USA > New York > Westchester County > Biographical history of Westchester County, New York, Volume II > Part 16
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On his return home Mr. Bryant resumed work at his trade, and was also engaged in the insurance business for several years in connection with farming. In 1867 he located upon his present farm, known as Maple Shade, where he has a most beautiful rural home, the culture and artistic taste of its occupants being reflected in its appointments, while a gracious hospitality adds a charm to its material comforts. It is conveniently located only three miles from Tarrytown and one mile from Pocantico Hills.
In 1867 Mr. Bryant was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Ryder, a daughter of David and Julia (Van Cortland) Ryder. They have one son, W. Irving, who was born, reared and educated in Westchester county, and married Miss Margaret Reeves, a native of Tarrytown, and a daughter of Rev. Reeves, who was a chaplain in the Confederate service during the civil war. They have one child, a son, born January 15, 1899. In his political affiliations Mr. Bryant is a Democrat, and he has been honored with several local offices, including those of commissioner and collector. He is a pleasant,
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genial gentleman, who makes many friends, and is an honored member of Ward B. Burnett Post, No. 496, G. A. R.
The old home where they are now living was confiscated during the Revolutionary war, and after that was bought by a Mr. Forshay, who divided it between his sons. Schuyler Forshay was one of these. Major Andre passed the old home just before he was captured.
FRANCIS J. STEVENS.
Mr. Stevens is a wide-awake, energetic business man, the present pro- prietor of the Boutonville Mills, and also owns and manages the old Stevens homestead, on which he was born, November 13, 1858. His father, John D. Stevens, and his grandfather, who also bore the name of John, were both millers, and in following their chosen calling met with a fair degree of success. The latter married Miss Polly Delavan, who was of French descent, and both died in Westchester county. Here John D. Stevens grew to manhood and learned the miller's trade of his father. He was twice married, his first wife being by maiden name Harriet Scofield, by which union there was one daughter, now Mrs. Harriet Mead, of Connecticut. His second union was with Miss Frances Scofield, a daughter of Samuel Scofield, and she died during the infancy of our subject. The father, who was always a stanch supporter of the Democracy, departed this life October 13, 1895, at the age of seventy-one years. During his boyhood and youth Francis J. Stevens remained at home and early became familiar with the milling business by aiding his father; and after the death of the latter he took charge of the mill, which is one of the best in the county. He also came into possession of the old homestead, a valuable and well improved farm, which he is now successfully managing in connection with the mill. His management of the estate is marked by the scientific knowledge and skill which characterize the modern business man.
In 1884 Mr. Stevens was united in marriage with Miss Julia P. Grum- mond, a daughter of Samuel and Angeline (Westcott) Grummond, and one child blesses this union, Emma M., who was born February 26, 1892. Mrs. Stevens was born on the old Grummond homestead near Lake Wacabuc and near the north and south line of Salem township. Her ancestry came to this county many years ago. Her grandfather, Samuel Grummond, Sr., carried on business here for a number of years. He married Bethenia Denton, of Greenwich, Connecticut. Her father died in 1894, and her mother is still living, now seventy-five years of age, at Lewisboro. They had three chil- dren: Mary, Mrs. Alfred Hawley, deceased, of Salem Center; Bethenia, wife of George Silkman, of Cross River; and Mrs. Stevens, the youngest. In poli-
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tics her father was a Republican, and by occupation a stone-mason. In 1835 Samuel Grummond carried on a large business at the foot of Long Pond mountain, on the south side, on the road leading from South Salem meeting- house to North Salem. Mr. Grummond died in 1834.
Mr. Stevens, the subject of this sketch, served as overseer of Pound Ridge township for five years, and is recognized as one of the most useful citizens of the community. His father also took a prominent part in public affairs, serving as postmaster of Boutonville for several years and as com- missioner for some time. He was rather a large man, weighing one hundred and eighty pounds, and was a genial, pleasant gentleman, who made many friends.
JAMES A. HUNTINGTON.
James Arthur Huntington, a prominent young business man of New Rochelle, is a son of James P. and Mary E. (Hudson) Huntington and was born at New Rochelle, November 2, 1868. The family of Huntington is of English origin.
Mr. Huntington's paternal grandfather, James Pitcher Huntington, a native of New Rochelle, was a gentleman of the old school, a man of wealth and influence, who served his country in the war of 1812-14, was a justice of the peace continuously for twenty-five or thirty years, and whose old homestead, on the Boston turnpike at the intersection of Main street, was one of the best known places round about New Rochelle. He had children named: Jane, Ann, Mary, Grace, Thomas, Isaac, Lawrence D. and James P.
Lawrence D. Huntington lives on his father's place, where these children were born, and is a well known broker, operating in Wall street, New York city. He has been a member of the state assembly, was three times elected president of the village of New Rochelle (1866-7, 1873-4, 1889-90), was president of the New York State Fish Commission and is in a general way active in public and political affairs.
James P. Huntington, father of James Arthur Huntington, was educated in the public schools of New Rochelle and while yet young learned the trade of wheelwright, for he inclined to mechanical rather than mercantile pur- suits, and wheelwrights almost invariably did well in those days, before cheap factory wagons and carriages had been introduced. He went to California, - was a real "Forty-niner," for it was in 1849 that he went, -but did not remain long. Returning east, he located at Tarrytown, but thirty years ago came back to New Rochelle. He was the owner of two sloops which did quite a business in a local way between Harlem and New Rochelle until sup- planted by the superior transportation facilities of the era of railroads, and he became popularly known as "Captain " Huntington. This later enter-
fas huntington
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prise absorbed his energies for ten or twelve years and it was quite a success. He took an interest in the village fire department and became an exempt member of Enterprise Hook and Ladder Company. He married Mary E. Hudson; their children were as follows: Thomas, Jennie (Mrs. Alonzo Guest), Grace and John (deceased), James Arthur and Mary E.
James Arthur Huntington was educated in the public schools of New Rochelle and was duly graduated at the age of sixteen. He immediately entered the service of the Fifth Avenue Bank, of New York city, and was for six years one of its clerks and rose to the position of ladies' receiving teller. He was offered and accepted the position of teller of the Bank of New Rochelle and has held it for eight years.
He takes an intelligent and practically helpful interest in all public affairs and is an active politician of pronounced Democratic proclivities. In 1898 he was nominated for the office of village trustee by his own party and endorsed by the Republicans, and was elected by the united vote of the two parties, which was an unequivocal tribute to his personal popularity. In 1899 he was nominated treasurer of New Rochelle and elected by a majority of one hundred and fifty-three, running considerably ahead of his ticket. He is a member of numerous popular societies and organizations, including the Royal Arcanum and the New Rochelle Rowing Club. He has been active in a business way in several directions and always usefully and successfully. He was one of the organizers and is a director of the New Rochelle Savings & Investment Association. He has been a delegate to a number of political and other conventions, and his influence has always been potent for the enhancement of the best interests of New Rochelle.
November 14, 1894, James A. Huntington married Miss Carrie Theo- dora Pine, daughter of Theodore Pine, and they have two sons, James Ken- neth and Willard Davenport. Theodore Pine was clerk of New Rochelle in 1866-8, and was register of Westchester county several terms, being a promi- nent Democrat. He died some years since, sincerely regretted by a large circle of acquaintances, leaving two daughters and a son. His father, John Pine, was also active politically in his day, and was a trustee of the village of New Rochelle and served the public ably and faithfully in other official positions.
ALBERT S. JENKS.
One of the prominent builders of the city of Mount Vernon, in every sense of the word, is the gentleman whose name honors the caption of this article. He was born in New York city, in 1859, a son of Andrew M. and Sarah A. (Kellam) Jenks. (The name " Jenks " is of Knickerbocker Dutch origin.) His paternal grandfather and other early ancestors were natives of
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New England. His father was born in Armenia, New York, about 1827, received a common-school education, and was a carpenter and builder by occupation, erecting many buildings of his own, for speculation, as well as for others. At first he was in business in the south, and came to Dutchess county, this state, and in 1882 to Mount Vernon, where he still resides and where he has been engaged in contracting until recently.
In public affairs he has a wide influence, being an enthusiastic Democrat and an efficient worker for the advancement of the principles of his party. He has had nine children, as follows: Andrew M., Jr., Francis, Albert S. (subject of this sketch), Julia P. Holmes, deceased, Sarah A. Harrocks, Alvira Blair (widow), Mollie, Etta Hinkelbein, and Alonzo, who is deceased. Both the parents are still living, the father at the age of seventy-one years and the mother at the age of sixty-five.
The maternal grandfather of our subject and his mother were both of English birth and reared on Long Island. His maternal great-grandfather was from England, was engaged in speculative business at Babylon, on Long Island, and made a great deal of money, owned a farm and much other val- uable property, raised considerable produce and was also a produce commis- sion merchant.
Mr. Albert S. Jenks, our subject, received his education in the public schools of Hyde Park, left school at the age of fourteen years, remaining with his father a short time to learn the carpenter's trade, then worked as a jour- neyman for several years. Subsequently he was a keeper and foreman of the stock-room in the stove-manufacturing department of Perry & Company, at Sing Sing, New York, for two years. Afterward he was engaged again at his trade for two years in the south, and then returned to Mount Vernon, where he has since resided. In 1887 he became associated with Carl Will- iam Plume, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume, forming the firm of Jenks & Plume, engaged in general building and contracting. They have in their employment from thirty-five to forty men on an average, -sometimes as many as sixty-five. In a single year they have done work amounting to a hundred thousand dollars. Mr. Jenks is the bookkeeper, financier and execu- tive manager of the business, while Mr. Plume is the superintending architect. They also speculate to some extent in real estate, buying lots, improving them, building upon them and selling them, and in this business they have been signally successful. They are indeed the leading carpenter contractors in the city.
Mr. Jenks is also a lover of fine horses, having usually in his stables- some of the fastest horses to be seen on the boulevards of the city.
In public affairs he is an active and leading Democrat. For two years- 1892-3-he was a member of the board of aldermen, and in the spring of
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1897 he was elected supervisor, in which position he is at present serving, with acceptability. His shrewd insight into the methods of human nature and his reliability and integrity well qualify him for the heaviest responsibilities of higher official station. He is a member of Hiawatha Lodge, No. 434, F. & A. M .; was president of the Mount Vernon Driving Club three years; attends the Universalist church, and was formerly a member of the old Eagle Fire Company at Hyde Park.
December 18, 1891, he was united in matrimony with Miss Margaretta Cannon, a daughter of Charles Cannon, and he has three children, -Ger- trude, Albert, Jr., and Floyd.
WILLIAM HUMPHREY SERGEANT.
This gentlemen, one of the live business men of Mount Vernon, was born March 22, 1865, at Hull, Yorkshire, England, a son of George and Ann (Carr) Sergeant. Thomas Sergeant, the grandfather of our subject, was a native of Brigg, Lincolnshire, was a farmer and also a mason, taking con- tracts for building. He married a lady whose parents were engaged in theatrical plays, and they left her in England on a tour to the United States, and while thus separated from lier parents she was married. George Ser- geant, the father of our subject, was born in Lincolnshire, England, and during his active business life was a mason and builder, taking contracts and doing an extensive amount of work. Both the parents are living, in England, the father at the age of seventy-one years and the mother about sixty-five. He is a member of the Episcopalian church. They have had ten children, namely: Charles Thomas, Arthur Henry, George E., deceased, Betsey Jane, Frederick J., William H., Charlotte Mary, Herbert, deceased, Ann, and Sarah Hildred, also deceased.
The subject of this sketch was educated in the public schools of Hull, and also at a private school there, and at the age of fourteen he left school and began to learn the mason's trade, of his father, and followed it as a journeyman for many years, both in England and in this country. He arrived in America June 28, 1883 or 1884, locating in New York city, where lie was employed at his trade for six years. In 1 891 he came to Mount Ver- non and continued to work as a journeyman for a time, and then engaged in contracting for building on his own account, in 1895, in company with his brother Arthur H., under the firm name of Sergeant Brothers, which rela- tion has since been continued. The scope of their business comprises all kinds of building and masonry. Among the more important structures erected by them are: The new city hall, known as the Lucas building, the:
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gas and water buildings, Lenox laundry and the electric-light station, besides a hundred smaller buildings.
In his political principles Mr. Sergeant is a Republican, but he has never been an office-seeker or a politician.
He was married October 3, 1895, to Miss Margaret Sharp, a daughter of Robert Sharp, and they have three children, -Winifred R., Marguerite I. and Jane Victoria.
ROBERT C. ARCHER.
Robert Cromwell Archer, of New Rochelle, is a son of Benjamin and Eliza (Cromwell) Archer, and was born in the town of West Farms, July 2, 1838. William Archer, his paternal grandfather, lived in Fordham, New York, as did also his brother Samuel. His property descended to his two sons. The Archers formerly owned much land now included in the city of New York. William Archer married Sarah Berrien and they had eight chil- dren: Benjamin, Eliza Cromwell, Catharine St. John, Andrew D., William, LaFayette, Mary Mapes and Rachel Mapes, all of whom are dead. He died at the age of eighty-six, and his wife at the age of eighty-four.
Benjamin Archer was born in Fordham and began life there as a farm- er, remaining thus engaged for a number of years. The latter part of his life was spent at Scarsdale, where he had one hundred and twenty-six acres of valuable land. He belonged to the militia, was a member and elder and a liberal supporter of the Reformed church and was a Democrat in politics, being in every way an estimable and influential citizen. He married Eliza Cromwell and had eight children who grew to maturity and one who died in infancy, a brief record concerning them being as follows: William H., now deceased; John Cromwell, who is a well-to-do farmer in Connecticut; Susan, who married James Strong and lives at Stamford, Connecticut; Robert Crom- well; Benjamin Harrison, a resident of the town of Yonkers; Sarah, who did not marry; Emily, who became the wife of Gilbert Britt; Fordham; and Oliver Cromwell, who died at the age of four and a half years.
Robert Cromwell Archer was educated at public schools as chance offered, for it was necessary for him to devote much of his time as a boy to work on his father's farm, and he attended school mostly during the winter months. After his father's death he continued farming and gave much atten- tion to dairying. In this connection he had one rather discouraging experi- ence. He had seventeen cows and all of them became ill with pleuro- pneumonia and were killed by order of the board of health of the state of New York. The loss to Mr. Archer was a heavy one, but he looked upon it philosophically and set himself resolutely to the task of repairing it. He
Roberts G. Anchen
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could not continue dairying, and thus turned his attention to fruit-growing and market-gardening, in which he achieved a noteworthy success.
His interest in the public affairs of his town and of New Rochelle has always been great, and he has been an influential factor in shaping the course of local political events. He was commissioner of highways three years, has several times been elected as a member of the board of education and served as its chairman. His own early education he supplemented by a thorough course of reading, but he believes in systematic education and has an abiding faith in the public school as the greatest of all helps to civilization and the advancement of the human race. For fourteen years he has been a member of the vestry of St. John's church, Protestant Episcopal, and has served two years as its junior warden and two terms as its senior warden. He has been superintendent of the Sunday-school of this church for the long period of seventeen years, for he believes that secular education should go hand-in-hand with judicious religious instruction, and that a truly great nation must grow in greatness spiritually as well as intellectually.
Mr. Archer was married in 1861 to Mary A. Van Wart, a daughter of John and Deborah (Griffin) Van Wart, her father, who is now deceased, having been at one time a well known contractor of Westchester county. He was a descendant of Isaac Van Wart. Mr. and Mrs. Archer had four children: Carrie, who married Charles W. Francis, a successful grocer of New Rochelle, and has a daughter named Laura Naomi; Laura, who lives with her parents; Lucy, of New Rochelle; and Eliza, wife of Frank Percy, a leading milk dealer of New Rochelle. John Van Wart was twice married, first to Debora Griffin, mother of Mrs. Archer, and after her death to Julia Schofield, of Connecticut. Mr. Archer's maternal grandfather, Oliver Crom- well, was born at Morrisiana, New York, and was a descendant of Oliver Cromwell, of historic fame. He had children named Oliver, Richard, Jere- miah, John, Phoebe, Mary, Eliza and Robert. Eliza was Mr. Archer's mother.
Mrs. Mary A. (Van Wart) Archer died May 22, 1898. She was a con- sistent member of St. John's Episcopal church, Wilmot parish, at New Ro- chelle, and was esteemed and loved by all who knew her.
WILLIAM LAKE.
William Lake, a progressive business man of Yonkers, was born June 29, 1860, in Poughkeepsie, New York, and comes from sturdy old New England stock. His father, Charles Lake, was born at Danbury, Connecti- cut, in 1818, and departed this life at the age of sixty-five years. He was a resident of Poughkeepsie for many years, was a painter by trade, and
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met with success in his chosen field of labor. The mother of our subject passed away in 1885. They were the parents of five children, namely: Adson, Charles, William, Pierson and Minnie Ranson. All save Pierson are residents of Yonkers at the present time.
William Lake obtained a liberal education in the public schools of his native town, and when he was seventeen years of age he reached the goal of his ambition at that time, for he was accepted as a cadet in the United States Navy. September 8, 1877, he enlisted in the government service and entered upon the four years of active work which this implied. He was assigned to the Minnesota, on which he remained until the 21st of the follow- ing March, when he was drafted to serve on the United States dispatch boat, Tallapoosa, and visited all of the navy yards on the Atlantic coast. Later, he was on the Franklin for some time, at Norfolk, Virginia. The most eventful part of his life in the navy was yet to come, for he was transferred to the Ticonderoga, commanded by Commodore Shufeldt, which vessel sailed under instructions of the United States commerce commission to visit many of the important ports and countries of the world, particularly in Asia, for the purpose of adjusting numerous small complications then existing, and to further our commercial interests on distant shores. They sailed from Ports- mouth, New Hampshire, November 20, 1878, followed the coast of this country as far south as Hampton Roads, and then headed for the western shores of Africa, touching at Sierra Leone and Saint Paul de Loando, thence going to St. Helena island, to Cape Town, past Madagascar and the Comoro islands, and stopping at numerous ports in Turkey in Asia, Arabia, Persia and India, and from Bombay sailing to Ceylon and the Islands in the Indian ocean. Continuing this extended journey, the ship visited the Philip- pine islands, and made a special call at Manila, after which they crossed the Pacific to Honolulu, in the Sandwich islands, and on the 8th of November,
1880, arrived in the harbor at San Francisco. After sustaining thorough repairs at the Mare Island navy yards, the gallant ship once more started on her long journey around the world, rounded Cape Horn, stopped at Rio Janeiro, and reached New York city August 23, 1881. The brief notes given above were culled from the extremely interesting and comprehensive diary which Mr. Lake kept during his travels. In this journal are many valuable and entertaining facts in regard to the customs and habits of the peoples of those far-away countries, and outlines of the products and industries of the various lands. The general style, amusing incident, and breezy commentary of the observing and youthful traveler reflect great credit upon him as a writer and keen and sympathetic member of the human family.
Though he had thoroughly enjoyed much of his novel experience in the navy, Mr. Lake was not averse to entering upon another sphere of action
Abram Bare.
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at the expiration of his term of service. He next engaged in the carpenter- ing trade, and in 1885 he came to Yonkers. Here he has been occupied in building and contracting for the past nine years, and has met with gratifying success. During 1884-5 he was employed in the construction of water tanks and stations at various points between Buffalo and Poughkeepsie, along the West Shore Railroad.
The marriage of Mr. Lake and Miss Mary Jane Burke, of Utica, New York, was celebrated in February, 1884. They have four children, namely: Charles, Mabel, Nathan and Hattie.
Though his father was a Republican, Mr. Lake is a strong Democrat, and has acted on the general local committee of his party. At one time he was the candidate for the office of supervisor, from his ward, the fifth, which is the strongest Republican ward in the city, and as a matter of course he was defeated. He is a member of the Carpenters' Union and of the Army & Navy Veterans Association, and has hosts of sincere friends here and else- where.
ABRAM BARE.
New York is pre-eminently a dairy state, and her butter and cheese are in demand, not only in all parts of our own land, but abroad as well. This industry has assumed mammoth proportions in this state, and large quanti- ties of the dairy product is shipped annually to all parts of the country. Probably in no state in the Union are so great pains taken as here to have the surroundings of the dairy and its adjuncts what they should be. One of these model dairies is to be found on the farm of Abram Bare, the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch, and in no part of Westchester county can be found more complete or convenient arrangements for the care of stock and milk than he has provided on his farm in the town of Greenburg, this county. He has been engaged in this business for years and reduced it to a system that seems hard to improve upon.
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