USA > New York > Westchester County > Biographical history of Westchester County, New York, Volume II > Part 12
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In 1880 the legislature passed an act providing for the appointment of commissioners to make a compilation and revision of the laws of the state affecting banks and banking. William Dowd, the president of the Bank of North America, and Mr. Paine, having been appointed by Governor Cornell under this act, submitted a revision to the legislature in 1882, which was then adopted. The legislature of the following year gave a vote of thanks to Messrs. Paine and Dowd for their services. This was the first vote of thanks given by that body since the civil war. Both of the commissioners served without the slightest pay, and expended less than one-half of the sum appropriated by the legislature for their expenses; the balance now remains to their credit in the state treasury.
Governor Cleveland, in April, 1883, nominated Mr. Paine as superin- tendent of the banking department of this state. The nomination was unani- mously and immediately confirmed by the senate. No office of its kind in the United States has more varied responsibility than that of the position of bank superintendent of the state of New York. The comptroller of the cur-
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rency has the supervision of banks of deposit and discount only, while the former has, in addition to these, savings institutions, trust, mortgage and safe deposit companies, building and accumulating fund associations, the total resources of which aggregate over a thousand millions of dollars.
In the discharge of the duties pertaining to the office of superintendent of the banking department, Mr. Paine displayed a most creditable executive ability. His clear conception of what should constitute the practical work- ings of a correct system in the management of banks and other state moneyed institutions, and his skill and persistence in enforcing these rules and regu- lations caused his name to become a high authority through the country in this department.
As a writer Mr. Paine has contributed much useful information, tending to elucidate his favorite studies and investigations. His large work on " Banks, Banking and Trust Companies," the preparation of which was a difficult task, involving very arduous labor, is written in a masterly style- lucid in arrangement and thoroughly exhaustive of its subject-and is recog- nized as the standard work in New York financial institutions of every char- acter. It has been commended by the press in high terms, especially the action of the author in doing the work without the smallest pecuniary com- pensation, directly or indirectly. The propriety of this action, in view of the fact that he was, when the book was published, at the head of the bank- ing department of the state, while manifest, indicates nevertheless a delicacy not always found in public officials. The New York Times, in reviewing the book, says that "it covers the ground so completely as to be a library of reference. Everything bearing on the subjects treated, however remotely, is incorporated, and the banker needs no other work of reference to acquaint him with the requirements, the obligations, and the legal limitations of his business. The historical portion of the work is well worthy of study, show- ing, as it does, the reasons drawn from experience for the conduct of banking and other moneyed institutions. In making this compilation of the laws, and in explaining the causes that procured their enactment, Mr. Paine has subserved a good purpose. His work has been carefully and conscientiously done, and it cannot but be of great service." A fourth edition of this work has been issued by Baker, Voorhis & Company. A treatise on the law regu- lating building associations has also been written by Mr. Paine, and is pub- lished by L. K. Strouse & Company.
Mr. Paine has also written largely for legal and financial magazines, and all his literary efforts bear the mark of a scholarly hand.
In April, 1885, President Cleveland offered Mr. Paine the position of sub-treasurer in the city of New York. This officer is the custodian of over one hundred and eighty millions of dollars, and the action of the president
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may be regarded as an unusually high compliment. In June, 1896, at its annual commencement, Manhattan College conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Laws.
On the 5th of April, 1888, Mr. Paine married Miss Ruby S. Tilden, the daughter of the late Henry A. Tilden, of New Lebanon Springs, and a niece of ex-Governor Samuel J. Tilden. She departed this life December 20, 1896.
He was an early member of the Bar Association of the city of New York, and has served upon some of its most prominent committees. He was largely instrumental in having the legislature, in connection with the transfers of titles to real estate in the city of New York, adopt the " block system;"' and the general law providing for the incorporation and regulation of trust companies is wholly his work. He is also a member of the Tuxedo, Commonwealth, Metropolitan, the National Arts and Phi Beta Kappa Clubs of New York, and is the president of the Theta Delta Chi Graduate Asso- ciation.
During the month of November, of the year 1889, Mr. Paine resigned the bank superintendency, having held the office nearly twice as long as any of his predecessors, to accept the position of president of the State Trust Company, a corporation which had been organized with a capital of one million dollars and with a surplus of five hundred thousand dollars. This corporation has been remarkably successful.
In the month of May, 1892, he resigned the presidency of the State Trust Company for the purpose of taking a trip around the world. He sailed during that month for Europe, and remained abroad about a year and a half. Upon his return he was tendered, by Governor Flower, the position of colo- nel upon the latter's staff, which was accepted by Mr. Paine. Colonel Paine subsequently became the first president of the Merchants Safe Deposit Company, in New York city, which position he still holds. He is a director in the American Surety Company, Metropolitan Savings Bank, State Trust Company and other corporations.
WALLACE DARROW.
Wallace Darrow was born June 10, 1827, at Plymouth, Connecticut. When a young man he moved to Rochester, New York, and with his brother established a large book and publishing business, He was a mem- ber of the city council of Rochester, and first lieutenant of a local battery of the National Guard, and served as such when this organization was mustered into the United States service during the Civil war. He was married Octo- ber 10, 1856, to Ellen L. Paine, daughter of Colonel Nicholas E. Paine ..
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Three children were born as the result of this union, -Walter Nicholas Paine Darrow, Ethel Abby Darrow and Lillian Sprague Darrow. About 1870 Wallace Darrow moved to New York with his family and engaged in the sur- gical-instrument business for about fifteen years, when he disposed of his interest and moved to Yorktown in Westchester county, where he has since resided, and for a number of years he was connected with the Putnam branch of the New York Central & Hudson River Railroad. His grandfather was Titus Darrow, a soldier of the Revolution and war of 1812 from Connecticut, and his great-grandfather was Elisha Blackman, who also did considerable fighting in the Revolution and during the colonial wars previous.
Walter N. P. Darrow was born in Rochester, New York, February 18, 1863. He entered the College of the City of New York in 1879, and left during his junior year to enter the United States Military Academy at West Point. He was appointed by Waldo Hutchins, who was at that time the member of congress from Westchester county. He graduated in 1886 with a class standing of twelve in the largest class that was ever graduated at that institution. He was appointed a second lieutenant in the Fourth United States Artillery and served at several posts on the Atlantic coast, being two years at Fortress Monroe, Virginia, where he graduated at the United States Artillery School for officers. He resigned his commission October 26, 1891, to engage in business in Columbus, Ohio, where he has since resided. He was married September 23, 1890, to Miss Mary Neil, daughter of William A. Neil of Columbus, Ohio. Since leaving the regular service he has served in the National Guard of Ohio as captain of a light battery, lieutenant-colonel of the Fourteenth Infantry, and as colonel of the First Regiment of Light Artillery. He is a member of the Society of the War of 1812, Sons of the American Revolution and the Loyal Legion.
Ethel Abby Darrow was born in New York city June 4, 1871, and died there February 1, 1875.
Lillian Sprague Darrow was born at Yorktown November 8, 1876. She was educated at Drew Seminary, Carmel, New York, and was married November 4, 1897, to William Fields Beal, of Boston, Massachusetts, where she has since resided. They have one child, a son, James Hamilton Beal, born February 4, 1899.
MICHAEL H. WHITE.
The proprietor of Echo Farm is the popular, genial and obliging col- lector for Harrison township, Westchester county. Though Mr. White is one of the youngest of the county officials, none are more thorough, prompt and faithful in the discharge of their manifold duties, and he is second to none
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in his desire to see the best interests of his fellow citizens maintained. He is now serving his second term in this position, and it is needless to say that he is meeting the requirements of the office with credit to himself and friends, for this is a fact generally known.
Mr. White comes from a good old Irish family who have been noted for patriotism to native and adopted countries. His father, Thomas White, was born in the beautiful Emerald Isle, in the city of Dublin, within the same year in which Queen Victoria's useful and eventful life began. Mr. White grew to manhood in his native land, and when the dreadful famine of 1849 came on he decided to come to America to make a home for himself and fam- ily. He was a poor man, and at first, as he had no friends nor influence, in the United States, he took whatever employment came to hand, whereby he might earn his honest daily bread. His first wages were but four dollars a month and his board, but he soon was better paid and he persevered until he became, in time, prosperous, as he certainly deserved to be. He bought a farm in this county and is still living here, engaged in agricultural pursuits. His wife, whom he married in Ireland, was likewise a native of Dublin. She has been a loyal helpmate and is still living to share her husband's joys and sorrows. They were the parents of six children, namely: Thomas, of Rye township; Jennie, who died in 1882; Katie, wife of Thomas Knisley; Julia, wife of J. E. Johnson, of New York city; Michael, subject of this sketch; and John, of Rye township.
The birth of Michael H. White took place in Westchester county, Jan- uary 10, 1866. The farm which he cultivates is a valuable one, comprising forty acres of land situated three miles from Port Chester. The land is especially suitable for dairying, and, as the adjacent city markets furnish good points for shipment of all dairy products, Mr. White decided a few years ago to embark in the business. This move on his part was a fortunate one for him and he has reaped a goodly harvest of golden shekels each year since he embarked in the enterprise. He leases other farms and keeps a large number of high-grade cows. Though he started business on a small scale he has gradually increased it and is constantly branching out, with a view to greater things in the future. All of the products of the Echo Farm Dairy find a ready sale, the name being a guaranty of purity and excellence of material and preparation. At the present time Mr. White owns twenty- six cows, and, had he twice the number, could easily find customers for all the milk, butter and cream he placed on sale.
Since he became a voter Mr. White has been an earnest adherent to the platform of the Democratic party, and has done effective work in its behalf. He takes great interest in educational matters and in the condition of the roads and, in short, in all things which materially affect the comfort and
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convenience of the public at large in this county. He received a good edu- cation and is thoroughly posted in current events and the general news of the day. He takes the leading newspapers and in general information aims to keep abreast of the times. His many sterling qualities of character have brought to him the friendship and genuine esteem of all with whom he has had business or social relations.
C. E. KENE.
In the learned professions naught availeth but individual merit. Strong mentality, close application, comprehensive and accurate knowledge and ability to apply the principles of law to the points in litigation, are the essen- tial qualifications of the successful attorney and counselor at law. The pos- session of these attributes has made Cornelius E. Kene one of the leading practitioners of Westchester county and New York city.
Born in the city of Brooklyn in the year 1852, he is a son of John R. and Ellen Jane (Newnan) Kene. During his early childhood his parents removed to Westchester county, locating in Tuckahoe, town of East Chester, where he pursued his education in the public schools until 1867. He afterward studied in a private preparatory school in New York city, and subsequently con- tinued his education in Baltimore and in Ilchester, Maryland, entering the law department of Columbia College in 1871. In May, 1873, he was graduated in that institution, and in December of the same year was admitted to the bar. He continued his studies for four years with the very prominent law firm of Close & Robertson, of White Plains, Westchester county, and spent the winters of 1876 and 1877 in the state legislature with Senator Robertson, as clerk of the senate judiciary committee, at Albany, and as assistant to Hon. Montgomery H. Throop, who was engaged in the work of preparing the laws of New York, being chairman of the commission on the revision of the statutes creating the code of civil procedure. All this tended to give Mr. Kene a very broad and thorough understanding of jurisprudence, and thus with an exceptionally thorough preparation he entered upon private practice.
In 1877 he became a member of the firm of Banks, Keogh & Kene, with offices in New Rochelle and Portchester, New York. Since January 1879, he has practiced alone, and has an extensive and distinctively representative clien- tage. He was recognized as one of the leading members of the Westchester bar when in 1885 he opened an office in New York city. There he soon came into prominence, for his marked ability won recognition in the favorable opinions of the court in many litigated interests which he had in charge. He has been counsel in a large number of important suits involving large amounts and most intricate legal questions. In Westchester county he has been
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elected police justice, civil justice and corporation counsel of New Rochelle, where he retains his residence. He has in an eminent degree that rare abil- ity of saying in a convincing way the right thing at the right time. With a knowledge of the fundamental principles of law, he combines a familiarity with statutory law which makes him a formidable adversary in legal combat and has gained him marked distinction.
In June, 1887, Mr. Kene was united in marriage to Miss Emma C. Ehr- hart, of New York city, and they have two children, -Cornelius E. and Ju- lian. Theirs is a beautiful home, located on Mayflower avenue, in Huguenot Park, on an elevated site which commands a fine view of the surrounding country from Long Island Sound to the Palisades. The Kene household is the center of a cultured society circle. Mr. Kene is a man of studious habits and scholarly tastes. He speaks several modern languages, has a broad acquaintance with the classics and is the author of poetical and prose pro- ductions. Master of the art of rhetoric, at once entertaining, logical and convincing, he is popular with his audiences and has delivered a number of interesting addresses.
E. FRANK HART.
E. Frank Hart is one of the substantial farmers of White Plains, West- chester county, and was born on the old family homestead in the town of Greenburg, September 27, 1847. While the origin of the family in America is not definitely known, the representatives of the name are probably descended from Edward Hart, who, history tells us, was a selectman of Flushing, Long Island, and reared a large family. He was imprisoned in 1657 because he would not expose the Quakers and deliver them to the Dutch governor. Captain Jonathan Hart, one of the direct ancestors of our subject, was a mariner. He married Hannah, daughter of John Budd, who was a resident of Long Island prior to 1664. Captain Hart settled at Budd Neck in 1685, and was a townsman of Rye in 1686. His son Monmouth married Sarah Ogden, resided at Rye Neck, purchased land in White Plains in 1712, and died in 1759 or 1761. He had three sons, Monmouth, James and Joseph. The eldest died in 1786. By his wife, Rachel Hart, he had the following children: Abraham, Hannah, Mary Ann, Rachel, Robert, James and Jonathan. James Hart, the second son of Monmouth and Sarah Hart, died in 1781, leaving three sons, James, Elisha and Jacob. The third son, Joseph, is said to have met death by drowning. He was given land by his father, who had purchased it of T. Merritt in 1740, and which had been proved by will in 1761. His children were Eleizar, of Long Island; Mon- mouth and John, of Greenburg; Joseph, who resided at the Leggett place;
.
& Frank Heart
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Josephua T., who made his home at the Horton place; Isaac; Mrs. Eliza- beth Hatfield: Mrs. Sarah Purdy; Mrs. Deborah Merritt; and Mrs. Tamer Horton.
John Hart, the son of Joseph, owned what was afterward called the Allen Mead place, in Greenburg, and his children were Stephen, Isaac, William, Sarah, Eleizar, Andrew, Hannah and Patterson, and of this family, Eleizar married Rhoda Tompkins, and their children are Elisha, Asbury and John Hunter, the last named a resident of Hartsdale.
Monmouth Hart, born in 1752, was the great-grandfather of our sub- ject. He was married in 1778 to Mary Gedney and resided at Hartsdale. Their children were Elizabeth, John, Cynthia, Elijah, Deborah, Joseph, Peter and Monmouth. The last named married Julia Ann Tompkins, and of their children, Joseph resides in the west, and Thomas and Lemuel reside at Hartsdale. John, a son of Monmouth and Mary (Gedney) Hart, and the grandfather of our subject, was born in 1781, and about 1805 married Phebe Fisher, by whom he had the following children: Phebe, Dorathea, Maria, Elijah Gedney, Elizabeth and Abigail Jane.
Elijah Gedney Hart, father of our subject, was born in the village of Hartsdale, Westchester county, in 1817, and died in 1885. He was a prom- inent and successful farmer and general business man, and was highly esteemed by all who knew him. In politics he was a stanch Democrat, and in religious belief was a Presbyterian, contributing liberally to the support of the church. In 1840 he was united in marriage to Miss Hanna Downing, who was born in the city of New York in 1821, and died in Westchester county in 1888. She was a daughter of Jordan and Elizabeth (Lord) Down- ing, and when a small child came with her parents to the town of Greenburg. Her remains were laid to rest in the Rural cemetery at White Plains. To Gedney and Hannah Hart were born five children: John Jay, born Novem- ber 20, 1841, was married in 1866, in Salem, Nebraska, to Alvirdia Kinniison, and now resides in Warsaw, Missouri; Josephine, born March 20, 1844, mar- ried Jacob C. Horton, and died September 9, 1869, leaving two children, Cornelius J. and Jennie E .; Elias Franklyn is the subject of this record; Monmouth G., born December 3, 1850, was a prominent attorney and died December 7, 1895; and Elizabeth, born July 18, 1855, is the wife of Thomas Gibson, who resides in North street, White Plains, and they have five chil- dren, Alice, Ellen, James, Frank Hart and Fannie.
When a child E. Frank Hart attended the district schools and later became a student in the White Plains Academy. The three years imme- diately following his school days were spent in Nebraska. Returning to his. native county, he engaged in farming, and in 1879 purchased the Cornelius Horton farm, containing sixty-three acres, which is a part of the old Horton
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homestead. He now has a well improved place upon which are three good" barns, a number of other substantial outbuildings and sheds and a handsome residence of modern architecture. Everything about the place is character- ized by neatness and thrift and indicates the careful supervision of a pro- gressive and practical farmer.
In 1875, Mr. Hart was united in marriage to Miss Amelia McCord, a daughter of Albert and Adelia McCord. She died nine years later, leaving a daughter, who died at the age of eleven years. In 1886 Mr. Hart led to the marriage altar Miss Sarah Shute, a daughter of James L. and Mary (Fowler) Shute, of White Plains. She is a member of and earnest worker in the Methodist Episcopal church, and is a most estimable lady. Mr. Hart is a com- municant of the First Presbyterian church, of White Plains, and is serving on its board of trustees. In his political affiliations he is a Democrat and takes an intelligent interest in the affairs of his party. He is ever ready to advance any movement or measure for the betterment of the community, and is a val- ued citizen of White Plains.
MONMOUTH G. HART.
The subject of this memoir was the third son of Gedney and Hannah (Downing) Hart, and was born December 3, 1850, in the town of Greenburg, in a house now standing on Chatterton Hill road. During his boyhood his parents removed to a farm on Central avenue, and there he spent the greater part of his life. He pursued his education in the old brick school-house, which is still standing, on the road between White Plains and Elmsford, and also spent one term in Professor Moody's select school, at White Plains. At sixteen years of age he put aside his text-books, and entered upon an inde- pendent business career by accepting a position as clerk in the dry-goods store of E. B. Taylor, on Main street, Yonkers, where he remained for two years, when, on account of failing health, he returned to the farm. He was too ambitious to remain there for any great length of time, however, and after a year he began studying law in the office of Charles S. Purdy, of White Plains. In 1869 he entered the law department of Columbia College, in which he pursued a two-years course, teaching in the district school in Bronxville during the vacations of 1869 and 1870. He was graduated with honor and admitted to the bar, but did not at once begin an independent practice. Upon receiving his diploma he entered the office of Marshall & Verplanck, prominent attorneys, and soon became their managing clerk, attending to a large part of their litigated business. He was thus engaged until 1875, when he opened an office of his own. He was a most diligent and painstaking student, but in his early career it was thought by many that
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he would not achieve great success in the profession on account of his retir- ing disposition. In manner he was very unobtrusive, shrinking from public praise and avoiding everything that seemed to partake of the nature of osten- tation. Success, however, did come to him as the result of his methodical habits and marked ability. He made it a rule of his professional career to be at his office the same hour every day, to remain there for a certain length of time, and to attend to such matters as might be entrusted to his manage- ment with thoroughness. His devotion to his clients' interests was proverbial, and this, added to his comprehensive understanding of the principles of juris- prudence, contributed not a little to his success. Working on quietly and patiently year after year, his practice steadily increased and he advanced in public favor. He resided at the family homestead in the town of Greenburg and there served as justice of the peace for two terms or eight years, until 1892, when he resigned. He had been the protector of his mother after the father's death, and remained at the old home until Mrs. Hart also was called away, when he removed to White Plains. He was also for a number of years attorney for the town of Greenburg and a member of the town board. He was by no means a politician in the sense of office-seeking, much preferring to devote his time and attention to his profession, yet realized fully the responsibility attaching to citizenship, and aided in nominating and elect- ing good men of the Democratic party, in whose principles he believed so. firmly.
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