USA > New York > Westchester County > Westchester county in history; manual and civil list, past and present. County history: towns, hamlets, villages and cities, Volume III > Part 12
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The population of Tuckahoe in 1902, 1,111; in 1905, 1,580;
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in 1910, 2,722, and it is a prosperous business and growing locality.
Stephen Ward, of Eastchester, was conspicuous as one of Westchester County's heroic band in the days of the American Revolution, of men who by their example held their neighbors on the right side in that conflict. He served as Representative from this County in the first and second Provincial Congresses, held in New York city, from May, 1775, to May, 1776; he was Member of the State Assembly in 1778, and a State Senator from 1778 to 1823; he was Supervisor of his town from 1772 to 1783, 1787 to 1793, and again in 1826-27-28. He was County Judge from 1784 to 1791. He was chosen in 1792 as a Presidential Elector.
Judge Ward resided on the old White Plains road, or Post road, near what is now known as Bronxville, in 1770, in a spacious mansion, where friends of the patriot cause were fre- quently entertained. This mansion was destroyed by the British, while Mr. Ward was absent attending to public duties, in 1778. The English soldiers carried off the siding, the doors, the window casings, sash and blinds, and pretty nearly everything else mov- able, taking them to Kings Bridge to be used in constructing barracks for British soldiers.
On the site of the Ward house was erected a residence that became the home of County Judge Silas D. Gifford, and later the home of Henry Fulling; the second building still stands.
What is now known as Bronxville was known in 1837 (the date the Harlem Railroad was constructed to White Plains) as "Underhill's Road," named for Laurence Underhill, one of Eastchester's largest property owners. At first the place had no railroad station or post-office, and trains were stopped only on signal of flagman. The name Bronxville was given the place in 1852.
In 1845 the place had risen to the dignity of a railroad sta- tion. Alfred E Smith, a local manufacturer, representing resi- dents, journeyed to Washington, D. C., and succeeded in con- vincing President Polk that "Underhill's Road" was of suffi- cient importance to have a fourth-class postmaster. When Mr. Smith arrived at home, bearing a commission as postmaster for Lancaster Underhill, the "little Yankee" station agent, he was welcomed by a turning out of the population, headed by the "local band." Mr. Underhill was a faithful officer, and con- tinued as postmaster forty-eight years, through the terms of
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fourteen Presidents of the United States. Besides being post- master, Mr. Underhill was station agent, freight agent, express agent, tax collector and it is believed held other offices. A Post Office Inspector told this story of the kind old man: "One day my duties called me to the Bronxville station to inspect the local post office; I found no one in the office, though the office door stood invitingly open; I waited about for the postmaster to return; I had been told that he was outside doing his chores, and looking after his various duties; while I stood waiting, I saw a boy approach, go into the post office, deliberately take down from their cases the different letters, pick out what he wanted, put the rest back, and then pass out. When the post- master finally appeared, I told him of the boy incident and asked if it was customary for people to come in and help them- selves. When he ascertained why I was there, the old man appeared very much embarrassed, and blurted out, 'By gosh, I told that boy what I would do to him if I caught him doing that same thing again.' The veteran postmaster then began sprinkling the floor with water preparatory to sweeping out; so far as he was concerned the incident was closed; yet the Gov- ernment never had any trouble with that office during the many years Underhill was postmaster."
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
ARTHUR W. LAWRENCE.
Arthur William Lawrence, Com- missioner, first Vice-President West- chester County Chamber of Com- merce, etc., was born October 14, 1875, in Montreal, Canada, a son of William Van Duser and Sarah (Bates) Lawrence.
When Mr. Lawrence was quite young his parents removed to New York city; in 1890 his father came to Bronxville and purchased what was known as the James Prescott farm, consisting of eighty-six acres.
Speaking of this purchase, the elder Mr. Lawrence says: "One day in the autumn of 1890, a friend of mine came to me, in New York city, and said he was at that time living in Westchester County at a place called Bronxville, and that there was an old farm up there which was to be sold and he wished that I would come up and look at it, for if I did he thought I might buy it. The suggestion caused me to smile, for
like many New Yorkers I was well acquainted with the golden West, the wilds of Canada, and the usual tour- ist haunts of Europe, but really, up to that moment, had never heard of Bronxville, and knew but little of this rocky waste called Westchester County. However, I consented to go up and see it, and the following day, in company with my urgent friend, I started to discover, like Columbus, this new land called Bronxville. I arrived. At 'the station' of the railroad I was confronted by the lit- tle old 'tumble-down' wooden farm house, belonging to one Lancaster Underhill, which had been from time immemorial used as post-office, ex- press office, railroad ticket office and baggage room as well as a dwelling for Mr. Underhill and his family. He was then an old white-haired little man, and performed his various du- ties according to his strength and in- clinations, sometimes with celerity
ARTHUR W. LAWRENCE
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and at others with no great dispatch or hurried manner. Mr. Underhill was said even then to be the oldest Postmaster in the United States, and commanded the respect of his neigh- bors and friends for his faithful per- formances of duties at his advanced age.
"Bronxville was, as I saw it on my arrival in 1890, altogether a deso- late forsaken place, and at first sight was not at all pleasing. I reached the farm property; all the buildings thereon had been so long neglected that they, like the railroad station, the roads, the trees and everything else about the place were a sorry sight to behold, and I left quite satis- fied that I wanted nothing to do with this real estate speculation, for it was that, and that only, which had taken me to Bronxville. The thought that I might buy the farm, and for- get it for a few years and hope that time would raise the value, was the only thought I had in connection with it.
"My friends, however, came again and again to see me and urged me to purchase the place, declaring that they would like homes out there them- selves, which I thought very queer of them and wondered if they were perfectly sane. But the price asked being only $500 per acre, we con- cluded that we would buy it at a ven- ture. It was bought. It was then that our troubles began; it was a discouraging outlook to start in to correct the conditions that had brought this naturally beautiful property down to a state of absolute abandonment; where and how to be- gin, if to begin at all, was the ques- tion. After much profound thought, plans were perfected. The work of transformation began, and it was real work too. As I got into it I began to enjoy this work that brought me near to nature, in the woods and fields. My friends suggested that I build three cottages which they prom- ised would rent or that they would reside in them themselves, and this I undertook to do, but even then had no idea of turning this desolate property into a suburban park. This idea, however, was gradually taking root, and these early improvements went on though I didn't know what I was really getting into."
since the old, dilapidated farm prop- erty went under transformation, and on its site appeared the charming residential Lawrence Park; since the first series of Lawrence Park houses were erected in 1892, which no one wanted to purchase at that time, over one hundred and twenty-five fine villas and over twenty apartments are now occupied, and this has been ac- complished without any paid news- paper advertising; without even of- fering a free railroad ticket, or free lunch, or extra commissions to brok- ers to hurry up and sell a single lot. Houses which sold in 1895 for $8,500 could not be bought to-day for three times that amount. The Park is re- stricted, and only certain kinds of business enterprises can be conducted inside of "New Bronxville." To the Lawrence family this delightful locality is indebted for the Lawrence Hospital, erected at great expense, and the Village Hall, given to the village in conjunction with Mr. Frank R. Chambers. Within the Park is located one of the best-kept hotels to be found in this or any other country, the widely known "Hotel Grama- tan,"' owned entirely by the Law- rence family. The Lawrence Park Country Club, with its up-to-date club house, is also well known; the riding club, golf and tennis clubs and out-door sports and open-air life the year round, add to the attractions of Lawrence Park.
In short, this ideal park, which bears the name of one entitled to credit for doing what he could to add to the attractiveness of our County's natural beauties, has, given Bronx- ville a State-wide reputation, of be- ing one of the show places of the County.
What Bronxville is to-day-the Manor Beautiful-is due greatly to the energetic endeavor of Arthur W. Lawrence, the subject of this sketch, who is the vice-president of the Law- rence Park Realty Company, who has been his father's able right-hand man, and is to-day the active man-of- affairs. Mr. Lawrence, Jr., is also president of the Hotel Gramatan Company and president of the Davis & Lawrence Company of New York city.
Notwithstanding the fact that Mr. Lawrence, Jr., has private business
Great changes have taken place linterests that keep him constantly
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hustling, 'he does find a few moments of relaxation, moments that are not idle but are given in hopes of aiding and advancing the interests of his fellows in other parts of the County He was one of the organizers of the Westchester County Chamber of Com- merce, is at present vice-president of that body and chairman of its water supply committee, a committee that is endeavoring to devise a way to pro- vide the County with water to meet the needs of its residents. In a bill introduced in the State Legislature of 1912, to create a commission au- thorized to take action in endeavor to provide an ample water supply for Westchester County, Mr. Lawrence was named as one of the three com- missioners provided for; unfortun- ately, the bill was vetoed by the Gov- ernor of the State.
Mr. Lawrence has served on a Commission, appointed by a Supreme Court Justice, in condemnation pro- ceedings, to appraise lands taken by the City of New York for reservoirs in which to store water taken from Catskill.
He is a member of the Union League Club, of the Lawrence Park Country Club, of the Republican Club of New York city, and was until recently Republican County Commit- teeman at large.
He is a graduate of Yale Univer- sity, of the class of 1897.
Mr. Lawrence was married on Oc- tober 25, 1903, to Miss Virginia Heppe, of Philadelphia. Their chil- dren are, William Van Duser Law- rence, 2d, aged 7 years, and Chris- topher Lawrence, aged 2 years.
For biographical sketches of other residents see elsewhere in this book, and in volumes one and two.
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TOWN OF GREENBURGH.
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i
(Continued from page 199, Vol. 1.)
At the present time this town has the distinction of being the largest, as to area and population, of the towns in the County. The census of 1910 credits it with a population of 23,193.
Within the town limits is contained the villages of Tarrytown, Irvington, Dobbs Ferry, Hastings, Ardsley, Elmsford and a part of the village of White Plains,* and the localities of East- view, Hartsdale, East Irvington and Glendale.
In every section of the town may be found " historic ground," and history tells us that the town's people were ever patriots. It is to the credit of the town that Arnold did not succeed in completing the details of his plotting with André at Dobbs Ferry, as was his first intention; as it is to the town's credit that André was captured at Tarrytown and that three honest yeomen of the vicinity made the capture.
The name of Paulding, that of one of the captors, was a familiar one in that locality ; the first Supervisor elected in the town, in 1778, was Joseph Paulding.
The Paulding family had long been residents of this town. As early as 1712 we find traces of them. William Paulding, who was Mayor of New York city, was of the same family to which John Paulding belonged. Residents who were acquainted with the latter Paulding repelled the charge that Paulding acted from other motives than patriotism when he assisted in the arrest of Major Andre in Tarrytown. They asserted that Pauld- ing proved his loyalty for the patriotic cause when it is con- sidered that he was twice a prisoner in the hands of the British, yet at Tarrytown he is found, soon after his escape from a New York prison, wearing, for the want of a better one, the coat of a German Jäger, given him in New York by a stranger who took compassion upon his needs. The close of the war found him an inmate of a British prison.
In his narrative relating to the capture of André, Williams, one of the captors, says: "We were about allowing him to pass, and he was reining his horse into the road, when Paulding exclaimed in an undertone, ' D-m him! I don't like his looks.' That ended it."
* For description of villages in the town, see page 199, Vol. 1.
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Many of the veterans of the Revolutionary War lived and died in this town.
The Reed Tavern, more recently the Landrane House, at East Tarrytown, where André was taken after his capture, is still standing.
One of the most interesting historical events, in this historical town, was the erection, through efforts of local residents, of the first monument, in Tarrytown, on the site of the capture, to the honor of the three men captors of André, on July 4, 1853. The ceremonies were most imposing. The preceding parade, of military and civic organizations, was large and in keeping. Capt. Jacob Storms acted as grand marshal. The corner-stone of this monument was laid by Col. James A. Hamilton, a resi- dent of Dobbs Ferry, in this town, and son of Gen. Alexander Hamilton, Gen. Washington's trusted friend and first Secretary of the United States Treasury. Gov. Horatio Seymour pre- sided, and Hon. Henry J. Raymond, of New York city, Lieu- tenant-Governor and famous orator, delivered the address.
The committee of arrangements was composed of Dr. James W. Scribner (later president of the village of Tarrytown), Amos R. Clark, N. Holmes Odell (later Assemblyman, County Treasurer and Congressman), Allen Newman, William F. Van Wart and Bela S. Squires.
To perpetuate and keep in order this monument, a Monument Association was organized later in Tarrytown; the incorporators were Amos R. Clark, N. Holmes Odell, James S. Millard, Jacob B. Odell, S. P. Swartwout, Samuel Requa, H. E. Paulding and W. T. Lockwood; Mr. Clark was chosen president; J. B. Odell, vice-president; Mr. Millard, treasurer, and Mr. Lockwood, sec- retary. This association arranged for the centennial celebra- tion held on September 23, 1883, when a new and the present monument was erected on the same site and in place of the first one.
The story of André and his captors is told in Volume 2 of this work.
At Dobb's Ferry Gen. Washington established his headquar- ters early in the summer of 1781. Washington's diary informs us that on July 4, that year, Washington " marched and took a position a little to the left of Dobb's Ferry, and marked a camp for the French army on the left." On July 6 the French army formed " the junction with the American army on the ground marked out." Washington's object in taking the posi-
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tion near Dobb's Ferry, on the Hudson River, was to be pre- pared to make an attack on New York city. For a period of forty days Washington had his headquarters at Dobb's Ferry. Washington Irving, later referring to the locations of the two armies at Dobb's Ferry, says : " The French encampment made a gallant display along the Greenburgh hills. Some of the officers took a pride in decorating their tents and forming little gardens in the vicinity." Upon the suspension of hos- tilities, May 3, 1783, Gen. Washington, Governor Clinton of New York State and Gen. Sir Guy Tarlton (the British Com- mander) and their respective suites, met here.
In 1776 the British army, after the battle of White Plains, encamped on the hill near the residence of Jonathan Odell, Dobb's Ferry.
Chatterton Hill, in northeast corner of the town, near White Plains, was the scene of battle between the American and British forces in 1776.
Like other localities in the lower sections of the County during the Revolution, this town was " the scene of action," and the taking place of a " skirmish " was a matter of frequent occur- rence, between British or Hessians and American troops.
In the cemetery of the old Presbyterian Church, at Elmsford, is erected, over the resting place of his remains, a monument to the memory of Isaac Van Wart, one of the three captors of Major André. Van Wart was an officer in this church and acted as chorister up to the time of his death. The monument was raised June 11, 1829, with imposing ceremonies, parade of military headed by Gen. Philip Van Cortlandt and surviving officers of the Continental Army. Gen. Aaron Ward, of Sing Sing, was orator of the day.
Just north of Dobbs Ferry we come to "Sunnyside," in Irv- ington, the former home of Washington Irving. As a promi- nent writer described it-" There is scarcely a building or place more replete with interest in America than the cottage of Washington Irving, near Tarrytown. With char- acteristic taste, Mr. Irving has chosen this spot-the haunt of his early days, since rendered classic ground by his elegant pen-and made it his permanent residence." Over the porch is the following inscription : " Erected Anno 1650, rebuilt by Washington Irving, Anno 1835." The property descended to relatives and heirs of Irving. This spot will be ever dear to the tourist; here is the weave of the romances of Irving in
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which we find the delightful Ichabod Crane and Brom Van Brunt, Ichabod's rival for the heart and hand of Katrina Van Tassel.
Miss Catherine A. Irving, a niece of Washington Irving, who formerly lived with her uncle at Sunnyside, died on October 2, 1911, at the age of ninety-three years. She was buried near her uncle in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.
Mr. Irving's property was left to his nephews and nieces. By the recent death of a nephew, Alexander Duer Irving, and the filing of his will by another nephew, Louis Dupont Irving, we learn that "Sunnyside," to remain in the family, is valued at $75,000.
The earliest entry relating to town officers occurs in the old town and manor book, entitled, " the town and manor of Phil- ipsburgh for to keep the town redesitors, 1742."
Population of several villages and localities is shown under head of Census, in Volume 2.
The Westchester County Agricultural and Horticultural Society, which has its fair grounds in this town, was organized in 1852, and was prosperous until 1872; was reorganized in 1885.
Among the noted citizens who have been residents of this town at different periods are Washington Irving, Admiral David G. Farragut, Cyrus W. Field, Alexander C. Orr, William E. Dodge, Jay Gould and " Mark Twain " (Clements).
The present Supervisor of the town is Charles D. Millard, of Tarrytown.
The 1912 assessment roll of this town is the largest roll ever compiled by the Town Assessors. The total assessed value of the town is placed at $43,354,634, an increase of over $2,000,000 over the assessment of 1911. This is said to prove that this town is the wealthiest town, in proportion to population, in the United States ; it pays about fifteen per cent. of the County taxes.
The largest taxpayer in the town is Mrs. Helen Miller Gould Shepard, who is assessed $2,000,000 for both real and personal property.
Hon. Arthur S. Tompkins, Supreme Court Justice, and recog- nized ablest criminal jurist in the State, spent his early days as a resident of Tarrytown. Here he was a law student.
Cyrus West Field, though not born in our County, did much for it. Was born on November 30, 1819, in Stockbridge, Mass. In 1852, after he had secured most justly an enviable reputa-
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tion, he came to this County and settled near Dobbs Ferry, in the town of Greenburgh.
As founder of the Atlantic Cable he became world-wide famous.
The result of his persistent efforts, in face of all obstacles, brought forth the general verdict, "It is an achievement most wonderful of civilization, entitling its author to a distinguished rank among public benefactors."
New York city's elevated railroad system is another result of persistent endeavor on the part of Mr. Field.
He founded what is now known as the beautiful village of "Ardsley," the name Ardsley being that of a town in Yorkshire, England, where the Fields family originated.
That Ardsley might appear as one of the most attractive resi- dential spots along the Hudson River, Mr. Field expended much money in its development; many costly residences were erected and beautiful streets were constructed at his expense, and nothing that would add to the attractiveness of the place was left undone.
Here his home was, and here he died on July 12, 1892,
Robert Hoe, the inventor and founder of the firm of R. Hoe & Co., famous manufacturers of printing presses for all the world, came to this country from Lancaster, England, in 1803, when he was but nineteen years of age. He came to this County, and in North Salem became acquainted with Rachel Smith, the attractive daughter of Matthew Smith, of that town. In 1805, Hoe, then only a struggling machinist, was married to Miss Smith, who, as after events proved, was a thrifty woman and a great help-mate to her inventive genius husband. When the house of R. Hoe & Co. was well established and had become known in many parts of the globe, Mr. Hoe, the senior partner, in 1833, died.
Richard March Hoe, the son, who became the firm's head, was born on September 12, 1812. He inherited his father's inventive skill and did much to make the firm even more famous at home and abroad. The several wonderful printing presses bearing the name of " Hoe " are the creatures of his inventive brain.
In 1876 he purchased an estate of sixteen acres, a "farm adjacent to the city," in West Farms, near what is now known
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as Hunt's Point. This estate was called "Brightside," and here he spent as many hours as he could take from his busy life, here he gave what attention he could to the raising of fancy stock.
Mr. Hoe died on June 7, 1886.
Robert Hoe, son of Robert Hoe, who resided at Tarrytown, and grandson of the founder of the firm of R. Hoe & Co., born March 10, 1839, became the head of the house of R. Hoe & Co .; invented many improvements on the printing press; became possessor of one of the finest libraries in the world. He had a summer home at Lake Waccabuc, in this County. He died in 1910.
Visitors in hundreds make yearly pilgrimage to "Sunnyside," the home of the late Washington Irving, in this town. Travers- ing along Broadway the visitor comes to Sunnyside Lane, which he enters and goes west in the direction of the Hudson River. Several trim properties lie along this lane. You may know when you reach "Sunnyside" by the sign that forbids you to enter. This sign cannot prevent your looking, and you may see the road that leads up to the house, and some of the gables. At the entrance to the place the lane turns and winds prettily to the railroad tracks along the banks of the Hudson River. It is only a short walk to the right from the exit of the lane to the sparse hedge in front of Sunnyside. You may see there all you wish of the legend-teller's home. Apart from its fa- miliar rambling contour, the charms of sixty years ago have been pretty well smudged by smoke and dust from the railroad. If you were permitted to enter the house of many gables, you could expect to find the interior now nearly as it was in the time that Irving dwelt there. His relatives endeavored to keep the interior as it was when he lived.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
CHARLES D. MILLARD.
Charles Dunsmore Millard, lawyer, Supervisor, former Town Clerk, etc., was born December 1, 1873, in Tarrytown (where he yet resides), a son of James S. and Elizabeth A. (Purdy) Millard.
Was educated in local public schools, Phillips Academy at An- dover, Mass., and graduated with special honors from Brown Univer- sity; deciding on becoming a lawyer,
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