Jane Sharp, a sister of his brother's wife, already mentioned.
ROBERT FERGUSON.
This well known builder and influential citizen of Yonkers was born in New York city, September 29, 1862, a son of Alexander and Margaret (Dykes) Ferguson. His paternal grandfather, James Ferguson, a native of the Highlands of Scotland, emigrated to America in 1835, with his wife and children, locating upon the old Van Cortland farm, where Van Cortland Park is now situated. By occupation he was a mason and general con- tractor, and built a section of the Harlem Railroad. He was an industrious. man and accomplished a great deal in his life-time. . His residence was on the site of the present Van Cortland Park, formerly called Marshallieu. He
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had four daughters and one son, and died in 1866, at the age of more than three-score years. Alexander Ferguson, the father of Robert, was also born in Scotland, and was about five years of age when his parents emigrated to this country, in 1835. Robert was educated in the public schools of West- chester county, and learned the mason's and builder's trades, which he has followed all his life, residing in Yonkers. For a time he was in partnership with his father, under the firm name of A. Ferguson & Son, engaged in gen- eral mason work, building and contracting. They employed at times as many as forty men, making a specialty of residence flats.
In his political principles the subject of this sketch is a Republican, and has served on the ward committees. In the autum of 1896 he was elected alderman to represent the fifth ward, being chosen by a majority of five hun- dred and twenty-five, -a larger majority than was given to any other alder- manic candidate in the city. As a member of the city council he served on the committees on public buildings and grounds, being chairman of the lat- ter during the first year of his service. Mr. Ferguson has always taken a zealous and intelligent interest in the prosperity of his city.
Socially, he is a member of the Republican Club, of the Patriotic Order Sons of America, and of the United Order of North American Mechanics; and in a business point of view he is a member of the building and loan association of Yonkers.
He was married September 23, 1892, to Miss Harriet Ada, a daughter of Hamilton Mitchell, of Yonkers, and they have one child, who is named Leslie.
EDWARD S. BURTIS.
The above named leading business man of Larchmont, this county, has shown in his successful career that he has the ability to plan wisely and execute with energy,-a combination which never fails to effect notable results. For several years he has been prominently identified with the busi- ness interests of Larchmont, and for the past six years has given his attention to the grocery trade.
Mr. Burtis belongs to an old Westchester county family, concerning whose genealogy we copy the following interesting account, partly from the annals of Newtown, Long Island, and partly from other sources. The first Burtis whose name can be found on record in this country was Peter Alburtis, a native of Venice, Italy, who came to New Amsterdam, now New York, and married Judith Meynir, of Amsterdam, Holland, in 1642, and from that union sprang all the Burtis family in this country. Mr. Alburtis resided in Broad street, New York, and he owned a tobacco plantation in Wallabout, now Brooklyn, which he patented in 1653. His children-John, James, Arthur
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and two daughters-were all married. After his death in 1686, the property was sold to Jan Damen. His son John moved to Newtown, Long Island, and the children of the latter resided in different places. One son, John, set- tled in Monmouth county, New Jersey, where he reared a number of chil- dren, who became highly respected citizens. Samuel remained at Newtown and received a large share of his father's property: he died in 1752 at an advanced age, leaving five children. One of the sons emigrated to the south, other sons went to New York; his daughter Phebe married John Morrel at Newtown; and his son Peter died in New York, in 1826, leaving a highly respected family: grandchildren of his were living there in 1852. One grand- son, Arthur Burtis, was a Presbyterian clergyman, a very highly esteemed gentleman, who lived at Buffalo.
James, the second son of Peter Alburtis, moved to Foster's Meadow on Long Island; and Arthur settled at Hempstead, Long Island, and was living there in 1686. He had a number of children, who grew up to be respectable citizens. James' grandson, John Burtis, married a Miss Reinson and moved to Cow Neck, now Manhasset, in 1762, buying a home of Benjamin Akely, which place is still called Alburtis. He had three sons-John, Remson and Epenetus-and two daughters-Jane and Phebe. Jane became the wife of a Mr. Web; Phebe married a man named Ireland; John married Martha Sands and had seven children, of whom Jane married Isaac H. Dodge and had two daughters and one son; Phebe became the wife of Daniel Rapelyea and had no children; John married Eliza A. Willets and had six daughters and one son; Martha married William Skidmore and had three sons and two daughters. John, the father, always lived on his father's place, dying in 1831, at the age of seventy-two years. All his children lived within three miles of his home, and died there: they were all farmers.
Remson married Miss Elizabeth Sniffen (her mother a Miss Seaman), and had eleven children. Mary married Aaron Palmer and had two sons. Rhoda married Moses Fowler and had three daughters and two sons. Eliza married Peter Deveau and had seven children, of whom two sons and one daughter, Mary A., grew up. Seaman married Martha Ward and had six daughters and two sons. David died young. Phebe and Jane never mar- ried. Jesse Lee married Hannah McDermit and had one son. John W. married Rebecca Underhill and had three daughters and two sons. Lida became the wife of James Tompkins and had five sons and two daughters. David J. married Deborah Ann Strong and had one son, Edward S., the subject of this sketch. After the death of his first wife he married Miss Ann Morrell and had four sons and two daughters. He was born in East Chester, Angust 13, 1813, and throughout life followed agricultural pursuits, dying upon the old farm. For some time during his life he served as a captain of
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state militia, and in politics he was an old-line Whig. His wife, who was born in Yonkers, Westchester county, in 1815, was a daughter of Benjamin Strong, one of the pioneers of the county, his first home here being in East Chester; he married a Miss Benedict. The Strong family was originally from Germany, and was established in this country in the year 1645.
Remson Burtis, the father of David J., moved over to Pelham, West- chester county, and afterward sold out there and removed to East Chester, near Upper New Rochelle, where he bought a farm and passed the re- mainder of his life, dying in 1850, and his wife died in 1853.
Mr. Burtis, our subject, attended school at his native place and also at New York city after his parents removed there. Then he remained on the farm until 1872, when he embarked in business on his own ac- count, conducting a store and also carrying on the coal and feed business in Larchmont until 1894, since which time he has successfully engaged in the grocery trade at that place. He has built up a large and prosper- ous business, by carrying a high class of goods, and by fair dealing and courteous treatment of his customers. In connection with his grocery trade he handles also hardware, paints and carriages, in which lines he has an extensive trade. He established the first coal, feed and grocery busi- ness in Larchmont.
In 1877 Mr. Burtis was united in marriage with Miss Georgiana R. Haight, of New York city, a daughter of Sylvanus and Mary Haight, and to them has been born a son, named Edward Strong. The family reside in New Rochelle, where they have a pleasant home, neatly and tastefully furn- ished. Both Mr. and Mrs. Burtis are members of St. John's church, Meth- odist Episcopal, while socially he belongs to the Royal Arcanum, and politic- ally is identified with the Republican party. He is a man of fine personal appearance, pleasant in manner, genial and approachable, and all who know him esteem him highly for his genuine worth. As a business man he has met with well deserved success, and now owns a large amount of valuable property.
ODELL STEPHENS.
A prominent and leading citizen of Mount Pleasant township, West- chester county, Mr. Stephens was born August 23, 1841, on the old home- stead, where he still resides, and he is a worthy representative of one of the honored old families of this state, tracing his ancestry back to Albert Stephens, a native of Holland, who came to this country at an early day in its history. His son Joseph, the grandfather of our subject, was born in 1777, during the trying days of the Revolutionary war, and on reaching man's estate wedded Mary Taylor, who was born in 1775, and belonged to an old
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family of Rockland county. They settled upon the present farm of our sub- ject over eighty years ago, and here reared their family, consisting of the following children: Albert, Mrs. Elizabeth Cypher, Daniel, William, Gilbert and Moses. The father of these children died at the age of eighty years, and his wife at the age of eighty-eight. Both were sincere members of the Dutch Reformed church, and were good, honest and industrious people, re- spected by all.
Gilbert Stephens, our subject's father, was born in Rockland county, New York, September 20, 1808, at the old home on the Hudson, and is now the oldest man living in this part of Westchester county, having spent almost his entire life at the homestead in Mount Pleasant township. There he was reared in much the usual manner of farmer lads of his day, and as a boy was sturdy and rugged, noted for his strength and his ability to handle the scythe and cradle the grass and grain. He is now six feet in height, well propor- tioned and muscular, and although over ninety years of age, is still quite active, and possesses an excellent memory. He is honored and respected by all who know him, and his friends are many throughout the county. In early man- hood he married Miss Hetty Odell, a native of Westchester county, and a daughter of Moses and Rebecca (Brown) Odell, who both belonged to old families of the county. Two children were born to this union: Adaline, who died in infancy; and Odell, of this review. The wife and mother, who was a faithful member of the Dutch Reformed church, died in 1879.
Odell Stephens early became familiar with all the duties which fall to the lot of the agriculturist, and acquired his literary education in the district schools. He has spent his entire life on the old homestead, in Mount Pleas- ant township, which is a very valuable farm, improved with a good residence, substantial barns and outbuildings, and a fine orchard. Pastures, meadows and cultivated fields are all in excellent condition, and indicate the super- vision of a careful and painstaking owner, and one who thoroughly under- stands his chosen calling.
Mr. Stephens was married December 28, 1881, the lady of his choice being Miss Mary A. Smith, a daughter of Samuel A. and Mary (Bailey) Smith, both representatives of old and well-known families of Putnam county.
REV. GOTTLIEB C. BERKEMEIER.
Each calling or business, if honorable, has its place in the scheme of human existence, constituting a part of the plan whereby life's methods are pursued and man reaches his ultimate destiny. "All are needed by each one, " wrote Emerson. The importance of a vocation, however, is largely determined by its usefulness. So dependent is man upon his fellow men
J.S. Berkemeier
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that the worth of the individual is largely determined by what he has done for humanity. There is no class to whom greater gratitude is due than to those self-sacrificing, noble-minded men whose life work is to care for the unfortunate little ones of earth and train them for the practical duties of this life and the glories of the life to come. Their influence cannot be measured by any known standard; their helpfulness is as broad as the universe, and their power goes hand in hand with the beneficent laws of nature that come from the source of life itself. Some one has said, " He serves God best who serves humanity most." Such a man as Rev. G. C. Berkemeier, then, in his philanthropic and educational work, is not only performing a service for humanity, but is following in the footsteps of the teacher who said: "Inas- much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto me."
The subject of this review was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Septem- ber 25, 1855, and is the son of Rev. William and Lena (Nielender) Berke- meier. The family name is of German origin. The father was born in Lippe Detmold, Germany, and came to this country about fifty years ago, locating in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where he established the first Lutheran congregation in the city. Subsequently he removed to Wheeling, West Vir- ginia, where he did pioneer work for the Lutheran church. Nine years later he took up his residence in New York city, where he became engaged in mis- sion work looking toward the founding of the institution of which he is now at the head. After laboring untiringly in the mission field for six years, he succeeded in raising by contribution, solicited by himself, thirty thousand dollars for the erection of a handsome mission building known as the Lutheran Emigrant House, at No. 26 State street, New York city. This property is now worth one hundred thousand dollars. The purpose of the institution is to receive German Lutheran emigrants who choose to avail themselves of its beneficence, to look after their immediate needs, to assist them in finding situations, and protect them from the dangerous element in city life ever ready to prey upon the emigrants who are as yet unused to the ways of the New World. These people are received at Castle Garden and taken direct to the home, which is a substantial five-story building capable of entertaining five hundred guests. Rev. William Berkemeier is in charge of the institution, of which he was the founder and promoter. It is certainly one of the most practical benevolences in New York, and its founder is deserving of the deep gratitude of the hundreds of thousands whom he has assisted. In addition to his labors in connection with this institution, he does considerable pastoral and missionary work, and often officiates in various pulpits in the city.
His family numbers seven children: Herman J., a clergyman of Port
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Chester, New York; Gottlieb C., of this review; Lena, wife of Rev. John Offerman, of New York city; Mary, wife of Rev. H. D. Kraeling, a clergy- man of Poughkeepsie, New York; Anna, wife of Rev. A. Schmidtkonz, of Rond- out, New York; Martha, wife of Rev. R. Lange, of Emden, Illinois; and Hannah, wife of George F. Anger, a business man of New York city. The mother of this family died in 1895, at the age of seventy-six years.
Rev. G. C. Berkemeier, whose name forms the caption of this article, attended the parochial schools of Wheeling, West Virginia, until nine years of age, was then enrolled as a student in Thiel College, a Lutheran institu- tion, where he remained until fourteen years of age, and later spent three years in St. Matthew's Academy, of New York city. At the age of seven- teen he went to Europe and continued his education in the University of Leipzig and concluding his European studies in the University of Erlangen. After five years spent in thus fitting himself for the responsible duties of life, he was appointed a vicar in Bavaria and there received his first practical ex- perience in ministerial work.
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