USA > New York > Westchester County > Westchester county in history; manual and civil list, past and present. County history: towns, hamlets, villages and cities, Volume II > Part 25
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There were many disputed votes polled in the "annexed district;" in Fordham, town of West Farms, 69 votes had been cast for William H. Robinson, and Lathers' friends claimed that as a matter of law such votes could not be counted for William H. Robertson; in addition to this, 104 votes cast for William H. Robertson in Morrisania and Tremont were claimed to be illegal ballots.
As to the 69 votes cast in Fordham, for Robinson instead of Robertson, it was claimed that the mistake in name was owing to error of printer in printing ballots. In that day there was no official uniform ballot, printed by County or State, as now; then each political party was privileged to print and circulate tickets bearing names of their candidates; every candidate had a right even to have printed and circulated his own tickets. As
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to these tickets there was no regulation as to shape, size or style of type used.
Relative to the alleged defective ballots cast in Morrisania and Tremont, Robertson's friends held that the same were not irregular, as they had been printed in strict conformity with laws governing elections in New York city, of which Morris- ania and Tremont were parts. The endorsement on the Sena- torial ticket voted in Westchester County was, " For Senator, William H. Robertson," the endorsement of the ticket voted in the " annexed district," Morrisania, Tremont and Fordham, was " For Senator, Ninth District, William H. Robertson," The trouble in the Morrisania and Tremont election districts came through the candidate circulating his own ballots. The Senatorial ballot was a separate one.
A good number of the ballots printed for exclusive use in Westchester County became circulated in the New York annexed districts, and as a consequence many of them, to the number of 104, got into the ballot boxes of Morrisania and Tremont. The election inspectors of the last named districts refused to credit these 104 ballots to candidate Robertson, because such ballots failed to designate the number of the Senatorial district.
Before the Westchester County Board of Canvassers a spirited contest took place between friends of both candidates. Injunc- tion and mandamus proceedings and various other things pro- longed the session of the canvassers, who finally decided in favor of candidate Lathers. By appealing to the Board of State Can- vassers, candidate Robertson had the whole subject reviewed. The State Board finally decided in favor of Robertson.
Now be it known that no other Republican had the same success in running for Senator as did Judge Robertson. In 1881, when Robertson took his leave of the State Senate to assume the office of Collector of the Port of New York, the field was considered left open for the Democrats to come into their own. Henry C. Nelson, of Ossining, who as a Democrat had won fame in 1868 by being elected Assemblyman in the Republican Third District, controlled by Robertson, Depew and Husted, came forward as an aspirant for Senatorial honors. Nelson was elected, and Robertson did not weep, on the con- trary these two men were very friendly. Nelson served in 1882 and until 1888. In 1887 Nelson looked for a renomination; a misunderstanding between him and certain leading Democrats led to opposition and his renomination was contested. William
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Ryan, of Port Chester, also sought the Democratic Senatorial nomination. The contest between these two men for delegates was certainly spirited, every inch of ground was fought over, in some localities two opposing conventions selected contesting dele- gations. In the meantime, while the Democratic bone was being wrangled over, the Republican Senatorial Convention met, nomi- nated for its candidate Judge Robertson, who had just retired from the Collectorship, and adjourned before getting word of Robertson's acceptance. Rumor had it that Robertson felt that he had had enough and would not again be a candidate for any office. Nelson, nearly as clever in the game as Robertson, wanted to know positively what to expect in case he, Nelson, was nomi- nated-he knew Robertson thoroughly, and wisely did not care to have him for an opponent; Nelson sent an intimate friend to interview Robertson; the latter stated " in confidence," that he would accept the nomination of his party and be a candi- date, that he was not running against Nelson, as he was nomi- nated first; if Nelson was nominated later, Nelson would be running against him, " and a friend wouldn't expect such a thing, would he?" asked Robertson, as he gave his characteristic sly wink, accompanied by that well known fascinating smile. That very day Nelson, in writing, announced that he had con- cluded not to be again (for the present at least) a candidate for Senator, and took occasion to thank his many friends for their kindly offers of assistance. Instead of Nelson, Ryan made the unsuccessful race.
Referring to Nelson's election as Senator, we recall the efforts made to defeat him in 1885, by the Republicans running David Cromwell, who had been remarkably successful in being elected County Treasurer. The Republican Senatorial Convention was held in Tarrytown; Cromwell was nominated, despite his pro- test, as he preferred the Treasuryship; but he must run, the party had done enough for him, was the answer. Ex-Senator Robertson was not at the Convention, nor was he previously consulted as to the nomination-this latter proved a serious omission. Cromwell ran, and Nelson was elected by a good sized majority. This election proved instructive to local politi- cians. A man may do well in running for one office, and not quite so well when running for another office, as Mr. Cromwell learned. Sheriff Duffy, ever popular, had similar experience when he ran for Register.
Another and more amusing incident relating to contests for
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the Senatorship, is the one concerning the election of 1893. In this year the district was considered safely Democratic by a good majority, and a nomination of the party equivalent to an election. Alfred H. Morris, of Westchester town, son of the wealthy owner of the Morris race track, who was just complet- ing his first term as an Assemblyman, became possessed of the idea that he wanted to be Democratic State Senator from this district. There was no apparent opposition to him on the Republican side; in fact it looked like an " amicable agreement political." The young man's father was well known in the sporting fraternity, which is far reaching, taking ın members of all parties. There was an opposition to Morris' nomination, however, inside the Democratic party, aroused by men who resented having local nominations dictated by influences from outside the district. Young Morris, despite protests, was nomi- nated. A Democratic bolt was threatened. To make such oppo- sition non-effective, an old trick was resorted to; " our friend, the enemy," was appealed to; it was agreed that to secure Mor- ris' election a non-aggressive Republican candidate would be named. Col. George W. Robertson, of Peekskill, was asked to accept the Republican nomination; he declined, saying he would not have the office even if elected; he was going West to be gone all summer and did not expect to be back even to vote; he was just the man wanted; if he was away he could not make a canvass; he was finally persuaded to allow his name to be used, " to fill out the ticket," as a good Republican should.
Robertson went away and was nominated, to the joy of Morris' friends in both parties; nor did Robertson come back to help himself with a vote; but when he did come back he was a much surprised man, as were his political friends, to learn of his unexpected election. The Democrats who cut Morris and voted for Col. Robertson far outnumbered Morris' Republican friends. Col. Robertson served one term and young Morris did not again become a candidate, though, owing to his ability, he was urged to do so.
The selection of Francis M. Carpenter for Senator proved one of the most popular made in the district.
The last re-nomination of Senator Wainwright was made under protest from the Republican leaders in the Senatorial district; the latter consented to the nomination for harmony's sake, at the last moment. No one questioned the integrity or ability of the Senator; the objections being purely political.
EDMUND G. SUTHERLAND
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Benjamin Brandreth, of Sing Sing, served the Senatorial District of which Westchester County was a part, in 1850-51-58-59.
William H. Robertson, of Bed- ford, served as State Senator in 1854-55, 1872 to 1881, 1888-9-90-1. (See biography elsewhere in this volume.)
Hezekiah D. Robertson, of Bed- ford, as State Senator, served in 1860-1-2-3. (See biography, Vol. 1.)
EDMUND G. SUTHERLAND.
Edmund Gaines · Sutherland, former Member of Assembly, former Supervisor, former State Senator, etc.
He was born in 1815, in Plymouth, Chenango County, N. Y., a son of Silas and Lydia (Tiffany) Suther- land.
Was educated in the common schools. First decided to make law his profession and spent much time in preparation, but finally drifted into the newspaper profession, in which he took a prominent place, be- ing recognized as one of the lead- ing journalists of the County. He established the Eastern State Jour- nal in White Plains, in the year 1845, as a Democratic newspaper, and as such it had considerable in- fluence within the party. The paper is still continued and is conducted with ability, though it has passed out of the hands of Mr. Sutherland's family.
When Mr. Sutherland first came to Westchester County, in 1836, he settled in Sing Sing; he came to White Plains in 1845, the year he started his newspaper.
Naturally, Mr. Sutherland took an active interest in politics. He at- tended all conventions of his party as a delegate and was the recognized local leader.
He was local Superintendent of Schools; he was elected an Assem- blyman in the years 1857 and 1858, when there were but two Assembly- men from this County, in 1859 the County was given three members in the Assembly; in 1858 he was chosen Clerk to the Board of Supervisors, serving in that capacity until the year 1862, when he was elected Sup-
ervisor of his town, serving nine years, from 1862 to 1867, 1871 to 1874, and again in 1878; he was State Senator in 1866 and 1867.
He also served by appointment as a Boulevard Commissioner, having charge of the construction of boule -. vards running north and south through the County.
He continued in charge of his newspaper, as editor and publisher, up to the date of his death, and for a time after the paper was conducted by his son, Erastus R. Sutherland.
Mr. Sutherland had been married twice, to Ann Eliza Felter and to Elizabeth Jane Peck. Mr. Suther- land died May 16, 1883. His grand- sons, William B. and Edmund G. Sutherland, have for years edited and published the Westchester County Reporter, at White Plains. William B. Sutherland was for sev- eral years Clerk of the village of White Plains, and is now President of the village of Larchmont. Edmund G. Sutherland was at one period Receiver of Taxes of the town of White Plains, and has been the Democratic candidate for Mem- ber of Assembly, and later the can- didate of his party for Sheriff, in years when his party lacked enough votes to succeed.
WILLIAM CAULDWELL.
William Cauldwell, former State Senator, former Supervisor, etc., was born October 12, 1824. His father was a native of Scotland, and his mother, like himself, was born in New York city.
Like so many men who have carved out by personal industry and indomitable will, a reputation and secured a competence, Mr. Cauldwell had only the benefits of a common school education. Early in life he began to learn the trade of a printer ; and this, probably as much as any- thing else, was the basis of his fu- ture success. At the time he was State Senator he was one of the editors and publishers of the New York Sunday Mercury, one of the most widely circulated journals in the Union, having become connected with it in 1850.
He resided in Morrisania, this county, and represented that town in
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the County Board of Supervisors six- teen years, commencing in the year 1857, the second year after the town's organization, and serving in 1873, the year the town was an- nexed to New York city.
He was elected to serve the Ninth Senatorial District, of which West- chester County was a part, in the State Senate, during the years 1868- 9-70-1.
Among the members of the Senate there were few who possessed a more practical mind, or brought to their aid a more extended experience. He died in 1905.
HENRY C. NELSON.
Henry Clay Nelson, lawyer, former State Senator, former Member of Assembly, etc., was born in Bedford, this county, on July 29, 1836, a son of Isaac Nelson. His descendants were Dutch on the paternal side, on the maternal side he descended from the Huguenot family of Delanoy.
He became a resident of Sing Sing in early life. He was educated in Sing Sing private school, later en- tering the New York City Free Academy where he remained two years. He studied law in the office of Marcius Cobb, and in due time was admitted to the bar and became associated with Mr. Cobb with offices in Sing Sing.
He early took an active interest in politics, as a Democrat. He was a strong positive character, and left no person guessing as to where he stood on any public question. He was noted for being honest, frank and outspoken. The friends he made far outnumbered his opponents.
The first office he held was that of Deputy U. S. Assessor, under Abram Hyatt, during the Civil War period. Later he was town and village tax collector, after which he was village treasurer. For many years he was a member of the local fire depart- ment, being at one time Chief En- gineer of the department.
In 1867 he received the Democratic nomination for Member of Assembly in the Third District of the county, and received, somewhat unexpected
to himself, the majority of 991, over- coming a Republican majority of 630.
In 1869 Mr. Nelson was appointed Agent and Warden of Sing Sing Prison, serving until February 10, 1870; he was again appointed to this position, serving from January 11, 1872, to January 7, 1873.
He was first elected State Senator, representing this district composed of the counties of Westchester and Rockland, in 1881, and served in this office six years and until 1888. During his years of service he took a prominent part in the proceed- ings of the Legislature, being a mem- ber of several important committees.
He was for many years president of the Sing Sing Savings Bank, and later president of the Sing Sing First National Bank, to which latter position he was chosen while State Senator, in 1887, and continued in such office until 1908.
He was honored by having a tract of land in the village, acquired from the State, named Nelson Park for him.
He married Miss Arminta Merritt, daughter of William Merritt. No children.
He died April 17, 1909, at his home in Ossining. His wife survives him.
Charles P. McClelland, of Dobbs Ferry, State Senator in 1892-3 and 1903. (See biography, Vol. 1.)
James Irving Burns, Yonkers, State Senator, 1896-7-8-9. (See biography, Vol. 1.)
W. J. Graney, Dobbs Ferry, State Senator, 1899-1900. (See biography, Vol. 1.)
Isaac N. Mills, Mount Vernon, State Senator, 1901-2. (See biog- raphy, Vol. 1.)
Francis M. Carpenter, Mount Kisco, State Senator, 1904-5-6-7-8. (See biography, under head of " Westchester County Notables,"' in this volume.)
J. M. Wainwright, Rye, State Sen- ator, 1909-10-11-12.
THE COUNTY'S MEMBERS OF ASSEMBLY.
(Continued from page 51, Volume 1.)
Historical records relate how, after the revolution in England, whichi placed William and Mary on the throne, Governor Sloughter, on March 19, 1691, arrived in the Province of New York with instructions to re-establish the Assembly and to rein- state the people in their rights. It met on April 9, 1691, and consisted of seventeen members, which number was increased later to twenty-seven. The compilers of the laws were directed to commence with the General Assembly of 1691. After an existence of about ninety-two years; the Colonial Assembly adjourned April 3, 1775, and never again convened.
The Assembly elected in 1716 continued over ten years; previous to that year, new Assemblies were elected about every two years, though sometimes but a few months would intervene between the elections. From August 10, 1726, to May 3, 1737, four Assemblies succeeded one another. On June 15, 1737, a new Assembly convened and enacted a law providing for tri- ennial elections. The bill passed the Council and received the sanction of Lieutenant-Governor Clarke, but was repealed by the King, November 30, 1738, on the recommendation of the Lords of Trade, notwithstanding the Lieutenant-Governor's written appeal in favor. The next Assembly, convened in 1739, continued until 1743, when it was dissolved. The Assembly that met in December, same year, passed an act limiting sessions of the Assembly to seven years, if not previously dissolved.
In 1774 the Assembly was composed of thirty-one members, elected on writs issued by order of the Governor, who had the power, by and with the advice of the Council, to convene, pro- rogue or dissolve the Assembly at pleasure. None were eligible for election as representatives to the Assembly except free- holders, residents in the district from which they were chosen. (For names of representatives from this County to the several Assemblies, see page 43, volume 1.)
Members were paid by their constituents, those of New York, Westchester, Queens, Kings, Ulster, Richmond, Dutchess,
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Orange, and the Manor of Cortlandt, receiving six shillings (75 cents) a day; of Albany, Schenectady, Borough of West- chester, Manors of Livingston and Rensselaerswyck, ten shil- lings ($1.25), and those of Suffolk nine shillings ($1.121/2) a day, for the time of their attendance, which was duly certified by the Speaker, and the same per diem, for the time, which was fixed by law, for their journey to and from New York. They did not have " push-clocks " in those days for keeping time of employees, but they used other means just as effective, and the legislator could charge only for the actual time he rendered the State.
From the records we are told that on the day appointed for the convening of a new Legislature, members elect met in the Assembly chamber, in the city of New York.
The General Assembly was succeeded by the Provincial Con- gress, the first Congress assembling on May 22, 1775. (See page 43, volume 1.)
The Fourth Provincial Congress convened at the Court House (on Broadway), in the town of White Plains, in this County, on July 9, 1776; and the Declaration of Independence having been read and unanimously agreed to, the title of the body was changed, on July. 10, from that of the Provincial Congress of the Colony of New York, to that of the Convention of the Rep- resentatives of the State of New York. Thus the State Gov- ernment of the State of New York was born, in the town which is now the County-seat of Westchester County.
This " Convention " continued to sit at White Plains until July 27, when it adjourned to meet at Harlem on the 29th, where it continued until August 29, when it adjourned to meet in Fishkill, leaving the public business, meanwhile, in the hands of the Committee of Safety, headed by John Jay and other patriotic men of Westchester County, with headquarters in White Plains.
The " Convention of Representatives " was forced to vacate the lower end of the State and move further north by the approach of British forces.
The Assembly, under the State Constitution, has always been chosen annually. The number elected to various Assemblies varied up to the year 1821; in this year, by the adoption of a new Constitution, the number was permanently fixed at 128; members were elected on a general ticket. Under the Constitu-
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tion of 1894, members of Assembly are elected by single dis- tricts. The number of Assemblymen now is 150.
The political year and legislative term shall begin on the first day of January ; and the Legislature shall, every year, assemble on the first Wednesday in January.
At present among the members of the House of Representa- tives, in Congress, from the State of New York, are three ex- Speakers of the Assembly, William Sulzer, George R. Malby and Hamilton Fish, who succeeded one another in order as named.
Following is the list of Members of Assembly from West- chester County from the year 1898 to the year 1913:
One Hundred and twenty-second Session .- 1899 .- John J. Sloane, of Yonkers, William Henderson, Jr., of Westchester, and James K. Apgar, of Peekskill.
One Hundred and twenty-third Session .- 1900 .- John J. Sloane, of Yonkers, Alfred W. Cooley, of Westchester, and James K. Apgar, of Peekskill.
One Hundred and twenty-fourth Session .- 1901 .- William C. Mains, of Mount Vernon (died in 1909), Alfred W. Cooley, of Westchester, and James K. Apgar, of Peekskill.
One Hundred and twenty-fifth Session .- 1902 .- John J. Sloane, of Yonkers, J. Mayhew Wainwright, of Rye, and James K. Apgar, of Peekskill.
One Hundred and twenty-sixth Session .- 1903 .- John J. Sloane, of Yonkers, J. Mayhew Wainwright, of Rye, and James K. Apgar, of Peekskill.
One Hundred and twenty-seventh Session .- 1904 .- George N. Rigby, of Yonkers, J. Mayhew Wainwright, of Rye, and James K. Apgar, of Peekskill.
One Hundred and twenty-eighth Session .- 1905 .- George N. Rigby, of Yonkers, J. Mayhew Wainwright, of Rye, and James K. Apgar, of Peekskill.
One Hundred and twenty-ninth Session .- 1906 .- Woodson R. Oglesby, of Yonkers, J. Mayhew Wainwright, of Rye, and James K. Apgar, of Peekskill.
UNDER NEW APPORTIONMENT.
The Legislature, in 1906, reapportioned the Assembly Dis- tricts in the State, and later the Board of Supervisors divided the County of Westchester into Assembly Districts, an increased
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population authorizing the County to have four, instead of three, districts, as follows :
First District .- The City of Yonkers.
Second District .- The Cities of Mount Vernon and New Rochelle and the Towns of Pelham, Mamaroneck and Eastchester.
Third District .- The Towns of Cortlandt, Ossining, Mount Pleasant and Greenburgh.
Fourth District .- The Towns of Bedford, Harrison, Lewis- boro, New Castle, North Castle, North Salem, Poundridge, Rye, Scarsdale, Somers, White Plains and Yorktown.
The Assemblymen elected in these new districts were, for the One Hundred and thirtieth Session .- 1907 .- Harry W. Haines, of Yonkers, Holland S. Duell, of New Rochelle, James K. Apgar, of Peekskill, and J. Mayhew Wainwright, of Rye.
One Hundred and thirty-first Session .- 1908 .- Harry W. Haines, of Yonkers, Marmaduke B. Wright, of Mount Vernon, Isaac H. Smith, of Peekskill, and J. Mayhew Wainwright, of Rye.
One Hundred and thirty-second Session .- 1909 .- Harry W. Haines, of Yonkers, Holland S. Duell, of New Rochelle, Frank L. Young, of Ossining, and George W. Mead, of Lake Waccabuc.
One Hundred and thirty-third Session .- 1910 .- Harry W. Haines, of Yonkers, William S. Coffey, of Mount Vernon, Frank L. Young, of Ossining, and John A. Goodwin, of White Plains.
One Hundred and thirty-fourth Session .- 1911 .- Harry W. Haines, of Yonkers, William S. Coffey, of Mount Vernon, Frank L. Young, of Ossining, and John A. Goodwin, of White Plains.
One Hundred and thirty-fifth Session-1912-Tracey P. Madden, of Yonkers, William S. Coffey, of Mount Vernon, Frank L. Young, of Ossining, and George A. Slater, of Port Chester.
In 1896, the year of the contest between Ward and Fairchild for the Republican Congressional nomination, there was a similar " mix-up " in the Second Assembly District over the Repub- lican nomination for Member of Assembly. The nominating convention was held at Tarrytown, pursuant to a regular call. One faction had nominated Richard S. Emmet, of New Rochelle; the Robertson-Ward faction, not satisfied with the management of the Convention, bolted and in a nearby hall held another Convention. The second Convention named Joseph Ennis, also of New Rochelle. Certificates of both candidates were filed, each claiming to be " regular." County Clerk Crumb gave a hearing, and decided in favor of Emmet; from this decision
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an appeal was taken before Justice Dykman, who heard the counsel at his home in White Plains, on Saturday, James M. Hunt, of Yonkers, appearing for Emmet and H. C. Henderson, of White Plains, for Ennis. Justice Dykman decided in favor of Ennis. On the following Monday lawyer Hunt secured a hearing before the Appellate Division in Brooklyn; the Appel- late Division dismissed the appeal; the hustling Hunt, on Wednesday, was granted a hearing before the Court of Appeals, , at Albany ; on Thursday the Court of Appeals gave a decision reversing the Appellate Division, and sent the Clerk of the Court to hold the Appellate Division, which was about to adjourn; on Friday the case was reargued before the Appellate Division, and on that day the Appellate Division decided in favor of Emmet, under the practical direction of the Court of Appeals, and Emmet was put on the official ballot as the Repub- lican nominee, and was elected on the Tuesday following.
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