History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. II, Part 113

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 113

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Prominent among the names of successful men, who, by indomitable industry, have made Somers a town of model farms, stands that of Oliver Uel Todd. Early in life thrown upon his own resources, in a large degree, he developed those traits which com- mand sueeess in the face of discouragements, and maintained through a long life a good name, and de- parting, left naught but pleasant memories.

His lineage may be traced in an unbroken line back to the eleventh century, when the family emi- grated from Scotland, and settled at Pontefact, York- shire, England, the name at that time being spelled Tod, and bearing the signifieation " a fox," the family crest having as a part of its design a picture of this wary animal.

In 1638 among the original settlers of New Haven, Conn., was Christopher Todd and his wife, Grace Middlebrook, they being the first of the name settling upon New England soil.

Samuel Todd, the second child of Christopher, married Mary Bradley, one of the pioneer women of the young colony. numerous family grew up around their hearth-stone. Jonah, the seventh child, married Hannah Clark, and an only son blessed the union,-Abraham, born February 18, 1710. As he grew to maturity he was fitted for the ministry, and settled over the West Congregational Church of Green- wich, Conn., for about forty years. November 30, 1727, he married Hannah Dickinson, and reared a family of eight children. He died in 1772, and was buried in the old church-yard amidst the scenes of his life-work.

Tradition says that during the British oceupancy of New York and vicinity the family was driven from their home in Greenwich, and two sons, Abraham

and Oliver, took up their abode some fifty miles north, in the town of South Salem, when they occupied ad- joing farms.

Oliver was the father of four children,-Ira, Uel, Fannie and Huldah,-and living to sixty-six years was gathered to his fathers, and his remains, together with those of his wife, Lydia, who survived him eleven years, lie buried in the family plot near the Martin Todd homestead. His second son, Uel, father of Oliver Uel, remained upon the farm at South Salem, and married Laura Mead, by whom seven children were born, Oliver Uel Todd being the second son, and born October 5, 1805. At the age of seven . he, with the other members of the family, moved to Somers, and settled upon the farm which afterward became his possession and home for life.

Educational advantages at that time were extreme- ly limited, and the youthful Oliver made the most of the few winter months of tuition at the district school, and acquired a fair general education ; but his life-work was to be more manual than mental, and his education was most thoroughly practical, instilled by the hardy experiences of the old days of farming, long ere labor-saving machinery had commenced its revolutionizing era. Close application and untiring industry, naturally resulted in developing a model farm, comprising two hundred and fifty acres, with a good house and farm buildings.

At the age of twenty-seven he married a lady from one of the old and respected Somers families, Hester Jane Green, who brought to the home he had prepared, an experience in the duties pertaining to a farmer's life, and a genial, happy disposition, well calculated to enhance its prosperity.

Before the iron rail connected the gres west with New York, immense droves of cattle and sheep might be seen slowly wending their way along the main thoroughfare toward the city, many days and nights being occupied by the journey. Conveniently situated upon the direct " turnpike" road, the drov- ers found such ample accommodation at the Todd farm that for many years it became a noted hostelry for such itinerants frequently droves of cattle and sheep, from one to three miles in length, finding here rest and forage, and the way-worn and hungry drovers the best of refreshment.

Busy nights were those, when a mounted courier had announced the approach of a drove of a thou- sand or more head of stock to be corraled and fed, and twenty or thirty men tired, and hungry, to be fed and lodged. Great roasts of beef, and the fattest of tur- keys have issued from those ample brick ovens, teeming with savory odors. But these seenes have long since ceased to be enaetcd, and the actors have passed along into the great silent majority. Many dollars were added to the accumulating possessions by these experiences often repeated, until this traffic was quite diverted away from the old turnpike, and the railroads ushered in a new régime.

486

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

Being of a quiet and retiring disposition, Mr. Todd almost entirely eschewed politics, save to exercise his franchise as a citizen, in which he uniformly cast his lot with the Republican party, with which he became identified upon its organization

Likewise in religious matters he took no very active part, but was an attendant upon divine services when occasion offered, occasionally attending services at the Methodist Episcopal Chapel at Mount Zion, and contributing to several different societies of his abun- «lance.

A full half-century of activity resulting in the ac- quiring of an ample fortune, the last decade of his life was rendered iuaetive by an insidious nerve dis- ease, which thongh incapacitating him for any physi- cal exertion, left his mind unclouded to the end.

He died October 5, 1880, on his seventy-fifth birth- day, leaving a faithful and devoted wife and an only daughter, Ophelia, wife of James T. Green, to mourn his loss, a large circle of relatives and friends joining in sincere expressions of bereavement.

His obsequies were attended by a large concourse of friends from all the neighboring country, compris- ing many whose locks had been silvered by the flight of years even as had his.

In the family burying ground, a few rods north of the homestead, his remains are interred, a beautiful granite monument, of chaste design, marking their last resting-place ; and a well-kept sward is spread like emerald tapestry over and around the ever-increasing mounds, as the generations follow each other to " That undiscovered country, from whose bourn no traveler returns."

Harvey Mead Todd, the brother of Oliver Uel Todd, was born in Lewisboro, June 2, 1803. He received his education in the district school of Somers, to which town the family removed shortly after his birth. He left school for the farm at an early age, and remained actively engaged in farming till his death, December 21, 1881. He was a plain, unostentatious man, np- right and straightforward in every trausaction, and thoroughly above the low methods of modern busi- ness. He won by his steady industry a large fortune, aund obtained for himself a representative place in the community in which he lived.

He was an attendant of the Mount Zion Methodist Church of Somers, and was one of its most earnest sup- porters. He was a director of the Farmers' and Drov- ers' Bank at Somers.

He married Miss Esther W., daughter of William Nelson, of Somers. There were four children, of whom two died in infancy. The two surviving are William N. Todd, who married Miss Jane E. Wilson, of Somers, and Laura Josephine, who married Willis R. Smith, of North Salem. Mrs. Smith now occupies the homestead at Somers.

William N. Todd, the son of Harvey, resides on the Crane estate before described, having purchased that property a few years since. In addition to this, he

owns the productive farin adjoining his father's es- tate, known as the Wilson farm. William married Jane Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel Wilson, and pur- chased the estate of his father-in-law's heirs.

The Todd family have not been active in public affairs but have been earnest, industrious, careful and intelligent farmers, and thus have accumulated a com- petence. William N. has been, and is, a town officer, and is a representative resident of Somers.

A short distance west from the Todd estate, and on Primrose Street, is situated the large square frame dwelling belonging to Augustus Turner, whose father, Isaac, was a life-long resident of the town ; his father, Joshua, having built the house and owned the farm a quarter of a mile south of the residence now owned by Augustns. The present residence is of recent con- struction, the original farm-house having been toru down some years ago. It is pleasantly located, having a fine southern view, and has a large and valuable farm attached. Mr. Turner is a representative farmer, as well as a successful one. His farms command all his attention and he cultivates them intelligently. Adjoining his property on the northi is the farm and dwelling formerly owned by Daniel Wright, the father of Micajah. The old frame of the house is still standing, although its outward appearance has been modernized. It is built in the dominant style of sloping roof, low ceilings and heavy timbers. It is uow an attractive home, and is owned by Asa Adams. It was purchased from Micajah Wright about 1800 by Joshua Culver, who removed from New York to this place. He was born in Norwich, Conn., his father, William, having come from New London. Joshua married Susan Story and afterwards purchased this farm, retiring from business in New York. Here his nine children were born, all of whom, with the ex- ception of the oldest, are dead.

He sold the property to Ray Tompkins in 1846, and removed to Worcester, Mass., where he died in 1864, at the age of eighty-four years. Just north on the same street is the property formerly owued by William Marshall, who at an early date removed to Somers from New York and purchased this farm, where he re- sided for many years, finally tearing down the old building and erecting a spacious and attractive resi- dence a short distance north of the original site. He died in 1862 at eighty-two years of age. He was an active man in the affairs of the town and was super- visor in 1837-41.

The estate is now owned by Samuel P. Wright. His son, Wm. Marshall, Jr., purchased the place formerly owned by Ray Tompkins, north of the Wright property, and entered into mercantile busi- ness in Somers village. He was also active in public affairs and was three times elected supervisor, serving in 1855-59, 1860, 1862 and in 1869.

The Hallocks are an old and prominent family of the town. They are members of the Society of Friends and consequently have ever been averse to

487

SOMERS.

mingling in the active affairs of the town. Robert Halloek owued a large farm and a fine water-power on Plum Brook, a mile and a half west of Somers vil- lage. Here, surrounded with all the elements of prosperity, he attended to the dnties of life and be- came the head of a family. He was an early settler of the town and his mill was known for miles around in every direction. The mill is still in operation and the old house is still an evidcuee of the substantial construction of the carly days. It is approached through a lane leading from the highway, and is now owned by Harvey Varis, a direet descendant of the Van Vares of New York and New Amsterdam. On the east side of this lane is the family bnrying-gronnd, whierc lie the remains of the members of the family- not all of them, however, as some are buried in the Friends' burying-ground at Amawalk.

Robert died in 1853, at seventy-nine years of age, and Sarah, his wife, in 1863 at eighty-eight years. They left a large family, James, Edmund aud Robert remain- ing settled in the town. Robert occupied the home- stead and had sons-Elbert and William S. James owned a handsome residence, a fine farm and a saw and grist-mill a mile west of the old home, on Plum Brook, which are owned at present by Halstead B., his son. Edmund owns a farm adjoining the home property and his tasteful residence overlooks the farm of his father. They are among the most reliable aud highly respected residents of the town.

On the south part of the turnpike road, and front- ing the north extremity of Croton Lake, is a substan- tial farm-house, which was evidently built in the best possible manner in the days of its ercetion. Large, commodious and possessing some degree of ornamen- tation, its appearance betokens the liberal means of its owner. It is the homestead of the Nelson family. It has, however, long siuee been given up by the members of the family as a residence and their home is over a mile farther north, in a residence equally substantial and commodious and nearer the centre of the town and their estates. Absalom Nelson eame to this section at an early day and purchased proper- ty. His son William continued the life of a farmer, gradually amassing wealth, sometimes by speculation, but always by cultivation of the soil. William was also an active man in public affairs, and we find him in the Assembly in 1820-21. His son Henry succeed- ed to the property and increased the value of the es- tate by adding thereto, by purchase, several farms in the neighborhood. He died in 1860, at forty-seven years of age, leaving William and George, who now own the various estates and carry on the most exten- sive milk producing business in the town, if uot in the county. They are the owners of some five or six farms, all of which are devoted to the production of milk. One of the brothers remains in New York City to sell the milk produced upon their estatcs at home.

They employ many farm-laborers, generally foreign- ers, and conduct an extensive business. Fronting on

the Croton Lake is an old-fashioned farmi-house, which has witnessed the flight of many years. Ex- tending baek to the northwest and north is a fertile farnı. Its owner is Silas Gregory, a prominent and old resideut of Somers. He does not at present ocen- py his farm, leasing it to other parties and residing with his son-in-law in Yorktown. He has been close- ly identified with the town for sixty years. He was supervisor in 1847-52 and 1857, and has held some town office for over half a century. He was the mall- ufacturer of the first iron mould-board plow, and had he obtained a patent thereon, would have been im - mensely wealthy. As it is, however, he is in com- ~ fortable circumstances aud leads a quiet life, surround- ed by all that makes life enjoyable and possessing tlie esteein of liis fellow-townsmen.

In a eurve of the road north of the Gregory place, and nearer Whitehall Corner, is a neat, square, two- story farui-house, which is used as the polling-place for the Second Elcctiou District of Somers. It is of re- cent construction, having taken the place of the old building which for so many years used to be a noted watering-station for market-men and farmers driving to Sing Sing with produce for the boats. It is the home of Lewis Ferris, another representative farmer of the town. Mr. Ferris came from Lewisboro' at an early date, and purchasing this place, begau to raise potatoes. He succeeded wonderfully, and from his potato-fields has come his competeuce. He is an old man, widely-known and highly-esteemcd, and lives in the enjoyment of his well-earned prosperity. His son Anthony resides on the Nelson Teed property, a mile aud a half from Somers village south, and is also a practical farmer.

One of the most attractive residences in the town is owned by Aaron B. Whitlock, and is located in the centre of fine grounds, at the intersection of two roads near Golden's Bridge, on the east line of Somers. The mansion is large, in the modern style, with French roof, wide verandas, side portieoes, etc., and surround- ed by well-kept gronnds. There is also a fine farm connected with the estate. The dwelling stands on the site of the Harvey Mead place, which forty years ago was owned and occupied by Harvey Mead, a far- mer and eattle speeulator, and oue of the first freight- ers on the Harlem Railroad. Mr. Whitlock is from Lewisboro', and is engaged in an extensive mereantile business at Croton Falls. North of and adjoining his estate is that of George A. Tecd, now owned by his sou Allen. The house is new, having replaced one that was burned a few years since. The farm is a product- ive one. Allen and his brother George, who resides iu a handsome brick house just west, on the cross-road leading to Primrose Street, are the only sons of George A. Teed. It is a branch of the family heretofore men- tioned, and botlı of the young men (they are the only male survivors) arc energetie, carnest, earcful and prosperous farmers, as is evidenced by their buildings and the condition of their farins.

488

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

TURNPIKES AND RAILROADS .- It was important in the early days to secure easy transportation of goods and passengers to large markets and cities, and hence turnpikes were made through different sections, con- necting different important points of business. The Croton turnpike was the name bestowed on the high road running through the town in, a north and south direction, traversing its entire length, with toll-gates at certain points along the route. These turnpike roads were kept in the best possible order, owned and controlled by stock companies incorporated by the Legislature. The expenses of repairs, etc., and dividends, if any, were provided for by the receipts of certain sunis levied on passers through the differ- ent gates, either on foot, in one or two-horse vehicles or on horse-back, and also on droves of cattle or sheep. Cattle were thus taxed by the score, instead of the single head, and parties were also allowed to commute by the quarter or yearly. Mail-stages also passed over the turnpike to and from New York ria Sing Sing. The Croton turnpike was the continua- tion of the Southeast turnpike, which had its north- eastern terminus in Danbury, where it connected with the Boston road. The Croton road had its southern terminus in Sing Sing, where it connected with New York by turnpike. Thus there was a constant stream of travel passing through this town, especially through the village. At this point a road branched off to the west, passing through Yorktown to Peekskill, which was also a much traveled route, especially for drovers with cattle. Along this route the old mile-stones are still to be seen, brown, moss-covered, but plainly showing the legend "twelve miles to Peekskill," " fourteen miles to Peekskill," etc. Along this western road are scattered the prosperons, highly cultivated farms and handsome residences of the Hallocks, Charles G. Tecd, the Greens, Munson E. Frost and Joseph Perry, whose picturesque old mill stands on the Mnscoot, near the road, surrounded by the tall elins of nearly a century's growth. The first records of the Croton turnpike are found in a book in which they were entered under date of September 25, 1807, at which meeting of the sub- seribers, held at the house of Nathaniel W. Marvin, in Southeast, the following directors were elected : Darius Crosby, Enoch Crosby, Joshna Purdy, Joseph Owen, Joseph C. Field, David Baldwin, Daniel Howes, Nathaniel W. Marvin, Russell I. Minor, Peter Crosby ; Joshua Purdy, president ; Russell I. Minor, clerk.

It was here " Resolved that Joshua Purdy, Esq., wait on his Excellency, the Governor, and request him to appoint the commission to lay out the said turnpike road mentioned in the Parliamentary Act relative to the Croton Turnpike Road." In October, 1809, a gate was ordered to be "erected on and across the said road on Somers Town Plane, near the house of Hachaliah Bailey." On May 22, 1813, a reward of two hundred dollars was offered "for the

apprehension of the persons who set fire to a house intended for a toll-house, and have made threats against the property of the company." In 1829, Ilachaliah Bailey was elected secretary and John Owens, president, and the following toll gatherers or gate-keepers appointed: No. 1, Medad Palmer; No. 2, Thomas Betties; No. 3, David Adams. The numbers refer to the gates. November 8, 1833, John Reed was appointed toll-gatherer at the gate erected at Owensville. During the year 1839 there was re- ceived for tolls at Gate No. 1, 8586; No. 2, 8519; No. 3, 8274. At this time there were two thousand shares of the stoek held and a dividend of forty cents per share was paid. At the incorporation, in 1807, the original number of shares was five hundred, at twenty dollars per share. The annual dividends paid amounted to from twenty-five to forty cents per share. The last dividend was paid in 1849, and the stock of the Croton Turnpike Company was transferred to a non-resident, the gates removed and it became a free road, although still known as the "Turnpike." The last board of directors were Thaddeus Crane, Ray Tompkins, John Titus, John J. June, Edwin Crosby, Jabez Jones, Silas Finch, Gerard Crane, Caleb S. Angevine ; John Titus, president ; Jabez Jones, secre- tary.

The railroads touching the town are but two. A branch of the New York and Harlem, running from Golden's Bridge, a distance of seven miles in a northi- erly course, to Lake Mahopac, is the first railroad that ever touched this latter point. Nearly its whole length is within the borders of the town. It is said to have been the first really new road complete ever constructed by the late Commodore Vanderbilt. Pre- vious to its construction, parties seeking Mahopac as a summer resort were carried by stages from Croton Falls. A railroad project was broached for the western part of the town by which communica- tion could be established between New York, ditfer- ent points on the Hudson and the New England States. This scheme was unfolded to the authorities of the Harlem road and a plan was at once formed to run a branch road from the Harlem at Golden's Bridge, direct through Somers Centre to the Lake. Before the first-mentioned scheme was put in opera- tion, ground was broken and the construction of the Lake Branch began under the direction of George F. Avery, engineer, and was carried forward briskly to a satisfactory conclusion. On the 4th day of July, 1871, the first train of cars, bearing an excursion par- ty, passed over the road to Lake Mahopac. It was not until 1872 that freight and passenger trains were run regularly on schedule time. For a time the travel and freight traffic promised favorably, but it has nev- er been as great as was anticipated, and of late years, since the completion of another line, it has barely paid expenses. Somers Centre is the only station on the line in the town, from which is shipped abont three thousand five hundred quarts of milk per day.

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SOMERS.

There is a switch on the road at Plum Brook Crossing, a little more than a mile south of the Centre, at which some two thousand five hundred quarts of milk per day are received.

The other road is called the New York City and Northern Railroad, and runs north through the ex- treme western edge of the town, touching at two sta- tions-Amawalk and West Somers. This line con- nects at Brewster's, in Putnam County, with the New England, for points east to Boston. The principal business of this road, so far as this section is con- cerned, is the shipment of milk for the New York market. Owing to a lower freight tariff, its business is nearly double that of the Harlem Branch in this particular product, while in passenger and freight transportation it is more than double. The road, however, has met with many changes of proprietor- ship and administration since its inception, and it has been in operation only since 1879. In the first instance it was bonded, and subscriptions were freely taken by residents along its proposed line, but after reverses and fluctuations it became nearly or quite bankrupt, and the original investors were heavy los- ers. At present its business is steadily increasing, although it is now in the hands of receivers. Both of these roads are very dilatory in the payment of their annual taxes to the town, and a section of the Northern has been sold for the same. West Somers Post-Office and station, on this road, is a small collec- tion of houses situated at the foot of Slop Street, more euphoniously known as Mahopac Avenne. It is one of the four principal streets running north and south, and is bordered by fine farms and comfortable dwell- iugs. At West Somers is a store, blacksmith-shop and passenger-depot, while several neat cottages indicate enterprise. At Amawalk the store and shop constitute the village exclusive of the farm houses in the immediate vicinity. Near this station is the site of the ancient Indian village, and also a short distance away is the Friends' burial-place, which, at an early date, was the only burial-ground in the vicinity. It is related by a member of an old family that sometime in the carly part of the century a person was to be buried there, and one of the leading members of the society was asked for the requisite permission. " What's the color of the coffin ?" asked the sturdy Friend. "Black," was the answer (the coffin was of pine stained). "So is the devil!" was the curt reply, and the official rode away without vouchsafing another word. A member of the Green family buried two children in the ground and was refused permission to place even two field- stones at the head of the graves, to inark them. To- day caskets and monuments are in vogue, and no protest is uttered.

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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 113

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