History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. I, Part 145

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 145

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HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

slavery into the Territory of Kansas, he took at once a prominent position, and was one of the first to raise his voice against the Lecompton fraud, among the most active of the adherents of Senator Stephen A. Douglass, and an untiring organizer of the Democrats in the House against the administration. As a mat- ter of course, a man who ventured to kick over the traces of party discipline was speedily denounced as a traitor to his party, but his opposition to Buchanan has been more than justified by the impartial verdict of history.

In 1858 Mr. Haskin was an Independent candidate for Congress, his opponent being Gouverneur Kemble, of Cold Spring. This was probably the most exciting political contest ever witnessed in the district, and resulted in the election of Mr. Haskin by a majority of thirteen votes. His nature showed itself when he stated from his seat in Congress, "I came here with no party collar on my neck." His independence was too plain to be misunderstood, and an attack upon him in the personal organ of President Buchanan was answered by him in an able speech on the floor of the House, in which his position and relatiou to the Democratic party were fully explained. "I am a Democrat, -- a Democrat in essence, in substance, and not in mere form ; Democracy, according to my read- ing, is the rule of the people under the law." In the Thirty-sixth Congress he was chairman of the Com- mittee on Public Expenditures, and member of the Committee on Public Printing, and organized the rc- search into current corruption known as the "Covode Investigation." Among his most intimate friends was Senator Broderick, of California, who had been his early schoolmate, and the friendship then begun continued till the day when the Senator fell, the victim of a duel occasioned by political animosity. It devolved upon Mr. Haskin to deliver a fitting tribute to the memory of his friend, which was a masterpiece of pathetic eloquence.

His last speech in Congress was delivered February 23, 1861. It was a characteristically bold and clear review of the agitation which led to the great crisis in our history ; expressed his belief that the perilous condition of the country was directly traceable to the conduct of President Buchanan, and contained a scathing denunciation of the treasonable acts of his Cabinet.

During the course of the war a weaker man in his position would have been a Copperhead, but in Mr. Haskin the Union found a strong supporter. In 1863 he was elected supervisor of West Farms, and con- ducted with success the measures for raising troops and assisting the government in its efforts to subdue rebellion. Prominently identified with all local im- provements, his most active efforts were devoted to the establishment of the public school in his district on a sure foundation. In the face of bitter opposi- tion on the part of many of the wealthy men in the vicinity, he succeeded in procuring the erection of

the present school building at Fordham, at a cost of seventy thousand dollars, which must ever remaiu a monument to his energy and public spirit.

Mr. Haskin married Jane, daughter of Peter Val- entine, a representative of one of the oldest families in the county. Their children are Elizabeth, wife of E. V. Welsh; Emma, wife of Colonel J. Milton Wyatt ; John B., Jr., Adele Douglass, wife of Joseph Murray, Jr .; and Mary.

The estate of Mr. Haskin, at Fordham, though now a part of the great city, has not yet lost its rural beauty. Here, surrounded by all that can make life enjoyable, he passes his days in the society of his family and friends. The visitor will find there as his host one who is thoroughly versed in the ways of the world, and whose intimate acquaintance with politics and politicians has made the name "Tnscarora Has- kin " one of the best known in Westchester County.

As a politician Mr. Haskin has been remarkably successful, but the secret of his success and influence may be stated in a few words. Utterly fearless in the expression of his views, his friends know him as oue upon whom they can depeud, while his enemies find in him a man who can neither be frightened nor cajoled. A weak politician of an inferior grade will truckle to his adversaries and strive to conciliate by unworthy means. Mr. Haskin is the type of a poli- tician who boldly defies his opponents and challenges them to a contest which they generally have the pru- dence to avoid. Among the notable instances of his traits may be mentioned his fearless letter to the authorities of the St. John's College, of Fordham, representatives of a power to which weaker politi- cians would have yielded with obsequious reverence, while his bold and scathing rebukes of many of the prominent politicians of the present time are too well known to require mention, and his firm self-reliance has shown by its success the truth of the saying, "They can conquer who believe they can."

MATHIAS BANTA.

Mr. Banta, who is among the best known jurists of Westchester County, and by his activity in the es- pousal of every just cause has brought himself prominently before its people, both in political and social life, was born in the city of New York, October 3, 1828. He was one of ten children and the only son of Solomon Banta, who married Maria Roome, of New Jersey.

While quite young his father sent him to Public School No. 3, in the Ninth Ward, New York City, from which he gradnated. He then attended the private school of Mr. Starr, in Amos Street, leaving it at the age of sixteen to enter the University of the City of New York.

In 1848, after his graduation from college, he entered the law-office of David E. Wheeler as manag- ing clerk, remaining in this position till the death of his employer, in 1869, when the business was divided,

Fully yours Quest Hall

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the real estate portion of it falling into his own hands.

Mr. Banta has since continued to manage the busi- ness. By his faithful attention to the interests of his clients and his skill in the management of the affairs which they have placed in his hands, he has accumu- lated for himself an extended and lucrative practice, which is continually increasing.

In 1870, after a long residence in New York, he re- moved to Mamaroneck, where he resides at present. From his arrival in Westehester County he has deeply interested himself in its politics. Being a Democrat, he immediately identified himself with his party in Mamaroneck, and was elected in 1877 super- visor of the town, an office he continues to hold. The liberal course pursned by him in the County Board so won the approval of his party that in 1885 he was made their nominee for surrogate, and received a large majority of the votes cast at the election. A pre- vionsly rendered decision, however, to the effect that no vacaney existed, de- prived him of the office.

In 1849 Mr. Banta mar- ried Miss Eliza Gedney. They have three children, -Hannah M., wife of William A. Turner ; Ever- etta, wife of F. S. Sheldon ; and Eloise J.

He is an attendant of the Methodist Church, of Mamaroneck, and is high- ly respected in the com- munity as an honorable and useful citizeu.

HON. ERNEST HALL.

Hon. Ernest Hall, prom- inent as a member of the bar, and a judge of the City Court of New York, was born in London, England, October 24, 1844. His father, Henry B. Hall, was a landscape and portrait engraver, eame to America with his family in 1850 and settled at Woodstoek, in Morrisania. He after- wards removed to George Street, near the Boston road, where he died in 1884.

Judge Hall attended the old Public School No. 3, on Fordham Avenne (now Third Avenue), near One Hundred and Sixty-ninth Street, from 1851 to 1858, when he graduated. He then obtained a position in the well-known publishing house of the Putnamns, and remained until 1860. In the fall of that year he began the study of law in the office of Henry Spratley, of Morrisania. He continued there until

1861, when he entered the office of Carpentier & Beach, in New York, and remained until May, 1864. In 1863 he joined the Seventy-first Regiment New York Militia during the Gettysburg campaign, and returned at the close of the riots in New York. He resumed his law studies until Angust 24, 1864, when he joined the navy as a landsman. and was detailed as clerk on board the receiving ship in Brooklyn Navy- Yard. He was afterwards on the United States steamer " Mohican," commanded by Daniel Annen, now rear admiral on the retired list, and was at- tached to the North Atlantic Squadrou. While on this vessel he was clerk to the executive officer. Hle was engaged in both battles of Fort Fisher, N. C., in December, 1864, and January, 1865, spent the winter on the Ogeechee River, in Georgia, and assisted in the dismant- ling of Fort McAllister, which had previously been captured by Sher- man's army. He came North in Mareh, and re- ceived his discharge in Boston, May 24, 1865. He then entered the law sehool of the University of the City of New York in the senior class, graduated June 17, 1866, and was admitted to the bar. He established an offiee for the practice of law in Morrisania, which he continued till 1877, when he removed to New York, and was elected judge of the City Court November, 1881, a posi- tion which he still holds.

From 1869 to 1873 he was a member of the board of trustees of the town of Morrisania. In the latter year he was appointed counsel to the corporation, and served in that eapaeity until the time of the annexa- tion to the eity of New York. He was subsequently appointed by E. Delafield Smith, then corporation counsel of the city of New York, to attend to all suits then pending affecting the annexed distriet, and was continued in this position by William C. Whitney, the sueeessor of Mr. Smith. He was also counsel of the Board of Excise, of the German Savings Bauk and of the Fire Department of Morrisania. He is a member of Post Lafayette, of the Grand Army of the Republie, and assisted in its organization.

Judge Hall's brothers, as well as himself, were actively engaged in the late war. Henry B. Hall was major of the Sixth New York Artillery, fought at the

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battle of Bull Run, was wounded at Brandy Station in 1863, and was discharged from service upon re- covering from his wound. Charles B. Hall was a member of the Seventy-first Regiment in 1861, and afterward joined the Ninety-fifth Regiment New York Volunteers, and his brother Alfred was a member of the Seventy-first Regiment in 1862-63. Judge Hall has four sisters-Annie, wife of Edmund H. Knight (she died in 1858, leaving three children); Emily, wife of William Momberger ; Alice and Eliza, both unmar- ried.

Judge Hall married Charita, daughter of Cyprian Tallient. Their children are Charita, Alma and Edna.

He is well known as an able and distinguished member of the bar, and is especially noted for the clearness and perspicuity with which he delivers his charges to the jury. Gifted with a voice of remark- able power, his enunciation and his reasoning are alike perfect. Every point of the subject is laid down in so careful a manner as to render it perfectly plain to the most common intellect, and with an impar- tiality which leaves no ground for the charge of in- tentional bias on either side of the case. As an active and energetic politician, he is one concerning whom it is safe to prophesy still higher positions in the future.

The brothers of Judge Hall constitute the well- known firm of H. B. Hall's Sons, steel engravers, and their name is known in connection with the finest specimens of that art to be found in this country.

HON. SAMUEL WILLIAM JOHNSON.

Mr. Johnson is a great-great-grandson of the dis- tinguished American clergymau, Dr. Samuel John- son, who was born in Guilford, Conn., October 14, 1696, and died at Stratford, in the same State, June 6, 1772.

His son, William Samuel Johnson, was first presi- dent of Columbia College, a member of the conven- tion that framed the Constitution of the United States and the first delegate in the Senate of the United States from the State of Connecticut.1

A grandson of William Samuel Johnson, was a New York lawyer of prominence and was a member of the Senate of the State of New York. He married Miss Lau- ra Wolsey, sister of President Wolsey, of Yale College. Their second child and oldest son, Samuel William, was born in the city of New York, October 27, 1828. After a preparatory course in private schools of the city he entered Princeton College, graduating in 1849. He then entered the Law School, Cambridge, Mass., and after a full course graduated in 1851. He after- ward entered the law-office of District Attorney N.

Bowditch Blunt, remaining till 1852, when he was ad- mitted to the bar.

Immediately after admission Mr. Johnson removed to Cattaraugus County, N. Y., where he remained for thirteen years in charge of a large landed interest. In 1865 he retired from active life, removing at the same time to Rye Neck, where he has since resided. He has been active in the politics of the county ever since his arrival in it. He early connected himself with the Democratic party in the home of his choice and has held several importaut political positions.

In 1871 he was appointed by Governor John T. Hoffman commissioner-general and chief of ord- nance for the State of New York. He has been nine times elected supervisor of the town of Rye and was for two years chairman of the board. For three years he was a member of Assembly from the Second Dis- trict of Westchester County. It is a remarkable fact that he is the fourth member of the family in the di- rect line who has represented a constituency in State Legislatures. He also interested himself in military affairs. From 1853 to 1872 he held commissions from the State of New York, the last one being that of brigadier-general.

He has been prominent in club life and is at pres- ent a member of the Manhattan, University and St. Nicholas Clubs, of New York City. He is also a director in the North River Fire Insurance Company and a trustee of the Port Chester Savings Banks.

He married Miss Frances Ann Sanderson, of New York, who died at her home in Mamaroneck in 1879. Their only living child, William Samuel, is a member of the bar in New York City, and resides with his father.

Mr. Johnson is a highly respected and useful citi- zen and his liberal spirit and cordial disposition has made him many warm and lasting friendships.

HON. G. HILTON SCRIBNER.

The ancestors of the family of which Mr. Scribner is an honored representative were among the carly settlers of Salisbury, N. H., and the name is frc- quently found in the aunals of that town. That of Samuel Scribner occurs iu 1754, and during the following year he, in company with oue of his neighbors, was taken prisoner by the Indians and carried to Canada, where he was sold as a captive, but was subsequently ransomed by the colonial govern- ment. In 1756 he joined the regiment of Colonel Nathan Meserve, which was raised for the Crown Point expedition, and served from May to December of that year. In 1757 he was a soldier in the regi- ment of Colonel Thomas Tash, and in the following year appears as one of the regiment raised by Colonel John Hart. The Revolution found in him a man ready for the hour, and, though exempt by age, lic was one of the first to enlist in the regiment con- manded by Colonel John Stark, which took an active

I For a full description of his life, see Appleton's Encyclopædia ; also "Life of Dr. Samuel Johnson," by E. E. Beardsley (New York, 1874).

Sam worthuson

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part in the battle of Bunker Hill. Among the list of soldiers in the town of Salisbury, May 27, 1776, are the names of Edward, Ebenezer, Benjamin and Jon- athan Scribner.

David Scribner, son of Ebenczer and grandson of Samuel, was born May 12, 1767, and was the father of thirteen children,-David, Hannah, Sarah, Eben, Sewall B., Silas, Ruth, Jacob D., Jonathan, Albert G., Hannah D., Alfred and Almira H.

Sewall B. Scribner was born March 12, 1793, and removed from his native place (Andover, N. H.) to Monroe County, N. Y., in 1816. At that time the present city of Rochester was a mere hamlet, and Mr Seribner was among the pioneers in what is now one of the most prosperous portions of the State.

In 1821 he married Clarissa De Wayne Hilton, daughter of David Hilton, who was descended from a noted line of English ancestry, whose family records are unbroken from June 23, 1295, to the present time. The children of this marriage were Gilbert Hilton Scribner, Alsada, Arveda (wife of William E. Stick- land, of Rochester), Albert S. (who died in 1852), Mary (wife of Van Buren Denslow), Celesta (de- ceased) and Celia M.

Gilbert Hilton Scribner was born in Ogden, Mon- roe County, N. Y., June 23, 1831, and his carly edu- cation was received in the common schools of his na- tive place, which offered exceptional advantages. He subsequently became a student at the Genesce Wes- leyan Seminary, at Lima, N. Y., and, after remaining there two years, entered college at Oberlin, where he received the highest honors for his thoroughness and originality. At the close of his collegiate course, in 1853, he went to New York and began life in the great eity without friends or acquaintauce, and with little to encourage him, but an amount of determination and energy with which he could not fail to work his way. Commencing the study of law iu the office of Hon. Daniel B. Taylor, who enjoyed a large practice and was the possessor of one of the largest law libraries in the city, the young student, by iudcfatigable labor, soon made himself useful in his chosen profession, and, in 1855, was ad- mitted to the bar and soon after called to practice in the United States Courts as proctor, solicitor and ad- vocate. Rising rapidly in his profession, his prudence and ability soon gained him a large and lucrative practice, and he was frequently retained as counsel for many monied corporations and large estates. In 1862 he was one of the organizers of the North Amer- ica Life Insurance Company of New York, of which he became a director and counsel, and, after long and arduous labor in collating and analyzing facts and statistics in relation to travel aud accidents, framed a bill, which was passed by the Legislature, allowing that company to insure against accidents to travelers. This was the first authority granted in this country for accident insurance.

Mr. Scribner came to Yonkers in 1858, and since

that time his life and career have been identified with the history of Westchester County. Upon coming to Yonkers he built a house on Woodworth Avenue, near Loenst Street, there being at that time very few dwellings in that vicinity. His home was sur- rounded by a beautiful locust grove. He subsequently moved to a residence at " Hillside," near the corner of Broadway and High Street. His present residence, " Inglehurst," was purchased in the spring of 1880, and from its elevated position commands one of the finest views of the Hudson River. It is also a landmark, being situated at the extreme north bounds of the "Lemuel Wells estate," which embraced the greater part of the thickly-settled portion of the city of Yonkers.

The first official position held by Mr. Scribner was that of village trustee, in 1863. At that time, with a few others, he organized a very thorough temperance reform. Born of Whig parentage, he early attached himself to that party, and remained a member while it had an existence. He attended the convention which nominated Fremont, in 1856, and since that time has been an able and earnest supporter of the Republican party. In 1863 he was made chairman of the County Committee. It was due to his ownership and efforts that the Statesman, the leading Republican paper in the county, was established. In addition to his extensive law practice, he was for a time the pres- ident of the Palisades Bank of Yonkers, and also a director of several large corporations.

In 1868 he retired from the practice of law and with his family made a long tour in Europe. He made a second trip in 1870, was present at the declaration of the Franco-Prussian War, and enjoyed special oppor- tunities of visiting the armies of the contending powers.

Previous to his departure for Europe he had re- ceived and declined a nomination for State Senator, but upon his return, in the fall of 1870, was elected member of the Assembly by a very large majority, and was the first member other than a Democrat who had been elected from the district for over thirty years. The weight of his ability and influence was soon felt and he soon became a leader in the Legis- lature and in his party, devoting much of his time and effort to opposing the measures of the "Tweed Ring," then in the height of its power, but destined to a sudden aud disastrous fall. In March, 1871, he was instrumental in organizing the Young Men's State Republican Association, the object of which was to unite discordant elements and end the strifes which had impaired the usefulness of the party. This or- ganization very naturally chose Mr. Scribner for its president, and having shown himself a competent and faithful leader, he was nominated by acclamation at the State Convention in Syracuse, in 1871, for Seere- tary of State, a nomination which was signally con- firmed at the succeeding election by a majority of over twenty thousand. Soon after the close of the Legis-

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lature of 1871 the representatives of the insurance, banking and other corporate interests of the State united in a complimentary tribute to Mr. Scribner for his intelligent, able and successful opposition to un- just legislation while a member of Assembly. The ceremony of the presentation of a service of silver plate took place in the chambers of the Board of Un- derwriters in New York, and an address engrossed on parchment, signed by and presented on behalf of the presidents of more than fifty of the monied institu- tions of New York, was not only a compliment to Mr. Scribner's character, but a certification that he had performed his public services in an acceptable manner.

Notwithstanding the engrossing cares of an active political and business life, he has never permitted his tastes for literature and art to become dull or enfee- bled. Often organizing and always connected with one or more literary circles, he has not suffered his love of learning to be stifled by the cares and responsibilities of his profession or the routine of daily labor. To him is due the credit of establishing the Bancroft Society of New York, and also "The Society of Pundits," a literary circle, which for many years con- tinued its meetings, and embraced in its membership some of the brightest men and women of the city which he had made his home. He was also for many years a trustee of the Bible Union and also of the Rochester Theological Seminary.

The profound problem of the origin of life upon onr planet has engrossed the attention of the greatest minds in the world of science, but still remains a question to which there seems no reply. Next to this comes the inquiry as to the place of its first manifes- tation, the determination of which would appear equally hopeless. Devoting his leisure time and thought to this and kindred subjects, Mr. Scribner has embodied his theories and the results of his investiga- tions in a monograph entitled "Where did Life Begin?" This work, which appeared in November, 1883, immediately attracted the attention of the inves- tigating and scientific public. It is a carefully pre- pared and forcibly written treatise, having for its object the establishment of the theory that all life, both vegetable and animal, must have had its origin within the polar circles, and further, that by the cool- ing of the earth's substance, and the consequent lowering of surface temperature at the poles, all organic life has been gradually driven to the temperate and to the equatorial regions. To express an opinion as to the truth or fallacy of this theory would in this place be presumptuous, but it is sufficient to say that the hypothesis has not only been well received by the press and scholars, but has been the means of turning the attention of men of science to a closer consideration of the subject, and the discoveries that may follow may far exceed the most sanguine expec- tations of its author.

Upon his retirement from political life Mr. Scribner

accepted the office of vice-president of the Belt Rail- road (so-called) of New York, and retained that position until 1880, when he was chosen president, a position which he still holds. He is also connected with many associations of a social and charitable nature, being a member of the Union League Club, president of the Skin and Cancer Hospital of New York, an institution which has done much to relieve human suffering; a member of both the British and the American Associations for the Advancement of Sci- ence, and trustce of St. John's Hospital in Yonkers.

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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 145

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