USA > New York > Westchester County > Manual of Westchester county.Past and present. Civil list to date 1898 > Part 23
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ADAM E SCHATZ.
Adam E. Schatz, Democrat, City Judge of the city of Mount Vernon, was born on November 10, 1848, in the city of New York, a son of Ja- cob and Susanah (Schmitt) Schatz. Was educated in the schools of his native city, graduating from Co- lumbia College, after which he was admitted to the bar and succeeded in building up a flourishing law business. Though his practice is general, he has secured much prom- inence by repeated successes gained as an attorney in important patent suits. As an inventor he also ranks high. His election as City Judge of Mount Vernon occurred on June 15, 1896, for a term of four years. He is the second person who has held the office since the city's incorpora- tion. Though an active Democrat, Judge Schatz does not claim to be a politician, preferring to be consid- ered as one wedded to his profes- sion, and as a caretaker of a large legal practice. Judge Schatz was married on December 15, 1887, to Miss Anna Jeannette Bennett,
daughter of Mathew and Margaret Bennett, of Brooklyn.
JOHN H. BRETT.
John H. Brett, Receiver of Taxes of the city of Mount Vernon, was born in Mount Vernon on August 4, 1854, a son of James and Ann (Har- rington) Brett. He was educated in the public schools of his native town and soon after, at an early age, entered upon a mercantile ca- reer. By industrious habits and a close application to business he gained the respect of all with whom he came in contact. For many years he acted as manager for the late Andrew J. Gardner, an exten- sive dealer in flour and feed in Mount Vernon. On the death of Mr. Gardner Mr. Brett engaged in a similar business on his own ac- count, which he still conducts. Though an active Democrat, inter- ested in the advancement of the in- terests of his party, Mr. Brett could never be prevailed upon to accept public office until 1889; then it was that his special business abilities suggested him as a proper person to select for the responsible office of Receiver of Taxes. He received the nomination for that office from his party and he was elected over a popular opponent by a decisive ma- jority. He has been re-elected con- tinuously up to the present time, his majority increasing with the years, and usually his majority has been much greater than his asso- ciates' on the ticket. Mr. Brett is also very much interested in social matters; is a member of San Sal- vador Council, No. 174, K. of C .; a member of C. B. L., No. 321, of Mount Vernon; a member of Court Star, No. 228, F. of A .; a sustaining member of the Y. M. C. A .; a mem- ber of Mount Vernon Encampment, No. 58, K. of St. J. and M .; a mem- ber of the St. Vincent De Paul So- ciety; a member of the Mount Ver- non Turn-Verein; a member of the Mount Vernon Quartette Club, also member of City Club. Has been a member of the local Fire Depart- ment since 1890, is yet an active member of Niagara Hose Company and a member of the Firemen's Ex- empt Association. Mr. Brett was
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married November 23, 1884, to Miss Margaret Delaney, daughter of Kearnan and Abby Delaney, of Fordham, N. Y.
DAVID O. WILLIAMS.
David O. Williams, postmaster of the city of Mount Vernon, was born in New York city on May 5, 1860, a son of John B. and Martha (Wil- liams) Williams. Twelve years later, in 1872, he removed with his parents to Mount Vernon, where he has since continuously resided. In 1875 he graduated from what was then the high school of Mount Ver- non, and, in June, 1876, began the study of law, entering for that pur- pose the law office of Joseph S. Wood. In October, 1876, Mr. Wood formed a partnership with Isaac N. Mills, who a few years afterwards was elected County Judge of West- chester County, under the firm name of Mills & Wood. Mr. Wil- liams continued with this law firm until its dissolution, in May, 1882, when he formed a new alliance with Mr. Mills and has ever since been associated with the latter. He was admitted to practice February 15, 1884, passing number one out of a class of fifty or more, with a per- centage of 98. He has won the uni- versal esteem of all with whom his calling has brought him in contact, for the faithful and conscientious manner in which he has conducted the many affairs that have been en- trusted to him. In June, 1893, he entered public life, having been chosen by the Common Council of his city as an Alderman to repre- sent the Third Ward, to fill a va- cancy caused by the resignation of a member from that ward, and on the reorganization of the Council two weeks thereafter he was elected president of that body, and during his term of office did much effica- clous work. He was chairman of the Committee on Water and Sew- ers and in that position displayed considerable ability. He was also made chairman by the Mayor of al on the first of August following.
Special Committee of Aldermen to effect a consolidation into one dis- trict of the several school districts which then laid wholly or partly in the city, which consolidation was, through legislative enactment, brought about, and has proved a great benefit in the administration of the educational affairs of the city. When, upon the expiration of his term as Alderman, he was tendered a nomination for re-elec- tion, he declined, although the nomination was equivalent to an election. The Republican party, of which Mr. Williams has always been an active member and worker, nominated him in the spring of 1896 for City Judge, and though he was defeated in what proved to be a Democratic tidal wave, he ran way ahead of his associates on the ticket, being defeated by a majority of only 180, when the candidate for Mayor and others on the same ticket were defeated by majorities of over 500 and 600. Mr. Williams is a member of the New York State and Westchester County Bar Asso- ciations and of the Westchester Historical Association. He is a di- rector of the local Home Building Association and also a director and one of the largest stockholders in the Mount Vernon Republican As- sociation, the corporation which controls Lincoln Hall. He repre- sented Mount Vernon in the Re- publican County Committee several years and has acted as secretary of that committee. In January last he was elected chairman of the Re- publican City Committee, after the most exciting contest for that posi- tion ever held in that city. He has long been active in the ranks of the Republican party and his work has been telling and effective, but al- ways accomplished unassumingly. Personally his character has been most exemplary, and the record of his life is one above reproach. He was married March 7, 1895, to Miss Kathryn A. Williams, of Redding, Conn. In June last Mr. Williams was nominated by President Mc- Kinley as postmaster at Mount Ver- non; his nomination was imme- diately confirmed by the United States Senate and he entered upon the discharge of his duties as such
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GEORGE R. CRAWFORD.
George R. Crawford, a former Village Trustee, a former Village President, the first Chief Engineer of the Fire Department, a member of the Board of Education of Mount Vernon, was born in White Plains, this county, on June 21, 1841, a son of Elisha and Judith (Tompkins) Crawford. He was educated in the White Plains Military Institute. At an early age he engaged in the fire insurance business, and in time be- came one of the most efficient in that line. At the age of fifteen he became connected with the West- chester Fire Insurance Company, established in 1837, and in that company has filled offices of the several grades until he reached the presidency, the position which he now holds; to his administration is greatly due the prominence and prosperity which the company now enjoys. Mr. Crawford became a resident of Mount Vernon thirty years ago, and since that date he has been closely identified with the history of the place; to his energy and perseverance, exhibited in pub- lic affairs, Mount Vernon owes much. He was a leading spirit in the organization of the local fire department, and in recognition of his services in this respect he was elected the first Chief Engineer of that department. He was elected a Village Trustee in 1870, and again in 1873. He was elected Vil- lage President in 1876, and served two years. Mr. Crawford is an old- line Jeffersonian - the greatest good of the greatest number-Dem- ocrat; at the present time he styles himself an "Anti - Repudiation Democrat." He has taken an ac- tive part in State as well as local politics. In 1892 he was at the head of the "Anti-Snap Demo- crats" in this county. He was one of the prime movers in the organ- ization of the Democratic Club of Mount Vernon, and was elected its first president. In 1896 he refused to follow his party in the support of Bryan and silver; he was chosen chairman of the Twenty-second Congressional District Committee of "Gold Democrats," who support- ed John M. Palmer for President. Mr. Crawford holds a prominent position in the Masonic order, hav- I brave work to be done.
ing filled many important offices; he is a member of Hiawatha Lodge, No. 434, F. and A. M .; is a mem- ber of Mount Vernon Chapter, No. 228, R. A. M .; a member of Bethle- hem Commandery, K. T., No. 53; is a member of all the branches of Scottish Rites, and a member of the Mecca Temple. He was mar- ried on May 25, 1864, to Miss Lu- cretia Greig, daughter of James and Rebecca Grieg, of Brooklyn, N. Y.
ROBERT W. MACGOWAN.
Robert W. Macgowan, a former Alderman of the city of Mount Ver- non, was born in Ulster County about sixty-five years ago. He comes of good old American stock, his grandfather, Nathaniel Lock- wood, having served in the Conti- nental Army from Connecticut dur- ing the revolutionary war. His fa- ther, James W. Macgowan, carried on the business of hand weaving in Westchester County, a very import- ant business at that time, before the days of machinery. Mr. Mac- gowan has been a citizen of Mount Vernon for many years, and has rendered much good service to the community. He has always been a conscientious, hard-working repre- sentative of the people. He was first elected Village Trustee in 1890 as a Democrat, in a ward considered strongly Republican; was placed on the most important committees and gave details that care which as- sured the safe outcome of import- ant issues. In two years he never absented himself from a single meeting, was a ready and intelli- gent debater of all questions, and most diligent on committee work. His faithful service insured his re- election by an increased majority. He secured much substantial legis- lation for his ward and posterity owes a debt of gratitude to his faithful discharge of duties placed upon him. Mr. Macgowan is an ac- tive. fireman and has for several years served as president of Steamer Company No. 3. He has been a vol- unteer fireman for forty-eight years and never shirked when there was
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CLARENCE S. MCCLELLAN.
Clarence Stewart Mcclellan, a former Village Trustee, a former City Treasurer and recent Post- master, was born in Mount Ver- non, on May 6, 1860, a son of Pel- ham L. and Sarah A. (Ferdon) McClellan. He was educated in the public schools of his native vil- lage. On graduating from school he served for a time as clerk in the law office of his father, but shortly after decided upon engag- ing in the business of a real estate and insurance broker. His energy and perseverence displayed in his new vocation, in connection with ready intelligence and reliable judgment, soon earned for him a place among the most foremost and most successful in that branch of business. To-day he is considered one of the best informed as to values of real estate in the city of Mount Vernon; he has been and is at present a member of several commissions appointed by courts to determine value of land in dif- ferent sections of the county; has also acted as executor or adminis- trator of large estates, disposing of large quantities of real and per- sonal properties. He carried on alone for many years the real es- tate and insurance business, but the growth of the business became so great that he found it necessary to have a partner, and in 1891 he became associated with Thomas R. Hodge, the present County Register of Deeds, the firm name being Mc- Clellan & Hodge, which continues at this time. Mr. Mcclellan has for many years been closely identified with the best interests of Mount Vernon, and in appreciation of his sterling worth his neighbors have signified their preferment by elect- ing him to office. He was treas- urer of School District No. 4, town of Eastchester, in 1888-89-90; was elected a Village Trustee, repre- senting the Second Ward, in 1890; was elected the first Treasurer of the City of Mount Vernon, on June 15, 1892, and served until June 15, 1894. In 1894 he was the unani- mous choice of his party for Post- master of Mount Vernon, and re- ceived the appointment to that position from President Cleveland; the large bond required from occu- pants of the office was furnished by
Mr. McClellan within twenty-four hours from the time he received the necessary papers from Wash- ington; he vacated the office on August 1, 1898, on the qualification of his successor, David O. Wil- liams. In politics Mr. McClellan has always been a Democrat. He was one of the organizers of the People's Bank of Mount Vernon, and became one of its directors, and subsequently was elected its vice-president; in January, 1898, he succeeded Horace Loomis as its president, which position he now holds. He is vice-president of the Eastchester Electric Light Com- pany, of Mount Vernon, and one of the directors of the Tarrytown, White Plains and Mamaroneck Railway Company. Mr. McClellan was married on February 14, 1886, to Miss Sarah C. Collins, daughter of William J. Collins, of Mount Vernon.
WILLIAM H. VAN ARSDALE.
William H. Van Arsdale, a former chief of the Fire Department, Vil- lage Trustee and Justice of the Peace of Mount Vernon, was born in New York city on May 19, 1837, a son of Simon and Elizabeth (Ford) Van Arsdale, and is a de- scendant of one of the old Knick- erbocker families of his native city. He was educated in the public schools of New York and subse- quently learned the trade of a car- penter. He became a resident of Mount Vernon in 1863, when that place was but a mere hamlet, and assisted greatly in its development. In 1878 he embarked in the livery and undertaking business, which he still continues. He has for years taken an active part in public af- fairs. In New York city he was a member of the Fire Department, belonging to what was known as the "Big Six" Engine Company. In Mount Vernon he was one of the organizers of the local Fire Depart- ment, serving for two years as as- sistant foreman, and for three years as foreman of Clinton Hook and Ladder Company; subsequently he served two years as chief of the De- partment. He was elected a Trus- tee of the village of Mount Vernon and served two years, also was elected a Justice of the Peace for a term of four years.
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THE TOWN OF NEW CASTLE.
The town of New Castle was formed March 18, 1891. Prior to this date it was a part of the town of North Castle. The town is situated about thirty-five miles from New York City, and is on the line of the Harlem Railroad. On its northern boundary line lies the towns of Cortlandt, Yorktown and Somers, on the east is the town of Bedford, on the south the town of North Castle and on the west the towns of Ossining and Mount Pleasant. The town was called by the Indians Shappequa or Chappequa; this latter name is still applied to a thriving locality in the southern section of the town. The name New Castle is believed to have been given on ac- count of an Indian palisaded fort or castle that stood in the vicinity. John Richbell, who purchased in 1661, from the Indians, the land on which Mamaroneck was formed, in 1666 concluded another pur- chase of a large tract of land extending twenty miles north of the Sound. This land included the whole of what is now the New Castle township.
During the American Revolution the town was the scene of many conflicts between contending forces, and the defenceless in- habitants suffered much from depredations of the enemy.
Within the limits of the town lies partly the village of Mount Kisco and the localities known as Chappaqua (on the Harlem Rail- road) and Millwood.
A fair average valuation of land, principally farm land, in the town is fifty dollars per acre. The assessed valuation of real estate in the town is $1,427,380; personal, $474,987, as fixed by Assessors of 1897. The town tax rate this year is $4.7544 per $1,000 of as- sessed valuation inside of village of Mount Kisco; $7.5456 per $1,000 assessed valuation outside village of Mount Kisco. The rate last year was $7.30 per $1,000 inside village; $12.316 outside village.
The population of the town has been, according to various cen- sus enumerations, as follows: In 1830, 1,336; in 1835, 1,406; in 1840, 1,529; in 1845, 1,495; in 1850, 1,800; in 1855, 1,702; in 1860, 1,817; in 1865, 1,870; in 1870, 2,152; in 1875, 2,242; in 1880, 2,297; in 1890, 2,110.
The present town officers as follows: Joseph O. Miller, Mount Kisco, Supervisor; Orrin P. Barnes, Chappaqua, Town Clerk; Hugh Douglas, Edgar Lounsberry, Samuel T. Clark and Walter H. Haight, Justices of the Peace; David C. Kipp, Sing Sing, Collector of Taxes.
Property sold for unpaid taxes is usually purchased by private individuals. Back taxes are payable to the Supervisor.
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The village of Mount Kisco was incorporated in 1875, and ac- cording to a census taken in January, 1898, has a population of 1,374. Its population in 1880 was 728; in 1890 it was 1,095. The village is a station on the Harlem Railroad. The present village officers are as follows: Elbert T. Bailey, President; Edwin B. Fish, Stephen Sarles, George H. Knapp and Townsend Matthews, Trus- tees; Walter B. Osborne, Clerk; Frederick J. Carpenter, Collector of Taxes. The village lies in two towns-New Castle and Bedford- and is the only village in either town.
The unincorporated village of Chappaqua had a population in 1880 of 330; in 1890 the population had increased to more than double, to 733.
TOWN OF NEW ROCHELLE.
The present township of New Rochelle was formed March 7, 1788. It is delightfully situated on Long Island Sound, which bounds it on the south; on the east lie the towns of Scarsdale and Mamaroneck; on the north the town of Scarsdale, and on the west are the Hutchinson's River and the town of Pelham. New Rochelle is a station on the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad, on the main line and on the Harlem Branch of that road, sixteen miles from the Grand Central Station, New York city. During the summer months steamboats connect Glen Island with New York city and carry passengers to and from the town. The township for- merly belonged to the Manor of Pelham. The land was included in the grant executed by the Indians, in 1640, to the Dutch West India Company, but no attempt was made to settle upon it until after 1654, when Thomas Pell became the owner of it and the adjacent land of Pelham. John Pell, lord of the Manor of Pelham, a nephew of Thomas Pell, sold to Jacob Leisler, of the city of New York, on September 20, 1689, six thousand and one hundred acres of land within the Manor of Pelham at a price which would now be equal to one dollar and forty cents per acre, land upon which the present town of New Rochelle was subsequently erected. It is believed that in this portion of the manor a settlement had been commenced some years previous by a few French Huguenots, who had come up from New York city. The Huguenots, or French Protestants of New Rochelle, were a part of a great number who fled from France to escape persecution on account of their religious views. The town derives its name from La Rochelle, capital of the department of Lower Charente in France, a place dear to the hearts of the oppressed
Enc b& E. G. Withans & Bro. NY.
Henry I. Smith, Publisher.
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CORNELIUS E. KENE.
CHARLES G. BANKS.
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GEORGE W. DAVIDS.
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MICHAEL J. DILLON.
JAMES ROSS.
ANDREW J. SELZ.
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owing to its having been to them for a time a city of refuge, and from which they were eventually compelled to fly. The main body of the Huguenots fled from France in 1681 and between that year and 1686 many of them came to New Rochelle. They landed at Bonnefoi Point, now known as Hudson Park, in this township. To mark the spot where the Huguenots first planted a foot upon the town's friendly soil, a monument of stone was erected in Hudson Park, on April 27, 1898, by Huguenot descendants residing in the town, acting with members of the Westchester County Historical Society.
A list of the early Supervisors of the town will be found under a separate head in this volume.
During the American Revolution the town was the scene of much activity among the contending forces.
Reports to the contrary notwithstanding, there was a time within the town's history when a public office went begging. In 1764 Abel Deveaux, who was elected Tax Collector, refused to qualify; Abraham Seacord was appointed by the court to fill the va- cancy, but he took himself outside the jurisdiction of the court be- cause he did not want to serve. Other attempts to fill the office fail- ing, Peter Badeau, inspired by good citizenship, agreed to accept the trust.
The first public school houses in this town were erected in 1795, three in number. The first school election held in the town took place December 7, 1812. In 1857 what is now the principal school building, on Trinity Place, was completed. The act authorizing the establishment of a free school in District No. 1, New Rochelle, was passed by the Legislature March 20, 1857. Within the last two years three new large brick school buildings have been erected in District No. 1, necessary to meet increasing demands.
What is now Huguenot Street was originally known as High Street, in Queen Ann's Charter.
The first Town Hall was erected on the corner of Main and Mechanic Streets, in 1828, with money left to the town in the will of William Henderson-$1,550. The present Town Hall, on the same site, was built in the year 1870, the Legislature authorizing the town to raise the necessary funds.
Josiah L. Count was authorized by act of the State Legislature, passed April 16, 1830, to erect and maintain a dock adjacent to his land, lying on New Rochelle Creek.
The County Board of Supervisors, on November 20, 1854, granted authority to locate a cemetery in New Rochelle, to be known as Beechwood Cemetery, of New Rochelle.
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The New Rochelle Fire Department, now one of the most efficient in the county, fully equipped with the most modern improved ap- paratus, was established March 29, 1861.
As mentioned elsewhere in this volume, the remains of Thomas Paine were buried in this town, and a monument erected to his memory stands on North Street.
David's Island, situated in the harbor of New Rochelle, was ceded to the United States by an act of the Legislature passed April 20, 1868, the same to be purchased by the United States for military purposes.
Hart's Island, situated in Long Island Sound, was ceded to the United States by act of the Legislature, passed May 11, 1874, for lighthouse purposes.
An act of the State Legislature, passed May 17, 1886, empow- ered the town of New Rochelle to acquire title to certain lands and water rights for the purpose of a public park and public improve- ment. Under this act Hudson Park became the property of the town, by purchase authorized by vote of the electors.
The town's population, according to the several census enu- merations, has been as follows, in the years given: In 1830, 1,274; in 1835, 1,261; in 1840, 1,816; in 1845, 1,977; in 1850, 2,548; in 1855, 3,101; in 1860, 3,519; in 1865, 3,968; in 1870, 3,915; in 1875, 4,678; in 1880, 5,276; in 1890, 9,057.
The assessed valuation of property in the township, as fixed by the Assessors of 1897, is as follows: Real, $14,471,620; personal, $1,097,023. The tax rate this year is $4.428 on each $1,000, of as- sessed valuation inside the village of New Rochelle; $6.273 per $1,000 outside the village of New Rochelle.
The present officials of the town are as follows: Michael J. Dillon, Supervisor; Augustine Smith, Town Clerk; Samuel F. Swin- burne, Augustine Smith and M. B. Valentine, Justices of the Peace; John Koellmer, Receiver of Taxes. Post office address, New Ro- chelle, N. Y.
The first meeting of the officers of the New Rochelle village government was held on January 21, 1858, when the Board of Trus- tees elected Albert Smith Village President. A new charter was granted to the village by act of the State Legislature on April 20, 1864. The charter has been amended in many respects since the latter date. During the present year, 1898, the Legislature passed a bill granting to the town of New Rochelle a city charter; the act failed to become a law owing to Governor Black withholding his signature.
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