History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. II, Part 164

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

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In 1843 he married Anna Maria Fraser, of Jersey City. They have five children living.

JOSEPH PARK.

Mr. Park, who was born in the town of Ryc, May 24, 1823, is the senior member, and was one of the origi- nators of the well-known firm of Park & Tilford, whose reputation as grocers and importers is second to that of no similar business house in the world.

He is of French descent. His family, which is among the oldest in Westchester County, was for many years previous to his birth settled in and about the town of Rye, where they were engaged in farm- ing. His father, after whom he was named, being also thus occupied, early instructed the youth in all the intricacies of seed-time and harvest with the hope, perhaps, that he would become in time a practical farmer. But this was not to be the case, for at the age of thirteen the young man left his home and be- gan his active career as a clerk in the grocery store of Benjamin Albro, at 168 Grand Street, New York. For three years he discharged his duties in this capacity, and then, in connection with his em- ployer's brother, purchased the business, continuing it for one year under the firm-name of Albro & Park.

At the end of that time Mr. Albro retired and was replaced by the present partner, Mir. John M. Tilford. The firm-name has now remained unchanged for about forty-six years.

Mr. Park has been remarkable for his strict at- tention to the business which it has been his fortune to create. Together with Mr. Tilford, he has evolved from a comparatively unpretentious beginning at No.

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35 Carmine Street, New York, a custom and a credit which has no parallel in the history of the grocery business, either in this country or abroad. The four large stores of the firm in New York, situated-two upon Sixth Avenue, one at the corner of Twenty-first Street and Broadway and the other, said to be the finest store of its kind in the world, at Fifth Avenue and Fifty-ninth Street,-are crowded to overflowing with manufactured delicaeies and natural luxuries from all portions of the globe, which stand ready at a moment's notice for delivery to any part of the eity.

Though Mr. Park early forsook the farm as a means of support, he still preferred life in the country to that of the eity. Twenty-five years ago he began the purchase of ground in the neighborhood of his early home, till by gradual addition his proprietor- ship extends over fourteen hundred acres, situated partly iu the town of Rye and partly in Harrison. This land is all improved and is carefully worked by a large foree of men under whose skilled hands it yearly presents a pieture of farming success rarely equaled in this part of the State. His residence of Whitly, situated upon this estate, is a model of ele- ganee and taste.

In 1849 he married Miss Mary T. Carpenter, of Harrison, and has had two sons,-George C. and Hobart J. His extensive business operations have brought him into contact with numerous important financial interests in the city of New York, and he is connected with many of its moneyed corporations, stock companies, etc., prominent among which are the New York County Bank, Bank of the Metropolis and the New York, New Haven and Hartford Rail- road, in each of which he is a director.

Though well along in life and cumbered with a load of business cares, Mr. Park still retains a strong physique, and a cordial manner which has won for him many friends, both in commercial circles and in social life. It is with pleasure he is aceorded the place he deserves in the history of his native county.

WILLIAM RYAN.

Mr. Ryan, the eldest of thirteen children of John Ryan and Elizabeth Gleason, was born at Silver- mines, Tipperary County, Ireland, March 8, 1840. When he was about five years of age, the family, con- sisting of the father, mother, son and daughter, Ellen, removed to America and settled in Stanwich, Conn.

Here he attended the public schools a few years, and later, during a couple of winter terms at Middle Patent, Westehester County, was enabled to pursue such rndimentary studies as were taught in the dis- triet school at that place.

His time from the age of nine to nineteen, with the exception of the sehool-days noted, was constantly and laboriously, if not profitably or pleasantly, occu- pied by the duties of a farmer boy. At the latter age, yielding to an ardent desire for adventure, he de-

termined to seek in the West an opportunity for gratifying his passion for traveling.

Accordiugly, he arrived in Leavenworth, Kansas, early in the spring of 1859. The Pike's Peak gold- fever was theu beginning to agitate the restless spirits on the border of civilization; and young Ryan was soon one of a small company, which, having invested nearly the whole of their united resources in oxen, a wagon, a few mining tools and provisions sufficient for six months, started for the Rocky Mountains.

The course followed was the Smoky Hill route, through Central and Western Kansas, at that time an untracked waste, particularly dangerous to an unpro- tected party on account of hostile Indians. It was also destitute of wood for hundreds of miles, and often bare of pastuage and scantily supplied with water.

Arriving at Denver, then consisting only of a few tents and huts, on the 1st of June, the company dis- banded. The majority, despairing of any sucecss in mining, made the best of their way East by way of the Platte River Valley. Ryan, with two companions, however, determined to spend some time prospecting in the mountains, and selecting the two best travel- ers among the oxen, hitched them to a pair of wagon wheels, and, tying a small tent, some mining tools and three months' provisions on the axle, made the first trip with a team from Denver to the mines. After a week's prospecting they finally settled on the site of what is now Central City, where Mr. Ryan helped erect the first tent and miner's cabin. By this time gold had been struck in paying quantities in this vicinity, and he continued, with varying success, to work and prospect in lodes, gulches and placer dig- gings during that and the following season. Meeting with an accident and his health failing, after spend- ing a winter in Mississippi, near Vicksburg, and a summer on a farm in Missouri, he returned home, and moved to Port Chester in 1861.

Here he worked ou a farin five years, devoting whatever spare hours he could command to the im- provement of his education ; then, entering the pro- fession of school-teaching, he taught first at Byram. Conn., and afterwards at Mamaroneck aud Bronx- dale, N. Y., eontinning, however, to reside at Port Chester.

In 1870 he formed a partnership with John Duffy, and began the grocery business, and for the two sliceeeding years taught school at Bronxdale and at- tended to his business in the store at such hours of mornings, evenings and Saturdays as he could devote to that purpose. In 1874 the firm was dissolved. Mr. Ryan continuing the business, to which he added that of coal, wood and stone. In 1880 he associated with himself his brother Frank and P. O'Malley, forming the present firm of William Ryan & Co., and greatly extending the business.

He was, in 1870, elected a trustee of the village of Port Chester, and served six years in that office. He

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HARRISON.

was a member of the Board of Education for two terms, being president when the elegant Union Frce- School building was erected. He held the office of justice of peace for several years, and in 1883 was elected without opposition supervisor of the town of Rye, receiving a similar compliment in 1884 and 1885.

In 1875 he was married to Mary O'Mallcy, who died in 1879, leaving him two daughters, Elizabeth and Ellen Agnes.

JOHN W. LOUNSBURY.

A familiar face upon the streets of Port Chester is that of Mr. Lounsbury. Comfortable in circum- stances and surrounded by cvery necessity of life as he now is, many of his fellow-townsmen re- call distinctly the time, when, by his unaided efforts, he was laying the foundation of his present fortune by the side of a blacksmith's forge. Easy in disposition and slow to decide a point, he has not been the victim of those mistakes and misfortunes which arise from the possession of an ardent temperament. Consequently his life has been an uninterrupted history of success.

He is the second son of Edward Lounsbury, a Connecticut farmer, who married Nancy Peck at Stamford, in that State. From Stamford the family removed to Flushing, Long Island, shortly be- fore the birth of John W., which occurred there April 29, 1825. His father's circumstances not being such as to admit of expensive educational advantages, the youth was allowed to obtain what schooling he could, only after he had performed his share toward the family support.

The contracted privileges to which this subjected him, together with the monotony of farm life, caused him, at the age of fourtecn, to leave Stamford, to which his parents had meanwhile returned. He eamc first to New York City, where he remained for three years, occupying the position of clerk in a grocery store. But elerking behind the counter was not what he had intended, and at the end of that period he left New York and came to Port Chester. Entering the black- smith and carriage repair shop of William Stivers, he ii .- 62

SanLorsburg

commenced learning the blacksmith tradc. For four years he remained at this work, at the expiration of which, by industry and economy, he had accumulated enough money to purchase the business from his employer. This he did, and for a period of five years continued in its successful management.

On the 1st of September, 1851, however, feeling that there was a good opportunity for such venture, he established the general grocery business, an avoca- tion in which he is engaged at this time. As a merchant he has been peculiarly successful, and from the proceeds of his business, by prudence and forc- sight, has been enabled to accumulate the large wealth which is at present in his possession.

He has figured promi- nently in politics. He was elected supervisor of the town of Ryc from 1860 to 1861, upon the Republican ticket, being a stanch supporter of that party. He was also a trustee of the village of Port Chester for three years and afterward its president. At the incor- poration of the Port Ches- ter Library and Reading- Room, his name was among the first upon the membership roll and he is at present its president. He is a director in and vice-president of the First National Bank of Port Chester and a director of the Westchester Fire In- surance Company.

December 9, 1849, he married Jane A., daugh- ter of Isaac B. Redfield, of Port Chester. Their children arc George R., Daniel M., Herbert S. and Charles E., three of whom reside in Port Clicster and one in Chicago. Mr. Lounsbury continues to be actively engaged in cvery good work.

CHAPTER XV.

HARRISON.

BY REV. CHARLES W. BAIRD, D.D.,

Pastor Presbyterian ('hurch, Rye.

THE town of Harrison is noted in the history of the county as having been the bone of contention that led the town of Rye to " secede "from the prov-

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HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

ince of New York, and ask to be taken baek to Con- nectieut. The story has been told elsewhere in this volume, and needs only to be recapitulated briefly here. A tract of land situated above Westchester Path, between Blind Brook and Mamaroneck River, and extending as far north as Rye Pond, was pur- chased in 1662 by Peter Disbrow and his com- panions from certain Indians. Four years later John Budd bought, from other Indians, a more extensive tract, including the preceding purchase. Neither Disbrow nor Budd made any attempt to improve the land, and it remained vaeant and uncultivated.

In 1695, John Harrison, disregarding these elaims, bought the territory north of Westchester Path from an Indian who professed to be "the true owner and proprietor." Harrison's Purchase was surveyed by order of Colonel Fletcher, Governor of New York, and a patent was granted by the British government to IIarrison and his associates.

The inhabitants of Rye in general, who represent- ed the interests of Disbrow and his eo-purchasers,- all of whom were among the original settlers of the town,-together with the son and heir of John Budd, opposed the grant. Unfortunately, instead of com- bining their forees, they presented two separate claims. This division was fatal. The Council paid no regard to either claim, but confirmed Harrison's title. Hence the sceession of the exasperated people of Rye, in 1697. The King's order in Council placed them back within the jurisdiction of the province of New York, in 1700.

The purchase was held in equal shares by five patentees. These were John Harrison, William Nicols, Ebenezer Wilson, David Jamison and Samuel Haight.1 The last named was the only one of the original patentces who retained his portion of the land. John Harrison sold his interest in the pur- ehase to William Lawrence in 1702. Wilson con- veyed his to his son-in-law, Philip Rokeby, in 1708. Nicols and Jamison probably disposed of their shares before that date or soon after .?

Haight was a member of the Society of Friends, and most of the early settlers were of the same re- ligions persuasion and came like him from Flushing, or from other Long Island towns. It is probable that their intention was from the first to found a " Quaker" settlement.

Harrison's Purchase was first settled about the year 1724. A few of the inhabitants of Rye bought land in this section, but in no sneh number as ro- moved to the White Plains and other purchases. Roger Park,3 of Rye, as early as 1740, had acquired lands in Harrison's Purchase, which are owned by

some of the name at the present day. The Rev. James Wetmore owned a farm in the lower part of the Purchase. William Horton owned lands on " Brown's Point," near St. Mary's Pond, in 1757.4 Gilbert Bloomer owned in 1743 a farm which he then sold to Thomas Carpenter. This farm is now the property of Mr. Charles Park.

A traet of land aneiently known as "Brown's Point," now a part of Harrison, bordering on White Plains, appears to have been held, at first, as distinet from either purchase. The principal proprietors in the lower part of this traet were Obadiah and David, sons of Joseph Purdy, who owned lands situated here, at the time of his death, in 1709. " Home-lots " were owned here in 1725 by John Haight, Caleb Hyat, Abraham Miller, Franeis La Count and others. Transfers of property are recorded from Walter Wil- liams to Eliezur Yeomans in 1739; Daniel Cornell to Daniel Merritt, 1749 ; David Purdy to Michael Chatterton, 1752. In 1757, William Hooker Smith, oldest son of the Rev. John Smith, of Rye, owned land on the Point, and in 1769, Thomas Smith, his younger brother, bought a house and thirteen aeres of land, beginning at the bridge across the Causeway Brook, and lying between the brook and the road to John Horton's mill. Here, in a house which is still standing, Dr. Smith passed the last days of his life.

Until the Revolution the inhabitants of the Pur- chase participated with those of Rye in the transae- tion of town business, without any other distinction than that of having their own officers for the discharge of local functions. We find Samuel Field chosen as "surveyor for harycons pattne" in 1724, and "sheep- master" in 1725 ; and Roger Park, cho-en as "ponn- der " in 1729. In 1773 the Board of Supervisors for Westchester County refuses to recognize a supervisor for Harrison, as distinct from the town of Rye. 5 Harrison also formed one of the six precincts of the parish of Rye, under the semi-ecclesiastieal system that prevailed. The first election of offieers for the town of Harrison was held April 5, 1774, and resulted as follows :

"Major Thomas Thomas, supervisor ; William Miller, clerk ; Wilsey Dusinberry, coustable and collector ; Stephen Fields and Job Hadden, Jr., assessors ; Samnel Haviland, William Anderson, Thomas Vail, Alex- under Hains, Job Hadden and Samnel I'nrdy, highway masters; Thomas l'ark, pounder ; Samuel Hlaviland and Thomas Park, fence and damage viewers."

The following extraets from the town records relate to the election of town officers at the commencement of the Revolution, and immediately subsequent : 6

"On Tuesday, the 2nd of April, 1776, the frecholders, inhabitants of Harrison's Precinct, met at the place appointed by law and made choice of the following town officers : Samuel lavlland, supervisor ; William Miller, town clerk ; Joshua Hunt, John Hnight, Wellsey linsenberry, assessors ; Joseph Carpenter, highway master for lower part ; David Hulstead, high-

1 Caleb Heathcote bought two hundred neres from Jamison in 1712 (Co. Hrc lib. 261).

" E. Bondinot servoss, Esq., of Harlem, N. Y., represents all the legal rights of Ebenezer Wilson. The descemlants of llnight retained por- session of their ancestor's lands until a comparatively recent day.

3 Records C, 170.

4 Tid D. 116, 178.

5 I'roceedings of the Board of Supervisors of Westchester County for 1869 (appendix, pages 9, 10).

" Bolton's " Ilistory of Westchester," pages 387, 388.

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HARRISON.

way master for tho middle ; Stephen Field, highway master for the upper ; William Ascough, highway master for Brown's Point ; William Woodward, highway master for North Street ; Job Hadden, highway master for West and Ilaight Streets, all to the usual bounds; Sammel Haviland, Thomas Park, fence and damage viewers; Thomas Park, pounder."

" At a town-meeting held this first day of April, 1783, in Harrison's Precinct, State of New York, the following town officers were chosen to serve the ensuing year :

"Isaiah Maynard, supervisor ; Stephen Field, town clerk ; James Miller, constable and collector ; Thomas Thomas, William Woodward, Thomas Carpenter, assessors ; llenry Dusenberry, pounder ; John Crom- well, overseer of the highway for upper part of precinct ; Richard Barnes, for the middle part ; Joseph Carpenter, for the lower part ; Roger Purdy, for North Street ; Job Hadden, Jr., for the west part of the pat- ent ; Henry Dusenberry, Elisha Horton, fence and damage viewers."

Harrison was organized as a separate township on the 7th of March, 1788. In 1790 the town contained 1004 inhabitants. Since that time the growth of the population seems to have been singularly intermittent. Thus, in 1800 only 855 inhabitants are reported. The number swells up to 1119 in 1810, only to fall as low as 825 in 1814. In 1820 there were 994 inhabitants ; 999 in 1825 ; 1085 in 1830 ; 1016 in 1835; 1139in 1840; 1039 in 1845; 1262 in 1850; 1413 in 1860; 1380 in 1835; 7921 in 1870; 1431 in 1875; 1494 in 1880, when the last census was taken.

The town measures nine miles at its great- est length by nearly three miles at its great- est width. In shape it is very irregular. Its area is ninety-nine hundred and thirty-four acres, or a little more than fifteen and a half square miles. The value of the real estate in 1886 was $1,039,912, or an average of $103.08 per acre. The irregular lines and consequent peculiar shape of the town are puzzling when one attempts to bound it. On the north it is bounded by North Castle, on the east by Connecticut and the town of Ryc, on the south also by the town of Rye, and on the west by the towns of Mamaroneck, White Plains and North Castle. It is sepa- rated from Long Island Sound by a narrow strip of the town of Rye. The soil is prin- ST. VINCENT'S RETREAT FOR THE INSANE, HARRISON. cipally loam, fertile and well cultivated. The surface, mostly level in the southern part, begins | been lavish of her gifts in this region, and with the to undulate and to rise gradually towards the north, attractions presented by the town, it is not surprising that so many city men have sought homes in it, where they may rest and forget the cares of business. from the point nearest the Sound, a disposition which makes the landscape eminently picturesque. From the highest points the eye embraces the whole expanse of the almost level ground, dotted with fine farms, green fields, elegant mansions and cosy country homes, half-hidden by clumps of trees ; and beyond all this it rests, charmed, on the beautiful prospects presented by the Sound and Long Island.

The beauty of this region is enhanced by the nu- merous streams that enrich and enliven it. The Mamaroneck River constitutes, for the most part, the

western boundary line of the town, and Blind Brook (Mockquams River) the eastern line, while several smaller streams, that drain the soil, add their waters to these two rivers, which run south into Long Island Sound, supplying mill-seats in abundance. Turning from this enchanting view, and looking towards the north, we see the crystal surface of Rye Pond. This beautiful sheet of water covers two hundred and eighty-four acres of ground. It abounds in fish of many varieties, and is a resort dear to the disciples of Izaak Walton. Rye Pond has an outlet on the west side, which, passing through another pretty sheet of water (called Little Rye Pond), flows into the Bronx River, of which it is the principal source. Little Rye Pond has an extent of twenty seven acres. St. Mary's Lake, on the northwestern line, is another beautiful sheet of water.

The growth of wood consists principally of oak of all kinds, chestnut and hickory, which is in great abundance, as also ash and elm. Here is found, also, the tulip tree, called by Mr. Downing " decidedly the most stately tree in North America." Nature has

The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad crosses the southern portion of the town. Harrison Station, twenty-two miles from the city of New York, was opened in June, 1870. The elegant station build- ing was erected and given to the railroad company by the late Mr. William Mathews, who owned the property on which it stands. Near the station is the Harrison Hotel, a handsome frame building erected by Mr. Mathews a few years ago. There are several very taste- ful residences near Harrison Station, south of the rail- road traek. A short distance to the north of the station are still other of buildings of more modern appearance.

About a mile to the north of Harrison Station, on North Street, is St. Vincent's Retreat for the Insane,

1 These are the figures for the year 1870, as they appear in the United States Census Reports. The census, however, must have been incorrectly taken, for there could be no reason for so great a decrease in the popu- lation between the years 1865 aud 1870, or for the still greater increase in the next five years.

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HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

which is under the charge of the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul. This institution was opened December 11, 1879. Its incorporators were Mary A. Ely, Maria F. Wallace, Mary T. O'Reilly, Catharine Fitzgibbon, Margaret Whightman, Eliza Sweeny and Mary C. Dodge. The buildings which comprise the Retreat are situated in the midst of large, well-eulti- vated grounds, and consist of the administrative build- ing, the pavilions for the insane patients, the chap- lain's residence, the overseer's cottage, the gate-keep- er's lodge and the barns and stables.

The four pavilions for the insane recall nothing of the dingy mad-houses of our fathers. Each pavilion has four corridors one hundred and ten feet in length and forty-five in width, and on each floor there are twelve private rooms, and a dining- room, parlor, clothes-room, bath-room, etc. Plenty of light and space and thorough ventilation contrib- ute to the comfort of the patients and help to make them cheerful in the midst of their mental misery. The sanitary condition of these buildings is under constant and strict supervision. The institution has license to take care of sixty patients. Up to the present time only female patients have been re- ceived.

A number of very fine residences are located in the immediate vicinity of the Retreat. On the lot adjoining the grounds on the south is the elegant stone dwelling erected by the late William Mathews. Since his death, a few years ago, the mansion has been occupied by his widow. He was the owner of about five hundred acres of land in the town of Harrison, and was one of its most public-spirited citizens.

Mr. Frank A. Abbot, who is connected with the Associated Press in New York, Mr. Charles Park, of the firm of Park & Tilford, grocers, New York, Mr. W. H. Macy and Mr. William Drake have also fine residences in the vicinity,

About a quarter of a mile north of St. Vincent's Re- treat, on North Street, is a small frame chapel of neat appearance. It was ereeted in 1872 at the expense of Mr. Frank A. Abbot, on ground donated by Mr. Mathews, and is called Memorial Chapel, in memory of Mr. Abbot's mother. This chapel is used for union meetings. It has no settled pastor, but services have been conducted in it by various ministers and by Mr. Abbot. There is a Sunday school in connection with the chapel, which is attended (1886) by about forty pupils.

The name " Purchase " has been given to a hamlet which has grown up around the crossing of Harrison Avenue and Purchase Street, a little north of the middle of the town. There is a post-office in this village, and also a Methodist meeting-house. Pur- chase village is prettily situated in the midst of a fine farming country.

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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 164

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