History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. II, Part 58

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 58

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" You seem to pity the poor little Queen, shut up with her sister like two princesses In a fairy tale, in a great, grund, dreary palace, and 'won-

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der whether she would not like to change her situation for a nice little cottage on the lludson.' P'erhaps she wonld, Kate, if she knew any- thing of the gayeties of cottage life, if she had ever been with us at a picnic or driven out in the Shandry-dran with the two roans, and James, in his slipshod hat for a coachman or gotfed in the Dream, or sang in the Tarrytown choir, or shopped at Tommy Dean's ; but, poor thing ! she would not know how to set abont enjoying herself. She would never think of appearing at Church without a whole train of the Miss -, and the Miss -s, and the Miss -s, as maids of honor, nor drive through Sleepy Hollow except in a coach and six with a cloud of dust and a troop of horsemen in glittering armor. So I think, Kate, we must he content with pitying her and leaving her in ignorance of the comparative desolateness of her sitnation."

The eentennial anniversary of Mr. Irving's birth was appropriately celebrated by the people of Tarry- town and vieinity, on April 3, 1883. A meeting, under the auspiees of the Irving Club, was held in the evening, in the Second Reformed Church, and addresses were delivered by Donald G. Mitchell (Ike Marvel), and others.

East of the Irving estate, and north of the Sunny- side, or Irving Lane, within the corporate limits of Tarrytown, are the extensive grounds and country- seat of Edward S. Jaffray, Esq., one of the well-known merchant prinees of the metropolis. The eonfigura- tion of the grounds east of the mansion, and relatively to the Hudson River, is such as to afford from the summer-house, and from the points where the eleva- tion begins to slope downward, the grandest of views over the wide Tappan Zee to the northwest, up toward the Highlands on the north and down to- ward the Palisades on the south. The grounds were laid out by an English landscape gardener, and, in the month of June especially, when nature is dressed in bloom and verdure, they present, in eonneetion with river and sky, a seene of surpassing beauty.

The house was built about seventy years ago by an Irish gentleman of fortune and eulture named Thomas Thornton. From him it was purchased by Captain Charles Pindar, a Russian sea-captain, who oeeupied it until Spain eeded Florida to the United States, in 1819, and gave full possession to the Americans in July, 1821. Captain Pindar was appointed the first Russian eonsul at Pensacola under the new régime, and, preparatory to his removing thither, he sold the place to Mr. Osear Irving, who had been a midship- inan in the United States navy. It was next bought by ex-Mayor Ambrose C. Kingsland, of New York City, who enlarged the house to double its previous size. Mr. Kingsland sold the place in 1854 to Mr. Jaffray. It is a large frame structure, very roomy and well adapted to the purposes of convenience and eomfort. Mr. Jaffray, with his family, resides here during the summer months, and, together with his sons and sons-in-law, oeeupying places just around him, may almost be said, in faet, to form a settlement of his own. He is the owner of the elegant and fast- sailing steam-yaeht "Stranger," which in summer takes him, and those of his family and friends who wish to go, down to the city in the morning and brings them back in the afternoon. A private doek, or landing-place, has been constructed at his own ex-

pense at the foot of Irving Lane, on the river, and here those going or coming by the " Stranger " em- bark or disembark. Sometimes in the warm weather he takes a vacation, and goes off' on the yacht for a sea voyage to Nantucket or the coast of Maine.

Being the next-door neighbor of Mr. Irving, and the two families being on terms of close intimacy and friendship, Mr. Jaffray enjoyed peculiar opportuni- ties of understanding that great man's life. In view of this fact, the writer begged that he would furnish for this history his reminiscenees of the neighborhood sinee he came into it, and especially of Mr. Irving, his near neighbor and friend. He has kindly com- plied, and the reader will discover from his interest- / ing pages that his literary style is as graceful as his enterprise is vigorous and broad. It will be seen that he has not only contributed his own reeollections of Mr. Irving, but that he has also given a poem by Mr. Irving never before published, and a capital answer to it in the measure of Hiawatha, under the name of his little daughter, but which it is hardly revealing a secret to say is the production of his own pen. The following is his response to the request addressed to him :

" My Dear Dr. Todd :

" Yon ask ine to give you a sketch of my residence at Willow Brook, with an account of the changes which have taken place, and especially of my recollections of Washington Irving.

" I will endeavor to comply with your request, but, as some twenty- five years have elapsed since the death of Mr. Irving, I may not be able to recall, very fully, the circumstances of my intercourse with him.

"I purchased my present country residence (' Willow Brook ') thirty- one years since, from Ambrose C. Kingsland, and, soon after taking pos- session, Washington Irving called at my house and welcomed mne and my family to the neighborhood. We found him a miost genial and enter- taining companion, and from that period until his death we saw him almost daily. He wonld frequently come np the lane to our house in the evening, sometimes alone, sometimes accompanied by one or more of his nieces, who made their home with him,

" He was very fond of nasic, and. as my family were musical in their tastes, we nsed to perform various glees and chornses, in which Mr. Irving took a lively interest.

" Ile took a great fancy to my little daughter Florence, who was then about five years old, and she returned his affection fully. They had many little games and talks together, and she was a frequent and always welcome visitor at Sunnyside.

" Soon after onr settlement at our new home Mr. Irving sent the fol- lowing poem to onr little Florence, based npon my persevering hut fruit- less attempts to make use of the waters of the brook to supply my house.

" THE LAY OF THE SUNNYSIDE DUCKS. " Humbly Dedicated to " Miss Florence Jaffray.

" By Sunnyside bower runs a little Indian brook, As wild as wild can be ; It flows down from hills where Indians lived of old To the mighty Tappan Sea.

" And this little brook supplies a goodly little pond Where the Sunnyside ducks do play-

· Snowy-white little ducks with top-knots1 on their heads, And merry little ducks are they.

" And high up the hill stands fair Jaffray Hall, Where a mighty chief doth dwell,

And this little Indian brook flows through his lands In its own little rugged dell.

1 " When Fanchy had her ringlets ' tied up' on her head we all used to call her ' Mr. Irving's " top-knot " duck """

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HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

" And the laird of Juffruy urose in his might And he said to his wife one day,- 'This little Indiau brook is an idle little brook, And no longer shall have its way.

"' No longer shall it run down to suunyside pond Nor e'en to the Tuppan Sen. I'll stopit with a dam, and pump it up hill with a raul, And make it work for a living,' said he.

" ' It shall run in pipes about our garden and lawn, Making jets and fountains clear ; It shall run up stairs and down stairs of Jaffray Ilall And into your bath-room, my dear.'

" Then the Sunnyside ducks they quacked with fear, And dolefully they did cry, 'Oh ! Laird of Jaffray spare our little brook Or we shall be left high and dry.'

" But soon it appeared that this brave little brook Defied the Laird of Jaffray's skill,

For though he dammed the little brook, and rammed the little brook, The little brook still ran down hill.

"Then the Sunnyside ducks again plucked up heart And got over their quanda-ry. And the little brook still runs on to Sunnyside pond And the mighty Tappan Sea."

" To this Florence ( with some assistance, as yon may suppose) returned the following answer:

" REPLY TO THE LAY OF THE SUNNYSIDE DUCKS.

" Much beloved Mr. Irving I received your charming letter, All about the Indian streamlet - All about the top- knot ducklings- How my l'ap, very selfish, Tried to dam up all the water, Tried to keep more than he ought to ; But his efforts all were fruitless ; Nonght could stop that knowing water, On it would insist on going. Who could blame it for its action ; Who resist such great attraction ; Was not 'Sunnyside ' before it ? Was not ' Wolfert's Roost' inviting ? Was not he whom ull look up to- Ile whom all admire and cherish- Drawing that sweet brooklet onward ? Not for top-knot ducks 'twas running, Not for water-fowl or fishes,

Not to make sweet water-fallings, Not to course through rustic windings, Not to spite my dearest l'apa, But to get to you 'twas hastening- You whom all the Dex are calling Of the present age of writers-

You're the Dux, the people's lender, And we all desire to follow,

And to go down hill to ' Wolfert's,' U'ndismayed by any dammings. Coming down by gentle moonlight, Or in darkness, with n lantern. Should you ask me how my l'upa Tried to stop the stream and couldn't, I should answer-I should tell you. In the dronght of by-gone summer People came with carts and horses Very early in the morning And they stole away the water !

Our ' Ram,' which Papa calls ' Longfellow,' (Author of the ' Higher-Wather '), Jleaved a sigh, and stopped his rammings, Much to all our consternation.

Papa said, with indignation,

'send for " Tubbs " 1 and send for " Chalmer:" : I will build a wall and stop it.' But without his host he reckoned. Little did the streamlet tarry, But through crack, and leak, and cranny, Found its way, and ran on coolly, Laughing in its sleeve at ('halmers-

Laughing loud at Tubbs' efforts, . Minne ha ! ha !- laughing water !- Laughing at their fouhsh planning. By the bye, that just reminds me, That to visit nie you promised, And to go with me to ' Niblo's.' Will you come to us on Friday ? Will you come and with us tarry ? With regardsto your sweet nieces, I'm your friend, the little

FLORENCE."

" Some three years after we took up our residence at 'Willow Brook ' Mr. Irving began to show symptoms of the disease which was destined to end his days. He experienced a Inssitude and shortness of breath when going up hill or up stairs, and he grew gradually more feeble a> time went on.

"In the summer of 1859 I drove him around the Saw-Mill Valley and over the hill behind Tarrytown. When we came in view of the cemetery hic asked me to stop, and then pointed out the spot where he was to be buried, which, though at a considerable distance, I could clearly perceive.

" After that drive he but seldom left his home. One day-I think it was on his birthday-Florence sent him a colored photograph of herself, accompanied by a letter of congratulation printed by herself with a pen and ink.

" Ile had been feeling very much depressed in spirits all the forenoon, and when the portrait and funny little letter accompanying it arrived it quite cheered him up.

" Yon are, of course, aware of all the incidents of his death, so that I need not dwell upon them. It was at the end of November-after I had moved into town for the winter-so that I was not present, and did not know of his dangerous illness until I saw the uotice of his death in the papers.

"The funeral took place on the Ist of December in Dr. Creighton's Church, at Tarrytown. I of course attended ; but when I reached the church I found it already quite full, so that I had to stand ontside. It was a magnificent Indian summer day, which seemed to have been made expressly for the funeral of this distinguished and deeply regretted citizen. "I followed him to the grave, and saw his remains deposited in the plot of the Irving family, which he had pointed out to me from the hill, on the occasion I have related.

" The death of Mr. Irving was an irreparable loss to the neighborhood where he had lived so long. It seemed to create a great blank-which still continues, though he has been gone so many years.

"You ask me to give you some account of the changes which have taken place in my neighborhood since I settled there in 1855, It 14 rather sad to look back and see how large a proportion of those who were neighbors during the early years of my residence have since passer away. Among the heads of families I may mention MIr. Curlies. Nr. William E. Dodge, Mr. Jonas G. bodley, Mr. William Hoge, Mr. Edmund Cothin, Professor Me Vickar, Mr. Washington Irving. Mr. Steele, Mr. Moses II. Grinnell, Mr. Henry lloldredge, Mr. E. I. Brown, Mr. John E. Williams, Mr. John Mann, Mr. John J. Forkel, Mr Cun- ningham, Mr. Howland, Mr. Merritt and others.

"Of the remainder, some have moved away, so that with n few ex- ceptions there is a new set of people now occupying the places around This admonishes me that I nmust be gradually becoming the 'oldest Inhabitant,' and that my turn umst soon come, to follow in the long procession.

"The whole region from Hastings to Tarrytown has been immensely Improved during the time that I have lived there. In the year 1:49 I hired a honse at Nyuck for the summer. uml In the afternoons we used to sit on the pinzza, and look out on the river und the opposite shore. which was illuminated with the rays of the western sun. We used to remark how few county-sents there were, and how bare of trees the greatest part of the land was. The only prominent houses that we could sve between Dobbs Ferry and Tarrytown Were Henry Sbeblon's, Mr

1 The mason.

? The plumber.

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Paulding's fine marble dwelling (now belonging to Mr. Jay Gould), Sunnyside, Col. Hamilton's, Mr. Schuyler's and two or three more.

"A survey from the same point of view would now show perhaps a hundred fine houses, and a profusion of ornamental trees covering nearly the whole surface of the land. As a sample of the extensive tree- planting, I may mention that when Col. Hamilton built his house, in 1836, there was but one tree on the entire plot of ground, probably fifty acres in extent, and when the Colonel asked Mr. Irving what name he should give to this place, Mr. Irving suggested 'Single Tree Hall' as a suitablo appellation. This place as you know, is now almost a forest.

" In the year 1849 the ouly means of communication between the city and the banks of the Hudson, was by steamboats, and of these, there were only three. The 'Columbus' went up the river every morning at seven, landing at all the villages on the east bank, and ending her route, I tbink, at Sing Sing, Peekskill.

"The 'Armenia' left New York at four P. M., and carried all the passen- gers and freight for the various places as far as Peekskill. . There was also a small boat called the ' Warren,' which ran between Haverstraw and New York, taking the landings on the west side. I remember coming down in this last boat one morning in company with the late Archbishop Hughes and Hugh Maxwell, aud enjoying their instructive and genial conversation on the way.

" Late in that year the Hudson River Railroad was opened as far as Peekskill, and, theuceforth, the means of communication were greatly increased, and the banks of the noble Hudson are now within such easy access from the great city that they have become the favorite summer residence for a large class of citizens.

"In reply to your enquiries as to who are now my near neighbors, I may meution a few names :

"Mr. Gurnee now owns the fine stone mansion on the hill built by Mr. Stebbins. Mr. Hoge's place was sold to the Deaf and Dumb Asylum. Mr. Skeel occupies the house formerly owned by Mr. Wood- ford. Mr. Henry Parish, one of the older settlers, still lives opposite my entrance. Mr. Barton has purchased the beautiful place of Mr. Williams. Mr. Cyrus W. Field bought the place of Mr. John A. Stewart many years ago, and has since purchased hundreds of acres, and built many beautiful houses making in the aggregate the Manor of Ardsley, which is one of the finest estates in the country.

"Immediately around me, I have my son Howard occupying the late Fleury Holdredge's place just north of me. My son-in-law, Mr. Wood- riff, occupying the estate of the late Prof. Mc Vickar, just across Sunny- side Lane ; and during the past summer my son-in-law, Mr. Mc Vickar, occupied Mrs. Worthington's lonse, next to my premises on Broadway. Besides these, two other members of the family have occupied houses on tbe high road.

"You thus see that my family highly value Irvington as a place of residence, and I think with good reason, as, in addition to the great beauty of the scenery, the excellence of the roads and the advantages of the river, it is without exception the healthiest region within easy access from New York.

" I have speut thirty-oue summers at my place, and my family have enjoyed excellent health all the time.

"This reminds me that I must have grown somewhat older since I settled in Irvington; I came there with a wife and five small children. I now have twenty-one grandchildren ; who can say, after that, that Irvington is not a desirable place of residence ?

"I am afraid that I have wearied you with these personal details, and if you intend to make any use of this communication in connection with your forthcoming 'History of Westchester County,' I advise that you cut off this paper when it begins to treat of my private matters.

"If I may extend my remarks a little farther up the river, I may mention that I hired Capt. Isaac Smith's house at Sing Sing for the sum- mer of 1851, and I was highly pleased with my residence there. I and my wife attended Dr. Phraner's Church, and were present on the occa- sion of his first appearance in the pulpit there.

" What the text was, or what was the character of the discourse I liave entirely forgotten, but I have no doubt that the sermon was au excellent one, as my friend Dr. Phrauer preaches no otlier kin d.

"I had the pleasure of hearing him preach the past summer in tho old 'Sleepy Hollow' Church, at Tarrytown, aud he recalled to my wind the fact that Mrs. Jaffray and I were present on the occasion of his first sermon in his church. That is now thirty-four years ago, and he lias remained a faithful minister in the same church up to a receut period.

"Trusting that these imperfect recollections may be of some service to you,

" I am your sincere frieud, "EDWARD S. JAFFRAY.

"New York, November 13th, 1885."

ii .- 23

Adjoining the place of Mr. Jaffray on the north is the estate of the late James H. Banker. The house was built by the Hon. Moses II. Grinnell abont thir- ty-five years ago, and was occupied by him for many years as his home. It is a mansion presenting an ap- pearance of great solidity, being built of cut stone, and remarkably handsome. Mr. Grinnell was of the celebrated firm of Grinnell & Minturn, and was in his day one of the most famous of the great merchants of New York. He represented New York City in the Twenty-sixth Congress, having for his associates Edward Curtis and Ogden Hoffman. In 1852 he was a member of the Whig National Convention, held in Baltimore, and strongly advocated the nomination of his intimate personal and political friend, Daniel Webster, for the Presidency of the United States. After his withdrawal from the firm of Grinnell & Min- turn, he served for some years as president of the Sun Insurance Company. In 1869, President Grant ap- pointed him collector of the port of New York. Mr. Grinnell married for his second wife Julia Irving, a daughter of William Irving, and a niece of Washing- ton Irving. After his death, which occurred in New York, November 24, 1877,1 the place passed into the hands of Mr. James H. Banker. After occupying it

1 Tho following account of Mr. Grinnell, published a few days after his death, contains an interesting statement of the late Thurlow Weed, in regard to Mr. Irving's appointment as minister to Spain :

"The private life of the deceased gentleman was of the mnost charm- ing character. Some of the best American authors were regular visitors at his house, and he delighted in their society. Washington Irving he loved, and he married the niece of that great writer, Miss Julia Irving. This lady died about six years ago iu Genoa, Italy, and Mr. Grinnell's health was greatly affected by that event. IIer body was brought to this country and interred at Sleepy Hollow, where her husband 's body was also taken for burial. They had but three children. all of whour are alive, -Mrs. Thomas Cushing, of Boston ; Mrs. Bowdoin, wife of Mr. George W. Bowdoin, of the banking firm of Morton, Bliss & Co. ; and Mr. Irving Grinnell, named after Washington Irving.

"The political influence wielded quietly, but effectively, for many years by Mr. Grinnell is illustrated by the following account of the manner in which Washington Irving was appointed Minister to the Court of Madrid, an appointment to which the literary world owes the pleasure it derives from Irving's History of Mahomet and His Successors, as related by Thurlow Weed, who was an intimate frieud of the de- ceased : While Mr. Webster was Secretary of State, I dined with him in Washington one night, Mr. Grinnell, Mr. R. M. Blatch ford and Mr. Simeon Draper also being guests. At the dessert, Mr. Grinnell told Mr. Web- ster that Washington Irving, while writing his History of Columbus, found it necessary to have access to the archives of Madrid, and that his friends had concluded to ask for his appointment as Consul to that city. After a slight pause Mr. Webster said, 'Do I understand you, Mr. Grinnell, to say that you ask for Washington Irving's appointment as Consul to Madrid?' Mr. Grinnell respouded affirmatively, when Mr. Webster, with great emphasis, asked, 'And why not Minister to Spaiu?' But little more was said. Mr. Grinuell returned to New York rejoicing in the appointment of his literary friend as Minister to Spain. Such a thing as this pleased Mr. Grinnell thoroughly.

"As is well kuown, Mr. Grinuell formerly had a beautiful country seat near to and adjoining 'Sunnyside,' where he resided for several years. The remains of the deceased were brought to Sleepy Hollow Cemetery for interment. The following were the pall-beorers at the funeral : Thur- low Weed, Mr. Charles H. Russell, Gen. James Bowen, Mr. George L. Schuyler, Mr. John J. Astor, Mr. G. F. Talman, Mr. Robert S. Houe, Mr. Isaac Bell, Mr. Edward Minturn' and Dr. J. C. Peters. These gentlenien were for many years the most intimate friends of Mr. Grin- nell."

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for several years he died, and the property now be- longs to his estate.

In the same general inclosure with the Grinnell house stands, a little farther north, the former residence of the late Henry Holdredge, whose wife was a niece of Mr. Grinnell.

The next place, called "The Homestead," extend- ing from the Croton Aqueduct on the west to Broad- way on the cast, was the residence of the late Henry R. Worthington, and is still occupied by his family. The house was built in 1835 by Benson Ferris, father of Benson Ferris, now president of the savings-bank, to provide for himself a home about the time he sold his place kuown as " Wolfert's Roost " to Washing- ton Irving.

Lying contiguous to it on the north are the beauti- ful grounds of Mr. Roswell Skeel. The brick man- sion, situated on an emiuence somewhat in from Broadway, commands a fine view of the Hudson River. The house was built about thirty-five years ago by Mr. Oliver P. Woodford, who now resides at Newton, Sussex County, N. J.

Proceeding toward the north, the next placc con- sists of the famous estates of Mr. Jay Gould, which bear the name of " Lyndenhurst." The portion lying west of Broadway, and between that thorough fare and the Hudson River, upon which the mansion stands, embraces an area of seventy-five aeres, but the whole, including the portion lying on the east of the Broadway, as well as that on the west, contains about seven hundred aercs.

In the year 1840, General William Paulding built a part of the mansion which is still standing, in con- neetion with the additions that were afterwards made. The stone he used in constructing it was white and blue marble from the quarries of Hastings and Sing Sing.

General Paulding was a son of William Paulding, and a brother of James K. Paukling, the distinguished author and Secretary of the Navy under Presideut Van Buren.

The old Paulding house, in Water Street, Tarry- town, now in a tumble-down condition, was for many years the family home. General William Paulding was a lawyer by profession, and he took an active part in political affairs. He was a Representative in the Twelfth Congress from New York City. In 1821 he was a member of the Constitutional Convention which framed the second Constitution adopted by the State of New York. He served as mayor of New York City from 1824 to 1826, and again from 1827 to 1829.

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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 58

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