History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. II, Part 10

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898,
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co.
Number of Pages: 1286

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. II > Part 10

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While consecrating his energies to the furtheranee of the material prosperity of Yonkers, Ethan Flagg did not, however, forget the mental, moral and relig- ious interests of the place. He was liberal in ex- penditure of his time and generous in contributing of his means for the support of every institution and movement that bade fair to elevate the tone of public manners and morals. In devotion to the public service he was untiring ; albeit he cared less for the reputation than for the consciousness of advancing the common weal. Enjoying a personal esteem among those who knew him well, which made his election to any public

AQUEDUCT BRIDGE OVER SAW-MILL RIVER, AT YONKERS.

and eity of Yonkers, was born in West Hartford, Conn., on the 20th of July, 1820, and died in Yonkers on the 11th of October, 1884. His mother, Mrs. Lydia Wells Flagg, was a niece and one of the heirs of Lemuel Wells, the last proprietor of the manorial lands which, previous to the Revolution, had belonged to the family of Frederick Philipse. Within a year or two after the death of Mr. Wells, Ethan Flagg re- moved to Yonkers, which became his residence for the remainder of his life. Meanwhile he had acquired a familiarity with business pursuits during a connec- tion of two years with a mercantile house in Boston, Mass. From the first he entertained brilliant antici- pations of the future prosperity of the little settlement, then scarcely more than a hamlet, at the month of the Nepperhan, and he resolved to devote his time and attention to the development of its latent resources. Hence, it was that by judicious purchases he acquired

trust at their disposal well-nigh eertain in advance, he consented to take upon himself at different times the duties of many of the principal positions connected with the village and city governments. Among other offices, he served as one of the members of the original Board of Trustees of the village; was one of the first aldermen and president of the Common Council of the city; was a member and for five years president of the Board of Water Commissioners, and several times rep- resented the town in the Board of Supervisors of West- chester County. While he was a decided Republican in sentiment, his patriotism was confined by no party limits, and, during the War of the Rebellion, he gave to the government and to the agencies set on foot to mitigate the horrors of warfare his undivided and hearty support. In financial enterprises he was always a leader, never bold to rashness, and never so cautious as to endanger success. He was a director of the First

Ethem Flagg

YONKERS.

National Bank from its inception, and was the presi- dent of the Yonkers Savings-Bank from its incorpora- tion to the time of his death.

Many of the churches, even those with which he was not otherwise connected, were the recipients of substantial help at his hands; and it may safely be said that no appeal for a cause that he regarded as de- serving was ever addressed to him without meeting with a prompt and generous response. Soon after his coming to Yonkers he joined in the efforts that led to the establishment of the Reformed (then the. Reformned Duteh) Church. A few years later, when the increase of the population of the place justified the organization of the First Presbyterian Church, he entered with his accustomed energy into the enterprisc, and became the largest giver, as well as one of the soundest of advisers. Besides large contributions in money, both to the orig- inal edifice and to the successive improvements and extensions, the extremely eligible and valuable plot of ground upon which the church stands was his exclusive donation.

In his business relations, Ethan Flagg was distin- guished both for the correctness of his judgment re- specting the conduct of affairs and for aeuteness in the discernment of the character of the men with whom he had to deal. Honorable and upright in his own transactions, he looked for and appreciated in others the integrity which he himself displayed. To those who showed that they merited it he extended a confi- denee as rare as it is precious. He delighted in what is really the highest form of praetieal benevolenee, for one of his ruling passions was a desire to help men who showed a readiness to help themselves, and it has been justly observed that many of the most prosperous citizens of Yonkers ean trace the origin of their suc- eess to the timely support which they found in Ethan Flagg in their first efforts to advance in the world.

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT .- A very satisfactory account of this department was published in the Yonkers Gazette of January 6, 1877, bringing its history down to that date. The article was afterwards thrown into pamphlet form. From it we seleet what we need as far as it will bring us, and later matter we supply from other sources.

Before August, 1866, Yonkers had been afflicted with a very inefficient police, the creature and machine of its politicians. Those who had the em- ploying and directing of it, seemed to care more for the votes of the elasses it was their duty to keep in check than for the security and safety of the people and their property. The result was that the rough and criminal classes had things pretty much their own way. At length the people became aroused to the danger and shame of this state of affairs. A. special town meeting was held at Flagg's Hall, on Saturday, July, 14, 1866, at 5.15 P. M. Lyman Cobb, Jr., justice of the peace, presided, and J. G. P. Holden, town clerk, acted as secretary. After the eall for the meeting had been read and approved,

Supervisor Isaac H. Knox offered the following resolutions, which, after an exeiting debate, were adopted by a vote of seventy-six ayes to forty-seven nays :

" Resolved, That it is hereby voted and determined, hy the lawful voters of the town of Yonkers, in pursuauce of chapter 403 of the laws of 1864, that regular patrohnen of the metropolitan police to the number of fourteen, of whom at least four shall be mounted, shall be appointed hy the board of metropolitan police for the said town of Yonkers, and that the sum of twenty thousand dollars he raised hy tax in such town for contribution to the metropolitan police fund, to pay such regular patrohnen.

" Resolved, That it shall be the duty of the presiding officer and the clerk of this town inceting to present to the board of metropolitan po- lice, aud to the board of supervisors of the county of Westchester, a certified copy of the proceedings of this town meeting, as far as such proceedings relate to the appointment and pay of regular patrolmen of the metropolitan police of said town-said copies to he certificd uuder the hand and seal of said presiding officer and clerk."

On Friday, the 10th of August. 1866, a detail from the Metropolitan police force arrived in the town, consisting of a captain, two sergeants and twelve patrolmen. This foree took possession and command of the building then known as Melah's Hotel, in Doek Street, near Warburton Avenue, which had been leased for them. The loek-up was located on James Street. The building on Dock Street was afterwards purchased by the town and made a head- quarters for the police. We shall refer to this again.

The following article from the Yonkers Gazette of August 11, 1866, gives the names of the new force and shows the feeling of the paper and of the citizens in reference to their coming :-

" THE METROPOLITAN POLICEMEN ON DUTY .- The vexed and long agitated police question is finally settled, and we bupe it may prove to he settled for the best interests of the town and village. There need no longer be daily excited debates over this matter. Tho newly-detailed men from the metropolitan police force arrived here yesterday, being ordered to report to Captain Wilson, at the station house in Yonkers, next door to Dr. Reeves's store, Dock street, at 1 o'clock p. m., on Fri- day, the 10th of August, 1866. The town of Yonkers is designated as a suh-station of the thirty-second precinct. The hoard of police commis- sioners have made a detail of twelve patrolnien and two sergeants to do duty in this town under Capt. Alansou S. Wilson, as follows : Sergt. James M. Flandreau, from the thirty-second precinct ; Sergt. John Man- gin, thirtieth ; Patrolmen-J. M. King, third; G. A. Kinsler, fifth ; James McLaughlin, seventh ; E. Spencer, teuth ; Geo. W. Mccullough, cleventh ; F. Boyd, thirteenth ; C. Weston, fourteenth ; W'm. Irvin, seventeenth ; C. W. Austin, twenty-second ; Joseph H. Wilson, thirty- second ; J. N. Foster, seventeenth ; and M. T. Hall, sixteenth. Last night the newly-arrived guardians of the peace went ou duty, being de- tailed to their respective heats hy Sergt. Flaudreau, who is the chief offi- cer at this station iu the absence of Capt. Wilson. A portion of the force for this part of the thirty-second preciuct will be mounted aud pa- trol the outskirts of the town. The officers and men detailed for duty hcre appear to be "the right men in the right place," aud that they will faithfully and fearlessly perform their duty we have no doubt. Let all rowdies aud evil-disposed persons hereabouts henceforth he on their good behavior if they don't wish to be summarily dealt with. The present police do not fear your hallots, and are no respecters of persons when their duty calls theus to make arrests.

The effect of the new arrangement became at once apparent. It continued in operation till the 10th of April, 1871, a little less than five years. During this period a strong and safe hand was felt to be present in the town and controlling. The Gazette details in

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

its article some of the more noteworthy cases of arrests and their results, and shows that the depart- ment was thoroughly efficient. The good order of the town came to be proverbial. Yet after a time, a change was made. Not from any dissatisfaction with the force, but from a general feeling that the town ought to have its own independent police department, a separate Yonkers police was established, whose his- tory will be given below.

The changes made upon, or that occurred within the force during the nearly five years of its existence, are given in the Gazette article as follows :

August 16, 1866, patrolman Joseph H. Wilson re- turned to New York, and patrolman George W. Os- born was detailed to fill his place.

December 14, 1866, patrolman William Irvin was transferred to the sixteenth precinct, and was suc- ceeded by patrolmau Leon Doncourt.

January 29, 1867, au event transpired which came near depriving Yonkers of one of the most efficient officers it ever had, viz. : sergeant John Mangin, who has now (1886) beeu at the head of the force many years. Sergeant Mangiu was on that day transferred to the nineteenth precinct, but the mistake of this transfer became so quickly apparent to the authorities that he was returned to his Yonkers post the very next day.

April 6, 1867, patrolman Elijah Spencer was trans- ferred to the nineteenth precinct, and patrolman Leonard Walters from the fourteenth precinct was sent to fill his place.

July 22, 1867, patrolman Cornelius Weston and on the next day patrolman Charles W. Austin were pro- moted to the rank of roundsmen. They were the first roundsmen appointed on the Yonkers force.

November 17, 1868, patrolman Justin N. Foster died of consumption. This was the only death within the force during the connection of Yonkers with the Metropolitan police.

September 25, 1869, patrolman G. A. Kinsler was transferred to the thirty-second precinct.

October 7, 1869, patrolinan George W. Mccullough was dismissed from the force.

October 17, 1869, patrolman Matthew T. Hall was transferred to the twenty-first Precinct, and Patrol- man John Clark was detailed from that precinct to fill his place.

HISTORY OF THE SEPARATE YONKERS POLICE. -We now copy almost without change from the Ga- zette article down to its date, January 6, 1877.

The Yonkers police force was organized ou the 10th of April, 1871. On the 30th of March preced- ing, the act providing for the formation of a local police was signed by the Governor, and the ineu from the old Metropolitan force were given till the 1st of May, to elect wlicthier they would remain with the Yonkers police or return to New York. They had all made their selection by the 10th, when the force was organized as follows :

Johu Mangin, captain ; James M. Kiug, Charles W. Austin, sergeants ; George W. Osborn, James McLaughlin, roundsmen ; John Cogans, James P. Embree, Martiu Geary, John Henessy, Edward Lucas, Richard Laurie, Cassius McGregor, James II. Mealing, Michael Muldoon, l'at- rick Muldoon, James J. Norton, 11. J. Quinn, John Redding, Sherman II. Smith, Louis Sprenger, John Il. Woodruff, Frederick II. Woodruff, Samuel L. Whaley, patrolmen ; Michael Foley, doorwian ; James Mlc- Devitt, hostler.

The following changes have since been made or have taken place in the force.

September 20, 1871, Michael Geary and Alexander Stevenson were appointed patrolmen iu place of Michael Muldoon aud Samuel L. Whaley.

July 2, 1872, patrolman John H. Woodruff died, and November 29, 1872, Alfred Nodine was appointed patrolman iu his place.

January 29, 1873, John Houlahan ; July, 21, 1873, Gideon C. Reynolds and William Carroll, and Au- gust 18, 1873, Joseph E. Johnstone and Lawrence Berrian were appointed patrolmen.

August 18, 1873, Sergeaut James M. King and with him patrolman Alexander Stevenson, Patrick Mul- doon and Gideon Reynolds were transferred to the Kingsbridge Station, to which also patrolmen Jamcs J. Norton and Edward Lucas had been transferred a little before. This force remained at Kingsbridge till its annexation to New York City on the 1st of Jan- uary 1874, when patrolmen Stevenson and Reynolds returned to the Yonkers Station.

August 19, 1873, roundsmau George W. Osboru was detailed as acting sergeant, and after the annexa- tion of Kingsbridge to New York City, he was ou the 15th of July, 1874, appointed sergeant in place of sergeant James M. King, who had gone over to the New York force at the time of the annexation.

August 18, 1873, patrolman Frederick H. Wood- ruff was appointed roundsman to fill the place of roundsman Osborn, promoted.

July 1, 1874, Patrick Whalen, and July 29, 1874, Charles L. Anderson were appointed patrolmen.

August 19, 1874, patrolmau James P. Embree was appointed roundsman and detailed to act at the Bronx- ville Station.

September 16, 1874, Samuel N. Hanley was ap- pointed patrolman.

November 21, 1874, patrolmau Henry J. Quinn was appointed roundsınan.

February 18, 1875, William Banks, aud January 7, 1876, David Taxter were appointed patrolmen.

March 19, 1876, David Taxter resigned.

March 30, 1876, Richard Laurie, who had been dis- missed, was reappointed patrolman. He was shortly after again dismissed, and James McGowan was ap- pointed patrolman in his place.

March 30, 1876, Thomas Nolan was appointed doorman.

July 10, 1876, Theodore F. Muller, and December 1, 1876, William Hatfield, were appointed patrol- inen.

January 1, 1877, patrolman James P. Embree and the next day, patrolman Williamu Hatfield resigned.

YONKERS.

January 15, 1877, Henry L. Hillman and James Nolan were appointed patrohnen. The former re- signed August 24, 1878.

August 28, 1878, Joseph W. Archer; July 2, 1879, James G. Tice, and August 7, 1880, Peter McGowan and Henry Cooley were appointed patrolmen.

September 1, 1880, Alexander Stevenson, patrol- man, resigned, and September 15, John Houlahan, patrolman, was dismissed.

October 13, 1880, William Conklin and Joli Riley, and November 19, 1880, William H. Lent were ap- pointed patrolmen.

March 17, 1881, John Riley, patrolman, was dis- missed, and April 1, Lawrence Berrian, patrolman, resigned.

April 20, 1881, Frank Acker and George Cooley were appointed patrolmen. The former resigned July 1,1881.

July 20, 1881, George Frazier, Jr., was appointed patrolman.

December 17, 1881, Sergeant Charles W. Austin died.

December 22, 1881, James MeLaughlin, rounds- man, was promoted sergeant, and Henry J. Quinn, roundsman, was promoted to roundsman at head- quarters. The same day also Richard E. Wilcox, patrolman, was detailed as acting roundsman.

January 4, 1882, John W. Edwards was appointed patrolman, and May 17, 1882, patrohnen John W. Edwards and James II. Mealing were dismissed.

June 7, 1882, Andrew J. Healey and George Dins- more were appointed patrolmen.

August 5, 1882, Theodore Muller, patrolman, died.

October 3, 1883, August Dietzel was appointed pa- trolman.

October 9, 1883, the Surgeon of Police, J. Foster Jenkins, M.D., died, and September 17, 1884, Samuel Swift, M.D., acting surgeon, was appointed sur- geon.

October 29, 1884, Michael Foley, doorman and, January 31, 1885, Charles L. Anderson, patrolman, were dismissed.

February 11, 1885, Edward Murray and Howard Esmond were appointed patrolmen.

May 1, 1885, Richard M. Johnstone, hostler, was promoted to patrolman.

May 9, 1885, John Cary was appointed station-house keeper.

May 20, 1885, George Shuler, was appointed acting hostler on probation.

May 22, 1886, Louis Sprenger, patrolman, died.

HEADQUARTERS OF THE FORCE .- The headquar- ters of the police, as before stated, were from the be- ginning, and still are, in the three-story brick building on Dock Street, formerly known as Melah's Hotel. The building was at first rented animally for five years. Then it was purchased by the old town of Yonkers for twelve thousand dollars. It is now the property of the city. On the right of its entrance ii .- 4

from the street, as it has been fitted up and fur- nished, is a large office, in which at an inrailed desk a sergeant on duty always sits day and night. Within the railing are various telegraph instruments of the general, citizens' and bank lines controlled by the police. On the wall at the left of the entrance are ten square black walnut eases with glass doors. This outfit is called "The Rogne's Gallery." It contains many hundreds of photographs of criminals, including all the noted ones who have been captured in New York and elsewhere outside of Yonkers. Captain Mangin has also a collection of photographs of the law-breakers of Yonkers itself. In the rear of this room is the captain's private office, com- fortably and handsomely fitted up. Within this room is a case with glass doors, which holds the battery of the citizens' line of telegraph. The room also con- tains two wardrobes used by the captain and ser- geants. In the basement are strong cells lined with zine, with briek ceilings and grated doors, from which it would seem impossible for the most ingenious prisoner to escape. In the front part is a lodging- room for tramps. On the second floor in the front is a large apartment for the meetings of the police com- missioners, and in the rear are a bedroom for the captain and a sitting-room for the men. There are also two smaller hall bedrooms for the sergeants. On the third floor are three bedrooms for patrolmen and two for the roundsmen. All these rooms are con- nected with the office below by bells, so that at any moment all the men from all parts of the building may be brought to the office at the requirement of the captain or sergeant upon the ringing of the bells.

At the time of the organization of the Yonkers po- liee in 1871, there were two sub-police stations-one at Kingsbridge and one at Bronxville, but in July, 1874, as Kingsbridge had been annexed to New York City, the former passed under the control of the New York police. The Bronxville sub-station is the only one now connected with the Yonkers headquarters. At present one roundsman only-Joseph E. Johnstone -is detailed to duty at the Bronxville station.

The central office in Dock Street has telegraphie communication with the New York City Central office, the Bronxville sub-station, all the banks, and the houses of many private citizens, the latter by means of the citizens' line. The connection between headquar- ters and New York was effected on Thursday, June 20, 1867, and at half-past seven o'clock in the evening of that day the first message was sent as follows :

The sergrants of this rural station return their thanks to the com- missioners and superintendent, and the citizens are congratulating us on our police telegraphic connection with the empire city.

" ('ROWLEY. "

On Saturday, February 24, 1874, the line to Bronx- ville sub-station was completed, and at 8.20 p.M. the following message was sent by Superintendent Crow- ley :

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

" HEADQUARTERS OF POLICE, " No. 9 Dock street

" YONKERS, February, 24, 1874

" To Charles R. Dasenberry, Esq., President of the Board of Police. " We congratulate the rural district upon practical annexation lo it- self, and in recognizing the claim that 'as goes Tuckahoe so goes the state,' sincerely hope the telegraph will prove of value in aiding you to go straight.

" Very truly yours, " GEO. W. COBB, Sec'y."

On Friday, the 10th of April, 1874, the first signal- box was put in working order, and the following message sent from box No. 4, on Ashburton Avenue: " 29," meaning "Captain Mangin is here." A few seconds afterwards " 27" was returned from head- quarters, meaning "Sergeant Austin is in this office."

On the 27th of July, 1875, a burglary was commit- ted at the residence of Mr. Thomas W. Ludlow in South Yonkers. Upon the occurrence of this event a number of citizens expressed a desire to have tele- graphie communication opened between their resi- dences and the police headquarters. The idea was considered a good one, and seventeen citizens at once signed an agreement to have such connection formed. The work was begun at once and perfected under the supervision of Superintendent Crowley and Captain Mangin, and in a short time was ready for use. The first instrument was placed in George H. Purser's residence, and on January 11, 1876, the first business message was sent across the line from H. F. Bakl- win's residence-" 246"-which translated into words. means, " Notify Dr. Upham he is wanted here forth- with." All the required telegraphic instruments were made and put in working order by Messrs. Pierce & Jones, of 149 William Street, New York.

All of our banks have telegraphic communication with headquarters by special wires, forming a com- plete burglar alarm. There is an indicator at head- quarters, and at each of the banks they have a key with which they can call the sergeant at headquar- ters, or answer a signal. Each bank has its appro- priate number and when it signals the station its number is shown on the indicator. By this means if a suspicious character enters the bank and attempts to perform any unlawful act the bank official can have a policeman on hand in less than five minutes, while he engages the suspected person in conversation or in any other manner. All the safes are so connected that the slightest tampering with the doors will sig- nal headquarters. This telegraph is an invaluable acquisition and the robbery of our banks is literally out of the question.

In all these various branches of the telegraph the message is not spelled out and received as in the ordinary mode, but is sent by numerical signals, and at each terminus is a manual containing the definition to these numbers, so that when head. quarters are signaled the sergeant goes to the instru- ment, announces he is there and receives the number of the message, and, if he does not already know it,

he turns to the manual and finds it. In comunicat- ing with New York, Bronxville, or one or two of the post boxes, if the sergeant wishes to send a special message he uses a dial instrument and can thus send any message required. The dial instruments are only located at headquarters, Bronxville sub-station, Box No. 7, Tuckahoe road, Box No. 8, Underhill street, Box No. 9, at Hunt's Bridge, Box No. 11, at Morsemere, Box No. 333, at Mr. Frederic Shonnard's, and Box No. 44, at Captain Mangin's residence. These different boxes have proved of immense value to the force, inasmuch as a man may be recalled al- most at a moment's warning, without the necessity of sending a messenger after him, and when he reports at the box the sergeant can tell him either to return to headquarters, or remain on his post, or give him other instructions. During the night a signal is received from these boxes every five or seven minutes, but during the day time not so often.

The police are permitted to make use of all the instruments of the citizens' lines, and receive in this way signals from almost every quarter of the city. There are now, besides the sub-station at Bronxville, seventeen telegraph stations, all belonging to the city, their location being as follows :

At No. 235 Ashburton Avenue. At Xo. 37 Post Streel.

At No. 5 Oak Hill Aveme. At No. 34 Garden Street.

At No. 24 Riverdale Avenne. At No. 13 Nodine Hill.

At No. 345 Tuckahoe Rond. At No. 27 Nepperhan Venne

At No. s Imdlerhill Avenue At No. 47 North Broadway.

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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. II, Part 10

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898, Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co. Number of Pages: 1286

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898,
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co.
Number of Pages: 1286