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 25
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In the fall of 1904 he was nomi- nated for District Attorney of West- chester County; he polled a large vote, leading other candidates on the ticket, but failed of election in a strong Republican County.
He was the orator in "Home Week" exercises in his native county of Greene, held at Catskill, in 1910.
In the same year he was asked to accept the Democratic nomination for State Senator, to represent the 27th Senate District, composed of the counties of Ulster and Greene. He was elected by a handsome majority, in a district that had previously been strongly Republican.
Senator Fiero in getting desired I
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legislation aided Westchester County greatly.
He died quite unexpectedly, on October 28, 1912, and was buried from the home of his daughter, Mrs. Ernest Carpenter, in White Plains. He is survived by his widow, two sons and three daughters.
RALPH M. GLOVER.
Ralph Murray Glover, Mortgage Tax Deputy for Westchester County, and Captain 49th Separate Company, N. G., N. Y., was born on February 7, 1863, in the city of New York, a son of Charles S. and Sarah C. (Hendrick) Glover, representatives of old Westchester County families.
He was educated in the public schools of New York city and trained for a commercial life. When he was quite young his parents be- came residents of Mount Vernon, in this County. After being engaged many years at business in New York city, Captain Glover accepted a posi- tion as a deputy in the Westchester County Register's office, removing with his family to White Plains, the County-seat. In 1909 he was ap- pointed by Edward B. Kear, County Register, to his present official posi- tion, as Mortgage-Tax Deputy in the Register's office.
At the time the Spanish-American War was declared, in 1898, Mr. Glover had been several years a mem- ber of the Eleventh Separate Com- pany, National Guard, State of New York, and on enlisting for the war was mustered in as First Lieutenant of Company " K," 202nd New York Vol. Infty. His regiment was the first American regiment to enter the city of Havana, Cuba. During his service in this war period he was appointed Provost-Marshal for the city of Athens, Ga., and later was appointed Overseer of the Poor for the Province of Puia Del Rio, Cuba, where he gave to the starving Cubans, in the name of the United States Government, over 600,000 ra- tions. He was mustered out of the service, with his regiment, at Savan- nah, Ga., at the termination of his enlistment.
When it was decided to organize the sturdy young men of the County- seat into a State Militia company Governor Hughes decided upon Lieu-
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tenant Glover as a proper person to command the new company; the lat- ter's excellent military record in- fluencing the choice. The new Com- pany became known as the 49th Sep- arate Company.
To Captain Glover's untiring ef- forts, to a great degree, is due the fact that White Plains has to-day one of the best drilled Militia Com- panies in the State.
Captain Glover enlisted as a pri- vate in the eleventh Separate Com- pany, N. G., N. Y., at Mount Ver- non, in 1882, and has advanced in every grade up to his present posi- tion as Captain.
He has been many years an active Mason, being a member of White Plains Lodge, F. and A. M., and is a member of the association of Span- ish-American War Veterans.
Captain Glover was married on December 17, 1888, to Miss Jennie S. Bennett, daughter of Judge John A. and Jennie Bennett of New York city. Of this union there is one son, Ralph M. Glover, Jr., aged twenty years.
FREEMAN H. MERRITT.
Freeman Hancock Merritt, Post- master, White Plains, was born on December 21, 1862, at Greenwich, Conn., a son of John O. Merritt. His grandfather on his father's side was William Merritt, of English descent ; his grandmother on his father's side was Jane Ann Hancock, a des- cendant of the Holland Dutch fam- ily of Von Torn; his grandfather on his mother's side
was William Parker, who with his family were among the first settlers of the town of Rye, and he a successful New York city business man of the old days; his grandmother on his mother's side was Deborah Havi- land, of a family equally prominent among the old settlers of the town of Rye.
When Mr. Merritt was quite young his parents removed to Port Ches- ter, in this County, where they yet reside. He attended public school, was a private pupil of the late Pro- fessor George W. Smith (at one period a School Commissioner of the County), and later attended a mili- tary academy.
In deciding upon a business career,
he chose that followed by his father, that of a general contractor, entering upon his work at an early age, shortly after leaving school, and this he has followed up to the pres- ent time. Many pieces of private and public work are monuments tes- tifying to his business capacity and ability. All sections of the County produce samples of his handiwork as a builder, many of the finest and most costly buildings being of his construction. Fully ninety per cent. of all the trolly roadbeds in the County were laid by him as were miles upon miles of macadam roads; in most every County of the State he has built State roads; in cities and towns of the County he has built sewers and made other public im- provements, in every instance scor- ing success that has made his firm a State-wide enviable reputation.
As a successful business man he is known, rather than as a politician. By appointment received from President Roosevelt, he became Post- master of White Plains on January 1, 1907, serving until 1911.
Mr. Merritt married on April 14, 1887, Miss Jeannie Wilson, of Port Chester.
JOHN N. HEENEY.
John N. Heeney, former Superin- tendent of the White Plains Water Department, Contracting Engineer, etc., was born in Verplanck's Point, this county, in 1874, a son of John and Margaret Heeney.
He was educated in public and private schools. He came to White Plains to reside in the year 1893.
He was appointed Superintendent of the White Plains Water Depart- ment in 1901, a position which he was particularly adapted to fill, owing to education and experience. This position he held until 1911, when he resigned to go into private business, as a contracting engineer, making water supply and sewage dis- posal a specialty; he is considered to rank with the foremost in his profes- sion.
Mr. Heeney was married March 9, 1909, to Frances E. Steeves of New York city.
He is member of a number of so- cieties including the White Plains Lodge of Elks.
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JOHN R. BUSHONG.
John Roberts Bushong, lawyer, Village Trustee, President pro tem of the Village of White Plains, etc., was born on May 24, 1877, in Read- ing, Penn., a son of Jacob and Lillie (Roberts) Bushong.
The name Bushong was originally the old Huguenot French (Alsace Loraine) name of Beauchamp, abbre- viated for the sake of convenience, his father's ancestors coming from France by way of England, settled in Shenandoah Valley and then came up to Lancaster County and from there to Berks, together with other exiles, of which number many found an abiding place at New Rochelle, in this County. His father was a Democrat and prominent banker of Reading, Pa., serving twenty-five years as president of the Select Council, and was chairman of its first Water Board.
In 1908 he was the Democratic candidate for Member of Assembly in a hopelessly Republican district, and was defeated by George W. Mead by 2,800; he made so good a showing at the polls that his party nominated him again in 1909, again he was defeated by John Ambrose Gardwin by 1,265, but not downcast. He is a firm believer in persistency, that success comes to him who keeps "pegging away" in the right direc- tion. He was unsuccessful in run- ning for School Director in 1910; he tried for election as Village Trustee in 1910 against a candidate that had never been defeated; he succeeded in cutting down his opponent's ma- jority to 25. He noted one thing that gave him encouragement to try again, and that was that every time he ran for office, and got better ac- quainted, his vote was larger; he knew that if he kept on gaining he would surely get there some time. In 1911 victory came; he carried the hide-bound Republican third ward by 72 majority and became a Vil- lage Trustee. On the organization of the Board of Village Trustees in January, 1912, he was elected presi- dent pro tem, and during President Platt's absence from the village he was Acting President.
Mr. Bushong is a member of White Plains Lodge, No. 473, F. and A. M., of White Plains Lodge of Elks, No. 535, of the White Plains Club, of the Yale Club of New York city, of the Westchester Bar Associa- tion, Chamber of Commerce of West- chester County, etc.
Owing to ill health and his re- moval from the village, Mr. Bushong resigned his Trusteeship in January, 1913.
JAMES J. SHAW.
James J. Shaw, former President of the White Plains Board of Edu- cation, Secretary Bronx Valley Sewer Commission, former Record Clerk in County Clerk's office, former Chief Clerk to the Sheriff and former Town Clerk of the town of White Plains, was born on June 7, 1862, in White Plains, a son of James J. and Margaret (Trainor) Shaw.
His education began in the public schools of Dobbs Ferry, where his parents went to live; he ended his scholastic career at Manhattan Col- lege, New York city, graduating with special honor. He later returned to White Plains, where he resides.
Under County Clerk John M. Dig- ney, Mr. Shaw served as Record Clerk in the County Clerk's office, from 1887 to 1889, resigning this po- sition to accept the Chief Clerkship to the Sheriff, appointed by Sheriff Frank G. Schirmer; in this latter office he served until January 1, 1893. He next became an official searcher in the County Register's of- fice. In 1899 he was elected Town Clerk of the town of White Plains, by an unprecedented majority given for that office; in this official posi- tion he served several terms, com- mencing 1900 and ending 1905, re- tiring to accept a highly responsible position with the Westchester and Bronx Title and Mortgage Guaranty Company, as Superintendent of Plant Department.
Mr. Shaw was married on April 24, 1887, to Miss Katherine L. Grace, daughter of William and Hannah Grace, of Tarrytown. Of this union there are two children.
For biographical sketches of other residents see elsewhere in this book, and in volumes one and two.
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TOWN AND CITY OF YONKERS.
This city, according to population, ranks in size as the fifth in the State.
It is the largest of the three cities in Westchester County, lies adjacent on the south to the city of New York, and on the east joins the city of Mount Vernon. Its residents boast of Yonkers as being " next to the largest city in the United States," mean- ing, of course, New York as the largest city, yet citizens of adjacent Mount Vernon will persist in professing to believe that their city is alluded to, and they accordingly feel complimented, and are almost persuaded to forget the rivalry existing between the two largest Westchester County cities.
The census of 1910 credits Yonkers with a population of 79,803, showing an increase in population of 39,972 in ten years. Its rapid growth promises soon to make it the fourth largest city in the State.
The most wonderful and least to be explained transformation seems to have taken place within fifty years after settlement. That was of the Indian name of Yonkers village, from Nap- peckamack to Nepperhaem. The intermediate stages are entirely missing, and can only be guessed at. But no sooner had the Dutch fastened the latter name upon the place than the cor- ruption of it, in turn, began. It was for one man Neperha, and for another Nippierha. To some it was Neppiran, to others Nepran and Nepperan, and Governor Dongam, combining several of these in one, calls it Nippirhan. In one conveyance we find the present spelling, Nepperhan, " or Napoekamack." Or at least so it is recorded in Mrs. " Geesie " Lewis's deed to old Mr. " Phillipps " in the now somewhat remote year of 1686. Verily, there was a great variety of spelling in those days.
Lemuel Wells, who owned a great part of Yonkers, 320 acres of good farm land located in what is now the center of the city's business section, died well advanced in years, in February, 1842, without issue. His wife, Eliza H., survived him. He had four brothers, Elisha, Levi, Horace and Jared. One of the prominent streets of Yonkers, running from Broadway to the Hudson River, is named for him. When he died the estate was sold by the Chancellor.
The first residents of Yonkers were few in number, but they were enterprising.
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At this period the town, including Riverdale, Kingsbridge, Mosholu and Spuyten Duyvil, had about 5,000 inhabitants, and the conditions were rural.
Main Street was a block long, running from Broadway west. Wells Avenue ran a block from Broadway west, to Mr. Wells' blacksmith shop, where he made a specialty of shoeing oxen. Dock Street was the only one open to the Hudson River.
The Getty House, the principal hotel, was erected in 1851 by Robert P. Getty, facing Getty Square, and still stands. The hotel was run by mamy managers, one of them being the late William H. Doty, many years City Clerk, and recently, at the time of his death, president of the First National Bank. In this hotel, in the early period, was the only public assembly hall (the Lyceum) for many years.
The first volunteer fire engine company, " Protection," was organized in 1852, preceding but a short time Hope Hook and Ladder and Lady Washington Engine Company.
Passengers on the Hudson River Railroad from Yonkers were landed in Chamber Street, New York city; fare from Yonkers was twenty-five cents each way.
There were in the early fifties five churches in the village.
The burning of the steamboat Henry Clay, off Yonkers, occurred in 1852. Many persons perished, and their charred remains were found strewn all along the shore south of where Vark Street now is.
The first newspaper published in the town was the Yonkers Herald, established in 1852; later came the Yonkers Examiner, published by Mathew F. Rowe, which name after was changed to The Statesman; the Daily Statesman succeeded, and was owned by John W. Oliver and others; The Statesman is still an able and influential newspaper, conducted by Edward Oliver, son of John W. Oliver, who died February 9, 1908, in the 93d year of his age. Mr. Rowe resides in Ossining.
James Norwell, a veteran newspaperman, recently published his recollections of events since his coming to Yonkers in 1852, in which he says: "I learned the type-setting trade when a boy. In 1852 I came to Yonkers and for a time was employed on the Yonkers Herald, which was then started by Thomas Smith."
" The first newspaper printed and published in Yonkers was the Herald. It was a four-page sheet and was printed on a hand press. It was issued every Saturday morning at two
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cents a copy. Thomas Smith was the editor and proprietor. He was a man of forcible character. He was many times elected a Justice of the Peace, and became a political power and wielded considerable influence. In fact he was the ' boss.' He was a leading spirit in the Board of Education, was one of the organizers of the Fire Department, being a member of Protection Engine, etc., etc. He was elected as a member of the Board of Village Trustees, and held the office for some time."
The first daily newspaper was started in this city in 1864, called the Yonkers Daily Herald, by Thomas Smith, editor and proprietor.
The first directory of the city, in 1858, was published also by Mr. Smith.
To-day, Yonkers has three daily newspapers, and most excel- lent ones they are, the Statesman, the Yonkers Herald and the Daily News. The Yonkers Gazette, that succeeded the weekly edition of the first Yonkers Hearld, is still published by Mr. Dan. Nolan.
Hat manufacturing was, in the early fifties, the mainstay of the town, giving employment to a greater portion of its inhabitants. Three of the town's most active citizens, Anson Baldwin, Ethan Flagg and John T. Waring, were at the head of this industry, and the Yonkers factories were the best known hat manufactories in this country, if not in the world.
The first horse car line was organized in 1858 and ran from Getty Square to North and South Yonkers, the fare either way being five cents. The whole outfit was crude; wooden rails capped with bands of iron were used. The venture did not prove a paying one, and therefore did not last long.
The local Common Council, on February 8, 1886, granted the first franchise to operate trolley cars in Yonkers, and the first electric cars were run on the Riverdale Avenue line.
Yonkers had at one time a lady Postmistress, Mrs. Esther A. Bashford, widow of former Postmaster, in 1850. The post- office was on lower Dock Street.
Bailey Hobbs, who was Town Assessor and later City Treas- urer, came to Yonkers January 2, 1840, when, as he often said, all of Yonkers was owned by one man-Lemuel Wells. Mr. Hobbs died in 1911, in the 93rd year of his age, at the time of his death he was not only the oldest man in Yonkers, in length of life, but also in length of residence here.
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Town elections were held in the spring, each year, at one polling place, not far from Getty Square, or on Dock Street, near the river. The candidate who could afford to hire carry- alls to bring voters in from the rural districts was the one pretty sure to win out in the election.
Warburton Avenue, now one of the principal residential streets, was named in honor of William Warburton Scrugham, a resident of the town, and the first resident of the County to be elected to the Supreme Court bench.
Yonkers was incorporated as a village on April 12, 1855, as the result of persistent efforts on part of progressive residents, among whom were William Radford, James C. Bell, Robert P. Getty, Thomas Smith, W. W. Woodworth, John T. Waring and others. Mr. Radford was the first village President, and was succeeded in their turn by Mr. Woodworth, Mr. Getty, Mr. Waring and Mr. Bell, etc.
When the Wells estate, embracing all Yonkers in fact, was sold, Mr. Ludlow bought a large portion of the southern section of the estate (now known as Ludlow in Yonkers), and Edward F. Shonnard secured many acres in the northern section. Both Mr. Ludlow and Mr. Shonnard opposed incorporation ; therefore the village boundaries were confined to the section between the Ludlow and Shonnard properties.
Presidents of the Village of Yonkers served in the following order : William Radford, 1855-6; William W. Woodworth, 1857- 58; Robert P. Getty, 1859; Thomas F. Morris, 1860; John T. Waring, 1861-62; Everett Clapp, 1863-64; James C. Bell, 1865- 66; Justus Lawrence, 1867-68; Isaac H. Knox, 1869-70; Robert P. Getty, 1871 to June, 1872, date of Yonkers becoming a city.
The term of office of all village officials expired the first Tuesday after the first city election, in 1872.
Robert P. Getty, who besides being Village President, was City Treasurer at the time of his death on March 28, 1902. He was born May 1, 1811.
Yonkers promptly fulfilled all obligations growing out of demands made upon it by the Civil War. More than was required was furnished of its able-bodied men as volunteers.
In 1866 the local police system was changed, from " the town constable sort," to a uniformed metropolitan police force. The new order of things began August 10, 1866. As Westchester County was a part, with New York city, of the metropolitan police district, an application, approved by the Westchester
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County Board of Supervisors, caused the required number of experienced New York police officers to be assigned to Yonkers. Later the New York policemen were withdrawn, and new police- men were appointed to fill their places, continuing a most efficient police system.
We remember when Benjamin Starr was Chief and the whole local police force, and when, later, Daniel Blauvelt commanded the first "uniformed force" (four men), with headquarters at No. 3 Main street.
The city of Yonkers was erected from the town of Yonkers (excepting a section in the southern portion known as Kings- bridge, embracing Mosholu and South Yonkers) by an act of the State Legislature, passed June 1, 1872.
That section of the town known as Kingsbridge, and imme- diate vicinity, whose residents objected to being made a part of the new city of Yonkers, was created a town by itself on December 12, 1872, by act of the Board of Supervisors. Later, by act of the Legislature, Laws of 1873, Kingsbridge, including Mosholu and South Yonkers, was annexed to New York city.
The first election for city officers in Yonkers was held, as the act provided, on the third Tuesday after the approval of the act by the Governor. At present city officers are chosen at fall elections, every two years.
The first meeting of the Common Council of the new city was held on June 25, 1872, and organized by electing Ethan Flagg president, to preside in the absence of Mayor Courter. Members of this Council were: First Ward, John Brennan and Eli Seger, Democrats; Second Ward, Albert Keeler and William Macfarlane, Republicans; Third Ward, Ethan Flagg and Hyatt L. Garrison, Republicans; Fourth Ward, Henry R. Hicks and Zeb. H. Brower, Republicans. The Council was Republican, with a Democratic Mayor. Quite naturally Democratic nomi- nations were not confirmed, as the Mayor found when he named Henry T. Smith for City Clerk and followed with naming other Democrats for positions. William H. Doty, a most efficient officer, was made clerk, and continued in the position he held under the village government. Of members of this Common Council only Henry R. Hicks is still living.
The city water system was adopted in 1873; in July, 1876, the first water was turned on from a hydrant in Getty Square.
The following named persons have held the office of Mayor, in the years here given :
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James C. Courter (D.), from June, 1872, to April, 1874; Joseph Masten (D.), 1874-75; William A. Gibson (R), 1876-77; Joseph Masten (D.), 1878-79; Norton P. Otis (R.), 1880-81; Dr. Samuel Swift (D.), 1882-83; William G. Stahlnecker (D.), 1884-85; J. Harvey Bell (D.), 1886-87-88-89; James Millard (R.), 1890-91; James Weller (R.), 1892-93; John G. Peene (R.), 1894 to December 1, 1897 (the Laws of 1895 made terms ter- minate Dec. 1); L. Sutherland (R.), 1897 to Dec. 1, 1902; Michael J. Walsh (D.), 1902 to Dec. 1, 1904; John E. Andrus (R.), 1904 to Dec. 1, 1906; John Coyne (D.), 1906 to January 1, 1908 (time of termination of office again changed, owing to Yonkers becoming a second-class city) ; Dr. N. A. Warren (R.), 1908-09 ; James T. Lennon (D.), 1910-11-12-13.
The population of the town of Yonkers was in 1830, 1,761; in 1835, 1,879 ; in 1840, 2,968; in 1845, 2,517; in 1850, 4,160; in 1855, 7,554; in 1860, 11,848; in 1865, 12,756; in 1870, 18,357; as a city in 1875, 17,232; in 1880, 18,892; in 1890, 32,033; in 1892, 31,419; in 1900, 47,930; in 1905, 61,716; in 1910, 79,803.
The population of Yonkers, since its incorporation as a city, by wards has been as follows:
First Ward, in 1875, 4,475; in 1880, 5,149; in 1890, 8,422; in 1892, 7,543; in 1900, 6,008; in 1905, 6,878; in 1910, 8,268.
Second Ward, in 1875, 6,230; in 1880, 6,917; in 1890, 12,351; in 1892, 13,266 ; in 1900, 5,802; in 1905, 6,643; in 1910, 6,596.
Third Ward, in 1875, 5,587; in 1880, 5,953; in 1890, 10,146; in 1892, 9,173; in 1900, 4,678; in 1905, 6,426; in 1910, 6,730.
Fourth Ward, in 1875, 940; in 1880, 873; in 1890, 1,114; in 1892, 1,249 ; in 1900, 7,832; in 1905, 9,999; in 1910, 11,037.
Fifth Ward, in 1900, 11,542; in 1905, 16,371; in 1910, 12,272. Sixth Ward, in 1900, 8,345; in 1905, 10,318; in 1910, 12,568. Seventh Ward, in 1900, 3,724; in 1905, 4,779 ; in 1910, 9,939. Eighth Ward, in 1910, 3,661.
Ninth Ward, in 1910, 5,138.
Tenth Ward, in 1910, 3,594.
Land valuations have increased according to its growth in the last ten years. In 1901 the assessed valuation, real and personal estate, was $45,571,064; in 1902, $48,519,593; in 1903, $50,294,072 ; in 1904, $50,907,888 ; in 1905, $53,732,961; in 1906, $68,468,599 ; in 1907, $71,201,661; in 1908, $73,393,808 ; in 1909, $72,972,089 ; in 1910, $81,338,959.
The city, in 1911, had within its limits property valued at $11,000,000 exempt from taxation.
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In proof that it is a progressive and up-to-date city, mention may be made of the fact that it has one hundred and thirty miles of improved streets, about one hundred of which are paved either with sheet asphalt, granite blocks or vitrified bricks, etc.
It has five miles of deep water front; 36 miles of trolley rail- road; 19 railroad stations; 271 passenger trains daily; two rail- roads, the New York Central and Hudson River, and the Put- nam Division Railroad, pass through the city.
The city's police department is composed of a chief, 3 cap- tains, 13 lieutenants, 15 sergeants, and 120 patrolmen. The city is divided into three precincts and one sub-station.
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