USA > New York > Putnam County > History of Putnam County, New York : with biographical sketches of its prominent men > Part 46
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
In 1827 Mr. Drew removed to New York city, where he con- tinued the cattle trade for some ten years longer. Part of the time he kept the old " Bull's Head " tavern in the " Bowerie," a famous resort of butchers and drovers, and in fact a sort of cattle dealers' exchange. His first ventures lay in near trade with adjacent counties in New York, then to Pennsylvania, afterward into the great West. He and his partners brought the first large drove of cattle that ever crossed the Alleghanies, two thousand head, in droves of one hundred each. The busi- ness above sketched would be sufficient, one would think, to oc- cupy all the time and thoughts of any one man, however emi- nent in capacity, but it formed only one department of Mr. Drew's activities. In 1835 Mr. Drew, Mr. St. John and others established a line of steamboats between New York and Albany. This enterprise was the germ of the present well-known and popular "People's Line." Mr. Drew's steamboat business was still more widely extended by the purchase, in 1849, by Drew, Robinson & Co., of the Champlain Transportation Company's stock, with a capital of $150,000, with five steamboats running from Whitehall to Canada. Of all these varied and gigantic operations Mr. Drew was the master spirit. When he first en- tered into the business Commodore Vanderbilt often said to him, "You have no business in this trade, you don't understand it, and you can't succeed." Since 1836 there have been forty op- position boats on the river, not one of which was a complete success, while many have ruined their owners. From time to time this company continued to build larger and better boats to meet the increasing demand of passenger and freight traffic until 1864, when they launched the first of their present mag- nificent steamers, the " St. John," which was followed the suc- ceeding year by the "Dean Richmond," and in 1867 the " Drew," the largest of all, was completed. As the internal decorations and arrangements of these vessels do not materially differ, a brief description of the latter will suffice to convey an idea of the character of the boats composing this fleet. "This majestic steamer is about 400 feet long over all; width of hull, 48 feet; width over the guards, 84 feet; depth of hold, 10 feet; draft of water, 6 feet. She is propelled by an engine of 82-inch cylinder, 15 feet stroke, carrying from 20 to 25 pounds of steam. She is 2,500 tons burthen, and has sleeping accommodations for over 1,000 passengers."
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In 1836, Mr. Drew embarked a small capital in the banking business in Wall street. His partner endorsed the extension of notes of a friend without consulting Mr. Drew, which caused a loss of over $30,000. In 1840, he associated with himself Nel- son Robinson and Robert W. Kelley, under the firm name of Drew, Robinson & Co. Mr. Robinson had no capital, but his character and talent had been well tested by Mr. Drew in a pre- vious business connection. The details of the business were conducted by the junior partners, but its leading operations were controlled by Mr. Drew. The success of the firm was re- markable. In 1853, wishing to contract his cares and labors, Mr. Drew retired from the banking business, giving it up to his son-in-law, R. W. Kelley, who, by the aid of Mr. Drew and his strict attention to business, acquired a handsome fortune. A year later Mr. Drew was called back from his retirement by the death of Mr. Kelley and was obliged to take up the threads of business again. Acting on his principle of using well tried agents, he took into partnership in 1855, Mr. E. D. Stanton, who had been one of his clerks. What the success of the firm was, none except the members ever knew, but the name of the house on a piece of paper gave it currency for more thousands of dollars than would build a western city. Indeed the name of Daniel Drew, endorsed on the acceptances of the Erie Rail- road in 1855, to the extent of a million and a half of dollars, sufficed to guarantee their value and to give them currency. In 1857, Mr. Drew was elected a director of the Harlem Rail- road. The property was in a very depressed condition, and the floating debt amounted to over $600,000. Mr. Drew and Mr. Vanderbilt endorsed the acceptances of the road to pay off the debt. Amid all the cares of this vast and varied business career Mr. Drew found time for practical agriculture. He had an estate of nearly one thousand acres, about fifty miles distant from the city on the Harlem Railroad.
His only son, William H. Drew, resides at " Drewscliffe," the homestead farm, where is situated the beautiful cemetery in which his father's remains were interred in 1879.
On Friday, March 5th, 1870, the Drew mansion, corner 17th street and Broadway, was open to several hundred guests-the occasion being the celebration of Mr. Drew's golden wedding, he having married Miss Roxanna Mead in 1820. His only brother, Thomas Drew, was present with his wife, a sister of
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
Mrs. Drew. This couple had celebrated their golden wedding only two years previous. Such an event rarely occurs-brothers marrying sisters, and living to celebrated golden weddings, both couples being present at the respective celebrations.
As might have been expected, a man of his wealth was fre- quently called upon for aid to secular and religious objects, and none were turned away who brought valid and substantial claim for assistance. He was for many years trustee for vari- ous institutions: the Biblical Institute, at Concord; the Troy University; Wesleyan University; and St. Paul's M. E. Church, N. Y., were among the number. He founded and established the Drew Female Seminary and College at Carmel, also pur- chased the magnificent Gibbons estate at Madison, N. J., where he founded what is known as the Drew Theological Seminary. Mr. Drew also erected the Methodist church edifices at Brew- ster and Carmel. His liberalty to further the aims of en- lightened Christianity is his monument, and it will endure when the names of railways and leviathan steamers are blotted out.
THE THEALL FAMILY .- The ancestor of this family was Ebenezer Theall, who is said to have come from England. Dur- ing the Revolution he was a Loyalist, and was killed at the battle of White Plains, and one of his eldest sons is said to have been killed in the same engagement. His children were: Samuel, who went to Nova Scotia, Isaac and Thomas (both of whom went to Newburgh), Anne (who died unmarried), Ebene- zer, and Hackaliah.
Hackaliah Theall was born November 18th, 1778, and died December 29th, 1824. He married Huldah, daughter of Thatcher Hopkins. Their children were: Lydia L., born May 29th, 1804, married Levi Jennings; Nancy G., born September 3d, 1806, married Israel Underhill; Nellie A., born February 22d, 1808, married Bottsford Noble; Judge Thatcher H., born August 11th, 1810, died January 16th, 1886; Arvah, born No- vember 26th, 1812; Orwin, born November 26th, 1815; and Susan, born December 31st, 1819, married Aaron Jennings.
The homestead where the family were born was the farm at Croton Falls, now owned by Joel Purdy. The only members of the family now living are Mrs. Noble, Arvah and Orwin. The last resides at Peekskill.
Thacker Theabb
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
He lived and died a bachelor.
The funeral services were held in the Croton Falls Baptist Church January 21st, 1886, after which his remains were brought to Carmel and interred beside his kindred in the Kelley Ceme- tery. One of the last acts of Judge Theall was to contribute $1,000 for extinguishing the debt on the Baptist church at Croton Falls.
Mr. Arvah Theall, the younger brother of the judge, was also born on the old homestead at Croton Falls. During the life of his brother he was his able assistant and associate: both work- ing in unison in the accomplishing of their designs.
The house in which their father lived was a small one-story building, a relic of former days. The present elegant residence was built in 1856 upon the former site, and located on the east side of the old Croton Turnpike, and on the banks of the Croton River, about a mile north of the county line. Upon this place Mr. Theall passed the evening of his life in the enjoyment of a fortune accumulated by constant labor, active energy and care- ful calculation.
GENERAL JAMES RYDER was born at the homestead in South- east, Putnam county, and educated at the common schools and North Salem Academy. He spent the summers on the farm after he was eleven years old, attended school in the winters till he was 19, and taught school for seven successive winters. He organized the uniformed company known as the Putnam Guards in the 18th Regiment, and was elected captain. He was ap -. pointed colonel of the 18th Regiment and continued in the office thirteen years. He was appointed brigadier-general of the 7th Brigade April 8th, 1864, and held the office for eleven years.
In 1863 the regiment was ordered to proceed to Harrisburg and report to General Couch; before it reached there it was or- dered to Baltimore to report to General Schenck, and was then ordered to the front to report to General French, but in the night the order was changed and the 8th Regiment, N. Y. H. A., was sent. The regiment was in the service 45 days, most of the time at Fort Marshall, Baltimore.
Colonel Ryder was appointed commissioner of the Board of Enrolment of the 10th Congressional District, and held the of- fice from its organization to its close, drawing from the wheel the name of every man who was drafted in the 10th Congres-
Arval Reall
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sional District. The office was discontinued on the 8th of May, 1865. Being in command of the 7th Brigade from the death of General Parmenter in November, 1863, he was able to render valuable service to the provost marshall by having his command in readiness to guard the armories and preserve order, and also furnished a battalion of four companies for harbor defense. His time in civil life has been spent on the farm and as a merchant. He was secretary and treasurer of the Bartram & Fanton Manu- facturing Company for over three years. He resided ten years or more in Danbury, Conn. He was commander of the James E. Moore Post, G. A. R., Department of Connecticut, for three years; one year chief mustering officer Department of Connec- ticut, G. A. R .; and one year member of the Council of Ad- ministration, same department. He was elected representative to the General Assembly of Connecticut in November, 1882, and served in the session of 1883 on the committee on military affairs.
He was married November 8th, 1854, to Emily A. Beebe, of Bethel, Conn. Mrs. Ryder died January 21st, 1884. Gen. Ryder has one son, Carroll, living in Danbury.
In politics he is a republican from the whig school. He was delegate from Putnam county to the State conventions in 1856 and 1865. General Ryder is now living on the old homestead at Peach Pond.
HON. SAMUEL HARRISON EVERETT .- Among the men of note of the present day who have sprung from sturdy Putnam county stock, none has carved out for himself a nobler record than the gentleman whose portrait adorns these pages. Samuel Harrison Everett was born in the town of Carmel, April 3d, 1836. When he started life on his own account his capital consisted of cor- rect habits, untiring industry, a will that scorned reverses, and the sum of thirteen cents in specie. He made fortune after fortune during his lifetime, and lost them through no fault of his, but this did not dampen his spirits and to-day he is a large real estate owner and derives a heavy income from his business.
His ancestors, who came from Scotland about the middle of the Seventeenth Century, were among the early settlers in America. They landed on Long Island in the year 1746, and soon after some moved to the east while others affected a per- manent settlement in Carmel, Putnam county. Long before the
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Revolutionary War, history makes mention of Isaac Everett, a mason by trade, who was engaged in building blast furnaces for melting iron ore. The record of real estate transfers in Putnam county shows these facts. By deed dated June 13th, 1796, Abraham Everett, the son of Isaac, purchased from Frederick Philipse a tract of 113 acres of arable land for the consideration of £330 sterling. Another deed from the same party to Abra- ham, dated May 19th, 1813, conveyed several roods of land for the consideration of $352.50. A third conveyance, executed be- tween the same parties on March 14th, 1814, gave Abraham 123 acres of land, for which he paid $988. He thus became a large real estate owner in a district which was constantly improving.
Abraham Everett had five sons: Charles, Amos, Samuel, Leonard and Abraham. The family were the pioneers in the Western cattle trade, and they drove their fatted steers to market on foot, long before railroads were thought of. Charles was the eldest son and the father of Samuel H. Soon after young Samuel was born he moved to Southeast and purchased 105 acres of land, which he continued to add to till he acquired an extensive territory. He had four sons: Oscar, Samuel Har- rison, Charles Edwin, and Francis Henry; and seven daughters.
While little more than an infant young Samuel showed great ambition, and at the age of eleven years was able to cope with the hired workmen on his father's farm. He went to the dis- trict school in winter and worked on the farm in summer, and at the age of eighteen entered Raymond College, where he pur- sued a course of two years, under the presidency of Rev. H. G. Livingston. Severe studying injured his health, and he re- turned home to the farm, where he quickly recuperated. He soon yearned for a wider field of action, and turned his face to the Metropolis. When he left the old homestead his mother embraced him tenderly and her parting words were, "God speed you, Samuel." He had $36 in money when he left, but when he faced life in New York he had nothing but the capital mentioned at the opening of this sketch. His heart never failed him and soon he was master of a rich bank account. Disaster overtook him in the inclement weather of 1862, and the busi- ness he had established was literally ruined. The stroke fell with severer force, for he had then become a husband and father. His wife was Margaret, daughter of James Percival, and their eldest daughter was Ida Bell Everett. He accepted
Sammestederall
Eng? by H.B. Holl: Sorus, New York.
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an engagement as a hotel clerk for board for himself and family, and four years later his second daughter, Evelyn Per- cival Everett was born. Both of these daughters are graduates of Drew Seminary at Carmel.
He sustained a severe blow on March 12th, 1870, in the loss of his affectionate wife. Her father proved his benefactor and loaned him $6,000 with which he purchased the old People's Hotel at 106 Vesey street. It was then a place of no character and the resort of persons little better than tramps. He speedily transformed it into a first class hotel and finished the grand dining room in a style equal to any in the city. The Everett Hotel now occupies parts of nine city lots, and extends from Vesey to Barclay street. They were purchased in fee simple for $450,000, and the chief ownership is in Samuel Harrison Everett, who is conducting a business second to none in the land.
Mr. Everett is not selfish, he lives to do good to others and to better the world. He served for five years as a school trustee for the Third Ward of this city, and resigned to take a seat in the Assembly as the representative of his native county. His labors in Albany in the winter of 1881 for the protection of the Putnam county lakes and for procuring a plentiful supply of pure water for New York are too well known to require recapitu- lation here. He took an active part in the defeat of Roscoe Conkling and Thomas B. Platt, who resigned their seats in the United States Senate and sought to be again returned for their vindication. Although a republican he persistently voted against them and remained in his seat fifty-six consecutive days for that purpose. He declined the republican nomination for a second term for the Assembly, but under the pressure brought to bear by his friends he reluctantly accepted the nomination for State Senator for the Fourteenth District, comprising Co- lumbia, Dutchess and Putnam counties. He made an unparal- leled run, being beaten by but 208 votes, his opponent being the Hon. Homer A. Nelson, a popular and well-known demo- crat. Recently he has taken no active part in politics but has always been ready to serve his party in conventions and when important questions arise. His large business and his charitable and religious work engross all his time.
Mr. Everett is now president of the Board of Trustees of Rev. T. De Witt Talmage's Brooklyn Tabernacle and he has served as
32
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
a trustee for some years. He gives to the poor and worthy with a generous hand and his donations to the church are munificent. His present wife is the daughter of A. H. Todd, of Katonah, N. Y., and is the mother of two sons, Samuel H., jr., and Charles E., 2d, and one daughter, Susan Mary. Mr. Everett stands six feet high, is of wiry and athletic build, and his dark features beam with benevolence. The record of his life is a chapter young men could study with profit.
DANIEL W. DYKEMAN .- Hezekiah Dykeman, the oldest son of Capt. Joseph Dykeman, of Revolutionary fame, was the father of Junia Dykeman, who was born November 22d, 1785, and died March 6th, 1875. The old homestead of Hezekiah Dykeman is still standing on the north side of the road a few rods east of the New York & New England Railroad, near Dyke- man's Station. Junia Dykeman married Sarah Morehouse and their children were: Daniel W., Sally B. and Belinda M.
Daniel W. Dykeman was born August 6th, 1814, and inher- ited the homestead of his father near Dykeman's Station. This farm, like that of his grandfather, was purchased from Frederick Philipse, about 1811. The old house where he was born and where his early life was passed, was torn down in 1849, and a new one erected upon its site. This stood until 1873, when it was re- moved and the present elegant residence was built the same year. During his entire life Mr. Dykeman made agriculture his principal business. To all the country round he was known as an active and worthy citizen, and was one who enjoyed the re- spect and confidence of all who knew him. For many years he held the offices of justice of the peace and assessor, and was prom- inent in town affairs. Mr. Dykeman married Sarah E., daughter of Reuben Crosby. She was born May 27th, 1822, and they were married January 28th, 1846. After the death of his first wife, which occurred October 24th, 1851, Mr. Dykeman married Emma C. Nickerson, September 19th, 1853. The children of the first marriage were Edwin C. and William H., both of whom died in childhood. By his second marriage, Mr. Dyke- man had one son, Junia W.
Mr. Junia W. Dykeman inherited the homestead on the death of his father, which occurred September 12th, 1875. He still makes the place his home, and is one of the well known citi- zens of the town. For several years he held the offices of justice
Ditt Dykman
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of the peace and justice of Sessions, and has been prominently connected with local politics. He was married July 1st, 1877, to Miss Hellen A. Beatys. They have four children: Junia War- ren, Emina Beatys, Charles Roof, and Lewis Howes. Mr. Daniel W. Dykeman was an active and liberal suporter of the Presby- terian church at Doansburg.
THE BREWSTER FAMILY .- Elder William Brewster, one of the most prominent of the band of Pilgrims who came in the " Mayflower," was the grandfather of Rev. Nathaniel Brewster, who was in the first class that graduated from Harvard College, and during a long life the pastor of the Presbyterian church at Brookhaven, Long Island. His grandson, Nathaniel Brewster, removed from Brookhaven to Orange county about the middle of the last century.
His son, Samuel Brewster, who was born in 1737, was one of the most extensive land owners in Rockland county and the proprietor of iron mines and forges. He was one of the fore- most men in that part of the country. He was an officer in the Revolution and was present at the storming of Stony Point with Gen Wayne. His tombstone, in a family burying ground near Stony Point, bears the following inscription : "In Memory of Samuel Brewster who departed this life November 29, 1821, aged 84." His first wife was named Freelove, the second Mary. His children were: Samuel, William, Jonas, Richard, Walter and Harriet.
Samuel Brewster, the oldest son, was born May 14th, 1786. When a youth he was sent to school in Peekskill, and while there made the acquaintance of his future wife, Eliza, daughter of Ebenezer Strang of Yorktown, who was born August 8th, 1796, and in due time they were married. Taking the advice of his father-in-law, Mr. Brewster came to the town of Southeast and purchased a farm on what has ever since been called " Brewster Hill." This farm he purchased from Judge William Watts, but it was formerly in possession of Maj. Peter Crosby. He greatly increased his real estate by the purchase of lands adjoining, and at one time was the owner of 500 acres. This large tract was bounded on the south by the line between Lots 8 and 9 of the Philipse Patent. During a long life Mr. Brewster was one of the most prominent and useful citizens of the county. He was a captain in the war of 1812, and with Major Crosby
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
and Judge Watts was in after years instrumental in developing the resources of the county. He was also an active and earnest member of the Presbyterian church at Doansburg during the whole period of his residence in this county. He died April 26th, 1871, at the age of 85.
Mr. Brewster had eight children : William Charles, born May 31st, 1816, now living on a part of his father's farm in South- east (He married Julia Wynkoop and has two daughters, Julia and Virginia); James S., born August 16th, 1819 (He was possessed of considerable mechanical genius, and was the in- ventor of the gimlet pointed screw now in universal use, and also of a machine for hulling rice; he died unmarried in Florida, February 12th, 1882); Frederick G., born April 3d, 1821, now living on another portion of the ancestral farm in Southeast (He married Margaret, daughter of Harry Strang of Yorktown. Their children are: Walter, Henry, Eliza, wife of Daniel Barnes; Josephine, Margaret, wife of William Arm- strong; Martha, Mary, deceased, and Harriet, wife of Wal- ter Johnston); Walter F., born October 3d, 1822, now liv- ing in the village of Brewster, which he founded and which bears his name (He married Rosannah, daughter of Charles C. and Anna Hine Jackson, and has one child, Rosetta, born June 5th, 1853, the wife of Leander B. Lent of Brewster. They have two children: Leon B. and Elizabeth B., the former born July 22d, 1876, the latter born July 8th, 1880); Samuel W., born April 28th, 1824, now living on the old homestead of his father (He married Harriet, daughter of Eli Crosby, and has one daughter, Isabel); Harriet C .. born September 9th, 1826 (She married William Townsend, who was formerly school com- missioner. Mrs. Townsend is now living in Brewster); Eliza S., born January 19th, 1830, and died at the age of 12; Theodore T., born April 11th, 1828, lived on the north part of his father's estate, and died unmarried in 1882.
Mr. Walter F. Brewster, who is now living in the village which he founded, deserves more than a passing notice. No person has been so fully identified with the growth and pros- perity of the village as he. Almost all of the public streets were opened by him and dedicated to the public use. Follow- ing the profession of an architect and builder for many years, Mr. Brewster has erected more than fifty dwelling houses, churches and public buildings, besides numbers of smaller
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TOWN OF SOUTHEAST.
structures. His present residence is on Marvin avenue, and generally known as " Riverside " from its location on the bank of the Croton River. On this place are two neat and tasteful cottages, one the home of Mr. Brewster, the other of his son-in- law, Mr. Leander B. Lent.
THE HOWES FAMILY .- The Howes family are descendants of John de Huse (Norman ?), who, as far back as the year 1065, is stated to have been a large manorial proprietor in England. A descendant of John de Huse, also named John, the spelling of whose surname seems to have been modified to Howys, also held large grants of land in Besthorpe (Norfolk), in the time of Henry VI. For seven generations Besthorpe continued to be the family seat, when one of the heirs, Robert by name, removed to Carlotors Rode.
Like that of many other ancient families the spelling of the name has suffered considerable change, the last one (from Howse to Howes) having been caused by a mistake made in some important legal document, bearing upon the family estates. The coat of arms of the Howes family was first granted by Henry VIII., in the year 1519.
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