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 32
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Mr. Smith was married on Decem- ber 19, 1889, to Miss Lulu E. Wil- liams, daughter of Washington and May J. Williams, of Peekskill, and has one son, Milton Cliston Smith, born August 22, 1894.
SUPERINTENDENT OF POOR.
WILLIAM C. LAWRENCE.
William Cornelius Lawrence, County Superintendent of Poor, President of Village, etc., was born on May 6, 1860, in Ardsley, town of Greenburgh, a son of Daniel and Hannah T. (Southan) Lawrence. He was educated in local public schools.
From his youth Mr. Lawrence pos- sessed an enviable reputation of be- ing industrious, always exhibiting that untiring energy that aids one to "get there." He entered a business
life as a butcher, and in that voca. tion earned the good will of his fel- low citizens. His popularity was tested when he was elected to the much coveted office of Receiver of Taxes in 1894; in 1900 he was elected a Village Trustee, and this office he. held until the spring of 1911, when he was unanimously promoted to the position of Village President. While yet one of the "village fathers" he. was elected a Justice of the Peace of the town of Greenburgh, serving in
WILLIAM C. LAWRENCE
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this capacity during the years 1902- 3-4-5. In 1905 he was appointed a Deputy Sheriff, and served under Sheriff James S. Merritt two years, and continuing in this office he served under Sheriff Charles M. Lane one year and four months, when he was called to fill a higher and more re- sponsible County Office, that of Superintendent of the Poor, to fill a vacancy caused by the death of A. Smith Hopkins, who suddenly died after being only a short time in of- fice. To fill this vacancy the Board of Supervisors, on May 12, 1908, elected Mr. Lawrence to serve until January 1, 1909. In the fall of 1908 Mr. Lawrence was nominated by the Republican party for Superintendent of the Poor, to fill out the unexpired term ending December 31, 1910. He was chosen by a large majority. In the election of 1910 he was again a candidate for the office, for the three years' term commencing 1911. This last election demonstrated the fact that Mr. Lawrence is one of the best campaigners and vote-getters the County Republican party ever had; the majority given him in the last election surpassed that of many
of his colleagues on his ticket and exceeded in good number that given him at first election.
Under Mr. Lawrence's administra- tion many important improvements, suggested by him, have been made at the County alms-house at Eastview, and his course as an official has been highly commended by members of all political parties; early in 1910 it was urged by members of the op- posing political party that all par- ties nominate him, as a testimonial to his efficiency.
Mr. Lawrence is a volunteer fire- man, a charter member of Ardsley Hose Company, of which company he is president, elected in 1905, and still retains the position. He has been a director of the Dobbs Ferry Bank for seven years. Treasurer of School District No. 5, town of Greenburgh.
He was married on November 7, 1883, to Miss Ella J. Ward, daugh- ter of William and Helen Ward, of Kensico. They have one son, Ralph Howard, born October 29, 1885, who is associated with the contracting firm of Duell & Holloway of Tarry- town as foreman.
HISTORICAL EVENTS.
"Mark Twain" (Samuel Langhorne Clemens) on the occa- sion of his first visit to New York city, in 1853, wrote a letter to his sister describing his impressions-as follows:
New York was a great and amazing city. It almost fright- ened him. It covered the entire lower end of Manhattan Island; visionary citizens boasted that one day it would cover it all.
The World's Fair Building, the Crystal Palace, stood a good way out. It was where Bryant Park is now, at Forty-second street and Sixth avenue. Young Clemens classed it as one of the wonders of the world and wrote lavishly of its marvels.
"The Croton aqueduct to supply the city with water is the greatest wonder yet. Immense tubes are laid across the bed of the Hudson River and pass through the country to Westchester County, where a whole river is turned from its course and brought to New York. From the reservoir in the city to the. Westchester County reservoir the distance is thirty-eight miles, and if necessary they could easily supply every family in New York with 100 barrels of water a day."
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Compare this later prediction with facts of to-day, when New York city is complaining of scarcity of water.
Mr. Clemens was born November 30, 1835, and died in 1910. He for a time resided in this County, at Tarrytown.
The Crystal Palace was destroyed by fire October 5, 1858.
What is now known as the Bronx, that portion of Westchester County recently annexed to New York city, was a wilderness in 1851. In that year Jordan L. Mott, the well-known iron founder, purchased from Gouverneur Morris, of Morrisania, many acres and laid out the village of what became known as Mott Haven, in the town of Morrisania. Mr. Mott divided his property into building lots, and thus became the first "real estate promoter" in the lower section of the County. He established a ferry between Mott Haven and Harlem. He gave the New York Cen- tral Railroad Company a site for the Mott Haven station with the stipulation that the fare to the New York city station, down town, would not exceeed the fare charged from Harlem south and vice versa.
Speaking of the tender consideration certain representatives of a particular class of the public press give in recent years to the discussion of candidates for public office, certain would-be wise men have said that this is an age of defamation and crimin- ation. It has been truly said that there is nothing new under the sun, that history repeats, and all this and that. Those who ought to know, say that the shaking up the candidates way back in the early history of this republic got at the hands of the newspapers of the day was something terrible to relate. To read the opposition papers published then, when these U. S. first started out, one would conclude that George Washington was everything from a hypocritical liar to an unmentionable bigot, not to allude to other horrid things said in print of him by his opponents. Gen. Hamilton, who was Washington's Secretary of the Treasury, was not overlooked by those in search for victims, and saying he was a defaulter was a mild form of praise. Jef- ferson, the third President, just after his election was referred to as an infidel and something else equally untrue; further it was predicted that the republic was going to the dogs under Jeffer- son's administration.
STATE VOTING ON FEDERAL AMENDMENTS.
Many people must have been puzzled by the statement that the New York State Assembly, in 1910, had given a vote of 74 to 66 for the federal income tax amendment, yet that the amendment had failed by the narrow margin of two votes. The explanation offered is that 76 votes or a majority of the whole House were needed. But this requires an explanation. A majority of either branch of the New York Legislature consti- tutes a quorum to do business under the Constitution of the State, and a majority of that majority is not 76 or anything like such a number. The New York constitution provides for its own amendment that "a majority of the members elected to each of the two houses" must agree to a proposed amend- ment before it can pass on to a popular vote, and 76 is a majority of the full membership of the lower branch of the New York Legislature. But that body was not engaged in amending the State constitution. It was not engaged in sub- mitting any amendment, but in ratifying or rejecting a federal amendment and the federal constitution governs that matter and not the New York constitution. And the federal constitution provides merely for ratification "by the Legislatures of three- fourths of the several States." A Legislature is "doing busi- ness" when engaged in ratifying or rejecting a federal amend- ment, and as in New York State a majority of each House constitutes a quorum "to do business" by what warrant is it said that a majority of a large quorum and voting in the New York Assembly is not competent to ratify a federal amendment, so far as that body is concerned? It is a matter that needs clearing up.
HOW A TARIFF LAW IS MADE.
Congress, in 1909, passed a Tariff bill, now generally known as "the Payne Tariff Law," named in honor of Representative S. E. Payne, of New York, who introduced the measure as chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means of the House. It was intended to revise the Tariff law passed twelve years before.
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The Constitution expressly provides that "all bills for rais- ing revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives, but the Senate may propose or concur with amendments, as on other bills."
The accepted method is that a tariff bill shall be prepared only by the majority members of the House Committee on Ways and Means. If there are hearings in advance, either public or private, the minority members are entitled to be present, but as a rule they know no more of the actual contents of the bill than outsiders until it is formally introduced in the House. Then it takes the name of the chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, in this case Representative Sereno E. Payne of New York.
ยท After having been referred to the committee that drew it, the bill is reported to the House with or without amendments. From its nature it is a party measure, and only amendments approved by the majority party in the House are permitted. Under a rule the debate is limited and the bill is hurried to a vote. When the Dingley bill was under consideration only about one-fifth of it was actually read to the House.
As a revenue measure the Senate has no cognizance of a tariff bill until it is sent over from the House after its passage. In the Senate it goes to the Finance Committee, which may entirely make it over, changing its terms, its tenor and its scope. It is then reported to the Senate in its new form and under the methods of doing business in that chamber it there undergoes for the first time thorough discussion. A party majority, however, insures its ultimate passage.
To adjust the differences between the House and Senate con- ferees are appointed, three on each side. The majority party in each chamber of course is represented in the conference by two members. As in the last instance, four Republicans from the House and Senate held the decision in their hands.
It is in the conference that a tariff bill runs the greatest danger. There as a result of compromises and trades it may be patched up and altered in a way neither the House nor the Senate would approve if it were free to express its views. There outside influences make their last desperate efforts to secure what they want, and the public has no knowledge of what is going on.
Nothing is accomplished by debating the reports from con- ference to the House or Senate. They must be accepted or
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- rejected in part or in whole. If the two chambers still fail to agree, the conference is merely prolonged until some sort of an agreement is finally reached. In the final shape in which the bill is sent to the President for his approval it may be as different from the original draft presented to the House as oil is from water.
POSTMASTERS SIXTY YEARS AGO.
The Post-Offices and Postmasters in this County between 1850 and 1860 were as follows: Armonk, Israel Townsend; Bedford, Benjamin I. Ambler; Bedford Station, Stephen R. Barrett; Boutonville, Seth Abbott; Bronxville, Lancaster O. Underhill; Chappaqua, Levi Hunt, Jr .; Cross River, William Hunt; Cro- ton Falls, Hezekiah L. St. John; Croton Landing, James Mc- Cord; Crugers, James F. Ferris; Dobbs Ferry, E. W. Wal- grove; East Chester, Alexander M. Lane; Fordham, Anthony W. Fisher; Golden's Bridge, O. P. Frost; Harrison, Edward Willets; Hastings-upon-Hudson, Isaac Lefurgy, Jr .; Irvington, Peter M. Warman; Jefferson Valley, Daniel Lounsbury; Kato- nah, David Putney; Kensico, Evander Odell; Lewisborough, Cyrus M. Ferris; Mamaroneck, Edward Seaman; Moringville, Isaac H. Barker; Morrisania, Marquis L. Mann; Mott Haven, H. H. Robertson; Mount Kisco, Harrison Young; Mount Ver- non, Stephen Bogart; Neperan, Nathaniel U. Tompkins; New Castle, Moses W. Fish; New Rochelle, Robert H. Coles; North Castle, Nathan J. Green; North Salem, Daniel C. Baxter; Peeks- kill, Hackaliah B. Strang; Pelham, John Bolton; Pine's Bridge, B. D. Miller; Pleasantville, Robert Montross; Port Chester, Jonathan J. Deall; Poundridge, Edwin Adams; Purdy's Sta- tion, Isaac H. Purdy ; Rye, Daniel Strang; Salem Centre, Lewis Finch; Scarsdale, William S. Popham; Shrub Oak, Lewis Purdy; Sing Sing, Alfred Buckhart; Somer, William Turk; Somers Centre, William E. Teed; South Salem, Gould Hawley ; South Yonkers, James B. Warner; Tarrytown, Jacob B. Odell;
Tuckahoe, P. U. Morgan; Verplanck, James A. Whitbeck; Victa, William M. Crissey; Westchester, William H. Bowne; West Farms, Ralph H. Smith; West Somers, Munson E. Frost; White Plains, Emory Palmer; William's Bridge, John T. Briggs; Yonkers, Esther A. Bashford; Yorktown, James H. Purdy.
Mr. Ambler was Supervisor of Bedford in 1854 to 1862; Mr. Barrett was of one of the old families; Mr. Under-
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hill became oldest Postmaster in United States; Mr. Willets was Supervisor of Harrison, 1857-58-59, 1864- to 1874, 1876-77; Mr. Bogart was Supervisor of Eastchester in 1864-65; Mr. Fish was Supervisor of Bedford in 1873 to 1879; Mr. Coles of New Rochelle, was Surrogate in 1856 to 1862; Isaac H. Purdy was Supervisor town of North Salem in 1846 to 1850, 1856-57; Mr. Bowne was Supervisor of Westchester in 1862-63, 1876; Ralph H. Smith of West Farms, was a brother of Alexander Smith, prominent as a carpet manufacturer in Yonkers and was elected to Congress, latter formerly resided in West Farms; Mrs. Bash- ford of Yonkers, the only woman in the list, was the widow of a former Postmaster.
DATING FURTHER BACK.
Gould Hawley, who was appointed Postmaster of South Salem, in this County, by President Thomas Jefferson, in 1813, held the position without intermission through all administrations up to and including President Lincoln's first term, in all fifty-one years. At the time of his death, in 1864, Mr. Hawley was the oldest in years of service of any Postmaster in the United States.
Lancaster Underhill, who acted as railroad station agent at "Underhill Road," and later at Bronxville, when the name of the station was changed, was appointed Postmaster in 1845, dur- ing the administration of President Polk. He served as agent and Postmaster forty-eight years; during the terms of Presidents Polk, Taylor, Filmore, Pierce, Buchanan, Lincoln, Johnson, Grant, Hayes, Garfield, Arthur, Cleveland and Harrison.
The outcome of the Civil War is fresh in our memories; it cost hundreds of thousands of lives and thousands of millions of dollars. In pensions it is still costing the country more than a hundred and fifty millions a year. Such a war might be sup- posed to leave behind wounds that even time could not heal, but time has wonderful curative qualities. All the war disa- bilities have been removed. To-day a Confederate soldier is the Chief Justice of the United States and men closely identified with the South's history are members of the President's Cabinet.
AS OFFICIALS OF NATION AND STATE.
CHIEF JUSTICE OF UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT.
The honor of being appointed first Chief Justice of the highest court in the nation came to Westchester County, when Presi- dent Washington appointed as Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court,
John Jay, of Bedford, who served from 1789 to 1796, when he resigned to enter the United States diplomatic service.
CHIEF JUSTICE STATE SUPREME COURT.
The first Chief Justice chosen at the organization of the Supreme Court in the State of New York was a resident of this County
John Jay, of Bedford, chosen in 1776.
AS UNITED STATES SENATOR.
The office of United States Senator from the State of New York has been held by residents of this County as follows:
Gouverneur Morris of Morrisania, chosen April 3, 1800, and served seven months (in those days the usual term was short).
Chauncey M. Depew of Peekskill, first elected in 1899, re- elected in 1905, serving twelve years, to March 4, 1911.
AS LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR.
The office of Lieutenant-Governor of the State of New York was first held by a resident of this County :
Pierre Van Cortlandt of Croton Landing, from 1777 to 1795.
AS SECRETARY OF STATE.
The office of Secretary of State of the State of New York has been held by residents of this County as follows: Chauncey M. Depew of Peekskill, 1864-65. G. Hilton Scribner of Yonkers, 1871-72.
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REGENTS OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY.
The Regents of the University are at the head of the Educa- tional system of this State. In 1904 a State Department of Education was formed by the consolidation of most of the bureaus of Education under control of the Board of Regents and the Department of Public Instruction. The law which created this new department provided for the election by the Legislature from the ranks of the Regents of the University of eleven Regents for terms ranking from one to eleven years, and, "so far as may be" that one Regent should be chosen from each judicial district in the State.
The office of Regent has been held by following residents of this County :
Jonathan G. Tompkins, Scarsdale, from its organization until he resigned in 1808.
Washington Irving, of Irvington, was chosen in 1835.
Chauncey M. Depew, of Peekskill, was elected in 1877, and served full term.
Francis M. Carpenter, of Mount Kisco, elected February 10, 1909, still holds the office.
Whitelaw Reid, who has a residence in the town of Harrison, is a Regent and Chancellor.
STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF INSURANCE.
The State Superintendent of Insurance receives his appoint- ment from the Governor (by and with the advice and consent of the Senate), and holds office for the term of three years and until his successor is appointed and has qualified. He has con- trol and supervision of insurance companies transacting business in this State, life and casualty companies of the State and those of other countries, and fire and marine insurance companies of foreign governments deposit securities with him for the protec- tion of policyholders. The Superintendent is required to give a bond of $25,000 for the faithful discharge of his official duties and is prohibited from being directly or indirectly inter- ested in any insurance company. His salary is fixed at $7,000 per year, and he is allowed deputies and necessary clerks to dis-
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charge the duties of the office. The entire expenses of the depart- ment are paid by the corporations under its supervision.
Governor Dix, on February 19, 1912, appointed as State Superintendent of Insurance William Temple Emmet, of New Rochelle, for the full term.
AS DEPUTY STATE COMPTROLLER.
Michael J. Walsh of Yonkers, held the office of First Deputy State Comptroller, appointed January 1, 1911, by State Comp- troller William Sohmer.
AS STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF HIGHWAYS.
Under a law creating the office, that went into effect in July, 1911, Governor Dix appointed William H. Catlin of Rye, in this County, as State Superintendent of Highways, and, by virtue of office, a member of the State Conservation Commission.
Mr. Catlin died suddenly October 3, 1911.
AS STATE PRISON INSPECTORS.
(See page 121, vol 1.)
The office of Inspector of State Prisons has been held by several prominent citizens of this County. Pierre Van Cortlandt who was of the Committee of Safety and patriot General in Revolutionary times and the first Lieutenant-Governor of this State was an Inspector of the Sing Sing State Prison, appointed in 1830. John Bigelow was an Inspector in 1845.
As an Inspector of the Prisons of the State, John B. Gedney of White Plains, served in 1847, Alexander H. Wells of Sing Sing, served in 1848-49-50; Gen. Henry Storms of Tarrytown, in 1851-2-3; and Abraham B. Tappan of Fordham, later a Supreme Court Justice, in 1861-62-63.
AS AGENT AND WARDENS OF SING SING PRISON.
The positions of Agent and Wardens of Sing Sing (former Mount Pleasant) Prison have been filled by following named residents of the County :
Hiram P. Rowell of White Plains (later County Clerk), in 1845 to 1848; Munson I. Lockwood (County Clerk in 1843
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to 1849) held the position in 1850-51; Gaylord B. Hubbell of Sing Sing, 1862 to 1864, and 1873; Henry C. Nelson of Sing Sing (later a State Senator), in 1869 and 1872; James William- son of Sing Sing, in 1874; the last Westchester County man to hold the positions was Addison Johnson of Port Chester; he. served the County as Sheriff, from 1895 to 1898, and in 1900 became Agent and Warden. He served nine years in latter positions, a longer period than any of his predecessors.
AS SECRETARY TO THE PRESIDENT.
In consulting his cabinet in the choice of a Secretary to the President, Mr. Taft was only recognizing the growing impor- tance of that office. From a mere private secretary of former years the President's immediate assistant has come to rank with the first officers of the Administration. That the said con- sultation resulted in the selection of Charles D. Hilles, a resident of Dobbs Ferry, this County, is an honor appreciated by citi- zens of Westchester.
AS COUNSEL TO THE GOVERNOR.
Edward Sandford who was appointed as Counsel to the Gov- ernor on May 7, 1907, by Governor Hughes, was born in Yonkers, Westchester County, on August 15, 1872; a son of Thomas and Mary Lawson Sandford. Foundation for a thorough education of the subject of this sketch was begun in the public schools of Yonkers; after completing a course in the Columbia Grammar School of New York he entered Columbia University, graduat- ing therefrom, with high honors in 1897; next he graduated from the Harvard University Law School, in 1897.
STATE REFORMATORY FOR WOMEN, AT BEDFORD.
The Governor (by and with the advice and consent of the Senate) appoints six managers to direct this home, established under laws of 1896, chap. 546 and laws of 1904, chap. 453. One of said managers shall be a physician of ten years' prac- tice, and two shall be women, and the term of office shall be six years.
The following named have served as managers connected with this institution : Joseph Barrett of Katonah, appointed April 23, 1901; Katherine C. Marquand of Bedford, appointed March
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21, 1902; Harriet M. Griffin of White Plains, appointed April 21, 1903; James Wood of Mount Kisco, appointed March 30, 1904; Charles H. Turner of Albany, appointed February 8, 1905; M. Allen Starr, M. D., of New York, appointed March 14, 1906. Governor Hughes in 1910 appointed David Cromwell of White Plains, to succeed M. Allen Starr, M. D., of New York. William G. Barrett of Katonah, was appointed by Governor Hughes in 1910, a manager to fill the vacancy caused by the death of his father, Joseph Barrett. The new appointee was elected Treasurer of the Board. Katharine B. Davis, Superin- tendent.
This State institution is situated on what was known as the James Cromwell farm in the town of Bedford which was sold to the State twenty years ago.
ON STATE BOARD OF CHARITIES.
Joseph C. Baldwin of Mount Kisco, Westchester County, was appointed by Governor Hughes, on May 29, 1907, to represent the Ninth Judicial District on the State Board of Charities. The term of office is eight years; one Commissioner appointed by the Governor from each of the nine Judicial Districts of the State. The compensation is $10 per day, for each day's attendance at meetings of Board or at committee meetings, but such compensation shall not exceed $500 per year; in addition to this compensation there is allowed an amount to cover ex- penses while engaged in discharge of duties and to reimburse Commissioner for his outlay for any aid or assistance rendered in the performance of his duties.
AS PORT WARDEN.
Richard O'Brien of Port Chester, Westchester County, was appointed by Governor Higgins, on May 5, 1904, as a Port Warden. Charles H. Hemingway of Mount Vernon, was ap- pointed May 27, 1910; Thomas M. Tobin of Yonkers was ap- pointed March 28, 1912.
Port Wardens-nine in number-are appointed by the Gov- ernor of the State, to serve for a term of three years, and are to have exclusive cognizance of all matters relating to the surveys of vessels and their cargoes arriving at the Port of New York in distress, or damaged in the port. Compensation is provided for by fees collected from ship owners.
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UNDER FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSIONER.
Lawrence D. Huntington was at the head of this State Depart- ment in 1882-1884, by appointment from Governor Cleveland.
George E. Sutton, of Mount Kisco, represented Westchester County as a Fish, Game and Forest Protector connected with the State Department of Forest, Fish and Game.
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