History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. II, Part 63

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 63

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The artesian well was ordered by the board of trus- tees, February 1, 1881, to be sunk and prepared in order to supply the village with water. The contract was awarded to Mr. D. Dull.

FIRE DEPARTMENT .- The first coneerted and vig- orous attempt toward securing an organization to pro- tect the property of citizens against fire was made at a meeting in the brick building on the corner of Wildey and Washington Streets, February 29, 1860. The result was that, after a series of resolutions had been adopted, a company was organized under the name of "The Conqueror Hook and Ladder and Bucket Company," and officers were duly choseu. In the same year a lot was purchased and a building erected in Elizabeth Street, as a truck-house, where the truck and the fire-extinguishing apparatus were to be kept.

Another company, known as the "Rescue Engine Company," was organized April 6, 1860, with a mem- bership of thirty-eight men. An engine was pur- chased and a building erected in the lower part of Wildey Street, near Orchard. The building was afterward sold and converted into a dwelling-house, which was owned and occupied by the late Samuel Wood. In 1861 the members of "Rescue Engine Company," almost in a body-the precise number was thirty-three-volunteered into the service of their country and enlisted in the Union army. In conse- quence of this fact the company was forced, in 1865, to disband.

At the present time there are within the corpora- tion limits three hose companies and one hook-and- ladder company. With the system of hydrants now established, and with the great pressure of the water from the reservoir on the hill, these organizations, it is believed, are competent to cope with any ordinary fire within reaching distance of the line of water-pipes.

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In addition to these active organizations, there is also an association styled "The Exempt Firemen's Association." It was formed rather for friendly and social intercourse among the members, and also to afford relief to the families of members in case of death.

BANKS IN TARRYTOWN.

There are two banking institutions in Tarrytown and they are both worthy of the local pride with which they are regarded.

WESTCHESTER COUNTY SAVINGS BANK .- The older of the two is the "Westchester County Savings- Bank," whose honorable history, at the writer's request, has been snccinctly given by its present treasurer, William G. Weston, Esq., as follows :

"The Westchester County Savings-Bank is the oldest institution of the kind in the county. It was organized, August. 1853, under a special charter of the Legislature, passed in July of that year. The charter members were Nathaniel B. Ilohnes, John Thomas, Elijah Yerks, James W. Smith, Henry Sheldon, George Il. Swords, Charles F. Harri- son, James Watson Webb, Jacob Storm, Loyal S. Pond, Nathaniel Bayles, Bela S. Squire, Uriah Fields, Josiah Q. Fowler, Andrew D. Archer, San- ford Cobb, George D. Morgan, Washington Irving, Edmund Coffin, Shadrach Taylor, Cornelins W. Thomas, Elisha Horton and Samuel C. Nichols.

"The officers chosen at its organization were Nathaniel B. Holmes, president and treasurer ; John Thomas and Elisha Horton, vice-presi- dents ; Uriah Field, secretary ; and Elijah Yerks, counsel. It was first opened for business September 10th, in the office of Elias Mann, on Main Street, but was removed the following week to the adjoining building on the west, which had in the mean time been rented for that purpose, where it remained until the purchase of its present location, corner of Broadway and Main Street, in 1864. For some years after its con- mencement the bank was opened only on Saturday of each week, from five to eight o'clock p.M. in summer, and from four to six o'clock in winter.

" In 1857, Nathaniel Bayles succeeded Mr. Ilolmes as president and treasurer, and held those positions until 1864, when the offices were separated, and Frank Vincent, who had succeeded Washington Irving as trustee in August, 1859, became president, while Mr. Bayles continued as treasurer until 1867, at which time William G. Weston was chosen his successor. Mr. Vincent remained president for fifteen years, con- ‹Incting its affairs with great energy and success. He retired in 1879, and was succeeded by Benson Ferris, the present incumbent.

"The bank has been successful beyond the most sangnine expectations of its founders, for they never looked forward to its having over $50,000 on deposit. It has, however, at this time about twenty-five hundred de- positors, whose deposits aggregate more than $800,000, and has also accumulated a surplus of over $120,000."

The aneestors of Mr. Ferris, the president of the Tarrytown National Bank, were an old New England family who settled in Greenwich, Conn. His grandfather, Oliver Ferris, was an officer in the Revolution, and served under General Mont- gomcry in the invasion of Canada and was pres- ent, in 1775, at the siege and capture of St. Johns. At that time he was quartermaster of his regiment, with the rank of lieutenant, but was afterwards pro- moted to a captainey. In the spring of 1802 Oliver Ferris removed from Greenwich to Westehester County, and purchased from Major Jacob Van Tassel the farm on the banks of the Hudson which, through the genius of Washington Irving, has become famous as " Wolfert's Roost." Oliver Ferris married Abi- gail, daughter of John Lockwood, of Greenwich, Conn. Their children were Elizabeth, wife of Aaron

Close; Abigail, wife of Daniel Dutcher ; Martha, wife of John Jewell ; Letty, wife of Daniel Acker- man; Sarah, wife of Smith Scofield; Benson; and Mary, wife of Jacob Storms.

Benson Ferris was born March 21, 1794, and came with his father from his native town in Connecticut. He early acquired the rudiments of a good English education, and was for some years under the tuition of the Rev. Thomas Gibson Sinith, pastor of the Old Dutch Church of Sleepy Hollow. Under him he commenced the study of Latin, in which he became proficient, and was especially fond of Virgil, to whose writings he frequently referred. On January 23, 1822, he married Maria, daughter of Captain Abraham Acker, and continued to live at the old homestead, " Wolfert's Roost," until 1835, when he sold the house and land adjoining to Washington Irving, who has given it an immortal fame. He then built a new house on the west side of Broadway, a little north of Sunnyside Lane. In 1856 he sold this place and re- moved to Tarrytown, where he died July 11, 1882. During his life he held nearly all the offices of the town of Greenburgh, and was for twenty years a jus- tice of the peace, and in this office used all the weight of his influence to prevent rather than to promote litigation. He was a prominent member of the Old Dutch Church and of the Second Reformed Church, in which he was an elder for many years. He was universally esteemed in the community as a man of exemplary Christian life and distinguished usefulness. Mr. Ferris left four children-William A., Benson, Jemima and Oliver. Of these children, Benson, the second son, and the subject of this sketch, was born at the old homestead, July 16, 1825. His early edu- cation was obtained at the old school-house, a rclic of the olden time, which stood on the road running east from Sunnyside Lane to the Saw-Mill River, about one hundred yards east of Broadway. He afterwards attended the Tarrytown Institute, which was then under the able care of Professor William G. Weston, A.M. After leaving this institution he was assistant for two years at the Paulding Institute, of which Professor Weston was also principal, and was for some time teacher in the old school-house which he first attended. He then started a store at Irvington, which was the first one opened at that placc, then known as " Dcarman." In 1856 he removed to Tar- rytown, which has since been his home, and three years later became engaged in the hardware business, in which he continued till 1861. He has been, during the whole of his business life, closely connected with the public affairs of the town and county. While living at Irvington he was a member of the board of education, and has held the same position at Tarry- town. In 1866 he was appointed school commissioner for the second district of Westchester County by Wil- liam H. Robertson, then county judge. In 1879 he was clected a trustee of the village of Tarrytown. In 1865 he was elected trustce of the Westchester County

Benton Ferris

Bradley

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Savings-Bank, and has held the offices of secretary, vice-president and president, in which last position he still remains. He was one of the originators of the Tarrytown National Bank, and has been a director since its organization. In 1855 he was one of sixteen who organized the Republican Party in Westchester County, and was appointed, in 1858, one of the execu- tive committee of the party, at a county convention presided over by Horace Greeley, who was his friend and confidant. This position he held for many years. Mr. Ferris married, in 1875, Mrs. Mary P. Dutcher, of Providence, R. I.

In 1879 he was elected a trustee of the village of Tarrytown. There are few men who have been more actively employed in promoting the public and social interests of Tarrytown. He was one of the original incorporators of the Young Men's Lycenm, in 1869, and has served as one of its directors nntil the pres- ent time. He became a director of the Tarrytown and Irvington Union Gas-Light Company in 1864, and has been secretary, vice-president and president. He is a member of the Westchester Historical Society.

In 1861 a committee was appointed by the citizens of Tarrytown to assist the families of soldiers who had voluntecred for the war. Of this committee Mr. Fer- ris was an active member, and many thousands of dol- lars were raised and distributed nnder his direction and that of his associates.

TARRYTOWN NATIONAL BANK .- A request having been addressed to the Hon. D. Ogden Bradley, presi- dent of " The Tarrytown National Bank," for infor- mation in regard to the history of National Banks in Tarrytown, he has kindly furnished the following sketch, in the closing paragraph of which the facts re- lating to the present National Bank are given :

"The First National Bank of Tarrytown was organized March 9, 1864, with a capital of $50,000, which was subsequently increased to $100,000. John R. Bacon was its first president, and N. Holmes Odell its first cashier. George Merritt and Luther Redfield subsequently, in succession, became its presidents. The bank was closed and placed in liquidation by a vote of its stockholders at a meeting held March 22, 1878.

"The Tarrytown National Bank was organized February 8, 1882, with a cash capital of $100,000. D. Ogden Bradley has been its president, and William D. Humphreys its cashier continuously since its organiza- tiou. Its present board of directors are Cyrus W. Field, Benson Ferris, Seth Bird, Frederick W. Guiteau, Moses W. Taylor, George Silver, Lucius T. Yale, Nathaniel W. Lawrence and D. Ogden Bradley."

The family from which Mr. Bradley, the president of the Westchester County Savings Bank, is descended, were among the earliest settlers in New England, and resided at New Haven. A branch of the family moved to the State of New York in the earlier part of the last century, and his grandfather, Jabez Brad- ley, was judge of Cayuga County for many years. His father, Henry Bradley, who was candidate for Gov- ernor of the State of New York on the Abolition ticket in 1846, married Rhoda A., daughter of Cap- tain David Ogden, of Cayuga County.

Mr. Bradley was born at Penn Yan, N. Y., April 5, 1827, and was educated at Hamilton College, from which he graduated in 1848, and afterwards was

honored with the degree of Master of Arts. He was admitted to practice as attorney-at-law in 1850. Taking an active interest in polities, he was early identified with the Republican party, and was a mem- ber of the Republican National Convention of 1868, and in 1872 received the nomination for member of Congress for the Westchester District. In the Presi- dential campaigns of 1876 and 1880 he was one of the Presidential electors on the Republican ticket. Mr. Bradley came to reside in Dobbs Ferry in 1865, was repeatedly elected president of the village, and has been for several years a member of its Board of Edu- cation. In 1879 he was elected a member of Assem- , bly of this State, and re-elected in 1880. Taking an active part in all local affairs, he was chosen president of the association for the erection of the monument to the memory of the captors of Major Andre, which was intended to perpetuate to the latest generation the memory of the deed, and to identify, beyond dispute, the exact locality of the capture. The centennial celebration of 1880 was under his direc- tion.

He is president of the Tarrytown National Bank, a position he has held ever since its organization. He married in early life, Elizabeth Neely, a sister of the Episcopal Bishop of Mainc. After her death he mar- ried Cornelia, daughter of Abijah Fitch. His daugh- ter, Elizabeth, the only child of his first marriage, af- ter graduating at the Rockland Institute, commenced the study of medicine, which she has since pursued with unabating zeal, both in this country and in Europe. She has received four literary degrees from prominent institutions, more than were ever before conferred upon any woman, so far as is known. She is now in Europe, and is still pursuing her investiga- tions. Mr. Bradley's children by his second mar- riage, are Lue, Emma, Jerome and Nelson, all of whom are living with their parents at Dobbs Ferry.

GAS COMPANY .- The following sketch, embracing the principal points in the history of the Tarry- town Gas-Light Company, has been furnished by Ben- son Ferris, Esq., who is president of this company, as well as of the Westchester County Savings-Bank :

"The Tarrytown and Irvington Union Gas.Light Company was in- corporated in 1859, with a capital stock of $70,000, which was increased to $100,000 in 1867.

"The officers first chosen were Nathaniel B. Holmes, president ; Sam- uel M. Raisbeck, secretary, and Seth Bird, treasurer. The next year, 1860, James W. Smith became president, and the year following, William H. Townsend, who, in turn, was succeeded by William L. Schoener for two years, when William H. Townsend again served for one year. In 1865, George Merritt was chosen and filled the office until his death, in 1873. His successor was John E. Williams, who held it until 1875. C'or- nelius Curtiss followed for three years, and was succeeded in 1878 by Benson Ferris, who has remained president up to this time.

"In 1877 the Abbotsford Gas-Works, at Hastings, were purchased and consolidated with this company, which now furnishes gas to the villages of North Tarrytown, Tarrytown, Irvington, Dobbs Ferry and Hastings."

THE WATER SUPPLY .- In regard to the water sup- ply for the village, Ward Carpenter, surveyor and civil engineer, has, by request, furnished the follow-

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ing statements, in which the facts are given with his accustomed accuracy and clearness :

"The water supply for the village of Tarrytown is obtained from an artesinn or deep well, located on the westerly side of U'pper Main Street. This well was sunk in the spring of 1881 by Daniel Dull, of New York City. The depth is six hundred feet. A ten-inch iron pipe, or conduc- tor, as it is called, was driven by repeated blows for a depth of fifty feet through the gravel and bonlders that overle tho rock, and the rest of the way down the bore is eight inches in diameter. The tubing for the lower valve is six inches, and extends down two hundred feet from the surface of the ground. The elevation of the surface at the site of the well is two hundred and twenty feet above tide, giving a clear depth of three hundred and eighty feet below the high-water line, or two hun- dred and eighty feet below the bed of the river in the channel.

"The bulk of the water was obtained at four hundred feet depth, with a tritling increase at five hundred feet, after which the increase was not very great until a depth of five hundred and fifty feet was sunk. Between the latter depth and six hundred and four feet, the netnal depth of the well, there was an increase of abont twelve hundred gallons in twenty-four hours.

"The cost of the boring, counting from the surface, was, by contract, forty-eight hundred dollars.

" There is, in connection therewith, a good brick house, substantially bnilt, for the protection of the boiler and deep well pump, to which there is attached a coal-shed.

"The quantity of water given at the time of sinking the well, at twenty strokes per minute, 1.84 gallons per revolution-fifty-two thou- sand nine hundred and ninety-nine gallons per twenty-four hours. At the writing of this (January 1, 1886), at about sixteen revolutions per minute, forty-two thousand three hundred and ninety-three gallons in twenty-four hours.

"The water is lifted two hundred feet and forced abont one hundred feet into a reservoir, arched over, fifty feet long, forty feet wide and fif- teen feet deep, holding about two hundred and twenty-five thousand gallons, and situated in Rose Ilill Avenue, corner of Union Avenue, nt an elevation of about three hundred and five feet above tide water.

"In quality, the water is clear. cool and moderately soft."

MANUFACTURES IN TARRYTOWN .- There are three manufacturing establishments in Tarrytown proper. The first in chronological order is the Messrs. G. & D. Silver's shoe-factory ; the second is the Tarrytown Pottery, a manufactory of majolica and ivory-wares, and the third is the Conper Milling Company.

The G. d. D. Silver Shoe Factory, on the west sideof Washington Street, between Wildey Street and College Avenue, with the Andre Brook flowing down almost under it, but paying tax in the township of Greenburgh, stands the large boot and shoe factory of Messrs. George and David Silver. The business was commenced in New York City by Mr. George Silver alone in 1857, but several years later, the present firm of G. & D. Silver was organized, and in January, 1871, the manufactory was located in Tarrytown. It turns out what are classed as fine shoes, from child's to men's, and these are sold direct- ly to the retail trade. The firm employs from one hundred men and boys when business is dull to one hundred and fifty when it is active, and from seventy- five to one hundred girls. Almost all the operatives work by the piece, except the smaller ones. Girls earn from two dollars to ten dollars per week ; boys · from two dollars when they counmence to eight dollars when they become more capable ; and men from ten dollars to twenty dollars. The firm paysout for wages from seventy-five thousand dollars to one hundred and twenty thousand dollars per annum, and the

manufactory produces from one hundred and twenty- five thousand to one hundred and eighty thousand pairs of shoes every year, the value of which amounts to from three hundred thousand dollars to five hundred thousand dollars. Mr. George Silver resides in Tar- rytown, and Mr. David Silver in North Tarrytown.

David Silver, who has so long been identified with the manufacturing interests of Tarrytown, was born in Lau- rencekirk, Scotland, March 17, 1842, where he received the education usual to the children of mechanics in that country. In January, 1864, he came to New York city, and entered the employ of his elder brother, George, then, as now, a shoe manufacturer. Three years later he was admitted to a partnership, under the firm-name of George Silver & Co. This firm was dissolved in January, 1869, when he commeneed a shoe manufacturing business on his own account, continuing but a short time, however, as the uew firm of G. & D. Silver was then formed and the present factory at Tarrytown was built.

Mr. Silver has made the superintendence of the manufacturing department his special charge, and the success which has attended the business of the firm is largely due to his efforts. In the management of local affairs he has taken a prominent part. He was active and zealous in promoting the incorporation of the village of North Tarrytown, of which he has been twice trustee and once president. He has been twice trustee of the public schools and is at present treas- urer of the board, in the important work of which he has been commendably active. He has also been a trustee of St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church since its organization, in 1873.

He married, in 1868, Miss Mary E. Crocker. They have five children-Belle M., Emma L., Jessie F., Maggie R. and David F.,-all of whom reside with their parents.

The part which Mr. Silver has taken in the life and activity of Tarrytown has been important and useful, and it is to be hoped that he will long be spared to - continue his efforts in its behalf.

The Tarrytown Pottery .- On the north side of Lower Main Street, between the Hudson River Railroad and the Point Doek Lauding, in the large brick building looking southward over Tappan Zee, is the Tarrytown Pottery. It was established in 1881 by the firm of Messrs. Odell & Booth Brothers, who purchased a lease of the building for a term of years from the pump factory, which had previously occupied it ns tenants of the late Mr. Robert Graves. It is now held by lease from his estate. The business of the pottery, amounting to about forty thousand dollars per year, embraces the manufacture of Faience, Limoges and Barbatine wares, and also specialties in druggists' wares, such as mortars, pestles, etc., which are pronounced by experts to be equal to the best im- ported artieles, The establishment employs about sixty hands, and its goods are sent to most of the principal cities in the Union, even as far as San Fran-

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cisco. As yet it has been able to fill only about one- third of its orders, a fact which suggests a larger scale of operations in the near future.

The Couper Milling Company .- On the north side of Wildey Street, directly adjoining the Hudson River Railroad track on the cast, and within the corporate limits of Tarrytown, is the establishment of the Couper Milling Company. The building is forty by sixty feet in dimensions, and rises to the height of seventy-five feet from the ground. It is a frame struc- ture, having five floors, each from twelve to eighteen feet high, built, in all its timbers, of the best Georgia pine, and, including its complete plant of milling ma- chinery, cost about sixty thousand dollars. The

work of building was commenced in the fall of 1885, and finished in Feb- ruary, 1886, when the various processes of trans- forming wheat into flour were at once begun. The machinery is very exten- sive and complex, and quite in contrast with that of the old Philips mill, on the Pocantico, at the en- trance to Sleepy Hollow. The Couper mill is capa- ble of turning out three hundred barrels of flour per day.

Daviel Silver

The power for the whole mass of machinery is sup- plied by a Harris-Corliss engine, in the working of which a new condensing apparatus will soon be used, thus saving about one-fourth of the amount of fuel now consumed. The mill, into which all the latest and best improvements in the art .of milling have been introduced, is in every detail one of the most modern and complete in the [ rolls to be ground.

country. Its general machinery, together with all the special machines including roll and reels, was fur- nished by the well-known house of Edward P. Allis & Co., of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The first floor of the mill contains the main driving line of shafting, which extends through the whole length of the building. The wheat-cleaning machin- ery also, which is very elaborate in detail, is located on the first floor.

The second floor contains ten double sets of rolls, used for reducing the wheat and middlings to flour. The rolls are placed in two lines, and are driven by belt connected with pulleys attached to the main line

on the first floor. The thirce flour-packers, used to compress the flour in order to put the requisite quantity into each barrel, are also located on the second floor.

The third floor is used almost entirely for what is called spouting,-that is, conveying, by square pine box spouts to their proper destination, the many dif- ferent streams of wheat, flour, middlings, bran, etc. There is a perfect forest of spouts in every direction, which, to an unpracticed eye, have an appearance of chaotic disorder. The diagram showing the move- ment of the wheat from the time it enters the mill until it reaches the flour-bin or barrel resembles, more than anything else, the seeming confusion of, Egyptian hieroglyphics.

The fourth floor con- tains a dozen short recls used for the primary re- ductions and separations of the wheat only from everything foreign. There arc also eight ordinary reels, fourteen feet long, used for bolting the patent flours. On this floor, be- sides the foregoing, there are eight Gray centrifugal reels.

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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 63

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