USA > New York > Westchester County > Biographical history of Westchester County, New York, Volume II > Part 43
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Dr. Seth Shove, who was engaged in the active practice of his profes- sion in Westchester county, New York, for nearly half a century, retaining his residence at Katonah, was a native of Connecticut, having been born in Warren, Litchfield county, that state, on the 8th of August, 1805, being of stanch old New England stock. His parents, Levi and Abigail (Weed) Shove, removed from Danbury to Warren, the historic old town first mentioned having been the abiding place of the Shove family from the time when its first representative came from England, early in the colonial epoch of the New World. The Christian name borne by the subject of this memorial, Seth, had long been a family patronymic, descending from one generation to another in an unbroken line. Dr. Shove's great-grandfather was the first minister of Danbury, where his mortal relics repose in the old churchyard, with this inscription on the tombstone: "Here lyes ye body of ye Revd. Mr. Seth Shove, ye pious and faithful pastor of ye church in Danbury 39 years, who died Oct. 3d, Anno Domini 1735, ætatis suæ 68."
In the succeeding paragraphs we deem it expedient to follow more or less closely the text of the memorial address delivered by Rev. J. H. East- man on the occasion of the funeral of Dr. Shove, February 27, 1878. From his earliest childhood the Doctor gave evidence of a decided predilection for those studies and pursuits to which his after life was devoted. About the old farmstead he seized every opportunity for exercising surgical skill, and from his studious disposition was recognized as the bookworm of the family.
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He received a common-school and academic education at Warren and in the neighboring town of Goshen. At a very early age, following the natural tendencies displayed from childhood, and having no disposition to become a farmer, his father having devoted his life principally to agricultural pursuits, he decided upon a course of medical study. Though by nature modest and unassuming, as before stated, he was not lacking in the courage of his ambi- tion nor in the will to acomplish his aims by personal effort. How clearly his early struggles show forth the elemental strength and earnestness of his character may be seen from even the most cursory review. The youngest but one in a family of eleven children, his father was able to render him but little assistance, and in order to secure the necessary means for his professional education he taught school for some time in his native town of Warren, as well as in Kent and in Fishkill, New York. While at the last named place he pursued his medical studies under the direction of a physician residing there, and later continued his specific study under the preceptorage of Dr. Hatch, of New Preston, Connecticut. Finally he was enabled to matriculate in the medical department of Yale College, where he received his coveted degree on the 4th of March, 1829.
Within the following summer Dr. Shove made a tour on horseback, seeking a favorable place for location. Starting from his home in Warren, he came first to New York and visited the neighboring towns on Long Island. A desirable opening presented itself at Flushing, and for a time he was inclined to establish himself in the practice of his profession at that point. Finally, however, he decided to continue his journey northward through Westchester county, for the purpose of making farther investigation and inquiry. Coming to the house of Dr. Bowron, then living in New Castle, a favorable location in the neighboring town of Bedford was recommended to him. Following the directions given, he rode to the house of Mr. Squire Wood, a relative, residing on Cherry street, just opposite the late residence of Dr. Shove. Mr. Wood at once told him, "This is the place for you." Cherry street was then a post-office and the business center of this region, containing flourishing stores and shops, while the present site of Katonah was a sandbank.
Deciding to locate here, he returned to his home, made the necessary preparations, and came back to settle permanently on the 6th of August, 1829. On November 17th of the same year he was united in marriage to Miss Irene Pulford, of Warren, Connecticut, and they commenced keeping house that winter, on the site of the present residence of the family. At the funeral services were present a number of venerable citizens who had been familiar with his public life as a physician from the very beginning, and it is worthy of note that the one for whom he performed his first professional
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service in Katonah, nearly forty-nine years previously, stood by his bedside when he breathed his life so peacefully away. In this community he lived for nearly half a century, gaining for himself the highest distinction in his profession, both as a physician and surgeon, founding a practice extending for miles into neighboring counties and into Connecticut, and strengthening year by year the ties of confidence and love which have bound him so closely to many homes and hearts. His life was remarkable not alone for the length of his professional services but for the untiring energy with which he devoted himself to his arduous work. He was blessed with wonderful vigor and powers of endurance, and never was the supplicating voice of suffering permitted by him to go unanswered, no matter what the sacrifice or labor involved. He seemed to look upon his profession as imposing a sacred obli- gation and duty, and his life was signally consecrated to the good of his fel- low men. The number of those who pursued their medical studies under his care was very large, and the kindness and courtesy with which he ever treated his younger associates have been a bright feature of his career. As exemplifying his devotion to his noble calling, we can not do better than to give the exact words of the Rev. J. H. Eastman:
In thinking of the busy life of Dr. Shove, spent in riding over these hills and through these valleys, for miles in all directions, visiting the sick and healing all manner of diseases, and gaining for himself the love and confidence of so many grateful hearts, I could but think of the Master, and these words spoken of Him came at once into my mind: "And Jesus went about all Galilee, healing all manner of sickness and all manner of diseases among men." And such was the life work of this disciple of the Master, following thus closely in the foot- steps of Him whom he loved and delighted to honor and serve. And it has seemed to me that there are several respects in which his work as a physician resembles most closely the work of the Master. Like His, it was the work of self-sacrifice. A spirit of self-forgetfulness characterized it from beginning to end. With him, as with the Master, there was no respect of persons: rich and poor, high and low, received the same impartial treatment, and that perfect courtesy, which was one of his most striking characteristics, was bestowed on all alike. With him, as with the Master, there was no thought of personal reward or gain. Like that of the Master, his work was a consecrated work. He gave himself entirely to it for the work's sake. He seems to me the most remarkable instance I have ever known of complete devotion to a chosen life-work. His heart, mind and soul were absorbed in his profession, and to it he bent every energy. The result of fifty years of such consecration, who will attempt to estimate? He died in the harness, as had been his wish.
His was the faith that made faithful. He had an abiding faith in the doctrines of Christianity, and exemplified his faith in his life and works. He was a man of distinct culture and refined tastes, drawing ever from the well- springs of a manhood essentially deep and pure. The death of Dr. Shove occurred on the 24th of February, 1878, and the community mourned in common for the loss of a friend and a man loved and venerated for his many noble attributes of character. He had continued in his wonted duties up to within but a few days prior to his decease, his death resulting from a cerebral
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lesion, of which there had been numerous premonitory symptoms. He passed peacefully away secure in the honor and esteem of men, in the full- ness of years and of noble endeavor. The funeral obsequies and memorial services were held at the Methodist Episcopal church in Katonah on Wednes- day, February 27th, and the edifice was not sufficient to accommodate the great assemblage of those, of all classes of society, who assembled to pay a parting tribute to a loved friend and honored citizen. A large number of physicians from neighboring points, as well as from greater distances were present, and addresses were delivered by Dr. Fisher, of Sing Sing; Dr. Hodg- son, White Plains; Rev. Edmund Lewis and Rev. J. H. Eastman, -all giving voice to the high ability and the exalted character of the deceased. The re- mains of the honored dead were then laid to rest in the cemetery at the rear of the church, and the record of a true and noble life found its mortal pages turned down; the immortal book was opened.
In conclusion we may revert briefly to the professional associations and domestic life of Dr. Shove. He was a member of the American Medical Association and for seventeen years prior to his death had been a member of ths State Medical Society. He was also one of the earliest members of the Westchester County Medical Society, holding at various times all the impor- tant official positions in the same, having been president of the society a num- ber of terms in succession. He was one of the organizers, and the first president, of the Croton Medical and Surgical Union, and on the 18th of May, 1833, he was appointed, by Governor William L. Marcy, surgeon of the Thirty-eighth Regiment of New York Infantry. He was recognized by his professional confreres as a surgeon of great skill and as a physician who kept fully in touch with advances made in medical science, his knowledge of all branches being broad, exact and practical.
Of the marriage of Dr. Seth Shove and Irene nee Pulford, the following children were born, namely: Sarah, who married Benjamin F. Bonnett and had one son, Seth S .; Ellen, who died at the age of nineteen years; Irene, the wife of Dr. J. M. Chapman, and had two sons, -Dr. Charles Francis and Herbert; Seth, Jr., who died in infancy; and Mary M., who died at the age of nineteen years. Mrs. Irene P. Shove, the mother of these children, died at the old homestead in Cherry street, December 7, 1887, at the age of eighty- two years.
AZARIAH CARPENTER.
Azariah Carpenter, late one of the oldest and best known citizens of Sing Sing, was born October 19, 1828, at the home of his maternal grandfather, William Quinby, known as the Quinby Home, in the town of New Castle.
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His father was Joseph T. Carpenter, son of James and Elizabeth Car- penter, and his mother was Hannah, daughter of William and Phebe How- land Quinby. His grandfathers were farmers, owning adjoining farms. Mr. Carpenter's father was born and raised in the town of New Castle, the eldest of two sons of James Carpenter, his brother Zopher being five years younger than he. His father was born in 1800 and died in 1861. He was a farmer, but active in politics, a Democrat of the Jacksonian order-always a Demo- crat. He was personally popular and held many positions of honor, among them supervisor of the town many years and chairman of the board. He was elected to the assembly in November, 1840, and re-elected the following year. Mr. Carpenter's mother was the daughter of William Quinby and also born in 1800, and always resided in the town of New Castle. All of his ancestors were members of the Religious Society of Friends, and he was proud to pos- sess a birthright membership in that society. His certificate of membership was transferred from Chappaqua to the New York monthly meeting, where he was connected up to the time of his death.
In his sixth year, the parents of our subject, at that time residing with his grandfather Carpenter, removed to the farm formerly owned by Abram Hyatt, and afterward called "Our Glenmary," and owned by him. He was given a good opportunity to attend the district school on the top of the hill on the road to the Chappaqua meeting-house. This was continued until he was fourteen years of age, when he went as clerk in the store of Jackson Hyatt, at Pine's Bridge, with whom he remained for two years, when he went to New York in the employ of Townsend H. Underhill, in Cedar street, in the domestic dry-goods business, his duties being in the office. He studied bookkeeping and attended evening classes. Mr. Underhill died while Mr. Carpenter was with him-something over three years. He remained a year with Jonathan Odell, who was executor of his estate. He was then a year with Lancaster Underhill, in the same street, and in the same line of busi- ness. While there, Reuben W. Howes came and offered him the position of bookkeeper with him, then R. W. Howes & Company, in the wholesale boot and shoe business, and he commenced there January 1, 1850. He was taken into the firm as Howes, Hyatt & Company as a partner on July 3, 1855. He continued a member of the firm until February 1, 1869, when he withdrew, but after that and until March 1, 1871, he continued its financial manager.
On March 1, 1871, he was appointed assistant vice-president of the Manhattan Gas Light Company, and in the year 1874 he was made vice- president and remained such until 1884, when the consolidation of the gas companies was consummated, and then his position was changed to superin- tendent of the Consolidated Gas Company, at the same place, which he
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continued until November, 1897, when, on account of his failing health, he retired.
Mr. Carpenter married Mary C. Baxter, daughter of Timothy and Maria Ann Baxter, on November 13, 1851, in Brooklyn, by the Hon. Conkling Brush, mayor of Brooklyn, at the home of Timothy Baxter, 74 Court street. They lived with his wife's father and mother for three years, when they began housekeeping at 181 Schermerhorn street, Brooklyn, having purchased the property. They came to Sing Sing in 1857 and purchased the Nickerson place at the top of the Dock Hill, in Main street, or High street, as it was then called. They lived in the old house for three years and then moved into a new one which he built upon the property and which was the one in which he died.
Mr. Carpenter was elected a trustee of this village on March 6, 1860, and again elected March 5, 1861, and re-elected each year afterward until chosen president, March 7, 1865. He was elected a trustee of the Sing Sing Savings Bank, June 16, 1862, and appointed chairman of the examining committee. He resigned his village trusteeship owing to removal from the village, but was again elected on March 16, 1883, having returned, but declined to serve. He was also elected a trustee of Mount Pleasant Military Academy, being proposed by General Aaron Ward. He served several years as such trustee, until May, 1861, when he resigned on removal from the village. Mr. Carpenter was elected a member of the Society for the Pre- vention of Cruelty to Children January 6, 1876. He was tendered the nomination for supervisor of the town of New Castle, March 22, 1876, but declined to run, as his cousin, Francis M. Carpenter, was running on the other ticket. In politics he was a Democrat. Mr. Carpenter was a trustee of the Friends' Seminary, Sixteenth street and Rutherford Place, for many years, and was a member of the representative committee of the yearly meeting.
By his death, July 1, 1899, he left a widow and five grown sons- Charles, Azariah Frederick, J. Herbert, Harry M. and William M.
ISAAC E. YOUNG.
Isaac E. Young, superintendent of the public schools at New Rochelle, New York, is a gentleman who has long been identified with educational work and whose life history includes a three-years war record. He was born in Sullivan county, New York, February 10, 1841, and is a son of David and Harriet (Carmichael) Young. His boyhood days were passed in his native county and his early education was obtained in the district schools near his home. Later he took a course and graduated in the private school of Pro-
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fessor H. A. Holbrook. In September, 1860, he entered Washington Academy at Florida, New York, where he pursued the study of Latin and higher mathematics, and subsequently was for a time a student at Seneca Institute, New York. His career as a teacher began previous to the civil war, at Sparrowbush, New York, where for two years he was employed as principal. He had just entered upon his twenty-first year at the time Fort Sumter was fired upon, and, as the war continued and additional troops were called to take their place in battle line, Mr. Young left the school- room and entered the service of his country. He spent three years in the war. He was commissioned second lieutenant of the Eighty-second United States Cavalry Regiment, and was with his command a participant in several important engagements, among which were those of Port Hudson, Black mountain, Mobile and Pensacola. After the close of hostilites he was in command of government forces, with headquarters at Bristol. During the reconstruction period he was very active in his official capacity in removing the disability from many of the more prominent Confederates.
Returning to New York in 1868, Mr. Young again took up his educa- tional work, accepting a position as principal of the Westchester schools, Westchester county, which he filled for thirteen consecutive years. He came in 1880 to New Rochelle and as principal took charge of the schools at this place. This responsible position he still occupies. During the eighteen years of his identity with the New Rochelle schools he has done much to advance their interests. He has won and retains a warm place in the hearts of the people here, by pupil and patron alike being held in the highest esteem.
Mr. Young was married in 1861 to Miss Emily J. Goble, of Florida, New York, daughter of Elias Goble, Esq. Mr. and Mrs. Young have one daughter living, Bessie M. They are members of the Presbyterian church.
ALBERT E. SMITH.
The name of this excellent citizen will ever be inseparably associated with many of the substantial building enterprises that have built up Yonkers and given the city its present prominence in southeastern New York. He is most enterprising and energetic, and by the exercise of those important qualities has gained a standing in the business world that is indeed enviable. Suc- cess comes not to the man who idly waits, but to the faithful toiler whose work is characterized by sleepless vigilance and cheerful alacrity, and it is in this manner that Mr. Smith has gained the prosperity which now crowns his- efforts.
The family of which he is a representative lived for several generations in Nova Scotia. His paternal grandfather, Fairfield Smith, was a native of
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that country, where throughout his entire life he engaged in farming. He served as justice of the peace and deputy sheriff and was captain of a com- pany of militia, taking part in the drills. He was of English descent and held the religious faith of the majority of the English people, being a mem- ber of St. Mary's Episcopal church. He married a Miss Magee, and their children were John M., Eliza, Henry, Maggie and Frederick.
John M. Smith, the father of our subject, was born in Nova Scotia, and acquired a good education in the public schools. He engaged in farming andi merchandising, and also did some speculating and legal business. He held the office of justice of the peace, and for a time was a member of the com -- pany of militia of which his father was captain. He also was a member of the Episcopal church. He wedded Miss Mary Condon, and to them were born five sons and five daughters, namely: Ida, Fannie, Louise, Amy, Mabel, Frank, Albert, Austin and Vernon. The father passed away in 1891, at the age of sixty-six years, his last days being spent in New York city .. and his wife died at the age of forty-four years.
Albert Edward Smith was born in Nova Scotia, November 28, 1865,. and to the public schools of his native land is indebted for the educational privileges which he enjoyed. At the age of nineteen he put aside his text- books, came to Yonkers, and learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed: in the employ of others until 1887, when he began contracting and building on his own account. His success has been almost phenomenal and indicates his superior business and executive ability, his marked skill in the line of his- chosen vocation, his thorough reliability and his sound judgment. He has erected and sold many buildings, and has been prominently connected with the building interests of New York city. At the corner of One Hundred and second Street and Ninth avenue, he erected property worth four hundred and fifty thousand dollars, employing as many as two hundred hands. He gives his personal supervision to the work, which is always of a most substantial character, and which stands as a monument to his thrift and enterprise. He has erected in Yonkers a number of excellent flat buildings and now has in course of erection, at the corner of Woodworth Point street and Ravine, avenue, ten houses, the property being valued at seventy-five thousand dol- lars. In a single year he has erected property to the value of one hundred and thirty thousand dollars, and in this manner has contributed largely to the- improvement of the city.
On the 27th of April, 1886, Mr. Smith married Miss Lizzie Wagner, of Sing Sing, New York, and to them have been born three sons: Albert, Har- old and Wallace. The family attend St. John's Episcopal church, of which Mr. Smith is a member. In his political affiliations he is a Republican and, keeping well informed on the issues of the day, casts an intelligent ballot 55
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for the men and measures of his party, but has never been an aspirant for office. His life has been a success. He has accumulated a handsome com- petence and to this end has used only such means as will bear the closest scrutiny. All honor him for his blameless record. His actions have during his life been such as to distinctively entitle him to a place in the history of the representative men of Westchester county, and although his career has not been filled with thrilling incidents, probably no biography published in this work.can serve as a better illustration to young men of the power of enter- prise and integrity in insuring success.
CHARLES H. CHASE.
Few men in the community are better known or rank higher in the esteem of their fellow men than Charles H. Chase, of Peekskill. He has been singularly fortunate in his business and is one of those rare individuals whom prosperity does not spoil. He was born July 27, 1849, in Westchester county, about two miles from Peekskill, New York, on the old homestead, his parents being Herman B. and Emaline (Losey) Chase.
The Chase family have taken a prominent part in the early struggles of this country and its later development, so the name is a familiar one in the pages of history. They are of English origin, and we find from the genealogy of the family that this branch was descended from a peer of the realm. . This gentleman had several sons, the youngest of whom, William, knowing that he could not hope for a home on the landed estates of his father, determined to try his fortunes in the new country, America. Accordingly, after bidding farewell to family and friends, he took passage on shipboard, intending to join the Massachusetts colony; but fate willed it otherwise, and while off the coast of Newfoundland he was washed overboard and after a hard struggle reached shore, more dead than alive. He made his way to Nova Scotia, and after remaining a year he once more started for Massachusetts, settling in Cape Cod, was married and reared a large family. One of his sons, Obediah, having the roving disposition of his father, left for new scenes, and made his home in the then new colony of New York. Here he spent his early manhood and here espoused Miss Susanna Knapp. They located in what is now the county-seat of Putnam county, New York, where he built him a " dug-out," spending considerable time in hewing the timbers and making his home cosy and strong. Here he raised his family of seven sons and five daughters, and they assisted him in the cultivation of the farm, which he had obtained from the government.
The first gun of the Revolution was now heard, being the firing upon Charlestown, Massachusetts. He was plowing in the field with his oxen when
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the news of the trouble reached him. Leaving the team standing in the field, he walked quietly to his "dug-out " and said to his wife: "There is a great duty before me, -first to my God, second to my country, and the third to my family, which I am about to leave. Charlestown has been fired upon by the British and my country calls me to help protect her interests, so I will leave you in charge of our family and hasten to join the rebel forces against King George." He kissed his wife and family good-bye, took up his musket and started on foot to the front to join the continental army. After endur- ing great hardships he reached the army at, or near, Bunker Hill, where he was gladly welcomed and duly enrolled as a member. He fought valiantly at the battle of Bunker Hill, and traveled with the army from post to post until the battle of Cowpens, the most decisive engagement of the war. His brigade was then sent north, stopping en route at Philadelphia. During the winter of 1777 they were encamped in tents at Valley Forge, and suffered untold hardships from scarcity of food and from a severe winter, many of the men, he among the number, being obliged to go barefoot the entire time. They remained there during the summer and took part in the skirmishes which proved so disastrous to the British forces. The latter part of the summer they were again on the march, crossing the Hudson river. The brigade was stationed at Fort Lookout, about two miles from Peekskill. They were now under the command of General Putnam, and took part in the battle of Trenton, where the General made his famous ride down the court- house steps, pursued by the British. During this engagement Obediah Chase. with two companions, was cut off from the main body of the army and sur- rounded by five red-coats who cried, "Lay down your arms, you rebels, and surrender." Not receiving a reply to this request, they loaded their guns and fired, killing two of the brave colonists. The other shot had missed its mark and Obediah Chase was left to battle with the five red-coats alone. Before they could reload he had discharged his gun and one less enemy was left to fight. Clubbing his gun, he rushed with such vigor upon the four remaining that they were soon overcome, and after securing their arms and ammunition he placed them before him, in single file, and gave the order to march; making a detour he was able to deliver his prisoners into the hands of General Putnam. He was also in the battle of Stony Point, July 15, 1779, under gallant Anthony Wayne, or " Mad Anthony," as he was called, and was one of the first to scale the wall of the fort.
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