USA > New York > Westchester County > Manual of Westchester county.Past and present. Civil list to date 1898 > Part 17
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J. IRVING BURNS.
James Irving Burns, State Sena- tor, was born in Biddeford, Me., on August 10, 1843, a son of Jeremiah and Aphia Burns. His ancestors, who early came to America, were Scotch on his father's and English on his mother's side. As pioneers they took a prominent part in the development of the country, and are recorded as actively participating in the war of the revolution, his great-grandfather being master me- chanic and having charge of the Navy Yard at Portsmouth, N. H., at the time of the building of the United States warship Constitution. When he was quite young Mr. Burns's parents removed to Yon- kers. He was educated at Wiswell's Academy, at Yonkers; at Colgate University, and at Union College, graduating from the latter. Subse- quently he acquired a general busi- ness knowledge. He secured a clerkship in the Treasury Depart- ment at Washington, D. C., during which service he became a student at Columbia College Law School, finishing the course, and on gradu- ating received the degree of LL. B .; later he received the honorary de- gree of A. M. from Colgate Univer- sity. In 1871 he received an im- portant appointment in the New York Custom House, under Col- lector Arthur. He was for some years trustee, secretary and treas-
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W. L. WARD.
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J. IRVING BURNS.
WILLIAM J. GRANEY.
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urer of the Rutgers Female College. He took an active interest in pol- itics in New York City and was a member of the Republican Central Committee. Then he again became a resident of Yonkers. Having been an active Republican since the time he was entitled to vote, he was not long in acquiring a prominent place among the leaders of his party in Yonkers and in the county at large. He served several years as chair- man of the Republican City Com- mittee and as member of the Re- publican County Committee. He has regularly attended as delegate the State and other conventions of his party. He was elected an Al- derman of his city for the years 1884-85, declining a re-election. He also served as School Trustee. In the fall of 1886 he was the unani- mous choice of his party as candi- date for member of Assembly, and was elected in a district largely Democratic. He served in this po- sition during the years of 1887, 1888, 1890 and 1895. His successful rec- ord in the Legislature won for him the confidence and support of his constituents, and in the contest for the nomination for State Senator for the term of three years under the new Constitution, he defeated his opponents and was named on the second ballot. He was elected by a large majority, leading his ticket, and served in the Senate during the years 1896, 1897 and 1898. In both the Assembly and Senate he was appointed upon the most important committees and had the reputation of constancy and faithfulness. He was instru- mental in introducing and placing upon the statutes many important laws. His course has demanded the respect of all fair-minded people, though they be political opponents, for the reason that his support has always been given on the side of morality, progress and education. In season and out of season he has been a strong advocate of all meas- ures that promise to advance the interests of his county, and, as a consequence, his constituents. On October 8, 1898, he received his party's nomination for Representa- tive in Congress. Mr. Burns is president of the Spring Creek and Mining Company, South Dakota;
publisher of the X. Y. Z. Railroad and Steamboat Guide; vice-presi- dent of the Economical Printing Company, New York, and director of the District Messenger Company, Yonkers, N. Y. He is a member of the D. K. E. Club, New York; of the City and Palisade Clubs, and chair- man of the Executive Committee of the Republican Central Committee, of Yonkers. He was married at Hamilton, N. Y., September 29, 1869, to Mary C. Russell, and has two children-Irving Russell and Gertrude Louise.
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JARED SANDFORD.
Jared Sandford, member of As- sembly for the First Assembly Dis- trict, was born in Seneca County, N. Y., about sixty years ago, and is a son of Gen. Halsey Sandford. Chancellor Lewis H. Sandford was one of his uncles, another being Ed- ward Sandford, a leader of the New York bar. While still a young man Mr. Sandford was elected County Clerk of Seneca County, an office which he filled with marked suc- cess. He afterward served as Ser- geant-at-Arms of the Assembly. His education was obtained in the public schools and at the Ovid Academy, from which institution he graduated. Subsequently he took a course in the New York Univer- sity Law School and was admitted to the bar. He practiced law for a short time in New York and in 1869 he moved to Mount Vernon, where he has since resided. He was twice President of the village of Mount Vernon, and when Mount Vernon became a city he became, by virtue of his office, its first Mayor. For twelve consecutive years he served as School Commis- sioner of the First District of this county. In 1892 Mr. Sandford be- came Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction of this State. He was elected a member of Assembly in 1897. He is a Democrat.
WILLIAM J. GRANEY.
William J. Graney, member of Assembly, representing the Second Assembly District, was born at
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Dobbs Ferry, his present place of residence, on May 5, 1858, a son of Michael and Mary (Henehan) Gra- ney. He was educated in the pub- lic school of his native village, and on his graduation from the High School was forced, by the death of his father, to forfeit cherished am- bitions for a higher education, and seek employment as a means by which he might be able to support his widowed mother and sisters. It was not long, however, before he became bookkeeper for the prin- cipal merchant of his native vil- lage, in which position he remained for several years. His engaging manner and business-like methods attracted the attention of the late Warner D. Hatch, then president of the Hatch Lithographing Com- pany, who offered Mr. Graney in- ducements that led him to enter the employment of that company, and he arose from a minor position to that of manager of the business. He remained with this company until its dissolution. In politics Mr. Graney has always been a Dem- ocrat and no young man in West- chester County has performed greater service for his party. For many years he has been the chair- man of the Town Committee of his town and a member of the County Committee, of which he was chair- man for two years, and was re- cently again elected to the position. He was first elected Clerk of the Village of Dobbs Ferry. In 1892 he was elected as the Democratic nom- inee for County Register by a large majority. As a candidate for re- election, in 1895, he was defeated, together with his associates on the Democratic ticket, though running 1,500 ahead of his ticket. He was elected to the Assembly as a Dem- ocrat by a majority of about 1,000 in a district which the year pre- vious had given 2,500 majority to a Republican candidate. Mr. Graney enjoys the confidence and esteem of every one who knows him, and his word is as good as his bond,
whether in business or politics. On October 5, 1898, he received the Democratic nomination for State Senator in the Westchester County District. Mr. Graney was married on June 29, 1893, to Miss Mary Louise Maher, daughter of Theo- dore Maher. His wife died on De- cember 22; 1897.
JOHN GIBNEY.
John Gibney, who represents the Third Assembly District, was born in 1842. When he was five years old his parents moved from Brook- lyn to Sing Sing, where he has ever since resided. He was educated at the public schools, and, owing to the necessities of his parents, he was compelled to earn his living from his thirteenth year. He was apprenticed to a filemaker and la- bored at that occupation until 1861, when, although only eighteen years old, he enlisted in the city of New York in Company F, First Battal- ion of the Twelfth Infantry, and took part in many of the prominent battles of the civil war. He was confined in Libby Prison and Belie Island for a considerable period. Mr. Gibney, on returning to Sing Sing, studied law in the office of ex- District Attorney Nelson H. Baker, in 1868, and subsequently in the office of Francis Larkin. He was admitted to the bar in 1872. He has since practiced in Sing Sing. He has held the office of Police Justice several terms, and for years has been counsel to the village of Sing Sing, under both Democratic and Republican administrations. He was elected a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1894. In 1897 he was chosen member of Assembly, as the Democratic nom- inee, notwithstanding that the dis- trict is considered to be rock-ribbed Republican. He declined a renom- ination in 1898. He is a member of Morell Post, G. A. R., of Sing Sing.
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Members of the Board of Supervisors, 1897-8.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
CHAUNCEY TOMPKINS SECOR.
Mr. Secor, chairman of the Coun- ty Board of Supervisors, is a Demo- crat, and represents the town of Scarsdale. He was born in the town of Rye, December 28, 1844. The home of his parents was in Scars- dale; it was while his mother was on a visit to her parents in Rye that he was born. He is a son and only child of Francis and Sarah A. (Lyon) Secor. He was educated at the Alexander Institute, in White Plains, after which he engaged ac- tively in farming. On December 2, 1896, he was married to Miss Hen- rietta Fish, daughter of William H. and Catherine (Sutton) Fish, of Scarsdale. Mr. Secor manifests an interest in politics but does not profess to be a politician. He is a descendant of one of t the most prominent families connected with the history of the county and State. On the paternal side he can claim relationship to a Governor (Tomp- kins) and to numerous Judges. Jon- athan G. Tompkins, his great grand- father, was a County Judge from 1797 to 1802; Caleb Tompkins, an- other relative, was County Judge from 1807 to 1820. The office of Supervisor was held for many years by his relatives. Francis Secor, father of the subject of this sketch, was elected Supervisor of the town of Scarsdale, in 1849, and continued in that office twenty-six years. Mr. Secor, the present Su- pervisor, was first elected to the office in 1883 and has held it con-
tinually ever since; previous to his election as Supervisor, he had held the office of Justice of the Peace for eleven years, from 1873. He has served several terms as Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. He resides at Scarsdale on the old Se- cor farm, which came in possession of the family in the year 1760, and which now belongs to him.
CHARLES M. BAXTER.
Mr. Baxter, Supervisor, repre- senting the town of Mamaroneck, is a Democrat, and one of the most active and useful members of the Board of Supervisors. He served during recent sessions of the Board as chairman of the import- ant Committee on State Legislation, as second on the equally important Committee on Equalization of As- sessments, and as a member of the Committee on Register. He is one of the most regular in attendance at meetings of the Board of Super- visors, taking good care that his town is represented at all sessions of that body, and is, through him, heard on all questions of interest to taxpayers. That his townspeople appreciate his efforts in their be- half is shown by the fact that he has been repeatedly re-elected Su- pervisor without opposition. He was first chosen Supervisor in 1893, and re-elected up to 1899. Previous to being Supervisor he was elected Assessor, and served in that office from 1888 to 1893. Mr. Baxter is a
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merchant in the village of Mamaro- neck, and President of the local Board of Trade. He is a prominent member of the Masonic order, hav- ing served as Master of his lodge, and is also a member of numerous other societies. Mr. Baxter was born September 9, 1862, in New York city, and is a son of George L. and Mary L. (Hutchings) Baxter. He received his education in the public schools of his native city. With his parents he removed to Ma- maroneck, in 1876, where he has since resided. He was married on October 9, 1884, to Miss Martha T. Oliver, daughter of William H. and Ellen Oliver, of New York city; they have a son Charles M. Baxter, Jr., and a daughter, Jean Baxter.
EDGAR KETCHAM BROWN.
Mr. Brown, Republican, who represents as Supervisor, the 5th Ward of the city of Mount Vernon, was born in the city of New York, on September 8, 1858. He is a son of Erastus Fitch and Caroline Platt (Kenyon) Brown. His education was received at the public schools of his native city, and later at the College of the City of New York; on graduating from the Columbia College Law School, he was admitted to the practice of law and has been a most successful practitioner for many years in the city of New York. He served as a School Trustee and as a Village Trustee in the old village of Mount Vernon and was one of a commit- tee who drafted the Mount Vernon City charter; he was his party's un- successful candidate for City Judge at Mount Vernon's first city elec- tion; was elected to his present of- fice in 1896 to serve until June 1, 1898. During Mr. Brown's first year as Supervisor he served as chairman of the Judiciary Commit- tee of the Board of Supervisors. In the second year he was a member of the latter committee and chair- man of the Committee on Register; through his exertions an appropria-
tion of $25,000 was secured for re- indexing the records of the Regis- ter's office upon modern and ap- proved methods. Mr. Brown was the nominee of his party for chair- man of the last Board of Supervi- sors. His defeat was not owing to a lack of popularity as a man, for no member was held in higher re- spect than was Mr. Brown by his colleagues, even his opponents were free to admit that his ability speci- ally fitted him to act as a presiding officer. Mr. Brown was married February 20, 1886, to Miss Emily White Cowperthwait, daughter of John H. and Mary Cowperthwait, of New York city. He has resided in Mount Vernon twelve years.
THOMAS A. BROWNE.
Mr. Browne, Democrat, represents the Fourth Ward, the very lacality in which he was born on October 28, 1865. He comes from good Irish-American stock, and his sterl- ing Democracy is honestly inherit- ed from his father, still living, a leading Democrat, and who was one of the first Excise Commissioners appointed in the city of Yonkers, immediately after the incorporaion, in 1872. Supervisor Browne was educated at St. Aloysius' Academy, and in the public schools of his na- tive city, after which he learned the trade of a mason, which he con- tinues to follow. He is popular in labor circles. While always deeply interested in the success of the Democratic party and the advance- ment of the interests of his politi- cal friends, he never consented to hold office before last year, when he was elected to his present posi- tion. Though one of the youngest of the Board of Supervisors, Mr. Browne is considered one of its best working members; regular in attendance and attentive to all de- tails, anxious to serve those he rep- resents. He was elected in 1897 to serve two years. Mr. Browne is a son of Patrick and Kathryn (Fal- vey) Browne. He is unmarried.
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WALTER B. DIXON.
Mr. Dixon, Republican, who rep- resents the Seventh Ward of Yon- kers, as Supervisor, was born in Guernsey, Channel Islands, Novem- ber 20, 1854. He received a liberal public school education. He came to New York in 1873, at the age of 18 years; engaged in the grocery business in the lower part of that city, and later embarked in the same business up town, at Tremont. In 1892 he retired from the grocery business, and devoted himself ac- tively to transactions in real estate, at the same time becoming a resi- dent of Armour Villa Park, a charming suburb of Yonkers. Mr. Dixon's real estate office is at Mount Vernon. In politics he has always been a Republican, but has never been a politician in the strict sense of the term. His present office of Supervisor is his first introduction as an office holder. His regular at- tendance, close attention to details and readiness to take part in the proceedings of the Board of Super- visors, make him a valuable mem- ber. He was married in 1881; is now a widower. Is a member of Guiding Star Lodge, No. 565, F. & A. M., and a member of the Metho- dist E. Church, at Tuckahoe. Mr. Dixon will also compose one of the Board of Supervisors for 1898-99.
EDWARD J. EARL.
Mr. Earl, Republican, of the Fifth Ward, of Yonkers, was born in the city of New York, October 6, 1847. He has lived in Yonkers over twenty-five years; his present residence being 41 Maple street, where he has resided fifteen years. He was graduated from Barton's Military Academy, Village Green, Delaware County, Penn. At pres- ent he is engaged in the real estate business, having charge of several large estates in his home city. This is Mr. Earl's advent as an office hold- er; though a new and inexperienced member, his colleagues by their
votes decided him worthy of an ad- ditional trust when they appointed him Superintendent of the Yonkers Armory. Mr. Earl is a member of the Order of the Red Men, of the Order of American Mechanics, of the Order of Patriotic Sons, and of the Royal Knights of the Ancient Essenic Order. He has one year more to serve as Supervisor. Mr. Earl was married on December 25, 1867, to Miss Martha I. Lutes, daughter of the late Rev. William C. Lutes. The Supervisor is a son of William and Mary (Browne) Earl.
EDWARD A. FORSYTH.
Mr. Forsyth, Republican, repre- sening as Supervisor, the Third Ward of the city of Yonkers, was born in the ward which he now rep- resents, on November 16, 1867; his family is of Scotch extraction. His parents are John W. and Elizabeth (Tully) Forsyth. He was educated at the public schools of his city and after graduation prepared himself for the profession of an Architect, and by close application to his vo- cation has succeeded in building up a highly lucrative business. He has acted as Architect and Superintend- ent of Construction in connection with several important buildings, among the most recent being the Municipal building of. Yonkers, and a large apartment house in the western part of the State. Mr. For- syth is now holding his first politi- cal position, having been chosen Supervisor in 1895 and re-elected in 1897 to serve until the fall of 1899; he is also a member of the Execu- tive Committee of the Young Men's Republican Club, and a member of Rising Star Lodge, No. 450, F. & A. M., of Yonkers. Mr. Forsyth was married October 12, 1897, to Miss Ethel Boynton Sisson, daughter of Henry Sission, of Yonkers. Mr. and Mrs. Forsyth returning from their wedding trip, on October 24, met with a perilous accident; they were on the ill-fated Hudson River
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Railroad train that ran off the track and plunged into the Hudson River, just before daylight on the morn- ing of that day, at Garrisons. Though the sleeping coach, in which they were, was submerged,
they succeeded in escaping by crawling out through a broken win- dow of the car. Many of the pas- sengers perished in watery graves.
GEORGE T. GRAY.
Mr. Gray, Democrat, who as Su- pervisor represents the town of Harrison, was born in that town on January 21, 1844, and has since re- sided there; his occupation being that of a farmer. He is a son of Daniel W. and Sarah (Field) Gray. The father filled the office of Su- pervisor most acceptably for several terms. The son and present Su- pervisor served in the year 1896 and up to the present time. It is just and fair, even to his predecessors, . to admit that the town never had a ยท more painstaking and careful rep- resentative in the Board of Super- visors than the subject of this
sketch. Mr. Gray has been re- elected Supervisor, and will serve in the Board of 1898-99. Besides in the position of Supervisor, Mr. Gray has been of great service to his town in the offices of Assessor, Inspector of Election and as an Excise Com- missioner. During the last session of the Board of Supervisors, Mr. Gray served as chairman of the Committee on Constables, and also as a member of the Committee on Printing, performing his duties most thoroughly and satisfactorily.
WILLIAM H. GREENHALGH.
Mr. Greenhalgh, Democrat, who represents the First Ward of the city of Yonkers as Supervisor, was born in West Farms, Westchester County, on September 28, 1854, of English parentage. He is a son of William and Martha (Smith) Greenhalgh. He was educated in the West Farms public school. His
present vocation is that of a mer- chant. He removed to the city of Yonkers in the year 1868. He was married on December 21, 1878, to Miss Julia B. Kilgore, daughter of William and Eliza Kilgore, of Newburgh, N. Y., Mr. Green- halgh is now holding his first political office, to which he was elected in 1897, to serve until the fall of 1899. At the last session of the Board of Supervisors he served on the Committees on Finance, County and Town Indebtedness, and on Miscellaneous Bills. He is quite prominent in the Masonic order, being a member of Rising Star Lodge, No. 450, F. & A. M., Nepper- han Chapter, No. 177, R. A. M., Yonkers Commandery, No. 47, K. T., and Mecca Mystic Shrine; also is, and has been for ten years, treas- urer of the Exempt Firemen's As- sociation of Yonkers.
ISRAEL A. HAIGHT.
Mr. Haight, Republican, repre- senting the town of New Castle, is a native of the town he represents; was born August 26, 1824, of Ameri- can parentage; a son of Aaron and Phebe (Anderson) Haight. He was educated in New Castle public schools. Was actively engaged in business, until he re- tired a few years since. He married on September 2, 1846, Miss Ellen Brouwer, daughter of Jacob and Hannah Brouwer, of New Castle. Mr. Haight was appointed an Assistant Assessor of Internal Revenue and served from 1866 to 1872; was elected an Assessor and a Commissioner of Highways of his town; was Postmaster at Chappa- qua for three years during Presi- dent Harrison's administration, and in 1896 was appointed Supervisor to fill out the term of Francis M. Carpenter elected County Treasurer, and was re-elected in 1897. Mr. Haight was most regular in at- tendance at meetings of the Board of Supervisors and at meetings of his Town Board, and gave his whole
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time in looking after the interests of his fellow taxpayers. The town can never have a more conscientious and faithful official than Mr. Haight has been. During the last session of the Board of Supervisors, he served as chairman of the Special Committee to audit Sheriff's bills for County Jail, and as a member of Committee on Commissioner of Jurors.
ALBERT STOUGHTENBURGH JENKS.
Mr. Jenks, Democrat, who repre- sents as Supervisor, the Fourth Ward of the city of Mount Vernon, was born in the city of New York, on March 22, 1859, a son of Andrew M. and Sarah A. (Kellum) Jenks. When six years of age, his parents removed to Hyde Park, N. Y., where he resided until 1875, and where he was able to acquire a practical edu- cation in the public schools of that place. After a residence of five years in Poughkeepsie, he accom- panied his parents to Mount Vernon where he has continued to reside up to date. He was early appren- ticed to the carpentering trade, and soon became a skilled mechanic; to- day he is a member of the firm of Jenks & Plume, one of the leading firms of carpenters and builders in his home city. Mr. Jenks is bet- ter known as a business men than as an office holder. His standing as a man of business suggested his election as one of the first Aldermen of the City of Mount Vernon, in 1892; he served two years. He was elected a Supervisor for a term of two years commencing 1897. Mr. Jenks was married December 18, 1891, to Miss Margarette Cannon, daughter of Charles and Margaret Cannon, of Poughkeepsie.
EDWARD B. KEAR.
Mr. Kear, Republican, represent- ing the town of Yorktown, was born at Yorktown Heights, where he now resides, on March 24, 1866. Was educated at the Chappaqua In-
stitute, Hackettstown Institute, and Eastman's Business College. Mr. Kear's first experience as an office holder was when elected Town Clerk, in 1889; his re-election fol- lowed the next year. In 1892 he was chosen a Justice of the Peace, and two years later he was elected a Justice of Sessions, holding the lat- ter office at the time it was abol- ished by the Constitutional amend- ment, and was one of the last Jus- tices of Sessions in the State. In the county convention of his party, in the fall of 1895, he received 58 votes for nomination for County Clerk, and held the balance of pow- er, the two opposing candidates having received a tie vote; by being able to influence his friends, the votes cast for him were transferred on the next ballot to one of the op- posing candidates and he thus se- cured the nomination of his choice of the two. In 1896 he was elected to his present office, for two years, receiving 304 votes, to 260 votes cast for Ferdinand Horton, Demo- crat. He has for eight years been chairman of the Republican Town Committee, of his town, and a mem- ber of the Republican County Com- mittee for five years; has been a School Trustee and held other minor offices. Mr. Kear was mar- ried June 3, 1896, to Miss Josephine Reynolds, daughter of Lockwood Reynolds, of Croton Lake. He is a son of Henry C. and Catherine (Far- mer) Kear.
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