USA > New York > Westchester County > Manual of Westchester county.Past and present. Civil list to date 1898 > Part 26
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
started the Novelty Iron Works he took young Abendroth with him. The latter finished his apprentice- ship in 1836. Subsequently Mr.
Abendroth was employed at his trade in Jersey City, New Orleans, Cincinnati, St. Louis and Stamford. In 1840 he formed a partnership with Philip Rollhaus and they be- gan at Port Chester the manufac- ture of stoves, pipe, etc. Their bus- iness prospered and soon was rec- ognized as one of the principal iron industries of the country. In 1842 the New York city warerooms of the firm were opened. In 1845 Philip Rollhaus retired from the firm and his place was taken by Augustus and John Abendroth, brothers of William P. Abendroth. Later John D. Fraser, a brother-in- law of the latter, was also made a member of the firm. In 1876 the firm was changed to a stock com- pany, under the title of the Aben- droth Brothers' Eagle Iron Works, with William P. Abendroth at its head. This company daily em- ploys many hundred persons and is
WILLIAM P. ABENDROTH.
JOHN H. CLAPP.
245
MANUAL AND CIVIL LIST.
a mainstay of the vicinity. Mr. Abendroth was one instrumental in the organization of the First Na- tional Bank of Port Chester, and was one of the first directors, which position he held up to the time of his death. He was president of the Port Chester Savings Bank from the date of its organization, and his death only terminated his tenure of Office. He was one of the organ- izers of the Port Chester Mutual Loan and Building Association in 1853. He assisted materially in or- ganizing the local fire department in 1854. For three years, commenc- ing in 1857, Mr. Abendroth was foreman of Putnam Engine Com- pany. In 1861 he was elected one of the Fire Trustees of Port Chester. In 1874 he was one of the organ- izers of the Firemen's Benevolent Fund Association. He was a life member of Armour Lodge, F. and A. M. As President of the village of Port Chester he proved to be a conscientious, fearless official, giv- ing much of his valuable time to further the interests of his fellow- citizens. It was generally regretted when he announced that his busi- ness would not permit of his giving so much time to public service. In politics Mr. Abendroth was a Dem- ocrat. He subsequently was mainly instrumental in having introduced a public water supply for the vil- lage. It is an admitted fact that no one man contributed more than William P. Abendroth to the growth and present prosperity of the thriving village of Port Ches- ter, and when he died, on January 29, 1898, there was genuine mourn- ing among residents of that village and vicinity, who had been brought to realize their loss. Mr. Aben- droth was married in October, 1843, to Miss Anna Maria Fraser, in Jer- sey City, N. J. Of the union there are now living five children-Mrs. John F. Mills, Mrs. M. R. Hoag- land, Frank A. Abendroth, John W. Abendroth and Mrs. F. C. Dickson. Mrs. Abendroth survives her hus- band.
JOHN H. CLAPP.
John H. Clapp was born in White Plains on September 6, 1847, a son of John J. and Maria C. (Banta)
Clapp. His father, who was a Su- pervisor of the town of White Plains in 1855 and 1856 and a rec- ognized leader of the Westchester County bar, died in White Plains on February 6, 1866. His mother died in Port Chester on November 27, 1895. His great-grandfather, John Clapp, who resided at White Plains, was clerk of the first Colo- nial Assembly from 1691 to 1698, and clerk of Westchester County in 1708. He is of Dutch ancestry, his ancestors on both sides coming to this country from Holland about 1652. He was prepared for college in the schools of his native town and graduated from Union College in 1869, and later received the de- gree of Master of Arts. Imme- diately after graduation he began the study of law, entering the White Plains office of Hon. Jackson O. Dykman, now a Justice of the Supreme Court. Mr. Clapp was ad- mitted to the bar in Poughkeepsie in June, 1870. Shortly after he formed a partnership with Hon. Amherst Wight, Jr., the firm estab- lishing offices in Port Chester and New York city, and from the very start conducted a large and remu- nerative practice. Mr. Wight died in 1877, when Mr. Clapp succeeded to the business and still continues with offices at No. 141 Broadway, New York. His practice is general. He has been successful as counsel in many important cases involving sums aggregating millions of dol- lars. Mr. Clapp is prominent in the Masonic Order, being one of the oldest members and a former mas- ter of Mamaro Lodge, No. 653, F. and A. M., of Port Chester; a mem- ber of the Alpha Delta Phi Club, a member of the American Yacht Club, a member of the New York Athletic Club, and a member of the New York Republican Club. Mr. Clapp is a Republican and has long been recognized as one of the lead- ers of that party in the County of Westchester. He has received many honors at the hands of his party and is a familiar figure at Repub- lican conventions in the capacity of a delegate. On November 5, 1874, Mr. Clapp was married to Mrs. Mary J. Purdy Ropes, daugh- ter of Nathaniel and Mary Purdy, of Rye.
246
MANUAL AND CIVIL LIST.
TOWN OF SCARSDALE.
The present township of Scarsdale was, in colonial times, a part of the manor of Scarsdale, as was what is now the towns of North Castle, New Castle and a part of the town of White Plains. It was created a town on March 7, 1788. The name was given in honor of Scarsdale, Derbyshire, England, the place from which came Colonel Caleb Heathcote, who purchased from the Indians the lands which the manor embraced. On March 2, 1701, the lands purchased by Colonel Heathcote were erected into the lordship and manor of Scarsdale, "to be holden of the king in free and common soccage, its lord yielding and rendering therefor annually, upon the festival of the Nativity, five pounds current money of New York, etc."
Colonel Caleb Heathcote, the first lord of the manor of Scarsdale, was born in England, March 6, 1665; he arrived in New York in 1692, and soon after became prominent in the affairs of the colony. He was judge of Westchester County, colonel of the militia of this county and of the West Riding, on Long Island, all his life, first mayor of the borough of Westchester; a councillor and surveyor-gen- eral of the province; mayor of New York for three years, commander of the colony's forces, and from 1705 to his death, in 1721, was re- ceiver-general of the customs for all North America. The eldest daughter, Anne Heathcote, married Hon. James De Lancey, lieu- tenant-governor of the province of New York; their son, Major John Peter De Lancey, of Heathcote Hill, Mamaroneck, was the owner of the Scarsdale estates up to about 1824; he bequeathed the property among his five children. At the present time but a small portion of the estates remain in possession of the descendants of Caleb Heath- cote. Scarsdale is also famous as the birthplace of Daniel D. Tomp- kins, the fourth Governor of this State, and subsequently Vice- President of the United States. He was the seventh son of Hon. Jonathan G. Tompkins. The middle letter "D" in his name was added simply to distinguish him from another Daniel Tompkins who attended the same college with him. The father of Daniel D. Tompkins served as a member of the State convention which adopt- ed the Declaration of Independence and the first Constitution of the State; was a member of the State Legislature during the Revolution- ary period; was a judge of the Court of Common Pleas of this coun- ty, and later a regent of the State University. He died shortly after his son was inaugurated Vice-President. A biographical sketch of Daniel D. Tompkins is published elsewhere in this volume. By sug- gestion of and through the agency of the Westchester County His-
247
MANUAL AND CIVIL LIST.
torical Society, a tablet was very recently, in 1898, erected, in Scars- dale, to mark the birthplace of Daniel D. Tompkins; it was unveiled with appropriate exercises; the inscription is to the effect that the tablet was erected to mark the birthplace of a former Governor of the State of New York and Vice-President of the United States, and one of the most honored citizens of this county. The land on which the tablet is placed now belongs to Charles Butler.
The population of this township at the various censuses which have been taken is as follows: In 1830, 317; in 1835, 329; in 1840, 225; in 1845, 341; in 1850, 342; in 1855, 445; in 1860, 548; in 1865, 557; in 1870, 517; in 1875, 529; in 1880, 614; in 1890, 633.
The present town officials are as follows: Chauncey T. Secor, Supervisor (address, White Plains,); Joseph Morrell, Town Clerk (address, White plains,); C. W. Gaylor, Gilbert W. Dobbs, William Mercer and C. B. Fish, Justices of the Peace; Gilbert M. Dobbs, Col- lector of Taxes.
The assessed valuation of property in the town was in 1897 as follows: Real, $1,468,128; personal, $180,200. The tax rate this year is $5.83 on each $1,000 valuation.
TOWN OF SOMERS.
This town was organized on March 7, 1888. Prior to this date it formed a part of the town of Hanover, in the Manor of Cortlandt. At its formation it took the name of Stephentown, out of respect to Stephen Van Cortlandt, a large landed property owner, a de- scendant of Stephanus Van Cortlandt, who purchased the territory in 1699 from the Indians, and received a deed from Sachima Wicker, the chief of the Kightawonck tribe. The first town meeting held in Stephentown, according to the records, was on the first Tuesday of April, 1788, at the residence of Benjamin Green. Hach- aliah Brown was elected Supervisor; William Horton, Town Clerk; Obadiah Purdy, Nathaniel Wright, Herman Hilliker and Samuel Green, Assessors; John Stedwell and Jacob Lent, Overseers of the Poor; Benjamin Green, Collector and Constable.
On April 6, 1808, the electors decided upon a change of name for the town. The name chosen, Somers, was given in honor of the young American naval officer, Lieutenant Richard Somers, who had become famous by acts of bravery displayed in the Tripolitan War that occurred in 1804. The American naval officer in charge of the assault upon Tripoli decided upon converting one of his vessels into
248
MANUAL AND CIVIL LIST.
a floating mine and this mine or fire-ship, it was planned, was to be sent into the harbor, to explode before the walls of the fortress and in the midst of the enemy's cruisers. Young Somers volunteered to command a small number of men, as brave as he, on the desired ex- pedition of destruction, even though it meant sure death to him and his comrades. They started on their dangerous mission on board of the floating mine, on the night of Sept. 4, 1804. With the explosion of the mine perished Somers and his courageous associates-a band of heroes worthy of a better fate. As an officer and a man, young Somers was well worthy of all the honor bestowed by grateful coun- trymen upon his name and memory.
The town is situated on the Harlem Railroad, fifty miles from New York City. The scenery in and about Somers is very attractive. It is considered a good farming country, the farms generally are large and very productive, the Croton River and other streams run- ning through and close by furnish ample water supply. Lake Ma- hopac, a charming sheet of water, one mile in diameter, in which is embosomed two or three small islands, lies close to the borders of the town.
The population of the town, as shown by census enumerations in 1830 and since, has been as follows: In 1830, 1,997; 1835, 1,900; 1840, 2,082; 1845, 1,761; 1850, 1,722; 1855, 1,744; 1860, 2,012; 1865, 1,695; 1870, 1,721; 1875, 1,631; 1880, 1,630; 1890, 1,897.
By an act of the Legislature, passed May 12, 1846, that part of the town of Somers, lying on the southwesterly side of the Croton River, was annexed to the town of New Castle.
The present assessed value of real property in the town is $983,- 494; personal property, $221,450. The tax rate is $3.55 on $1,000, the lowest of any town in the county. Last year the rate was $5.19 on $1,000.
The present town officers are: Supervisor, Samuel M. Louns- bury, Somers; Town Clerk, Stephen F. Lane, Somers; Collector of Taxes, David E. Bassett, Baldwin Place (these officers were elected in March, 1898); Justices of the Peace, James Hyatt, Somers, Z. M. Knowles, Katonah, Joseph T. Griffin, Somers Centre, and H. G. Barrett, West Somers; Assessors, George E. Teed, Goldens Bridge, John Reynolds, Croton Lake, and R. Smith, Somers Centre. Super- visor Lounsbury succeeded James P. Teed, who served the town as Supervisor for eighteen years, continuously.
249
MANUAL AND CIVIL LIST.
TOWN OF WHITE PLAINS.
This town is in the county seat of Westchester County, situated on the Harlem Railroad, 23 miles from the city of New York. It was purchased from the Indians in 1683, and was originally a part of the town of Rye. March 7, 1788, is the date of its creation, making it one of the early organized towns of the county. The town de- rives its name from the White Balsam (Gnaphalium Polycephalum of Linnoeus), Gnaphalium, signifying soft down or wool. The land was purchased from the tribe of Indians over which the Chief Ora- waupum ruled.
From the year 1725 to the date of formation as a town, by an act of the Legislature, it was known as the White Plains Precinct. The precinct electors met annually, on the first Tuesday of April, to elect a Supervisor, a Clerk and other necessary officers. The first precinct election was held in April, 1727. Between the years 1776 and 1783, owing to White Plains at that period being a "seat of war," no elections were held. The Battle of White Plains was fought Oct. 28, 1776. The British, under Gen. Howe, defeated Gen. Washington at the head of the Continental forces. The loss on either side was reported to be similar, between 300 and 400.
This town is justly given a prominent place in the history of the American Revolution and the bravery of its early settlers is highly commended. Owing to the loyalty of its residents, the Fourth Provincial Congress was induced to hold a session in this town, at the Court House, from the 9th to the 27th of July, 1776; on the first day the Declaration of Independence was unanimously approved, and on the following day the Congress decided upon a change of name, to be known thereafter as the "Convention of the Representatives of the State of New York." Here and thus the Empire State was born. When the Congress was ordered to this town, "with all papers and money, all lead, powder and other mili- tary stores belonging to the State," the journey from New York was performed by the members on horseback, led by Pierre Van Cortlandt, its president. As orderlies from Gen. Washington over- took them, the Congress was called to order on horseback, and busi- ness was transacted.
No definite information as to the population of the precinct or town, in its earliest history, is obtainable. In 1830 the population of the town was 739; in 1835, 876; in 1840, 1,087; in 1845, 1,155; in 1850, 1,414; in 1855, 1,512; in 1860, 1,846; in 1865, 2,122; in 1870, 2,630; in 1875, 2,749; in 1880, 4,094; in 1890, 4,508.
250
MANUAL AND CIVIL LIST.
The town, with its picturesque scenery, its historic associations and elegant building sites, is proving every year more attractive as a place of residence. Already many millions of dollars have been invested by distinguished citizens in the erection of the palatial abodes which may be seen in all parts of the town. Especially at- tractive is this place to men doing business in New York City. Trains on the Harlem Railroad are run at convenient hours, many of them through express trains, at an interval of 45 minutes. The local railroad station is situated within the business section of the town.
To a fire that occurred on Dec. 1, 1851, and consumed Craw- ford's Hotel and other buildings, opposite the old Court House, on South Broadway, is attributed the organization of the Fire Depart- ment in this village; on that very day a public meeting was held in the Court House, and the first steps toward organization were taken. In 1854 the department began to take shape, and on April 10, 1857, the department was incorporated.
An article relating to the three Court Houses erected in this village will be found elsewhere in this work.
The following are the names of residents who have served as Town Clerks, in this town, since 1727 to date:
Caleb Hyatt, Jr., 1727 to 1776.
Daniel Horton, 1783 to 1787.
Joseph Prior, 1787 to 1788.
William Barker, Jr., 1788 to 1800.
Stephen Barker, 1800 to 1804.
David Falconer, 1804 to 1806.
Stephen Barker, 1806 to 1810.
Josiah Horton, 1810 to 1812.
Minott Mitchell, 1812 to 1838.
Joseph S. Mitchell, 1838 to 1842.
John W. Mills, 1842 to 1844.
Schuyler C. Tompkins, 1844 to 1849.
Enoch Dick and Elias P. Purdy, 1849 to 1851.
Carlton Parmer, 1851 to 1852. William H. Huestis, 1854 to 1857.
Caleb Morgan, Jr., 1867 to 1868.
Abram J. Hyatt, 1868 to 1871.
D. B. Stephens, 1871 to 1873.
251
MANUAL AND CIVIL LIST.
Wm. H. Cutter, 1873 to 1875.
E. Baxter and Abram J. Hyatt, 1875 to 1876.
J. E. Underhill, 1876 to 1877.
Abram J. Hyatt, 1877 to 1879.
Henry A. Maynard, 1879 to 1885.
Charles P. Paulding, 1885 to 1886.
Francis H. Hessels, 1886 to 1889.
Chas. P. Paulding, 1889 to 1898.
Louis Platt, 1898, now acting.
The total assessed value of property in the town, according to official assessment just completed, is: Real estate, $7,344,176; per- sonal, $2,699,077.
The present year's rate of taxation in town is $4.12 per $1,000, valuation inside corporate limits, and $5.81 per $1,000 outside in- corporated limits.
Back taxes are payable to the Supervisor of the town. Prop- erty sold for the non-payment of taxes, at an advertised tax sale, is, as a general thing, bought in by the town, but individuals are not prevented from becoming purchasers.
The present town officials are: Frank G. Schirmer, Super- visor; Lewis C. Platt, Town Clerk; Minott M. Silliman, Ffarrington M. Thompson, George T. Capron and W. W. Ford, Justices of the Peace; E. G. Sutherland, Receiver of Taxes.
The village of White Plains lies mostly in the town of White Plains, a small portion, on the west side, lying in the town of Green- burgh. The village was incorporated April 3, 1866.
The population in 1880 was 2,381; in 1890 it was 4,042; the last census enumeration, taken in Jan., 1898, fixed the population at 7,363.
The present village officers are: Samuel C. Miller, President; W. B. Sutherland, Clerk; William Cromwell, Charles Deutermann, John Emberson, Christopher Harmon, George L. Miller, John T. Rehill, William S. Sterling, Charles P. Sherwood, Stephen C. Smith and David Verplanck, Trustees; William S. Verplanck, Tax Col- lector. The post office address of town and village officials, White Plains, N. Y.
Cars of the local trolley company connect the village with Tar- rytown on the Hudson River, and with Mamaroneck on Long Island Sound.
252
MANUAL AND CIVIL LIST.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
GEORGE T. CAPRON.
George Truman Capron, Justice of the Peace of the town of White Plains, was born in the city of New York, on May 30, 1858, a son of Jacob and Jane E. (Ballenger) Ca- pron. He was educated at the Friends' Seminary, New York city, and the Columbia College, Law School. Was married on Septem- ber 10, 1891, to Miss Phebe H. Car- penter, daughter of Jacob A. and Mary A. Carpenter, of Harrison, N. Y. In politics Mr. Capron has al- ways been connected with the Re- publican party, and at the hands of his party he has received many honors. Since his removal to White Plains, which occurred in 1892, he has been actively asso- ciated with public affairs. In 1896 he was elected to his present office and in the same year was chosen Acting Police Justice of the village of White Plains. Mr. Capron is also regent of the White Plains Council, No. 1,762, R. A., in the or- ganization of which he was the prime mover.
HENRY T. DYKMAN.
Henry Trowbridge Dykman, a former President of the village of White Plains, was born in Cold Spring, Putnam County, N. Y., on December 16, 1856, a son of Jackson O. and Emily L. (Trowbridge) Dyk- man. He was educated in the pub- lic schools of his native town and in Willis' Military Academy, White Plains. In 1866 he came to White Plains with his parents, and has resided there ever since. At an
early age he began the study of law in the office of his father. In 1870, when only fourteen years old, he became connected with the New York City Water Supply proceed- ings, and assisted materially in per- fecting searches and aiding counsel and commissioners engaged in ac- quiring land needed for the purpose in hand. In 1877, December 16, on the very day he became twenty-one years of age, he was admitted to the bar. Since 1879 Mr. Dykman
has practiced law on his own ac- count, having his offices at White Plains; besides caring for a large private practice, he has, since 1880, represented New York city in all special proceedings brought to ac- quire land by appraisement for wa- ter supply purposes, having sole charge of all matters pertaining to Westchester County, acting under the immediate direction of the Cor- poration Council of the city of New York. He is
an indefatigable worker, devoted to the cause of his clients. He has always prepared his briefs and argued his own causes. No man is better known in the courts and his genial qualities insure him many friends. Legal victories gained and his long reten- tion as counsel by New York city, through different political adminis- trations, attest his value and worth. Politically Mr. Dykman has always been a Democrat, and has been active in the interest of his party, but has never been an as- pirant for office, though his party friends have bestowed upon him, from time to time, many honors, electing him as delegate to judicial conventions, etc. He has held the non-political offices of President, Treasurer, Counsel of Village and Counsel of Water Board of the vil- lage of White Plains; the two latter offices he still holds. The official positions held came to him not through his seeking them, but be- cause his ability to fill the same was recognized by his fellow-citi- zens, irrespective of party. He has recently been successful in what is commonly termed the Rockefeller assessment cases, succeeding in set- ting aside assessments levied by the town of Mount Pleasant and saving to his client many hundred thous- ands of dollars. Mr. Dykman was married in April, 1879, to Miss Ella Cline, daughter of John H. and Helen B. Cline, of Armenia, N. Y., and has three children, two daugh- ters and a son.
JEREMIAH T. LOCKWOOD.
Jeremiah T. Lockwood, Water Commissioner, of White Plains,
253
MANUAL AND CIVIL LIST.
was born on November 3, 1846, at New Canaan, Conn., a son of Jere- miah and Jane (Schuagar) Lock- wood. He was educated in the pub- lic schools of his native town and at Bedford, in this county, to which place his parents had removed in June, 1859. It was while residing at Bedford, on August 28, 1862, when only sixteen years of age, that Mr. Lockwood enlisted for the late civil war. He was on the latter date sent to New York city on an errand by his father, when hap- pening to pass a recruiting station on Franklin Street, he was attract- ed by the appeals of a man in uni- form calling upon patriots to hasten and respond to their coun- try's call for volunteers. The ap- peal proved too much for young Lockwood. The boy inscribed his name upon the list of raw recruits. He was attached to Company A, Fourth New York Heavy Artillery, at Fort Franklin, Md. He was the youngest member of the company. He participated in all the battles in which his company was engaged, from the Wilderness to Petersburg, and was severely wounded. He was discharged August 28, 1865, just three years from date of enlistment. Mr. Lockwood is a member of Mc- Keel Post, No. 120, G. A. R., and is president of the Fourth New York Heavy Artillery Volunteers' Asso- ciation. He was elected Treasurer of School District No. 1, of White Plains and Harrison in 1888, and still holds that position. He was appointed a Water Commissioner of the village of White Plains in 1896 and continues in the office. He was appointed on March 16, 1898, by Governor Black, as a manager of the Women's Reformatory at Bed- ford. Was married on November 21, 1888, to Miss Louisa Carpenter, daughter of Franklin and Helen Carpenter, of White Plains. Mr. Lockwood takes an active interest in politics as a Republican. He is engaged in the furniture and under- taking business at White Plains, where he has resided twenty years.
EDWARD B. LONG.
Edward B. Long, a former Jus- tice of the Peace, a former Village
Trustee, and a present member of the Board of Education of White Plains, was born in Jamesburgh, N. J., on May 22, 1841, a son of William D. and Sarah L. (Bennett) Long. He was educated in the pub- lic schools of his native town. At the breaking out of the Civil War he enlisted in Co. G, 1st Regiment, N. J. Vols., in the Union Army; he took part in the first battle of Bull Run, and afterwards served in the Army of the Potomac, in Kearny's Brigade of the 6th Army Corps, and was commended for meritori- ous conduct on the battlefield. When discharged from the army, in 1865, he became a resident of White Plains, where he yet has his home. He has for many years been prominently identified with public affairs in the latter place. In 1876 Mr. Long purchased the Westches- ter News, which he still owns, and of which newspaper he is editor and publisher. He has succeeded in making this journal a recog- nized Republican organ of the county, exerting considerable in- fluence. He was one most instru- mental in organizing the James Cromwell Post, No. 466, G. A. R., of White Plains, and was the post's commander for many years. He was elected a Justice of the Peace for the town of White Plains and served in that office sixteen years. In 1885 he was elected a Trustee of the village of White Plains, and served in that capacity eleven years. He was elected a member of the Board of Education in 1875, and has continued in that office ever since. He has been frequently elected by his neighbors as a dele- gate to State and other conven- tions of his political party, and is recognized as a party leader; in 1882 he was the Republican candi- date for Congress; his party being in the minority in the district he failed of an election. Recently his name was presented to the Repub- lican County Nominating Conven- tion for County Treasurer, and at another time for nomination for the office of Sheriff; in each in-
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.