USA > New York > Westchester County > Manual of Westchester county.Past and present. Civil list to date 1898 > Part 18
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30
CHARLES M. LANE.
Mr. Lane, Republican, represent- ing the town of Mount Pleasant, was born in the nearby town of New Castle, on December 1, 1857. In 1863 he removed, with his par- ents, to Pleasantville, where he has since resided. He was educated in the public schools of Pleasantville, and soon after embarked in busi- ness. Mr. Lane is at present one of the leading merchants of his home village. He has for years taken more or less interest in politics,
1776
MANUAL AND CIVIL LIST.
anxious for the success of his party friends and the principles his party represents, but never held public office until he was appointed post- master at Pleasantville Station, which office he held during Presi- dent Harrison's administration. In 1894 Mr. Lane was elected Super- visor, over David Silver, Democrat, and has been re-elected up to date. In the Board of Supervisors, Mr. Lane has ever been a prominent figure, taking a leading part in de- bates and serving upon the princi- pal committees, particularly that appointed to supervise and direct the construction of the new jail, now in course of erection. He has also served repeatedly upon the Legis- lation Committee, appointed to look after the county's interests in mat- ters of legislation at Albany. Mr. Lane is a son of Ephraim and Ma- hala (Reynolds) Lane. He was mar- ried in 1882, to Miss Ophelia Slagle, daughter of John H. Slagle, of Pleasantville.
JAMES FAYETTE LAWRENCE.
Mr. Lawrence, Republican, repre- senting the town of Lewisboro, was born at South Salem, in that town, on April 4, 1846. He comes from the best of American stock, his grandfather, Captain Samuel Law- rence, who fought and won fame in American Revolution, was commis- sioned by Gov. George Clinton, the first Governor of the State. Mr. Lawrence was educated in the pub- lic schools, and following in the footsteps of his father, became a good farmer, who has mastered the art of getting the best service pos- sible out of his farm land. He is a son of Cyrus and Mary-(Howe) Law- rence. The first and only political position held by him is that of Su- pervisor, which he has filled since the year 1893. His relatives in pre- ceding years had held the office for several terms, as the list published elsewhere will show. Supervisor Lawrence is recognized as one of the most genial and popular, as well as one of the most useful members
of the Board of Supervisors, and certainly no town's interests are better looked after than are Lewis- boro's. Mr. Lawrence was married January 6, 1876, to Miss Hannah Dickinson, daughter of Arnell F. Dickinson, of Bedford, who was a member of Assembly in 1857.
HERBERT D. LENT.
Mr. Lent, Democrat, representing as Supervisor the town of East- chester, was born in New York city, on August 22, 1858, a son of Isaac B. and Hester (Burdett) Lent. With his parents he removed to Tuckahoe in 1866, where he has since con- tinued to reside. He was educated in the local public schools, after which he studied law and was ad- mitted to the bar; he is known as a clever lawyer, careful in prepara- tion of cases, ready in argument, and guided by sound judgment. The first political position he held was that of Town Clerk of the old town of Eastchester, in 1886, and re- elected in 1887 by an unprecedent- ed majority of 700. He served sev- eral terms as a School Trustee, in School District No. 2, at Bronx- ville. Mr. Lent was first elected Supervisor in 1892, the year Mount Vernon was taken from the town and made a city. In the last ses- sion of the Board of Supervisors he served as chairman of the Judiciary Committee and as a member of other important committees. To him is principally due the excellent macadamized roads recently con- structed and which tend to make attractive the town of Eastchester. Mr. Lent was entrusted with the important duty of acting on behalf of the county in settlement with the city of New York of matters growing out of the annexation of certain portions of Westchester county to the city and county of New York, under act of 1895. Mr. Lent was married in June, 1889, to Miss Julia Merritt, daughter of Theron and Eliza Merritt, of Tucka- hoe.
GEO.T. GRAY TOWN OF HARRISON.
JAS. F LAWRENCE TOWN OF LEWISBORO.
BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS
COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER
CHAUNCEYT. SECOR TOWN OF SCARSDALE
+ BOARD
1897
-
GILBERT M. TODD
TOWN
OF . OSSINING
CHAS. M. LANE TOWN.OF MT PLEASANT
Henry D. PhelpS TOWN OF NEW ROCHELLE
Edward B. Kear TOWN OF YORKTOWN
COUNTY OF HESTER
BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS
John M. Shinn TOWN OF PELHAM.
George I. Ruscoe TOWN OF POUNDRIDGE
Israel A Hais TOWN OF A
HERBERT D. LENT TOWN OF EASTCHESTER
FRANK G. SCHIRMER TOWN OF WHITE PLAINS
BOARD
OF
SUPERVISORS
JAMES P. TEED TOWN OF SOMERS
CHARLES M. BAXTER TOWN OF MAMARONECK
COUNTY
OF
WESTCHESTER
FRANKLIN COUCH TOWN OF CORTLAND
Harry J. Robinson 1st ward .
Daniel Lewis 2 nd ward.
SUPERVISORS
OF
MOUNT VERNON
1898
Edgar K. Brown 5th Ward.
Charles C. Bigelow 3rd Ward.
Albert S. Jenks 4th Ward.
Supervisors
Hall B. Waring 2nd. Ward.
1898
-
Thomas A. Browne 4th. Ward.
Walter B. Dixon 7th. Ward.
0
Edward J. Earl 5th. Ward.
Edward A. Forsyth 3rd Ward.
Wm.H. Greenhalgh Ist. Ward.
Patrick Whalen 6th. Ward.
YonKer's
177
MANUAL AND CIVIL LIST.
DANIEL LEWIS.
Daniel Lewis, Republican, repre- senting as Supervisor the Second Ward of the city of Mount Vernon, was born on January 15, 1846, in Eastchester, the same town of which Mount Vernon was formerly a part; a son of Andrew D. and Emily (Devoe) Lewis; a descendant of Revolutionary stock on both the maternal and paternal side. The only advantage of an education he had in early life was of the pri- mary nature, acquired in a district School in the town of Yonkers. When only nine years of age he was thrown upon his own resources, since which time by hard study and strict attention to his several duties, he has gradually worked his way up. Early in the year 1873 he be- came associated with the Mount Vernon Chronicle, of which news- paper he finally became editor and publisher. He is now engaged in the printing and stationery busi- ness in his home city. He was married in 1869 to Miss Mary Kate Brown, daughter of Joseph Brown, of Long Branch. His second mar- riage occurred in 1894, to Miss Hat- tie L. Craft, daughter of Charles Craft. of Eastchester. Mr. Lewis has for many years taken an active interest in politics, but it was not until 1895 that he consented to ac- cept office; then he was appointed by Mayor Lewis as a Civil Service Commissioner; the same Mayor ap- pointed him in 1896 as a Supervisor for the Second Ward, and a few months later he was elected to fill the same position for two years ending June 15, 1898. In the Board of Supervisors Mr. Lewis is a prom- inent figure, paying close attention to his duties, and participating in the discussion of matters of intor. est to taxpayers; as a committee worker he is a most industrious and effective. Mr. Lewis is also a mem- ber of Hiawatha Lodge, No. 434. F. and A. M., of Mount Vernon Chapter, No. 228, R. A. M., of Nep- perhan Council, No. 70, R. and S. M.,
and of Bethlehem Commandery, No. 53, K. T.
HENRY DELAFIELD PHELPS.
Mr. Phelps, Republican, repre- senting as Supervisor the town of New Rochelle, was born in the city of New York, September 8, 1836, and has been a resident of New Rochelle for 35 years. Mr. Phelps is, as he himself declares it, a "Pure Ameri- can;" his parents were Henry and Catherine W. Phelps. He was grad- uated from Trinity College, Hart- ford, and is engaged at farming. He was married in 1857, to Miss Cath- erine Morris, daughter of Robert R. and Hannah Edgar Morris, of New York city. Mr. Phelps was first elected to the office of Supervisor in 1879 and continued in same position until 1883; was again elected in 1886; and is now serving by virtue of an appointment. Since the expiration of his term in 1886 he has been re- peatedly urged to consent to a re- election, as his popularity would in- sure, but on each occasion he de- clined, until the present year, when the sudden and uexpected death of Supervisor Gideon W. Davenport made it necessary that the town se- cure for the vacancy some person of special ability and experience. The New Rochelle Board of Town Offi- cers, by a unanimous vote, invited and urged Mr. Phelps to accept an appointment to the vacancy. In accepting the appointment, he did so conditionally, that he would not be urged to consent to an election to the office to succeed himself.
ISAAC PURDY.
Mr. Purdy, Democrat, represents the town of North Salem, as Super- visor, which is a particular dis- tinction owing to the fact that the town had previously been represent- ed in the county legislature by a long line of Republican Supervisors and was considered one of the most reliable Republican localities in the county. To Mr. Purdy's popularity,
178
MANUAL AND CIVIL LIST.
with Republicans and Democrats when elected a Supervisor in 1896 to serve until 1898. In the Board of Supervisors Mr. Robinson proved a very careful legislator, determined to know that he was right before going ahead, and his city was ma- terially benefited by his being in the Board and exerting an influence in the interest of taxpayers. He is also a trustee of the Building and Loan Association of Mount Vernon. Mr. Robinson was married Septem- ber 26, 1888 to Miss Caroline A. alike, is due his election. He was first chosen Supervisor in 1896 and re-elected on March 29, 1898; at the time of his being elected Supervisor in 1896, he was acting as a School Trustee. His being a School Trus- tee led to an attempt in the courts to oust him from the Supervisor- ship. He served during the 1896-7 session of the Board of Supervisors, but was debarred from acting at the opening of the session of the Board for 1897-8, by a decision of the | Jones, daughter of James and Mar- courts, to the effect that holding the | ion Jones, of Brooklyn. School Trusteeship made him in- eligible for election as Supervisor. The Board of Town Officers, com- GEORGE I. RUSCOE. posed entirely of Republicans, ap- pointed Mr. Purdy as Supervisor to fill the vacancy caused by this de- cision of the courts. His re-election later approved this appointment. He received the largest majority ever given a Democrat in the town. Mr. Purdy was born on November 3, 1853, at Purdy Station, a locality founded by his father, within the town he represents. He is a son of Isaac Hart Purdy and Mary Willis (Lyon) Purdy. His father, who died in 1891, was Supervisor of the town from 1846 to 1850, and 1856-57. Isaac Purdy, his grandfather, filled the office of Supervisor of the town in 1823.
HARRY JOHNSON ROBINSON.
Mr. Robinson, Republican, who represents, as Supervisor, the First Ward of the city of Mount Vernon, was born in the city of New York, on April 11, 1856, a son of Thomas S. and Mary A. (Many) Robinson; and is on the maternal parent's side a direct descendant of the Hugue- nots. He was educated in the pub- lic schools of the city of Brooklyn, after which he learned the trade of a carpenter, and is now conducting a prosperous business as car-
penter and builder in Mount Vernon, in which city he has re- sided twelve years. His first appearance as an office holder was
Mr. Ruscoe, Republican, as Super- visor, represents one of the oldest. towns in the county, Poundridge. He was born in the town of Lewis- boro, March 29, 1856; when about one year old his parents removed to North Wilton, Conn., where they re- sided until after the war, then in 1865, removed to Poundridge, where Mr. Ruscoe has since resided. His parents were George R. and Hannah E. (Brown) Ruscoe. He was edu- cated at Bolton's Seminary at Lew- isboro. His father was a member of Company H, 17th Regiment, Con- necticut Volunteers, and served three years during the Rebellion, so also did nine of his uncles, six of whom stood six feet tall. Mr. Rus- coe has held the office of Justice of the Peace twenty-one years, and the office of Supervisor for five years. In the Board of Supervisors Mr. Ruscoe is always on the alert, watchful for the interests of his town. He is well informed as to his duties, and is considered one of the most careful and conservative mem- bers of the Board. He is the tax- payers' friend and an enemy to all useless expenditures. Prior to his election as Supervisor, 1893, he was engaged as a public school teacher, acting in that capacity twelve years. He was married in 1889, to Miss Effie L. Whitney, daughter of George Whitney, of Lewisboro, his
179
MANUAL AND CIVIL LIST.
wife dying one year later. On Sep- tember 3, 1892, he was married to Miss Grace Adams, daughter of La- verda and Esther J. Adams, of Poundridge.
FRANK G. SCHIRMER.
Mr. Schirmer, Democrat, who rep- resents, as Supervisor, the town of White Plains, was born in Germany, on October 18, 1848; a son of Joseph M. and Gertrude (Lorentz) Schirmer. When he was one year old his par- ents came to the United States and settled as residents of New York city; when he was twelve years of age his parents removed to White Plains, and in the latter place the subject of this sketch has resided ever since. He was educated in the public schools of New York city and White Plains. Leaving school he served several years as clerk in the law offices of Lewis C. Platt and of Hiram Paulding, but concluded not to apply for admission to the bar, preferring rather the pursuits of a merchant. He at an early age took an active interest in politics, uniting with the Democratic side. He exerted considerable influence in the interests of his party as a young man, and to-day is acknowledged to be one of the leaders of that party in the county. For years he has been regular in attendance as a delegate at Democratic State Con ventions, and in county and minor conventions his leadership and ad- vice is greatly respected. The first public position held by him, and the one of which he was doubtless the most proud, was that of Page to the Board of Supervisors, to which position he was elected in 1864, when sixteen years of age. He has served his town as Collector of Taxes for three years; was a Cor- oner of the county for six years, was Sheriff of the county, from 1889, for three years; to his present office of Supervisor he was first elected six years ago.
JOSEPH B. SEE.
Mr. See, Republican, is now serv- ing out his fifteenth year as Super- visor of the town of North Castle. He was born in the town of Mount Pleasant, not far distant from his present residence, on May 1, 1837, of American parentage; a son of Isaiah and Anna (Banks) See. He was educated in the public schools of his native town. Twenty years ago he became a resident of the town he now ably represents. He is a retired merchant, spending most of his time in looking after the interests of his townepeople, who doubtlessly appreciate his en- deavors in their behalf, as proven by the frequency in which he is re-elected to the office by the unani- mous vote of the town. Ten years ago Mr. See was an extensive dealer in flour and grain in New York city, and has been a member of the New York Produce Exchange for thirty- five years. He is at present presi- dent of the Westchester Mining and Milling Company, at Breckenridge, Colorado. Mr. See held the post- mastership at Pleasantville from 1865 to 1869, but was elected to no public office prior to his first elec- tion as Supervisor, and it is now the only public office he holds. When he was introduced to the Board of Supervisors as a "Colt," he was, he says, as green as the best North Castle grass; had never addressed an assembly or made a motion of any kind-now how different. Mr. See is doubtlessly the best informed man, on matters of routine with which the Supervisors have to deal, of any of the Supervisors; he is a fluent talker and as he is a man of ideas, he is a leader on whom much of the county's legislation depends. His genial disposition and persis- tent nature recognizes no such word as failure when an end is to be accomplished; his aim is the coun- ty's good. During the last session he successfully championed the
roads measure. He has for the past ten years been treasurer of the
180
MANUAL AND CIVIL LIST.
Westchester County Agricultural and Horticultural Society. Mr. See was married May 19, 1859, to Miss Margaret S. Reynolds, daughter of Henry and Maria Reynolds, of North Castle.
JOHN M. SHINN.
Mr. Shinn, Republican, who rep- resents the town of Pelham in the Board of Supervisors, was born at Dubuque, Iowa, on October 25, 1849, of American parentage, his ances- tors coming to this country in 1648 and settling in New Jersey. His parents are Asa and Azariah (Mor- gan) Shinn. He was educated at the Waterloo and Hannibal High School, in art at the Cooper Union Life Class, and Academy of Design, New York city, and in law at the New York Law School. He is by occupation an artist. He became a resident of the town of Pelham, in 1874. He was married in 1876 to Miss Isabel King, daughter of Rob- ert and Susan (Hill) King, of New York city. Mr. Shinn was first elect- ed as Supervisor in 1895, and has been re-elected to serve until 1899. In the proceedings of the Board of Supervisors he has always taken a prominent part, serving on the most important committees and, being a man of ideas, is recognized as a leader, and has succeeded in accom- plishing much toward shaping legis- lation. He is ever zealous in behalf of what he considers the best inter- ests of his town and the general taxpayer. Previous to his election as Supervisor, he overcame a Demo- cratic majority, and was chosen Tax Collector for his town for two terms; has been a member of the Board of Education, Principal of the Pelham Manor School for about five years, and at Washington, D. C., was in charge of the collection and tabulation of statistics relating to Roman Catholic Churches, for cen- sus of 1890.
JAMES P. TEED.
Mr. Teed, Republican, represent- ing as Supervisor the town of So- mers, was born in that town on September 9, 1833, in the very house where he now resides, and where his father was born and lived up to date of his death. He is a son of Samuel and Mary (Horton) Teed. Was educated in the public schools and then became a farmer, follow- ing the profession of his father. He is unmarried. His present office of Supervisor is the only public po- sition he has ever held, an office in which his relatives had served in that town before him. He was first elected in the year 1880 and has been re-elected continuously up to date. He has the proud distinction of being the oldest member, as to time of service, of the Board of Su- pervisors. Mr. Teed has always ex- erted considerable influence among his colleagues, which he turned to good advantage in assisting the tax- payers not only of his town but of the towns of the county generally. He was for years a member of the important Committee on Equaliza- tion of Assessments, as well as the Committee on Repairs and Supplies of the Board of Supervisors.
GILBERT M. TODD.
Mr. Todd, Democrat, representing the town of Ossining, was born in Lewisboro, Westchester County, N. Y., November 7, 1833, of American parentage. He became a resident of Sing Sing, in the town of Ossining, where he now resides, in 1835. Was educated in Mount Pleasant Acad- emy and Peekskill Academy. He was first elected Supervisor in the year 1886, and has held the office continuously up to date, serving more years than any of his prede -- cessors. Prior to holding his pres- ent office, he served às a Trustee of the Village of Sing Sing, from 1879 to 1885; he is and has been for sev- eral years Vice-President of the Sing Sing Savings Bank; a Water
181
MANUAL AND CIVIL LIST.
Commissioner, Honorary Member of the Sing Sing Fire Department, which he joined in 1856; Rear Com- modore of the Sing Sing Yacht Club; a Trustee of the Mount Pleasant Academy; a Trustee of Dale Ceme- tery; a Vestryman of St. Paul's Episcopal Church. Mr. Todd is par- ticularly attentive to his duties as Supervisor, and has never missed a meeting of the Board of Supervisors excepting when illness made it im- possible for him to attend. That his townspeople appreciate his de- votion to their interests is manifest- ed by the numerous times he has been unopposed at the polls when a candidate for re-election. Supervi- sor Todd is a son of Stephen and Eliza (Baker) Todd. He was mar- ried in January, 1856, to Miss Eleanor F. Hull, daughter of Wil- liam Hull.
HALL BALDWIN WARING.
Mr. Waring, Republican, who rep- resents as Supervisor, the Second Ward of the city of Yonkers, was born in Yonkers, on April 28, 1857. He is of American parentage, a des- cendant from one of the pioneer and most prominent families of his na- tive city; a son of Charles E. and Julia (Weed) Waring. He received a liberal education, taking the regu- lar course of study in the Peekskill Military Academy. Was married on June 8, 1893, to Miss Elizabeth A. Smith, daughter of Henry A. and Mary E. Smith, of Yonkers. Mr. Waring has for years been engaged as a real estate broker, devoting more of his time to business pur- suits than to the details of politics, though he always manifested inter- est in the success of his party. The first political position held by Mr. Waring was that of Police Commis- sion, in the years 1896-97, to which
he was appointed by Mayor Peene. He was elected to his present office of Supervisor in the fall of 1897, to serve until the fall of 1899. In the Board of Supervisors, he is one of the most attentive, and always par- ticularly active when the interests of his city are at stake. He was chairman of the Committee on Com- missioner of Jurors, and a member of the Committee on Surrogate, in the last Board of Supervisors.
PATRICK WHALEN.
Mr. Whalen, Democrat, who, as Supervisor, represents the Sixth Ward of the city of Yonkers, also doubtlessly represents a more numerous Democratic con- stituency than any other man in the Board; in fact in the Sixth Ward, the stronghold of Democracy, no Republican dare contest an election with Mr. Whalen, and as frequently as the latter chooses he can be re- elected. Mr. Whalen entered the Board of Supervisors in 1896 and has been re-elected to serve until the fall of 1899. During the last ses- sion of the Board of Supervisors, he acted as chairman of the Printing Committee and as member of the New Jail and County Register Com- mittees. Mr. Whalen was born in Ireland, March 16, 1851, and came to this country with his parents and settled in Yonkers in the year 1853, and has resided in one locality, the one he now represents, 45 years. His parents are Michael and Mar- garet (Ormond) Whalen. He was educated in the Parochial and Pub- lic schools; is by occcupation a builder and real estate dealer. He was married August 26, 1871, to Miss Mary O'Keefe, daughter of James O'Keefe, of Yonkers.
182
MANUAL AND CIVIL LIST.
Superintendent of the Poor and Staff.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
HENRY ESSER.
Henry Esser, County Superin- tendent of the Poor, was born in Germany, Province Rhine, on Aug- ust 31, 1844. He received his early education in the schools of his na- tive country, which was supple- mented by such instruction as he could secure in his adopted country. He came to the United States, and settled in New York city, when quite young. Close application to business and honest dealing secured for him a just reward; several years ago he had accumulated enough of this world's goods to justify his re- tirement from business. He was married in 1867 to Miss Augusta Hinkel, daughter of Henry and Christina Hinkel, of New York city. Mr. Esser and his family removed to Mount Vernon in 1884. His neighbors soon learned to appreci- ate his worth as a citizen; he was chosen a Village Trustee of the Village of Mount Vernon; in 1889 he was first elected County Super- intendent of the Poor, as the Re- publican candidate; in 1894 he was elected Treasurer of the City of Mount Vernon; he was again elected County Superintendent of the Poor in 1895, his term expiring Decem- ber 31, 1898. His work as Superin- tendent is spoken of in another part of this book, in an article en- titled, "Care of Westchester Coun- ty's Poor."
WESLEY J. BOYCE.
Wesley J. Boyce, keeper of the County Alms House, at East View, was born in Cortlandt, N. Y., on
April 27, 1846, of American parent- age; a son of Matthew and Sarah (Wessels) Boyce. He was married on July 27, 1867 to Miss Rachel Cy- pher, of Yorktown. In politics Mr. Boyce is a Republican, a loyal member of his party organization, and ever active in its service. His present position is the only political office he has ever held. He has made a most capable officer, accep- table in all respects; he appears to be particularly adapted to fill the position of keeper, to control with firmness and to administer with kindness suggested by wisdom.
FREDERICK CRISFIELD.
Frederick Crisfield, clerk of the County Alms House, at Eastview, was born in Yonkers, September 28, 1868, of American parentage; he is a son of George H. and Susanah (Van Tassell) Crisfield. He received his education in the public schools of his native city. Was married December 19, 1891, to Miss Caroline A. Brown, daughter of William A. and Caroline A. Brown, of East View. Mr. Crisfield takes an ac- tive interest in politics, and is close- ly identified with the younger ele- ment of the Republican party which is quite sucessfully demanding re- cognition. He has served in his present office nearly six years, and is a methodical and painstaking clerk. Previous to his present ap- pointment, he was a recording clerk in the County Register's office. He is a resident of the town of Green- burgh, where he has resided nine years.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.