USA > New York > Westchester County > Biographical history of Westchester County, New York, Volume II > Part 52
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MATTHEW H. HOLBROOK.
Matthew H. Holbrook, the efficient superintendent of the Croton Lake water works, and a highly respected citizen of Yorktown township, has made his home in Westchester county since 1878. He is a direct descendant of one of that little band of Puritans who came to this country in the Mayflower, and is a son of Amariah and Helen M. (Strong) Holbrook, the latter a second cousin of Grover Cleveland. He was born and reared in Washington county, New York, and obtained a good practical education, attending the public schools, and later graduating at the Union school and academy at Sandy Hill, New York, at the age of sixteen years.
Mr. Holbrook began his business career as a clerk in the law office of George L. Terry, of Sandy Hill, where he remained for three years, and before he had attained his majority was appointed as one of the guards at the Sing Sing prison, filling that position very acceptably for thirteen years. For the following two years he engaged in the grocery business at Sing Sing, and on the Ist of July, 1895, was appointed to his present responsible posi- tion, to which he gives his entire attention, having supervision over seven- teen miles of water shed.
At Sing Sing occurred the marriage of Mr. Holbrook and Miss Annie Griffin, a daughter of Mrs. Susan Griffin, and to them has been born one son, Howard, who is now a student in the academy of Sing Sing.
Politically Mr. Holbrook has always affiliated with the Republican party, and has done all in his power to promote its interests and insure its success. He has served as chairman of the town committee, was a delegate to the National League at Saratoga, and has been a delegate to various other con- ventions. He has always faithfully stood by his friends, and stands high in the estimation of the people of the county. He was appointed to his pres- ent position by General Brookfield and sustained by General C. H. F. Callis, and has proved a most capable and trustworthy superintendent. Socially he
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is a member of the Knights of Honor and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, has passed all the chairs in the latter fraternity, and is a member of the Encampment. He took a most active part in erecting and furnishing Sunnyside Lodge, at Sing Sing. In religious connection he is a Presbyterian, and for several years he has served as one of the deacons of his church, always taking a leading and prominent part in all church work.
HARRY B. MILLER.
There are men in every community of great force of character and exceptional ability, who by reason of their capacity for leadership become recognized as foremost citizens and bear a most important part in the devel- opment and progress of the locality with which they are connected. Such a man is Mr. Miller, who is prominently identified with the interests of Cortlandt township, Westchester county.
He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 20, 1860, a son of Charles A. and Fannie A. (Stephens) Miller, the latter a native of Connecti- cut and a representative of one of the old and prominent families of that state. The Miller family is of English origin, and is one of the oldest and most distinguished families of Pennsylvania. Our subject's father was prominent in both business and political circles, being a leading hardware merchant of Philadelphia and a trustee of the Philadelphia Gas Trust. He was one of the most influential members of the Republican party in the state, and being an able financier he was called upon to serve as state treas- urer for some years. He was also connected with the board of education of Philadelphia for some time, and was prominently identified with all things pertaining to the good of his city or state. Socially he was an honored member of the Masonic fraternity. He died in 1876, at the age of forty- two years, leaving two children: Harry B., our subject; and Reuben Manley, a resident of Cincinnati, Ohio, who is connected with the Provident Life & Trust Company, being in the office of his stepfather, William D. Yerger, who is general manager of the company for that district.
Harry B. Miller spent his boyhood and youth in his native state and was educated in private schools. In 1878 he went west and for two years traveled extensively throughout that section of the country as a correspond- ent of the New York Herald, being with Major Thornburg's command in 1879 at the Ute outbreak in Montana, at Bad canyon and Milk creek, where they were surrounded and held for some time but were finally released by General Merritt.
On his return east, Mr. Miller was married, at Asbury Park, New Jersey, to Miss Bessie Ferris, a daughter of Captain William S. and Martha J.
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(Tuttle) Ferris, and one child has come to bless their union, a daughter, Martha Jennett. They have purchased the old Ferris homestead in Cort- landt township, Westchester county, and our subject now devotes the greater part of his time to its improvement and cultivation. For the past eight or ten years he has also been engaged in the life-insurance business, represent- ing the Provident Life & Trust Company. He takes considerable interest in politics, is a stanch Democrat, and has served as auditor of the town of Cortlandt. He is one of the few who fearlessly advocates his principles regardless of whom it may strike. Broad-minded and liberal in his views, he is one of the most enterprising and progressive citizens of his community.
CHARLES H. HORTON.
Charles H. Horton is one of the prominent young men of Tarrytown, New York, a leader in business and political circles, and is now most accept- ably serving as secretary of the highway commissioners at Mount Pleasant. Whether in public or private life, he is always a courteous, genial gentleman, well deserving the high regard in which he is held.
Mr. Horton was born in Tarrytown, in 1868, a son of Sylvester Horton, a well-known grocer of that place, who was a member of an old and promi- nent family of Westchester county. The father died at the age of forty-two years, leaving a widow and six children, three sons and three daughters.
Reared in his native place, Charles H. Horton received his education in the public schools there. On laying aside his text-books he prepared himself for contracting and building, and has already met with excellent success in his chosen occupation, many of the public works at Tarrytown having been constructed under his efficient supervision. He still lives on the old home- stead, where he has erected a fine modern residence, and is a prominent member of the Odd Fellows Lodge at Tarrytown. Perhaps but few young men are better known throughout the county than Mr. Horton, and he is to-day one of the most popular officials of Mount Pleasant town. He is a leader in the ranks of the local Republican organization, and possesses the respect and confidence of all who know him.
REV. EUGENE McKENNA.
The loved and popular pastor of Saint Teresa's Roman Catholic church, in Tarrytown, Westchester county, is the subject of this sketch. Though he has been located here but three years he has already exerted a noticeable influence in many directions, greatly increasing the efficiency of several of the ·departments of church work and bringing thorough harmony into all. He is a
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man of scholarly attainments, with a mind refined and broadened by travel, as well as study and experience and with a heart full of love and sympathy toward mankind in general, and his own little flock of parishioners in par- ticular.
Father McKenna is a native of the Emerald Isle, his early recollections clustering around county Monaghan, where he passed his boyhood. He was of a studious nature and it was his privilege to attend St. McCarta's College for several years. In 1863 he crossed the Atlantic and entered St. Sulpice College in Montreal, Canada, where, in course of time, he was graduated with honors and matriculated in Grand Seminary, of the same city. Soon afterward he was ordained by Bishop McClosky and was assigned to duty as assistant pastor of the Church of the Transfiguration on Mott street, New York city. There he labored with Father Thomas Treanor and James H. McGean for about five years, when he was transferred to St. Mary's church, of Yonkers, where also he held the office of assistant pastor.
At the close of his service in the last named charge Father McKenna was so fortunate as to be able to spend some months in the Old World. In the course of his extended travels, during which he visited many of the inter- esting historic places of several kingdoms, he spent much of his time in London, Paris and Rome, and points in Switzerland and Ireland. Return- ing to America with renewed strength of mind and body and fresh zeal for the work of the church, he was appointed priest of St. John's church, in West Hurley, Ulster county, and remained there for nineteen years. It was a matter of deep regret to himself and congregation, to whom he had so long and faithfully ministered, that it was deemed advisable for him to be trans- ferred to a new field of enterprise, where he seemed to be even more needed. Thus it was that he came to his present charge three years ago. The church comprises a memberhip of four hundred families. There is a school, con- ducted by Sisters, in connection with the church, and it also is in a proper- ous condition.
The parents of Rev. Eugene McKenna are Patrick and Margaret (Hughes) McKenna, natives of Ireland, where they passed their entire lives. They were honest, industrious people, respected and highly esteemed by all who knew them.
JOHN H. BRIGGS.
John H. Briggs is one of the most esteemed citizens of Tarrytown, and for many years he has been prominently identified with the leading business interests of the place as proprietor of a general market. He is also a veteran of the civil war and bears an honorable record for brave service in the cause ·of freedom and union, and in the paths of peace he has also won an enviable
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reputation through the sterling qualities which go to the making of a good citizen.
Mr. Briggs is a native of Westchester county, born August 21, 1842, and is a representative of an old Massachusetts family, many of whose mem- bers have been prominent in peace and patriotic in war. The early home of the family was in Bedford, Massachusetts, from which place the father of our subject, Amos Briggs, removed to Binghamton, New York, and later in life he became a resident of Sing Sing, Westchester county. He was a man of fine physique, being five feet eleven inches in height and weighing one hun- dred and eighty-five pounds. He was also strong and active, was a stone- mason by trade, and was quite successful in his business affairs. He mar- ried Miss Lovice Reynolds, who belonged to a well-known and prominent family of New Bedford, Massachusetts, which was founded in this country by French Huguenots who left their native land on account of religious persecu- tion. To this worthy couple were born nine children, namely: Amos S., deceased, who was for years a well-known business man of Tarrytown; Lo- vice, deceased, who was the wife of Mr. Williams in Peekskill, New York; Mary, who is the widow of Ed Ackerman, of Peekskill; Noah H., who died in Tarrytown; Mason, who has for years been a well-known hotel man; Charles, who was a sailor on the high seas for many years and died in Penn- sylvania; Mrs. Frances Wheeler, who died at Manchester, Connecticut; George W., a soldier of the civil war and a member of the famous " Buck- tail " regiment of Pennsylvania, who died in New York in 1891; and John Henry, our subject. The father was fatally injured in an accident and died at the age of sixty-seven years, but the mother lived to the advanced age of eighty-four years. Both were devout members of the Methodist Protestant. church, and he was a Republican in politics.
John H. Briggs spent his boyhood and youth under the parental roof, and began his business career as a clerk in his brother Amos' store, where he remained until after the outbreak of the Rebellion. On the 12th of August, 1862, in response to his country's call for three hundred thousand more men to aid in the defense of the Union, he enlisted in the First New York Mounted Rifles, under conmand of Colonel Charles C. Dodge, son of Will- iam E. Dodge, and Lieutenant-Colonel Underdonk as second officer. He remained in the service until November 20, 1865, and was promoted to the rank of sergeant for gallant service. His appointment was as follows:
The Commanding Officer of the First Regiment of Mounted Rifles, N. Y. S. V .:
To all who see these presents, greeting: Know ye, that reposing special trust and confidence in the patriotism, valor, fidelity and abilities of John H.
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Briggs, I do hereby appoint him sergeant of Company C, of the First Regi- ment of Mounted Rifles, N. Y. S. V., in the service of the United States, to rank as such from the 29th of June, 1864. He is, therefore, carefully and diligently to discharge the duty of sergeant by doing and performing all man- ner of things thereunto belonging; and I do strictly charge and require all non-commissioned officers and soldiers under his command to be obedient to his orders as sergeant; and he is to observe and follow such orders and direc- tions from time to time as he shall receive from me, or the future command- ing officer of the regiment, or other superior officers and non-commissioned officers set over him, according to the rules and discipline of war. The war- rant to continue in force during the pleasure of the commanding officer of the regiment for the time being.
Given under hand at the headquarters of the regiment, before Richmond, Virginia, this Ist day of December, in the year of our Lord, 1864.
By the commanding officer,
E. V. SUMNER, Colonel Ist N. Y. Mounted Rifles, Commanding the Regiment.
JAS. FAIRGRIEVE,
Ist Lieut. Ist N. Y. Mounted Rifles, Adjutant of the Regiment. A. G. O. No. 103.
For some time after the war Mr. Briggs continued in his brother's employ, and then embarked in the market business on his own account, dealing in all kinds of meats, vegetables and fruits. For the past ten years he has carried on business in the Masonic Hall block in Tarrytown. He is one of the most prominent members of W. B. Burnett Post, No. 496, of that place, in which he is now serving his fifth term as commander, and he has been an active and zealous worker for its interests. For five years he has efficiently served on the board of education and gives a ready support to all interests calculated to advance the moral, intellectual or material welfare of the community. He and his family hold their ecclesiastical membership in the Second Reformed church of Tarrytown and take an active part in all church and Sabbath-school work.
In 1868 Mr. Briggs was united in marriage with Miss Anna A. Delanoy. who was born, reared and educated in Sing Sing. Her parents, Josiah and Lucinda (Tillson) Delanoy, were residents of that place and both died in this county, where the father engaged in business as a carpenter and con- tractor for many years. In religious faith they were Methodists. To our subject and his wife have been born nine children, as follows: John M., who is engaged in business with his father; Charles Ed; Jennie; George W., who spent six years in a broker's office in New York city, but is now at home and serving as tax collector for schools; Wilbur G., who graduated at the Naval Academy, and in April, 1898, entered the naval service of the United States in the war with Spain, being on board the New Orleans; Frank D., who graduated with honors at Hamilton College, and also entered the service of 60
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This country, and as a member of the Fourth Battalion was stationed at Camp Black; Frederick F., a graduate of the Tarrytown high school; and Susan M. and Helen Seeley, who are both attending Mrs. Buckley's private school at Tarrytown.
ELIAS Q. GRIFFIN.
This prosperous agriculturist of Yorktown township, Westchester county, is a worthy scion of one of the old and honored families of eastern New York. The fine old homestead which he manages and owns is an ideal country seat, with fertile, well cultivated fields, fine groves of trees, and many natural attractions. The house which stands on this property and now shelters our subject's household was one of the first erected in this county, and six generations have been born and reared within its hospitable walls.
The paternal grandfather of our subject was Jonathan Griffin, a native of Dutchess county. He was a boy at the time of the war of the Revolution, and a few years later he married a Miss Johnson and settled in this county, where he became well-to-do and influential. He assisted all his children to get a good start in their independent careers and was respected by all who knew him. Daniel Griffin, the father of our subject, was born on this old homestead, April 3, 1800, and, like his ancestors, followed agricultural pur- suits. He also learned the mason's trade, at which he worked more or less. He married Maria Ridgeway, a daughter of Daniel Ridgeway. She was born on the Briar Cliff Farm, near Sing Sing, New York. Daniel Ridgeway was one of the two sons of Benjamin Ridgeway, of Philadelphia, who gave each of his children one hundred acres of land. He was a district attorney and a man of high standing in his profession. The wife of Daniel Ridgeway was a Miss Elizabeth Pugsley, of a prominent old family of Sing Sing.
To the marriage of Daniel and Maria Griffin eight children were born, namely: Mary; Phoebe; Elias; Daniel J., who married Ellastine Hyatt and is a resident of Sing Sing; Gilbert, who married Margaret Griffin, and died, leaving three children, -Franklin, Ordway and Alma; and Elizabeth, David and Emma, who have passed to the silent land. The faithful mother of these children was called to her reward when she had attained the good old age of seventy-nine years. The father departed this life when he was in his eighty-seventh year. They were brought up in the faith of the Society of Friends, and adhering to the noble, peaceful teachings of that sect, their lives were beyond reproach, worthy "to be seen and read of men." With such parents and the influence of sucli a beautiful Christian home, it is small wonder that the children who were so fortunate as to be reared in this fine old residence became sterling citizens and useful members of society.
Elias Q. Griffin, of this article, was born here March 3, 1842, and as
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soon as he arrived at a suitable age he was set to work on the farm, early learning lessons of industry and attention to business. He is now a practical farmer and judiciously manages his financial affairs. Everything about his farm is in fine condition and speaks well for the constant, watchful care of the owner. He has spent his whole life here and is deeply attached to the spot. His two sisters, Mary and Phoebe, keep house for him, and their home is an ideal one, each sharing fully the other's interests, joys and sorrows. Politically, Mr. Griffin is a Democrat.
BENJAMIN B. SEARLES.
An old and honored citizen of Westchester county, Mr. Searles has been identified with its agricultural interests from early life. He was born on the old Searles homestead in this county, October 14, 1818, and belongs to a family which was founded in this state in colonial days. His father, Bailey B. Searles, was born in Bedford township, Westchester county, in 1794, a son of Samuel Searles, and grandson of Joseph Searles, who was of German descent. Samuel Searles and wife, Keziah, reared a family of sixteen chil- dren, of whom ten were each over six feet in height, while their aggregate weight was fully two thousand pounds. One daughter also was gifted with great strength, being able to lift a barrel of cider up so as to drink out of the bunghole.
Baily B. Searles, our subject's father, followed the occupation of farm- ing throughout life, was a consistent member of the Society of Friends, and gave his political support in turn to the Whig and Republican parties. He married Miss Sarah Moger, also a member of the Society of Friends. She was born in New Castle, New York, and was a daughter of Simons and Eustacia (Gales) Moger. This worthy couple became the parents of two children: Caroline, deceased wife of William B. Finch, of Banksville; and Benjamin, of this sketch. The father died on the old homestead in 1867, aged seventy-three years, and the mother passed away in 1863, aged sixty- three. They were widely and favorably known.
In much the usual manner of farmer boys of his day, Benjamin B. Searles passed his early life, his education being acquired in the public schools. In 1843 he was united in marriage with Miss Caroline Young, a native of Sing Sing and a daughter of James and Elizabeth (Baldwin) Young. She is one of a family of nine children, of whom eight reached years of maturity, namely: Jemima, James B., Hester S., Charles, Eben, Samuel, Sarah Ann and Caroline. The father died in Westchester county, and the mother, who was an earnest and faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church, departed this life in 1861, at the age of seventy-three years. The children
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born to Mr. and Mrs. Searles were as follows: Adaline, now the wife of Samuel Green, a carpenter who resides in Mount Kisco, this county; Sarah E., the second born, who died in infancy; Bailey B., who married Miss Alice Flewellan, of this county, daughter of Caleb Flewellan, deceased, and is engaged in farming in Westchester county; and William R., who married Miss Iretta Thomkins, of West Somers, this county.
Mr. Searles has spent fifty-three years of his married life on the old home farm, where he located prior to his marriage in 1832. Although a portion of the original tract has been sold. it is still a large farm, and is one of the most attractive and pleasant places in the locality. As an agriculturist he has met with a well deserved success, and his life has ever been such as to win for him the confidence and respect of all with whom he has come in con- tact. He and his sons are all stanch supporters of the Republican party, and socially he affiliates with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
CHARLES HOFFMEISTER.
This gentleman, who was for many years actively identified with the business interests of New Rochelle, New York, was born in the village of Hanover, Germany, October 4, 1824, a son of Charles and Henrietta (Cor- nelius) Hoffmeister. His father was a skilled mechanic and millwright, who built many mills in the locality in which he lived. He died when his son Charles was a boy of three years, and thus the latter was very early in life thrown upon his own resources. However, he was able to secure a fair edu- cation, attending school between the ages of six and fifteen years; then, in accordance with the German custom, he was placed at a trade, namely, that of butcher, in which he became familiar with every department, but making: a specialty of the manufacture of sausage.
In 1849, at the age of twenty-five years, he decided to seek his fortune in America, and on the 11th day of May embarked for New York city, where he landed in safety July 10. At once he began to look around for employ- ment, and after two weeks he secured a place, at two and a half dollars per week, his duty being to pick hair from coon-skins. With these wages, how- ever, he could pay for no more than cheap board; so he continued on the outlook for a better place, which he soon found, and the next three years he was in the employ of Captain Otto, of the Butcher Guards, and during this period he saved his money, which enabled him to start in business for him- self, at first with a small stand, but from the commencement he prospered and made money rapidly. At length, however, he invested largely in pork, which directly went down in price and he lost all he had made. This was during the Crimean war, before he located in New Rochelle. Later he made
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another business venture, in the butchering business, and was very success- ful, but in time he sold out this situation, on account of ill health, and started in the coal business, in partnership with a Mr. Davids, and in this enterprise also was successful, buying in large quantities and obtaining cheap transpor- tation by water and soon controlling the business at New Rochelle; and here, too, he was the founder of the New Rochelle Coal & Lumber Company. For a time he dealt in lumber, in connection with his coal business, but sold this to the firm of Grenzebach & Carpenter. Returning to the butchering busi- ness again, he opened a well equipped meat market, which he successfully conducted, in addition to his other interests, and did a large and prosperous business, until January 1, 1899, when he sold out and retired, having been an invalid for about nine years, confined mostly to his house. For the last three years of this time his worthy wife took charge of his business. He died on the 13th of January, 1899, and his funeral was attended by a large con- course of friends from all parts of the county and New York city. Being a Freemason, a member of Huguenot Lodge, and also a member of the Royal Arcanum and a retired member of the fire department, he was well and favor- able known throughout a large section of the country. The Masonic services were held in Masonic Hall, in his own building. Mr. Hoffmeister was a man of the highest integrity, honesty being his watch-word, and perhaps no man in Westchester county was held in higher regard. Besides his pleasant home in New Rochelle, he owned other valuable property here, and was a stock- holder in the New Rochelle Bank.
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