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 13
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he graduated from the New York Law School.
His father and his elder brother, now Surrogate, had become lawyers, so he concluded the best thing for him to do was to become a lawyer, too, to make it appear, as he said, that law ran in the family.
After serving as Town Clerk sev- eral terms, and until he got so popu- lar that everybody wanted him to hold the job and no one would ap-
CHARLES D. MILLARD
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pear as a candidate against him, he turned his attention towaru the of- fice of Supervisor, at the urgent so- licitation of citizens generally re- gardless of politics. Democrats of his town say that no person would take Charlie to be a Republican, and it is not his fault if he is, therefore they do not hold it against him, and will vote for him notwithstanding. Probably this fact accounts for his being reelected without opposition to the important office of Supervisor of the largest and wealthiest town in the county.
He was Town Clerk in 1899 and until 1907, when he became Super- visor.
He was first elected Supervisor in the year 1907, and has continued in that office ever since, his new term being for 1912-13.
It is generally understood in case the Republicans are in majority that he is to be chosen Chairman of the Board of Supervisors in the year 1912, by common consent, as he is to-day among the most popular of members.
He is one of the most faithful members, always at his post looking after the interests of his town. He has held in recent years the respon- sible position of Chairman of the
Committee on Repairs and Supplies and also served on the Judiciary Committee. Is Counsel to the vil- lage of Hastings and Counsel for several large private corporations.
Personally Mr. Millard is a gentle- man of fine appearance, open and courteous manners, and most gener- ous impulses-a man of ability, ex- perience in the world, and strong common sense.
He is a member of Solomon Lodge, F. and A. M. of Irving Chapter, Westchester Commandery, Mecca Temple, of White Plains Lodge of Elks, of the Republican Club of New York City, of the Tarrytown Ly- ceum, of the Tarrytown Yacht Club, of the Knoolwood Country Club, of the Brown University Club, New York City, of various College Clubs, of Society of Medical Jurisprudence, of Phillips Andover Club, New York City,
of the Mohegan Club of Dobbs Ferry, of Conqueror Hook and Ladder Company of Tarrytown.
Mr. Millard. was married July 15, 1902, to Miss Ethel Lee Williams, daughter of Philip H. and Margaret Lee Williams of New York City. To this union one child was born, Charles Dunsmore Millard, Jr., who died March, 1909, aged 2 years 3 months.
For biographical sketches of other residents see elsewhere in this book, and in volumes one and two.
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TOWN OF HARRISON.
(Continued from page 206, Vol. 1.)
Prior to 1702 this town formed a part of the town of Rye, but was organized as a separate township on March 7, 1788.
The name given it was in honor of John Harrison, who pur- chased the present township from the Indians on February 1, 1695. The name first given the town was "Purchase," referring to Harrison's purchase; it was also called " Harrison's Pre- cinct."
The authorities of Rye township fought hard to prevent the taking of territory from that town to form Harrison's township. But political influence was too strong against Rye, and the organization of the new township was authorized.
The Thomas family was among the most prominent of the early families of the town; John Thomas was High Sheriff of Westchester County in 1778, in fact was the last High Sheriff before, and the first appointed after the war. His brother, Major-General Thomas Thomas, did good service for his country on the patriot side in the Revolutionary War, and later was a member of the State Legislature.
The Field family were also among the early settlers of Harri- son ; as late as 1841 we find Thomas C. Field serving as Super- visor, to the year 1847.
Harrison township is inhabited by many Quakers. The first Friends' Meeting House was erected here in 1727, upon land given for that purpose by Anthony Field, "who had removed hither two years before from Flushing, Long Island, and who owned the adjoining farm." This seems to have been the favorite settlement of the Friends. They were shamefully persecuted in Connecticut and Massachusetts; from there driven to Rhode Island, from whence they had to fly to Long Island. Even there they could find no rest, for the Governor of New York issued an order forbidding them to worship even in a barn. So they crossed by way of the ferry to Rye, and settled principally in Harrison; here they were hemmed in by their old enemies, the Dutch on the Hudson River, and the unfor- giving and intolerant Puritans on the East. They thus extended up this narrow strip of country, and the family names of the first settlers can be traced for over one hundred miles north.
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It was to the Friends' Meeting House, in Purchase, that the wounded soldiers were brought, immediately after the Battle of White Plains, on October 28, 1776, and laid out on the floor or lower seats. It was probably for the double purpose of pro- tecting the wounded, and securing the communications of the army at White Plains; in that direction General Samuel Holden Parson had a post near the head of Rye Pond, October 29, 1776. The Friends' Meeting House was used as such hospital until October 8, 1778.
It is stated that considerable numbers of British troops entered White Plains by way of Purchase at time of the Battle of White Plains.
The first elected Supervisor, on April 2, 1776, was Samuel Haviland; as late as 1887, a descendant, Charles C. Haviland, held this office. The second Supervisor elected was Isaiah May- nard, in 1783; those following will be found in the list pub- lished elsewhere in this volume, under title " Supervisors of the Several Towns."
The present Supervisor is Benjamin Irving Taylor, elected to serve until 1914. He was elected as Representative in Congress in 1912, for a term of two years.
On the west side of Purchase street and near its junction with the White Plains road, is situated the "Ophir Farm," once the property of Benjamin Halladay, now belonging to the estate of the late Whitelaw Reid, owner of the New York Tribune and United States Minister to England.
Among the old family names we find the Andersons, the Wil- lets, the Haights, the Burlings, the Havilands, the Motts, the Clapps, the Carpenters, the Hunts, the Grays, the Millers, the Halsteads the Tylers, the Cromwells, the Purdys, the Merritts, the Palmers, the Hoppers, the Dusenburys, the Parks, the Wood- wards, and the Hortons.
Within a short distance of Purchase lies Rye Pond, a beauti- ful sheet of water covering over two hundred and ten acres of ground. Rye Pond has an outlet on the west which passes into the little pond of the same name, and from thence into the Bronx River; in fact Rye Pond is the principal source of the Bronx.
In August, 1911, Rye Lake received the greater portion of the fish taken from Kensico Lake, the transfer being necessary owing to the fact that New York City, having acquired the latter lake to aid its water supply, was about to drain it of all waters,
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to permit the construction of a great reservoir covering the site of the lake and thousands of acres of land adjoining.
The town has no incorporated villages.
The population of the Town in 1830 was 1,085; in 1835, 1,016; in 1840, 1,139 ; in 1845, 1,039; in 1850, 1,262; in 1855, 1,271; in 1860, 1,885; in 1865, 1,653; in 1870, 1,601; in 1875, 1.508; in 1880, 1,612; in 1890, 1,485; in 1892, 1,444; in 1900, 2,048; in 1905, 2,922; in 1910, 1,127.
For biographical sketches of other residents see elsewhere in this book, and in volumes one and two.
TOWN OF LEWISBORO.
(Continued from page 208, Vol. 1.)
Was organized as the Town of Salem on March 7, 1788; name was changed to South Salem on April 6, 1806; on February 13, 1840, the name was again changed to Lewisboro, this time in honor of a public-spirited citizen who agreed, in 1840, to give $10,000 to establish a fund to aid in the maintenance of the local public schools.
The town has no incorporated villages; the prominent locali- ties in this Township are Goldens Bridge, Cross River, Lake Waccabuc, Lewisboro, Vista and South Salem.
Cross River, dignified by the appellation of "an important settlement" in this town, was originally known by the Indian name of Poppeneghek. The name the locality now bears was in justice given to honor the memory of John Cross, a sturdy and heroic pioneer, who did much toward the developing of this particular section of the County.
Sections of this town are prominently mentioned in history of the American Revolution; Major André became acquainted with it in course of his experiences preceding and after his capture. It was here that André wrote the letter to Gen. Washington, after his capture, explaining who he was.
Lewisboro, like other towns in the County, formerly belonged to the Province of Connecticut.
A list of the persons holding the office of Supervisor in this town will be found elsewhere in volumes 1 and 2, under title of " Supervisors of the Several Towns."
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The population of this township in the year 1830 was 1,537; in 1835, 1,470; in 1840; 1,619; in 1845; 1,514; in 1850, 1,608; in 1855, 1,775; in 1860, 1,885; in 1865, 1,653; in 1870, 1,601; in 1875, 1,508; in 1880, 1,612; in 1890, 1,417; in 1892, 1,369; in 1900, 1,311; in 1905, 1,542; in 1910, 1,127.
For biographical sketches of other residents see elsewhere in this book, and in volumes one and two.
TOWN OF MAMARONECK.
(Continued from page 212, Vol. 1.)
The first inhabitants of this town, like those of other nearby lo- calities, were Indians. The Indians were known as the Siwanoys, a tribe of the Mohican Indians, presided over by Sachems Wappa- quewam and Mahataham. From the Indians the land, now known as Mamaroneck, was purchased by John Richbell, the date of his acquiring the title is given as September 23, 1661. The price paid for the land has never been figured in dollars and cents; the consideration accepted by the unsophisticated red men is said to be the following useful articles: "Twenty-two coats, one hundred fathom of wampum, twelve shirts, ten pair of stockings, twenty hands of powder, twelve bars of lead, two fire-locks, fifteen hoes, fifteen hatchets, three kettles." (As shown by records on file in the Secretary of State's office in Albany. )
John Richbell (his name is also spelled Rissebel), was a mer- chant in Charlestown, Mass., prior to 1648. Subsequently he engaged in trade in the Islands of Barbadoes and St. Christo- pher. In 1660 he purchased from the Indians that section of Long Island now known as Oyster Bay and Lloyd's Neck. Here he remained until 1664, while he was completing the pur- chase of what is now Mamaroneck. Richbell was an Englishman, and in his purchases represented many of his countrymen de- siring lands for settlement.
The name "Mamaroneck" is of Indian origin, which inter- preted means: "The place where the fresh water falls into the salt," derived doubtless from the fact that the fresh water of the Mamaroneck River runs into the salt water of Long Island Sound.
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The town was organized under the general act in 1788. It was formerly a part of the Manor of Scarsdale. The first recorded town election was held on April 2, 1697.
Of the names associated with this town as its early inhabi- tants, one of the most conspicuous is that of Caleb Heathcote, who was Mayor of New York city in 1711. He was specially active in creating public improvements, grading streets in that city from Maiden Lane up to the "Common," where is now Chambers Street (certainly not now very far up town).
The Township contains two incorporated villages. Larchmont was incorporated as a village in 1891. According to the last census, in 1910, it has a population of 1,958. It is a charming residential locality, situated directly on Long Island Sound; here we find the Larchmont Yacht Club, the Horseshoe Harbor Yacht Club and other societies of aquatic and land sports.
The village of Mamaroneck was incorporated in the year 1895, and is formed of part of the town of Mamaroneck and part of the adjacent town of Rye-Rye Neck. This village has a popu- lation, according to the census of 1910, of 5,699.
On Orienta Point, within the town, and lying upon Long Island Sound, are handsome villas of prominent New York city business men.
The population of the township was given in 1790 as 452; in 1800 as 503; in 1810 as 496; in 1814 as 797; in 1820 as 878; in 1825 as 1,032; in 1830 as 838; in 1835 as 882; in 1840 as 1,416 ; in 1845 as 780; in 1850 as 928; in 1855 as 1,068; in 1860 as 1,351; in 1865 as 1,392; in 1870 as 1,484; in 1875 as 1,425; in 1880 as 1,863; in 1890 as 2,385; in 1892 as 2,470; in 1900 as 3,849 ; in 1905 as 5,655; in 1910 as 5,602.
The list of persons who served the Township as Supervisors, from time to time, will be found in Volumes 1 and 3, under title of "Supervisors of the Several Towns."
James Fenimore Cooper, novelist, whose biographical sketch is printed in the first volume (page 71) was born September 15, 1789; at the age of thirteen he entered Yale College owing to his special brightness; he was expelled from College; went to sea; after three years he was appointed midshipman in the United States Navy; retired from the Navy in 1808. In Janu- ary, 1811, he was married to Miss Susan Augusta DeLancey, daughter of John Peter DeLancey, of Mamaroneck, in this County. At that period, and later, the DeLancey family was one of the most prominent and highly respected in the County.
AARON J. MIXSELL, M. D.
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For ten years or more Mr. Cooper devoted a great part of his time to farming in Mamaroneck, yet he had time to write and provide for the instruction and entertainment of his fellows. Here, in 1820, he wrote his first book, titled "Precaution." It was "on the farm," at Mamaroneck he wrote "The Spy" from facts related to him by John Jay concerning the services of Enoch Crosby as "Secret Agent" retained by the Committee of Public Safety presided over by John Jay."
Mr. Cooper resided in the County until 1826, when he visited England, remaining seven years, returning to reside in Coopers- town, where he died September 14, 1851.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
AARON J. MIXSELL. M. D.
Dr. Aaron J. Mixsell was born in the city of New York in the year 1840, and was one of the bravest of the brave men who took part in our Civil War. He was a member of the famous Seventh Regiment of New York city when the war broke out and subsequently became a Lieuten- ant.
He remained in the army for four years, and at one time was on the staff of Major-General Thomas.
When the war was over he took up the study of medicine and graduated from Bellevue in the year 1871.
He began the practice of his pro- fession at Mamaroneck in the year 1872, and remained there until the year of his death-1896.
During the years 1893 to 1896 he was one of the Coroners of West- chester County.
Dr. Mixsell became one of the best known physicians in the eastern part of Westchester County, and was re- markably successful in his practice.
He was a genial, generous, kind- hearted man, who brought sunshine into the rooms of the sick and suf- fering.
Dr. Mixsell married Miss Lucinda Worden in 1875. She died in 1883. He married Miss Emily Hoyt, of Stamford, Connecticut, in 1887.
He left only one child surviving him, his daughter Cynthia, who was married June 4, 1912, to Mr. Carl Remington.
For biographical sketches of other residents see elsewhere in this book, and in volumes one and two.
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TOWN OF MOUNT PLEASANT.
(Continued from page 215, Vol. 1.)
This township was erected March 7, 1788, and organized May 20, 1845. The township originally comprised all that part of the Manor of Philipsburgh lying north of Greenburgh. In 1845 the town was divided to permit the formation of the town of Ossining.
In the early days, in the Revolutionary War period, this locality furnished its full quota of patriots, and the town is mentioned frequently in the story relative to the capture of Major André.
Many old residents remember Mrs. Cornelia (Van Cortlandt) Beekman, wife of Gerald G. Beekman, who died at her home in Beekmantown (now North Tarrytown) when she had reached the ripe age of ninety, possessed of all her mental faculties, and who was credited with indirectly causing Major André's capture.
Mrs. Beekman was fond of relating the story, how Major André, after being brought across the river from Smith's house, was by Smith brought to the vicinity of the home of her father, Hon. Pierre Van Cortlandt, at the Van Cortlandt Mansion, in Croton; André waited while Smith visited the mansion where resided Mr. and Mrs. Beekman, and endeavored by dishonest means to obtain a uniform of an officer of the Continental Army, that André might wear it to ensure his successful escape to New York.
In relating the story, Mrs. Beekman said that Capt. John Webb, younger brother of Col. Samuel B. Webb, came to the mansion about September 7 (1780), bringing with him a valise containing considerable specie and his new Continental uniform, and left it with her, with the special admonition not to give it to any one without a written order from himself or his brother. Later in the day Capt. Webb dined at a public house in Peeks- kill, and in speaking to some acquaintances, among whom was Joshua H. Smith, Webb mentioned the call he had made in the morning upon the Beekmans, and the object of the visit. Later Smith recalled this conversation, and determined to make the information imparted serve in aiding his treachery. On September 22d Smith appeared at the Van Cortlandt Mansion, and asked Mr. Beekman for the valise, saying Capt. Webb had sent him for it; Mr. Beekman called a servant and was in the act of sending for and delivering the valise, not doubting Smith's
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honesty, when Mrs. Beekman came into the room; the object of Smith's call being explained to her, she asked Smith if he had a written order signed by Webb, necessary to get the valise, according to directions given at time valise was left with them. Smith, desperate in his purpose, was ready with a lie; he promptly asserted that the order was spoken of, but Capt. Webb had not time to write an order; Webb mentioned that in case he sent a messenger other than himself he would have to send a written order, but as the Beekmans knew Smith so well they would not hesitate to give him the valise and contents. Mrs. Beekman was suspicious and had her doubts as to Smith; nothing short of a written order, as stipulated by Capt. Webb, would satisfy her, therefore she positively refused to give up to any one other than the Captain himself, or the Colonel, his brother, Capt. Webb's property, without a properly written order. And this she told the visitor most emphatically; the latter, angered by the refusal and evident lack of confidence in him, left without the valise.
Had Smith obtained Webb's uniform for André to wear the latter's escape would have been sure.
Why Mrs. Beekman was not called to testify at Smith's trial has not been explained; the testimony that she might give would have hanged Smith, as such proved Smith was acquainted with André's true character, and knowing him to be a spy, was aiding him to escape.
It is stated that Gen. Washington, when he learned of Mrs. Beekman's act in relation to the valise, thanked her.
It is stated that the buttons on the coat worn by Paulding at the time of André's capture, and which deceived André into believing Paulding belonged to the British, were cut off and presented Mrs. Beekman as a reward for the part she played in the capture. These buttons were long preserved at the Van Cortlandt mansion in Croton.
The Beekmans lived many years after the Revolution in Beekmantown, named in their honor. The old spacious brick house, where they lived and died, still stands on Beekman Ave- nue, North Tarrytown (formerly Beekman town), and is ever an object of great interest to sightseers.
It was at the home of Sylvanus Brundage, Pleasantville (the house now occupied by a grandson, William H. Brundage), that André stopped to water his horse on his way to New York, just previous to his capture at Tarrytown. Later, while part of the
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way between Rossell's (now Mekeel's) Corners (Pleasantville) and Unionville, in this town, André stopped at the home of Staats Hammond, a miller. Hammond was a patriot soldier, a sergeant in the First Westchester Militia, and was home on a prolonged furlough, having been seriously wounded in one of his legs in a skirmish with a British detachment near Sing Sing on July 17, 1779; he was still confined to his bed suffering from the unhealed wound when André rode up to the house and asked for a drink of water, speaking to two of Hammond's chil- dren, David aged fourteen years and Sally aged twelve years; Sally filled a cup with water and handed it up to him as he sat on his horse; David held the horse's bridle, and, boy like, commented on the horse's good qualities, remarking that he guessed the horse had been sleeping out of doors, in an open field, as its mane was full of burrs; André thanked Sally for the excellent water and gave her a silver sixpence, which she kept many years after. Of David, André asked the distance to Tarry- town, and as to the possibility of his meeting any of the patriotic American soldiers at or near Young's tavern, about a mile further south. When the boy in answer told him that a party of scouts was at the tavern, André decided to reach Tarrytown from another direction. David Hammond, in 1847, wrote his recollections of his meeting with André. In speaking of his father's opinion of André, the son said: "Through the win- dow father had a glimpse of the rider, and afterwards expressed distrust of him on account of his being muffled to the chin in his cloak."
Within an hour after his visit to Hammond's, André was captured.
In the capture of André the Romer family of Pleasantville figured to some degree. James Romer, a son, was one of the scouts organized to combat the cowboys, and as such scout was a companion of Paulding, Williams and Van Wart on that eventful day. (Romer being a cousin of Paulding, as was Van Wart.) It is said of Romer that when Lt .- Col. Jameson, at his headquarters, decided to forward the captured André and his papers to Gen. Arnold, Romer, who was present with his com- panions, expressed the belief that André was a British officer and that he had entered the American lines as a spy, and urged, as best he could, he being only a private soldier, that André be not sent to Arnold, and against Arnold being notified of André's arrest.
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It was to the house of Jacob Romer, father of James, that the young scouts went early Saturday morning and had break- fast, and there it was that Mrs. Romer put up a dinner for all, in a commodious basket. The Romer house, now destroyed, stood close to where the present reservoir, of the New York city water supply, is located, a short distance from the Tarry- town station of the New York and Putnam Railroad division.
It was to the Romer house that the eight young scouts returned later in the day, after the capture of André by three of their number, and they were on their way to the nearest American military post. Paulding preceded the others to the home of his uncle, and cautioned Mrs. Romer by saying: “Be careful, Aunt Fanny, of what you say, I believe we have cap- tured as a spy a British officer, and the boys are bringing him here." The boys arrived, complaining of being very hungry, knowing that Aunt Fanny's weakness was her ever readiness to bountifully feed all who came to her door in need of food. Some of the party happened to remember that Mrs. Romer had given them an ample supply of dinner in a basket, and in the excitement of the day they had forgotten to eat. John Romer, the youngest son, aged sixteen years (he lived to be ninety-one years old), volunteered to go after the basket, which he found, near where the scouts were stationed, with all contents safe. It is said that André requested to be excused when asked to eat, he was not as hungry as the others in the party.
Mekeel's Corners, Pleasantville, mentioned frequently in the story relating to Major André's capture, was named in honor of Lieutenant John Mekeel of the Third Westchester Militia, in the patriot army.
The township contains the villages of North Tarrytown, Pleas- antville, Briar Cliff Manor, and Hillside, formerly Sherman Park, and the localities known as Sleepy Hollow, Hawthorne (formerly Unionville) East View, Neperan, Pocantico Hills, and Tarrytown Heights and Philipse Manor.
North Tarrytown, formerly Beekmantown, is a prosperous, up-to-date village, with a present population (1910) of 5,421. It is a manufacturing center, its many industries giving em- ployment to hundreds of persons.
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