History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. I, Part 141

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898, ed
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co.
Number of Pages: 1354

USA > New York > Westchester County > History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. I > Part 141

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Peekskill. In 1840 lie removed to Carmel, Putnam County, where he and Owen T. Coffin, the present surrogate of Westchester County, were the only rep- resentatives of the legal profession. After four or five years he returned to Peekskill, and later removed to Tarrytown, where he died in 1864. He was unmar- ried. Mr. Yerks was one of the most systematic and painstaking of men. He was not quick nor brilliant, and was not considered as more than a fair orator, but he was a reliable adviscr. He was economical and accumulated property to the amount of twenty or thirty thousand dollars.

Alexander H. Wells was born at Cambridge, Washington County, N. Y., to which place his father, Daniel Wells, emigrated from Hebron, Conn. He was a graduate of Cambridge Academy, and studied law while filling the office of surrogate, to which, owing to his political iufluence, he was appointed by Governor William H. Seward in 1840, and which he held until 1844. He was made warden of Sing Sing Prison iu 1848. Mr. Wells was a political writer and edited the Haverstraw Weekly Times four years, the Hudson River Chronicle three years and the Troy Daily Times three years. He wrote with force and facility, but his impetuous nature led him often into mistakes which a more prudent journalist might have avoided. He died in Sing Sing in 1857.

Frederick J. Coffin, who succeeded A. H. Wells as surrogate in 1844, was born at Nantucket in 1783. His parents removed to Hudson, N. Y., whcu he was a mcre child. He was admitted to the bar in 1806 and almost immediately thereafter came to West- chester County. He settled in Somers, and married Charlotte Green. He was a master in Chancery for many years, and at one time a justice of the peace in Somers. He also held for a period the office of post- master of that town. During his incumbency in the surrogate's office he lived in White Plains. At the close of liis term he removed to New York, where he died October 23, 1860.

Mr. Coffin was a pleasant, kindly man, and as lawyer had a good practice. His powers as a speaker were good, and his reputation for integrity was high. While many of his decisions in cases coming before him as surrogate were appealed, it is said that his finding was sustained in every case.

Mr. Coffin's children were Mary E., now of New York City; George G., of New York; Isaac G., of Brooklyn ; Jarvis B., of San Francisco; and Sarah Ann, Robert A., Frederick J. and Josiah B., deceased.

William Warburton Scrugham, a judge of the Supreme Court for the district including Westchester County and the first lawyer who practiced in the village (now city) of Yonkers, was the son of an Irishman who came to this country from Dublin about the year 1810, and opened a dry-goods storc in the lower part of New York City. William was born in | March, 1820, and was deprived of both his parents when

1 The above biography was kindly communicated by Mr. Fred. E. Lock wood.

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very young. Hc was entered at a boarding-school in Westchester County while little more than a child, and remained there for many years, after which he was transferred to the grammar school of the Colum- bia College, in New York, where he continued to stay until 1838. He then began the study of law in the office of Samuel E. Lyons, at White Plains, and was admitted to practice in 1843. In the latter part of that year he removed to Yonkers, then a mere hamlet, the people of which were almost all tenants of Lemuel Wells. In 1846 he was elected supervisor of the town of Yonkers, and lic held that office for many consecutive years, until he declined to serve any longer. In 1847 he was chosen chairman of the Board of Supervisors. ·

At the first election for district attorney under the

JUDGE WILLIAM W. SCRUGHAM.

present Constitution he was chosen to the office, and he performed its dutics for about nine years (1847- 56). He was indorsed by both political parties for the office, and his eleetion was practically unani- mous. In 1849 he was appointed lieutenant-colonel in the Seventeenth Regiment of the State Militia. In 1859 he was elected a justice of the Supreme Court of New York, and he was ineumbeut in that office at the time of his death, August 9, 1867.

Judge Scrugham did uot like the exeitement inci- dent to the trial of causes, and would very rarely enter upon them alone, even in his own cases, but when he did engage in such a trial he was found to be prepared on every point. In his office of public prosceutor, however, he tried all his eases without assistance, believing it to be his duty to do so. In the conduet of his eases he showed good judgment.

His practice grew with the growth of Yonkers, and he was enabled to follow his inelinations. Hc devoted himself chicfly to real estate and eounscl business. As a judge he produeed a favorable impression, and he would have undoubtedly bcen re-elected but for his death. He was possessed of a pleasant and genial wit. Judge Scrugham was married, in 1859, to Miss Mary Kellinger, of Yonkers. They had three children,-two daughters and one son.

John J. Clapp, originally from Greenburgh, stud- ied law at the office of J. Warren Tompkins, at White Plains, and located in that town when he was admitted to praetiee. He was a man of strong common sense ; manifested good abilities, both in the office and before the court. His standing as a trial lawyer before the jury was high. He was energetic in disposition, an indefatigable student of the law, and acquired a competenee. He died early, in 1866, being then about forty-five years of age. He married Maria Banta. They had three sons,-Jolin Henry, Peter B. (who died young) and Osear.

Jonathan Henry Ferris was born in the ham- let of Oregon, in the town of Cortlandt, was gradua- ted from Williams College, and studied law in the office of Hon. William Nelson, of Peekskill. He was admitted to the bar about 1842, begau the prae- tice of his profession in Peekskill, and soon after- wards entered into a partnership with Calvin Frost, which lasted for many years. A number of years before the elose of his life he went to New York and praeticcd there. Later he went to Haverstraw, and finally he returned to Peekskill. The following year he fell into the Hudson River from a doek in New York while preparing to board a steamboat for Peeks- kill, and eontraeted pneumonia therefrom, which resulted in his death, on Junc 7, 1873.

Mr. Ferris was a man of brilliant abilities, which became obscured to a degree by some unfortunate habits into which he fell. He was refined in his tastes, quiek iu his conceptions, emotional and sympathetic in his disposition, polished in his manners and graee- ful and effective in speaking and writing. He was a great reader, and was possesscd of vast stores of in- formation. He built up a large practice.

Leonard P. Miller who lived in New Rochelle for many years, and practiced somewhat in this eounty, was a man of rare ability as a speaker. He was a son of Nicholas Miller, a school-teacher, and afterwards, from 1845 to 1855, a hotel-keeper at New Rochelle. He graduated at Columbia College with a high repu- tatiou as a scholar, especially in the classies, and was offered a professorship in Greek at that college. He was for many years a tutor in the family of John Hunter, of Hunter's Island, and educated the grand- son, the present John Hunter. While in that posi- tion his unoecupied time was devoted to the study of law, under the instruction of William W. McClelan, and about 1850 he was duly admitted to practice. His time and attention were chiefly occupied with

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HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

the management of several large estates, viz. : the Hunter, Overing, Van Cortlandt and other estates. He bore a conspicuous part in several of those noted ejectment suits, in which the title of large tracts of land held under patents in Ulster, Sullivan, Greene and Delaware Counties were tested.

About 1850 he was married to a daughter of the late Captain Josiah Le Count, and had one son, John H., who is now a prominent lawyer in New York City. As a speaker, he was brilliant and captivating.

A devoted adherent of the Methodist Episcopal Church, he was ordained as a lay preacher, and on several occasions preached eloquent sermons to large audiences. He died at New Rochelle, October 16, 1876, at the age of fifty-two. Although he did not participate largely in the general practice of law, owing to his special engagements, and so did not become as widely known in the couuty as a law- yer as some others; yet he was a man of superior qualities, and well deserves to be remembered.

John M. Mason, late of Yonkers, deserves notice as a member of the Westchester County bar, although he practiced chiefly in the city of New York.

Mr. Mason was born in the city of New York on November 8, 1821. He graduated at Columbia Col- lege, and studied law with his father, Hon. John L. Mason, who was an emiuent lawyer, and from May 1, 1849, to January 1, 1852, one of the judges of the New York Superior Court.

In 1849 Mr. Mason formed a partnership in the law with his cousin, John M. Knox, under the name of Kuox & Mason, which continued until his death, and enjoyed a high reputation for ability and integrity.

Mr. Mason possessed a clear and acute mind and a remarkable tenacity of purpose, which, with his untiring diligence and application, made him a most serviceable and efficient adviser and advocate. He was highly esteemed by the members of his profes- sion, who invariably found him candid and liberal in his practice, while zealous in behalf of his client and his cause. He was very patient and persevering in his examination of intricate questions, and in that important branch of the law which relates to titles of real estate, was especially skilled. During most of his active professional life he was a constant sufferer from physical ailments, against which he struggled with an endurance and patience which exhibited, in a most striking manner, energy and resolution.

Mr. Mason took up his residence in Yonkers in 1854, and participated actively iu every movement by which its growth and interests have been promoted. In announcing his death to School No. 6, Thomas Moore, principal, appropriately said: "I consider John M. Mason the father of the public-school sys- tem in Yonkers, and the main promoter of education in our county."

At the organization of School No. 6 in Yonkers, in May, 1861, Mr. Mason was elected one of the trus- tees, and he served for some fifteen years, most of the

time as president of the board. Neither the arduous duties of his profession nor bodily infirmity influ- enced him to neglect his duties to the school. In all weathers, and at all seasons, he was promptly in his place. His time and labor were given without stint, and the high standard of public-school education in that city is, no doubt, mainly due to Mr. Mason's devotion and influence. As counsel of the water commissioners, Mr. Mason rendered important ser- vices to that city in conducting the intricate proceed- ings for the condemnation of land and water rights.

He died at Yonkers on the 17th day of February, 1878, Jeaving a widow and six children.

Elisha P. Ferris, late of White Plains, was a lawyer in good practice and repute from 1865 to the time of his death, which occurred February 8th, 1882.

His family is an old one in this connty, and, by in- termarriage, connected with the Purdy and several other old Westchester families. He was born Febru- ary 6, 1840, at White Plains, was educated in the public schools of that place, studied law there in the office of the late John J. Clapp, and was admitted to the bar in 1862. He always kept his office at White Plains. Industrious, patient and reliable in business, he built up a lucrative practice. His popularity with his fel- low-townsmen was great, and he held many local of- fices and positions of trust, among other», justice of the peace, president of the village, president of the Board of Education and supervisor.

His health failed him, aud for several of his latter years he suffered from consumption, but displayed great resolution in resisting the disease and in attend- ing to liis business. He was a member of the Method- ist Episcopal Church and a prominent Mason.

On the 30th of April, 1868, he was married to Sarah Wright, of Whitestone, Loug Island. She survived him, with three children-daughters.

John Seymour Bates was born iu Bedford, and a son of Nehemiah Bates, who was for many years a merchant at Bedford village, and once county clerk of the county. The family came to Bedford from Stamford, Conn., and were among the first settlers.

He graduated at Columbia College in the class of 1838, studied law in New York City with George N. Titus, a lawyer of high standing, and was admitted to the bar about 1840. He returned to Bedford village about 1844, and practiced law there until about 1876, when his health failed and he retired from active practice. He removed to Harlem, and there died in 1884. He was district attorney from 1866 to 1868.

As a lawyer, he was quick in perception, sound in judgment, fluent and ornate in speech, and of rare coolness and self-command.

Of the lawyers who have passed away within the last decade, none stood higher in general estimation than Amherst Wight, Jr., of Port Chester. The son of Amherst Wight, who for sixty years was a mem- ber of the New York City bar, and in his prime a very prominent lawyer, he may be said to have in-

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THE BENCHI AND BAR.

hcrited his fondness for the legal profession and his ability in its practice. The father, Amherst Wight, Sr., was a graduate of Amherst College, and belonged to an old Massachusetts family. He married Johan- na Bonnett, who belonged to an old and distinguished New York City family. The son, Amherst Wight, Jr., was born in New York City, August 15, 1828. He attended a private school to his thirteenth year and then went into his father's law-offiee. The father was an eminent scholar, learned not only in law, but in general studies as well, and be gave his personal attention to his son's education. Under the tuition of the father, the son in time became a ripe scholar and acquired a liberal education.

In 1855 the son was admitted to the bar in New York City. In April, 1856, he married Adele Gris- wold, a daughter of Daniel S. Griswold, of that city. Tlc father and son entered into a law partnership under the name of Amherst Wight & Son, and prac- ticed in New York City. The firm did a large busi- ness, especially in real estate law.

In 1864, on account of the ill health of his wife, Amherst Wight, Jr., removed to the country and took up his residence at Port Chester. The change did not restore the health of Mrs. Wight, and in June of that year she died. Although not at first designing to engage in Westchester practice, he found himself gradually involved in it. Accordingly, in 1870 he formed a law partnership with John H. Clapp, a son of John J. Clapp, and opened an office in Port Ches- ter, in addition to the office in New York City. This partnership continued until Mr. Wight's death, and conducted a very large and valuable business.

His sterling qualities won for him the confidence and regard of the community in which he resided ; and, although a sincere and outspoken Republican, he was several times elected to prominent positions in his district, which was very largely Democratic. Among other public positions which he held by pop- ular suffrage were supervisor of the town of Rye, 1871 and 1872, member of the State Assembly, 1873 to 1875, and president of the board of trustees of the village of Port Chester. He was also, in the fall of 1876, the Republican candidate for Congress in his district. In August, 1867, he married Ellen M. Aben- droth, a daughter of William Philip Abendroth, late of Port Chester. He died at Port Chester on the 28th of June. 1877. He left surviving him his widow and four children-three (two sons and a daughter) by his first wife and one (a daughter) by his second. His death was universally deplored as a great public loss. He had the entire confidence and respect of all, both as a lawyer and as a eitizen. As an advocate his standing was not exceptionally high, but as a prudent and reliable counselor he had no superior among his Westchester cotemporaries.

John A. Husted, for many years an active and in- fluential attorney at Tarrytown, was born at Round Hill, Conn., March 21, 1831. In his youth his parents

moved to Western New York, and in the year 1853, he came to Tarrytown, New York ; and while engaged in teaching school he commenced the study of law with Elijah Yerks, Esq., a lawyer of that village. After a year or two he went into the office of J. Warren Tompkins, at White Plains, New York, and continued his studies until September 1, 1856, when he was duly admitted in the Supreme Court as an attorney and counsellor-at-law, and at once com- menced to practice law in Tarrytown. There for a number of years he was engaged in some of the most important ejectment and partition aetions ever tried in Westchester Co. He was an excellent equity law- yer. He died at Tarrytown, N. Y., October 9, 1884.

Edward P. Baird, formerly of Yonkers, for many years enjoyed the largest and most lucrative practice in that city. He was at one time counsel for the Mu- tual Life Insurance Company of New York, in refer- ence to its Westchester business ; also counsel for the Yonkers' banks, and for many important estates. The people of that city intrusted him successively with the important offices of corporation counsel and city judge. He was a son of the eminent theologian, the late Rev. Dr. Robert Baird, of Yonkers, and a brother of the Rev. Dr. Henry M. Baird, still of that city. His life was spent in Yonkers from early child- hood until 1882, when he removed to Minneapolis and settled there in the practice of his profession. He died there October 27, 1885, in the forty-ninth year of his age, leaving a widow and two children.

Isaiah Thornton Williams, who recently died at Chappaqua, was one of the leading lawyers at the Westchester County bar during the past twenty years. He was born at New Ipswich, N. H., on February 12, 1819. He came of an old New England family on his father's side, being able to trace his paternal ances- try to one of the Pilgrims who came over in the " Mayflower ;" while on his mother's side, he came of a Southern family. His uncle on that side, Judge Tenney, of the Supreme Court of Louisiana, not only distinguished himself in the field of jurisprudence, but also gained a less enviable fame on the field of honor, being killed in a duel, Sergeant S. Prentiss acting as his second. Mr. Williams was educated at the Academy of Exeter, N. H. While there he made the acquaintance of Ralph Waldo Emerson, and was invited by him to spend a part of the vaca- tion at his home in Concord. This acquaintance rip- ened into a friendship, which lasted unabated until the death of Mr. Einerson. Through Mr. Emerson, Mr. Williams made the acquaintance and acquired the friendship of A. Bronson Alcottand Henry D. Thoreau.

After leaving the academy he went to Buffalo, and studied law in the office of Henry K. Smith, and after- ward in that of President Fillmore, where he remained some years. During Mr. Fillmore's administration he was a frequent guest at the White House, and met many of the prominent statesmen of that period.

He continued in the aetive practice of law at Buf-

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HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

falo until 1854, when he moved to New York City, and therc opened an office. He soou built up a large practice, being retained in many suits of the first importance. He had beeu in New York but a very few years, when he formed the closest friend- ship with Horace Greeley, continuing unimpaired to the last sad days of Mr. Greeley's life. He was re- tained by Mr. Greeley to defend The Tribune in the many libel suits which were brought against that pa- per during Mr. Greeley's management, among the most noted of which were the cases of the notorious Count Johannes, and of Dewitt C. Littlejohn, at that time Speaker of the Assembly, in both of which cases Mr. Williams was successful. He was also as- sociated with Charles O'Conor in several important suits. For a time he was partner of Francis B. Cutting ; but his mind was of a cast which rendered him impatient of partnerships, and he much pre- ferred to be alone, assisted only by clerks. He did not confine himself wholly to the practice of his pro- fession, but took an active part in the political strug- gles of 1856, when he made speeches in favor of his old friend, Mr. Fillmore, and in 1860, when he spoke for Lincoln. During the war he took a part in the exciting controversies of that period, sharing in the dangers which surrounded Mr. Greeley and those who acted with him.

Mr. Williams did not confine himself to those questions of public interest which pertained more especially to America. In 1857 he visited Europe, where he interested himself in the ballot question which then agitated England. making speeches in its favor both in England and Wales, While abroad he visited the principal capitals of Europe, enjoying ex- ceptional facilities for meeting prominent men, because of Mr. Fillmore's letters of introduction. In Paris, in Loudon and at Oxford University he re- ceived marked attention from men distinguished in scholarship, politics and law, by whom he was sought, for his brilliant conversational powers. While in Paris he was thrown into the society of Charles Sumuer, between whom and Mr. Williams a friend- ship was formed, which survived with unabated warmth for many years.

In 1867 excessive labor in his profession broke down his health, and he was obliged to retire from the prac- tice of law. He thereupon accepted the position of register in bankruptcy for New York County. He acquired a high reputation in that office, writing many valuable opinions. In 1872 he threw himself heart and soul into the political struggle for the Presidency between Mr. Greeley and General Grant, speaking in several States in favor of the former.

In 1860 Mr. Williams went to live at Fordham, theu in Westchester County, but since annexed to New York City, where he remained until 1869, when he bought a farm near Mr. Greeley's residence at Chap- paqua, in which he took great interest and pride. In

1877 he resigned the registership of bankruptcy and returned to the practice of his profession, and opened an office at White Plains, having formed a partner- ship with M. M. Silliman. In 1881 he dissolved this partnership and returned to New York, although he had built up a large and lucrative practice in West- chester County, aud there continued in the active practice of his profession up to the time of his death. His last birthday, on which he reached the age of sixty-seven, was spent in arguing a case before the Court of Appeals at Albany.

In 1849 he married Ellen E. White, a daughter of Ferdinand Elliot White, of Boston. She died in 1877, and he did not marry again.

In Westchester County he was one of the original incorporators of the Westchester Historical Society and one of its vice-presidents. At the time of his death, and for many years before, Mr. Williams was a member of "All Saints" Protestant Episcopal Church, at Briar Cliff, and was greatly interested in the temporary home for destitute children. He also took an active part in the meetings of the Bedford Far- mers' Club. He died at his residence in Chappaqua on April 5, 1886, after a few hours illness, of neuralgia of the heart, in his sixty-eighth year, leaving four sons and one daughter surviving him. He was well read not only in the law, but in general literature, and in social intercourse he was a most kind, entertaining and courteons gentleman.

Reuben W. Van Pelt, late of Youkers, for many years, especially in his early manhood, held a very high position both at the Westchester and the New York City bars. He was of very great capacity as a lawyer and early in his practice gained full recogni- tion of his abilities. As a young man he made phe- nominal progress in his profession.

Unfortunate circumstances several years ago divert- ed him largely from legal practice, and afterwards he engaged in various speculative ventures, none of which proved successful. He died at Putnam, Coun., on the 2d day of May, 1886.

In the prime of his practice as a lawyer he deliv- ered some of the finest arguments, both before the | court and before the jury, that ever have been heard in the county. He was of good origin and had a liberal education. His ability, energy and industry are ac- knowledged by all who knew him.

David B. Williamson was a son of Major-General Williamson, of Maryland, who acquired distinction in the organization of the National Guard of that State. He was born in Maryland, but lived abroad during most of his youth, and was educated in Ger- many. For some time he was an attache of the United States Legation at Madrid. He was about twenty- five years of age when he returned to this country and began the study of law in New York, where he made his home. He took a warm interest in the State Militia and was a member of the Seventh Regi- ment. General Fitzgerald appointed him his chief-

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History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. I, Part 141

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898, ed Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co. Number of Pages: 1354

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898, ed
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co.
Number of Pages: 1354