USA > New York > Westchester County > Manual of Westchester county.Past and present. Civil list to date 1898 > Part 22
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JOSEPH H. MCLAUGHLIN.
Joseph H. Mclaughlin, President of the village of Mamaroneck, was born in Ireland on November 4, 1847, a son of James and Ellen Mc- Laughlin. His father was a farmer and on his father's farm Mr. Mc- Laughlin spent his early days, and was able to attend school only at intervals; therefore, his education, for want of opportunity, was very meagre. In 1861 Mclaughlin came to this country in company with a sister, and three months after ar- rival he secured a position as er- rand boy with a prominent firm in New York city, members of which firm have always remained his friends. In 1862 he removed to New Rochelle, in this county, where he learned the trade of a plumber. In 1871 he removed to Mamaroneck and by. honest dealing was soon able to establish a prosperous busi- ness for himself, and being a man of progressive ideas he became prominent in public affairs. He was elected Town Clerk and recon-
structed that office by the introduc- tion of modern methods. He is serving the last year of his fourth term as a Justice of the Peace. For several years he has served as a member of the Town Board of Health. He was elected President of the village of Mamaroneck in May, 1898, and is president of the Board of Trade. Mr. Mclaughlin was a Democrat prior to 1888, then he espoused the cause of James G. Blaine, the Republican candidate for President, and has since re- mained a Republican. He was one of five to organize the first fire en- gine company, after the big fire in January, 1886, and for eight years he was foreman of Union Hook and Ladder Company. He is now presi- dent of the Fire Patrol. He is also vice-president of the local Building and Loan Association, and one of the original trustees of the Union Savings Bank of Westchester Coun- ty at Mamaroneck. Mr. McLough- lin was married May 18, 1876, to Miss Mary O'Neill, daughter of Ed- ward and Mary O'Neill, of Mamar- oneck.
ALFRED M. PERRIN.
Alfred M. Perrin, a former Jus- tice of the Peace, was born March 24, 1835, in the town of Mamaro- neck, where he has since continued to reside. He is a son of John and Julia A. (Hobby) Perrin, and a lineal descendant of the Huguenots. Was educated in the public schools of his native town. He married on March 24, 1864, Miss Eliva J. Craw- ford, daughter of Walter and Su- sanah (Archer) Crawford, of Mamaroneck. Mr. Perrin was the first man to enlist from Mamaro- neck for the late civil war, he be- coming a member of Duryea's Zouaves, the Fifth New York In- fantry Regiment. He served as a School Trustee, District No. 1, from 1871 to 1877; was elected a Justice of the Peace, serving from 1894 to 1898. He subsequently ran as his party's nominee for member of As- sembly in the Second Westchester County District and was defeated. Mr. Perrin is a member of Apawa- mis Lodge, F. and A. M .; a member
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of Sheldrake Council, Royal Arca- which post was named in honor of num, and a member of Flandreau John Flandreau, a cousin of Mr. Post, G. A. R., of New Rochelle, Perrin.
TOWN OF MOUNT PLEASANT.
The town of Mount Pleasant was erected under an act of March 7, 1788, and organized May 20, 1845. The township orig- inally comprised all that part of the Manor of Philipsburgh lying north of Greenburgh. It is bounded north by the town of Ossining and New Castle, east by North Castle, south by Greenburgh, and west by Ossining and the Hudson River. In 1845 the town was divided to permit the formation of the town of Ossining. It gets its name from its pleasant location upon high hills. The town's pop- ulation, according to the several census enumerations taken, has been as follows: In 1830, 4,932; in 1835; 5,757; in 1840, 7,308; in 1845, 2,962; in 1850, 3,323; in 1855, 3,677; in 1860, 4,517; in 1865, 4,389; in 1870, 5,210; in 1875, 5,411; in 1880, 5,450; in 1890, 5,844.
The names of the persons who have filled the office of Super- visor in the town will be found on another page of this book, under the head of Supervisors.
The present officers of the town are: Moses W. Taylor, Su- pervisor; J. Benedict See, Town Clerk; Andrew Tracy, Daniel Arm- strong, David H. Cox and Charles H. Hall, Justices of the Peace; John E. Murray, Collector of Taxes. Post office address, North Tarrytown, N. Y.
Sleepy Hollow, made famous by the writings of Washington Irving, is located in the town. The town contains two thriving villages, North Tarrytown and Pleasantville. Unionville, Sherman Park, East View, Neperan, Pocantico Hills, Kensico and Tarrytown Heights are also located in the town.
The assessed value of real estate in the town, last year, was $9,903,349; personal property, $515,110. The tax rate for this year is $4.218 per $1,000, inside the villages of North Tarrytown and Pleasantville; $5.17 per $1,000 outside of villages.
North Tarrytown, on the Hudson River, was incorporated as a village by vote of the electors on Dec. 17, 1874. Its first election was held March 16, 1875. Josiah F. Kendall was elected its first president. The locality was formerly named Beekmantown in honor of its principal land owner. Its population in 1880 was 2,684, and in 1890 it was 3,179. In Jan., 1898, the census showed a population of 4,011.
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DaulPlays
The New Sont History to
EDWARD T. LOVATT.
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MOSES W. TAYLOR.
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The village fire department was organized in 1876. Within the village limits is located the beautiful and widely famed Sleepy Hol- low Cemetery, which, prior to April 11, 1865, was known as the Tarrytown Cemetery. The present officers of the village are: Jo- seph Ledwith, President; David Silver, Clerk; John Egan, Thomas Birdsall, Milton Purdy, John Cahill and Owen Martin, Trustees; Andrew Tracey, Collector; James Hawes, Treasurer. Post office address, North Tarrytown, N. Y.
The North Tarrytown railroad station is at Tarrytown on the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad.
Pleasantville, on the Harlem Railroad, was incorporated as a village in 1897, and, according to the special census taken in Jan., 1898, has a population of 1,181. Its situation is very attractive, and each year adds to its popularity as a residence locality. The officers of the village are: Daniel P. Hays, President; William H. Bell, H. E. Washburn, R. Brundage, Jr., and Willet C. Brown, Trustees; William S. Moore, Clerk; Harry E. Smith, Tax Collector; James C. Bogen, Treasurer.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
DANIEL P. HAYS.
Daniel Peixotto Hays, President of the Village of Pleasantville, was born in that place on March 28, 1854; a son of David and Judith (Peixotto) Hays, and descendant of Jacob Hays, who was High Consta- ble of New York during the period of the revolution. His great-grand- father served with credit in the pa- triot army in the revolutionary war, and the homestead purchased by him at the close of that memora- ble struggle is still in possession of Mr. Hays. His preparatory educa- tion was obtained in the Thirteenth Street Public School, in the city of New York, and was graduated from the College of the City of New York in 1873. Having accepted employ- ment as an office boy in the law office of Carpentier & Beach while pursuing his studies, at the time of his graduation he had advanced to the position of managing clerk with the firm, and in 1877 was taken into partnership with the senior mem- ber, ex-Judge Beach, the new firm becoming Beach & Hays. A few months later, on the death of Judge
Beach, Mr. Hays formed a co-part- nership with James S. Carpentier, the remaining member of the old firm, which was maintained until the death of the latter in 1885. Mr. Hays then became associated with Samuel Greenbaum, under the firm name of Hays & Greenbaum. On May 1, 1898, Abraham Hershfield was admitted, and the firm became, as at present, Hays, Greenbaum & Hershfield, with offices at 141 Broadway, New York city. Doubt- less Mr. Hays is one of the best- known lawyers in New York, as he certainly ranks among the leaders of his profession. He is method- ical, painstaking and energetic and devoted to the cause of his clients, facts to which his popularity is due. He has managed with ability and success many important cases that have come before the New York courts, notably that of General Adam Badeau against the executors of General Grant's estate for serv- ices in writing the "Grant Me- moirs." He was counsel for Gen- eral Sickles while the latter was Sheriff of New York County, and is his attorney at the present time.
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Mr. Hays argued the case for Gen- eral Sickles against Ashbel Green and others trustees of a railroad mortgage, in the United States Su- preme Court. He also argued be- fore the Court of Appeals and won the case of the people against Wil- merding, involving the right of the State to tax goods sold at auction, arguing against the constitution- ality of the law. In politics Mr. Hays has always been more or less interested, as a Democrat. He was a delegate to the State Convention, from Rockland County, which nom- inated David B. Hill for Governor. He purchased the "Nyack City and Country," published in Nyack, N. Y., with a view of changing its po- litical complexion and giving its support to Grover Cleveland. The paper is still a flourishing Demo- cratic organ. In November, 1893, Mr. Hays was appointed a commis- sioner of appraisal to award dam- ages caused by changes of grade necessary for the depression of tracks of the New York Central and Harlem Railroad, in the Twenty- third and Twenty-fourth Wards of New York city. In the same year he was appointed by Mayor Gilroy as a Civil Service Commissioner of the city of New York and was chosen chairman of that body. In his home village Mr. Hays has al- ways been identified with the best interests of the place, and has con- tributed liberally to its progress. He was a firm advocate for village incorporation and did much to se- cure the success of the movement. In appreciation of his services in their behalf, his fellow-citizens elected him Village President, in March, 1898. Mr. Hays is a mem- ber of the Lawyers', the Reform, the Manhattan, the Democratic and other clubs. He was for several terms president of the Harlem Democratic Club. He was married on April 10, 1880, to Miss Rachel Hershfield, daughter of Aaron and Betsy R. Hirshfield, of New York city. They have five daughters.
EDWARD T. LOVATT.
Edward Trafford Lovatt, a former President of the village of North Tarrytown, was born in Newark,
N. J., on May 22, 1850, a son of John and Mary A. Lovatt. He was the eldest of six children. He was educated in the public schools of his native city, graduating from the High School when but fifteen years of age. His parents removed to Tarrytown in 1866, where his father established silk mills. He worked in his father's mills until he suc- ceeded in mastering the trade. To satisfy an ambition to become a lawyer he devoted all his leisure hours to study. As his means would not permit of his going to college, he decided upon doing what he considered the next best thing, to avail himself of what means of learning he had at hand. He passed a creditable examination for ad- mission to the bar and was admit- ted to practice in 1878. His energy and ability soon gave him a prom- inent place among Westchester County lawyers and brought him clients from outside the county also. His practice was in both the criminal and civil courts. As the attorney and counsel for O'Brien & Clark and for Brown, Howard & Co., contractors, for the construc- tion of the greater part of the new Croton Aqueduct, he became well and favorably known. He was also counsel for the Pocantico Water Works Company and was one of the counsel for heirs in the famous John Anderson will case. In poli- tics Mr. Lovatt has always been as- sociated with the Republican party. He is a familiar figure at conven- tions and other assemblies of his party, and is often called upon to display his ability as a ready and witty speaker in political cam- paigns. In 1883 he was elected president of his village, receiving a handsome majority. In the fall of the same year he was his party's nominee for County District Attor- ney. He, with his associates on the ticket, suffered defeat. He has served as a member of the Repub- lican County Committee and of local committees and recognized as a party leader. He was for years president of the local Board of Ed- ucation and filled the office of Cor- poration Counsel. He was one of the incorporators of St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church and Ione of its first trustees. For many
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years he was superintendent of the Sunday-school of that church. He has represented the church at Methodist conferences. Mr. Lovatt was married on May 22, 1871, to Miss Sarah Theodosia Tompkins, a grand niece of the Hon. Daniel D. Tompkins, formerly Governor of New York and Vice-President of the United States; of the union there are two children-John E. and Sarah T. Lovatt.
MOSES W. TAYLOR.
Moses W. Taylor, Supervisor, was born in the town of Scarsdale on August 9, 1839, a son of Andrew and Catherine (Williams) Taylor. He was educated in private and public schools of Yonkers. When 19 years of age, in 1858, he became a resident in the town of Mount Pleasant, where he now resides. He followed the occupation of his fa- ther and is a practical farmer. For twenty years he was extensively engaged in the pickle business. As a man of affairs he is favorably known. He has served the town of Mount Pleasant for nineteen years
as Supervisor, Commissioner of Highways for four years, and held other positions in his town. He is a Democrat, active and prominent. He has represented his town in the Democratic County Committee, is a regular attendant at all conven- tions of his party and with great regularity is elected a delegate to the State Convention. He served for three years as postmaster at Neperan, recently resigning the po- sition. For six years he acted as an appraiser for New York city in the matter of acquiring land for the : Watershed. He has been for fifteen years a trustee of the Westchester Savings Bank, has been a director of the Tarrytown National Bank since its organiza- tion, is a director of the White Plains Bank, is vice-president of the Westchester County Agricul- tural and Horticultural Society, and a member of the New York Society Sons of the Revolution; and has for twenty years been a member of Solomon Lodge, No. 196, F. and A. M. Mr. Taylor was married Oc- tober 7, 1863, to Miss Jane Gibson, daughter of James and Jane Gib- son, of Mount Pleasant.
CITY AND TOWN OF MOUNT VERNON.
Mount Vernon, formerly a part of the town of Eastchester, was incorporated as a village in 1853. Proceedings, under the gen- eral act for incorporation of villages, were commenced August 26, and completed December 13, of that year. A census taken at the time showed the population of the proposed new village to be 1,370. The organizers of the village were members of "The Home Indus- trial Association, No. 1, of New York City," who had, in 1850, bought property in the locality and had worked energetically to de- velop and improve their small possessions. The association was principally composed of mechanics and laboring men, who had combined for the purpose of securing homes near New York city where they were employed. The association was organized in New York city. On October 16, 1850, the members decided to purchase three hundred and seventy-five acres of land in the town of East- chester, land which was subsequently included within the limits of the village of Mount Vernon. Horace Greeley and John Stevens
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were nominated for the position of purchasing agent. The latter was chosen; the first check in payment for the land, $3,400, was dated November 1, 1850. Several names were proposed for the new settle- ment, viz .: Columbia, Feetwood, Rising Sun, Stevensville, Jeffer- son, Thousandville, Palestine, New Washington, Monticello, Wash- ington, Lafayette, Little New York, Linden, Olive Branch, New Amsterdam, Enterprise, Homesville, Industria, Youngfield and In- dustry. On November 1, 1850, the name Monticello was adopted. This was shortly afterwards changed to Monticello City. On No- vember 12, 1850, members visited the lands purchased and on that occasion Horace Greeley delivered an address complimenting them upon the step they had taken and commending the wisdom displayed in choosing the site for the proposed settlement. On January 10, 1851, the name of the locality was changed to Mount Vernon, the change being necessary to avoid postal difficulties. The election to decide for or against incorporation was held December 3, 1853, the polling place being in a store on the corner of Third Avenue and Third Street. The vote was eighty-two in favor of the proposition to fifty-two against. The first election for village officers was held March 7, 1854, when the following named persons were elected Trustees for the term of one year, viz .: Stephen Bogart, John B. Brennan, Joseph S. Gregory, M. D., Thomas Jones and William Sax- ton. The Board of Trustees elected Joseph S. Gregory, M. D., Pres- ident of the village; Dr. Gregory resigned the office in July, of the same year, and Thomas Jones was appointed to succeed him. The Presidents appointed by Boards of Village Trustees were as follows: Cornelius A. Cooper, 1855; Richard Atkinson, 1856-57-60-62; Geo. L. Baxter, 1858; John B. Brennan, 1859; John Stevens, 1861; David Quackinbush, 1863. Presidents were elected by the people for a term of one year, commencing 1863, as follows: David Quackin- bush, 1863-64; William H. Pemberton, 1865-66-67-68; Edward Mar- tin, 1869. An amendment to the village charter passed in 1870 made the Presidential term two years. Under this amended charter the following were elected: Edward Martin, 1870-72; Azro Fowler, 1874; George R. Crawford, 1876; David Quackinbush, 1878-88; Henry Huss, 1880; John Van Santvoord, 1882; William J. Collins, 1884; Jared Sandford, 1886, 1890.
West Mount Vernon and Central Mount Vernon were incorpo- rated as one village in the year 1869, and continued as such for nine years, until 1878, when its electors voted in favor of consolidation with the village of Mount Vernon. Christian Rost was the first President of the village, and he was succeeded by the following
GEORGE R. CRAWFORD.
:
EDWIN W. FISKE.
ADAM E. SCHATZ.
JOHN H. BRETT.
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CLARENCE S. MCCLELLAN.
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DAVID O. WILLIAMS.
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ROBERT W. MACGOWAN.
WILLIAM H. VAN ARSDALE.
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named gentlemen, in the order given: Joseph Bellesheim, Horace Loomis and John Van Santvoord. The Village Clerks were Isaac A. Farrington, John Zillig and H. C. Bissell.
Mount Vernon, by a special act of the State Legislature, was granted a city charter on March 12, 1892, and divided into five wards. At the first election held under this charter, in May, 1892, Edward F. Brush, M. D., Republican, was elected Mayor; he was suc- ceeded by Edson Lewis, Republican, elected in May, 1894; Edwin W. Fiske, Democrat, was elected Mayor in 1896, and re-elected in 1898. Mount Vernon is known as "The City of Homes." It has finely laid out and well-paved and macadamized streets; its sewerage system is the most complete; its public schools are of high grade and churches of all denominations are numerous. The Fire Department of this city is supplied with the most modern of apparatus, drawn by horses, and though a volunteer department it equals in efficiency any, paid or volunteer, in the State.
The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad and the Harlem Branch of the New York Central Railroad have stations with the city limits, and, being situated within a half hour's ride of New York city, it is a favorite residence for people doing business in the latter place. Cars of the Union Electric Railway run between Mount Vernon and New York city, to corner of Third Ave- nue and 129th Street, in latter city, and between Mount Vernon and Yonkers, connecting in the latter city with the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad.
Mount Vernon's population in 1880 was 4,586; in 1890 the pop- ulation had more than doubled, and, according to the census enu- meration of that year, was 10,830. The present population is esti- mated at 23,000. The following are the acting city officers: Edwin W. Fiske, Mayor. Aldermen-James Dollard and William A. Roedel, First Ward; J. A. Cline and Edward T. Hayward, Second Ward; William D. Howe and J. George Hermes, Third Ward; Wil- liam D Grant and Erland Anderberg, Fourth Ward; Adolph W. Wal- lander and James D. Connor, Fifth Ward. William N. Hoyt, City Clerk; John H. Brett, Receiver of Taxes; Henry B. Pruser, City Treasurer; John O'Toole, Comptroller; Adam E. Schatz, City Judge; William J. Marshall, City Attorney; Harry P. McTague, Commis- sioner of Public Works; Francis C. McIntyre, Commissioner of Charities; James K. Fuller, President Board of Police; Jeremiah Foley, Chief of Police; Joseph S. Wood, President Board of Educa- tion; Charles E. Nichols, Superintendent of Schools; David Far- rington, President Board of Fire Commissioners; Charles H. Hein-
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sohn, Chief Engineer Fire Department; J. H. Cordes, President Board of Assessors; G. W. Vincent, M. D., President Board of Health; Edward F. Bayer, President Civil Service Commissioners; James H. Perry, Inspector of Buildings.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
EDWIN W. FISKE.
Edwin W. Fiske, Mayor of the city of Mount Vernon, was born in Shamokin, Pa., on July 17, 1861, a son of Samuel and Amanda (Stod- dart) Fiske, a descendant of revo- lutionary ancestry. He was edu- cated in the public schools of Har- risburg, Pa. When eighteen years of age he was apprenticed to learn the Bessemer Steel Manufacturing business, being employed until he had mastered the trade by the Pennsylvania Steel Company, in Steelton, Pa. For the past fourteen years he has been engaged in the steam and hot-water heating busi- ness, in New York city, Yonkers and Mount Vernon. He came to Mount Vernon to reside eleven years ago. His genial ways and good-natured disposition soon made him a leader among the young men and in a remarkably short time he was forced into a prominent posi- tion in public affairs. In 1889 he was elected a Trustee of the village of Mount Vernon to represent the Second Ward. His removal from the ward in 1890 required him to relinquish this office. He was chosen several times as chairman of the Republican General Commit- tee of Mount Vernon and was, in 1890, nominated by that party for President of the village; though de- feated he made a creditable run. In 1891 he took issue with the Re- publican party on certain public questions and decided to unite with the Democratic party as the party best representing his political views. As the Democratic candi- date he was elected, over a specially strong opponent, as an Alderman of the Second Ward in 1893. In
1894 he was unanimously nomi- nated by the Democrats for Mayor, and so close was the election that
the courts had to be called upon to decide. After several months' de- lay the courts rendered a decision to the effect that Mr. Fiske was de- feated by one vote. Mr. Fiske re- mained as Alderman and was elect- ed president of the Common Coun- cil and Acting Mayor. In 1898 he was again the Democratic candi- date for Mayor, and was elected by a majority of 505. His administra- tion as Mayor was a most success- ful one, and to him is greatly due the credit and praise the city of Mount Vernon is now receiving on account of its handsome streets and avenues. In the discharge of his official duties Mayor Fiske is an in- defatigable worker; to accomplish what he does his friends assert that he is always on the alert, scarcely sleeping. In 1898 he was again the Democratic candidate for Mayor and elected by a majority even greater than the former.
He was among the organizers of Steamer Company, No. 3, of the Mount Vernon Fire Department, and subsequently became its fore- man, in which position he contin- ued until he was elected chief en- gineer of the Fire Department in 1893, which latter position he held until 1896. What he did for the Fire Department is a matter of his- tory, sufficient it is to state that the Mount Vernon Fire Department is one of the best equipped in the State. Mayor Fiske is a member of the Firemen's Exempt Associa- tion, has been president and treas- urer of the Firemen's Benevolent Association, and vice-president and a member of the Executive Com- mittee of the International Associa- tion of Fire Engineers of the World. He is prominent in Masonic circles, is a member of Hiawatha Lodge, F. and A. M .; Mount Vernon Chapter, R. A. M .; Bethlehem Commandery,
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O. D. O.'s, and of Mecca Shrine of New York city; is a member of the Order of B. P. O. Elks Lodge No. 1, of New York city; a member of Golden Rod Council, Royal Arca- num; a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, New York State; a member of Aque-a-Nonck Tribe, 369, I. O. Red Men, and of the Old Guard Colonial Wars, Chi- cago; a member of the Mount Ver- non Cycle Club and Westchester County Wheelmen; a sustaining member of the Y. M. C. A .; a mem- ber of the City Club, of Yonkers, and of the City Club, of Mount Ver- non; a member of the Democratic Club and Tammany Society, of New York city; a member of Mount Ver- non Turn-Verein; a member of the Sons of Veterans, Chas. J. Nord- quist Camp, 64, of Mount Vernon; a member of Vernon Conclave, 510, I. O. H .; a member of the American Spaniel Club and of the American Kennel Club, of New York city. Mayor Fiske was married June 7, 1892, to Miss Annie E. Smith, daughter of Henry C. and Annie Smith, of Mount Vernon.
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