USA > New York > Westchester County > Biographical history of Westchester County, New York, Volume I > Part 28
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In 1878 Rev. G. C. Berkemeier returned to the United States, was or- dained to the ministry of the Lutheran church and accepted a pastorate in Poughkeepsie, New York, where he remained for seven years. During that time he established a mission at Wappinger Falls, New York, and served as a member of the board of education of the city and as professor of languages in several educational institutions. In 1886, owing to the failing health of Rev. G. C. Holls, Rev. Berkemeier was called to the superintendency of the Wartburg Orphans' School, which was established in 1866 by Rev. William A. Passavant, of Pittsburg, a celebrated philanthropist and founder of sev- eral similar institutions. When Rev. Berkemeier took charge of the school in 1886 there was an enrollment of fifty-nine pupils, and the school, archi- tecturally, consisted of the main building and the chapel. Since that time a kindergarten has been erected at a cost of fourteen thousand dollars; a school building at eight thousand dollars; Langlais Hall, for boys, at forty- two thousand; the hospital, at five thousand; and the Mary Louise Haines Memorial, for the aged and infirm, at a cost of thirty thousand dollars. There is now an enrollment of one hundred and sixty-two pupils, three-fifths of whom are full orphans, and the number of boys and girls is about equal. They receive only healthy, clean and well behaved children between the ages of four and ten years and keep them until they are about sixteen or eighteen years of age or until they are fully able to support themselves. After their departure the institutions keep in communication with them, and if at any time they need assistance they have the privilege of returning. This is a most humane plan, creating a home feeling in these homeless little ones, and endearing to them the place, so it is ever associated in their minds with ten-
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der and happy recollections. They are most carefully instructed in the com- mon English branches of learning and are trained to habits of thrift and industry in the practical affairs of life. In connection with the school there is a farm of over one hundred acres, which was purchased thirty-two years ago for thirty thousand dollars, and at present, with the improvements upon it, is valued at half a million dollars. Varied industrial pursuits are carried on: the girls are trained in general housework and the boys are employed in the printing office, shoemaking department, on the farm and in the garden. Skilled workmen in these various lines direct the labors of the pupils, and in the school-room they are instructed in the fundamental lessons, in both Eng- lish and German. They have a beautiful chapel, wherein regular services are held. While the school is denominational, being founded, supported and controlled by the Lutheran congregations in New York city and vicinity, they receive worthy children irrespective of any previous religious training; but those in control seek to give inmates of the institution a thorough training in the principles and doctrines of the Lutheran church.
The institution has a remarkable health record, unique in the fact that in the thirty-two years of its existence, during which it has been the home of hundreds, only five deaths have occurred, and during Rev. Berkemeier's direct- orship of fourteen years but two have died, and not a single death has occurred in the last nine years. The New York State Mission at Albany pronounces this institution, under Rev. Berkemeier's charge, as the best conducted and the ideal institution of its kind in the country. Its present high character, as well as its recent developments in a material way, are due to his careful and able management. He does not lose sight of keeping up the financial support of the institution, and, notwithstanding the enormous expenditures made under his direction, it has an excellent financial standing. The prac- tical work of the school makes it very popular and commends it to the charitably inclined, so that the financial needs are abundantly supplied. Owing to the capable management of the superintendent, the institution is economically conducted, at a cost of only about ten thousand dollars an- nually, making the cost of keeping each scholar about ninety dollars per year, while in similar institutions the cost per pupil is about one hundred and twenty-five dollars. Rev. Berkemeier contemplates making higher education another feature of his school. He has the entire supervision of the institu- tion, keeps his own books, and does his own buying for all the depart- ments, as well as superintending the educational and religious work of the institution.
Notwithstanding these various and absorbing duties and responsibilities, Rev. Berkemeier finds time to devote to literary pursuits, and is an energetic and untiring student and worker. He is the official editor of the Lutherische
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Herald, the official organ of the New York Ministerium, a sixteen-page journal. He has been a frequent and valuable contributor to various jour- nals and periodicals, and his writings are now being collected by a German publisher, and will appear in book form. He is also the author of many poems of literary and artistic worth, and has published a book of poems relating to the institution.
The home life of Rev. Berkemeier is ideal. He was happily married, August 18, 1883, to Miss Susetta Kraeling, and their union has been blessed with two children: Lena and Mina. He is a member of the New York Ministerium, of New York city, and is held in the highest regard by all his associates in the work. Such in brief is the history of one who has devoted his entire life to his fellow men, to the alleviation of human suffering, to pre- paring the young for the practical duties of earth, and people of all ages for the life to come. His kindness, broad sympathy and genuine love for his fellow men, have won their deepest admiration and sincerest respect, and to him is due the gratitude of hundreds who have found homes under his roof, and who have there been fitted for honorable careers.
ELISHA T. PURDY.
A native of Mount Pleasant township, Mr. Purdy was born on the old homestead which he owns and cultivates. He is of English descent, and comes from a family which has borne a leading part in the development and progress of Westchester county. The paternal grandparents of our subject, Thomas Purdy and wife, both died on this farm, where they had resided many years. Elijah Purdy, the father of Elisha T., grew to manhood on this place, and was a life-long farmer. Upon reaching maturity he married Phœbe, daughter of Moses Odell, a soldier of the war of 1812, and their union was blessed by the birth of four children, of whom Elisha T. is the eldest; Moses O. is a resident of this vicinity; Mary, deceased, was the wife of William Horton, and Vander was the youngest. The father of these chil- dren lived to the ripe age of seventy-two years, and the wife and mother attained her eightieth anniversary. They were both members of the Meth- odist church, and were respected and loved by a large circle of life-long friends. The father was a Jackson Democrat, a man of broad and progres- sive views, honored for his many sterling virtues.
The birth of Elisha T. Purdy, of this sketch, occurred March 30, 1827. He was reared and educated in this neighborhood, and early became familiar with the varied details of farming. For his helpmate along life's journey he chose Margaret S. Roselle, who was born in the same township as himself, a daughter of Allen Roselle and grand-daughter of Captain Roselle, a soldier
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of the Revolution, and one of the first settlers of this county. Allen Ro- selle married Harriet Storms, a native of this county, and daughter of Henry Storms. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Allen Roselle was graced by eleven children, namely: Elizabeth, deceased, wife of James H. Reynolds; Qscar A., deceased; Margaret S .; Leander, deceased; Rosetta; Mary J., wife of Leander Lee, of Sing Sing; Permelia, wife of Henry Zar, of Yonkers; Lucas, deceased; Eva, widow of Allen Demick; William H., of Pleasant- ville, and Emma, wife of W. H. Winick, of New York city. The father of these children departed this life at the age of seventy-two years and the mother died when she was in her fifty-third year. They were members of the Reformed church, the father being one of the officials in the con- gregation which they attended. He was a Whig in his political views.
The subject of this narrative is now living in a house which is situated but a few rods from the one in which he was born. The site of the old home is, however, now under water, and the new residence is placed on a natural elevation overlooking a pretty little lake. The spot is a picturesque one, the house being surrounded with well kept lawns, and fine old trees add much to the general attractiveness of the homestead. Mr. Purdy is a practical farmer and everything about his place indicates the watchful care of the owner. The farm buildings are kept in good repair and fences are looked after and the orchards trimmed yearly. Mr. Purdy is a loyal citizen, devoted to the best interests of his community. He is a Democrat politically, but has never been an office-seeker. Both he and his estimable wife are earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and all worthy philanthropies find sub- stantial support at their hands. Nearly two-score years have rapidly rolled away since their marriage united the destinies of Mr. and Mrs. Purdy (that ceremony having been celebrated November 28, 1859), and their lives together have been exceptionally harmonious and happy. They may justly look back without regret over the pathway they have trodden, for they have put into daily practice the high principles of living which they profess, and have ever sought to lighten the burdens of those less fortunate than themselves.
WILLIAM S. FINCH.
Mr. Finch is one of the best known citizens of Westchester county, and is a member of the firm of M. N. Finch & Son, of Banksville. He has been engaged in business here for many years, and enjoys an enviable reputation for sterling honesty, uprightness and fairness in all his dealings with others. No less in the sphere of politics is he recognized as an important figure, as for years he has been justly termed a "wheel-horse" of the local Democ- racy. He has frequently attended the conventions of the party, has served.
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on committees, and has been a great worker in the cause. For five years he served as assessor, was once a candidate for the state assembly in Connecti- cut, was a candidate for the supervisorship of this township in 1891, and by sixteen votes was defeated by the opposite party, who are largely in the majority here.
The Finches are an old family in Connecticut, dating back to 1660, at which time the founder of the name on this continent settled in the town of Greenwich. In tracing the lineage of our subject it is found that he is a grandson of Ezekiel, great-grandson of Joseph, and great-great-grandson of Joseph, Sr. One of them took part in the early Indian wars, and others were participants in the Revolution and the war of 1812, while later mem- bers of the family were loyal defenders of the stars and stripes in the civil war. The great-grandfather of our subject lived to the extreme age of ninety-four years, and his grandmother died when in her ninetieth year. Many others of the family lived to an honored old age.
Marvin N. Finch, senior member of the firm above-mentioned, and for thirty-three years engaged in business here, is now in his eighty-ninth year. He is a much respected citizen, and has been a great worker in the Meth- odist Episcopal church, serving in the same for years as steward. He mar- ried Abigail Brown, a native of this county, daughter of James Brown, and two children were born to them. The daughter, Sarah, is the wife of S. B. Derby, of Banksville, New York. Mrs. Finch, who is universally loved, is a member of the same church as that with which her husband is identified, and is now about seventy-eight years of age.
William S. Finch, whose name heads this article, was born June 9, 1852, in this vicinity, and was educated in the public schools and in Green- wich Academy. When he was a little lad he was employed in his father's store, and there learned lessons of industry and correct methods of doing business. Since he arrived at maturity he has prospered in his various financial enterprises, and is considered to be a man of sound, practical busi- ness sense. Socially, he is a member of Acacia Lodge, No. 85, F. & A. M., of Greenwich, Connecticut, and is also connected with Rittenhouse Chapter, No. 11, R. A. M., Washington Council, No. 6, R. & S. M., and Banksville Council, No. 86, Junior Order of American Mechanics. In the last named order he is first councilor of the Banksville Lodge and president of the asso- ciated councils of Westchester county.
May 6, 1874, Mr. Finch married Miss Ella G. Banks, a daughter of David and Sarah (Fields) Banks, who were members of the Society of Friends. Mrs. Finch, who was a lady of many sweet and lovely attributes of character, died at her home in 1893. She was a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and was an active worker in the Ladies' Aid
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Society and in other benevolent organizations. Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Finch, Gertrude is the wife of John Orr, of Connecticut, and they have one child, Ella G .; Walter S. married Emma Miller; and William E. and Helen A., a child of six years, are at home. Mr. Finch favors better educational advantages for the rising generation, and is always to be found lending his support to all worthy public reforms and improvements along all lines. He is frank and jovial in manner, and is popular with a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
SQUIRE GRIFFIN ARCHER.
Years of quiet usefulness and a life in which the old fashioned virtues of sincerity, industry and integrity are exemplified have a simple beauty that no words can portray. This is true of the life of Mr. Archer, who is one of the most highly esteemed and honored citizens of North Castle township, West- chester county.
He was born January 19, 1831, and is a representative of one of the old and prominent families of the county, his grandfather having located at Wampus Pond many years ago. The Archers are of stanch old English stock. The father, Benjamin Archer, was reared at that place and was one of the well known citizens of the county. He was a soldier of the war of 1812, was a Whig in politics, and a consistent member of the Society of Friends, to which his wife also belonged. She bore the maiden name of Maria Cor- nell and was a daughter of Haviland Cornell, who was born at Chappaqua, this county, and was of English descent. To Benjamin and Maria Archer were born seven children, namely: Esther Jane, now deceased; Mary C., a resident of New York city; William, of Warren county, New York; Peter, of Bedford, Westchester county; Squire Griffin, our subject; Ophelia Evans, of Jersey City, New Jersey; and Seward, of Warren county, New York. The father of this family died in New Castle, at the age of seventy years, and the mother also passed away at that age.
Reared to manhood in this county, Squire G. Archer acquired his liter- ary education in the schools of Mount Kisco and New Rochelle, and when his school days were over he learned the shoemaker's trade, though he never worked at it as a business. Then was with Squire Griffin, at Sing Sing, as clerk in a store, and at that place he later engaged in the grocery business on his own account for some years. Since leaving that city he has devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits and is now the owner of the Lake Valley farms, which consist of some of the finest land to be found in the county. They form a natural park, surrounded by most beautiful scenery, including fertile valleys and lofty mountains. The farms contain two hundred acres,
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shaded with beautiful trees, supplied with good water and improved with an excellent orchard and good and substantial buildings, which add greatly to the beauty of the scene. To these places have been given the appropriate titles of Happy Home and Valley Home.
On the 5th of November, 1858, Mr. Archer married Miss Mary Frances Hatfield, a lady of rare intelligence and good judgment, who has been a most faithful helpmeet to her husband. Her parents were John and Mary Jane (Field) Hatfield, well known and prominent citizens of the county. Her maternal grandfather, Thomas Field, was born at Harrison, New York, and married Miss Charlotte Fisher, a daughter of Daniel Fisher. John Hat- field was a native of New York city, and was a son or Gilbert and Martha (Williams) Hatfield. He died at Chappaqua, January 9, 1848, at the age of thirty-one years, and his wife departed this life at the home of our subject, at the age of fifty-four years. Both were earnest and faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and had the respect and esteem of all who knew them. Mrs. Archer was their only child. The Hatfield lineage traces back to English derivation, the original American ancesters having come hither in the Mayflower.
In political affiliations Mr. Archer is a Republican. He has been a del- egate to many of the conventions of his party, and has been honored with a number of local offices. There is a French saying to the effect that men and women are just as old as they act and feel. This being true, our subject and his estimable wife are young, for they both have the happy faculty of looking on the bright side of life and seeing the silver lining to every dark cloud. This happy and contented couple are genial, jovial and hospitable and number among their friends the old, the young, the rich and the poor.
CORNELIUS A. PUGSLEY.
Cornelius Amory Pugsley, president of the Westchester County National Bank, of Peekskill, New York, has worked his own way to a foremost posi- tion among the prominent financiers of the United States. Genuine success is not likely to be the result of mere chance or fortune, but is something to be labored for and sought out with consecutive effort. Ours is an utilitarian age, and the life of every successful man bears its lessons, and as told in contem- porary narration is productive of the greatest good. Mr. Pugsley has a wide reputation as a most capable financier, and occupies a position of no little prominence in banking circles. His life demonstrates what may be accom- plished through energy, careful management, keen foresight and the utiliza- tion of the powers with which nature has endowed one and the opportuni- ties with which the times surround him.
Cornelius A. Pugsley.
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Mr. Pugsley is a representative of one of Westchester county's honored pioneer families. About 1680 two brothers, Matthew and James Pugsley, crossed the Atlantic and came to this county, settling evidently in Pelham. Matthew was married, in 1683, to Miss Mary Hunt, and their only child was a daughter. James married and had a family of several children, among whom was John, whose will reads, "John Pugsley, gentleman, of the manor of Pelham, Westchester county, New York." He reared a large family of children, namely: James, William, Samuel, Stephen, Gilbert, Israel, Eliz- abeth, John, David, Sarah and Phæbe, Of these Samuel, Stephen and Gilbert located in Dutchess county, New York; John and David in Nova Scotia, and the others probably remained in Westchester county. The family in Nova Scotia has become quite large and distinguished, some of its members figuring prominently in the political world. James and William undoubtedly remained in Westchester county, and one of them had a son, Samuel, who married a daughter of Jeremiah Drake. He was a soldier of the Revolutionary war and was the great-grandfather of our subject. He evidently resided near Sing Sing, was probably a property owner and an agri- culturist. In his family were several children; some of whom settled near Rochester, New York.
One of these, Jeremiah Pugsley, the grandfather of our subject, was a captain in the war of 1812 and was stationed on Long Island during that struggle. He married Hannah Underhill Taylor, daughter of Gilbert Taylor, whose home was in the lower part of Westchester county. They became the parents of three children, namely: Samuel, who resides on a farm or country seat about two miles east of Peekskill; Gilbert, the father of our subject; and Jane, deceased wife of Cornelius Roe.
Gilbert Taylor Pugsley was educated in the public schools, and as a boy went to New York city to accept a position in a dry-goods establishment. Later he engaged in mercantile business on his own account, but is now practically living retired on the old homestead near Peekskill, though he is still well preserved and quite active for one of his age. He has always taken a deep interest in public affairs, has served as assessor of his town for many years, and is a consistent member of the Presbyterian church. He was married, in New York city, to Miss Julia B. Meeker, daughter of Cornelius and Nancy (Redding) Meeker, of the state of New Jersey, one of the most prominent families of that State. Mrs. Pugsley died October 19, 1896, leaving three children: Samuel Irving, a merchant of Peekskill; Sarah Amelia, also a resident of Peekskill; and Cornelius A., of this review.
The subject of this sketch was born on the old homestead July 17, 1850, and attended first the public schools and later private institutions of learning. He became familiar with the higher branches of study by taking lessons of 16
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private tutors, and also spent much time in reading the works of standard authors and the best current literature of the day. In this way he stored his mind with valuable knowledge, which has been of great service to him in his business career. He began life for himself at the age of seventeen years as clerk in the post-office at Peekskill, and a year later was made assistant post- master.
In 1870 Mr. Pugsley accepted a position as clerk in the Westchester County National Bank, and also served as teller until 1879, when he was made cashier, and filled that position until the spring of 1897, when he was made vice-president as well as cashier. The following fall he was elected president of the bank, and as such he has continued up to the present writ- ing. In 1894 he was chosen first chairman of group seven of the New York State Bankers' Association, and served in that office for one year. In July, 1896, was elected, by the New York State Bankers' Association, a delegate to the convention of the American Bankers' Association, to meet at St. Louis in September, and at the latter place was one of three chosen by the State Bankers' Association of the United States as a member, for three years, of the executive council of the American Bankers' Association, which was, indeed, a great compliment. He is also quite prominent in fraternal and social organizations, and is a member of the Chamber of Commerce of New York city, of the Sons of the American Revolution, and of the Empire State Society, being a member of its board of managers and chairman of the finance committee. He also belongs to the Harlem, Patria and Twilight Clubs of New York city; is president of the board of trustees of the Field Library; trustee and treasurer of the Field Home of Yorktown; trustee and treasurer of the board of the Peekskill Military Academy; and elder of the First Pres- byterian church of Peekskill. As a citizen, he meets every requirement, and manifests a commendable interest in everything that is calculated to promote the city's welfare or advance the moral, intellectual or material welfare of the community. He has been frequently called upon to deliver public and semi-public addresses, and has shown a distinct talent in this line, bringing to bear his ample fund of knowledge, his practical ability as a man of affairs, and showing in his utterances his refined tastes and literary appreciation. A recent editorial spoke of Mr. Pugsley as follows:
" One address delivered before the Massachusetts Sons of the American Revolution, at their Boston dinner the other day, was a manly, honest utter- ance, which bristled with common sense. We refer to that on American Manhood,' by C. A. Pugsley, president of the Westchester County National Bank of Peekskill, who wisely refrained from delivering a weak, timid address on what this nation must not do, but looked the issue squarely in the face. His common sense has been shown in his private life, where he has been a
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bold, vigorous banker, ready for any issue which might arise, and this cour- age has been at the bottom of his success. No one at the dinner grasped the situation more thoroughly than President Pugsley, about whose Boston talk not a few metropolitans have commented favorably."
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