USA > New York > Westchester County > Biographical history of Westchester County, New York, Volume I > Part 9
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In that year he came to Yonkers as bookkeeper for the First National Bank here, remaining with that institution until February 1, 1873, when he was elected cashier of the Citizens' National Bank, in which capacity he has since served. He is also a member of the board of directors. During the first six years of his connection with the bank he devoted his entire time and attention thereto, putting forth his strongest efforts to make it a success, and its prosperity is undoubtedly due in a large measure to the capable manage- ment and untiring labors of Mr. Keeler. The bank was incorporated Decem- ber 5, 1872, and on the Ist of February, 1873, was opened for business, with the following officers: Charles H. Hamilton, president; Jonathan Vail, vice- president; and John H. Keeler, cashier. A large crowd was waiting to open accounts with the new bank. Mr. Keeler attended to all the business, and the assets were carried by him in a tin box, which was removed each night to a place of safety. The business of the bank increased rapidly, -- from one hundred and thirty-one thousand and nine hundred and forty-four dollars and fifty-one cents, in 1873, to one million three thousand seven hundred and sixty-eight dollars and forty-nine cents, in 1898. The bank is capital- ized for one hundred thousand dollars and has a surplus of one hundred thousand. The present officers are: C. E. Waring, president; Peter J. Elting, vice-president; and John H. Keeler, cashier; and these gentlemen, together with C. R. Dusenberry, Henry R. Hicks, E. J. Elting and Andrew Deyo constitute the board of directors. The volume of the business having increased to a great extent, the quarters occupied were found to be too small, and the directors decided to build a structure which would answer all require- ments of a modern banking-house. Accordingly this was done in 1897. The first or main floor of the building, used for banking purposes, is twenty-five by one hundred and five feet, the walls, floors, partitions and ceiling being so constructed as to make the entire first floor absolutely fire proof. Every convenience and equipment necessary for conducting a successful banking business according to the most approved modern methods are there found, and the safety-deposit vaults are models of strength and the finest specimens of the safe-builder's art. The business of the bank is conducted with the regularity and exactness of clock work. Old methods of bookkeeping have been abandoned, and in their place has been adopted the best modern sys- tem of accounts to insure protection and correctness. A system of steel
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boxes is used, arranged alphabetically, in which each depositor's vouchers are kept separately; and each day's business, also kept separate, can be referred to in a moment.
The close application of the popular cashier, his trustworthiness, great energy and enterprise have been important factors in the splendid success which has attended the institution and made it one of the most reliable and prosperous financial concerns in this part of the state. At the present time Mr. Keeler is also serving as receiver for the George B. Wray Drug Com- pany, of Yonkers, a large and heavily capitalized enterprise.
While his business interests have been extensive, and therefore the de- mands made on his time have been quite heavy, Mr. Keeler has nevertheless found opportunity to enjoy periods of rest and recreation, without which one's nature would become dwarfed and imperfectly developed. He has a wide reputation as an oarsman, his fame extending to boating circles through- out the country. He was long a member of a famous crew of four, being the "stroke " in the crew which gave the Vesper Rowing Association, of Yonkers, a national reputation. During the seven years in which he was identified therewith, in all the regattas, scull and barge races in which they competed, they were never defeated, although they met the best amateur crews in the country. The Vesper Rowing Association was organized August 12, 1867, and became prominent by reason of the wonderful skill of its fam- ous crew, composed of Thomas Fearon, bow; Owen Van Winkle, No. 2; William McFarlane, No. 3; and John H. Keeler, stroke. In the races all the leading rowing clubs of the Hudson River Rowing Association entered, including all the crews from New York to Albany. The first important race in which the Vesper crew won was held at Elysian Fields, Hoboken, New Jersey, where they won a silver-service set, taking part in two races the same day, the first an eight-oar barge race and the second a four oar shell race- against a field of five crews. Their second important victory, which was one of the most exciting, and upon which probably more money changed hands than upon any of the other races, was rowed off Bergen Point, against the Arganantas, August 29, 1871; their record for a mile and a half in seven minutes and ten seconds, in shell boats, has never been beaten. The result of this race undoubtedly left the Vesper crew the championship for amateur rowing in this country. For several years the club has been disbanded, but Mr. Keeler has never ceased to feel a keen interest in rowing contests. He now belongs to the Palisade Boat Club, is a member of John C. Fremont Post, No. 590, G. A. R., and of the Sons of the Revolution. He is also con- nected with the Hollywood Improvement Association. In politics he is a stanch Republican, and his religious views are indicated by his membership in the Episcopal church.
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Mr. Keeler was married, in 1863, to Miss Adeline M. Sharp, and to them were born three children: John H., deputy city clerk of Yonkers; Charles E., who occupies a position in the auditor's office of the United States Company, New York; and Adeline F. The mother died, and Mr. Keeler has since wedded Helena Glaser, a daughter of Gottlieb Glaser, who was at one time in the tannery business at Yonkers, and afterward a resident of Cleveland, Ohio. His last days, however, were spent in Yonkers.
Such in brief is the history of one of the most prominent and honored citizens of Yonkers. The success of his life is due to no inherited fortune or to any happy succession of advantageous circumstances, but to his own sturdy will, steady application, capable management, tireless industry, and sterling integrity. He is of a very social and genial nature and is ever heartily wel- come in the best homes of his native city. He inspires personal friendship, of unusual strength, and all who know him have the highest admiration for his good qualities of heart and mind.
CHARLES E. WARING.
Charles E. Waring was born January 15, 1826, in the town of South- east, Putnam county, New York. He received a common-school education, after which he entered mercantile pursuits. For the past fifty-three years he has been a resident of Yonkers, being engaged in mercantile and manufactur- ing pursuits. From 1856 to 1870 he was a member of the firm of John T. Waring & Co., and of the Waring Hat Manufacturing Company. For a term of years he was a special partner in the firm of Shethar & Nicol, a hat com- mission house doing business at 548 Broadway, New York. Mr. W'aring has been president of the Citizens' National Bank of Yonkers since January I, 1888, which position he still holds. He is a member of St. John's Episco- pal church of Yonkers, and is a Republican in politics, but has never sought any political honors.
On November 7, 1849. Mr. Waring married Miss Julia Weed, to whom four sons have been born, three of whom are living.
PIERRE CORTLANDT VAN WYCK.
Pierre Cortlandt Van Wyck, M. D., was born at the old Van Cortlandt manor-house, on the banks of the Croton river, September 24, 1824. His father, Philip Gilbert Van Wyck, was the nephew and adopted son of General Philip Van Cortlandt, who died a bachelor and left his large estate, including the Van Cortlandt manor, to be divided between his two nephews,
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Charles E. Waring.
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Pierre Van Cortlandt and Philip G. Van Wyck. Dr. Van Wyck's mother was Mary Smith Gardiner, daughter of Colonel Abraham Gardiner, who was one of the lineal descendants of Lion Gardiner, of Gardiner's island.
Coming of a race of those who had from the earliest history of the country been foremost in patriotism, generosity and the development of all the nobler traits of human nature; descended from the Van Cortlandts, Van Rensselaers, Gardiners and Van Wycks, whose names are so intimately inter- woven with the early history of our own country, he never forgot the tradi- tions of his ancestry, but was always the genial, high-minded, honorable gentleman.
Beginning life under these favorable auspices, he entered Princeton Col- lege and graduated with the class of 1845. He began the study of medicine under the care of Dr. Adrian K. Hoffman. He was afterward a student at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, of New York, where he enjoyed the benefit of the instructions of the celebrated Dr. Willard Parker. He grad- uated in 1849, and was afterward appointed by President Taylor, United States inspector of drugs, at the port of New York. While holding this position he became interested in the firm of Radway & Company, in which he still held an interest at the time of his death.
In 1862 he was appointed by President Lincoln assessor of internal revenue for the fourth district of New York. He organized the district and continued to administer its affairs ably and efficiently until 1871. In Janu- ary, 1882, President Arthur appointed him superintendent of the United States assay office in New York, to succeed Thomas C. Acton, who was made assistant treasurer of the United States.
In politics he was a Whig until 1856, when he joined the Republican party, during the Fremont campaign. He had always been prominent in the councils of his party, and was many times sent as a delegate to state and national conventions, and was one of the famous three hundred and six who voted so persistently for General Grant, at Chicago, in 1880.
When the nomination of General Garfield was announced, Governor Dennison, of Ohio, came to the New York delegation and said that any can- didate they named for vice-president would be nominated. Dr. Van Wyck proposed the name of Chester A. Arthur, which was unanimously indorsed. Dr. Van Wyck had been the personal friend of President Arthur for twenty years, and was with him on that memorable night of September 19, 1881, when the sad news came that President Garfield had passed away, and he was one of the nine persons present when the oath of office was administered by Judge Brady to the new president during the silence and solemnity of the midnight hour.
Dr. Van Wyck had a brilliant mind, cultivated by deep study and 5
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extensive foreign travel, combined with refined and artistic tastes. He lived and died a bachelor. He was a man of domestic habits, and devoted himself to the care and comfort of his sisters, Miss Joanna L. Van Wyck and Mrs. Annie V. R. Wells, who resided with him at the Van Wyck mansion, Grove Hill, in the village of Sing Sing. This had always been the seat of generous and refined hospitality, and it was at this home that he died suddenly, of pneumonia, on the 23d of April, 1883.
The funeral was largely attended, not only by his associates and friends in his own circle of life, but by all his numerous tenantry and the poor of the surrounding country, who found him always a friend and brother to each and all, irrespective of race or creed. Of him it may well be said: "Write me as one that loved his fellow men." The interment took place in the family burial-ground at Croton, where repose the remains of those sterling Revo- lutionary patriots, Lieutenant-Governor Pierre Van Cortlandt and his sons, General Philip and General Pierre, and his grandsons, General Philip G. Van Wyck and Recorder Pierre C. Van Wyck, and numerous other members of the Van Cortlandt and Van Wyck families.
Of the ancestry of Dr. Van Wyck a few words may be added: Corne- lius Barentse Van Wyck came to America in 1660, from Wyck, a town on the river Teck in Holland. He married Anna Polhemus; their son Theo- dorus, who was born September 17, 1668, and died December 4, 1753, married Margaretta Brinckhoff, February 3, 1685. They were the parents of eight children, one of whom, Abraham, who was born November 7, 1695, married Catharine Provost in 1717. Of their nine children, the eldest, Theodorus, born November 30, 1718, married Helena Sanford, August 2, 1740, and they were the parents of twelve children; one of their sons, Abraham, was born in 1748, and married Catharine, daughter of Lieutenant- Governor Pierre Van Cortlandt, January 7, 1776. Their children were Theodorus, Pierre Cortlandt, Van Wyck (who was for many years recorder for the city of New York), and Philip Gilbert Van Wyck, who was born June 4, 1786, and married Mary Smith, daughter of Colonel Abraham Gardiner, and granddaughter of David Gardiner, fourth proprietor of Gardiner's island. Their children were Joanna Livingston Van Wyck, now residing at Sing Sing; Catharine, wife of Stephen H. Battin; Philip Van Cortlandt, who died unmarried, January 12, 1842; Eliza, wife of William Van Ness Livingston, who died December 9, 1865; Gardiner, who died unmarried, April 7, 1860; Annie Van Rensselaer, who married the late Hon. Alexander Wells, of the supreme bench of California, and whose only child, Gertrude Van Cortlandt, married Schuyler Hamilton, Jr., great-grandson of Alexander Hamilton; David Gardiner, who died unmarried, December 16, 1848; and Dr. Pierre Cortlandt Van Wyck, the subject of this article.
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The Van Wycks of Holland are an aristocratic and wealthy family, and continue to bear the same coat of arms as those brought by the Van Wycks to this country upward of two centuries ago.
GEORGE W. L. UNDERHILL.
Thomas Jefferson is credited with saying, " Let the farmer forevermore be honored in his calling; for though he labor in the earth he is one of the chosen people of God." Agriculture has been the chief business of Mr. Underhill during life; and, having by his industry, economy and perseverance accumulated a competence, he is now enjoying in the evening of life the rest which he has so faithfully earned, making his home in the quiet and moral village of New Rochelle.
George Washington La Fayette Underhill was born in the town of Mamaroneck, Westchester county, New York, April 22, 1824, a son of the late John B. Underhill, who also was born in this county, in the town of Yonkers, April 8, 1791, the son of Colonel Peter Underhill, who was a native of the same county and was a member of the militia known as the Light Horse Cavalry. The father of the last mentioned was Nathan, whose father, Captain John Underhill, emigrated from England about the year 1600.
Our subject spent his boyhood on the farm, the source of the best physical development and of the highest and noblest aspirations, until he was seventeen years of age, meanwhile attending a private school as oppor- tunity offered. Then he was variously engaged until some time in his twenty-third year, when he embarked in commercial business on his own account, conducting a general store in New Rochelle and then East Chester successfully for several years. Selling out his interest here, he moved to his farm on North street, about two and a half miles from the village of New Rochelle, where he carried on general farming. This farm comprised about one hundred and thirty-five acres, well improved, upon which he erected good buildings; and he continued to reside here until 1893, when he sold the place and removed into the village, retiring from active work, except to look after a number of interests which he still has in charge. His fine residence, on Prospect street, he built in 1895, with all the modern improvements and finished with the latest architectural designs. Besides this, he possesses considerable other property and investments, all of which are desirable. He is now in his seventy-fifth year, and is active in mind and body, hale and hearty. He is a director of the Westchester Fire Insurance Company, an old and reliable institution. Politically he is a stanch Democrat.
In 1847 he was united in matrimony with Miss Julia A. Barker, who was born in White Plains, New York, a daughter of Isaac Barker, who was of an
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old and prominent family of Westchester county. Mr. and Mrs. Underhill have three children, viz .: John Quincy, George B. and Eugene. In Feb- ruary, 1897, the parents celebrated their golden wedding, which was a most enjoyable occasion, -one hundred and sixty guests being present.
JOHN R. OGDEN.
John R. Ogden, one of Westchester county's honored and highly respected citizens, occupies the beautiful home on Pelham road, known as Oak Shade. It is located in a most lovely and picturesque spot overlooking Long Island sound, and is surrounded by tall elms, their majestic branches affording a most pleasant and agreeable shade during the summer months. The house was built in 1808 by a Mr. Lugdam, and thus for almost a century it has looked forth upon the surrounding district and the wonderful changes which have occurred in that long period.
Its present owner, John R. Ogden, is a native of Mississippi, his birth having occurred in Natchez-on-the-Hill, January 8, 1837, his parents being Dr. Charles and Ann S. (Routh) Ogden. The paternal grandfather, Nathan Ogden, was a native of New Jersey and belonged to an old and prominent English family. The father was born in Morristown, New Jersey, where he was reared to manhood, and then went to Natchez, Mississippi, where he suc- cessfully engaged in the practice of medicine for several years, securing a large patronage which brought to him excellent financial returns. As a citi- zen he was also held in high esteem and became widely and favorably known throughout his section of the state. He married Miss Ann S. Routh, a daughter of John Routh, a prominent citizen and extensive cotton-planter. Dr. Ogden died in Natchez, in 1848, but his wife, long surviving him, passed away in 1873.
John R. Ogden spent the days of his boyhood and youth in his native city and acquired his preliminary education in a private school there, after which he went to Scotland and entered the University of Edinburg, in which institution he pursued his studies for six years. Thus, by superior educational advantages, he was well fitted for the practical and responsible duties of life. Returning to the sunny south, Mr. Ogden located upon his plantation and turned his attention to planting cotton, employing five hundred slaves in the care of his extensive crops. He continued to successfully engage in that business until 1860, but at the outbreak of the civil war he entered the Con- federate army, being true to his loved southland and the institutions amid which he was reared. He was commissioned a captain on General W. W. Loring's staff, and served in that capacity until hostilities ceased in 1865, being a most brave and fearless officer and manifesting marked loyalty to the
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cause he espoused. He was always found at his post of duty, faithfully fol- lowing the flag under which he enlisted, and was thus true to his honest convictions.
At the close of the war Mr. Ogden returned to his southern home and resumed the management of his cotton plantation, his time being thus occu- pied until 1877, when with his family he came north and took up his abode in Westchester county, New York, at Oak Shade, which has since been his place of residence. He still, however, conducts his large cotton plantation, which is not far from the city of Vicksburg, Mississippi, and is now under the immediate supervision of his manager. This yields to him an excellent income, and is a very valuable realty interest.
In 1863 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Ogden and Miss Josephine Marshall, of Natchez, a daughter of Colonel L. R. Marshall, who was a distant relative of Chief Justice John Marshall. To Mr. and Mrs. Ogden have been born five children, one son and and four daughters, namely: John R., who is engaged in business in New York city; Charlotte S., wife of Edward N. Dickerson, a prominent attorney of New York city; Sarah D., Mary M. and Josephine E., all at home. The family is one of prominence in the community, holding an enviable position in social circles. Mr. Ogden's genial, pleasant manner has made him quite popular among his acquaint- ances in Westchester county, where he is also recognized as a valued and public-spirited citizen, who takes an active interest in the general progress and lends his support and cooperation to every movement for the public good.
GEORGE H. CRISFIELD.
One of the most straightforward, energetic and successful business men of Yonkers is George H. Crisfield. Few men are more prominent or more widely known in this enterprising city than he. In business circles he has long been an important factor, and his popularity is well deserved, for in him are embraced the characteristics of an unbending integrity, unabating energy and an industry that never flags. He is public spirited, has taken an active part in local political affairs, is a supporter of all measures for the public good, and for many years has been numbered among the valued and honored residents of Yonkers.
A native of this city, he was born November 26, 1835, his parents being John and Martha (Beale) Crisfield. His paternal grandfather, John Cris- field, was a native of county Kent, England, and there spent his entire life, dying when about thirty-eight or forty years of age. He had five children, namely: John; Tellbrook, who lived in county Kent; George; Edward; and Eliza. The family possessed a coat of arms, which, according to the last
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authentic information of Mr. Crisfield, on the subject, was in possession of his oldest brother, John Crisfield.
The father of our subject, who also bore the name of John Crisfield, was born in Kent, England, and lost his father when sixteen years of age. He was provided with excellent eduational advantages for that day, and was conversant with the German and French, as well as the English languages. In early manhood he was married, and with his wife and one child came to America when twenty-one years of age, landing in New York city. In his native country he had held a position as cutlery agent, in which capacity he traveled over the greater part of the British Isles and France. In New York city he established a little dry-goods store, which was conducted by his wife, while with a peddler's wagon he traveled throughout the adjacent country, going as far north as Albany. His genial manner made him a very welcome visitor among the country people along his route, and his business proved a very profitable one, bringing him an excellent income and in this way he became acquainted with many people, among whom were a number who later won celebrity in the state. One of these was Augustus Van Cortlandt, whose name is inseparably interwoven with the history of New York city and the Empire state. Together they frequently went on hunting expeditions in lower Westchester county and through the region now known as the Van Cortlandt Park. They often spent a week together in this way, the hours passing in a most enjoyable manner, as with gun in hand they tramped through the forest in search of game. Hunting was always to Mr. Crisfield a source of great pleasure, and he never went upon any of his peddling trips without taking his gun with him. He continued in that business for many years, meeting with excellent success, and then came to Yonkers, establishing one of the first hotels in the city. It was called the Squangum House and was located on the present site of the store of Miller & Welsh, in Broadway. Later he also conducted a livery stable and a general mercantile store, and was actively connected with the early business interests of Yonkers. Later he sold out and removed to Saugerties, New York, where he established a country store, which he conducted for two years, when he closed out his business there and returned to Yonkers.
In the meantime he had purchased twenty-five acres of land on South Broadway, which has ever since been known as the Crisfield homestead. Upon this property he erected a good residence, which continued to be his home until his death. During a part of that time he was engaged in the grocery business on South Broadway, near the present site of St. Joseph's hospital, but for eighteen years prior to his demise lived retired from active commercial or industrial cares. He was very successful in business, his investments proved profitable, and he became a man of considerable wealth,
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- a just reward of his well directed and honorable labors. He was quite active in the local affairs of the city, gave his political support to the Dem- ocratic party, served as street commissioner, was also justice of the peace for the long term of twenty-six years, and so fair and impartial was he in the administration of justice that during that entire time none of his decisions were ever reversed in a higher court. Socially, he was connected with the Masonic fraternity, and was a member and vestryman of St. John's Episco- pal church. He died in 1880 at the ripe old age of eighty-four years, and Yonkers thereby lost one of its best citizens, a man whom to know was to esteem and honor. He had eleven children, nine of whom grew to maturity: John, who engaged in the butchering business in Yonkers, died at the age of seventy years, leaving a wife and three children; two of the children, Harriet and William, are now living; Eliza is the widow of Robert Lawrence, a mechanic; Mary Ann, who resides in Nyack, New York, is the widow of Mar- tin Demarest, a carpenter; Martha is the wife of John J. Banta, a carpenter and builder, now of Deland, Florida; George Henry is the subject of this sketch; Tellbrook W. resides at Irvington; and the other of the children are Emily V. (Mrs. William Read), Charles R., Jessie R. (Mrs. James Strang) and two who died in infancy.
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