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 24
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EBENEZER H. P. SQUIRE.
Ebenezer Hurd Pray Squire, a practicing lawyer, Village Trustee, acting President of the Village, a former Justice of the Peace, etc., of the town of White Plains, was born in the city of New York, on Novem- ber 13, 1861, a son of Alfred Louis and Mary Aims (Pray) Squire.
When Mr. Squire was eight years of age his parents removed to White Plains anu took up their residence in the commodious stone house at the junction of Broadway and West- chester avenue, belonging to young Squire's maternal grandfather, Ebenezer H. Pray. The property surrounding the Pray mansion con- sisted of twenty acres of choice land in the most desirable residential lo- cality, which is now cut up into city lots on which have been built beauti- ful private residences; the owner of the mansion and land thus contrib- uting his share to the rapid de- velopment of the charming village. The population of White Plains in 1869 was a little more than 3,000.
The subject of this sketch was educated in the Alexander Military Institute, White Plains, preparatory to his entry into Columbia College, from which he was graduated with
a degree of A. B., and later gradu- ating from the Columbia Law School with the degree of LL. B.
He served his clerkship in the law office of Close & Robertson, where so many Westchester County lawyers secured their first instruction. He was admitted to practice in 1885.
He served as a Justice of the Peace from January 1, 1904, to January 1, 1908. Although a Demo- crat he was elected by a large plu- rality in the town of White Plains, which was at that time Republican by about 250. He is secretary of Board of Health of the village of White Plains.
On November 21, 1911, he was elected Village Trustee by a majority of 87, in a ward that had invariably elected Republicans to this office.
On the death of President Platt, Trustee Squire was unanimously chosen Acting Village President.
In 1898, when his country called for volunteers to serve during the Spanish-American War, Mr. Squire forsook all things else and enlisted in the United States Navy as an " Ordinary Seaman." He, at the time war was declared, was a mem- ber of the New York State Naval Militia, and received leave of ab- sence to serve in the U. S. Navy. He served his term of enlistment, tu the end of the war, and for merit- orious service wa promoted to
"Able Seaman."' He is justly proud of his record in the Navy, and he deserves credit for being willing to serve his country in any capacity, even if it is not in an office bedecked with gold braid. He served ten years in the New York State Naval Militia before and after the Spanish War, and held the rank of "Gun Captain."
When he became a candidate for public office his neighbors remem- bered the patriotic service he had rendered.
Mr. Squire is a member of the Westchester County Bar Association, of the Society Medical Jurispu- dence, secretary of the Westchester County Historical Society, a mem- ber of the Columbia College Alumni Association, of the society of the Early Eighties Columbia University, Delta Tau Delta; a member of the society of United Spanish War Veterans, of the Columbia Univer-
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sity Club, of the White Plains Club, of the New York Association for the Improvement of the condition of the Poor, of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children, of the So- ciety for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, one of the governors of the White Plains Hospital, and a mem- ber of the B. P. O. Elks.
Mr. Squire married Miss Theodora M. Schmid, eldest daughter of Dr. H. Ernest Schmid, a prominent physi- cian of White Plains and Westchester County, October 26, 1910.
HENRY R. BARRETT.
Henry Robertson Barrett, former Corporation Counsel of White Plains, was born in the town of Bedford, this County, on August 19, 1869, a son of Joseph and Emma H. (Robert- son) Barrett. His early education was obtained in the district schools of his native town and in the Bed- ford Academy, and in the Blair Academy, Blairtown, N. J .; he then entered LaFayette College, Easton, Pa., from which he graduated.
He chose law as his profession, and began his studies with the lead- ing law firm of the County, Close & Robertson, in White Plains; the last named partner in the firm being his uncle, Hon. William H. Robertson, who had been County Judge and had held various other local, County, State and Federal offices, and was one of the most distinguished citi- zens of the County.
On graduating with his degree, Mr. Barrett became managing clerk in the office where he had served as student. Shortly after the death of the senior member of the firm, which occurred in 1894, Mr. Barrett took the place of Mr. Close and became associated in business with his uncle, under the firm name of Robertson & Barrett. This part- nership continuing until the death of Judge Robertson, on December 6, 1898. Later Mr. Barrett formed a partnership with M. S. Buckbee, who also had studied law with Judge Rob- ertson, and the firm became known as that of Barrett & Buckbee, as it is at this writing, with offices in White Plains.
The new firm virtually continuing the law practice of Close & Robert- son, which began in 1853, and from its first year to the date of its dis-
solution, did an extensive business ; clients coming from all directions, from New York city, and from the various sections of the County and State. Young men desiring to be- come lawyers considered it an honor and sufficient compensation to be permitted to be connected with Close & Robertson's office as a student. There are many successful lawyers of the present period, not of the County alone, who allude with pride to the time when they as young men were students, like Mr. Barrett, under tuition in the office of active practice conducted by two such ami- able legal gentlemen.
"A good student usually makes a good lawyer," it has been said. Mr. Barrett had the reputation of being an industrious student. As a lawyer, and successor of the old firm, he has been able to retain all that remains of the old business, and be- sides has added among numerous new clients many who are descend- ants of those who in the long-ago considered Close & Robertson as their " family barristers."'
When quite a young man, and we might say naturally, on account of associations among men of affairs, politics and public life appealed to Mr. Barrett. When he reached the voting age he connected himself with the Republican party of which his uncle was the acknowledged leader in the County. He served on the Re- publican Committee of the town of Bedford in 1898, and up to 1901, and for the same length of time was a member of the Republican County Committee. When he removed to White Plains, in 1900, in response to requests of party friends, he be- came a member of the Republican Committee of the town of White Plains and a member of the County Committee representing that town. He is a personal as well as a po- litical friend of Hon. William L. Ward, the present Republican leader of Westchester County, who, recog- nizes his ability and being desirous of profiting by his knowledge of poli- tics, past and present, is ever ready to consider Mr. Barrett as an ad- visor as well as a friend.
Besides being Corporation Coun- sel, to which position he was elected in the early part of 1910, Mr. Bar- rett is counsel to the County Treas-
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LEWIS C. PLATT
JOHN J. BROWN
EBENEZER H. P. SQUIRE
FREDERICK B. VAN KLEECK, JR.
HENRY ERNEST SCHMID, M. D.
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FRANK J. LAMB
CHARLES L. PRIGGE
BENONI PLATT
FREEMAN H. MERRITT
RALPH M. GLOVER
JOHN N. HEENEY
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urer, a position held by him thirteen years; is counsel to the Sheriff, serv- ing his ninth year; is counsel to the Good Roads Proceedings, and has been for five years; is counsel for the Citizens 'Bank of White Plains; is counsel for the Kensico Cemetery Association, and legal representative of other corporations, realty and fin. ancial. He has been appointed by Courts as referee in matters involv- ing large sums of money, and has been associated as counsel with some noted litigations. He retired as Cor- poration Counsel January 1, 1912.
He is director in the Citizens' Bank, in the Lawyers' Westchester Title Company, in the Westchester County Chamber of Commerce, in the Kensico Cemetery Association, and has been a trustee in the White Plains Home Savings Bank eight years.
He is a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity, and ment- ber of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, White Plains Lodge, No. 535.
Mr. Barrett was married on De- cember 30, 1900, to Miss Anna Parker, daughter of Benajah and Deborah Parker of Kingstown, In- diana. Five children blessed this union, viz .: Henry R., Emily, Ione, Donald and Dorothy.
FREDERICK B. VAN KLEECK, JR.
Frederick B. Van Kleeck, Jr., Corporation Counsel of the Village of White Plains, etc., was born in White Plains on August 31, 1871, a son of Rev. Frederick B. Van Kleeck, D. D., and Estelle M. (Ham- ilton) Van Kleeck.
His father comes from good Hol- land stock, his ancestry settling in New York city and on Long Island prior to 1700; his mother's people resided principally in Maryland.
His father is rector of Grace Episcopal Church, White Plains, a position he has held for forty-two years; he recently resigned as Arch- deacon of the Archdeaconry of Westchester, comprising the counties of Westchester, Rockland and Put- nam, after a service in the latter office of twenty-five years.
Mr. Van Kleeck, Jr., the subject of this sketch, was educated at Trin-
ity School at Tivoli on the Hudson, at Columbia Law School and at the New York Law School.
He began the practice of law in 1893, opening offices in his native town. His experience as a general practitioner, and his serving as Special Counsel of the City of New York in condemnation proceedings, particularly adapt him to fill the position of Corporation Counsel of the Village of White Plains, to which office he was appointed on January 1, 1912.
He was appointed under
the amended village charter, which per- mits the President of the Village to select the official legal advisor. Prior to the passage of laws amend- ing the village charter, by the Legis- lature of 1911, the Village Trustees chose the Corporation Counsel. Mr. Van Kleeck was at one time con- nected with the office of Harry T. Dykman, who was formerly Corpora- tion Counsel of the Village.
Mr. Van Kleeck is a veteran of the Spanish-American War. He served in the 12th New York Volunteer In- fantry, enlisting as a private and coming home as a commissioned offi- cer, promoted for efficient service in the field.
He is Past Master of the White Plains Lodge, F. and A. M., No. 473; is a member of the West- chester County Bar Association, a director in the Westchester County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, a member of the execu- tive committee of the Democratic County Committee, president of the White Plains Democratic Club, and a member of the White Plains Club.
Mr. Van Kleeck was married on March 30, 1901, to Miss Alice Penner, daughter of William H. Penner of Little Falls, N. Y. Of this union there are three children, Alice Hamilton, aged eight years; Frederick B., III, aged five years, and Susan Julia Mayer, aged three years.
H. ERNEST SCHMID, M. D.
Henry Ernest Schmid was born in Thuringia, Province of Saxony of the Kingdom of Prussia on May 1, 1834. His parents were both natives of the Kingdom of Saxony. His father, like many of his relatives, was a publisher. He intended his son for
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the same career and gave him a first- class education for that purpose. He was first taught by private tutor at home, then he entered the Latin Col- lege (Lateinische Schule) which was a part of the great institution called Franke's Waisenhaus, in the city of Halle, whose university has always been made famous by scores of dis- tinguished names. He then began a higher literary course but his father in publishing a weekly paper unfor- tunately incurred the censure of the government and by this was changed the whole tenor of the son's life, who then came to this country in 1853. Soon after went to Virginia where he became engaged as teacher in the public schools. Being situated near Winchester and having a pre- dilection for medicine he began the study of medicine at the "surgical school" then existing there-after which he attended the medical de- partment of the University of Vir- ginia at Charlottesville, and finally graduated at the University of Penn- sylvania in Philadelphia. He then passed examination for entrance in the navy but never entered there, having concluded to go to Japan as a medical missionary. He resided at Nagasaki till 1862 where he estab- lished a small hospital in a Buddhist temple and had a large practice amongst the natives. His health fail- ing he accepted the invitation of the commander of an English surveying fleet to go with him through the inland sea as interpreter and later on to accompany him on his voyage home to England through Corea, Northern China, Java and Sumatra. He made extensive tours in Southern Africa, the ship having narrowly escaped destruction by a typhoon, which forced going to Simons Bay in South Africa for repairs. After this he visited St. Helena-the Azores and landed at Portsmouth, England. He returned to America and began practice of medicine at White Plains where he lives the present time. While in Japan he made collections of snakes for the Smithsonian Institution in Washing- ton.
He was made a member of the American Oriental Society and of the American Association for the Ad- vancement of Science. He became a member of many New York societies.
He was president of the board of education for 30 years, of the board of health for many years, of the Free Public Library he is still president, and of the Westchester Historical Society. He is member of the West- chester County Medical of the State Medical, of the American Medical Association, of the Psychological So- ciety, of the Medical Jurisprudence Society, he is a trustee of the New York Society for Widows and Or- phans of Medical Men, he is chief of the White Plains Hospital, con- sultant to the county branch of the New York Orthopedical Hospital. He started St. Vincent's Retreat for the Insane at Harrison and was sole physician for a number of years, and is still the consultant. He is attend- ant to Caroline Rest at Hartsdale and Presbyterian Rest at White Plains.
He has always been an independent Democrat. He is a Mason, a mem- ber of the Episcopal church, has been married twice, first wife a daughter of Eugene L. Preud'homme and his present wife a daughter of Edward G. Sutherland who owned the Eastern State Journal and was active in political life. He has three daughters, the oldest of whom is married to Mr. E. P. H. Squire the present President of the village.
BENONI PLATT.
Benoni Platt, former Clerk to the Surrogate's Court, former Deputy County Clerk, etc., was born in the town of Scarsdale, this county, on August 22, 1857, a son of Judge Lewis Canfield and Laura (Sher- brook Popham) Platt. He is elder brother of County Judge William Popham Platt and of Hon. Lewis C. Platt, President of the village of White Plains.
His ancestors were of the sturdy stock which produced men of charac- ter and force. They were very con- spicuously identified with the early history of this nation. Relatives, on both his paternal and his maternal sides, served during the Revolution; from a private in the ranks to of- ficers in command.
When he was one year old his parents removed from Scarsdale to the adjoining town of White Plains, and the latter place has been his place of residence since.
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He is a graduate of the excellent public schools of White Plains.
Even before arriving at the re- quired age of a native born elector, he took active interest in public af- fairs, and became a leader among young men. Possessing open and courteous manners, and most gener- ous impulses-a man of ability and strong common sense, his irreproach- able character and searching insight into human nature, his willingness to extend a courteous greeting to all, whether in exalted or humble station, in his intercourse with his fellow citizens, insured for him en- viable popularity and made friends for him everywhere.
His father was the first elected Surrogate of this county and a Dem- ocrat; quite naturally, the son, like father, took kindly to politics, though disinclined to accept nomi- nation for election to public office. In fact, it was only on the persist- ent urging of Surrogate Coffin, a close friend of the young man's father, that the subject of this sketch consented to accept, in 1881, a clerkship in the Surrogate's office. In those days the work of that of- fice was not divided among so many clerks as now, as there was not so much to do, but the one clerk, then serving in many capacities, had his time fully occupied attending to important duties. That young Platt performed his various duties well and fully was openly attested by the Surrogate. With Surrogate Coffin he remained until 1895, when the Surrogate retired from office after serving twenty-four years. On John M. Digney becoming County Clerk, in 1886, he offered the position of Deputy County Clerk to Mr. Platt, and the latter accepted, holding the office ten years and until Leverett F. Crumb, a Republican, succeeded Mr. Digney.
Next, Mr. Platt, capable and ex- perienced, became manager of the Westchester County Branch of the Lawyers' Title Company of New York.
Some years ago Mr. Platt heeded the call, "Back to the Farm," and became possessed of one of the finest farms in the county, and de- voted what time he could spare from public duties to the occupation of "a gentleman farmer." As a raiser
of prize stock he became well known, and his ability as an expert judge of high grade horses and cat- tle was unquestioned.
During recent years he has fre- quently served as a member of com- missions appointed by the State Su- preme Court in land condemnation proceedings, notably on commissions appointed to fix value of various properties taken to extend the New York city water supply. His ex- perience, acquired in connection with land values during discharge of pub- lic and private duties, for many years, fully equipped him for ser- vice on these commissions, and, ow- ing to experience, his services were in demand as an official appraiser.
He is a member of various socie- ties, prominent among them being the Odd Fellows, a member of Guiding Star Encampment of Mount Vernon, and Hebron Lodge No. 229, of White Plains, and of the Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks.
Mr. Platt was married on April 15, 1903, to Miss Carrie Elizabeth, daughter of Harvey Handon and Harriett Putney Hoffman, of Bel- mont, N. Y.
FRANK J. LAMB.
Frank Joseph Lamb, lawyer, Police Justice, former Town Clerk, etc., was born July 21, 1877, in White Plains, a son of Michael and Mary (Don- nelly) Lamb.
His education was obtained at the common school; he made better use of his advantages than many others who have had better facilities for acquiring a good education. During his boyhood he was studious and re- served, reading much of literature that is wholesome and lasting, being far in advance of most boys of his age. The profession of law at- tracted him and to that he turned on leaving the district school; in 1903 he graduated from the New York Law School, and was imme- diately admitted to practice, open- ing a law office on his own account at the County-seat.
In 1905 he was elected Town Clerk of the town of White Plains, in a year when but few candidates on his party ticket proved successful. To this position he was re-elected, and in all served four years, declining a
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re-election, believing that his in- creasing law practice should be given his undivided attention. He is one of the youngest members of the County bar, and an orator of ac- knowledged ability.
He was chosen Police Justice, the first elected direct by the people, by the great majority of 756, on No- vember 21, 1911.
He is a member of White Plains Lodge, No. 532, B. P. O. Elks, a member of the White Plains Club, member of the White Plains Council, Knights of Columbus, a member of the Heptasophs Society of Medi- cal Jurisprudence, a member of the Westchester County Bar Asso- ciation, and a member of the local Owl Bowling Club.
Mr. Lamb was married on May 8, 1907, to Miss Marguerite A. Bleakie of Boston, Mass. Two children have been born to them: Francis B., born March 1, 1908, and Margaret, born April 20, 1909.
They reside on Miller place, White Plains.
CHARLES L. PRIGGE.
Charles Louis Prigge, Treasurer of the Village of White Plains, Bank Cashier, etc., was born in White Plains, in this county, on October 18, 1877, a son of John C. L. and Louise (Fenkhouse) Prigge.
He was educated in the public schools of his native town; he was a studious lad and ambitious to earn the good will of those older than himself.
He secured employment in a bank, his best recommendation being his known integrity which was accepted as a guarantee that he would dis- charge his duties faithfully and hon- estly.
From the humblest place he arose to the position of bank cashier; this position he now holds in the First National Bank of White Plains a leading financial institution of the county.
Though "not of the political faith,"' Mr. Prigge was chosen by the Republican majority in the Board of Village Trustees, in 1909, as Vil- lage Treasurer. Of the high esti- mate in which his character is held as a citizen and a man by those who know him best, no stronger assur- ance could be given than this vote.
In the village election, held in November, 1911, when the Village Treasurer, in accordance with the amended village charter, was chosen direct by vote of the people, Mr. Prigge was placed in nomination for Village Treasurer by the Democratic party, to run against a popular op- ponent. His election was secured by several hundred majority. His large majority was attributed in part to the desire that the office be not made a partisan one, many Republicans maintaining that his name should have been placed also upon the Re- publican ticket.
His term of office commenced January 1, 1912, to end January 1, 1914.
Mr. Prigge is a prominent member of the Masonic order and is con- nected with its several branches; be- longs to the local lodge F. and A. M., to various lodges in New York city, is a Knight Templar, a Shriner, etc., besides having reached the ex- alted rank of 32d degree Mason. Has been a member of the local Fire Department twelve years; connected with Union Hook and Ladder Com- pany; is a Royal Arcanumite, and member of other organizations, fra- ternal and social.
Mr. Prigge was married on June 3, 1903, to Miss Mabel Taylor, daughter of Moses W. and Jane (Gibson) Taylor, of Unionville, this county. Of this marriage there are three children, Charles Russell, born 1904; Jean Gibson, born 1907, and Alan Taylor, born -1909.
WILLIAM P. FIERO.
William Pierson Fiero, lawyer, State Senator, former First Assistant United States Attorney, etc., was born in Catskill, N. Y., in 1848.
He is son of Joshua Fiero, who served two terms as Member of As- sembly and then, in 1860, was elected a State Senator in the same district (the Catskill district, then the 10th) now represented by his son, and be- came President pro tem of the Sen- ate. The present Senator Fiero's maternal grandfather, William Pier- son, was a relative of Abraham Pier- son, the first President of Yale Col- lege, and was a Member of Assem- bly from Greene County in 1840.
Senator Fiero was admitted to the
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Bar at Albany in 1870, and has con- tinuously practiced his profession forty years in State and National Courts, with offices in New York city and White Plains.
The only public office he ever held, previous to this one, was that of First Assistant United States Attorney in New York city, from 1878 to 1883; and during that time he represented the United States in many promi- nent jury trials and in appeals in the United States Supreme Court in many important and precedent es- tablishing cases. He prepared and procured the enactment of amend- ments to the navigation laws for the better protection of life and property in the waters of the United States; the act establishing a National prison, and several of the most im- portant amendments to the Internal Revenue statutes.
Senator Fiero has a wide reputa- tion as a pleasing public speaker, and for the past thirty-five years has made political speeches during State and National campaigns in this and other States; after the re-election of President Cleveland, in 1892, he de- clined the offer of a United States Judgeship.
He became a resident of White Plains in the year 1890, and dwelt in residence he owned, situated on the site of former County Court House, in which the State Convention met, in 1776, and adopted the first State Constitution, and created the State of New York. Here Mr. Fiero and family resided until 1908, when the County of Westchester bought the property to preserve it on account of its historic value.
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