USA > New York > Westchester County > Biographical history of Westchester County, New York, Volume II > Part 41
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William Shute Tompkins, father of our subject, was born August 22, 1812, in Sullivan street, New York city, and obtained his education in the
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public schools there. He learned the trade of cracker manufacturing and afterward that of cabinet-making. Later he added to the latter trade the conducting of furniture stores in different parts of the city, and at one time the celebrated W. M. Tweed, of political fame, was in his employ. Subse- quently he engaged in the manufacture of drums at No. 69 Wall street, and soon took the leadership in that line. He became especially famous for the superior quality of his drums, some of which sold for as much as five hun- dred dollars. He had the monopoly on high-grade bass and tenor drums and made the first orchestra drum used in this country. He also took up the study of music and was able to play almost any kind of wind instrument. In his youth it was a fondly cherished dream that he might some day become the leader of a fine band, and that dream was ultimately realized. He was chosen the leader of the old New York Band and was one of the most cele- brated musical directors of the country. His place of business became known as "The College," and was the most popular rendezvous for the musi- cal fraternity of the city. For several years he led P. T. Barnum's band, and after his removal to Yonkers he organized the Yonkers Cornet Band. He also engaged in the manufacture of drums in the city until within a short time prior to his death. In his political views he was first a Whig and after- ward a Republican. He took an active interest in public affairs, served as a member of the Irving Hose Company, and socially was connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
William Shute Tompkins married Martha A. Hatfield and to them were born six children: Gilbert H., who was born March 11, 1812; William E .; Frances H., wife of John H. Tremper; Mary A., wife of J. Henry Andrews, a wealthy builder of New York city and commodore of the New Rochelle Yacht Club; Abraham H. ; and Mercy M., wife of Captain J. A. Sartorious, of the United States Armory of New York city. ' The mother of these chil- dren died in 1855, and Mr. Tompkins afterward married Louisa Walls, of Westchester connty. They had two children: Vivian S., a graduate of the University of New York, who is now taking a post-graduate course prepara- tory to practicing medicine; and Martha. The father died in November, 1884, and by his side in the Sparta burying-ground rests his wife, who died in 1855.
Of the maternal ancestry of Abraham H. Tompkins we have the follow- ing account. Gilbert Hatfield, the great-grandfather of our subject, had a son, Gilbert, who was born in New York city, but became a gentleman farmer at Scarboro, in the town of Ossining, Westchester county. He traced his descent back to Arthur Hatfield, who crossed the Atlantic to America and purchased lands at North Castle, in October, 1763. The old homestead, which is still standing, and which is called the Mansion House, was erected
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in 1795 and was used as an inn during the war of the Revolution. The barn, on account of its superiority over others of that day, was significantly styled " None Such." The farm comprised five hundred acres of land, and was one of the best in that section of the country. The owner, Arthur Hatfield, went to Nova Scotia, where he was appointed a first lieutenant in the English army in 1744. Gilbert Hatfield, the great-grandfather of our subject, married and had five children: William, John, Anna Townsend, Thama Searles and Phoebe Tompkins, one of whose sons, Gilbert, married Martha Williams, who was of Holland Dutch extraction and held valid claims. to the Holland throne but relinquished all such on coming to America. Her father, Arthur Williams, was born May 27, 1740, and on emigrating from Holland to America located in the town of Ossining, Westchester county. He was very wealthy. He held a lieutenant's commission in the British · army and was sent to Nova Scotia to drill English soldiers. When twenty- two years of age he married a lady of eighteen, the wedding taking place in 1762. He died in the town of Ossining, in 1819, and his wife passed away in 1821. Their daughter, Martha Williams, became the wife of Gilbert Hat- field, and one of their daughters, Martha A., married William Shute Tomp- kins, father of our subject. The children of Gilbert and Martha (Williams) Hatfield, were Tamna Ann, Arthur, John and Martha A. Their father was. the owner of a farm in the town of Sparta, and also on Sullivan street, New York city, but selling the latter property he removed to Sing Sing, this state.
Abraham H. Tompkins, whose name introduces this sketch, was born in Bleecker street, New York city, January 2, 1844, moved to Sing Sing when seven years of age, then moved to Yonkers, at the age of ten, and has lived here ever since. He was engaged in music until the war, when he enlisted at Newburg, New York, as drum major of the One Hundred and Sixty-eighth Regiment of New York Volunteers, being discharged at Newburg, October 31, 1863, at the expiration of his term of service. He was the youngest drum major in the war. He participated in the skirmish at Fort Magruder: in June, 1863, the engagements at Yorktown and Greenwich settlements. In July the regiment was attacked by General Mosby, who after a short struggle was repulsed. Twenty of his men were captured, while the Union loss was only five. The regiment then left Yorktown to join the Army of the Potomac, and reached Gettysburg, July 6, 1863. In August, the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps were consolidated as the Twentieth Corps and sent to Georgetown, Alabama, whence the One Hundred and Sixty-eighth New York went to Newburg and was mustered out. From twenty to thirty-five years of age he was considered one of the best snare drummers in the world, if not the best.
Upon returning from the war Mr. Tompkins engaged in the butchering
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business, continuing in that line until 1896, when a horse falling upon him injured him so seriously that he was obliged to withdraw, and has since prac- tically lived retired. He was a reliable, enterprising business man who won the public confidence and received a liberal patronage. He has always taken a zealous and active interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of the city, and is now serving as alderman from the fifth ward, to which position he was first elected in 1892. By re-election he is now serving his fourth term and as an alderman he has been aggressive and enterprising, always favoring improvement and reform. The erection of the public drinking fountains of Yonkers is credited to him, also the widening of the aqueduct arch; he is a strong advocate of public parks, and always advocated the equalization of water rates. In politics he has always been a Republican, and belongs to the Lincoln Legion, a political organization, and the Young. Men's Republican Club.
Mr. Tompkins is a charter member and one of the organizers of Ketch- ing Post, No. 60, G. A. R., which is now the fifteenth post on the roll. He was chairman of the memorial committee, G. A. R., May 30, 1895, and he has filled all of its offices, and is now serving his second term as commander. He was chosen delegate to the state encampment at Syracuse in 1899. He is also a member of the Westchester County Association of Grand Army Posts, and was a member of Company H, Seventeenth Regiment, and after- ward the Third Regiment of the state militia. Subsequently this became the Sixteenth Battalion, and of both he served as drum major. It is now known as the Fourth Separate Company, and Mr. Tompkins is still connected therewith, having for twenty years been a member of the state militia. He is a valued member of the Patriotic Order Sons of America, formerly belonged to the Knights of Pythias fraternity and also the United American Mechanics, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and was the department commander. He served as aide on the staff of Charles Freeman and Jack Adams, and as aide-de-camp on the staff of Thomas Lawler, commander in chief. He took an early interest in the movement toward securing the Yonkers soldiers' monument, and served as chairman of the committee from Ketching Post, No. 60, G. A. R .; on the entertainment committee at the unveiling cere- monies. Also he is a member of the Veteran Association of the national guard, S. N. G. In religion he is a member of the Methodist church.
On the 7th of April, 1867, Mr. Tompkins married Miss Eliza L. Nuskey, a daughter of Captain Alfred Nuskey, captain of the Lockwood Guards. Her mother bore the maiden name of Susan Tillottson and was a daughter of Rachel Lambert, whose father, William Lambert, belonged to a prominent old Knickerbocker family, and served for seven years as a sergeant in the Amer- ican Revolution. He was married October 11, 1790, to Elizabeth Cypher,
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who was born April 21, 1761, and was of Scotch descent. They were very aristocratic people and possessed considerable wealth, living in very luxurious style for those days. They were also very charitable, and generous in their giving. Their daughter, Rachel, was born October 3, 1790, and married William Tillottson, by whom she had the following children: Susanna, Lavinia, James, Catherine, Nancy, Benjamin and Nathaniel. Mr. Tillott- son died October 6, 1865, and his wife in January, 1874. He had served in the operations along Lake Ontario in the war of 1812, was taken prisoner and sent to Boston, where he was exchanged after peace was declared. His daughter, Susan, was born April 2, 1816, and married Alfred Nuskey, who was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in August, 1815. Their children were Mrs. Catherine Knapp; Clorinda W .; Mrs. Rachel Ward; Eliza; Abra- ham H. T .; Emma, deceased; and Granville. The mother of these children died December 15, 1888, but Mr. Nuskey is still living at the age of eighty- four years. He makes his home in Sing Sing, New York, where for many years he served as foreman of the Brandnith Mills. He is a very zealous member of the Methodist Episcopal church, is a local preacher of that denomination and is very popular in church circles. His life has been well spent and all esteem him highly for his sterling worth. His daughter, now Mrs. Tompkins, was born June 22, 1848. By the marriage of our subject and his wife have been born three children: Gertrude I .; William N., who married Miss Jennie Stainsby, of Brooklyn, and resides in Yonkers with his wife and daughter, Gertrude E .; and Abraham H., Jr. The family is one of prominence in the community and its members occupy social positions of distinction.
WILLIAM F. COCHRAN.
The name and the personality of William Francis Cochran are associated with so many of Yonkers' philanthropic enterprises that to write of him is to write of the history of some of her beneficent and useful institutions, for, in a very large measure, to him they owe their present splendid homes and facili- ties for perpetuating and carrying on their work. Always ready to lend his support, personal and financial, to any good cause, he has won the honor and affection of all classes regardless of creed or party.
His father, Alexander Gifford Cochran, was born in 1803, in the city of New York, of a good old Scotch family. He was a man of sterling worth, who brought up his children in the simple, religious way so characteristic of the sturdy Scots. He began his commercial career as a clerk in the old dry- goods house of Doremus, Suydam & Nixon, but in 1830 started his own firm, and soon became known as one of the leading dry-goods merchants of New York. Edward S. Jaffray, one of the most prominent merchants of those
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days, said of Alexander Cochran that "he was the ablest and most promising young merchant in that city." After attaining success in New York, his ambition led him to New Orleans, where he soon became widely known. A man of fine presence, most genial in disposition, kindly of heart and liberal to a fault, he gave to his children a heritage greater than wealth could bestow, -the heritage of a life won honestly and nobly before God and man. He died in 1875, honored and beloved of all. He left one daughter, the wife of the Hon. Stephen Sanford, of Amsterdam, New York, and one son, William F. Mr. Cochran's mother, Sarah, née Phillips, was born at Florida, Mont- gomery county, New York, in 1805, of old Revolutionary stock. She was the youngest of a family of twelve children, all of whom lived to maturity. The Rev. William West Phillips, D. D., for years pastor of the First Pres- byterian church of New York, was her brother. Mr. Cochran's father and mother were devoted members of the Presbyterian church. The latter died at Amsterdam, the home of her son, in 1893.
William F. Cochran was born in the city of New York, in October, 1835, and was early taught that life was real and earnest, and that industry, integ- rity, honesty and economy were the foundation stones upon which commer- cial success was built, and that regard for the welfare and happiness of others was a cardinal principle without which all life's attainments lacked the true and permanent elements of success. In 1844 his parents removed to Florida, Montgomery county, New York, and later they settled in Amsterdam on the Mohawk river, where the early years of his life were spent. He received the educational advantages of a first-class academy, and his academic career as a student was prophetic of the success he should afterward attain in the social and commercial world. His conception of the uses of wealth as a means to dispense happiness and comfort, and to give to the less favored advantages and privileges otherwise beyond their reach, it was the ambition of his youth to accomplish, and his whole later life has been eminently successful in the achievement of this noble purpose.
In 1849 he returned to New York to commence his business career, and entered the service of Swift, Waldron & Company, in Front street, and aft- erward Kent, Lowber & Company, both well known houses. In 1857 he took up his residence in Albany, New York, and for several years conducted a business in that city with unusual success. While there he became inter- ested in the manufacture of Canadian lumber, being associated in this busi- ness with his brother-in-law, Samuel H. Cook, of Balston Spa, New York. After a close application to business for ten years he made a tour of Europe in 1867, and on his return devoted all his energies to his lumber interests. In 1869 he married Miss Eva Smith, the only daughter of Alexander Smith, of Yonkers, with whom he soon after became associated in business. In
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April, 1869, the firm of Alexander Smith & Sons was formed, and later, in 1873, the company was organized, being composed of Alexander Smith & Sons and the well known house of W. & J. Sloane, of New York. The Alexander Smith & Sons Carpet Company is now one of the largest carpet- manufacturing companies in the world, if not indeed the largest. A sketch is given elsewhere. Mr. Cochran was the secretary and treasurer of this company, and was devoted to the development of its large interests for almost a quarter of a century. He retired from active participation in its management in 1894, and since then he has given the greater part of his time to the various beneficent institutions with which his name is so closely associated. "Duncraggan," his charming summer home on the banks of the Hudson, is justly celebrated as one of the most beautiful properties on America's Rhine. At this house, where he resides most of the year, and also at his city home in New York, hospitality and hearty cordiality " wel- come the coming and speed the parting guest." He had three sons and three daughters.
Mr. Cochran is a man simple in his tastes, most temperate in his habits and ready always to bestow upon others what he denies himself. In politics he has ever been a strong Republican, taking an active personal interest in the municipal affairs of Yonkers. In 1895 he was his party's choice as the nominee for congressman, but he declined the honor, preferring to devote himself to the enterprises in which he is enlisted here. Mr. Cochran has been a vestryman of St. John's Protestant Episcopal church for nineteen years, and during that time he and his wife relieved the church of a large debt and built the rectory, parish buildings and drinking fountain (which lat- ter is supplied with ice water all through the hot season) at the corner of South Broadway and Hudson streets.
In many of the good works, indeed in almost all which have been recipients of his benefactions, his good wife has been a partner in his philan- thropy. Always exceedingly modest and retiring, ever ready to help, but in the most unostentatious way, Mr. and Mrs. William F. Cochran have done more for the city of Yonkers than any other residents. Their work is not confined to the church of which they are members, but all denominations have received their generous and unstinted support. The beautiful and superbly equipped St. John's Hospital buildings on Ashburton avenue, opened in 1894, were erected by them, of which institution Mr. Cochran has been president for seventeen years. He has been a member of the board of edu- cation, first president of the board of trade, and director of the First National Bank. At present he is identified with several large corporations in New York, being a director of the Western Union Telegraph Company and of the Continental Trust Company.
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The Hollywood Inn, at South Broadway and Hudson street, the largest and best equipped workingmen's club-room in this country, was the personal gift of Mr. Cochran, who is also the president of the club. To this work, so extensive, so broad, he gives much of his time, ever anticipating and providing for the wants of the thousands who participate in its benefits. When Mr. Coch- ran, who had previously been a liberal contributor toward the club, became impressed with the great value of such an institution as the above, and the importance of so increasing its accommodations and facilities as to make it a permanent and complete workingmen's club, he addressed the following letter to its president:
YONKERS, March 16, 1896.
James E. Freeman, President of Hollywood Inn, of Yonkers, New York.
My Dear Sir :- Having watched with much interest (especially during the past winter) the establishment and development of the work carried on by the organization known as the " Hollywood Inn," I have been and am more and more impressed with its importance and the great benefit it may become to this community.
The house now occupied being entirely inadequate to its present requirements, much less to its future extension, it becomes a serious question how best to provide more suitable quarters, such as will enable its managers to add new features which will be educational and social as well as useful mentally, morally and physically. Believing this work, when thor- oughly organized and established, will be self-supporting, as has been·elsewhere demonstrated; and with a conviction of the boon it will prove to the class of men and boys it will reach, and for whose benefit it was conceived and is being conducted, I am led to offer you, under certain conditions (hereinafter named) such accommodations as this work requires, and believe the problem of success or failure will be decided during the next three years. I now make the fol- lowing proposition to yourself and board of managers, which if accepted it will soon be ascer- tained how far the citizens of Yonkers are willing to contribute to the support of an institution which apparently appeals so favorably to the public spirit of this and other communities. If you will secure for the next three years annual subscriptions of three thousand dollars, thus insuring the running expenses of the institution, exclusive of rent (which I will contribute), I will erect for the use of the Hollywood Inn a commodious building (on a central site) which will be not only an ornament to our city, but a building complete in all its appointments for the fullest and best development of this work. Should the next three years prove its success, in which I have the greatest confidence, satisfactory arrangements will be made such as are deemed best for its permanent home.
With such a building and suitable managers, many new features may be added, which in turn will place the Hollywood Inn, of Yonkers, among the great institutions of the land, and who shall say how far-reaching its influence for good may be felt. Sincerely trusting you may succeed in meeting the only condition necessary to secure this new home, and which condition is to secure the work until it becomes established, I remain sincerely yours,
WM. F. COCHRAN.
St. John's Riverside Hospital, on Woodworth avenue, after some years, proved to be too small and not well adapted for a hospital. Then William F Cochran and his wife, Mrs. Eva S. Cochran, generously gave to the society the present large and elegant buildings and grounds. The record of the dedicatory services is in the hospital annual report for 1894. In closing his address on that occasion, Mr. Cochran said:
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"And now you will allow me to add that no word can be spoken here to-day that can in any way add to the pleasure we experience in contributing this gift to the cause of humanity. The reward is in the doing; and while we are spared to go in and out among you the pleasure that will daily come to us in the consciousness of sickness and suffering relieved will be second only to the precious thought that when we are called hence this Christ work will continue, and that we have been permitted to contribute toward this result and to lay the corner-stone, as it were, of a lovely charity that will go down ' the ages,'-a blessing to the sick, wounded and sorrowful of God's children. And now, gentlemen, for the service of man, and in the name of Christ, my wife and myself present to you the deed of this property. In accepting it you assume a great responsibility. The work will not go on alone, but will need sympathetic care, watchfulness and attention. It requires charity, love and forbearance in its management; perfect peace and harmony must prevail in all its departments; and I assure you that, accepted only in the loving spirit in which it is given, can it continue to grow and strengthen as it should. May God add His blessing! "
Of this man it may be truly said, he lives to make others happy, to dis- pense the wealth which he regards as committed to his trust, simply and solely as a steward, for the benefit and happiness of others. Yonkers has many enduring monuments which will long commemorate the thoughtfulness and the generosity and the nobility of William F. Cochran.
J. EUGENE PAWSON.
One of the leading business concerns in the city of Yonkers is the Yonk- ers Roofing & Concrete Company, of which J. E. Pawson is the able and efficient superintendent.
Mr. Pawson is a descendant of old English families. His grandfather, Robert Pawson, was born at Leeds, England, in 1806, and came to America when about twenty years of age, For some time, in the old country, he was a member of the queen's body guard, and his brother, William Pawson, was for a time mayor of the city of Leeds. Robert had the following named children: Henrietta, Mary, John W., Robert, Richard, George, Elizabeth, William, James, Philip, Eugene and Charles. He finally died at East Chester, Westchester county, in 1865, when in his fifty-ninth year.
John Ward Pawson, the father of our subject, married Mary Elizabeth Cromwell, who was born at Catskill on the Hudson, a daughter of Oliver and Anna Maria (Robbins) Cromwell. Her maternal grandfather, John Robbins, was a soldier in the war of 1812 and was killed while in the service. Oliver
J. Eugene Pawson.
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Cromwell, the maternal grandfather of our subject, was born in 1812, at a place called Cromwell's Creek, near McComb's dam, and now situated at One Hundred and Sixty-fourth street and Central avenue, in the twenty-third ward of New York city. Oliver Cromwell was a son of Oliver Cromwell and a direct lineal descendant of the famous Oliver Cromwell the Protector, of England. John W. Pawson had the following named children: Frank Henry, deceased; Ella Maria Rex, also deceased; Francina Prophet, deceased, was the wife of George C. Bearsford; James Oliver, born in 1864, died June 14, 1897; Mary E. Van Fleet; Carrie A. Palmer; John Eugene, our subject; William H. and Charles T.
John W. Pawson was born at Hunt's Point, Westchester county, in 1833, and was educated there. For many years he was engaged in the milk business, and made his home in the metropolis up to 1887. At present, and for the past twelve years, he has been engaged in the oil business at New Rochelle, having purchased a valuable homestead at that place about seven years ago. He is a practical, successful business man, and is affiliated with the Republican party. He and his estimable wife are both about sixty-five years of age and still in the enjoyment of good health.
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