USA > New York > Westchester County > Biographical history of Westchester County, New York, Volume I > Part 39
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54
Rudolph Boehmer, Sr., was a native of Germany and belonged to a highly respected family of that country. There he was reared and educated and also served an apprenticeship at the barber's trade. At the age of nine- teen years he crossed the Atlantic, landing in New York city, and for some time he lived in Brooklyn, where he worked at his trade, but in 1865 he came to Mount Kisco, Westchester county. Five years later he embarked in the bottled-beer business, which he successfully carried on until his death. In his political affiliations he was a Democrat.
333
WESTCHESTER COUNTY.
He married Miss Elizabeth Betz, who is still living, and to them were born six children, one of whom is deceased. The others are Anna; Lizzie, wife of Frank Sutton, of Mount Kisco; Christina, wife of James O'Neil, of New York city; Fred, a prominent and popular hotel man of Brewster, New York; and Rudolph, our subject.
The last named was reared and educated in Mount Kisco, and has sup- plemented the knowledge acquired in the school-room by business experience and by extensive travel in different parts of the United States. He is an active and zealous worker in the ranks of the Democracy, is a genial, pleas- ant gentleman, honorable in business and true to his friends.
JAMES L. COUTANT.
Occupying a representative position among the leading business men of New Rochelle, New York, is found the subject of this sketch, James L. Cou- tant, who has long been a druggist of this place. The record of his life, in brief, is herewith presented.
Looking first to the ancestry of Mr. Coutant, we find the agnatic line traced in this country back to 1698, when one John Coutant, a French Huguenot, in company with other Huguenots, landed in this country and formed a colony at New Rochelle, New York. He married Ann Bonnefory, and took up his abode on a large tract of land in Westchester county, where he passed the rest of his life in agricultural pursuits. The great-grand- father and grandfather of our subject were each named James Coutant, while his father's name was Lewis J. Lewis J. Coutant was born in the town of East Chester, Westchester county, New York, in 1807. He was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, devoted the best years of his life to the service of his Master, and was the means of accomplishing a vast amount of good. He died in New Rochelle, in 1885. His widow, whose maiden name was Sarah Ann Le Count, survives him and still makes her home in New Rochelle. She, too, is of French Huguenot descent. She was born in New Rochelle, in 1809, and is a daughter of John Le Count, the Le Counts being among the pioneers of this place.
James L. Coutant was born in East Chester, New York, October 3, 1833, and was educated in the schools of East Chester and New Rochelle, continuing at school until he was seventeen. At that age he entered the- drug store of his brother-in-law, S. G. Welling, to learn the drug business, to which he diligently applied himself, in due time acquiring a knowledge of the business in all its details. After some time spent in the store above mentioned, he went to Flushing, Long Island, where he accepted a clerk- ship in a drug store. Subsequently he formed a partnership there with Mr ..
334
WESTCHESTER COUNTY.
Frederic A. Corse, under the firm name of Corse & Coutant, which was later changed to Coutant & Whitson, continuing as such until 1870. That year he sold out and returned to New Rochelle, and on his return here asso- ciated himself with his former employer, S. G. Welling, the firm being styled Welling & Coutant. They conducted business together until 1873, since which time Mr. Coutant has been sole owner and proprietor of the establishment and has conducted it under his own name. He erected the building which he occupies, a brick structure of three stories, fitted and fur- nished especially for the use to which it is put, and he carries a well selected and complete stock of drugs, chemicals, medicines, etc.
Mr. Coutant is an honored member of the Masonic fraternity, and is identified with Huguenot Lodge, No. 47, F. & A. M., and Bethlehem Com- mandery, K. T., of Mount Vernon, New York. He is unmarried.
He has purchased a property in Larchmont, New York, and has estab- lished a branch drug business, which is under the supervision of the New Rochelle establishment.
CAPTAIN WILLIAM C. CASEY.
Captain Casey, who was for several years quite prominent in military circles in this state, and is to-day an honored resident of Westchester county, where he has his summer home, is the proprietor of the well known poultry farm known as the Aratoma Farm, consisting of one hundred and eighty-five acres, conveniently located about three and a half miles from Katonah. About 1888 he began raising poultry for the pleasure he derived from it, but after locating upon his present place, in 1893, he began giving more and more attention to the enterprise, and now has the most extensive poultry farm in the state of New York. The poultry houses cover an area of twenty- five thousand square feet, and have all been designed by the Captain, the correctness of whose theories has been shown in the results that have been obtained. That he produces the finest poultry in the market is evidenced by the character of his patronage, as he supplies such hotels as Delmonico's, the Waldorf-Astoria and the Manhattan. He breeds only the best, as it is his opinion that it costs no more to feed good stock than poor fowls. He thoroughly understands the enterprise in its various departments and has met with a well merited success in the venture.
Captain Casey is a native of New York city, born in September, 1838, and is the son of Dr. William B. and Cornelia M. (Beare) Casey. The father was a noted physician and surgeon of New York city, and for a number of years was one of the physicians of St. Luke's Hospital. In 1862 he entered the Union service as surgeon of the Twentieth Connecticut Infantry, was soon afterward made brigade surgeon, and at the battle of Chancellorsville
335
WESTCHESTER COUNTY.
was surgeon-in-chief of the Twelfth Corps. Toward the end of the war he was sent north to establish hospitals, and he died soon afterward, passing away in 1870. He was a native of Middletown, Connecticut, where he served for two terms as mayor, and he always took an active and prominent part in public affairs. In his family were seven children, as follows: Will- iam C., our subject; Clara, wife of C. Graham Bacon, of Tarrytown, New York; Henry, deceased; Dr. James H., who entered the Union service during the Rebellion as a private in the First Connecticut Heavy Artillery, was soon made sergeant major, and was mustered out as first lieutenant, having been promoted for gallant and meritorious service before Richmond: later he studied medicine and is now a resident of Kansas City, Missouri; Mary and Alice, both deceased; Lucy, wife of Rev. James P. Lytton, of St. Louis, Missouri; and Cornelia, wife of Rev. Stephen H. Greene, whose home is near St. Louis.
The Captain's paternal grandfather was a native of England, and on coming to the United States he located in Middletown, Connecticut, where he engaged in merchandising. He married Miss Susan Chandler. The mater- nal grandfather also was a native of England, and served some time in the English navy under Lord Nelson. He discovered the island of Palawan, of the Philippine group, and named the same in honor of the chief of the island. For this discovery, and for his services, Mr. Beare received handsome recog- nition from the English government. Later he resigned from the navy and came to America, where he married Miss Charlotte Marston. Here he engaged in the merchant-marine traffic between New York and Calcutta, ·owning his own vessels.
Captain Casey was reared in New York city, but during his boyhood attended various academies in Connecticut, completing his education at Flushing, Long Island. He, too, was a loyal defender of the Union during the Civil war, enlisting, in 1861, as private in the Seventh Infantry of New York, the following year was made first sergeant, within the winter of 1863-64 was promoted to the rank of second lieutenant, and later first lieutenant, serving as such until 1873, when he was made captain of Company I, Seventh New York National Guard. He remained in the service until 1886, during which time he was offered the colonelcy of other regiments, and was actually elected lieutenant-colonel of his own regiment, but declined all these honors, preferring to remain with his own company. He advocated many reforms which were adopted by his regiment, and was quite active and prominent in all military affairs.
Captain Casey began his business career as clerk in an old East India house in New York city, with which he was connected for thirteen years, or .until the company retired, and then embarked in business for himself as pro-
336
WESTCHESTER COUNTY.
prietor of the United States Bonded Warehouse, which he still conducts with good success. Socially, he is a member of Atlantic Lodge, No. 178, F. & A. M., of New York city, with which he has been officially connected; and politically, he is identified with the Republican party. For a number of years he was a director and one of the active members of the National Rifle Asso- ciation, and is very prominent socially.
At Sing Sing, Captain Casey married Miss Flora MacDonald Woodcock, daughter of Dr. William P. and Mary (Bard) Woodcock. She is a lady of culture and refinement, possessing considerable musical ability, and is an active worker in many charitable organizations. She started a kitchen garden at the Pro-Cathedral, on Stanton street, New York, which has grown to be one of the most complete and successful institutions of the kind in the country. She is an active member of the Red Cross Society, is secretary of the Loomis Sanitarium, at Liberty, New York, and has been identified with many and various charities, her life being devoted to deeds of kindness.
NICHOLAS B. HUNTER.
Mr. Hunter, who is a prominent farmer and dealer in agricultural imple- ments at White Plains, is the only living son of Thomas T. and Hannah (Underhill) Hunter, and was born in the town of Scarsdale, New York, March 20, 1850. The family to which he belongs is a prominent and long estab- lished one in this state. His father was born in Westchester county, in the vicinity of Croton Lake, August 5, 1820, was an agriculturist during his active life, all of which period was passed in this county excepting the seven years he resided in Connecticut, in which state he was a selectman. The latter part of his life he spent near Eastview, in the town of Greenburg, this county, and he left the scenes of this world May 13, 1881. He married Hannah Underhill June 22, 1847. In politics he was a lifelong Democrat, and in religion he was a member of the Society of Friends. Henry Hunter, the father of Thomas T., was born in Westchester county, was a successful farmer and was married twice. The mother of the subject of this sketch was a daughter of Joshua Underhill, who was born February 22, 1776, in this county, and she was born in Scarsdale, August 18, 1824, and died February 10, 1897.
Henry Hunter had seven children: Henry, deceased, left a widow; Thomas, James, Griffin, Elizabeth, Deborah, and Amy, all of whom mar- ried and are now deceased. Thomas T. Hunter had two sons and one daughter who grew up, namely: Joshua U., who died April 7, 1876; Nicholas B., our subject; and Mary E., the wife of Stephen Reder, residing at Cornwall, Orange county.
4
N. B. Hunter
337
WESTCHESTER COUNTY.
Nicholas B. Hunter, the subject of this record, passed his early school days at Eastview, in the little brick school-house, after which he spent one year at Irving Institute, at Tarrytown on the Hudson. Leaving school, he became a clerk for B. F. Hosier, a grocer at White Plains, and continued there till Mr. Hosier sold out. Next he became a member of the firm of F. Carpenter & Company, which relation he sustained for fifteen years, when Hunter sold his interests to his partner, and then he followed farming at the old place, near Eastview, for ten years, during which time he also engaged in the sale of agricultural implements and machinery for Adriance Platt & Company, of Poughkeepsie, New York, and in this line he is still engaged, his honorable business methods insuring him a good trade. Mr. Hunter has also a fine farm in the town of Greenburg, in the vicinity of White Plains.
Politically Mr. Hunter is a Democrat, but locally he votes for the " best man." For a number of years he has served as a member of the board of health and inspector of elections and for several years also as a member of the board of education. He is also a stockholder in the Westchester County Agricultural Society and a member of its finance committee.
He married Miss Sarah E. Woolsey, of Sparkhill, Rockland county, New York, in March, 1877. She was born and brought up in that county, the daughter of Moses and Eliza Woolsey, and the granddaughter of David Horton, one of the well known pioneers of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Hunter have a daughter, named Ella Woolsey. They are prominent members of the Greenburg Dutch Reformed church, at Elmsford, of which Mr. Hunter is one of the elders.
ANDREW J. SELZ.
Mr. Selz is village clerk of New Rochelle, New York, and is one of the most popular young men of this town, where he was born and reared. He dates his birth February 25, 1874, and comes of German parentage, his father and mother, August A. and Annie (Janz) Selz, both having been born in Baden, Germany. They came to this country in 1860, and were married in New Rochelle, where they made their home until recently, but are now residents of Southern Pines, North Carolina.
Andrew J. received his early education in the public and private schools of his native town, and then entered the University of New York, where he took a four-years course. Returning to New Rochelle at the close of his college year, he was soon afterward (May 4, 1897), appointed to the position he now occupies, that of village clerk, in which he is serving most efficiently.
Mr. Selz is a member of the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity, and while in col- lege was, during the year 1896, captain of a base-ball club. He is a member of the New York University Glee Club, in which he sang for three years, 22
338
WESTCHESTER COUNTY.
and is also identified with the Masonic order, having membership in Hugue- not Lodge, No. 46, F. & A. M. Politically, he affiliates with the Democratic party, taking a lively interest in local and county politics, and being recog- nized as a young man with a bright future.
ELISHA P. CARPENTER.
Among the leading and energetic farmers of Somers township, West- chester county, who thoroughly understand their business and pursue the vo- cation of their chosen calling in a methodical and workmanlike manner, is the subject of this biography, who owns a fine farm of one hundred and thirty-three acres. He has spent his entire life upon that place, his birth occurring there June 23, 1862.
The first of the family to come to this country was Jacob Carpenter, who married Rachel Davenport and located in Westchester county in 1745. Their son John M. was born in this county and on reaching manhood wed- ded Miss Sarah Ward. Among their children was Wright Carpenter, a na- tive of Somers township, who was the grandfather of our subject. He married Miss Ann Griffin, by whom he had two children: Jesse G., and Emily, wife of Elijah Purdy; and for his second wife, he married Miss Han- nah Hallock, their children being John, Robert, Henry, Aaron, George, James, Sarah, Mary, Jane and Laura. The grandfather, who was a faithful member of the Society of Friends, died at the ripe old age of seventy-four years.
Jesse G. Carpenter, our subject's father, was born February 15, 1822, and at the age of twelve years left the home farm, going to New York, where he was in the grocery business until 1858. He then returned to the farm and thereafter gave his attention to agricultural pursuits, with good success. On the 23d of December, 1849, he married Miss Sarah Seymour, daughter of James and Orpha (Osbourn) Seymour, and they became the parents of the following children: Daniel Webster, who died October 24, 1852, on the same day that the great statesman for whom he was named also passed away; James S., deceased; John S., a resident of Yorktown Heights, New York; Andrew and Orpha Ann, both deceased; and Elisha P., our subject. The family all held membership in the Society of Friends, and in politics the father identified himself with the Republican party. That worthy gentle- inan is still living, honored and respected by all who know him, but his es- timable wife passed away in 1875, at the age of fifty years.
During his boyhood and youth Elisha P. Carpenter attended the Chap- paqua Mountain Institute and also became familiar with all the duties which fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He was married on the 6th of June,
339
WESTCHESTER COUNTY.
1888, the lady of his choice being Miss Lotta Wixsom, of Putnam county, New York, a daughter of Robert D. and Charlotta A. (Hill) Wixsom, both now deceased, who were representatives of old and prominent families of that county. Our subject and his wife had a little daughter, Beatrice Eu- genia, who was born May 28, 1898, and who died January 8, 1899. He is an ardent supporter of the Republican party and a member of the Society of Friends, while his wife is a Baptist in religious faith.
GEORGE W. HARRIS.
The honored subject of this review is one of the prominent old business men of Tarrytown, standing second to none in the estimation of the general public here. He is a loyal and public-spirited citizen, interested in whatever makes for the permanent welfare of the community, and lending his support to all worthy enterprises. He is a stanch Republican but has never sought nor desired public office, preferring to give his leisure time to his family and society.
The Harris family originated in England many generations ago, tradition saying that three brothers of the name came to America at an early period in its history. One settled in Connecticut, one in Dutchess county, New York, and the third at Harper's Ferry, Virginia. Their descendants are to be found in all portions of this broad land to-day. James Harris, the paternal grand- father of the gentleman whose name heads this article, was a native of Dutchess county. Francis Harris, father of our subject, was likewise born in the county mentioned, and upon arriving at maturity he chose for his wife Miss Elizabeth Stanford, of Albany county, New York, and for some years they resided in Montgomery county, same state.
George W. Harris was born in Montgomery county, New York, October 18, 1831. In his early boyhood his parents removed to Brooklyn, where he attended the common schools as soon as he arrived at a suitable age. He entered upon his business career in company with his father, who was at that time engaged in the management of a store and mill at Elizabeth, New Jer- sey. In 1854 the young man left the supervision of the mill and other enter- prises and became superintendent of the construction of the gas and water works at Elizabethtown. When the plant had been successfully finished, he was placed at the head of the same and remained in that position for fifteen years. Then, for several years, he was employed in the building of gas and water plants at various places, among them being the works at Poughkeepsie, New York.
It was seven years ago, in 1892, that Mr. Harris became interested in the Tarrytown gas works as a director, and two years later he was elected
340
WESTCHESTER COUNTY.
president of the Hudson River Gas & Electric Company; A. Konrad being secretary and David Silver treasurer of the same. This company was organ- ized at the time that the towns of Tarrytown, Irvington, Dobbs Ferry and Hastings were consolidated. For the past forty-four years, in one capacity or another, Mr. Harris has been connected with the line of enterprise he is still following, and few men are more competent to handle all the details and intricacies of the business.
October 19, 1857, the marriage of G. W. Harris and Miss Sarah Alice Winans, of Elizabeth, New Jersey, was solemnized in that city. She is a daughter of Jacob C. and Sarah Winans, and by her marriage she became the mother of three daughters. Adelaide W. is the wife of Charles Russ, of Elizabeth, New Jersey; and Florence, an artist, and Fannie Belle are living with their parents.
ASA HURD.
Throughout southeastern New York, and indeed in many other sections of the country, Asa Hurd has gained a wide reputation on account of his superior mechanical skill. He is an expert machinist, having a thorough knowledge of the scientific principles as well as the practical workings which underlie all complicated machinery. His accurate and extraordinary knowl- edge in this direction enables him to judge with mathematical precision as to the value and practical utility of almost any piece of machinery, and as to the relative strength and importance of the various parts, and to estimate closely the cost and profit of manufacture. In fact he is looked upon as an expert authority, and when matters of great moment are involved and the opinion of one thoroughly versed in machinery is deemed necessary, his judgment is often sought and always carries weight in mechanical circles. His marked ability has thus enabled him to command very responsible posi- tions, and he is now with the well known firm of Otis Brothers, of Yonkers, as expert machinist in their extensive works.
A native of Oxford, Connecticut, Asa Hurd was born February 17, 1833, and traces his ancestry back to Andrew Hurd, his great-grandfather, who lived in the vicinity of Bridgeport, Connecticut, where he owned a large farm, which he operated with the aid of negro slaves. He was a prosperous man of business and was respected by all who knew him. He lived and died in the faith of the Episcopal church, and was buried in Pembroke cemetery, which was situated on a part of his original homestead. His son Asahel Hurd, grandfather of our subject, was born near Bridgeport, but spent his last years in Oxford, Connecticut, where his death occurred when he had attained the age of forty-five years. He married Pauline Hubbell, whose father was extensively engaged in trade between Bridgeport and the West
341
WESTCHESTER COUNTY.
Indies. She lived to attain the advanced age of ninety-three years, and her children were Mary, Cornelia, Julia A., Ebenezer and Isaac.
The last named, Isaac Hurd, was the father of him whose name begins this review. He was a man noted for his genuine ability and enterprise, de- voting his entire energy to whatever he undertook, and meeting with success in most of his business ventures. He was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and spent the greater part of his life there, although he resided for some years in Otsego, New York. His last days, however, were spent in the place of his nativity, and when he responded to the summons of the angel of death, his remains were laid to rest in Pembroke cemetery, on the old family home- stead. In his business career he largely followed in the footsteps of his fore- fathers, devoting his time to agricultural pursuits. In his early days he was a member of the state militia, serving in an artillery company. In politics he took a very active part, giving an earnest support to the principles of the Democracy, and occupied the office of justice of the peace and that of sheriff of Otsego county, New York, the latter position being held by him during a brief residence in that county. In the Methodist Episcopal church he was a zealous and influential member, and always very generous with his means where religion and good works were concerned. He contributed very liber- ally to the support of his denomination, and at one time gave five hundred dollars to his church. Socially he was connected with the Odd Fellows and well merited the high regard in which he was uniformly held. His first wife bore the maiden name of Cornelia E. Lewis, and to their union were born four sons and five daughters, namely: George W., Edwin A., Louis B., Asa, Pauline, Mary J., Susan, Julia and Addie. The father died at the age of seventy-five years, and the mother when about seventy-four years of age.
Asa Hurd, the subject of this sketch, acquired his education in the pub- lic schools of Bridgeport, Connecticut, and in his youth he served an appren- ticeship to the machinist's trade in the same town. Subsequently he was employed in different positions,-with Parmley & Mix, of New Haven; the Volcanic Arms Company, of Bridgeport; Clark & Bradley, of New Haven; M. B. Hand & Company, of Handsboro, Mississippi, and later became associated with L. M. Hand under the firm name of Hand & Hurd. Subse- quently he became interested in the manufacture of building machinery and machinist's tools, at Madisonville, Louisiana, but the events of 1861 caused him to leave the south at the outbreak of the rebellion, and returning to New England he entered the employ of the Pratt & Whitney Company, of Hartford, Connecticut. After severing his connection with this firm he entered the employ of the Starr Arms Company, manufacturers of breech-loading rifles, at Yonkers, and was retained in the service of this company, as expert machinist, until the close of the war. In 1865, when hostilities had ceased
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.