USA > New York > Westchester County > Biographical history of Westchester County, New York, Volume I > Part 43
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Until he reached the age of nineteen Joseph O. Miller remained with his parents, and then engaged in railroading and served as express messenger for two years. The following year he conducted a hotel at Lake Gilead, Putnam county, New York, and then served as station agent and telegraph operator at Mount Kisco for two years, after which he was employed as bookkeeper and cashier for a couple of years. His next position was as recording clerk in the county register's office, where he remained for three years, and for a year and a half was in the treasury department of the county as bond clerk. The following eight years and a half he was recording clerk in the county surrogate's office, and in 1881 was elected county register, which office he most creditably and satisfactorily filled for three terms, or nine years, being the only man to serve in that position for that length of time. At each election he ran far ahead of his ticket, a fact which plainly indicates his popularity and the confidence and trust reposed in him by his fellow citizens.
Mr. Miller married Miss Elizabeth Wright, of Croton Falls, New York, and they have five daughters, namely: Addie, at home; Alice, wife of Stephen Van Tassel, agent for the New York & Harlem Railroad Company at Mount Vernon, New York; Josephine, wife of Benjamin E. Smythe, of the Chemical Bank, of New York; Augusta K., wife of Dr. C. R. F. Green. of Peekskill, New York; and Lulu, at home. Four children are deceased: Eliza- beth, Robert, Benjamin and Blanche.
Since attaining his majority Mr. Miller has always cast his ballot with the Democratic party, and taken an active part in political affairs. He served as president of the village of Mount Kisco for five or six years, resign- ing at the end of that time; was justice of the peace for ten years, and was president of the board of education at the time of the erection of the school- house at Mount Kisco. In 1894 he was appointed Chinese inspector, and during the eighteen months he held that office he visited New York city, Galveston, Texas, Portland, Maine, and Boston, in the interests of the government, resigning at the end of that time. In 1898 he was elected to the 24
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office of supervisor of the township of New Castle, which is Republican in its political complexion-this preferment clearly indicating his personal popu- larity in the community.
Socially he is a charter member of Kisco Lodge, No. 708, F. & A. M., is past master of the same and has filled nearly all the offices. His public and private life is above reproach, for his career has ever been one character- ized by the utmost fidelity to duty, and in business enterprises he has met with a well deserved success.
CHARLES LEE AUSTIN.
Port Chester is honored by the upright character and efficient labors of "this young real-estate and insurance agent. He was born May 26, 1876, at Croton Falls. this county, and was brought to Port Chester by his parents when he was four years old, and this place has ever since been his home. He received his education in the public schools, and when about fourteen years old he began clerking in a store and continued there for two and a half years. Next he attended school again for a short time; then was clerk in succession for about two years in E. A. Knapp's dry-goods store; clerk and for several years in New York city; clerk and bookkeeper for W. P. Purdy in the real-estate business for seven years, that is, until Mr. Purdy's death, and then opened an office at Mr. Purdy's old stand May 1, 1897, continuing in the real-estate business and also acting as auctioneer. He is a bright young man and a hustler, being really the leading operator in real estate in the town of Port Chester, and he is also a lively and successful auctioneer.
In his politics he is a Republican. He is a member of Monroe Lodge, No. 653, F. & A. M., in Port Chester, and of the hook and ladder company and athletic association.
JOHN F. FOSHAY.
This gentleman, a member of the firm of Foshay & Brewer, dealers in hardware, coal and lumber at Mamaroneck, is one of the most enterprising business men of the place, whose well- known character for promptness brings him a substantial and permanent success.
He was born September 11, 1835, in the village which is still the place of residence. His father, John Foshay, was born near White Plains, this county, passed the most of his boyhood days there, and when he was still young his parents moved to Orienta Point, Mamaroneck township, where as a farmer he passed the rest of his life, dying at the age of eighty years. In his reli- gious principles he was a Methodist, and for several years was a trustee of the church. Politically he was a Democrat, but was never in public politics. He married Mary Ann Brown, a native of Rye, this county, and a daughter of
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Nathaniel and Levina Brown; and she died when about sixty-four years of age, a zealous and faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Thomas Foshay, of French descent and grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was also a follower of agricultural pursuits, and died at the age of seventy-five years.
Mr. Foshay, our subject, was an inmate of his parental home until of age, when he engaged in the grocery business here in Mamaroneck. Con- tinuing in this, with good success, until 1881, he sold the grocery, and, form- ing a partnership with Reuben G. Brewer, engaged in the hardware, coal and lumber trade. The enterprising spirit, the habits of promptness and the virtue of integrity of these gentlemen insure them a driving business. Mr. Foshay is a director in the Mamaroneck bank. Politically he is a Republic- an, and in religion a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
He was united in marriage with Miss Emma C. Mosser, of New York, and they have two daughters.
T. ELLWOOD CARPENTER.
The organizer and president of the Mount Kisco National Bank, Mr. T. E. Carpenter, has a well-established reputation as a faithful financier, not only in connection with banking, but also in his extensive real-estate trans- actions and in the insurance business.
Mr. Carpenter is a native of Mount Kisco, born August 5, 1856. His father, Mr. John T. Carpenter, was a native of Newcastle and was born near Mount Kisco, and has thus far passed all his life there, with the following exceptions: Leaving the farm at the age of fifteen years, he went to New York city, where he was a clerk in a grocery store for a time; next he drove a cart in that city for several years, married when young, and moved to Mount Kisco, where he engaged in freighting, and conducted a general store for three or four years; but he has continued the freighting business until the present time. He is now seventy-five years of age, is still active and super- intends all his freighting business from Mount Kisco to New York. By birth Mr. Carpenter is a Friend, and in politics is a Republican, but is not active in politics.
For his wife he married Miss Catharine L., a daughter of Willet Kipp, of Westchester county and of American ancestors. She is now sixty-eight years of age. Of their five children two are deceased. George, the eldest, is engaged in business here in Mount Kisco; T. Ellwood is the next in the order of age; and Jesse is the youngest living.
Thomas Carpenter, grandfather of the subject of this brief sketch, was also a native of this county, was an ardent and active Republican, prominent
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in politics and held several offices. For the greater part of his life he fol- lowed agricultural pursuits, and he died at the age of seventy-five years, also a Friend.
Mr. T. E. Carpenter, whose name heads this sketch, was about two years of age when his parents removed to the farm, where he grew up and attended private school until he had reached the age of sixteen years, when he entered the Friends' Institute, at Chappaqua, New York, and after a time he entered New York College, where he continued his studies for two years. Returning to Mount Kisco, he taught in the public schools here a year, when he engaged in the real-estate and insurance business, in which he has ever since continued. In the summer of 1896 he organized the Mount Kisco National Bank, of which he has been the capable president to the pres- ent time. He is also a trustee of the Home Savings Bank, at White Plains, in this county. He is a member of the firm of Carpenter & Pelton, who are doing a large insurance business, -the largest in the county.
Politically, Mr. Carpenter is a stanch Republican. In public position he has served as collector of taxes of the town two terms, town clerk five years, member of the board of education eleven years, and president of the board one year, when he resigned on account of being elected supervisor, in which office he was in service four years, and during this time he was also president of the village. Very few men, indeed, have as many public testimonials to their executive talent.
In religion, Mr. Carpenter is a member of the Society of Friends, at Mount Kisco. He is also a member of Mount Kisco Lodge, No. 708, F. & A. M. In matrimony he was united with Miss Ella, a daughter of Alfred A. Sutton, of Mount Kisco, and they have three daughters, -Helen, Catharine and Mildred.
WILLIAM H. FEHRS.
This gentleman, who is the proprietor of the Fehrs Opera House and Irving Hotel at Port Chester, was born December 13, 1865, in New York city. His father, Charles H. Fehrs, was a native of Holstein, Germany, born October 21, 1831, and remained in his native land until twenty-one years of age, learning the cabinet-maker's trade, and serving in the Fourth and Fifth Regiments of Infantry for a little more than a year, namely, from the autumn of 1849 to the spring of 1851. In 1852 he emi- grated to America, stopping in New York city, where he worked at his trade, and also for a time was a clerk in a grocery. From 1862 to 1865 he ran a grocery on his own account in that city; then he went to Hastings, New York, and in 1871 engaged in running a boarding house and saloon for five years, when he was burned out. In the spring of 1876 he came to Port
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Chester, where he kept Washington Hall. In 1878 he purchased the Irving Hotel, and conducted it until 1892, when he turned it over to his son, the subject of this sketch. He rebuilt the hotel in 1878, and in 1885 he built the Fehrs Opera House, which in dimensions is fifty by one hundred feet.
Politically Mr. Fehrs is a Democrat. He married Miss Maria Ehmer, a native of Saxony, Germany; her age is now sixty-three years. Of their eleven children seven are living.
Mr. William H. Fehrs, the subject proper of this brief sketch, passed his boyhood days at his parental home until married. In 1892 he took charge of the opera house and hotel mentioned, and is proving himself to be a capable manager and successful business man; he is a hustler. In politics he is a Democrat, and of late years has been active in local public affairs.
ELIZUR D. GRIGGS.
Mr. Griggs is a well-known brass manufacturer of New York city, but he makes his home in New Rochelle, Westchester county. He has been remark- ably successful in his business career, his thoroughly American spirit and his great energy enabling him to mount from a lowly position to one of affluence. One of his leading characteristics in business affairs is his fine sense of order and complete system, and the habit of giving careful attention to details, without which success in any undertaking is never an assured fact. He is a man of intrinsic worth, esteemed in all the relations of life, and his friends are many.
Mr. Griggs was born in Tolland, Connecticut, January 13, 1832, being the eldest of four sons in the family of Charles and Frances (Drake) Griggs, both natives of Windsor, Connecticut. The father was a general business man, and commanded the respect and esteem of all who knew him. He traced his ancestry back to England, the first of the family to come to America being Joseph Griggs, who settled in Boston, in 1635, and became one of the most active and prominent citizens of the little colony. He died in Rockingham, Massachusetts, February 10, 1714.
Elizur D. Griggs, of this review, received his education at the home academy. Leaving school at an early age, he began his business career as a clerk in a store; afterward became assistant manager for the firm of Holmes, Booth & Hayden, manufacturers of brass goods at Waterbury, Con- necticut, where he remained seventeen years, saving his salary. In 1866 he was able to embark in business on his own account, and, going to New York city, he purchased a half interest in the brass works located at the corner of Second avenue and Twenty-second street, where he and his partner con- ducted a successful business for several years. Mr. Griggs then bought the
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latter's interest, and became sole owner of the plant, and he has since con- ducted the business according to the latest and most approved methods, meeting with excellent success. He is also interested in other enterprises, being a member of the firm of Smith & Griggs, manufacturers of buckles and other small articles from brass.
In 1854 Mr. Griggs married Miss Sylvia E. Kingsbury, of Waterbury, Connecticut, a daughter of John S. Kingsbury, and two children blessed their union: Sylvia E., who died September 24, 1896; and Jennie K., now the wife of Edward Colley, by whom she had one daughter, Sylvia G., born November 28, 1893. The family residence, at No. 22 Locust avenue, New Rochelle, is a palatial frame structure, with all modern improvements, and the extensive lawns are beautifully decorated with ornamental shrubbery.
Politically, Mr. Griggs is a most pronounced Republican, taking great interest in political matters and in the election of his friends, but he has never cared for the honors or emoluments of public office, preferring to give his undivided attention to his business interests. Though he started out in life for himself in limited circumstances, he has, by industry, energy and foresight, coupled with good judgment, succeeded in accumulating a hand- some property for his declining years.
DANIEL MURRAY.
The enterprising spirit of public improvement characterizing the citizens of Port Chester is well represented by Mr. Daniel Murray, who operates both as a contractor for building and in the improvement and sale of real estate. He was born May 20, 1844, in Kings county, Ireland, and was brought to this country by his widowed mother when six years of age. She settled in New Rochelle, Westchester county, where young Daniel grew up. At the age of thirteen years he was systematically employed at work in gar- dens and fields, and at the age of seventeen went to New York city, where he was employed as a horseman for a short time by John D. Crimmins, a contractor; next he had charge of some branches of Mr. Crimmins' busi- ness for about a year; then was in the service of Thomas Toner, who was engaged exclusively in sewer contracting, for one year; and then he returned to New Rochelle and followed farming for a year and a half.
About this time he was married and moved to Rye, where he engaged in peddling with a wagon for three or four years. About 1873 he came to Port Chester, where he was first engaged in the hotel business for about five years, and lastly he entered the business of contracting for excavations, sewer- age, etc., and in the improvement of real estate, etc., operating throughout this and adjoining counties. He has generally been successful in business, is
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a faithful and industrious laborer and an honest and upright dealer. He is distinctively a self-made man and deserves especial credit for his energy and good sense.
Politically, he is a stanch Democrat. He married Miss Maria Run- nells, of New Rochelle, and they have five children-Frank E., William D. and John H .- all three of whom are in business with their father and also in livery and expressing; Ellen, wife of Charles Hill, of East Port Chester; and Eliza, now Mrs. Frank Dolan, of New Rochelle.
MAX F. T. GROSSE.
" He can toil terribly, " is what an opponent said of Sir Walter Raleigh, and the same is true of all successful men. They have simply gained their posi- tions by diligence and thoroughness, and as those are dominant qualities in the character of Mr. Grosse, the secret of his success is at once indicated. It is through this means that he has been enabled to hold for many years a most responsible position in the foundry of Otis Brothers, and to thereby secure not only a comfortable living for himself, but also contribute materially to the success of the enterprise.
Mr. Grosse was born in Saxony, Germany, August 16, 1843. His paternal grandfather was a minister of the Lutheran church, and Charles F. Grosse, the father of our subject, also entered that holy calling. The latter was born in Saxony, Germany, in November, 1803, was educated in the pub- lic schools and in the college of Leipsic, and for twelve or fourteen years served in the army, taking part in the Napoleonic wars. The remainder of his life he devoted to the ministry, and his influence was broadly felt. He died in 1865, and his wife, surviving him some time, passed away at the age of seventy-eight years. In their family were the following children: Mary Cornelia, wife of A. Marsheheim, a resident of Jersey City, New Jersey; Max H .; Alfred, who was educated in Leipsic, Germany, and is now professor of music in Glasgow College, of Scotland; and Rev. Volkner, who also was educated in Leipsic and is now a minister of the Lutheran church. Among the maternal ancestry of the family were many distinguished for brilliant military service. Robert Dietrich, an uncle of our subject, was a general in the Prussian war from 1864 until 1866.
Max F. T. Grosse, whose name heads this sketch, was graduated in the public schools of his native land, and then spent two years in preparing for a university course, but on the expiration of that period he determined to abandon the plan of the university work, and entered upon a four-years apprenticeship in a machine shop. During that time he completely mas- tered the business and became an expert workman. Between the years 1864
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and 1868 he traveled considerably in England, Russia and Norway, and about 1868 came to America, having since been identified with the interests and institutions of this " land of the free." He soon secured employment in the West Point Foundry, then a government shop, where he remained for twelve years, a most faithful, efficient and trusted employe. In 1882 he came to Yonkers and entered the employ of Otis Brothers, being made fore- man of the safety department, of which he has since had charge. He is now the oldest foreman in years of service in the establishment, and by virtue of his position superintends the labors of thirty-five employes, who, recognizing his ability and his justice, entertain for him the highest respect. He is most true and faithful to the interests of the company, and his allegiance and abil- ity have gained him the high regard and confidence of his employers.
On the 2d of December, 1872, Mr. Grosse was united in marriage to Miss Emma Minna, and to them have been born five children: Mrs. Marina Kuecher, Emma, Cornelia, Frederick and Alfred. Socially, Mr. Grosse is connected with the Royal Arcanum, Otis Brothers Mutual Aid Association and the Teutonia Society, and he is a member of the Lutheran church. His life has been one of industry, and in his adopted country he has won for him- self a good home and gained the esteem of many friends.
JOHN T. WARING.
It requires as great genius to make money as it does to write a poem or paint a picture. Comparatively few are the men who can establish and suc- cessfully control extensive industrial or commercial interests, yet "genius unexerted is no more genius," said Emerson, "than a bushel of acorns is a forest of oaks." Genius is the possibility; but work, hard, unceasing work, is the developer; and it is Mr. Waring's ability to "toil terribly" that has made him one of the leading manufacturers of Yonkers and enabled him in despite of reverses to gain a place among the foremost business men of this part of the state. As president of the Waring Hat Manufacturing Company, he not only wins success for himself but also adds to the general prosperity by promoting commercial activity and furnishing employment to a large force of operatives.
Mr. Waring was born in South East, New York, November 7, 1820, and is of English descent, the original American ancestors, it is believed, having emigrated from Liverpool to the colonies at an early epoch in Ameri- can history. Tradition says that a settlement was first made in South Norwalk, Connecticut, in the vicinity of which city families of the name still reside. John Waring, the grandfather of our subject, removed to the town of South East, in what was then Dutchess but is now Putnam county, New
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York, about 1750, accompanied by his brothers, Samuel and Thaddeus. He was twice married, his first union being with Catharine Tuthill, his second with Mary Elwell. He had nine children: Lewis, Charles, John, Peter, Isaac, Samuel, Polly, wife of George Gregory, Joanna, wife of Colonel Williams, and Susannah, wife of Jonathan Smith. These children had large families, now widely scattered through the country. Peter, the fourth of the number, was born in 1782 and died in 1849. He married Esther, daughter of Thomas Crosby and Hannah (Snow) Crosby, worthy people of Putnam county, and by this marriage were born the following children: Jarvis A., William C., Aurelia, wife of Isaac V. Paddock; Jane, wife of Robert W. Newman; Laura, wife of Selden Hubbell; Hannah, wife of David Underwood; John T .; Marriette, wife of David H. Ketchum; Charles E .; and Catharine, wife of Levi Roberts. Most of these children have lived for many years in Yonkers, and the four sons have for many years been numbered among the prominent business men of the city. Of the family three are now deceased, Jarvis A. having died in October, 1872, while William C. and Mrs. Newman died in 1886.
The subject of this review spent the first fourteen years of his life in South East, the days being unmarked by any event of special importance affecting his career. Meanwhile, in 1828, his brother William, in connection with Hezekiah Nichols, had removed to Yonkers, and was engaged in the hat business in the " Glen," on the site now occupied by Copcutt's silk fac- tory. For a time they were successful, but later reverses came, and in 1833 William C. Waring located at Holland's Mills, seven miles above Yonkers, and associated himself with O. S. and P. W. Paddock and Ebenezer Foster, under the firm name of Paddock, Waring & Company. This firm continued in the manufacture of hats here but a short time, when they were succeeded by Paddock & Waring. About this time John T. Waring came to Yonkers and began to learn the hatter's trade in his brother's employ. The new firm continued operations until 1837; then, feeling the effect of the widely- spread panic of that year, it strengthened itself by a reorganization, and assumed the name of William C. Waring & Company, under which business was carried on until 1844, when the buildings in the " Glen " were destroyed by fire. In the same year a new factory was erected on what is now Elm street. It is still standing, being a part of the property now occupied by the Elm Street and Palisade Avenue Carpet Factory. Through all the changes in his brother's business between 1834 and 1844 John T. Waring continued to devote himself to the mastery of the trade, and from 1844 until 1849 he had a business interest in the firm. In the latter year he began business on his own account in an old building on what is known as Chicken island, in the Nepperhan river. Success attended his efforts from the beginning, and
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his career was one of continuous prosperity until 1876. In 1857 he pur- chased the factory of William C. Waring & Company in Elm street, enlarged it, and carried on business there for five years. In 1862 he erected his extensive plant on the opposite side of the street, and with his increased facilities his business grew to mammoth proportions, employment being fur- nished to eight hundred operatives, while the output of the factory was eight hundred dozen hats per day. By 1876 a capital of forty-five hundred dollars, with which he had begun in the new building in 1862, had grown to nearly a million, but in the Centennial year great reverses overtook him. In 1868, under the stimulus of his great success, he had purchased the splendid site and begun to develop the magnificent property in the northern part of Yonk- ers which has become famous under the name of Greystone, intending it for his own home. The grounds, buildings and aggregate improvements were secured at a cost of nearly half a million of dollars. Being visited in 1876 with overwhelming reverses in business, he lost all he had previously gained. His beautiful mansion and grounds were sold for one hundred and fifty thou- sand dollars to Hon. Samuel J. Tilden.
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