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 16
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WILLIAM C. CLARK.
William Childs Clark, Transfer Tax Appraiser of the State of New York for the county of Westchester and Justice of the Peace of the city of Mount Vernon, was born in Laytons, Sussex County, N. J., on July 26, 1880, a son of William and Margaret (Roe) Clark. He was edu- cated in the Newton, N. J., High School, the Centenary Collegiate In- stitute and the New York Law School. He established a residence
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in the city of Mount Vernon, this | vember 29, 1879, in the city of New County, in the year 1897. For York, a son of Henry and Augusta (Hinkel) Esser. His father was a Trustee of the village of Mount Vernon, County Superintendent of the Poor six years, and Treasurer of the city of Mount Vernon. brief period he was employed in the County Clerk's office, in White Plains, when he was appointed to a clerkship in connection with the State Senate at Albany. This latter position he filled acceptably for four years.
On being admitted to practice at the bar, he opened an office in Mount Vernon. In 1906 he was elected a Justice of the Peace on the Republi- can ticket as a representative of young men interested in politics, of which there is a great number and of strong influence in that city; Mr. Clark was but twenty-six years of age when privileged to assume the title of " Judge."
Personally, Judge Clark is ex- tremely popular with all who know him, and, it is said, his affable man- ners are irresistible, so much so that even the older politicians succumb and readily do what he requires of them, becoming his adherents as loyal as are the young men of the party who acknowledge him as a leader.
His appointment by the State Comptroller to the much coveted po- sition of Transfer Tax Appraiser, in 1908, was a great honor for so young a man. His being given the prefer- ence for this office over many ap- plicants from all parts of the County, was a high compliment bestowed.
The assurances of many prominent citizens of the County, that Mr. Clark would "make good," was sufficient to influence the State Comptroller. To convince the Comp- troller that he had made no mistake in placing him, to redeem the prom- ises of friends made in his behalf, Mr. Clark is doing his utmost, and so far has proven his fitness by the in- telligent discharge of the duties of his office.
Mr. Clark was married on Decem- ber 20, 1903, to Miss Kathryn A. Reap, daughter of John and Ella (Murray) Reap, of Scranton, Pa. Three children, two boys and a girl, are the result of this union.
JOSEPH HENRY ESSER.
Joseph Henry Esser, former Special Deputy Attorney-General, former As- sistant Corporation Counsel of city of Mount Vernon, was born on No-
The son was educated in the pub- lic schools of Mount Vernon, to which place the family moved in 1884; in the Halsey Collegiate School, New York City, and in Columbia University, graduating in 1901, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and graduated from the Law School of Columbia University in 1903 with degree L. G. B. He opened a law office in city of Mount Vernon, where he is at present lo- cated.
In 1903 he was appointed Assis tant Corporation Counsel of his home city. The State Attorney- General, in 1909, appointed Mr. Es- ser a Special Deputy Attorney-Gen- eral in charge of election cases in Westchester County, a position he yet holds.
Mr. Esser is a member of Hia- watha Lodge, No. 434, F. and A. M., is a member of the B. P. Order of Elks, a member of the Larchmont Yacht Club, a member of the Re- publican Club of New York City, and a member of the Republican City Committee of Mount Vernon.
He was married on June 5, 1907, to Miss Lena Boice, daughter of Zodac P. Boice (Sheriff of Ulster County), and Delia Boice, of Kings- ton, N. Y. Of this union there is one child, Marion Augusta, born March 11, 1908.
ROBERT MASON.
Robert Mason, Assistant Clerk of the County Board of Supervisors, former Assistant Postmaster at Mount Vernon, etc., was born on February 9, 1864, in the Ninth Ward of the City of New York, a son of Robert and Mary (May) Mason.
He was educated in the public schools of native city, graduating from Grammar School No. 3.
He became a resident of this county in the year 1891, locating in the city of Mount Vernon.
For several years he engaged largely in the sale of real estate in Mount Vernon and vicinity, being
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associated with the firm of McClel- lin & Hodge.
In 1898, on the appointment of David O. Williams as Postmaster of Mount Vernon, the position of Assistant-Postmaster was tendered to Mr. Mason and was accepted. In this position Mr. Mason proved most effi- cient; owing to the illness of the Postmaster the whole responsibility of the management of the office fell upon the Assistant Postmaster. The Postal authorities at Washington took occasion to commend him high- ly for unusual abilities displayed in discharge of duties. This position he held thirteen years, from August 1, 1898 to September 15, 1911. re- tiring on the latter date to accept election by the Board of Supervisors as Assistant Clerk of that body.
Mr. Mason was a member of the Republican Committee of the city of Mount Vernon, of the Republican County Committee, of the Republi- can Club of New York City, of the Mount Vernon Council of Royal Arcanum, and of other organizations.
He was married on April 8, 1900, to Miss Ella E. Scardefield, daughter of John and Mary Scardefield, of New York city. Of this marriage there are five children, Harold Fletcher, aged 19 years; Walter Roosevelt, aged 13 years; Ruth Bea- trice, aged 10 years; Muriel Vio- letta, aged 4 years; and Ella May, aged 4 months.
J. ALBERT ZIMMERMANN.
John Albert Zimmermann, lawyer, former Alderman, etc., was born on November 21, 1876, in the city of New York, a son of Frederick and Katherine (Lynn) Zimmermann.
When he was six years of age his parents removed from New York city to Stamford, Conn., where his father engaged in mercantile busi- ness; ten years later, in 1892, the family removed to Mount Vernon, this county, where the head of the family is yet engaged in business.
Mr. Zimmermann was educated in the Stamford public schools gradu- ating from the High School of that city. Arriving in Mount Vernon he decided on the study of law as his life work, and to adopt the legal
profession. The very year of his arrival found him entered as a stu- dent in the law office of Appell & Tompkins, of which law firm City Judge George Appell was the senior partner, he continued with this firm until 1906, when the firm name was changed to Appell & McKinnell; in 1909 he was with Johnson & Mills, lawyers, and in 1910 was associated with J. H. Esser, and at present time is in business for himself.
Quite naturally for an active man, such as Mr. Zimmermann is, he takes kindly to politics, with pro- nounced leanings toward the Repub- lican party. He has been for a con- siderable period a member of the Mount Vernon Republican General Committee and of the Republican County Committee, and is a member of the Republican Club of New York city.
He was chosen an Alderman, to represent the Fourth Ward, during the years 1907-08-09-10. He was especially active in the Common Council, being a member of impor- tant committees of that body. As the head of the committee on legis- lation he was instrumental in hav- ing laws enacted to greatly benefit Mount Vernon. He was unceasing in endeavors to secure for his city an adequate supply of pure and wholesome water; that Mount Ver- non own and control its water sup- ply and not continue to be the only asset of an insolvent private incor- poration that had attempted for years to give water to that city and as a result had frequently left citi- zens in sore distress for want of the needful.
He is a member of the local lodge of the B. P. O. Elks.
In 1910 Mr. Zimmermann was ap- pointed by Supreme Court Justice Tompkins as a Commissioner of Ap- praisal in condemnation proceedings in the taking of land in aid of the New York city water supply, and appointed subsequently other commissions to condemn lands to be used for public purposes.
Mr. Zimmermann was married on July 14, 1893, to Miss Edna Walton Rowlandson, daughter of Oscar and Charlotte Hopping Rowlandson, of Mount Vernon. No children.
For biographical sketches of other residents see elsewhere in this book, and in volumes one and two.
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THE TOWN OF NEW CASTLE.
(Continued from page 223, Vol. 1.)
What is now known as the township of New Castle was formerly a part of the town of North Castle, and earlier was included as a part of the Manor of Scarsdale. The town was formed March 18, 1791. It was called by the Indians Shappa- qua or Chappaqua; the latter name is still retained by a locality in the southern section of the town. The name New Castle is believed to have been given on account of an Indian palisaded fort or castle that stood in the vicinity.
The town's population (continued from page 223, volume 1) was in 1900, 2,401; in 1905 it was 2,956. The last Federal census, 1910, gives the population as 3,573.
Mount Kisco village, Chappaqua and Millwood lie within the township limits, and have steadily grown in population and in commercial importance during the past ten years.
Public improvements have rapidly advanced; the public schools are up-to-date and of the best grade. The value of property has increased surprisingly, and in many localities real estate has advanced in value more than double. This is accounted for by the demand for residential sites in desirable sections that abound in all directions. Retired millionaires and wealthy New York business men have acquired large estates and built palatial residences here, within easy access of New York. The increased railroad facilities makes this town attrac- tive to New York business men who desire a country seat within a short distance of the city.
Mount Kisco is in all respects a prosperous village, possess- ing enterprise among its residents that does not satisfy with else than the very best in the way of modern improvements. Good schools, an excellent supply of pure water and a thor- ough sewer system, modern lighting appliances, an efficient police force and a well equipped fire department, are some of the things provided to make the village homelike and a desirable place to reside in. Its public institutions, banks and numer- ous business establishments give the place that appearance of life and activity that is encouraging and profitable.
This village was incorporated in 1875. In 1880 it had a popu- lation of 728; in 1890 it had increased to 1,095; in 1900 to 1,346;
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in 1902 to 1,535; in 1905 to 1,830. The last Federal census, of 1910, shows a population of 1,536 lying in this town and 1,266 contained in that section lying in town of Bedford.
Rear Admiral Winfield Scott Schley, a notable figure in the Navy of the United States, the hero of Santiago, who was a summer resident of Mount Kisco, where his daughter, Mrs. R. M. Stuart-Wortley resides, dropped dead in a public street of New York city, on October 2, 1911; death was attributed to cerebral hemorrhage.
Chappaqua, though an unincorporated village, is, for various reasons, quite important, and worthy to be on the map, and entitled to a place in history. In 1880 it boasted of a popula- tion, official, of 330; ten years later, the 1890 census gave it credit for 733. The census of 1910 did still better. It was occupied by Indians, and settled by Quakers.
Chappaqua is known as a "seat of learning," where is located a co-educational institute of some distinction, and as the place where resided, for many years, the late Horace Greeley, the editor, statesman and philanthropist. It was early settled by the Quakers, and the habits of this peaceful people still pre- vail to some extent. After the battle of White Plains the Friends' Meeting House here was used for a time as a hospital for the heroic American wounded.
The Chappaqua Mountain Institute was founded in the year 1869, by the Society of Friends. Its alumni numbers among its membership many who have become prominent men and women, in all walks of life.
In the early eighties this town was quite famous for its "peach brandy," manufactured in considerable quantities here. The early Quakers likewise had an enviable reputation on account of the superiority of the cider made by them.
Horace Greeley, acting with a few other enterprising resi- dents, was instrumental in organizing the Chappaqua Village Improvement Society, some fifty years ago, and he served as the society's first president. During his term of office much was done to make the old Quaker settlement attractive.
In speaking of Chappaqua, and describing its location, Horace Greeley, in 1868, said, it is "Nine miles above White Plains, and thirty-five N. N. E. of our (New York) City Hall, on the Harlem Railroad, nearly abreast of the village of Sing Sing, and six miles east of it; just after entering the township of New Castle, crosses a quite small, though pretty constant, mill-
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stream, named by the Indians Chappaqua, which is said to have meant falling or babbling water, and which, here running to the southeast, soon takes a southwesterly turn, recrosses under the railroad, and finds its way into the Hudson River, through the Sawmill or Nepperhan Creek at Yonkers. A highway, lead- ing westward to Sing Sing, crosses the railroad just north of the upper crossing of the brook, and gives us, some twenty rods from the northwest corner of my farm, a station and a post- office, which, with our modest village of twenty or thirty houses, take their name from our mill-stream. Chappaqua is not a very liquid trisyllable, but there is comfort in the fact that it ยท is neither Clinton, nor Washington, nor Middletown, nor any of the trite appellations which have been so often reapplied, that half the letters intended for one of them are likely to bring up at some other. (How can a rational creature be so thought- less as to date his letter merely 'Greenfield,' or 'Jackson,' or 'Springfield,' and imagine that the stranger he addresses can possibly guess whither to mail the answer?) My brook has its source in wooded, granite hills, on the east southeast, and comes tinkling or brawling thence to be lost in the Chappaqua, a few rods south of the road to Pleasantville, which forms my south- western boundary. As to springs, there are not less than a dozen, which no drouth exhausts, breaking out along the foot of my hill, or at the base of a higher ridge which forms its crest."
When he first went to Chappaqua, to reside on his "charming farm," Mr. Greeley met a friend who kindly remarked: "You will be sick of living in the country within two years, and your place will be advertised for sale." To which Greeley quickly responded : "Then the sheriff's name will be at the foot of the advertisement." His continuing to reside there so many years proves that he never tired of the place. He endeavored to spend Saturdays and all the spare time he could get upon it; but his wife spent most of each year there, and did so ever after the place was bought. As Mr. Greeley once said: "The bare idea of exchanging our place for any other has never suggested itself either to my wife nor to myself. With a first-rate stone or brick house to shut out the cold, I doubt if either of us would, of choice, live elsewhere, even in winter."
Mr. Greeley, who made Chappaqua famous, owing to his long residence there, was a great admirer of Supervisor Francis M. Carpenter, and it was his custom to come up from New York
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early in the spring, every year, so as to be at hand on "town meeting day" and vote to retain Mr. Carpenter in office.
The dwelling in which Mr. Greeley lived was destroyed by fire after his death.
Under the auspices of the Chappaqua Historical Society the hundredth anniversary of Mr. Greeley's birth was celebrated on February 3, 1911, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Gabriel Greeley Glendennin, on the Greeley farm. Prominent persons from all sections of the Union were present.
A memorial statue in honor of Mr. Greeley, to cost $16,000, is to be erected upon a site on the west side of the Chappaqua Railroad station.
During the life of Mr. Greeley the title to the farm was held in the name of Mrs. Greeley. After her death, and the death of her husband later, the farm was subdivided and a great part sold off in parcels. It was deemed best to so sell it in plots as the farm, as farm land, had little value, other than that given it as having been the place of residence of a notable man. The local Episcopal Church, the Harlem Railroad Station, the tele- phone building, several stores and dwellings are on the farm, now considered as a business section of Chappaqua.
Localities in this town are Mount Kisco (part of the village), Chappaqua, Tompkin's Corners and Millwood.
The town's population in 1830 was 1,336; in 1835, 1,406; in 1840, 1,529; in 1845, 1,495; in 1850, 1,800; in 1855, 1,702; in 1860, 1,817; in 1865, 1,879; in 1870, 2,152; in 1875, 2,242; in 1880, 2,297; in 1890, 2,110; in 1892, 2,187; in 1900, 2,401; in 1905, 2,956; in 1910, 3,573.
Horace Greeley bought land in Chappaqua in 1858, and went to reside on his farm there in 1859. He virtually "grew up with the place." He was a conscientious member of the "barrel brigade" that assembled in the general store of Levi Hunt, at one time the only store in Chappaqua. Levi was credited with boasting that his store contained anything mortal man, or woman, needed; from a needle to a hay-press. To put Levi to a test, a number of wags one day made a bet that they could name something that Hunt's store did not contain; one of their number was delegated to wait upon Hunt. "Mr. Hunt," said the delegate, "I want to buy a pulpit; do you keep them?" "Well, my friend, I will see if I can accommodate thee," replied the Quaker store-keeper, "the demand for pulpits is not very
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great around here, therefore I do not keep a great supply." He took his customers to a nearby store-house, and there he displayed a pulpit, that he said he could sell. Uncle Levi proved himself equal to the occasion. A short time before a lot of church furnishings, benches and pulpit, had been sold at auc- tion in the neighborhood, and the thrifty Hunt had become their purchaser, and was therefore ready to supply a demand. Mr. Greeley in some of his writings refers to this country general store; to the peculiarities of its honest proprietor, and to the entertaining meetings held in the store, discussing the topics of the day, as he and others sat perched upon their respective bar- rels, reserved for them, and each taking part in the debates. The local farmers took delight in asking Mr. Greeley questions as to what he knew about farming, and particularly how soon he hoped to fill "the bottomless pit," as a swamp on his farm was known to be. Much of the farm is retained by his daughter Gabrielle.
Col. Nicholas Smith, who had served in the Confederate and in the Union Army, at different periods, married Mr. Greeley's eldest daughter Ida. Several children survive them. Col. Smith was a candidate for Congress on the Greenback ticket in the local district in 1878-9, and was defeated.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
HARVEY B. GREEN.
Harvey Brown Green, former Su- pervisor of the town of New Castle, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors of Westchester County, was born on November 28, 1862, in the Town of Somers, in this County, a son of Hachaliah and Huldah (Freden- burgh) Green. His ancestors are said to have lived to a good old age, his maternal grandmother died quite recently, in 1910, at the age of 98 years.
He had the advantage of a sub- stantial education and then entered commercial life, holding responsible positions with H. H. & T. W. Fowl- er, merchants, at Purdy Station and later with Hoyt Brothers, merchants, at Katonah, where he received his first political training under the late Hon. Wm. H. Robertson.
He is a man of more than ordin- ary ability and especially painstak-
ing in all that he undertakes; as an accountant he is well known and his cleverness in this respect enables him to fill to general satisfaction the difficult position of Clerk to the Board of Supervisors of so large a county as Westchester. This posi- tion with its various and intricate duties requires a man of special talents and fitness. It can be read- ily understood how valuable an in- telligent and experienced clerk can be to the average citizen, as well as to the Supervisors, seeking informa- tion, when we consider the actual routine of " the Supervisor busi- ness." That Mr. Green has proven to be the right man in the right place, is shown when we consider the years he has been kept in this office.
Mr. Green was elected Supervisor of the Town of New Castle and served in such office in the years 1899 and 1900; the next year, in 1901, he accepted appointment as
HARVEY B. GREEN
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Assistant Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, under Edwin R. Hop- kins; in this capacity he served three years, until 1904. when he was elected Clerk of the Board to suc- ceed Mr. Hopkins, who retired on account of ill health.
He served as Clerk through the year 1904, in 1905 the political com- plexion of the Board changed and Mr. Green retired from the Clerk- ship to make room for James J. Fleming, Democrat. But the Super- visors were not to lose the services of so valuable a man as was Mr. Green; the new Court House Build- ing Committee, though Democratic by a good majority, elected him as Secretary to the committee, in this latter position he served until 1908, when he was again elected Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, a position he has held through the years of 1904, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911 and has been re-elected for the year 1912.
Mr. Green was married on Novem- ber 28, 1889 to Miss Phebe Carpen- ter, daughter of James and Eliza
Jane Carpenter of Chappaqua. Of this union there are seven children, five daughters and two sons-Hazel, Jane, Ruth, Charles, James and Elizabeth and Martha, twins. The family home is at Chappaqua, in the Town of New Castle.
Mr. Green by affiliation is a mem- ber of the Society of Friends and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Friends Society at Chappa- qua. He has always been a Republi- can and is at the present time Chairman of the Republican Town Committee of New Castle, a member of the Republican County Committee and member of the 4th Assembly District Committee of Westchester County.
Mr. Green is a member of Kisco Lodge No. 708 F. & A. M., West- chester Lodge, Knights Templars, Buckingham Chapter Royal Arch Masons, and is a member of Mecca Shrine. He is also a member of Horace Greeley Lodge, No. 69, I. O. O. F., and of White Plains Lodge, B. P. O. E.
For biographical sketches of other residents see elsewhere in this book, and in volumes one and two.
CITY OF NEW ROCHELLE.
(Continued from page 224, Vol. 1.)
The New Rochelle township was formed March 7, 1788. A part of the town was incorporated as a village, by act of the Legislature, passed December 7, 1857. On March 24, 1899, the State Legislature passed an act incorporating the whole town as a city. The city is yet young, but for one of its years it has a remarkable growth. In 1890, when a village, the popu- lation was 9,057; in 1900, at the commencement as a city, it was 14,720; in 1905 it was 20,479, showing a steady and regular advance. The official figures given by the census of 1910 show a still greater growth, the enumeration amounted to 28,867, and it is claimed that these last figures represent 300 less than the true total.
It is known as " The City of Parks," a name doubtless derived from the fact that it has, probably, more private and public parks than any other city of its size in the State. The palatial private residences add to the charm of a naturally beautiful city.
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The very name New Rochelle tells the story of the city's origin. That its best known settlers were Huguenots, who hailed from La Rochelle, France; Huguenots who suffered unnumbered persecutions, to escape which they came to America ; many settling in this particular section of Westchester County, choosing this most charming site for homes, on the shores of Long Island Sound. This new place of abode they named New Rochelle, in honor of the French seaport town of La Rochelle, from which they came. It was intended as a high honor which these French exiles, and refugees for conscience sake, sought to confer upon this locality when they called it New Rochelle.
Following the Indians, the Dutch claimed to be the original settlers, and doubtless considered the locality but a small, insig- nificant suburb of Vredeland. As to what the Dutch did per- form toward civilizing this section there is no evidence. More than likely they thought nothing about it, more than to con- sider it one of their possessions. True, the Dutch were very indignant when they learned that an Englishman, named Thomas Pell, had come down from Connecticut and settled himself near Vredeland, in Westchester. They sent Pell a notice to vacate immediately, and not intrude upon lands long before bought and paid for by the Dutch. But Pell, who had established him- self in Pelham and had gone extensively into the real estate business there, and later opened the first real estate office in New Rochelle (where he now has so many imitators), could not be frightened off. Although he was threatened with dispossess proceedings and something more severe, Pell held on, relying upon a grant he had received by purchase from the Indians. Although the Dutch succeeded in annoying Pell considerably, they were not able to dislodge him; Pell finally secured peace- ful possession under English rule.
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