USA > New York > Westchester County > Manual of Westchester county.Past and present. Civil list to date 1898 > Part 24
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The population of the village was, in 1890, as shown by the census enumeration, 8,217; the recent census, taken in January, 1898, places it at 12,297.
The village is a locality noted for its residence parks, its well- laid-out streets, excellent system of sewerage, and all the permanent improvements that tend to make it as it is, an up-to-date village. The public water supply is controlled by a private corporation, and is a satisfactory one. The streets are illuminated by gas and elec- tricity.
It has an extensive water front and public docks where vessels can land. Its bathing beaches prove attractive to residents in the surrounding country. Numerous yachting and rowing clubs have there club houses here, bordering upon Long Island Sound. Within the village limits is located Starin's Glen Island, in Neptune Bay, the famous pleasure resort.
The present village officers are as follows: Henry S. Clarke, President; Matthaus Bantel, Daniel Brady, Thomas Burke, John Conlon, U. X. Griffin, John Koellmer, Frederick Lorenzen, William Murray, Herbert A. Quackenbush and John W. Rough, Trustees; Andrew J. Selz, Clerk; John Koellmer, Receiver of Taxes.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
CHARLES G. BANKS.
Charles G. Banks, a former Reg- ister of Deeds
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of Westchester County, and former Police Justice of New Rochelle, was born in the town of North Castle, on May 26, 1847. At the age of seventeen he left the farm to make his way in the world, first as a clerk of the Le Roy Place Hotel, at New Rochelle. Hotel life was not his calling, and he commenced the study of law, graduating from the Law Depart- ment of the New York University in the class of '75, was admitted to the Bar the same year, and al- most immediately became the sen- ior member of the well-known law firm of Banks & Keogh (the latter now Justice Martin J. Keogh, of the Second Department). Before graduating from the New York University, he was elected Police Justice of New Rochelle, for a term of four years; was chosen Corpora- tion Counsel for several years. In 1877 he was elected Register of
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Deeds of Westchester County, upon the Republican ticket, by a major- ity of 1,777 votes, although the county went Democratic, as to other .nominees, by over a thou- sand majority. Mr. Banks is the only person ever elected president of New Rochelle for three succes- sive terms, a period of six years. He is a large operator in and own- er of real estate, is a hard worker and thinks for himself; is practi- cally a self-made man, having gradually reached his present posi- tion of a leading lawyer and busi- ness man by his own efforts and staying qualities. Mr. Banks has a large and lucrative clientage, and is recognized as an authority upon matters pertaining to real estate. Millions of dollars pass through his hands in the settlement of es- tates and investing of trust funds. While attending close to business he finds time to indulge in much that is a pleasure to him, is a lover of a good horse, and has the repu- tation of knowing one when he sees
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it, and is a breeder of some of the choicest by way of pastime. He is also a lover of tarpon fishing and other sports, and for the past ten years with his wife has been a regular visitor to Florida during the winter.
GEORGE W. DAVIDS.
George W. Davids, formerly Vil- lage President, Supervisor, County Treasurer, etc., was born in New York city, on October 28, 1834, a son of Thaddeus Davids, the well- known writing ink manufacturer. When he was a mere lad his pa- rents became residents of New Ro- chelle and closely associated with the early history of the place; David's Island, the present site of Fort Slocum, was named in honor of the family. Young Davids was educated in the private school of New Rochelle; after leaving school, he, like several of his brothers, de- cided upon becoming a sailor; tired of this occupation he returned and entered his father's warerooms in New York City, where he con- tinued, most of the time as man- ager, up to the hour of his death, which occurred on April 4, 1883. He, as a young man, took an ac- tive interest in politics, on the side of Democracy; his popularity in- sured success whenever he consent- ed to be a candidate for office. He was elected President of the Vil- lage of New Rochelle, in 1867 and 1868; was elected Supervisor of the Town in 1869, and re-elected six times; was chosen chairman of the Board of Supervisors; was elected without opposition to the office of County Treasurer; was two years Village Treasurer; was many years member and president of the Board of Education, was a Town Hall Commissioner; was seven years foreman of Enterprise Hook and Ladder Company, and served one term as chief of the local Fire De- partment; served many years as vestryman of Trinity Episcopal Church, and was conspicuous in the Masonic order, a member and prominent official of Huguenot Lodge, No. 46, F. and A. M.
GEORGE T. DAVIS.
George T. Davis, who formerly held the offices of Village Clerk, Town Clerk, Village Trustee, etc., was born in New Rochelle, on De- cember 12, 1843, the eldest son of Clark and Mary Ann Davis; a de- scendant, on the maternal side, of the early settlers of New Rochelle, and on the paternal side of the set- tlers of New Haven and Derby, Conn. At the time of his birth his father was captain of a market sloop plying between New Rochelle and New York City; in 1844 his father gave up the water and be- came a farmer in Upper New Ro- chelle. On this farm the subject of this sketch spent his boyhood days, attending the neighborhood public school, where he received his education. In May, 1862, he en- listed in Company A, 22d Regi- ment, N. G. S. N. Y., and served in Baltimore and Harper's Ferry. In 1863 he re-enlisted, and took part in the Gettysburg campaign and was in the engagement at Sporting Hill, Pa., and in the bombardment of Carlisle, Pa .; was attached to the Army of the Potomac until Haggerstown, Md., was reached, when the regiment was sent home to assist in quelling the draft riots in New York, and shortly after was discharged. On leaving the army he returned to the farm and there remained until 1871. In 1871, on April 1, he succeeded his father in the undertaking business at Upper New Rochelle, a business that had been started by his father in 1864, and with which he had been con- nected, associated with his father. At the suggestion of prominent residents of New Rochelle, he re- moved his place of business to that village, locating first in the Town Hall building, then, three years later, in his present situation, cor- ner of Huguenot and Rose streets, and established a business, as a funeral director, second to none in the county. His business is con- fined not to New Rochelle alone, as New York city and elsewhere quite frequently demand his ser- vices. His eldest son, George M., who is a skilled embalmer, is as- sociated in business with him. Mr. Davis has personally directed some of the finest weddings in his vicin-
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ity. He has always taken an ac- tive interest in military matters; after the Civil War he joined Com- pany G, 17th Regiment, N. G. S. N. Y., and served until its disband- ment; he assisted in organizing Company D, 3d Regiment, N. Y. S. N. G., rising from private through the several grades to a second lieutenant, resigning in 1872; next joined the 27th Regi- ment, and subsequently the Eagle Troop of Cavalry, known as Troop E, the crack troop of New York State at that time, and arose to position of sergeant, and served in it six years and until Governor Cornell disbanded the cavalry and the company was reorganized as the Eleventh Separate Company, Infantry. Made several unsuccess- ful attempts to organize a military company in New Rochelle. He is a member of the Old Guard, New York City. Mr. Davis comes nat- urally by his military enthusiasm, his great-grandfather was a colo- nel and his grandfather a captain in the Connecticut militia, his brother also served in the New York militia, and a nephew in the late war with the Spaniards. Mr. Davis is now engaged in compiling a list of those who served in the various wars of the United States from New Rochelle. He has been actively associated with public af- fairs, and received many honors at the hands of his neighbors. In 1872 he was elected Village Clerk, and held the position five consecutive years; elected Inspector of Election in 1873; Town Clerk in 1874; Ex- cise Commissioner in 1875; Town Auditor in 1878; Village Trustee in 1893. He was the unsuccessful nominee of the Republican party for member of Assembly in 1881; was a clerk of every general elec- tion from 1871 to 1894; was Clerk and Register of first organized Vil- lage Board of Health, in 1882, serv- ing until 1888. Has been foremost in furthering public improvements, particularly in securing Hudson Park for the town, and a system of sewerage for the village, and re- cently was instrumental in secur- ing for the village a fire alarm sys- tem, which is under his charge as ssuperintendent. He joined Enter- prise Hook and Ladder Company, No. 1, in 1872, filled all the offices, i
acting as foreman four years; was Chief Engineer of the Fire De- partment one year; at the end of twenty years he left Enterprise and connected himself with Huguenot Engine Company, No. 1, and is its present foreman. He is a member of Huguenot Lodge, No. 46, F. & A. M., was its S. W. five years, treas- urer seven years; Huguenot Coun- cil, No. 397, R. A., its secretary seventeen years; Recorder of Echo Council, No. 55, L. A. B. A .; P. C. of Huguenot Commandery, No. 314, O. G. C .; historian and quartermaster Flandreau Post, No. 509, G. A. R .; treasurer Court Robin Hood, No. 8,058, A. O. F .; treasurer Court Robin Hood, No. 181, F. of A .; treasurer Siwaney Tribe, No. 335, I. O. R. M .; secretary Huguenot As- sociation of New Rochelle; treas- urer of New Rochelle Co-Operative B. & L. Association; director of Exempt Firemen's Association; is also a member of Cerneau Consis- tory, No. 1, A. A. S. R., Masons, and Ivanhoe Encampment, No. 30, K. of St. J. & M., of New York. He was one of the founders of St. John's E. Church, "Wilmot," New Rochelle, and in 1865 was elected its clerk and a vestryman, positions which he still retains. Mr. Davis was married August 11, 1869, to Miss Henrietta Palmer, daughter of John Palmer, of New Rochelle.
MICHAEL J. DILLON.
Michael J. Dillon, Supervisor of the town of New Rochelle, was born in that town on October 29, 1852, the eldest son of John and Anne (Drought) Dillon, who were married in New Rochelle in 1849. Supervisor Dillon's maternal grand- father and his paternal grand- mother were among the early Irish settlers in New Rochelle, away before the "forties." He was edu- cated in private and public schools and in the Lockwood Academy of New Rochelle, graduating with honors. After leaving school he entered his father's grocery store as a clerk; subsequently he was appointed to an inspectorship in the city of New York, and then promoted to be contract clerk, in the same department, which posi- tion he held until the opposi-
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tion party came into power. Mr.
Dillon has always been a Democrat and for many years has been a rec- ognized leader in his party; he has been many times the successful candidate for public office; in the village and town where he is best known he enjoys the confidence of his neighbors, as is evidenced by his repeated success at the polls. He was elected three times as Town Clerk, once as an Assessor, elected and served eight years as Receiver of Taxes, served ten years as Clerk of the Village, and at pres- ent is Supervisor, for which office he received a majority of 653, the largest ever given any candidate for a political office in that town. At the organization of the 1898 Board of Supervisors he was elect- ed chairman Board of Canvassers. Mr. Dillon has attended as a dele- gate almost every Democratic State Convention since 1879; in that year he was one of the delegates in the State Convention from the Second Assembly District. Mr. Dillon has for many years been a mem- ber of the Democratic County Com- mittee, and held many important positions connected with the com- mittee's work. For a long period he has been at the head of delega- tions sent by his town to the sev- eral conventions of his party, and has been frequently honored by election to the chairmanship of county, Senatorial and Assembly conventions. He is a member of
many clubs and societies and stands well in social circles in New Rochelle and New York City; is a member of the Foresters, of the Knights of Columbus, and of the Democratic Club, of New York City. He has for many years been closely identified with the Fire De- partment of his town, energetically serving in the ranks, and for sev- eral years was foreman of Enter- prise Hook and Ladder Company. In his early life Mr. Dillon was considered an athlete of recog- nized merit, and as a baseball player justly won much local fame; he was captain of the then distin- guished New Rochelle Athletic Club, of New Rochelle, at the time Mr. Adrian Iselin, the Wall Street banker, erected the "one-hundred- thousand-dollar gymnasium build- ing," in New Rochelle, for that
club. Mr. Dillon over twenty years ago established an extensive real estate, insurance and auctioneer business in New Rochelle and New York city, out of which he has realized a small fortune and the reputation of being a leader in his line. He has always taken an ac- tive interest in local public affairs and been a promoter of public im- provements. In 1882 he was mar- ried to Miss Annie Havey, daughter of Philip and Ann Havey, of East- chester; his wife died in 1884, leav- ing him a family consisting of three sons and one daughter, viz .: Gregory, John, Annie and Philip H. Dillon.
CORNELIUS E. KENE
Cornelius Eugene Kene, a former Justice of New Rochelle, was born in Brooklyn, N Y., on November 6, 1852, a son of John R. and Ellen J. Kene. His parents removed to Tuckahoe, Westchester County, when he was a child, and he was educated in the public schools of that county until 1867. He studied in private preparatory schools in New York City, Baltimore and Il- chester, Maryland, until 1871, and entering the Columbia College Law School, was graduated in May, 1873. In December of the same year he was admitted to the bar. To gain a thorough knowledge of general practice, he continued his studies for four years more with the firm of Close & Robertson, at White Plains, Westchester County. He spent the legislative winters of 1876 and 1877 with Senator Robert- son, as clerk of the Senate Judici- ary Committee, at Albany, and as assistant to the Hon. Montgom- ery H. Throop, in the work of re- vising and editing the "Code of Civil Procedure." In 1877 Mr. Kene became a member of the firm of Banks, Keogh & Kene, which later became Banks & Kene, with offices at New Rochelle and Port Chester. Since January, 1879, he has practiced alone, recognized as one of the leading lawyers of the Westchester Bar; in 1885 he opened an office in New York city. He has been elected Police Justice,
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Civil Justice, and Corporation Counsel of New Rochelle, of which he remains a citizen. His clientage extends over several counties and into the State of Connecticut. He has been counsel in a large number of important litigations, involving large interests and intricate legal questions, and has earned the repu- tation of an industrious student and safe adviser. Although so busy as a professional man, Mr. Kene cultivates literature and the arts. He is a classical scholar, speaking several modern languages. He is the author of translations, for pri- vate circulation, in poetry and prose, from the Greek and Latin writers. He is a popular public speaker and has delivered numer- ous addresses.
Mr. Kene married Emma Chris- tine Ehrhart, of New York City, in 1887; of the union there are two bright sons. The residence of Mr. Kene is situated upon the highest ridge of Huguenot Park, in New Rochelle township, and commands a superb and unrivaled water view and landscapes; the broad Sound and north shore of Long Island from Great Neck to Orient Point on the east, the woodlands and mead- ows toward White Plains on the north, the Palisades and Jersey hills on the west, and on the south the territory as far as Manhattan Island are included in the vistas and prospects from his loggia and observatory. If Mr. Kene has a pas- sion, it is his enthusiastic love of nature. He is well pleased when allowed to dilate to his callers and friends upon her glorious changing scenery in the four seasons, as viewed from his home outlook.
JAMES ROSS.
James Ross, Postmaster at New Rochelle, was born in that town, on December 19, 1860, son of John G. and Catherine M. Ross. He was educated in the pubic schools of his native town. Shortly after leaving school he was appointed to the po- sition of Assistant Postmaster in the New Rochelle post office, under Postmaster Benjamin Badeau, and served in that office under Postmas- ters A. M. Dederer, W. H. Le Count
and William V. Molloy. He was appointed Postmaster by President Mckinley on April 12, 1898, to suc- ceed William V. Molloy, who had resigned on being elected Sheriff. Mr. Ross is considered one of the best informed men in the State on post office routine. It was his knowledge of what is required of a postmaster that suggested his appointment to President McKin- ley. Mr. Ross has always been a Republican, and is at present a recognized leader of his party. He has been elected to the offices of Village Trustee, Town Assessor, ten years, and Village Clerk. He has for many years been identi- fied with the New Rochelle Fire Department, and is a member of Relief Steam Fire Engine Company, at times filling the several offices in that company; he was its first foreman and held the office six years. He has for nine years been Chief Engineer of the Fire Depart- ment; the present high efficiency attained by the department is great- ly due to his energy and skillful management.
ANDREW J. SELZ.
Andrew J. Selz, Clerk of the Vil- lage of New Rochelle, was born on February 25, 1874, in that village, a son of August and Annie (Janz) Selz. He was educated in the pub- lic schools of his native town and in the New York University. After completing a four year course, he began the study of law. In 1896 he was appointed by President Clarke to the position of Village Clerk, and said appointment was confirmed by the Board of Village Trustees. He continues in the office. As an athlete Mr. Selz has had some prominence; in 1896 he was captain of the New York Uni- versity Club base ball team. He is a member of the Beta Theta Pi Fra- ternity and a member of Huguenot Lodge, F. & A. M. He is unmar- ried. Has always resided in New Rochelle.
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JOHN Q. UNDERHILL.
John Quincy Underhill, a former Village President, Village Trustee and member of the Board of Educa- tion, Town Auditor, and present President of the Board of Sewer Commissioners, of New Rochelle, and Congressman-elect, was born in New Rochelle, on February 19, 1848, a son of George W.L.and Julia Ann (Barker) Underhill; is a des- cendent of Capt. John Underhill, (eighth generation in direct line), who came to this country from England in 1630; fought in the Ind- ian wars of New England and New York, and finally settled on Long Island, near Matinicock Point, which was a part of his domain of two thousand acres; from Capt. John Underhill descended all of the Westchester county Underhills. The subject of this sketch has been a resident of New Rochelle all his life; he received his education in private and public schools and at the New York Free Academy, which is now the College of the City of New York. He entered the employ of the Westchester Fire In- surance Company thirty years ago, and from a humble clerkship he arose to the position of secretary,
advancement earned by faithful and intelligent service; this station he held nineteen years. The same qualities which had commanded for him recognition, served to secure for him further promotion; he is at present Vice-President and Treas- urer of that company. In politics Mr. Underhill has always been identified with the Democratic party. He was elected a Village Trustee in 1877, and in 1878 was elected Village President and was subsequently re-elected to these offices; in 1880 he was elected a Town Auditor; for several years he served as a member of the Board of Education. He is now, and has been for ten years, President of the Commissioners of Sewers and Drainage of the Village of New Ro- chelle. He was elected to Congress November 8, 1898. He is a member of the Larchmont Yacht Club, the New York Athletic Club, the New Rochelle Yacht Club, the New Ro- chelle Rowing Club, and the Demo- cratic Club of New York. He was married on November 16, 1873, to Miss Minnie B. Price, daughter of James H. and Deborah B. Price, of Sag Harbor, N. Y .; of the union there is one child, Anna B. Under- hill.
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TOWN OF NORTH CASTLE.
North Castle became a township on March 7, 1788. It is situ- ated thirty-six miles from New York city. It is bounded north by towns of New Castle and Bedford, east by town of Poundridge, south by town of Harrison and State of Connecticut, and on the west by the town of Mount Pleasant. The origin of the town's name is attributed to the same object that suggested the name of the ad- jacent town of New Castle, the Indian castle that tradition credits the locality with possessing at one time, and which stood about where Armonk is now situated. The town of New Castle was set off from North Castle in 1791. The Indians styled the locality "Wam- pus Land," named in honor of Wampus, an Indian chief. In colon- ial records the old town is referred to as the "Liberty of North Castle." According to these records the inhabitants of the Liberty of North Castle, in 1724, petitioned the Court of General Sessions for permission to build a public pound. North Castle and New Castle were under the Colonial Government portions of the Manor of Scarsdale. Previous to the formation of the present township, April ye 6th, 1736, the first town meeting of record was held to elect officers. Armonk, Banksville, Kensico, North Castle and Valhalla are prominent localities within the township. The town has no incorporated village. Tourists find much in this town that interests; the majestic hills which abound, the gap styled "Brimstone Alley," the locality known as "Devil's Den," and a safe passage through the gloomy woods of the "Dark Valley," located just west of the high Whippoor-Will Hill. The Bronx river runs through a section of this town. Wampus Pond, a tributary of the Byram river, lies in the vicinity of Whippoor-Will Hill; Byram Lake is located in the north east part of the town. Cohamong Pond lies a mile east of Byram Lake. Mehanas river forms the eastern bound- ary line, dividing the town from the town of Poundridge. From the Rye Ponds, lying upon the southern border of the town, issues the principal branch of the Bronx river.
The town's history relating to American Revolutionary times is of especial interest, and many sections of the town have historic value owing to scenes of strife enacted there during that period.
The population of the town has been as follows: In 1830, 1,653; in 1835, 1,789; in 1840, 2,058; in 1845, 2,010; in 1850, 2,189; in 1855, 2,415; in 1860, 2,487; in 1865, 2,198; in 1870, 1,996; in 1875, 1,961; in 1880, 1,818; in 1890, 1,475.
The assessed valuation of this town was fixed by the last Board
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of Supervisors as follows: Real property, $767,455; personal, $194,- 865. The tax rate this year is $7.99 on each $1,000 of the assessed valuation.
The present officials of the town are as follows: Joseph B. See, of Valhalla, Supervisor; Charles McDonald, of Armonk, Town Clerk; Charles Ferris, Isaac R. Tripp, John L. Weinheimer and Hobart Cox, Justices of the Peace; Joseph J. Johnson, of Armonk, Collector of Taxes.
TOWN OF NORTH SALEM.
The town of North Salem was organized March 7, 1788. It is situated about fifty-six miles from New York city. It is bounded on the north by Putnam County, east by the State of Connecticut, west by the town of Somers and on the south by the town of Lewisboro. The territory composing the town was prior to 1776 a part of Cortlandt Manor, and the north section of the town of Salem, the lower section of the latter town being South Salem, afterward Lewis- boro. The surface of the town is partly covered with lofty hills; the soil is well adapted to farming purposes. A fair average value of land is placed at one hundred dollars per acre.
The Mutighticoos river runs through the center of the town and empties into the Croton river. Peach Pond, covering about four hundred acres of ground, lies in the north-east corner of the town; Beaver Pond, near by, is also an attractive sheet of water.
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