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1 HI-; 
 
 DAILY EAGLE'S 
 
 MT. VERNON 
 
 
 i-:mhkacix(; a DEscRirTivi- historv 
 
 OF ITS LOCAL GOVERNiMEXT, RE- 
 LIGIOUS, SOCIAL AND COM- 
 MERCIAL IXSTITFTIONS, 
 WITH BIOGRAI'HICAL 
 SKETCHES. 
 
 P R () F US H L y I L L CST R A T H P . 
 
 i-O.M i'ir.i;i> AMI i:iiiTi :i> 
 
 11 V 
 
 C.IvOKCIv (). HHACH 
 WITH Till-: COI.AIIOKATIOX (IK 
 JOSHPH S. WOOD 
 i-iiK Tin; 
 
 DAILY EAGLE 
 
 ILLUSTRATED 
 
 HISTORY 
 
 OF 
 
 MT. VERNON, N. Y. 
 
 190J. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 THK compilation of this volume has 
 involved diligent research and pains- 
 taking investigation. There may be, and 
 doubtless are, inaccuracies in the work, and 
 possibly sins of omission, both are in- 
 evitable. " History," Sir Robert Walpole 
 wrote, " must be false," but this is designed 
 to be, and I believe is. fairly trustworthy. 
 
 1 ani indebtetl for valuable information to 
 the Rew William S. Coftev and to Messrs. 
 Clarence S. McClellan and Alvah \\ In-ench 
 
 (,. (). B. 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 CIIAI'THR I. I'Ar.K 
 
 SctlkiiHiu — I'ioiicLTs and Ivarlv ScUIlts — De- 
 
 vi-lnpiiR-iit r> 
 
 CllAi'THK 11. 
 -Newspapers — Hanks 211 
 
 CHM'TI-R III. 
 Clunvhfs — Cliil)s 3; 
 
 Cil.\I'T!:k I\. 
 .\ri'hi Iff t lire — I'iovcrnnRiil — Smiiiiuirv ) ' 
 
 CH.M'TI:R V. 
 Scllnols r>'i 
 
 cii.\i'Ti:k VI. 
 
 The .\h. \'cniaii Har iVoiii ilie Ivarliosi Kccollcc- 
 
 tions (i'.i 
 
 CIl.\l'Ti;iv 
 
 Kio.mapliical Skcli'lics, Ivtc. - Tlii' I 'cix ma! Ilis- 
 loi v ()t .Many ol tin- Citizens wlio have luen 
 I'roniinenl in ilie Lite of X ei ium 74- 
 
F. T. SMILEY & CO., 
 
 PUBLISHERS, 
 
 30 EAST 14th STREET. 
 NEW YORK. 
 
 THE ASTE PRESS. 
 
 PRINTERS, 
 
 231-233 Eowery, New York. 
 
History of Mount Vernon 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 SETTLEMENT.-l'lONEEKS AND EAKLV SETTLEKS-DEVELOI'MENT. 
 
 The history of Mount Vernon is comparatively brief; it 
 is the record of little more than half a century in which from 
 "fields invested with purpureal gleams" there has ariseii a 
 thriving city with twenty-five thousand inhabitants, among 
 whom are numbered several of its founders, who in their 
 waning years realize that they buildcd wiser than they 
 knew. 
 
 In 1850 the high rents demanded for dwellings and living 
 accommodations in New York led a number of persons of 
 
 The Old Bowtrnirui IliMiicsiead. South Coliinihiis A venue. 
 
 moderate means, and with creditable aspirations, to combine 
 for the purpose of securing for themselves homes at a small 
 and conveniently arranged expenditure. "The Home Indus- 
 trial Association, Xo. 1, of New York City," was among the 
 earliest of these formations. The originator of this particu- 
 lar project was John Stevens, a tailor doing business at -tTG 
 Hudson street. New York. The association was organized on 
 the 9th of July, 18.50, in the rooms of the "Mechanics' Mutual 
 Protection, No. 11," when a constitution and by-laws were 
 adopted, and Mr. Stevens was elected President, which oftice 
 he held during its existence. Membership was solicited to the 
 extent of one thousand of those of good moral character, 
 industrious habits and with a desire to promote the common 
 ])urpose — protection against the unjust power and influence ot 
 capital, and against land monopoly as the eflicient cause ot 
 poverty. Each member was required to pay into the Treas- 
 ury or General Fund not less than twenty-five, nor more 
 than seventy-five dollars within one and a half years' time 
 after the adoption of this constitution, for the purpose of 
 purchasing not less than two hundred and fifty acres of land 
 in otic location, said land to be purchased, surveyed, levelled 
 and graded by an Executive Committee at the exjKMise of the 
 Society, and then di\nded equally, no member having more 
 than one equal share. 
 
 The first regular meeting of the association was held in 
 the old Watch House, at the corner of Christopher and Hud- 
 
 son streets, New Y'ork, on the 19th of July, 1850, and sub 
 sequently weekly meetings were held at Barker's " House of 
 Call," 127 Grand street. Horace Greeley became a member 
 of the association on the 30th of August, 1850, and later 
 was added to the Executive Committee. The membership 
 increased rapidly. On the 16th of October, 1850, the asso- 
 ciation authorized the purchase of land in the town of East 
 Chester, comprising five farms, the properties respectiveh- of 
 John K. Hay ward, Sylvanus Purdy, Andrew Purdy, and his 
 two sons, John and Andrew Oscar. These farms aggregated 
 about 370 acres, and the first cheque of $3,4-00 on account 
 of the payment was given by John Stevens, as purchasing 
 trustee, on the 1st of November, 1850. 
 
 The tract extended from about the present line of \'alen- 
 tine street and Prospect avenue on the north, to a little be- 
 low Sixth street on the south, except that a small angle at 
 the southwest corner extended to the Kingsbridge road. The 
 eastern boundary was at Union avenue, extending west to 
 beyond the present line of Fifteenth avenue. Though the 
 name of Monticello had, among others, been tentatively con- 
 sidered and generally approved, it was finallv decided, on the 
 27th of December, 1850, to adopt the name of Mount Vernon 
 for the new settlement. 
 
 On the 10th of January, 1851, the thousandth name was 
 
 L ■ ' r 'niltiitrfni liUfliJfcdl 
 
 Kuiii>, C;iu>ctl I)\ 1-irc ill l-"irst Street ami I'l^iirtl! Avenue, 
 October Mil. lsT;s. 
 
 signed to the roll of memliers, and no more were admitted. 
 On the ISth of .\pril of that year, .\ndrew Findlay, who had 
 been employed to survey and laj- out the tract in lots and 
 streets, presented his map of the proposed vill.age, which was 
 a|)provcd and filed on the 7th of June following. The pl.in 
 provided for the necessary streets, each sixty feet wide; for 
 
6 
 
 HISTORY OF MOUNT VERNON 
 
 one thousand quarter-acre plots for distribution among the 
 members ; for four half-acre plots for school purposes, and a 
 similar plot for a station on the N, Y., N. H. & H. R, The 
 physical labor of laying out and grading the land was per- 
 formed under contract by one O'Brien. Though it was planned 
 to have all streets sixty feet wide from line to line, the 
 carriage-ways to be thirty-six feet, and the side-walks twelve 
 
 Depressing Track of the N. Y.. N. H. & H. R. R. 
 First Street, between 5th and fith Avenues. 
 
 feet wide, there was, on the 26th of September, 1851, for some 
 reason unknown, adopted a resolution "that each member 
 be privileged to set his fence five feet on the sidewalk, still 
 leaving the sidewalk ten feet clear." The members availed 
 themselves of this privilege, which necessarih' resulted in re- 
 ducing the width of the roadways to thirty feet. 
 
 On the 1st of November, 1851, John Stevens, as trustee, 
 executed one thousand deeds conveying to the individual 
 members of the association the lot or parcel of ground chosen 
 and purchased by them respectively, and as shown upon the 
 map before mentioned, made by Andrew Findlay for the asso- 
 ciation. The records show that on the 6th of August, 1852, 
 "the Trustees reported that the deed for the five feet in front 
 of each lot could not, in their opinion, be given to the owners, 
 as it did not belong to the Association." At the time of the 
 sale and division of the property of the association, Mr. 
 Stevens became the purchaser of the " Purdy Mansion," the 
 most valuable house then located upon the property, for 
 $2,650. It is at the northeast corner of Sixth avenue and 
 Fourth street, and was for many years conspicuous because 
 of a large elm tree which was upon the ground north of the 
 house, in the lower branches of which was built a platform 
 
 Hastchesler DocU, 
 
 reached by steps from below. As the tree increased in size, 
 it was strengthened by iron bands and braces to better sup- 
 
 port the balcony that surrounded it ; but eventually it be- 
 came unsafe by reason of age, and about ten years ago was 
 cut down, leaving perhaps twenty feet of its trunk, which 
 still remains covered by creeping vines. There were but three 
 other houses on the property purchased by the association 
 that were sold for a sum exceeding a thousand dollars ; they 
 were : lot 305, with the house thereon, sold to Daniel Man- 
 sion for $1,750; lot 913, with the house thereon, sold to 
 James Coles for $1,125; and lot 839, with the house there- 
 on, sold to Andrew Purdy for $1,025. 
 
 Among the noteworthy landmarks of those early days 
 now remaining, is the old stone house on the east side of 
 Fourth avenue, north of Sixth street, the property of William 
 J. Collins; the frame house on Ninth avenue near Second 
 street, which belonged to one of the Purdys ; the house on 
 Tenth avenue near Second street, where John Oakley for many 
 years conducted a boarding and day school, and the old 
 Searing house on Eleventh avenue, first owned by Daniel 
 Searing, one of the patriots of the Revolution. The surviving 
 members of the association living in this city are Sanford 
 Hallock, Sr., 210 South Fourth avenue; John Lachenhauer, 
 223 South Twelfth avenue; Joseph Tomlinson, 13 South 
 Sixth avenue, and J. S. Van Court, 147 Stevens avenue. 
 
 The last report of the secretary of the association, made 
 on the 6th of August, 1852, shows that $106,859.08 had 
 been paid in by members and received from sales of the prop- 
 erty. Of this sum about $25,000 went for draining and grad- 
 
 Suniniit Avenue, l^ookiii^; Noi'lli iTtnu Suines .\\'enue. 
 
 ing, while the remainder represents the original cost of the 
 property purchased and the expenses of the association. 
 
 Proceedings for incorporation were begun on the 26th of 
 August, 1853, at which date a census showed the population 
 to be 1,370. An election was held on the 3d of December of 
 that year, at the cigar store of William McCafFe, corner of 
 Third avenue and Third street, to get an expression of pub- 
 lic sentiment on the question of incorporation. The Inspectors 
 of Election were Amos Cheeney, William Morse and Gilbert 
 Morgan. The vote was eighty-two in favor of incorporation, 
 and fifty-two opposed. The papers were filed in the office of 
 the Clerk of Westchester County on the 13th of December, 
 1853, the petition being signed by Stephen Bogart, Thomas 
 Jones, John B. Brennan, Enoch Douglass, Amzi Hill, Henry 
 Biggins, John Darrols and William Wisdom, the first named 
 being the president of the new village until an election should 
 be held. 
 
 West Mount Vernon was settled almost contemporaneously 
 by the "Teutonic Homestead Association," composed mainly 
 of Germans to the number of five hundred, who had pur- 
 chased 13iy2 acres of land lying between the northwestern 
 
(^HOKGIv R. CRAWI-'ORD. 
 
IIISTf)KV OF Mf)I'.\T VERNON 
 
 9 
 
 bouiul.'iry lino ol Mount W'rnon and ihc Hroux river. Several 
 other adjoining settlements followed this, as Ivast Mount 
 Vernon, Central Mount \'ernon, I'lectwood and Chester Hill. 
 West Mount \'ernon and Central Mount \'ernoii were incor- 
 porated as one village in 18(59, and Christian Koss hecanie 
 its first i)resideni. lii 1878 West Mount \ ernon was, hy 
 legislative enaetnicni, united to Mount Vernon, as had been 
 done at an earlier date with East Mount Vernon. Other 
 additions were from time to time made until the territory em- 
 braced within the area of Mount \eriion extended Imni liie 
 Hutchinson river on the east, to the Uronx river (jn the west, 
 ami from the northerly line of New York City, just below the 
 
 to take an active jiart in |)ul)lic affairs; was elected President 
 of the village in 18(;i; was for seveml years a member of the 
 School Hoard, and served twenty years as Justice of the 
 I'eace. He died in his eightieth year while on a visit to his 
 son in I'lainfield, N. J. 
 
 i'I().\i:i:rs axd f.aklv si:ttli-:ks. 
 
 When the Home Industrial Association actjuired the prop- 
 el ty heretofore described, there were but few houses on it, 
 and the adjoining land which was subse(|uentl\' annexed to 
 .Mount X'eriion was not then thickly settled. The most proni- 
 
 South I'^oiirth Avcmu- at I'ourlh Street, 
 Mount \cinon Hospit.il. 
 
 Arnior\'. Co. It.. I'irsl Kf}.;iiiuMil N, ('... N. V. 
 
 Martha Wilson 1 1 onic. i ( )I<1 l.adics) 
 
 Kingsbridge road, on the south, to the northern-most point 
 of the town of Pelhaiii, thence westerly along a line exteiul- 
 ing across the town of liast Chester parallel with the northern 
 boundarv line of New York City, to the Bronx river on tlie 
 north. 
 
 The Home Industrial Association held ninetj'-six meetings 
 in all, the last being on the fith of Hecember, 185-t. Though 
 the regular meetings were discontinued in March, 1852, those 
 subsecpiently held were for the iiurpose of disposing of the 
 remaining interests of the individual members of the asso- 
 ciation in the projierty not before deeded to them by Mr. 
 Stevens as trustee. 
 
 .Mr. Stevens, who may properh' be called the founder of 
 Mount Vernon, was a man of great force and sterling in- 
 tegritv. .\fter the incorporation of the village he continued 
 
 inent of the residents were: Pavid .\llerton, who liuilt the 
 house and owned the estate on the White Plains road now 
 occu])ied by ex-Judge Mills: Charles .\rcher, for whom .\rcher 
 avenue was named: William H. Bard, who became, and con- 
 tinueti for many years to be, the leading dealer in real est.ite 
 ill the town of Kast Chester: (George tlould, who built and con- 
 ducted the Mount Vernon Hotel: Joshua Hunt, who owned 
 a large tract of land, including the familiar " Hunt's woods," 
 to the cast of which the old homestead still stands : Pelhani 
 L. McClellan, who became the first village clerk, was a SujKr- 
 visor from 18()() to 18()2, and was elected Pistrict .\ttorney 
 for Westchester County in 18(>+: Peter Rich, tor whom Rich 
 avenue was named : John W. Sageiiiaii, who gave the name to 
 Sagciiian's corners, and John L. Straub, the lather of the 
 present City Tre;isurer. 
 
10 
 
 IT T S T O R Y 
 
 () F M () TT X T 
 
 \' I-: R N () X 
 
 Of those who settled or were horn here in the next twenty- 
 five years, and who Iiecanie identified in one wa}" or another 
 with Mount Vernon's progress, may be mentioned: 
 
 lames M. Anderson. Minott C. Kellogg. 
 
 (George C. Ai)i)ell. Jessie Lantz. 
 
 Caleb S. Rabeoek. Daniel Lewis. 
 
 Hr. A. T. Banning. Henry Lohnian. 
 
 Second Avciuic. I.ooUiiij; North tr'jiii Fourth Stiett. 
 
 DEVELOPMENT. 
 
 At the settling of Mount \'ernon a post-office was located 
 at Hunt's bridge, then outside the limits, Joshua Heustis 
 being the first postmaster. In a short time the office was 
 transferred to the Mount Vernon Hotel building. A. M. Hix 
 succeeded Mr. Heustis, and the subsequent postmasters have 
 been George Gould, J. S. VanCourt, Jackson Hart, Jonathan 
 A Searles, Andrew Bridgeman, who served twenty-three years, 
 David Quackinbush, Henry Huss, Clarence S. McClellan and 
 David O. Williams, the present incumbent. 
 
 On the 6th of August, 1852, the Executive Committee of 
 the Industrial Association reported that three hundred houses 
 had been erected or were constructing. In that year Mount 
 \ ernon was made a regular station on the N. Y., N. H. & 
 H. K. Since then the growth has been continuous and uninter- 
 rupted. It will lie expedient to fi^llow Mount Vernon's expan- 
 sion step b\- step, placing the noteworthy events, so far as 
 practicable, in chronological order. 
 
 1852. A public school, conducted by John A. Graves, 
 was located on the second floor of the unfinished house of 
 J. L. Guerin, at the corner of Fifth avenue and Third street. 
 A few months later it was removed to Journeau's Hall, at 
 Fifth avenue and Fourth street. In the autumn was begun 
 the erection of a school-house in Fourth avenue near Fourth 
 
 George L. Baxter. 
 Samuel Bernstein. 
 John Berry. 
 William Braidwood. 
 John H. Brett. 
 Andrew Bridgeman. 
 Simeon L. Close. 
 George F. Coleman. 
 William J. Collins. 
 George K. Crawford. 
 Burr Davis. 
 John M. Dearborn. 
 Jacob Drews. 
 
 Horace Loomis. 
 Philip Lucas, Jr. 
 Gerd Martens. 
 Arthur J. McCarten. 
 James M. Nelson. 
 Charles H. Ostrander. 
 William H. Pemberton. 
 i^dward L. Phipjis. 
 ("lideon D. I'otid. 
 David (juackinbnsh. 
 William Saxtcm. 
 Richard Seder. 
 Theodore T, \ lor. 
 
 l.iiKohi Avrmic. Lookin^i Wisl IVoin I''iiltoTi Avcnm-. 
 
 Alfred H. Dunconibe. 
 William P. listerlirook. 
 Donald F'erguson. 
 Azro Fowler. 
 Edward Ga\-. 
 Albert F. (^escheidt. 
 Aaron R. Ilaight. 
 William Holdredge. 
 John I'. Jar vis. 
 James H. Jenkins. 
 
 Edward I'nderhill. 
 William H. \'anArs(lalc. 
 Beekman VanGaasbeck. 
 John \'anSantvoord. 
 Joseph Weber. 
 Charles H. Weiss. 
 Dr. George C. Weiss. 
 Max Wintjen. 
 Joseph S. Wood. 
 I. Frank Wright. 
 
 Fourth Avciiuf. L<tokin^ South from F'oiirth Stret't. 
 
 street. A separate paper, by Mr. Joseph .S. Wood, treating 
 of our schools, constitutes a part of this work. 
 
 1855. A social sjiirit was early manifested among the 
 settlers. On the 12th of January was fiirmed the Mount 
 \ernon Literary Association, with Mr. Pelham L. McClellan, 
 I 'resident: and on the 28th of February the .Mount Vernon 
 I Ic)rticultural Society was created, with Henry Biggins, Presi- 
 (k-nt. On the 24-th of November was organized Clinton Hook 
 & Ladder Company, of which Drake P. Todd was elected 
 foreman. It was located in Third street, in the rear of Hal- 
 lock's bakehouse. 
 
 1857. John Oakley established at his residence, in Tenth 
 avenue, near Second street, a select boarding and day school, 
 which he conducted until 1879. On the 25th of August, 
 Hiawatha Lodge No. 434, F. & A. M., received its warrant 
 of dispensation, and its charter on the 8th of June, 1858. 
 Dedication and installation of officers took place June 24th 
 in that year. William M. Palmer, Jr., was its first Master. 
 Meetings were held in an upper room of Van Court's store. 
 Its present officers are Samuel N, Hoag, Master; Elmer F. 
 Smith, Senior Warden; Jarvis W. Mason, Junior Warden; 
 Burr Davis, Treasurer, and Harry R. Lowe, Secretary. An 
 association was formed to erect a building with steam power 
 
HISTORY OF MOT XT V Iv K \ O X 
 
 siiital)k' for inaiuitjK tiiriiij: purposes. The hiiildiii;^ was located 
 in Sixth avenue soiitli of I'irst street. In the early years of 
 the Civil War it was occupied ])y Johnston Ik Dow for the 
 production of cartridf;es ; later, and until \S(','.t, Henj.nnin \V. 
 Tilton used it as a carriaj^e factoi \ ; next came Harrison, 
 Bradford & Co., who established a jjcn factory with seventy- 
 five employees ; J. W. Nichols then used it for the manufacture 
 of hats; afterward it hecanie a storehousi' and salesroom for 
 huildinj^ materials, and finally it was converted into what 
 is now known as the Martens flats. A year later lidmund 
 Iloole erected a huildiii'; in l-\)urth avenue for the manu- 
 facture of duplex checks and railroad stamps. 11c met with 
 j^reat success, and eventually removed his I)usiness to New 
 York. 
 
 .\. \ .. N. II. ,v II. K. K. Si^iuon 
 K;ist First Street, West IV.iin Tliircl Avciicie 
 
 l.SG.S. On the 27tli of October was formed Comijany C, 
 17th Keffiment, X. O., with forty-six men, of" which William 
 S. .McClellan was Captain, A. C. Beardslev, I'irst Lieutenant, 
 and W. II. \'anCott, Second Lieutenant. Its armory was in 
 Union Hall, corner of Sixth avenue and First street. It was 
 disbanded in Au;j:ust, 1868. Several other comi)anies were 
 subsecjuenth' formed, none of which now exist except the 
 Eleventh Separate Conipain- Infantrj-, N. G., X. Y., which was 
 orjjanized on the 14th of June, 1876, as a Troop of Cavalry, and 
 Samuel ( ). ll.iwe was elected its Cajitain. Its ori^nal armory 
 was in I nion Hall. In October, 1881, the com]);iny was 
 reorfjanized into a company of infantry as the Ivleventh Se])a- 
 r.'itc Company. It is now Company B, 1st Ke<iiment, X. Cr., 
 X. \'. It is housed in a fine armory in north I'ifth avenue, 
 and its officers arc: Captain, M. I". Carmody; I-'irst Lieti- 
 
 tenant, Charles Canlield; Second Lieutenant, Walter I». C.or- 
 ham. The actinfi: Sur>,'eon is Hr. H. Ivu},'ene Smith, who is 
 on the repmenlal staff of Col. Robert T. Enimett. 
 
 l.SCC). "The Wartbur^ <)ri)han Farm School" of the 
 Ivvan^elical Lutheran Church was orj^anized, thoufjh it was 
 not incorporated until ^x('l'J. The buildin^^s erected fi)r the 
 uses of the institution were located on firound purchased 
 outside the village limits, but which is now in the north- 
 east corner of the present city. 
 
 18()7. (ias was introduced, and distributed from a jjlant 
 erected by 1. Ivdward Ireland. .Mount \ernon Lodgf, Xo. 
 1 ',>.■), I. O. O. F., was instituted, with Thomas K. Jones as 
 X. (i., anil John 11. Jcnnin;,^s as \'. C. The present officers 
 arc: N. G., Thomas II. Hodge; Y. G., William Moebus; Ke- 
 
 1 
 
 M.irtiiK HinUlin); 
 Hast First Street trmn City II.'ill 
 
 cordinii Secretary, John Lambert; Financial Secretary, John 
 II. Jenninfis, and Treasurer, James B. Spicer. .\ German 
 lodf^e — liinheit — was formed eleven years later. 
 
 ISIJS. .Mount \ernon Chajiter .No. 22S, K. .A. .M., insti- 
 tuted under a dispensation of 10th of June, 1S()8, was con- 
 stituted nn the l,->tli of I'ebruary, ISC)',), with John H. C.ray 
 as first lliu'li I'riest. It is now officered ;is follows: High 
 Priest, ICdwin L. Loudon; King, Samuel N. H(»ag; Scribe, 
 Joseiili Tonilinson; Treasurer, Burr Davis, and Secretary, 
 C. F. Sherman. 
 
 1871. Bethlehem Coniniandery No. ,->3, Knights Templar, 
 was organized under dispensation of 8th May, 1871, at Xew 
 Rochelle, receiving its warrant in October fidlowing. The 
 Kev. Willi;uii S. Cofley was the first Ivminent Commander. 
 It was removed, by jiuthoriiy, to .Mount \'ernon, 17th of Sc])- 
 
14 
 
 HIST () R Y OF iM O U N T V E K X O N 
 
 tcmher, 188(5. It has a unique and a])propriate asvluni in 
 the building at the southwest corner of Fifth avenue and 
 First street. It is constructed to represent the courtyard of 
 a castellated structure of the middle ages, having its ancient 
 gateway, massive walls, towers, l)attlements and turrets, with 
 ivy-grown windows, etc. This realistic work, and the success 
 of the organization, are due to the efforts of Past Com- 
 mander George K. Crawford and his zealous associates. The 
 present officers are : Eminent Commander, Daniel Lewis ; 
 (ieneralissimo, J. Caleb Fisher; Captain-General, Theodore 
 Taylor; Senior Warden, Charles VV. Heusted ; Junior Warden, 
 Samuel N. Hoag; Prelate, Edwin L. Loudon; Treasurer, 
 Charles A. Ilodgman, and Recorder, .Edgar T. Stewart. 
 
 1880. The Chronicle building was erected by Jose])h S. 
 Wood on the east side of Fourth avenue. To the efforts of 
 Mr. Wood is largely due the establishment of I'elham Bay 
 Park. Farnsworth Post No. 170, G. A. K., was organized 
 21st of July. Its present officers are: Commander, Henr\' E. 
 Rhoades ; Senior \'ice-Conimander, J. L. D. Riker; Junior 
 Vice-Commander, Henry Lilly ; Adjutant, William P. Sleight ; 
 Quartermaster, N. VanHorson; Surgeon, J. Q. A. Hollister; 
 Chaplain, Charles N. VanCourt ; Officer of the Day, A. Good- 
 enough; Guard, Ernest Grube ; Quartermaster-Sergeant, Will- 
 iam Wilson, Jr., and Sergeant-Major, William A. Anderson. 
 The Young Men's Christian Association was organized on the 
 2-tth of Octoljer, though it was not incorporated until the 
 
 187,'!. On the Mh ol October occurred a fire at First 
 street and Fourth avenue which destroyed sixteen buildings, 
 including three hotels. The loss was estimated to exceed 
 $125,000, while the insuraiuc was less than $7(i,0()(l. In that 
 year John Berry erected tlu' building on the west side of 
 I'%)urth avenue, now occui)ie(l by Genung iS; McArdle. At the 
 time of its construction it was the most ] netent ic jus biiildini; 
 in the village. 
 
 187.'). (hiiding Star lincamiimenl No. 8,'l, 1. ( ). ( ). F., 
 was chartered on lOth of I-'ebruary. Its officers are: C. 1'., 
 ivdmund A. Knight: II. P., George Bedell; S. W., William 
 Robertson; Recording Scribe, A. Murray Jenks; Financial 
 Scribe, John II. Jennings; J. W., Thomas II. Hodge, and 
 Treasurer, Henrv Rabe. 
 
 Si. I'.iurs Cliuiili, i;pisi.'o|i,-il 
 
 2Sili III July, iss,"). jdhn nSa iilvoord was its first jjresi- 
 (lent.* 
 
 18S2. The Mount X'enion Water Company was incorpo- 
 rated to I'urnisli the village with water. The supply was 
 derived from a well oOO feet deep sunk in .Seventh Avenue 
 near Third Street, with a ca])acity of 72.000 gallons a day. 
 In 188G this company was .-disorbed by the N. \ . t<: M. \'. 
 Water Co., which secured its supply from the Hutchinson 
 River, providing a reservoir at Pelhaniville with a storage 
 capacity of 20.000.000 gallons. The last company was 
 succeeded by the N. V. City Suburban Water Company in 
 1891, which increased the supply by actpiiring the "Tom 
 Paine" brook, where was constructed an additional reservoir 
 
 * A local newspaper, several years afio, jjavc the date ol orfranizalion, 1st of October, liul tlic writer lias followed the text of llie 
 
 Kcv. I>r. Coffey's sketcli. 
 
MINOT C. Ki;i,l,()C.l'. 
 
IIISTOKV O I- MOUXT V F. K X O X 
 
 17 
 
 of 88.000, ()()() j^allons capacity. In 1SU4- \v;is adoijtcd a 
 rifvinji jjroccss bv aeration and sand (iltr;ition. The title of the 
 existin-i: company i.s the .\e\v York Intcr-rrl)an Water Coni- 
 l)anv, which accpiircd all pro])erty and rij,dits of its predecessors 
 on the 2Sth Xovenil)er, l'.)Ol. 
 
 1884. The Armory for the Ivlcvcnth Separate Company, 
 now Company B, was built at I-'ifth avenue and North street- 
 
 1885. The jjopnlalion of tlie viiia;,'e was found to be 
 5,5(>0. 
 
 1887. This _vear broni^ht the Chester Hill district to the 
 
 Si-i'oiul Sli^ci, i.iciUni.; tisi iioin sih A vuiiin'. 
 
 fore. In the years 18(58-9, Mr. Charles Crary, of New York, 
 bought several farms a{if<jre<iatin<^ about 150 acres, and lying 
 north of the X. Y., N. il. & H. K. tracks, south of the White 
 Plains road, and between Columbus avenue -and what is now 
 known as Crary avenue. The average cost to Mr. Crary was 
 less than $500 an acre. The was nia])]icd out into lots 
 
 and streets, and some grading and road -making was done. 
 Within the next eighteen years perhaps fifteen or twenty un- 
 jiretentious houses were built vi])on the tract, the ])urehasers 
 paying from .$500 to $700 each for their lots. In 1887 Col. 
 Herman I letnicbergcr, ,'dso of New York, bought eighteen 
 
 acres of land north of the White Plains road, and east ol 
 I-'^ourth avenue, for about $S()0 an acre. Immediately there 
 began a boom for real estate in that vicinity. The Ilenne- 
 bergcr tract, or most of it, became known as \'illa Park, and 
 that, together with the "Conklin & Chivvis," the Josephs. 
 Wood," and the " J. Prank Wright" i)l()ts were o])ened up for 
 sale, and were known as additions to Chester Hill, which had 
 originallv comprised the area bounded by the White Plains 
 road, the X. Y. & X. II. tracks, Park and Summit avenues. 
 The " Porster" ;ind Corcoran .Manor plots were soon put ujion 
 
 the market. To-day that entire territory, including of course 
 the Crary tract, abounds with fine residences costing from 
 $5,000 to $.'55,000 each. Lots of fifty feet front, when they 
 can be bought, readily bring $.'{,500 each, or at the rate of 
 $28,000 an acre; and the lands on the northeast, uj) to the 
 city line, ;ire being ra])idly developed with a view of sui)i)ly- 
 ing the demand f>r eligible building sites in that vicinity. 
 Several years later, \'ernon Heights, ;i section lying south 
 of liast Third street, and east of Coknnbus avenue, was 
 opened u|) for im])rovement. Lots have sold well; nuiny fine 
 houses have been built, and the tract is regarded as a close 
 rival of Chester Hill. The Dearborn building, on the east side 
 of l-'ourth avenue, was erected, and soon thereafter the ui)i)er 
 floors were occupied by the village ofliccs. 
 
 188S. There was laid f)n the Nth of December the corner- 
 stone of a fine building erected for the Young Men's Christian 
 Association. It was finished and dedicated on the 1st of 
 October, ISS'.). 1 1 is in Fourth <'i venue north of Second street. 
 
 IS'JO. On the l.Sth of January there was a meeting of 
 citizens, from which was apjiointed a committee to draft a 
 constitution and by-laws for a proposed association to secure 
 the establishment of a hosj)ital in .Mount \'ernon. At a later 
 meeting the constitution and by-laws re])orted were adopted, 
 and officers elected, who were cheered by the announcement 
 
 .\rc"lK-r A vt-mic. looking iiorili Irom I'litsiiccl Avl-ihk-. 
 
 that $1,500 had alreadj* been subscribed toward the Mount 
 X'crnon Ivmergcncv IIosj)ital. .\ buihling owned by Col. Henry 
 Huss, ;it \'alciitinc street ;ind Seventh avenue, was hired at 
 a nominal rent, ;ind was ready tor the reception of patients 
 on the 21st of May. Subsetiueiitly contributions from various 
 sources added to the association's funds. .Miss Martha Wilson 
 gave to the extent of $10,000; others did as their means 
 permiiied; a fair held in the winter of 1 8',)1 yielded $1,500 
 net, so that the Board of .Managers was encouraged to jilan 
 for a new building, the corner-stone of which was kiid on 
 the 22(1 of I'ebruary, 1803. It was completed in Se]>tem))er 
 of that year, at a cost of about $H),00(). Immediately u|)on 
 its oceui)aney the jniblie was invited to inspect the Imilding, 
 and incidentally to aid the success of a fair then in jirogress 
 for the benefit of the hospital. It yielded $5,500. The build- 
 ing is located on Seventh avenue north of \ alentine street. 
 Last year, through the liberality of Charles Hill Willsou, there 
 was built an extensive addition, comprising rooms for jiatients 
 and nurses, and a diet-kitchen ;is well as a sitting-room for 
 the use of nur.ses. He also fitted up, in the original builil- 
 ing, in memory of his mother, a completely furnished room 
 to be known as the ".Mary Hill Willson" room. The physi- 
 cians of the city cheerfully render gratuitous service to the 
 liosi)ital. The managers h.ave the assistance and co-oi>eralion 
 
IS 
 
 HISTORY OF MOUNT VERNON. 
 
 of the Woman's Auxiliary, an organization eifected in May, 
 1901. It is composed of many, indeed a greater part, of the 
 public-spirited women of the city, who render valuable service 
 through their several committees. The President of the Aux- 
 iliary is Mrs. Cornelius McLean, who is ably assisted by ear- 
 nest associate officers. There is, in addition, a Junior Auxili- 
 ary, comprising the sympathetic young girls of the city, who 
 do their part by supplying books and flowers. The managers 
 of the hospital are James M. Anderson, John Clawson, Will- 
 iam D. Howe and Maitland B. Sloat. The hospital is not a 
 city institution, and does not derive its revenue from the city 
 treasury. The work is dependent upon the contributions of 
 citizens whose humane impulse leads them to aid the cause, 
 or who are impelled by local pride to assist the maintenance 
 of so laudable an undertaking. 
 
 Willi am J, Paskett and Dr. Edward P. Brush, The Finance 
 Committee received prompt subscriptions from public-spirited 
 citizens to the amount of $1,950, which encouraged the pro- 
 jectors to believe that the total sum necessary for the con- 
 struction of a suitable monument would ultimately be sub- 
 scribed; and this was confirmed by the assurance of Charles 
 Hill Willson, who advised the monument committee toproceed 
 with the work, and he would make good any deficiency. The 
 monument, a notable example of its kind, was erected, and 
 dedicatory exercises took place on Memorial Day, 1891. The 
 Rev. Oliver Dyer presided. The address was delivered by ex- 
 Postmaster-General Thomas L. James. Farnsworth Post, 
 G. A. R., and many other local organizations participated 
 in the ceremonies, which were in charge of Charles M. Mc)se- 
 man as Grand Marshal, and which were made especially at- 
 
 A meeting of citizens was held on the 13th of June, 
 at the residence of John VanSantvoord, to form an asso- 
 ciation having in view the erection in Mount Vernon of a 
 monument to the memory of the soldiers and sailors who 
 had offered their lives in defense of the Union. The following 
 officers were elected : President, Charles M. Moseman ; First 
 Vice-President, Charles Hill Willson ; Second Vice-President, 
 Rev. Oliver Dyer; Treasurer, John VanSantvoord; Secretary, 
 Prank Gorham, and Corresponding Secretary, Charles J. 
 Chatfield. Subsequent meetings of the association were held 
 at the house of Henry Huss, 48 Valentine street. Committees 
 were appointed as follows : Finance Committee, John N. 
 I^ockhart, John Berry, John M. Dearborn, Dr. S. L Close 
 and Gouverneur Rogers. Monument Committee, Henry Hnss, 
 
 ractive by the admirable singing of the school children, uu- 
 er the leadership of Alfred Hallam. The monument is located 
 at Sixth avenue and Valentine street, upon a plot of ground 
 purchased from Col. Huss at a fraction of its value. The base 
 of the monument, ten feet high, is of granite. The bronze 
 figure surmounting it is of a typical American soldier. It is 
 8 feet high; was designed by Karl Gerhard, of Hartford, 
 Conn., and was cast at Chicopee, Mass. Beneath the monu- 
 ment, at its erection, was placed a copper box containing 
 memoranda of the personnel of the several committees, a list 
 of the contributors, copies of M. V. and N. Y. newspapers, a 
 small silk American flag, Indian arrow-heads, flint for flint- 
 lock muskets, percussion-caps, modern cartridges, continental 
 money, confederate notes, greenbacks, and a history of the 
 
(iBOKGlv llAVIvS. 
 
HISTORY () !• MOrXT VI-:KX()X 
 
 21 
 
 IIduk' Iiuluslri.'il Association whioli louiukd Mount \'(.Tnon. 
 The monument was suitably inscribed ii\u>u its erection: l)ut 
 several years later, throuf^h the eflorts of the Board of Trade, 
 this additional inscrii)tion was placed on the west tablet : 
 "This tablet is inscribed to the noble women who from home, 
 hospital and lield, contributed to the iireservation of the 
 I nioii." On the grounds surroundinf^ the monument are two 
 eij^ht-iiieh howitzers, and cijjhty ten-inch shells, the latter 
 piled in pyramids. These were obtained, in ISOT, at Covern- 
 or's Island throufjh the flood offices of the lion. Hen. L. 
 
 Fairchild, then Conjjressman from this district. 
 
 An elaborate electric plant was installed at Xortli Kail- 
 road avenue and Howard street, to sup])ly the villaf;e with 
 additional li-rht. On the lOth of Xovember was orf^anized 
 Oolden Rod Council, No. 1,31(>, Royal Arcanum, with twenty- 
 six members. It now has a membership of more than six hun- 
 dred. Its present officers are: Rcf^ent, Stejiheii VanTassel: 
 Vice-Rej,'ent, T. B. Graham: Orator, H. I). Duncan: Past 
 Rci^ent, H. K. Keller; Treasurer, Edward W. Storms: Cha])- 
 lain, T. \V. Robinson: Guide, A. A. Haring: Warden, T. \V. 
 
 Rose; Sentry, F. (irabofski ; Secretary, .\. \V. Bertine; Col- 
 lector, \V. .\I. Ruschhaupt, and Medical Hxaminer, S. Oscar 
 .Myers, M. I). 
 
 1891. The Mount Vernon Turn Verein was formed. It has 
 become a prosperous and popular orjjanization, with a wcll- 
 equijiped club-house and hall at Tenth and Stevens avenues. On 
 the 10th of Octol)er was incorporated the ".Martha Wilson 
 Home," and on the 24-th of November following .Miss M.-irt ha 
 Wilson presented to the Board of Directors, in trust, a deed 
 of the i)ro])erty at the corner of Franklin .avenue ;ind I'nion 
 
 l-ane, com|)rising .'i plot ol 1 S(j by 20.") liel, with a large 
 house. Subsc(|uently she jturchased and presented an addi- 
 tional lot, making the frontage 20."> leet. She also endowed 
 the home to the amount of $2(i,000. h is for the shelter 
 and c.'ire ol old Ladies. 
 
 1S'j2. This was ;in eventful ye;ir in local history. .As 
 early ;is 1 S'.)0 there w;is discussed the proposition to secure 
 a city charter for the then growing village of fifteen thousand 
 inhal)itants. It was thought to have outgrown its swaddling- 
 clothes, and to be fitted for the m;iture g;irb of cityhood. 
 In the following year .Messrs. George C. .\])]r11, ICdgar K. 
 Brown and .Milo J. White, aided and counselled by others, 
 pre])ared an act of incor])oration, which wjis submittefl to the 
 vill.-ige officers <'ind by them ;i])proved. It was [jresented to 
 the Legislature in 1S'.I2, and on the 2')ih of I'ebruary was 
 f.'ivorably rejjorled. In .March an election was held in the 
 room of the Bo;ird ol Trustees to gel an ex|)ression ot ])ublie 
 sentiment on the proj)osition. The vote was largely in favor 
 of the bill, which was prom])ily enacted, and received the 
 ai)proval of Governor Flower on the 22d of that month. 
 
 The first election under the new charter was held on the 
 17th of .May following, and the officers chosen were: Mayor, 
 lidward F. Brush, .M.D. ; City Judge, George C. Appell : City 
 Treasurer, Clarence S. McClellan ; Receiver of Taxes, John 
 
 ¥1 
 
 I'uUtin A \fmic. IdoIvIii.;.; nni-ili Iroiii I.iiKolii .\\fiiiK-. 
 
 II. Brett; Justice of the Peace, William II. Bard; Sujiervisor, 
 John Thurton; Assessors, John H. Cordes, Richard Seder, 
 Chas. II. Weiss: Aldermen, Chas. F. Bruning, (nistavus Kess- 
 Icr, Thco. Taylor, Fred. .Mager, William A. .\nderson, David 
 C. Curtis, Charles 11. Johnson, .\lbert S. Jenks, Richard B. 
 Cassebeer and Samuel J. Johnson. 
 
 .Mayor Brush's appointees were: James P. Hayes, City 
 Clerk; I-^rederick S. Odell, Commissioner of Public Works; 
 Frank N. Glover, Counsel to the Corporation; Stuart B. 
 Carlisle, .M.D., Health Officer; Caleb S. Babcock, Commis- 
 sioner of Charities; Jeremiah C. Foley, Chief of Police ; J. N. 
 Loekhart, lulson Lewis and Frank G. Bruce, I'ire Commis- 
 sioners. At the election four years later .\d;un I-'. Schatz 
 succeeded George C. .Vppell as City Judge, .-ind the former, 
 at the expiration of his term, gave place to I'r.'ink .\. Ben- 
 nett. Tracks were l.-iid and trolley ears run thereon between 
 Mount X'ernoii and New York. 
 
 lS<j;5. In framing the city charter the old Fnion l-'rec 
 School districts of the town ot' l--ast Chester were left undis- 
 turbed, hence there was no aiitonomy in the school system of 
 the new city. In tlie winter of lSil,'{ the writer prepared a 
 bill providing for the consolid.-ition of the several school dis- 
 tricts, ;ind authorizing the esl.'iblishmcnt of ;i liigh school. 
 The bill was submitted to a conimiiiee composed of members 
 
II I S T O R V 
 
 ( ) F M C) U N T VERNON 
 
 of the Coniiiion Council and representatives from the fotir 
 school districts. In the conference a few changes were made 
 which weakened rather than improved the measure; it was 
 then sent to the Legislature, and was enacted in January, 
 1894. 
 
 I j) to this time the trains of the N. Y., N. H. & H. K. K. 
 had run through the village and city at grade, the track 
 crossings being protected by drop-bars. The original station 
 was at the southwest corner of First street and Fourth avenue. 
 When that became inadequate an unsightly brick building 
 
 Reads Mill. 
 
 was erected on the north side of First street, between Third 
 and Fourth avenues, where it stood as an e\-esore for nuun* 
 years. This year the Company depressed the tracks, put- 
 ting iron bridges over them where necessary at street cross- 
 ings. It also acquired the Burton projierty, extending from 
 its tracks north to Prospect avenue, and from First to Third 
 avenue. Thereon was built an attractive station surrcjinided 
 by ample ground, and the monstrosity on First street wjis 
 demolished. Land was also secured for a freight yard extend- 
 ing from First to Fulton avenue. 
 
 1894-. In September was established the Mount Vernon 
 
 Scaton I'iills. 
 
 High School as the result of permissive legislation. There 
 was some opposition to the plan, as there always is to any 
 measure, however meritorious. Several members of the Board 
 of Education were either openly or covertly opposed to the 
 project, and sought to dela\' its execution, but the preponder- 
 ance of ])ublic sentiment was so manifestly in favor of edu- 
 cational progress that the obstructionists were forced to yield, 
 and the school was opened in the Chester Hill school-house. 
 
 with Professor Abial B. Davis, one of the most accomplished 
 educators in the State, as the principal. 
 
 There was a sentiment among some of the most promi- 
 nent and influential citizens that Mount X'ernon should be 
 annexed to the city of New York. Other members of the 
 community, equally well intentioned, opposed the plan. Pub- 
 lic meetings were held and the question was discussed from 
 all points of view. Finally it was submitted to the people 
 for settlement, and a feeling of local pride led them to decide 
 by a majority of 730 votes against union. 
 
 1897. A building for the use of the High School was 
 erected at a cost of $65,000. It is a suitable and well-equipped 
 structure, located on the east side of Fourth avenue, north 
 of Fourth street. 
 
 1898. Edwin J. Lucas erected a building extending from 
 Third to Fourth avenue— two hundred feet — for the uses of 
 the nninicipalit3', and upon its completion most of the two 
 upper floors were occupied by the several departments of the 
 city government. It is situated just north of the tracks of 
 the N. v., N. H. & H. R., and a street in front of it, known 
 as Depot Place, was opened by Mr. Lucas and ceded to the 
 city. 
 
 1901. The city acquired as a gilt from Edward Hartley, 
 for use as a public park, a ]5lot of about five acres of land 
 bounded by East Lincoln avenue, Crary avenue, North street 
 £ind Fourth avenue. Some preliminar} work has been done 
 
 ML. Xci'iioii I'uiuiiiii^i StJition N. \', Iriler-l'i Ikiii W.ilcr Co. 
 
 upon the tract, and it is hoped in the near future to have 
 it properly fitted for the purpose designed. A building used 
 as a scIkxjI and chapel on the Wartburg farm was totalh' 
 destroyed by fire on the 29th of November. The estimated 
 loss was 15,000. There was insurance to the amount of 
 $9,500. 
 
 1902. There was passed by both branches of the Legis- 
 lature a bill authorizing the construction of a viaduct over 
 the depression in Mount \'ernon avenue, from about High 
 street to the Yonker's line, crossing the tracks of the New 
 York Central railroad, which runs through the city at grade. 
 For some reason not clear to the projectors of the measure 
 it was vetoed by Governor Odell, and the city was thus de- 
 prived of a needed improvement, and one that would have 
 conduced to the safety of its people. The New York Infant 
 Asylum, which had long been located on the White Plains 
 road, south of the city line, closed its doors, removing the 
 inmates to other institutions. The property, comprising 
 about fifty acres, was bought by a syndicate with a view of 
 development, and to be sold in lots for high-class residences. 
 It is to be known as Alameda Park. 
 
 The affairs of the municipality were not conducted with- 
 
IIOX. ISAAC i\. MILLS. 
 
IIISTOKV OP MOT XT V H K \ O N 
 
 25 
 
 out sonic friction. The election of Mayor Ivdson Lewis in 
 1894 was contested by his opponent, Ivdwin W. I'iske, and 
 after a protracted Icfjal strug<;le, the final decision of the 
 court was that Mayor Lewis had been elected by a majority 
 of two votes. Two years later Mr. I'iske was ajiain the Demo- 
 cratic candidate for mayor, and thou^^h the city had become 
 stron^^ly Republican, he was elected by a majority of more 
 than five hundred votes. This result was considered an ex- 
 
 Central Hose Co. No. -i. Truck Co. N'o. 2 
 
 pression of public disa])proval of the outcome of" the jircvious 
 election. Since then Mavor Fiske has been re-elected three 
 consecutive times, thouj^h his last election, in 1891, was con- 
 tested by ex-.Mayor Edward F. Brush; but after several hear- 
 ings and decisions upon the various sep;irate issues raised 
 by counsel on both sides, it was made manifest that Mayor 
 Fiske's majority as shown by the returns could not be over- 
 come, and the suit was drop]X'd. In 1S9S, Mayor I'iske's 
 
 Clinton II. and L. Co. Nia.i;ara Most' Co, 
 
 active political opponents, disturbed by his reiieated suc- 
 cesses at the polls, sought to have him impeached for alleged 
 misconduct in office. Elaborate charges prepared by astute 
 counsel were presented to Governor Roosevelt, and by him 
 referred to the Attorney General for an opinion. That olli- 
 cer reported that the charges were not such as to call for a 
 further investigation, and that if sustained they would not 
 be sufficiently grave to justify the Mayor's removal from 
 
 olfice. Three years later the Republican politicians framed 
 and submitted to the Legislature— then strongly Republican— 
 a bill to make .Mayor I'iske ineligible for re-election: but 
 public sentiment was so manifestly against the scheme that 
 in January, 1901, at a hearing by the Senate Committee on 
 Cities, Senator -Mills aniKjunced that he withdrew the objection- 
 able clause. Of the remaining features of the projjosed act 
 the most important was a provision to change the lime for 
 municipal elections from May to .November. Though this, 
 too, was a move wholly in the interest of the Republican 
 party, it became a law, and the next charter election was 
 deferred until November, 1901. 
 
 Ivarly in 1902, Alderman James P. Hayes submitted to 
 the Common Council a resolution, which was adopted by 
 the Repuljlican majority, directing an investigation of all the 
 departments of the cit^' government from the beginning of 
 Mayor Fiske's administration. The resolution prescribed no 
 limit as to time or cost. Accordingly, Samuel D. Patterson, 
 an expert accountant, was emjiloyed : he hired several assist- 
 ants, and the work began. Meantime the .Mayor suggested 
 that if it was intended to make the investigation thorough 
 and non-partisan, it should cover the terms i>f his ])redeces- 
 
 I n(!e]n.'nilc:n Ilosc Co. No. 1! 
 
 S Drs ill olfice as well as his own. A resolution to thatvcfiect 
 was finally adopted. 
 
 .\s the work progressed with no definite result other than 
 heavy drafts upon the city treasury, a feeling of public dis- 
 satisfaction was aroused; citizens, outside the office-holding 
 or office-seeking class, protested ag;iiiist an exj)enditure which 
 they deemed unnecessary and wasteful. So widespread became 
 this sentiiiient that in December, Mark D. Stiles, chairman 
 of the Republican city committee, took it upon himself to 
 call a meeting of taxpayers to discuss the situation. There 
 it was made known that the cost of the investigation was 
 $125 a day, and Josejih S. Wood, a clear-headed statistician 
 and a large taxpayer, demonstrated that, based upon the 
 time already consumed, the expense incurred and the results 
 attained, the completion of the work would reciiiire seven 
 years, and would cost $2oO,000. Charles Hill Willson, also 
 a large landowner, as well as a prominent Re]iublican, was 
 eciually ]ironounced in his disajiproval. .■Mderman Hayes 
 could make no jiredietion as to the duration of the investi- 
 gation, hut thought the cost would not exceed $;?0,000, and 
 the only achievement he would |ironiise was that we would 
 "know where we were ;it." The nieelinc w;is not l;irgclv 
 
2G 
 
 HISTORY OF MOUNT VERNON. 
 
 attended, possibly it was not designed to be ; but the pro- 
 moters of the project were there in sufficient number to make 
 it appear to be the sense of the gathering that the work 
 should go on. Those whose financial interests were at stake, 
 however, and who were not concerned in mere attempts to 
 gain a partisan advantage, determined upon preventive meas- 
 ures, and on the 16th of the month Counsellor Milo J. White, 
 acting for Richard M. Winfield, a large real estate holder, 
 secured from Justice Maddox an order staying the investi- 
 gation, pending a hearing, on the ground that the cost was 
 excessive, and that no provision of the charter authorized 
 the employment, or permitted the payment, of experts for 
 such work. Copies of the order, returnable on the 20th of 
 December, were served upon the Mayor, City Clerk, members 
 of the Common Council and the chief accountant. On return 
 dav the hearing was postponed by consent until the 23d of 
 December, when it was again postponed until the 26th. The 
 case finally came before Judge Keogh, in New Kochelle, on 
 
 the 27th of December, when the injunction was vacated, and 
 the plaintiff instructed his counsel to appeal. 
 
 Since the act of incorporation of 1892, each political 
 party has, from time to time, when opportunity offered, se- 
 cured charter amendments with the sole view of gaining a 
 partisan advantage ; the interests of the city and its people 
 were minor considerations; it was partisanship gone mad, 
 and there are indications of renewed activity in that direction. 
 Optimists, however, hope for better things ; they believe 
 that in due time the madness of mere political strife in munic- 
 ipal government will subside; that there will be practically 
 a new charter as a result of intelligent, public-spirited action 
 and co-operation ; that professional politicians will be relegated 
 to the rear, and that conservative, independent citizens will 
 see that Mount \'ernon and its interests are saved from the 
 machinations of those whose partisanship, of whatever kind 
 exceeds their patriotism. 
 
F. A. STRATTON. 
 Vicc-I'icsidciU Westchester Li^litiiiii Co 
 
History of Mount Vernon 
 
 CHAPTER 11. 
 
 NKWSI'A 1'I:KS — HANKS. 
 
 Oil tla- .'iOih cil' Scpti-mlicr, 1 S,") 1-, aiipcaivd llic Muunl 
 W-rnoii (~ia/.cllc, |)ul)lislK-il liy Ik-iiry S. Hill and 1;i;')<.tI A. S. 
 MaiiiiiiiL;. After six nioiuhs Mr. Hill withdrew, and tin- paper 
 was conducted hv .\lr. .Mannin;^ until his death in I'ehruary, 
 1S57. A few months later the publication was susjiended. 
 
 \\ i.ui^inc Co. .N.). I 
 
 The Village News was started on the 27th of June, 1S6S, by 
 \. W. McDonald and S. E. Iloldredge. The former retired 
 from the firm in a few months, and in January, l.S()9, the 
 ])aper was changed to the Weekly Sentinel, with I. I--. Ireland 
 as editor, and on the 25th of September of that year it ap- 
 I)eared as the Chronicle, with Chas. A. D. Meyerhoff as editor 
 and |)roprielor. In the second number, however, the name 
 of Joseph S. Wood was substituted as editor, with .Mr. Mever- 
 hofF as publisher. Mr. Wood personally conducted the i)aj)er 
 with success until 1884-, when its management passed into 
 the hands of Daniel Lewis. On the 1st of June, ls;);{, T. 
 .Milton Taylor became the proprietor and editor, and con- 
 ducted the paper until the 1st of September, ISDN. 
 
 Ill January, isT',), was jiublished the Ivast Chester Indc- 
 pendciu, by David Brown & Co., and later by David C. 
 Voung. It gave up the ghost in July of' the same year. The 
 .Mount Vernon Argus was first published on the 20th of .March, 
 IST'J, l)y Sidebotham & Holdredge. The latter very soon 
 thereafter dis])osed of his interest in the paper to William 
 Wallace McClellan, and the new firm of Sidebotham & Mc- 
 Clellan conducted the paper until the Isl of January, 1SS4-, 
 when Mr. .McClellan became the sole proprietor. He sold tlie 
 pa|)cr to .Mvali I'. iM-ench, of North Castle, ;ind Henry O. 
 
 SnifTen, of White Plains, on the 1st of January, 1S;»0. French 
 iK: SnilFcn ])ublished the i)a])er until the l.')th of .Viiril, ISIta, 
 when .Mr. Snitlen sold his interest to I'ranklin A. .Merriam; 
 meaiuime, however, I'rcnch & Snilfen had started the Daily 
 .\rgus in connection with the weekly ])ubliealion. On the 
 l.'Uh of August, lUOl, .Mr. Trench was succeeded by .Mark 
 D. Stiles, the firm becoming Stiles & Merriam, who are the 
 present owners. The .A.rgus had theretofore been an advo- 
 cate of Democratic ])rinciples and policies; but under the new 
 regime its political creed was changed, and it became a Repub- 
 lican newspaper of the most radical type, seeking to infuse a 
 partisan spirit even into the minutiae of municipal aflairs. 
 Rc])nblican incumbency it regards as a benefaction, a sacro- 
 sanct disiiensation, while the domination of any other ])olit- 
 ical jiarly it believes is a menace to national and mnnicipid 
 life. 
 
 In ISSl- Henjaniin I". .Ashley began the publication of the 
 Westchester County Record. It was bought, in 1S92, by the 
 Record Association, and its name w;is changed to the Mount 
 X'ernon Record. On the 1st of September, 1S9S, the Chronicle 
 was merged \\i :h the Record under a time-limit contract, and 
 the Chronicle- Record was continued under the editorial man- 
 agement of Col. W. J. Bryant uuu\ his death in July, 11*00. 
 
 On the 1st of Se]Hember, 1901, at the ex])iration of the con- 
 tract, the Chronicle and Record parted company, the former 
 going out of existence, and the latter continuing to be ])ub- 
 lislied from the eslal>lishment of the Daily .Vrgiis. 
 
 In June, IMU, Stejihen J. Siillwell, a young lawyer, estali- 
 
30 
 
 HIST ( ) R Y OF MOUNT VERNON. 
 
 lished the Reformer. He ei)nducted it vi^oniuslv and afjjjres- 
 sively, and hy tact and energy secured the city's advertisinjf, 
 which made his paper a valuable asset, so valuable indeed 
 that in November, 1892, Mr. Stillwell sold his paper at a 
 satisfactor}^ ])rice to the ])ro]irietor of the Chronicle, and the 
 
 Iin^?iiic Co. No. .'{ 
 
 two pajiers were nierfjed, the name Chronicle only beiiifx re- 
 tained. 
 
 Mr. J. Armoy Knox, who had been credited with making; a 
 success of "Texas Siftin<is," secured the financial co-operation 
 of several citizens, and founded the Mount Vernon News, the 
 first number appearinjf on the 4th of February, 1S;)3. The 
 ])'iper was fairly successful, but its manaf^enient did not jirove 
 s/itisfactory to those financially interested, and in about a 
 year Mr. Knox withdrew. For several years thereafter the 
 paper was conducted by various persons employed for the 
 purpose until Augnst, 1899, when the propert}' w{is actjuired 
 hy Henry C. Fordham, its present proprietor. On the 16lh 
 of April, 1900, appeared the first number of the Daily Ea^ile, 
 started by Mr. Fordham as an adjunct to the News, and 
 the I'y isjle is now one of the city's otlitial news]iapcrs. 
 
 Tlrj Sentinel, a daily news])a]ier, owned and edited by ex- 
 Mayor Edvyard F. Brush, made its first apjjearance on the 
 16th of January, 1895. It was, and continued durinj; its 
 career to be, a notable exposition of tart editorial criticism. 
 While Republican in politics, it was not offensively partisan, 
 and did not contend that the Republican part}' had a mono]i- 
 oly of virtues, or that its political ojiponents had a comer in 
 vices. It was sane. The pajjcrs were readily sold and eagerly 
 read, and the venture should have been successful: but the 
 owner was actively engaged in other business, the pajier being 
 merely a side issue; he had no journalistic experience, and 
 was obliged to rely upon suliordinates to manage the details 
 of his publication. As a result the outgo largely exceeded 
 the income, and it proved a costly experiment. The genial 
 Doctor knew when he had etiough, and he cpiit the game, the 
 last issue of his paper being that of the 2(>th of August, 1896. 
 
 The Republican, ostensibly published by David C. Young, 
 but issued from the office of the News, appeared in 1900. It 
 was established as a political scheme designed to secure from 
 the Common Council the city advertising, to the discomfiture 
 of the Record, which, as a Republican newspaper, then had 
 its share of that ])atronage. For two years the Republican 
 gathered in the shekels upon which the Record had mainly 
 relied for support, when a new distributioTi by the Common 
 
 Council turned the life-giving stream in other directions. 
 Thereupon, the Ke])ublican, havitiLT nothing to live for, quietly 
 ]Dassed away. 
 
 BANKS. 
 
 In 1868 was chartered the East Chester National Bank, 
 with a capital of $250,000. Its officers were William M. 
 Tweed, of New York, President : Cornelius Corson, Vice-Presi- 
 dent; Henry S. Murray, Cashier. It was located in the Wash- 
 ington Hotel building, in Fourth avenue below First street. 
 The subsecjuent disastrous collapse of Mr. Tweed's political 
 and financial career necessitated a change in the manage- 
 ment of the liank, and in 1874 the stock was sold out to 
 Mason, Cox & Smith, New York bankers, who a year latei 
 wound up its affairs and closed its doors. 
 
 By act of the Legislature in 1871, the East Chester Sav- 
 ings Bank was established. Its business was conducted in 
 Washington Hall, and John M. Masterton was its first presi- 
 dent. It is still in successful operation, and Joseph S. Clark 
 is President. 
 
 John M. Masterton, Philip Lucas, Jr., and William IT. 
 Pem1)erton organized a private banking house in 1874, under 
 the firm name of John M. Masterton & Co. The establish- 
 ment was in VanCourt's building. Fourth avenue below First 
 street, and later in the Berry building. In a few years Mr. 
 Pemberton withdrew, and in 1884 the firm made an assign- 
 ment and the business was closed. 
 
 The Bank of Mount Vernon was started in 1.S85, with a 
 cajiital of $25,000. The officers were (louverneur Rogers, 
 President; Henry C. Smith, Vice-President, and Jesse Lant;-, 
 Cashier. It conducted business in the Berry building until 
 the comjiletion and occupancy of its ]iresent building, in 1890. 
 Minott C. Kellogg is now President, D. Whitmore, \ ite- 
 President, and Jesse Lantz, Cashier. Cajiital and surjilus, 
 $1H5,000. It is being reorganized. 
 
 There was organized in 1889, and (i|)ened fur buhiness mi 
 the 24th of November in that vear. The Peojiles' Bank, with 
 Henry C. Smith as President, and (icorge E. Archc as Crshic. 
 Its cajiital was $50,()n(). It 1)ccanie a national liaiik on tie 
 
 Coliiiiihi;i llosc .\o. 
 
 1st of April, 1900, with the title of the First National Bank 
 of Mount Vernon. Clarence S. McClellan is President, Thomas 
 R. Hodge, \ ice-President, and Theodore F. Nesbitt, Cashier. 
 It has recently added a savings department to its facilities. 
 Capital and surjjlus, $150,000. 
 
MARK n. STlLi:S. 
 
History of Mount Vernon 
 
 CHAPTER 111. 
 
 CIlllv'Clli:s— CI.^1!^■ 
 
 ( )ii Scmlh C<iluiiil)iis avcniR', cast ot' Third avt-iuic, stands 
 1)1(1 St. Paul's, and thoiv it li;ts stood a luiiidrcd and twvnty- 
 (.■i.L;ht years, surrounded hy its throi- and a halt'acres of clinrch- 
 yard, in whith repose more lli.an six thousand liodies. 
 
 That the settlers of Ivast Chester had in mind their s])iril- 
 ual needs is shown hy the articles of" aj^reenient anion<; them 
 in KiC),"), \v!ierein their |)ur|)ose is announeed to ";;ive new- 
 
 order attei' .Mr. Brewster's withdrawal. A reminder of the 
 l\ev. .Mor;.;an Jones' ineumhenev is this e.\tr;ict from the t')wn 
 minutes: "Thes are to Certifie whom it may consern that 
 kiehard Saniey and .\nn Canie weare Lawfully married the 
 2Sih day of 1 (eeenilH-r Ids,") Hy me .Morten J oans,_ menester 
 
 if the <j;os|)eli." 
 
 In \<>U2 it was determined ic 
 
 id a ehin\h, thou;.;h tlic 
 
 CluMcli of Our I, .Illy .if \ iiti>ry. K. C. 
 St. I'aul's (".eniKiii l.iillior.in Cluireh 
 
 I"irsi I'rcsliv tiri.in Cliureli 
 Dutch Ki-t'iirniod Churcli 
 
 eiicotira.^cmeiit to Mr. Brewster each other week to .t^ive us 
 a word of exhortation, and that when we arc .settled we meet 
 toj^ether every ollui- woek oni' hour, to t.dk of the best 
 thiuf^s." The Rev. .Nathaniel Brewster, then servint,' in West- 
 chester, thereu])()ii assumed charjrc of', and for several years 
 looked after, the relis^ious welfare of I>ist Chester. The Rev. 
 Ezekiel .Fo^gc, the Kev. Warham .Mather, the Rev. Mor 
 iXnu Jones and the Rev, Samuel (lodiiiu;, sueeecded in their 
 
 |)i i)je.'t w;is not eonsunim.aled until eij:hl yc;irs later, and tlie 
 Rev. Joseph Moruan was placed in change. The huildint;, 
 erected on the "("ireen," was of frame, tweniy-eiijht feet S()u;iro 
 and ali(UU ei.uhleen feel to the eaves, the sides as well as the 
 roof heintr shin.!.;led. The interior was wainscotied and had a 
 gallery. Mr. Morgan served seven or ciyhl years, when he 
 w.'is sueeecded hy the Rev. John Bartow. The latter, in ITliT, 
 ^ave place to the Rev. Thomas St.-md.ird. who ministered 
 
34- 
 
 HIvSTORY OF MOUNT VERNON 
 
 in the different congregations of his parish for thirty-three 
 years. In February, 1761, came the Rev. John Mihier, fol- 
 lowed in 1766 by the Rev. Samuel Seabury. 
 
 In 1764', the old building having been used more than 
 sixt}' j-ears, being much deca3'ed and very cold in winter, the 
 foundation of a new church was laid, the work upon which 
 was continued until the building was enclosed, when it was 
 suspended, and the church was not finished until 1775. Ser- 
 vices were maintained in the old building until 1776, when 
 it was taken down and consumed as fuel in the new church, 
 then in use as a British hospital. It was not until four years 
 after the war that services were resumed in the church, it 
 having been used meantime as a court-house. The Rev. Elias 
 Cooper was in charge of the parish from 1789 to 1801. In 
 
 Among the V)odies resting in the churchyard are: Comfort 
 Sands, a member of the Provincial Congress in 1775, for five 
 years auditor-general of accounts in the American arm} , I'lesi- 
 dent of the New York Chamber of Commerce, and a member 
 of the Assembly for several years; Capt. Jonathan Fov\ler, 
 of the French war, and his son, Capt. Theodosius Fowler of 
 Revolutionary fame ; Major George W. Prevost, of the British 
 army ; Philip Pell, Judge-Advocate of the American army, 
 and his brother, Major Samuel Pell. 
 
 St. Paul's parish was a district seven miles long, in the 
 southern part of which was the area that subsequently became 
 the village of Mount \'ernon. In June, 1851, two years be- 
 fore the incorporation of the village, the Rev. Mr. Duncan, 
 with a view of supplying the needs of the new settlement, 
 
 First Methodist Episcopal Church 
 Trinity Church, Episcojjal 
 
 First Baptist Church 
 Cln rch of the Sacred Heart, K. C. 
 
 October, 1795, the parish, which had been organized in 
 1787 under the general act of 1784, was re-incorporated 
 under the provisions of the act for the relief of the Protestant 
 Episcopal Chtirch of the State. It then first took the name 
 of St. Paul's. There came to it in turn the follov\-ing rectors : 
 The Rev. Isaac Wilkins, the Rev. Ravaud Kearney, the Rev. 
 Lewis P. Bayard, the Rev. Lawson Carter, the Rev. John 
 Grigg, the Rev. Robert Bolton, the Rev. Edwin Harwood and 
 the Rev. Henry E. Duncan in 18-17. The church has been 
 described as a building "remarkable for the character of its 
 masonry, the angles being ornamented with rustic quoins; 
 the windows and doors also have rustics. At the west end 
 is a square tower of three stages with narrow lights termi- 
 nating in an octangular lantern containing a. bell on which 
 is inscribed: 'Gift of Rev. Thomas Standard, 1758.' " 
 
 held evening prayer at the house of Samson \'alentine, near 
 Hunt's bridge. In February, 1852, the Rev. William S. C< ffey 
 succeeded Mr. Duncan as the incumbent of St. Paul's, and in 
 June of that year he began a series of services in the school- 
 house at Scott's bridge, which after an interruption were 
 resumed in 1854 at the office of Pelham L. McClellan, and 
 continued later in a building at the corner of First street and 
 Fifth avenue. 
 
 On the 21st of October, 1856, was fi)rmally organized a 
 new parish by the name of " The Rector, Churchwardens and 
 Vestrvmen of Trinity Church, Mount \'ernon, in the town of 
 East Chester." Richard Baldwin and George O. Street were 
 the first wardens. The meetings were held in Journeau's Hall, 
 at Fifth avenue and Fourth street. Four thousand dollars 
 were raised as the nucleus of a building fund, and three quar- 
 
|(jsi:i'ii AC.ATE iiorsi:, m.d. 
 
II I S T ( ) K \' ( ) I' M ( ) r N T \' I- R NO \ 
 
 tfr-acrc lots, in I'mirlli .ivcinn.', liclwccii I'liurtli .'iiid I'iCtli 
 streets, wore yivi ii l)y Ricli.ird Atkinson, I'lcor^v ( ). Strict 
 and Sauiiul 'I". |ciiniii;,fs. The conicr-slonc ol' the |)arish 
 church was laid on the 24-th of Noveniher, IS.")", and tlie 
 church was used for evening |)rayer on Christni.as dav, IS,")',). 
 The Rev. Mr. Cotlev continued in char^^e, in connection with 
 his (hities at St. Paul's, until l.ST.'i, when he was relieved hy 
 the l\ev. Clarent-e Huel, and the latter was succeeded hv the 
 Rev. William H. Hooper. The Rev. Stei)hen I". Holmes fol- 
 lowed Mr. lloo|)L-rin 1S7S, and served until the early nineties. 
 I'pon his withdrawal no successor was immediately ajjpoinled, 
 thoufih services were continued by "su])plies" until the .'id of 
 .\I iy, ISU;?, when the present rector, the Rev. S. T. (".r;ihaui, 
 assumed char-^e of the parish. Since then about $1M,()00 have 
 
 east corner ol I'ark and Sidney avenues, and is an attractive 
 structure. On the 1 fth ol' .March, Is'.i", a beautiful marble 
 altar and reredos was consecrated. It was the j.rift of .Mr. 
 
 H. Wesley in memory of his wili-, on behalf of his (lau;;hiers, 
 .Mrs. Charles A. Hreck and .Mrs. joanna C. I'arsons. In IK*)'.) 
 a chancel window of "The Ascension" was presented bv .Mr. 
 and Mrs. C. I). \'an Schaick in memory of their dau<;hler. 
 More than six hundred |)arishii)ners testify to the rajiid ".'rowlh 
 ot the parish under the ministrations of the ])o|)ul<-ir rector. 
 
 IC.-irly in 1 s.")2, leather Ivuj,'ene .Mc<",uire, a jiriest of the 
 Roman Church in Westchester, ministered to those of his 
 faith in Mount X'ernon, the first mass bein;^ celebrated in a 
 barn near the corner of I'ourth aveiuie Jind I'ifih street, and 
 subse(iuentl\' in the house of T'eter O'Connor at the corner of 
 
 I'irsi Coii;^iif;;ui<)n;il Cluircli 
 Soiitli Ninth Avfiiiie, South from I"i>urth Street 
 
 been raised and expended on Uie church property, in finishiui,' 
 the jiarish house, in buildin.Lj a rectory, redecorating: tin- 
 church and sujjplyin-^ a new ortran. 
 
 The parish of the Church of the Ascension was incor- 
 porated on the 2()th of May, IS'.H). In October of the same 
 yjar th-- Rev. Francis M. S. Taylor, M.A., was called to assume 
 char-re, and entered upon the work, which he still carries on 
 with jjreat success. The services were orijiinally held in a 
 buildin^r, formerly a Swedenbortrian church, hired for the pur- 
 pose. .\s the movement "gained strength, property was ac- 
 (piired and plans were f<jrmed for the buildin.t; of a church. 
 .\ desi^nt for the ])rop<).sed edifice was prepared and adopted: 
 the corner-stone was laid on the 1-1-th of .May, ISUG, and the 
 opening service w;is held in the new church on the (Uh of 
 December in the same year. The buildin-j is at the north- 
 
 Third avenue and I'ifth street. I'atlier O'Reilley, who suc- 
 ceeded Father .Mclniire in Westchester, continued these visi- 
 tations. .\bout the same time Father Jo.seph Baldofl" was 
 sent from .\ew York to officiate for the C.erman settlers, which 
 he did until his death a few years later. In IS.'i't, I'aiher 
 Kinsella, of Westchester, took charge of this movement, and 
 determined upon the erection of a church, Lot 3(>(>, at the 
 corner of Fifth avenue and Second street, was boui^ht tor 
 .$2,'^", and thereon was placed a jiLiin wooden structure, 
 which was designated St. .Matthew's. It was afterward en- 
 larj^ed, and continued to be used fi)r many ye.irs. In isTs 
 it was removed to -rive place to the ]>resent Sacred Ile.ut 
 Church, a substantial and striking edifice, of which leather 
 F. J. Flynn is the ])riest in char<:e. It ha.s recently been re- 
 decorated and fitted with stained jjlass windows of unusual 
 
3S 
 
 H I vS T O K \' ( ) F M ( ) U N T Y E R N ( ) N 
 
 artistic excellence. Connected with the church is a largeh- 
 attended parish school. Several additional churches of the 
 Roman communion have since been built. 
 
 The first services of the Methodist Society were held in 
 various private houses by the Rev. Daniel DeVinne, then in 
 charge of the Methodist church in East Chester, and later in 
 a room over Mr. Wisdom's shop, in Third avenue between 
 First and Second streets. In 1852 the society was organized, 
 and was incorporated on the 6th of March, 1854-, with the title 
 of First Methodist Episcopal Church in Mount \"ernon. It 
 now owns and occupies a fine structure at the corner of Eighth 
 avenue and Second street, with the Rev. George C. Peck as 
 pastor. He is an eloquent preacher and a genial man. 
 
 In July, 1897, a meeting was held at the home of Dr. 
 
 Wisdom's building, and afterward in journeau's Hall, at Fifth 
 avenue and Fourth street. A meeting to form a society was 
 held on Sunday, the 24th of April, 1853, and on the 11th of 
 May following, at the house of John Buskirk, eighteen mem- 
 bers organized themselves into a Baptist church, and on the 
 26th of December in that year called the first pastor, the 
 Rev. Joseph Burnett. The church was incorporated on the 
 17th of August, 1854-, as "The Trustees of the Baptist Church 
 of the village of Mount Vernon, town of East Chester, county 
 of Westchester." In January, 1854, it was determined to 
 build a church, the corner-stone of which was laid on the 
 27th of March in that year upon a lot in Fourth avenue l)e- 
 tween Third and Fourth streets. The church was dedicated 
 on Christmas day, 1855. For thirty-two years the congrega- 
 
 Swedisli Lutherim Cluircli 
 Lhii vcrsalisl Cliiii'cli 
 
 St. J(>h;iiincs Ii\auj;ciical 
 Con^i^rc.-cational Chapel, Vernon Piirk 
 
 Thomas A. Fletcher, in East Lincoln avenue, to discuss the 
 advisability of estabhshing a Methodist church in the Ches- 
 ter Hill district. At a subsequent meeting, in September of 
 the same year, it was decided to build a temporary structure 
 on a lot owned by Dr. Fletcher on Summit avenue, the use 
 of which he tendered free of cost for one year. The tempo- 
 rary building was erected, and the first service was held therein 
 on the 18th of March, 1898, the sermon being preached 
 bv Dr. George P. Mains. As the final outcome of that move- 
 ment, the society has now an elaborate church, costing more 
 than $70,000, at the corner of East Lincoln and Summit 
 avenues. The corner-stone was laid on the 28th of July, 
 1900, and the church was dedicated on the 19th of May, 
 1901 
 
 The Ba])ists held their first meetings in Mount Vernon in 
 
 tion oceu]iie<l the l)nil(ling; then a lot was l)ought ;it the 
 corner of Second avenue and Second street, where ground 
 was at (jnce broken for the building of a new church, the 
 corner-stone of which was laid on the 3d of September, 1887. 
 It was finished and dedicated on the 1st of June, 1888. The 
 Rev. William A. Granger is the pastor. 
 
 The Reformed Church of Mount \'ernon was estal)lished 
 in May, 1853, with a niembershi]) of fourteen ]5ersons, and 
 was incorporated in November of that year, with the Rev. 
 Mr. Snvder as pastor. A frame building was soon erected 
 and used until the present church in South Fifth avenue was 
 built in 1872. The Rev. Charles H. Tyndall is the pastor 
 in charge, and his repute has added to the church member- 
 ship. 
 
 On the 12th of P\'l)ruary, 1855, the Universalist Society 
 
.MEKWIN K. ClvMNc;. 
 
HISTORY OF MOT XT V I- R X O X 
 
 41 
 
 ()(' Mount \'crii()n was incorporated. Tlic lust services were 
 held hy the Kev. Henry l.yoii in a second-story room of Cen- 
 tral llali, at the corner of Third avenue and I'ourth street. 
 The next year a church building' was erected, and dedicated 
 on the 23d of Seiiteinher. 
 
 In March, 185S, the Lutherans estal)lished themselves in 
 the upper room of the huildinj^ at the corner ol I'ilth aveiuie 
 and First street, under the ministration of the Kev. Merman 
 Boeiinf^en. They sul)se(juently removed to a meetinij ])lace 
 in Bleccker street, where the Rev. |. II. IJaden served iluni for 
 six years. Their present church, St. I'aid's, in Seventh avenue, 
 near First street, was dedicated on the 12th of January, 
 
 lormally organized with seventy-three members. The corner- 
 stone ot the present church in Sixth avenue was laid in Ilecem- 
 ber, 1SS;», and the finished structure was dedicated on the 
 Sth of December, IS'.IO. Its cost was $(12,000, and $'>,(H)i) 
 have since been expended in im])ro vemeiit <'ind decor.'ition. 
 The church is without debt, and has a niernbershi(j of more 
 than six hundred. The jiastor, Kev. Charles S. Lane, has been 
 in char^^e fifteen years. The Missionary I'astor is the Kev. 
 Llewellyn J. I)avies, Tsinj^tau, China. 
 
 The I-irst Con;;ref;<'itional Church of .Mount X'ernon was 
 orj;anized on the Sth of June, 1892, under the lea(lershi|) o( 
 a provisional conimittec, the Kev. \V. T. Stokes, Sujierin- 
 
 lj 
 
 frw- 
 
 Norili M. i;. Clnm 
 
 Enfilisli I,iithir;m Cliurcli 
 
 St. Mar\s Cliuroli, K. C, 
 
 Cliurcli ol tile Asitiision, Iv|iis(.-<i|i.il 
 
 1S77. It has at the moment no re,<inlar ]iastor. There are 
 at least two other branches of the Ltiiheran Church that 
 have since been established. 
 
 As the result of a meetiiifi: held on the 2t5th of .May, 1887, 
 a petition was presented to the Presbytery of Westchester for 
 the establishment of a church in Mount Vernon. The first 
 session of the Sunday school was held three days later in 0. 
 A. R. Hall. The next week I'liion Ilall was hired, and the first 
 devotional meetin>i was held there on the 2d of June. The 
 first preachiiif; service, conducted by the Kev. Charles li. 
 Lindslev, of New Kochelle, was on Sunday, the 12th of June. 
 The petition to the Presbytery was .irranted on the 21st of 
 June, and two davs later the I-'irst Presbvterian Chtirch w;is 
 
 tendent of the Consirejzational Home Missionary Society lor 
 New York City and vicinity, receiving: the candidates tor 
 membership. The Kev. J. D. Helkna]) served three months as 
 stated su])])ly. The Kev. Lewin 1". Buell became the first 
 pastor in October, 1802, servini; until .\pril, 18;»8. The 
 church was located at Mount Vernon avenue and lli^^h street, 
 but in July, 18'.).'!, a site having been purchased at the corner 
 of Xinth avenue and \'alentine street, and a portable buildiii}; 
 placed thereon, the cliurch entered upon its new possession. 
 The building was dedicated on the 10th of November in the 
 same year. The churdi became self-sustainini; in 1S!>(>. In 
 1808 Mr. Huell acce])ted a call to Syracuse, and he was suc- 
 ceeded bv the Kev. Ch.irlcs S. Brooks of Boston Mass. The 
 
42 
 
 HISTORY OF MOUNT VERNON 
 
 latter was obliged to resign, because of ill health, after a 
 few months' service, and the Rev. Owen R. Lovejoy, of Michi- 
 gan, was called to the pastorate. He was installed in Novem- 
 ber, 1899, and is still in charge. The church has a member- 
 ship of 235, and is prospering in all ways. 
 
 The Vernon Heights Congregational Church, in South 
 Columbus avenue, is the outcome of the energetic labor of a 
 few citizens, among them being G. C. Johns, Albert A. Ulcht, 
 
 Chester M. li. Chureli. 
 
 Walter C. Reid and Thomas Beattie. After ten years or more 
 of untiring effort, a successful church, free from debt, is in 
 operation, with the Rev. R. J. Cjoddard as the pastor. 
 
 Other religious bodies have been organized, and are doing 
 effective work in their respective fields. 
 
 CLUBS. 
 
 The local social organizations are numerous. Of many 
 of them there is no public record; their existence being known 
 only to the members. Of those which have acquired promi- 
 nence by reason of theirextended sphere of activity, through pub- 
 lic entertainments, or by the discussion of civic prolilems, may 
 be mentioned the City Club, of which ex-Mayor Dr. lidward 
 F. Brush is President; William A. Anderson, Vice-President; 
 Albert F. Oeseheidt, Jr., Secretary, and Max F'arpart, Treas- 
 urer. The Club was organized in 1895, and has 108 mem- 
 bers who occupy a well-equipped club house, built for them, 
 in Prospect avenue adjoining the Post Office. It has been 
 the scene of many convivial gatherings, at which all the good 
 things of life designed to satisfy the inner man were lavishly 
 dispensed by hospitable hosts; and they who were the for- 
 tunate guests on any of these festive occasions might have 
 accounted for their perfectly decorous, though iierhajis un- 
 wonted hilarity, by asserting that 
 
 "'Tis the plump grape's immortal juice 
 That does this happiness produce." 
 
 The Siwanoy Country Club, organized in May, 1901, is in 
 a flourishing condition, with a membership of two hundred. 
 The officers are : Dr. A. M. Campbell, President ; Glenn Ford Mc- 
 Kinney, Vice-President; Harold M. Wilcox, Secretary, and A. 
 D. Stone, Treasurer. The Club has a suitable house with 
 extensive grounds, the old Glover homestead, just beyond 
 Sageman's corners. There are golf links, tennis courts, and 
 other facilities for recreation and enjoyment, and the Club's 
 occasional entertainments are notable features of social life. 
 
 The Westchester Woman's CIu!) is a noteworthy organ- 
 ization ; noteworthy because it exemplifies what ma}- be accom- 
 plished b}' bright, energetic women on lines that are common- 
 ly regarded as outside their purview. The Club was organ- 
 ized in 1894-, and incorporated in 1896 with sixty-five char- 
 ter members. The first President was Martha F. Gay, and 
 she was followed in due course by Estelle R. McVickar, Les- 
 lie A. McLean and Emma C. Davis. The present officers are : 
 Harriet M. Rathbun, President ; Susy E. Wood, 1st \'ice- 
 President ; Mary D. Sherman, 2d Vice-President: May C. Mc- 
 Laurin, Recording Secretary ; Jessie M. Strong, Corresponding 
 Secretary, and M. Ellen D. Zerfass, Treasurer. The member- 
 ship is two hundred and thirty. The club motto, taken from 
 St. Augustine, is, "In essential things unity, in doubtful 
 things, liberty, in all things charity." Its objects are, "to 
 form a recognized center for social and mental culture; to 
 further the education of women for the responsibilities of life; 
 to encourage all movements for the betterment of society, 
 and to foster a generous spirit in the comniunitv." 
 
 The better to attain the objects set forth in this sono- 
 rous, but rather formidable prospectus, the work has been 
 divided into sections devoted respectively to History, I'hilan- 
 thropy. Sociology, Literature, Domestic Science, Educaticjn, 
 Art and Music. It is olivious that the scope of these enter- 
 prising women is nothing if not comprehensive. Their meet- 
 ings, held in Willard Hall, are occasionally open to the pub- 
 lic, and are entertaining and instructive: but if a "mere 
 man" can gain access to one of their informal gatherings, 
 he can not help being imjiressed by the fact that they who 
 
 Republic.-m Club, Mt. Veriuni. 
 
 surround him are not types of the "new woman," they are 
 womanly women, who, l^esides being v^'ell bred and well gowned 
 have cultivated intellects, and discourse pleasantly and in- 
 telligently upon civic and economic problems. While their 
 theses may not, possibly, be classed as profi)und expositions 
 of the subjects of which they treat, they are graceful, scholar- 
 ly compositions, and indicate an unsuspected capacity for 
 comprehending conditions with which the writers have but 
 
MILTON kATIIBUX. 
 
HISTORY OF M O r X T V K K X O X 
 
 45 
 
 liniiud 1 ipj)! irlunilics to become t'aiiiiliar. This U'il)ute to 
 their alertness is the tnore merited heeause a recent critic of 
 facetious turn has asserted that men are more lofjieal than 
 women; but he hastens to mitigate the righteous indignation 
 of the maligned sex by adding, "they are also more zoologi- 
 cal. Holh men and women sprang from monkeys; but the 
 women certainly sprang farther than the men." 
 
 On the 30th of December, 1899, was organized the Com- 
 merci;il Traveler's Club. It h;is now a membership of a hun- 
 dred and iwenty-five. The I'resident is Charles A. Tilly; the 
 \'ice-President is W. F. Chambers, with Louis II. Kronfeld as 
 Secretary and Treasurer. The idea of establishing the club 
 originated with I'ire Commissioner Kronfeld. With him to 
 conceive is to execute; hence in an incredil)ly short time he 
 had gathered about him a group ot enthusiastic travelers 
 who now, as opportunity offers, take solid comfort in their 
 attractive quarters in the Ferguson building. A billiard table, 
 a piano, and other recreative equipage, contribute to their 
 enjoyment. The\- have occasional entertainments in the win- 
 ter, and a i)opuIar outing in the summer, all of which have 
 extended their name and fame beyond the limits of their 
 fraternal circle. 
 
 The Westchester County Wheelmen comprise ai)out a hun- 
 dred and fifty riders of the silent steed. They have a well- 
 appointed club house at Seventh avenue and Fourth street. 
 The club was organized on the 21st of January, 1898, and 
 its officers are: Clarence L. Ilowland, President; F. W. Ship- 
 man, Vice-President; F. II. Southard, Secretary, and J. (i. 
 LePage, Treasurer. The club runs are enjoyable alfairs for 
 those sufficiently robust to take the jiace. Fretiuent enter- 
 tainments or "smokers" are given, invitations to which arc 
 eagerly sought. The club is one of the recognized institutions 
 of the city. 
 
 The Mount X'ernon Catholic Literary Society, a recent 
 organization, is composed of young men who meet frequently 
 in their rooms. No. 2(5 West Sidney avenue, to discuss topics 
 of current interest. The originator of the movement was Mr. 
 Maurice j. Sullivan, whose idea was to aid in the increase 
 and diffusion of knowledge concerning affairs, whether at 
 home or abroad, that are commanding public attention; to 
 keep in touch with the best thought of the day as expressed 
 by political economists, statesmen and essayists of estab- 
 lished rei)ulation. The officers are: President, Gea. (i. C.er- 
 rits; \'ice-President, Jacob L. Haag; Secretary-, lidward .\. 
 ("iromiller; Treasurer, I'red. A. Dumproff; Librarian, J. Leo. 
 McLaughlin; Managers, Wm. \'. Aspenleiter and Herman 
 Shanz with the foregoing officers. It bids fair to take high 
 rank as an educational factor in the comnmnit3'. 
 
 The dominant political sentiment finds expression in the 
 symposia of the Republican Club, an organization comprising 
 a hundred and fifty members, of which Charles 11. Lovett is 
 President; Henry H. Boyce, J. Mortimer Hell, Thos. A. Mc- 
 Kennell, Henry Rudolph, Jr., and James K. Fuller, \'ice-Presi- 
 dents; Edwin A. Horn, Secretary, and lidward F. Brush, M.D., 
 Treasurer. 
 
 The club was organized on the Sth of I'ebruary, 1902, 
 and was incorporated on the 7th of June in the same yenr. 
 It aims "to advocate, promote and maintain the principles 
 
 of Rei)ublicanism enunciated by the Republican part^' ; io 
 direct and interest in politics those who have been hitherto 
 more or less indifferent in their jiolitical duties; to encourage 
 attendance at the j)riinary meetings, in order that honest 
 and capable men may be nominated; to guard and defend 
 the ])urity of the ballot box; to recommend and endorse can- 
 didates for public office; to promote the cause of g(jod g(jvern- 
 ment in the city of Mount \'ernon ; to promote scjcial inter- 
 course among its members, and to perform such other work 
 as may best conserve the interests of" the Republican party." 
 
 It will be seen that this schedule of ])rospective perform- 
 ances bristles with alluring possibilities; it contemplates 
 the upbuilding of a jjolitical Utopia wherein the beneficent 
 influences of stalwart Republicanism will make life one grand, 
 sweet song. This is as it should be; and one familiar with 
 the surroundings has 1)ut to read the foregoing list of offi- 
 cers to recognize their al)ilily iu undertake, at least tentative- 
 ly, the execution of the design, especiall3- when aided b_v the 
 following trustees : Herbert T. Jennings, F'rank M. Tichenor, 
 Charles Hill Willson, James M. Lockhart, Hon. Isaac X. Mills, 
 Edward F. Brush, M.D., Theodore Taylor, James P. Hayes, 
 C.eo. II. Lawrence, Mark D. Stiles, Jesse Iv. Holdredge, Frank 
 P. Crasio, Frederick W. Clark, Abraham J. Light and James 
 \'. Simpson. Should this combination fail to accomplish all 
 that is hoped for, they may draw inspiration and wisdom 
 lor the further pursuit of the ideal from this liixecutive Com- 
 mittee: William McCionigle, Cicorge W. Perkins, Francis J. 
 Cogswell, James W. Kelly, William .Vrcher, Jarvis W. .Mason, 
 J. \. Zimmermann, Wm. A. Anderson, J. II. Whittle, Adoljih 
 W. Wallander, Herman Petri, John W. Waters, .Alex. L. Ilirsch- 
 berg, Allen W. Reynolds and Wm. C. .Mains. 
 
 The club occupies the house in Prospect avenue formerh' 
 the headquarters of the Mount X'ernon Cj-cle Club. .\ provi- 
 sion in its certificate of incorjjoration is that "no intoxicating 
 liquors shall be sold within its club house," which is more or 
 less commendable according to the point of view. 
 
 There is also an organization known as the Women's Repub- 
 lican Club, which is probably theoretical rather than practi- 
 cal, inasmuch as women without the franchise are not likely 
 to become conspicuous political factors; and even with the 
 ballot, it is believed that not very many of them — certainly 
 not of the cultivated class — would care to invade the domain 
 of practical politics. 
 
 The Democrats, jirobably because of their being apparent- 
 ly in a hopeless minority, have been unable to maintain u 
 general club, though an effort to that end was made several 
 years ago with only temporar3- success. In the fourth ward, 
 where the Democratic sentiment is strongest, there has been 
 recently formed an organization stvled the Thomas Jefferson 
 Democratic Club, whose sphere of activitv has thus far been 
 confined to the ward. It has alreadv given indications of an 
 aggressive spirit that mav eventually make it an imj)ortant 
 figure in municipal jiolitics, unless lack of nourishment should 
 cause anaemia. It has a hundred and seventy-five members, 
 and is ofiicered as follows: President, I-'red. Bellesheim; \ ice- 
 President, Owen J. McCaffre_v ; Secretary, John Hinkelbein, 
 and Treasurer, Sam. Johnson. The club rooms are at No. 
 159 West Lincoln avenue. 
 
 * since this \v;is written the Club has vae.iteii its lionse. and has, at least temporarily, suspeniled its I'linctions. 
 
History of Mount Vernon 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 AKCHITECTrRE— GOVERNMENT— SIM. MA Iv'V 
 
 There are more than four thousand residences. Those 
 built in the twenty-five years following the settlement were 
 modest, unpretentious dwellings, such as are common to the 
 average village. About 1876 there was a manifest tendency 
 towards the ornate; homes were built from plans prepared bj- 
 competent architects instead of being constructed after the 
 crude ideas of village carpenters; and ten or twelve j-ears 
 later the plain, though comfortable dwellings of the early 
 days were rendered more inconspicuous by the elaborate and 
 costly houses that sprung up on every side. 
 
 tiful homes, artisticalh- designed and honesth- constructed, 
 having every convenience and comfort that a refined family 
 could desire. Hot water or steam heat; marble or porcelain 
 baths; choice selected woods; marquetry floors and tapes- 
 tried walls are included in the designs for most of our modern 
 houses. To specify any one or two, or a half dozen, would 
 be to do injustice to as many more equally deserving of note ; 
 and space v\nll not permit the description of the numerous 
 handsome residences that adorn the cit}-, and to which addi- 
 tions are being constantlv made. 
 
 CEOKC,!-: (). BEACH. 
 
 The first brick building erected in the village, in 1861, for 
 Mr. Hitchcock, still stands at the southwest corner of Third 
 street and Third avenue. Since then, what a change ! In the 
 business section brick buildings art the rule; indeed, a wooden 
 structure cannot now be erected within certain fire limits; 
 and as a frame building in that quarter becomes inadequate 
 for its purpose, and is removed, it must be replaced b}' one 
 of brick. 
 
 There are no "palatial residences," such as flaunt them- 
 selves obtrusively at Newport, and other "swell" places, nor 
 are there parvenues to necessitate them; but there are beau- 
 
 GOVERNAIENT. 
 
 The first election for village officers was held on the 7th 
 (jf March, 1854, and the result of that and the subsequent 
 elections, both of the village and city, is here given : 
 
 PRESIDENTS. 
 
 Appointed each year bj- the Board of Triistees : 
 1854. March Joseph S. Gregory, M.D. 
 
 1854. July Thos. Jones, in place of Jos. S. (Greg- 
 
 ory, resigned. 
 
 1855. March 21st Cornelius A. Cooper. 
 
 1856. " 18th Richard Atkinson. 
 
 1857. " 17th Richard Atkinson. 
 
 1858. " 16th George L. Baxter. 
 
 1859. " 15th John B. Brennan. 
 
 1860. " 20th Richard Atkinson. 
 
 1861. " 28th John Stevens. 
 
 1862. " 18th Richard Atkinson. 
 
 1863. " 17th David Quackinbush. 
 
 Elected at annual election under amended charter for the 
 terin of one \'ear : 
 
 1863. May 26th David Quackinbush. 
 
 " 31st David Quackinbush. 
 " 30th William H. Pemberton. 
 
 29th William H. Pemberton. 
 " 28th William H. Pemberton. 
 
 26th William H. Pemberton. 
 " 25th Edward Martin, 
 under amended charter 
 
 1864. 
 1865. 
 1866. 
 1867. 
 1868. 
 1869. 
 Elected 
 years : 
 1870. 
 1872. 
 1874. 
 1876. 
 1878. 
 1880. 
 1882. 
 1884. 
 1886. 
 1888. 
 1890. 
 
 for the term of two 
 
 May 17th Edward Martin. 
 " 21st Edward Martin. 
 " 19 th Azro Fowler. 
 " 16th George R. Crawford. 
 " 21st David Quackinbush. 
 " 19th Henry Huss. 
 " 16th John Van Santvoord. 
 
 20th William J. Collins. 
 " 18th Jared Sandford. 
 " 15th David Quackint)ush. 
 
 20th Jared Sandford. 
 
IIISTOKV ()!• MOT XT VERSOS 
 
 49 
 
 The Presidents ol ihc village i>l W'esl Moiiut Wtiioii jn'ior 
 Lo its iiicorporalioii had Ijccii : Christian Rdss, Josepli Btlk- 
 sheiin, Horace Looniis and John \'aii Saiilvoord. 
 
 MAYORS. 
 
 lilected lor two years umler llie eily eharter ol l.s;)2: 
 1SU2. May 17th ICduard 1". Uriish, M.D. 
 1894. " 15lh lidsoii Lewis. 
 189G. " 19th Edwin \V. I-'iske. 
 1S98. " 17th Edwin W. I'iske. 
 
 1900. 15th Edwin W. I"iske. 
 
 Elected tindjr the amended charier by which the nninici- 
 pal election was held in November instead of in .May as herc- 
 
 int'i ire : 
 
 1901. .Nov. 5lh Edwin \V. I'iske. 
 
 TRi:sTi:i:s. 
 
 Ivlected Annually. 
 March, 1 sr)4-. 
 
 Ste|)hen Bo^^arl, John H. Hrennan, William Saxton, Thos. 
 Jones and Jos. S. ('ire;^ory. 
 March, 18,'),'). 
 
 Cornelius A. Coo])cr, Richard ,\tkinson, William Saxton, 
 Josci)li \'. Marsli and John O. A. Butler. 
 March, Is,"));. 
 
 Cornelius A. Coo[)er, Richard Atkinson, Jose])h \. Marsh, 
 Drake I'. Todd and Samuel T. Jennings. 
 .March, 1857. 
 
 Richard Atkinson, Samuel B. Wilcox, Edward J. Small, deorge 
 L. Baxter and Henry Lohnian. 
 March, 1858. 
 
 Robert H. llatlicld, (icorgc L. Baxter, Henry l.ohman, Sam- 
 uel li. Wilcox and John B. Brenn;in. 
 March, 1859. 
 
 Robert (f. Ilaltield, John li. Brenn;in, (".eorge 1,. Baxter, 
 William Saxton .and Richard .\tkinson. 
 March, 1800. 
 
 William II. Dusenbury, Henry i^ohman, J ohn Stevens, Richard 
 .Atkinson and Samuel T. Jennings. 
 March, isGl. 
 
 John Stevens, Richard Atkinson, S;unuel T. Jeiuiings, Henry 
 I.ohinan and Havid (Juacki nbush. 
 Marcli, 1802. 
 
 Richard .\tkinson, Henry 1. ohm in, H.ivid Ouackinbush ;ui(i 
 Edmund Hoole. 
 March, 18(53. 
 
 David Quackinbush, William H. Pemberlon, Henry Lohnian 
 and (Gilbert W. Barnes. 
 2(5th May, 1863. 
 For three years. 
 William Braidwood, Michael B. May. 
 
 For two years, 
 (iilbert W. Barnes, Samuel S. Moore. 
 For one ^-ear. 
 Ivdimmd Hoole, James T.aylor. 
 
 ;!lst .May, 1804. 
 Ivdmund Hoole, James Taylor. 
 30th .May, 18(55. 
 Stephen Bogarl, John Stevens, and I. Ivdw.ard Ireland to 
 till a vacancy. 
 29ih May, 180(;. 
 Michael B. May, .\nthony Bennett, and Robert J. L.aw to 
 till a vacancy. 
 28ih .May, 1807. 
 David Ou.'ickinliush, John H. Johnston. 
 
 20lh .May, 1808. 
 James .M. Chichester, R. J. Wheeler. 
 25th .May, 1809. 
 I'or three ye.ars. 
 Anthony Baylis, Aaron R. Haight. 
 
 I'or two years. 
 Philip Lucas, Jr., Charles Iv. Raymond. 
 I'or one year. 
 Ciilbert W. Barnes, Jacob Beidlingmeycr. 
 17ih -May, 1870. 
 Cieorge R. Crawford, Win. 1'. lislerbrook. 
 10th .May, 1871. 
 I'or three years. 
 Charles E. Raymond, l*hili|) Lue;is, Jr. 
 I'or one year. 
 Azro I'owler. 
 21st .May, is 72. 
 I'or three years. 
 Anthony Baylis, Azro I'owler. 
 For one year. 
 William Braidwood. 
 20th .May, 1873. 
 Oeorge R. Crawlord, Jacob Jaeger. 
 19th .May, 1874. 
 William P. Ivsterbrook, Beekman \'an (">aasbcck. 
 ISth .May, 1875. 
 David (Juaekinbush, dideon D. Pond. 
 10th .May, 1870. 
 Ch.arles E. Raymond, Jarvis C. Howard. 
 15th .May, 1877. 
 William P. Esterbrook, Henry Huss. 
 21st .May, 1878. 
 Cideon D. Pond, Oliver Dyer, and Jos. S. Clark to till a 
 vac.incv. 
 21st .May, 1879. 
 1st ward, James O. Hunt. 
 2d •• William L Collins. 
 .3d " Thomas 11. llorton, 
 4lh " I'rederick W. Weiss. 
 
 19lh .May, 1880. 
 1st w.ird, Simon .M. Saunders. 
 2d " Jose])li S. Clark. 
 3d " .Marvin B. Palmer. 
 4th " Horace Looniis. 
 
 17th May, 1881. 
 1st w.ird, ("lideoii D. Pond. 
 2d ■■ William .M. Denman and 
 
 Alfred Coolev. 
 3d " (leorge W. Le Roy. 
 4th " Jeremiah J. .Moore. 
 
 16th .May, 1882. 
 1st ward, John L. Piper. 
 2d •• William J. Collins. 
 3d " Cieorge C. .\])pell. 
 4th " Horace Looniis. 
 
 15th .May, 1883. 
 1st ward, ('.ideon D. Pond. 
 2d " William W. McCIellan. 
 3d " (ieorge W. Le Koy. 
 4th " (Hto Hufeland. 
 
 20th May, 1884. 
 1st w.ird, James (i. .Min.-ird. 
 2d " William liiiimeluih. 
 3(1 " Herni;in Steriih;igen. 
 +th " L'lmes .N. Lockh.irt. 
 
50 
 
 HISTORY OF MOUNT VERNON. 
 
 19lh May, 1885. 
 1st ward, William R. Lewis. 
 2(1 " James L. Warren. 
 3d " William W. McClellan. 
 4th " Theophile Euphrat. 
 
 18th May, 1886. 
 1st ward, Fred. Mager. 
 2d " William H. Van Arsdale. 
 3d " Herman Sternhagen. 
 4-th " George C. Appell. 
 
 17th May, 1887. 
 1st ward, Da\nd C. Curtis. 
 2d " Charles C. Bigelow. 
 3d " Samuel Crawford. 
 4-th " Henry Esser. 
 5th " Wm. W. McClellan, 2 years. 
 Edw. S. Newell, 1 year, 
 loth May, 1888. 
 1st ward, Norman A. Lawlor. 
 2d " Edward A. Howland. 
 3d " William J. Fee. 
 4th " George C. Appell. 
 5th " Samuel Bernstein. 
 
 21st May, 1889. 
 1st ward, Bartholomew McGrane. 
 2d " Edwin W. Fiske. 
 3d " William Archer. 
 4th " William H. Ferris. 
 5th " William W. McClellan. 
 
 January, 1890. 
 Edward S. Newell was appointed 
 to fill a vacancy caused 1)3- the 
 resignation of William W. Mc- 
 Clellan. 
 
 20th May, 1890. 
 1st ward, Frederick Earl. 
 2d " Edward A. Howland, 
 Clarence S. McClellai", 
 1 year to fill vacancy. 
 3d " Albert F. Ges:heidt. 
 4th " George C. Appell. 
 \ Frederick Johnson, 
 
 1 year to fill vacancy. 
 5th " Robert W. Macgowan. 
 Chas. M. Moseman, 
 1 year to fill vacancy. 
 19th May, 1891. 
 1st ward, W. L. Touniine. 
 2d " William A. Anderson. 
 3d " Louis N. Smith. 
 4th " Henry Wilken. 
 5th " Edgar K. Brown. 
 The X'illage Clerks had been, in their order, Pelham L. 
 McClellan, W. P. Sleight, Charles T. Hathaway, George 
 Stevens, James H. Jenkins and William L. Milligan. By 
 operation of the incorporating act, which went into effect on 
 the 22d of March, 1892, Jared Sandford became the first 
 Mayor of the city, and Wm. L. Milligan, the first City Clerk, 
 both having been village officers. 
 
 ALDERiMEN. 
 
 Elected, 17th May, 1892. 
 1st ward, Charles F. Bruning. 
 
 (lustavus Kessler. 
 2d " Theodore Taylor. 
 
 Fred Mager. 
 
 4th 
 5th 
 
 2(1 
 3d 
 4th 
 5th 
 
 3d ward William A. Anderson. 
 David C. Curtis. 
 Charles E. Johnson. 
 Albert S. Jenks. 
 Richard B. Cassebeer. 
 Samuel J. Johnson. 
 18th May, 1893. 
 1st ward, Albert A. Ulcht. 
 2d " Edwin W. Fiske. 
 3d " Thomas R. Hodge. 
 4th William L. Milligan. 
 
 5th " Robert W. Macgowan. 
 
 15th May, 1894. 
 1st ward, William C. Many. 
 
 Frank M. Tichenor. 
 Daniel W. Whitmore. 
 William D. Grant. 
 Adrian A. Buck. 
 21st May, 1895. 
 1st ward, Walter C. Reid. 
 2d " Herbert E. Walters. 
 3d " William G. Ctmklin. 
 4th " (ieorge C. Weiss, M.D. 
 5th " Thomas A. Fletcher. 
 
 19th May, 1896. 
 1st ward, Harvey Armstrong. 
 2d " Stafford H. Cowan. 
 3d " Edward A. Howland. 
 4th " William D. Grant. 
 5th Samuel Fiske. 
 
 18th May, 1897. 
 1st ward, Albert A. Ulcht. 
 
 John A. Cline. 
 William D. Howe. 
 Eriand Andeberg. 
 Adolph W. Wallander. 
 17th May, 1898. 
 1st ward, William A. Roedell. 
 
 Edward T. Hayward. 
 J. Ge(jrge Hermes. 
 William D. Grant. 
 James D. Connor. 
 16th May, 1899. 
 1st ward, Jesse E. Holdredge. 
 
 Clarence S. Merrill. 
 J. Mortimer Bell. 
 Charles Weber. 
 Thomas A. Fletcher. 
 15th May, 1900. 
 1st ward, William A. Roedell. 
 2d " Edward T. Hayward. 
 3d " J. George Hermes. 
 4th " J. A. B. Stillings. 
 5th " Charles H. Lovett. 
 5th November, 1901. 
 
 2d 
 3d 
 4th 
 5th 
 
 2d 
 3d 
 4th 
 5th 
 
 2d 
 3d 
 4th 
 5th 
 
 1st 
 
 \\ 
 
 ard, long term, 
 
 Wm. McGonigle. 
 
 
 
 short " 
 
 Jesse E. Holdredge. 
 
 2d 
 
 \\ 
 
 ard, long " 
 
 Wm. F. Maxon. 
 
 
 
 short " 
 
 J. Elmer Briggs. 
 
 3d 
 
 w 
 
 ard, long " 
 
 Frederick W. Clark. 
 
 
 
 short " 
 
 James P. Hayes. 
 
 4th 
 
 w 
 
 ard, long " 
 
 J. A. B. Stillings. 
 
 
 
 short " 
 
 Louis Kernstock. 
 
 5th 
 
 
 ard, long " 
 
 James K. Fuller. 
 
 
 It 
 
 short " 
 
 .\d(>l])h W. Wallander. 
 
COL. C()R.\i;lh's .\ici.i;.\x. 
 
H I s T ( ) R \' o I- \r or x r y n r so n 
 
 nil X()veint)cr, \'.H)'2. 
 Isl ward, jtssi' Iv. I Ii)l(lrc'cl<rc. 
 2(1 " Thomas A. McKciiiii-ll. 
 ^ 3(1 " I allies I*. Hayes. 
 
 •4-th " Charles Weber. 
 
 r.th Ailolph \V. Wallander. 
 
 Tin: i'Ki:si;xT mi nicipai. ()1-i-ici-;rs ari;: 
 
 Mayor, Hdwiii \\ . I'isUe. 
 
 City Iu(l,u;e, I'rauk A. Heiineli. 
 
 Clerk of Ciiy Court, II. J. Collins. 
 
 City Court Marsh.'d, J. J. Moore. 
 
 Comptroller, James \'. Siiii])soii. 
 
 Clerk (jf Arrears, I'raiik .\. ("dover. 
 
 City Treasurer, Charles \V. Str.iul). 
 
 Reeeiver of Taxes, Colin MeKeiizie. 
 
 Commissioner of I'uhlie Works, John O'Toolc. 
 
 Depulv Commissioner of I'lililic Works, Wm. C,\ Manv 
 
 Corporation Counsel, Willi;iin |. M;irshall. 
 
 City Clerk, William .\. llovt. 
 
 City Ph\'sieian, S. Oscar Myers, .M.l>. 
 
 Health Officer, H. iMi.i^enc Smith, M.i). 
 
 Chief of Police, Jeremiah C. I'oky. 
 
 Commissioner of Charities, Peter 1 »c Witl. 
 
 Inspector of Biiildini^s, James H. Perry. 
 
 sipi-:r\is()ks. 
 
 Edward W. Storms, Duncan .S. Campbell, William A. Ander- 
 son, .\lbcrt S. Jenks and Ivdi^ar K. Brown. 
 
 jrsTicHs OP Till-: pi;aci;. 
 
 .\lbert I", (ieschcidt, Jr., Sydney .\. Symc. 
 
 aliii;rmi:.\. 
 
 Jesse E. Holdred,i;c, William .McCionigle, William I'. Maxon, 
 Thomas X. McKennell, James P. Ha\-es, I'rederick W. 
 Clark, J. A. H. Stillin-;s, Charles Weber, Adoljih 
 W. W.illandcr and James K. Puller. 
 
 ASSi;SSORS. 
 
 Charles II. Weiss, John Iv. Marsh.iU and 
 John H. Cordes. 
 
 POl.ICI-: HOARD. 
 
 Jo'iii J. .\Iuri)hy, James .\. Blanehard, William II(jbb\- and 
 Siej^fried Wurzbur^r. 
 
 CIVIL SER\ ICI-: commissi()xi:rs. 
 
 John C. M.-Xcilly, Il.irry L. Lovell and .\u^ust 
 C. Thoma. 
 
 BOARD OP I-IRI-: co.mmissioxi:rs. 
 
 Charles II. Ileinshon, Samuel .X. lloaji and Louis 
 11. Kronleld. 
 
 BOARD OI' IIICALTII. 
 W. H. Purdy, M.I)., Henry Muscnius .ind Leslie \'. Batenian. 
 
 SIMMARV. 
 
 Mount Vernon to-day covers an area of four sipiare miles, 
 divided into five wards. It has more than thirty miles of 
 well p.aved streets, ke])t in ijood reii.'iir .and ihoroui^hly clean ; 
 
 those in the residential section are well shaded by over;ireh- 
 inj; trees. Its streets <ire lighted by a hundred and tweiilv- 
 live arc, and about ;i hundred ineaiideseeiit lijjhts, in addition 
 to seven hundred <^ns, and a hundred and fifty na]itha lij,'hts. 
 There are lour hundred and sixty lire hydrants and fortv 
 miles of sewer. It has three banks, four hotels, a hos|)ital, 
 ten |)ublic schools, including,' a hijih school, one ])jirish school 
 and lour |)rivale schools. It has also .'i jiublic ])ark, lour 
 public halls, a lhe;iter or opera house, and another construct- 
 in^', twenty-five churches, ;in(l a public library cont;iininji 
 eleven thousand volumes. The library is located in the Ili;.'h 
 School Huildiii;,'. In l'.M)l, Mayor I'iske secured from .Andrew 
 Carne<,ne the ])romise of .S.'i.l.OOO to erect a buildinj,' for the 
 library. This amount Mr. Carne^jie subse(jueiUly incre.'ised 
 to .$,")(),()()(). Alier sonic delay — ap|)<-irently unavoidable — a 
 site was purchased with a hundred ti-et fronta;ie on I'irst 
 
 Tik-plioiK- UuiUIiiii,'. .\. V. Ti-k-plii)!!!.- Co. 
 
 avenue, south ot'Pirst street, and extendins; through to Secord 
 avenue. On this lot the work of buildini: will beuin at once. 
 
 There arc tour ncwspajicrs, two of' them daily. A Bo;.rd 
 of Trade and ;i successful Buildin-; and Loan .-Association are 
 evidences of' eiuerprise and thrif . .\ receii ly construeltei 
 Post O.lice has all the modern a|)i)liances, and jirovides six- 
 teen outtioiiii;, and the same number of ineomiiiL: daily mails. 
 The Harlem branch of the Xew Vork Central, and the X. V., 
 .X. H. iv: II. R;iilro;ids have stations in the city: on the former 
 are eii;hty-two d;iily trains between Mount \ ernon .and Xcw 
 Vork, and litiy-two on the l.itter: besides, there is trolley 
 road connection between the two cities, by means of which 
 one may ride from Mount X'ernon to the B.attery in Xew 
 Vork for an eii^ht-cent fare. There is also trollev-liiie con- 
 nection with Voiikers, Bronxville, Tuekahoe, Pelham, Xew 
 Rochelle and While Pl;iins. It is .-ilniost iiiijiossilile to over- 
 estini;ite the .id vanta>;es which .Mount N'ernoii has derived 
 
HISTORY OF M O U N T V E R X O N 
 
 from the introduction of the Union Railway Company's 
 trolle3' system. While comjjlaints are occasionally heard 
 of insufficient accommodation, or of delays, the disf^runtled 
 ones do not make due allowance for the obstacles to 
 be overcome in perfecting an extensive transportation 
 project to be couducted over highways accessible to all, 
 and where traffic interruptions may at any time occur; 
 nor do thev recall the annoyance to which they wore sub- 
 jected before the trolley roads gave them the facilities for 
 travel which they now enjoy. The New York and I'ortchester 
 Railroad Company has surveyed a route that will pass through 
 this city, and the line, when built, will furnish another means 
 of rapid transit. In addition, there is cheap freight trans- 
 portation b_v water from New York by way of the sound and the 
 Hutchinson River to the East Chester dock. 
 
 The telegraph and telephone service is complcLc. There 
 is an efficient police force com])rising a chief, two sergeants 
 and twenty-three patrolmen. The X'olunteer Fire Department 
 is conceded to be the best in the State. There arc three hun- 
 dred enrolled members, divided into twelve companies, viz: 
 Two hook and ladder companies, two steamer companies, 
 one chemical engine company, six hose companies and a jiatrol 
 company. They have modern firehouses and an ade(iuate 
 fire alarm system. There are three planing and moulding 
 mills, two of them having also extensive yards and ware- 
 houses for the storage and sale of lumber and other l)uil(lers' 
 supplies. There is a guitar factorv, a shirt f actory, two carriage 
 factories, an electric clock factory, a brewery and an automobile 
 charging-station. The merchants areenergetic, up-to-date, and 
 hence successful. There are numerous social, literary, musi- 
 cal and political clubs, besides fraternal, trade, labor and 
 benevolent organizations, other than those already noticed, 
 
 resigned to meet every requirement. Mount \'crnon's real 
 estate is assessed at $2-l-,000,000. It has twenty-five thou- 
 sand inhabitants of a more than ordinarily desirable class. 
 There are no millionaires and no paupers; there is no "smart 
 set," no "four hundred" with liveried flunkies to accentuate 
 their unchecked assumption and vulgar disjilay ; tlic commun- 
 ity exemjilihes the sentiment that 
 
 "The riches of the commonweallh 
 Are free, strong minds, and hearts of health ; 
 And more to her than gold or grain, 
 The cunning hand and cultured l)rain." 
 
 The present population has been reached by an annual 
 increase of more than a thousand in the last decade. The 
 next decennial census will doubtless show that we have at- 
 tained, if not exceeded, the f{)rty thousand mark. 
 
 The roads in the vicinity are, for the most part, unusually 
 good, and the scenery ])icturesque, offering irresistible at- 
 tractions to horsemen, wheelmen and automoliilists. Lying 
 midway between the Hudson River and the Sound, it is con- 
 venient to both, and is thirteen miles from the Grand Cen- 
 tral Depot. It is nearer to the Bronx, Pelham Bay, and 
 \'an Cortlandt Parks than is any part of New York City below 
 the Harlem River. It is, at the highest ])oinl, one hundred 
 and eightv feet aljove tide-water. 
 
 One can onlv predict oi the future from a knowledge of 
 the past; and the growlh and ])rosperit3' alread\' attained 
 by Mount X'ernon leads to a reasonable belief that it will 
 surpass its previous record in the years to come, thcjugh it 
 is quite possible — indeed, it appears inevitable — that eventu- 
 ally it will be absorbed by, and become a not inconspicuous 
 part of the great metropolis of the Western Hemisphere. 
 
11. Hic.HNi-: SMITH, M.n. 
 
History of Mount Vernon 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 SCHOOLS. 
 
 TliL- hisiorv i)t ihe schnols ot Mount \'crnon is the historv 
 c)( its proj^rcss and pr()S])crity. IIduic Industrial Associatiun 
 N ). 1, of W'w Vi)rl< City, by which Mount \'criion was founded 
 in I80I, was made up of men of small niians hut lar^^e lirains. 
 They knew the value, nay, the necessity of a ^ood education; 
 and in layinLr out the villa.tre where they intended to dwell 
 and re;ir their families, they set a))art tour school ]ilols, each a 
 
 The staid old farmers of the town soon realized, that in 
 school matters, as in every thin;,-^ else, they had a very lively, 
 aji^^ressi ve, disturbinj; element amonji them. As soon as the 
 UKMuhers of Home Industrial Association Xo. 1 came flockinj; 
 into Mount X'ernon, the old residents of the town of I--asl- 
 ehester were only too willinjf to let iheiii have a school dis- 
 trict 1)\- themselves. 
 
 Soiilb Kiflli Avenue. Ni>rlh iVorii I'oiirlh Street 
 Hiuli Sclioiil. Soiilli I'liiirtli Avenue 
 
 Sclmol Ni). 1. Souih Filth Avenue 
 Sdutli I'ourih A venue. South iViini I"<nn lli Strii l 
 
 hundred feel in front ;ind rear ;ind two hundred and ten feet 
 in (lc|)th. ()n one of these jilots the Hijih School is htiilt, on 
 another, S.-hool N'o. 1, on another School No. .'i, and on the 
 fourth School .No. 4. 
 
 Mount Vernon was, when laid out in iSol, a part of the 
 Town of Eastchcster. The latter was divided into three school 
 districts, each (if which was independent of the other, and 
 was governed bv its own Hoard of Hducation. 
 
 .Vccordin^ly in the s|)iin>: of' l,s,")2, School Ihsliict No. 4- 
 was carved out of School Histiict No. 1, by the Suj ervisor, 
 Town Clerk and Town Su]iei intcndeni <T Schools. 
 
 Its first meeting was held june lO, ts,')li, at which 
 James W. Comstock, Samuel .Munson and Ivdmund Hoole wete 
 elected school trustees, and ligbert S. Manning district clerk. 
 
 Another school meeting of the inhabitants of the district 
 was held in the latter ])art of' June, isr>2, at which it was 
 
H I S T () \< V O F M O r X T \' K R X O X 
 
 resolved thai ihc trustees should hire suitable apartments 
 for school purposes and employ a teacher. 
 
 The school was located on the second floor of the un- 
 finished house of John L. Ouerin, on the northwest corner of 
 Fifth avenue and Third street, Mount Vernon. In the fall of 
 1852, it was moved to Journeau's Hall, on the corner of 
 Fifth avenue and Fourth street. 
 
 At the same time, work was begun on the school-house 
 on Fourth avenue near Fourth street, where the High School 
 now stands: and in the spring of 1853, the school was moved 
 into the new building. 
 
 In the following winter, at a meeting of the inhabitants 
 of the district, it was determined to obtain from the legis- 
 lature, a special act of incorporation. This act was adopted 
 
 er as president. Josiah H. Zabriskie then became the sccre 
 tarv. With a few intervals of rest and retirement, Mr. Za 
 briskie was a member of the Board of Education for more 
 than fort\- years: and during twenty 3'ears of that long period 
 he was its president. 
 
 When he became the secretary of the Board he was a 
 teacher in School No. 3, of New York City, on the corner o 
 Hudson and Grove streets. From that time until now he 
 has been a teacher in or a principal of one of the New York 
 City Schools; and in a hale and hearty old age is still in the 
 harness, performing his duties with all the skill and knowledge 
 which nearly fifty years of teaching have given him, and with 
 much more vigor and energy, than many of those not half 
 his aije. 
 
 rnion Hill School No. 
 School Xo. ."), North Hijfh Street 
 
 School No. 3. Eleventh Avenue 
 School No. '.). V ernon Park 
 
 June 8, 1853, and is entitled, "An Act to Establish Free 
 Schools in Scho<il District No. 4, in the Town of Eastchester, 
 Westchester County." 
 
 I'nder and by virtue of this act, a meeting of the school 
 district was held on the 15th daj- of Julv, 1853, at which 
 Messrs. John Stevens, John F. Luther, William Hathaway, 
 Samuel T. Jennings, Frederick C. Beschornian, David Dema- 
 rest, James C. Stephens, Amos Cheney and William H. 
 Price were elected members of the Board of Education. 
 
 John Stevens, the founder of Mount \'ernf)n, and the 
 president of Home Industrial Association No. 1, was elected 
 the first president of the Board of Education. 
 
 In 1854-, George W. Coo]5er, one of the ablest of all the 
 pioneers, was made president. James C. Stejjhens was the 
 first secretary of the Board, and in 1855, succeeded Mr. Coop- 
 
 To Mr. Zabriskie the city of Mount \ernon owes a deeji 
 debt of gratitude. He has played a very prominent part in 
 making its public school sv'stem one of the best in the land. 
 
 Of all the members of the Board of Education who held 
 office in the Fifties, he is the only survivor. Of those in the 
 Sixties there is another. Dr. Henry C. Jones, who for manv 
 years stood shoulder to shoulder with Mr. Zabriskie, in secur- 
 ing everything for the education of the children of Mount 
 \'ernon, which good judgment and a progressive spirit sug- 
 gested. 
 
 To go over the list of members of the Board of Education 
 of School District No. +, of the Town of Eastchester is to 
 read its roll of honor. 
 
 In 1856 and '57, John L. A. Butler was the president 
 of the Board; in 1858 and '59, Robert G. Hatfield; in 1860, 
 
WILLIAM lli:XKV ITRItV, M. I). 
 
HISTORY ( ) I' M ( ) r X T \' Iv R N ' ) \ 
 
 aiul '(",2, Jacnl) l.aha.u'h: in ISC,.'}, N,,ali S. Whill.K-k : in 
 ISC)!-, David yuackiiihush, anil in ISdf), SanuK'! T. IcMUiiii>,'.s. 
 
 Ivvcrv one of these nun iimk a proniiiiciil part in the 
 (k'vel()i)eiiK'nt of Mount X'crimn, not only ol' its schools, hul 
 its government in jjencral. 
 
 1 p to this lime llie school district had had seven prin- 
 cipals tis follows : 
 
 A])poinled. Kesi^^ned. 
 
 John Graves June .">, lNr)2. Sept. I'J, lsr>;?. 
 
 John Oakley Sept. I'.i, l.sr,;{ A|)ril 1, \s:,7. 
 
 \V. L. \'. Raird April 1, Isr.T. June 1, is,")?. 
 
 J. l-rank \Vnf,dit July 1, Isr.T. April 1, ISf,'.). 
 
 William II. Bailey \\)n\ 1, is,-)'.). Sept. 1, ISiU. 
 
 John A. Nichols Sept. 1, iSfil. Jan. 1, ISCk 
 
 Bcekman V'anGaasheek Jan. 1, ISfU. |:in. 1, ISC).". 
 
 John A. .Nichols left .Mount \'ernon, to accept the ])rinei- 
 palship of one of the Vonkers Public Schools. 
 
 .Mr. \';in (iaasheek went into business for a while, but soon 
 resumed teachinj; as a jirofession, filling the principalshij) of 
 the liastchester Public School on South I'ifth avenue. 
 
 School District No. l-, included not only almost all of the 
 incori)or;ite(l villa<j;c of .Mount X'ernon, but that ])arl of the 
 Town of I'^astchester south of .Mount N'ernon, known ;is Wash- 
 in^^tonville. South Washinjjton ville and Jacksonville, and that 
 part of Wakefield which is north of Nineteenth avenue (lh;it 
 bein^ the hi^rhway which leads to Woodlawn Cemetery). 
 
 Por the convenience of the children in this lower section 
 of the district an old barn on Twelfth avenue near I'irst 
 street was hired as a school-house, and on the I'.Hh day of 
 December, lS,-><), a public school was established therein, with 
 
 School No. 4, I'iltli Avenue, near Sixth Street 
 Clicster Hill School, .No. 2 
 
 School No. 7, South I'ultou .\ venue 
 School No. N, Howard Street 
 
 Mr. Graves became a cler<jynian of the Protestant Rpi.sco- 
 pal Church. For a considerable time he was located at Wash- 
 itif^ton, District of Columbia. 
 
 .Mr. Raird was priiu-ipal for only two months, .Mr. Nichols 
 for two years and four months, and Mr. \an("iaasbeek for a 
 year. 
 
 -Mr. Oakley started a i)rivate school in Mount \'crnon 
 on his retirement from the princii)alshi]) of the public school, 
 and he maintained it up to the time of his death. 
 
 J. Frank Wrij^ht left the principalship of the -Mount Ver- 
 non school, to accc])t a position as a teacher in one of the 
 New York City schools. He soon thereafter became a princi- 
 pal, and that position he hlls to this day, second to none 
 in abilitv and enerirv of all his associates. 
 
 Mrs. William .\tkinson as the teacher. 
 
 In 1S(),'{, Miss Louisa Ferry succeeded Mrs. .\tkinson as 
 the prineip;d of this school, and .Miss Susann.ah Hussin.tr was 
 ajijiointed her assistant. 
 
 In 1S()2, the sum of one thousand dollars was spent in 
 enlaruin,!,' and somewhat betterin,-,: the school-house on F(mrih 
 avenue. 
 
 On the first day of January, lS(>r), Joseph S. Wood was 
 appointed as the jirineipal of the j)ublie school of School 
 District No. of the Town of Ivastchester. He was a 1 card- 
 less youth only twenty-two years old, who looked even 
 younjrer than his years. He had ,a;raduated from the New 
 York Free .\cademy (now the Colle,ire of the City of New 
 York) in 1S()1, with high honors: and had been, tor twt) 
 
G2 
 
 H 1 S r ( ) K V O F M ( ) IT X T \' Iv K X O N 
 
 years ])ri()r to January 1, ISC)."), ihc Clerk of the Coojier 
 I'liion, where he had had the i^eneral siiiiervisic )ii of that 
 institution; and for one year after he lieeanie tlie prineipal 
 of the Mount Vernon Schools he continued to be the super- 
 intendent of the Cooper Union Nijjht Scho{)l. 
 
 At that time the Board of Education consisted of Samuel 
 T. Jenniiifis, president, and Messrs. J. H. Zabriskie, William 
 Smeaton. Dr. Henry C. Jones, David Quackinbush, Charles 
 Iv. Manninjj, Donald Ferjjtison, Oeorse II. Bussing and Dr. 
 Joseph S. Gretjory. 
 
 It would have been a difficult matter, in a community 
 ten times as large as that of Mount \'ernon, to have found 
 nine men as intelligent, as positive, as self-reliant, and as 
 ready to stand for their convictions, as these. Mr. Smeaton 
 was the principal of one of the Xew York schools on East 
 Fourteenth street, and Mr. Zabriskie was the vice-principal 
 of Public School No. 41, on Greenwich avenue, in New York 
 City. These two men seldom agreed on any educational 
 question; and the discussions in and out of the Board of 
 Education were long and frequent. As a general rule Dr. 
 Jones and David Quackinbush stood by Mr. Zabriskie, Dr. 
 Gregory inclined to Mr. Smeaton. Messrs. Ferguson, Manning 
 and Bussing stood neutral, and so did the president, Mr. 
 Jennings. 
 
 Fortunately Mr. Wood had the confidence and su])])ort 
 of both Mr. Zabriskie and Mr. Smeaton, and hence his appoint- 
 ment was unanimous. 
 
 At that time School District No. 4- had two school-houses; 
 Number One on the site where the High School now stands, 
 and Number Two, on Twelfth avenue near First street. Num- 
 l)er One was moved several years ago to the lot north of 
 the High School on South Fourth avenue. It is very much 
 the same in appearance now, as it was in the Sixties and 
 Seventies, when the boys and girls who are to-day among 
 the best citizens of Mount Vernon, were wrestling with frac- 
 tions and almost breaking their jaws with some outlandish 
 names in geography. 
 
 In 1865 the average attendance in this school was 29fi, 
 and the number of teachers employed therein, in addition to 
 the principal was only six. 
 
 The list was as follows: Principal, Joseph S. Wood, A. 
 M. ; First Assistant, Miss Annie News; Second Assistant, 
 Mrs. A. Annie Bauchle; Third Assistant, Miss Julia E. Cheney; 
 Principal of the Primary Department, Miss Lucia M. Hale; 
 First Assistant, Miss Sarah M. Wilson ; Second Assistant, 
 Miss Sarah A. McKav. 
 
 School Number Two was the old barn ])reviouslv referred 
 to, which the Board of Education rented for $150 a year. 
 When the wind blew, every map on the walls rattled, and 
 when the weather was cold the children shivered. 
 
 That building has since been removed to the corner of 
 Twelfth and First street. It has on it, a sign "The Old 
 School-Hf)use," and is occupied as a beer saloon. 
 
 It is fitted up much more attractively and comfortably 
 now that it is used to dispense beer, than it was, when it 
 was used to disi)ense knowledge. 
 
 In this apology for a school-house, the average attendance 
 of puiils was 78. 
 
 In M irch, 18(55, Miss News resigned her ])osition Jis first 
 assistant in School Number One, and Miss Abbie L. Ely was 
 appointed in her stead. For twenty years Miss Ely filled 
 this position; and the hundreds of men and women who 
 nrofited bv her marked ability as a teacher hold her memory 
 in the highest esteem. 
 
 Of the scores of teachers who taught in the public schools 
 of Mount Vernon, in the Sixties and Seventies, almost all 
 
 were highlv successful; but a few, who were pre-eminently so, 
 are deserving of special mention. Two of them are still in the 
 employ of the Board of Education, Miss Mary E. Gernon and 
 Miss Sophie J. Mee. Miss Gernon has filled the ])ositions of 
 second assistant, first assistant, vice-principal and principal 
 of School Number One, and for several years past has been 
 the principal of School Number Seven. 
 
 She is one of the alilest, most conscientious, most pains- 
 taking and most successful of all the princij)als in the city. 
 She has faithfully performed her duties wherever she has been 
 sent for nearly thirty years, and wherever her influence has 
 been felt it has been for the good of her pu])ils and the com- 
 munity. 
 
 Miss Mee has been a teacher in the Primary Department 
 of School Number One since 1865. In her (piiet, modest un- 
 assuming way, she has done a world of good and has been 
 of inestimable value. 
 
 Miss Lucia M. Hale was for more than thirty years the 
 principal of the Primary Department of School Number One. 
 She was a splendid teacher and a first-class discijilinarian. 
 Miss Louisa Ferry, the principal of Primar}- School Number 
 Two, was also one highly esteemed by all her pupils. She 
 died of consumption, after eight years of faithful service. 
 
 And there is Miss Sarah Allgood, who taught the infant 
 class in School Number One until her health failed. No one 
 can tell how man3' hundreds of little children learned, in her 
 class, that love, not force, was the guiding sjjirit. 
 
 For many years School Number One had the g(jod fortune 
 to have for its vice-principal and first and second assistants, 
 Miss Abbie L. E\y, Miss Jerrie W. Halsey and Miss Mary E. 
 Gernon. It would be almost an impossibility to say which 
 of them was the best teacher. Each one excelled in some one 
 or more branches of study; each was equally earnest, indefati- 
 gable and unselfish; but for good nature and a keen sense of 
 humor, Miss Halsey was easily first. She and her pupils were 
 in full symjjathy with each other, and the result was a per- 
 fect understanding and splendid results. 
 
 Miss Ely taught in School Number One from \St]'> till 
 1885, Miss Halsey from 1S71 till IX'JO, and Miss Gernon 
 from 187.'? till she became the principal of School Numljer 
 Seven in 1895. 
 
 Among the other tejichers who taught in School District 
 Number Four between 1870 and 1880, and proved themselves 
 especially worthy of commendation were Misses Margaret J. 
 Hagen, Marv Fox, liugenia Cooper, Lizzie Ferguson, Ida E. 
 Coles, Isabella M. Pattison, Edith Cooper, Ivmeline A. Man- 
 ing, Leila H. Lockwood, Mary C. Lockwood, Annie Iv. Grah- 
 am, Ella S. Rankin, Mary K. Carter, Martha J. Jndd and 
 Mary Irwin. 
 
 The Misses Lockwood, after resigning their positions in 
 the jjublic schools, organized a private school in Mount \'er- 
 non, which is still flourishing, and is one of the attractive 
 features of the city. 
 
 Miss Mary K. Carter graduated from School Number One; 
 and, as she showed skill as an artist went to the Cooper 
 Union School of Design for Women. There she graduated 
 with high honors, and in 1878 was appointed teacher of 
 drawing in the Mount Vernon schools. This position she 
 filled very creditably until 1897, when she accepted a posi- 
 tion as a teacher of drawing in the New York City Schools. 
 Recent y, she was appointed as the teacher of drawing in the 
 Wadleigh High School of New Y'ork City, which position she 
 now fills. Miss Coles went to California, where she taught 
 very successfully for several years. Misses Eugenia Cooper, 
 Lizzie Ferguson, Annie E. Graham and Ella S. Rankin resigned 
 to be married; Miss Edith Cooper became an engraver, and 
 
Mi;i,\lLl,lv S. I'AC.i;, D.D.S. 
 
II I S T ( ) R \' OF M ( ) r X T \' !•: R \ ( ) \ 
 
 Misses I'attison Maiiiiinj^ were talveii awav hv tlie eiild 
 
 hand ol' death. .Nhsses |udd and Irwin, wlio he;:an to leaeh 
 in .\li)nnt Xernon in IsTS, are still in the eni])l()y of" llie 
 Hoard of Ivdueation of the city of Mount X'ernon, havin;j: l)een 
 in faithful and eontinuous service nearl_v twenty-five years. 
 
 It was not until 1SG7 that any j)upils refjularly ^^raduated 
 troni the Mount X'ernon Public Schools and were j^iven dijilo- 
 nias by the Board of Education. July 22, 1SG7, the first 
 school coninienccnient was held; and on that occasion, six 
 |)upils received their diplomas. They were Louisa \'ea;.;er, 
 Ivllen Wilson, Anna Ho^^^art, Katie M.-u tin, I'rank k'ni^dit and 
 Ivdward P. Knapj). 
 
 In 1S()S six more jjraduated : Ida Coles, Jennie l"er- 
 ,i.;nson, Amelia Ro^^ers, Josc])hine Clark, Martha .Mott and 
 Henjaniin F. Quackinbush. 
 
 In 18G9 oidy four f^radnated : Isabella M. I'attison, Sar.ah 
 Ferfjuson, Eva Satlerlce and Harriet L. HoL,';irt. 
 
 In 1870 cij^ht uradn.ited : Herbert Seymour, Havid V. 
 Smith, James P. IIai<,dit, Mary Lovccraft, Emma Carter, 
 Sophia Schmidt, Oeor'^ianiia Bussin<j and Ilarriel L. Mott. 
 
 In 1871 only three <jraduated : Cora K. Duryea, A<jnes 
 C. Ferffuson and Cynthia H. Denison. 
 
 What better evidence of the fjrou-th of Mount \'ernon can 
 l)e sxivcn than a comparison of these small .!,'roui)s of from 
 three to ei^^ht Lrraduates a year, with the two hundred a 
 year who now j^raduate from the Mount X'ernon Grammar 
 Schools. 
 
 It is but just to add however, that the course of study 
 in the Grammar School of School District Number Four was 
 nmch hi<rher and more extended than that of the Grammar 
 Schools of to-day: in fact many of the studies now tauf^ht 
 in the Hij^h School were included in the course of study of the 
 j^raduatinj; class. 
 
 School District Xumber Four was scarcely two years old 
 before the demand for more school rooms was made. For a 
 few years the old barn on Twelfth avenue afforded a miser- 
 able makeshift and temporary relief 
 
 Rutin 1863 the schools were once more crowded to over- 
 fl')win.Lr and the aj^itation for more school room was bcf^un. 
 Then came the strusjjjle between ])roi;ress and jioverty. There 
 was a determined o])position on the part of the most if^norant 
 ]) irt of the community, and time and anfain, at the school 
 district meetintjs, where all the taxpayers in the district had 
 the rifjht to vote, were the plans of the Board of Education 
 voted down. 
 
 At that time the people in Washin<itonville and the part 
 of Wakefield north of Nineteenth avenue jiroperly insisted 
 that if any additional school accommodations were to be 
 l)rovidcd in the school district, there shoiild be a school-house 
 in Washin^jtonville. 
 
 Accordinjily, thrf)ugh the tact and trood sense of Presi- 
 dent Zabriskie, Secretary Benjamin W. Tilton and Trustees 
 Jarvis C. Howard, Dr. Joseph S. Gregory, David I. Smith, 
 Joseph V. Marsh, David C. Bancker and Dr. Simeon J.. Close, 
 the members of the Board of Education from Mount Wrnon, 
 and Thomas White the member from Washinfjtonville, a com- 
 promise was effected, whereby two new schools were built, 
 one on Tenth avenue, near Second street, and the other at 
 Washintjtonville. This was finally adopted at a school dis- 
 trict meetinfr in 1SG9, and with an exi)cndiiure of $12,.")()0 
 the two schools were built. 
 
 Miss Ferry was transferred from the Twelfth avenue school 
 house, which was abandoned, to the Tenth avenue: and Miss 
 Bussing- was made principal of the Washinjjtonville school. 
 
 It was evident, almost as soon as these new school-houses 
 were built, that another was necessary, and then bctran the 
 
 aj^itation for a school house on the fifth avenue plot, near 
 Second street, to take the place of the old wooden structure 
 on I'ourth avenue, which was a vcril.'ible fire-traj). 
 
 For years and years, the afiitation of this (jucstion was 
 kept uj). l'rincii)al Wood was, at that time, the editor and 
 pro])rielor of the villafje news])aper, the Chronicle; and week 
 after week, without ceasinji, his paper laid bare to the i)eo])le 
 Ihe necessity for a new school-house. 
 
 Mr. Wood resi;,'ned the princi])Jilship of the schools of Dis- 
 trict .\umbcr Four in 1S7C), after eleven years of faithful 
 service. Durinji his administration, the public schools of 
 Mount X'ernon were raised to the hi^^hest rank; but his suc- 
 cess he always attributed to the wise counsels, sound advice 
 and jroixl jud<j;nicnt of President Zabriskie, ;ind to the excel- 
 lent corps of teachers by whom he was assisted. 
 
 When he entered on the |icrformance of his duties, the 
 average attendance in the schools was 387. In 187G, when 
 he resi;.jned, it was '>S(). In ISG.") the cost of inaintaininj; 
 the schools was $7,091. 19; in 187G it was $14-,()90.8G. The 
 cost ])er i.upil in 1SG5 was $18. .'{2: in 1S7G it was $24-.0r). 
 At jiresent it is $39.85. 
 
 In 1875 William P. Esterbrook was elected a member of 
 the Board of Education. lie was a man of remarkable per- 
 sonality. Xo one could overlook him. He was large in stat- 
 ure, had a loud, penetrating voice, an aggressive, determined 
 will, and an absolute conviction of the correct ness of his con- 
 clusions. He was devoted to the best interests of the jniblic 
 as he understood them, and his honesty and good faith were 
 beyond question. 
 
 Mr. Estci bt' lok took u|) the agitation of the new school- 
 house for School Number One. He was indefatigable in his 
 efforts. By sheer persistency and force of will, he overcame the 
 o]i]iosition. It took him two years to do it, but success 
 crowned his work. 
 
 He drew the plans and s])ecirications for the building and 
 superintended its construction. He was a builder of great 
 cxDcricnce, and he put into this building the ])enefit of his 
 knowledge. There was not a stone or brick or stick of tim- 
 ber which went into the building, until it had been inspected 
 and aiiproved l>y him. The ])eople stood aghast at theirown 
 liberality. He had coaxed them into voting to raise $.")2,;"00, 
 to build and fu'-nish this school-house. This sum, with the 
 premium on tf.e bonds, amounted to $54,452.76. The build- 
 ing and furniture cost $52,3'"4.57, and with $1,800 of the 
 surjjlus the Board of Education bought the lot on the south- 
 west corner of South I-'ifth avenue and West Second strOet. 
 
 As Mr. Esterbrook ?harged nothing for his plans or his 
 services, the Board of Ivducalion unanimously adopted the 
 following resolutions : 
 
 WHEREAS, School District No. -t, of the Town of East- 
 chesicr, is now enjoying the benefits and comfor's of the new 
 school buil ling, recently erected for its use on Fifth avenue, 
 in this village, and 
 
 WIIERli.\S, This Hoard of l^ducation, by its more imme- 
 diate connection with its inception and progress to cotii- 
 lile'ion, is in a |)()sition to a])preciatc the skill and labor neces- 
 sarv to ii'anning and accomplishing so great a work, so per- 
 fectly .-idajned to the])urposts designed: and 
 
 WHIvRIvAS, To the unpaid and devoted labor the 
 architect, Wni. P. Ivsterbrook, Esq., we owe not merely the 
 devising of the plan, but the snperintendence of its execution ; 
 the re to re 
 
 RESOLVED, That the most heartfelt thanks of this Board 
 not only on their own behalf, but also on behalf of the citi- 
 zens of' the district, arc hereby given to .Mr. Wni. P. Ester- 
 
HISTORY OF MOUNT VRRXON 
 
 brook, for his public spirit and generous devotion of skill, 
 time, and no small amount of money, in the accomplishment 
 of this noble work. 
 
 REiSOLVED, That we congratulate the district upon the 
 unprecedented result, so largely due to Mr. Esterbrook s pru- 
 dence, watchfulness and care, that the edifice was turned 
 over to the Board, complete in all its details, within the 
 limits of the estimates and appropriations. 
 
 RESOLVED, That these preambles and resolutions be 
 printed in our Annual Report, and that a copy of them, 
 suitably engrossed and signed by the members of this Board, 
 be presented to Mr. Esterbrook. 
 
 Upon the retirement of Mr. Wood from the principalship, 
 M. L- Cook was elected to fill tne vacancy. He did not meet 
 with much success, and resigned after holding the position 
 only six months. 
 
 The Board of Education then had the good fortune to 
 secure the services of Charles E.Nichols, and he, as principal 
 or superintendent, has been employed in the public schools 
 of this city since 1877. 
 
 With his incoming and the completion of the new school- 
 house on South Fifth arenue, the public school system of 
 Mount Vernon entered upon a new era of great prosperity'. 
 
 Before proceeding to the consideration thereof, honorable 
 mention should be made of the men who unselfishly and 
 gratuitously devoted their time and ability, as members of 
 the Board of Education, to the advancement of the public 
 school system. 
 
 Many of these gentlemen have been referred to already. 
 Of those not yet mentioned, who are still living and re- 
 siding in Mount Vernon, there are George R. Crawford, Joseph 
 S. C'ark, Charles C. Bigelow, James H. Jenkins, John Irwin, 
 Henry Huss, Albert F. Gescheidt, Dr. Edward F. Brush, Wil- 
 liam Allen, William H. Bard, James L. Warren, A. Noel Blake- 
 nian, W. M. Halsey and William Hitchcock. 
 
 Of those who are still living but who have moved awav, 
 there are the Rev. Oliver Dyer, the Rev. J. Riley Johnson, 
 Wm. A. Armstrong, John Bingham, Alljert J. Pearson and 
 Daniel M. VanCott. 
 
 Of those who are dead there are, John Stevens, Benjamin 
 W. Tilton, Philip Lucas, Jr., Gilbert W. Barnes, William Le 
 Roy, Andrew Barr, Matthew Morrison, George E. Fuechsel, 
 James Howland, Cyrus D. Jones, George H. Moore, William 
 Howe, Calvin T. Hazen, Beekman Van Gaasbeek, James Rus- 
 sell, Alphonse L. Embur\', Thomas M. Taylor, William M. 
 Dennian, Dr. Stuart B. Carlisle, George J. Penfield and William 
 A. Hustace. 
 
 Of these gentlemen, (jeorge R. Crawford was president of 
 the Board of Education in 1882, Thomas M. Taylor in 1885, 
 Crcorge J. Penfield in 1889, William A. Armstrong in 1892 
 and A. Noel Blakeman in 1894. 
 
 While every man on this roll of honor is entitled to the 
 
 thanks of the communitv, especial mention should be made 
 of two, who, by reason of long service and exce])tional devo- 
 tion to their work were of ver3- great usefulness in building 
 up the Mount Vernon public school system. One of these 
 was Philip Lucas, Jr. and the other was Benjamin W. Tilton. 
 Mr. Lucas was a member of the Board of Education for fif 
 teen years, and Mr. Tilton for seventeen years. From 18(59 
 until 1886, with but few exceptions, either Mr. Lucas or Mr. 
 Tilton was the secretary of the Board. Almost all the time 
 Mr. Lucas was in the Board, he was the chairman of the 
 committee on teachers and discipline; and Mr. Tilton was, 
 throughout his membership in the Board, the chairman of 
 the committee on library. 
 
 No two men in the Board ever jierformed their duties more 
 faithfully and intelligently. 
 
 The history' of the public schools in District Number I'our 
 would not be complete v^ithout reference to the long con- 
 tinued, faithful and efficient service of the Clerk of the Board 
 of Education, William P. Sleight. He was appointed to that 
 position in 1869 and he held it, except for one thort interval, 
 until 1894, a period of twenty-five years. Through his exper- 
 ience and intelligence, he became a very valuable adviser to 
 members of the Board; and on almost every question of im- 
 portance, his judgment was sought, and proved very useful 
 in reaching a correct conclusion. 
 
 Another of the good citizens of Mount \'ernon who was 
 long and honorably identified with its public school system 
 was John Berry. F'or eighteen years, he was the treasurer 
 of School District Number Four of the Town of Eastchester; 
 and won the esteem and confidence of the public, the Board 
 of Education and the teachers, not only by his honesty and 
 reliability, but by his urbanity, his willingness to oblige and 
 his readiness to assist. Time and again he advanced the 
 money required t<3 pay the obligations of the school district, 
 and no teacher who was in need of money before her salary 
 was due, ever applied to him in vain. 
 
 In 1889 he declined a re-election, and thereupon the jico- 
 ple, at the annual school meeting adopted the following pre- 
 amble and resolution : 
 
 WHEREAS, John Berry has for many years held the re- 
 sponsible ]iosition of treasurer of this, the Fourth School 
 District of the Town of Eastchester, and has filled said office 
 with honor to himself and the district, and in a manner 
 highly acceptable to all concerned, without fee, reward, or the 
 hope of reward for his time and services, and 
 
 WHEREAS, He now voluntarily retires from said ofhce, 
 so long and ably filled by him, therefore be it 
 
 RESOLVED, that the hearty thanks of the electors of 
 said district be and the same are hereby extended to Mr. 
 Berry for his faithfulness and efficiency in the discharge of all 
 the important duties and resposibilities devolving upon him 
 as said treasurer for a series of years; and that it is with 
 regret that they part with hitn and his services as such officer. 
 
cA-,\. iii;nkv II. novci: 
 
History of Mount Vernon 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 THK MorNT VKKXOX I!.\R, FKOM 
 
 The carlicsL rccollcrlioiis oi the ineiiihcrs ot the Bar in 
 Mount X'crnon go back to three men, Joseph I>. Fay, I'clhani 
 L. McClelL-m and WilUani 11. Peinbcrton. .\Ir. I-'ay was one 
 of the t'linily of that name which had lived in the old home- 
 stead, opp )site St. Paul's, Hastchestcr, for more than a cen- 
 tury, lie was not gifted of speech, he was not a jury law_ver, 
 he was not a in;in of affairs. He was a student. He loved 
 to pore over law hooks and to discuss knotty legal ])roI)- 
 lems. He was for several years a justice of the i)eace in 
 the town of Bastchester, and he had desk room in Mr. I'eni- 
 hjrton's odice. That place was the cradle of the Mount \"er- 
 non Har. It was in the house on the north sitie of the Xew 
 York side ot the Xew York and Xew Haven Railroad, just 
 west of (lould's Hotel, now known as the Mount \ ernon 
 Hotel. In that ollice Mr. I'eniiierlon practiced law for nearly 
 lifty years. It was not until his death, March 11, I'JOl, that 
 it became vacant. 
 
 Mr. Fay's most notable Jichievement was the Digest of 
 the Laws of the State of Xew York. It was a work which 
 involved a great amount ol painstaking and excellent legtd 
 discrimination. In this 1 )igest, which filled three large volumes, 
 all the laws of the State of Xew \'ork, from 1777 to 1S74- 
 were arranged alphabeticalh", according to the subjects they 
 treated of, just as the decisions of the courts are grouped, 
 in the digests of the same. 
 
 I'elham L. McClellan was a lawyer who liked to try jury 
 cases. He was never so ha])py as when in a keen contest be- 
 fore the court and a jury. He had his otHce and library at 
 his home on Sixth aveiuie, near I'ourth street, but he spent 
 most of his time in Mr. I'cmberton's otlice, and tried most 
 of the lattcr's cases. 
 
 Mr. Pemherton was very successful as an office lawyer. 
 He was a man of affairs. He searched titles, made loans, 
 drew wills and attended to all the legal work outside of the 
 actual trial of causes. He virtually had a monopoly of the 
 law business in Mount Yernon for a number of years. It was 
 his amliition to Ijecome the County Judge of Westchester 
 County. Three times he ran for the office, but each time, 
 the fortune of the polls was against him. He was, however, 
 the District Attorney' of Westchester County from Jainiary 
 
 I, 1857, until Januar\- 1, 1863. He was succeeded in that 
 office by Mr. McClellan until January 1, ISOG. 
 
 Even in the Fifties and before the war, there were other 
 lawyers in Mount Yernon beside the trio just named, but they 
 had their offices and they did most of their law liusiness in 
 Xew York City. Prominent among these were Judge William 
 
 II. Yan Cott, who lived on Pnion avenue, corner of Wash- 
 ington street, and William M. Deninan, who lived on the cor- 
 ner of Second avenue and Third street. 
 
 Judge Yan Cott is still living, and is ])ractising law in 
 Xew York City. Mr. Dennian died in ISlOl, much respected 
 by ;dl who knew him, for his abilit}', integrity and kindness 
 of heart. He was a graduate of the Xew York Free Academy, 
 now the College of the City of Xew York, from which so 
 
 THK KARI.IKST K IvCOM JX'TK )NS. 
 
 many eininetil members of the Xew York Har have i)r(jceeded. 
 
 In the Sixties there were two other able lawyers who 
 resided in Mount \'ernon, but practiced at their profession 
 almost wholly in Xew York City. One of these was John 
 Flanders, of the firm of Prentiss & Inlanders. The other 
 was Robert R. McKay Ormsb)'. Both are now dead. Mr. 
 Inlanders was one of the shrewd, technical, thoroughly ])osted 
 practitioners. His adversary could never for a moment be 
 off his guard. 
 
 Mr. Ornisby was his antity])e. He cared little for details. 
 He reveled in the discussi(jii of broad, general jirineiijles. 
 He had a profound sense of the prerogatives, jirivileges and 
 honors of the profession, and had a chivalrous nature, which 
 scorned an unfair or even a small adv.-intage. He was one 
 of the attorneys for Jefferson Davis when he was indicted for 
 treason, but the trial never came off. 
 
 In 1872 the village of .Mount \ ernon was able to boast 
 of another law office than that in which Pembertoii, Mc- 
 Clellan and Fay had their headquarters. 
 
 Charles II. Ostrander lived at Tuckahoe. He studied law 
 in the ollice of John J. Clapp, lisq., at White Plains, and 
 was admitted to the Par in 187(). He was elected to the 
 oflice of Town Clerk of the town of Fastehester in 1871. 
 The Town Clerk's office was held in those davs in .Mount 
 \ernon and as he had to be here daily, he o])ened his law- 
 office in a little one-story frame structure on the east side 
 of Fourth avenue, where the Chronicle building now stands. 
 There he continued to transact business for several vears. 
 In 1873 this part of Mount Yernon was swept with a terrific 
 fire. Almost before the ruins were cold, John Berry began 
 the erection of the brick building on Fourth avenue, where 
 (lenung tS; McArdle now have their department store. .Mr. 
 Ostrander moved over into that building, taking offices on 
 the second floor: and there he remained at work in his pro- 
 fession until 1901. Then he moved into the Lucas building, 
 where he is still faithfully attending to the ])erformance of 
 his duties. 
 
 In ls7r) Mr. Ostrander formed a co-]Kirlnershi]) with 
 William .\. Woodworth, which was dissolved in 1882. Mr. 
 Woodworth removed to White Plains, where he is still engaged 
 in the practice of law. 
 
 John Stevens, the founder of. Mount X'ernon, had two sons, 
 John Oscar Stevens and (".eorge Stevens. Both studied law 
 in the office of Mr. Pemberton, in the Sixties. The former 
 was duly admitted to the Bar, but left Miuint \"crnon to go 
 to Plainfield, Xew Jersey. He jiracticed his jirot'ession there 
 and in Xew York City, and is now the secretary of the Postal 
 Telegra])h Com]iany. tleorge Stevens, on account of" ])oor 
 health, never entered into active practice. 
 
 .\nother of the clerks who gained their first practical 
 ex]3erience of the law in Mr. Peniberton's office was (leorge 
 W. Hunt. He took the course of study in the Xew Yi>rk 
 I'niversity Law School, and graduated therefrom in 1871. 
 As his own private aflairs have taken up most of his time, 
 
70 
 
 II 1 S T () R \" OF AI ( ) U N T \" li R X O N 
 
 he has acted, iu law matters, mainly as associate counsel. 
 For many years he has had his headquarters iu the office of 
 Herbert D. Lent, who was a fellow clerk with him in Mr. 
 Pemberton's office. 
 
 In 1877 Joseph s. Wood graduated from Columbia College 
 Law School and began the practice of law in Mount Vernon. 
 
 He opened an office in the Berry building, directly oppo- 
 site that of Mr. Ostrander. As his business increased rapidl_v, 
 he sought a partner. Among his fellow students in the Colum- 
 bia College Law School was one whose legal abilities, hard 
 work and logical mind impressed Mr. Wood deeply. He was 
 Isaac N. Mills. iMr. Wood invited him to enter into a partner- 
 ship and he did so. It was dissolved by mutual consent in 
 1882. Each member of the firm has since continued the 
 practice of law in Mount Vernon, with marked success. 
 
 In 1883 Judge Mills was elected to the office of County 
 Judge of Westchester County, which office he filled with dis- 
 tinguished ability f(jr twelve ^ears. 
 
 Twice has he since sought the ncjniination of the Republi- 
 can party for the office of Justice of the Supreme Court, and 
 in both instances he has failed by a very narrow margin. 
 
 In 1900 Judge Mills was elected as Senator of the Sena- 
 torial District, and for two years he filled that office. 
 
 He has been one of the examiners of applicants for fid- 
 mission to the Bar, and is justly regarded as one of the 
 ablest lawyers in Westchester County. 
 
 Mr. Wood has been much honored by his professional 
 brethren. For two terms he was one nf the vice-presidents 
 of the Westchester County Bar Association, and for two 
 terms thereafter he was the president thereof. 
 
 Shortly after Messrs. Mills and Wood entered into partner- 
 ship, Messrs. Ostrander and Wocjdworth added two more 
 partners t(j their firiii. They were Messrs. Charles H. Roose- 
 velt and William Bourke Ccjchran. Mr. Roosevelt had for 
 several 3'ears practiced law in New Kochelle. He remained 
 in the firm onl^' a short time, and then went back to his 
 more familiar stamping-ground. 
 
 Mr. Cochran was a new-comer. He was a nephew of 
 Edward Martin, who as president of the village of Mount 
 Vernon, as supervisor of the town of Eastchester and in 
 many other ways had won the highest esteem and affection 
 of the people. 
 
 Mr. Cochran therefore came well recommended. He was 
 a graduate of Dublin University, and was gifted with a com- 
 mand of words and a fertility of resource, which attracted 
 attention from the start. For a year or two he taught school 
 at Tuckahoe, but he took to the law as a duck takes to 
 water. 
 
 Messrs. Cochran, Mills and Wood began the practice of 
 law in Mount Vernon about the same time; and some of the 
 cases which they fought out were very interesting. 
 
 Especially so were the proceedings for the removal of 
 Robert W. Edmonds from the office of Justice of the Peace 
 in the town of Eastchester, in which Mr. Cochran appeared 
 for Justice Edmonds and Mr. Wood for the petitioners. 
 
 In a short time, Mr. Cochran drifted to New York City ; 
 and from that time until now, his reputation as an orator 
 and a lawyer has been world-wide. 
 
 Among the clerks who studied law in the office of Mills 
 & Wood were two who have since become lawyers, and who 
 are now practicing law in Mount \'ernon, Frank N. Glover 
 and David O. Williams ; the former is also the Clerk of Arrears 
 of Taxes and Assessments, and the latter is the Postmaster 
 of the city. 
 
 Since Mr. Wo(jd has been in practice by himself, several 
 of the younger lawyers have graduated from his office. Prom- 
 
 inent among these are Harry V. Morgan, Kolland B. Archer, 
 Charles Vauder Roest and Adam Pearson. 
 
 From Mr. Ostrander's office came Stephen J. Stilwell, 
 and from Mr. Pemberton's office, Messrs. Wilham J. Marshall 
 and Herbert D. Lent. 
 
 Mr. Marshall is the corporation counsel of the city of 
 Mount Vernon, and Mr. Lent is the president of the village 
 of Tuckahoe. For many years he was the town clerk and then 
 the supervisor of the town of Eastchester. 
 
 In 1882 another member was added to the Bar of the 
 village of Mount Vernon, Norman A. Lawlor. 
 
 He had studied law in the office of Judge William H. 
 Van Cott, and by reason of his energy, confidence and ability 
 at once took a leading part. 
 
 In 1883 he was elected police justice of the village of 
 Mount Vernon, and in 188-t he was sent to the Assembly to 
 represent the people of this district. As his business grew 
 rapidly, he took into partnership David Swits, who after 
 a short time left Mr. Lawlor and started out for himself. 
 
 Mr. Lawlor went to New York City in 1894-, and has 
 since had little or no practice in Mount \'ernon. 
 
 Mr. Swits is still engaged in active practice in this city. 
 From 1893 to 1898 he was the corporation counsel of the 
 jitv of Mcjunt Vernon. 
 
 In 1891 George C. Appell was admitted to the Bar. He 
 was born in and had lieen brought up in Mount X'ernon, and 
 from the time he became of age he had taken an active part 
 in Mount Vernon affairs. For many years he was a steno- 
 grapher, and in that capacity, he had learned much law. 
 This was of great assistatce to him in his studies. Mr. Appell 
 very soon took into partnership Odell D. Tompkins, and this 
 partnership still exists. Mr. Tompkins was compelled on 
 account of his health, to go to Coloradt) and Arizona. Thence 
 he went to the Phillipines and now he is Ijack again strong 
 and vigorous. 
 
 Mr. Appell was the first city judge who was elected under 
 the charter of the city of Mount \'ernon, in 1892. His op- 
 ponent was Edgar K. Brown. Judge Appell is now one of the 
 vice-presidents of the Weschester County Bar Association and 
 enjoys a large and lucrative practice. 
 
 One of the lawyers in Mount X'ernon who entered the 
 profession in middle age was Jared Sandford, who died Febru- 
 ary 3, 1903. Mr. Sandford always took a prominent part 
 in public affairs. He was president of the village of Mount 
 X'ernon, and fi)r a few months was its first mayor. He was 
 the school commissioner for the First District of Westchester 
 County, and the deputy commissioner of public instruction 
 of the State of New York. In 1898 he was the assemblyman 
 for the First Assembly District of Westchester County. 
 
 One of his contemporaries, who, for several years, was 
 the leading spirit in West Mount Vernon was Joseph Belle- 
 sheini. He had his office on Chambers street. New York City, 
 ljut nevertheless transacted considerable office business in 
 M(3unt Vernon. He was a member of the board of trustees 
 of West Mount Vernon and of the board of education of 
 School District Number Five of the town (jf Eastchester. For 
 four years he was a justice of the peace in the town. He 
 was a very genial, sociable man and was very popular. He 
 died in 1885. 
 
 Shortly after Mills & Wood dissolved partnership, Judge 
 Mills entered into a partnership with Walter S. Allerton. 
 This partnership continued during 1884 and 1885. Mr. Aller- 
 ton has practiced law mostly in New York City, although 
 he has resided in Mount Vernon or the town of Eastchester 
 for more than forty years. 
 
 In LS95 Judge Mills entered into partnership with his 
 
.MACKICE J. SULLIVAX. 
 
HISTORY OF M O r N T V I- K' N O X 
 
 iicjihcw, Ailhur M. li)hiis()n, and lliat ])arliicr.ship still exists. 
 
 Jiulfic ApjKll was succeeded as city jiidfiC by | ii(l<;e Adam 
 E. Schatz, who held the ollice until ISDS, when the j)resent 
 incuinhent, jiulj^c l-'rank A. Hennett, was elected. Jud>;e Ben- 
 nett has his ollice in Mount \'ernon, hut judj^e Schatz, thoiij^h 
 a resident ol this city, has his ollice in New N'ork. 
 
 |. Mortimer licll was until 1S<S,S a resident ol City Island. 
 He w;is admitted to the Har in IS.SS, and has been success- 
 fully praclicinji at his prolession ever since. In 1S'.)1 he o|)encd 
 his olhce in Mount \ crnnn and h.'is rcm.-iincd hen- ever since. 
 During the years l.Si)'J, I'.IUU and I'.iol in- w.-is a nuinlier 
 ol the l)oard of aklernien of the city ol Mount \ ci non. 
 
 Another prominent and ])ublic-spirited citi/.en who is a law- 
 yer, is Charles C. Rifjelow. Mr. Itij^elow's ollice has always 
 been in the cily of New X'ork, but he has taken an active 
 jiart in the public allairs ol Mount \crnon. lie has been a 
 member of the Hoard of Trtistees and of the Hoard of Ivdu- 
 eation. He was the president of the Mount X'ernon Water 
 Commission and is one of the siqicrvisors of Westchester 
 County from the city of Mount \'eriion. 
 
 Messrs. Milo j. White and Frank M. Huck bc.uan the 
 practice of law in Mount \ernon as partners in IS'.to. In 
 the year l.S'.KS this jiartnership was dissolved, but cai-h ol 
 these ^.^entlemen has continued to ])racticc his ])rotcssion in 
 Mount \ernon. Mr. Huck is now the attorney who re])re- 
 seiits the State ol New \'ork in Westchester County, in mat- 
 ters relatin>i to the transfer tax. 
 
 Charles H. Lovett is another of the lawyers in Mount 
 \'crnon who take an active part in jiublic aflairs. Mr. Lovett 
 was a member of the Board of Aldermen in 11)00, 1901 and 
 1U02. He is now the aj)praiser for the State of New York 
 in Westchester County as to estates out of which is to be 
 collected the transfer tax. 
 
 Two ucntlcmen who formerly practiced law at White Plains 
 have, within a few years past, tfd^en uj) their residence in 
 Mount \ernon: h^rederick W. Ch'irk and Eu<>;ene Archer. 
 Mr. Clark is one of the aldermen of the city and takes an 
 active interest in its alfairs. William Iv. Conklin lormerly 
 was en<^aj;ed in the ])ractice of law at Xew Kochellc. When 
 he came to Mount \'ertion, a few vcars aj^o, he entered into 
 |)artnership with Atidison ]. Lyon. He is now in the ollice 
 of Mr. Stilwell. 
 
 Another member of the Bar who has for man\' years 
 been the supervisor of the town of I'elham and for several 
 years the ])resident of the Westchester County Board of Su])cr- 
 visors, has recently o])ened his ollice in Mount \ ernon tor the 
 practice of law, John M. Shinn. 
 
 Stuart W. Cowan is (nie of the lawyers of Mount X'ernon, 
 and takes an active interest in public aflairs. I ntil recently 
 he was a member of the Board of Ivducation. 
 
 There is a larfje number of law\-ers who reside in Mount 
 
 \crnon whose ollices are in New Vork City. .Most ol them 
 do not practice law in Mount X'ernon, but s(jme of them d(j. 
 
 .\nionj< the best known of the latter class is Kof;er 
 Sherman, whose name denotes his lineaj^e, and who is recog- 
 nized as one ol the ablest lawyers in Westchester County. 
 
 Another, worthy of special mention, is Fr.mk Tichenor, 
 who has £ilways tjdcen a prominent ])art in ])ublic affairs, 
 has been one of the aldermen of this city and is now a mem- 
 ber of the Board of Ivducation. 
 
 .\lso Ivdward Hartley, who gave the city the large ])lol 
 of ground known as Hartley I'ark, and who has always 
 taken a deep interest in ])ublic education. 
 
 Also Herbert T. jennings, who hiid out and developefl 
 Vernon Heights. .Mso Joshua M. I'iero, (".eorge W. Perkins, 
 Arthur Lurher, William (L Bussey, Howard Allison, Hugh 
 Keavcy, William B. Magrath, Olen I". McKinney, L'Tvis W. 
 Mason, CeorgeW. Wallace, Alfred A. Wright, William B. Wiight, 
 Henry \. A])])ell, Jr., James I). HeCamp, Ldwin L. Lord, 
 and Charles E. Deniard. 
 
 Of the younger members of the Bar in Mount \ernon 
 there is a host that bid fair to prove successful. 
 
 Among them are, William C. Maines, C. I»e\'ere Manville, 
 Thomas A. McKennall, Charles W. Sinnott, James \'. Simp- 
 son, Horace P. Hollister, Will L. (jay, Sanniel B. Smith, 
 Ivlmcr P. Smith, Sydney A. Syme, Crcorge B. Crawford, I'red- 
 erick H. Penman, Albert L. (lescheidt, Jr., Alex;tnder Hirsch- 
 berg, Jidien Iv. Ingle, Jr., John C. McNeilly, George W. Riggs, 
 Robert I). Paskelt, H. Wesley Coons, (iustav R. Hciinburger, 
 and Sydney M. Wood. 
 
 Mr. Maines was in I'.iOl the nicnd)er of Assenil)ly from this 
 district. Mr. Manville is in the ollice of Joseph S. Wood. 
 Mr. McLenncU is one of the aldermen of the city. Mr. Simp- 
 son is the comjitroUer. Mr. Sinnott has his ollice in New 
 York City, but has considerable ]jractice in Mount X'ernon. 
 Mr. Hollister wtis formerly in the ofhee of Judge Mills jind 
 std)se<|uently in that of Mr. Morgan. .Mr. C.jiy is associated 
 with .Mr. White. Samuel B. Smith has offices with .Mr. Shinn, 
 Ivlmcr P. Smith divides his time between Xew Vork and .Mount 
 X'crnon. Mr. Synic has recently been elected a Justice of the 
 Peace and has just started out for himself, after having been 
 the nian.'iging clerk of Mills and Johnson for several years, 
 (icorge B. Crawford is in i)artnershi]) with -Mr. Ostrander. 
 Mr. Denman is the son of William M. Dennian and has suc- 
 ceeded to his father's practice. Mr. ("icscheidt is a justice of 
 the peace, and has ollices with his father, .\lbert F. C.escheidt, 
 Sr., Mr. Paskett was, until recently, a justice of tf.e ^eace, 
 .Mr. Coons is in the office of Mr. Lent. Mr. Hamburger was 
 until recently, the managing clerk in the ollice of corjioration 
 counsel Marshall, but has started in ])ractice for himself, and 
 Sydney M. Wood, who is the son of Josejih S. Wood, is asso- 
 ciated with his father. 
 
History of Mount Vernon 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 niOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, ETC.— THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF .MANY CITIZENS WHO HAYE BEEN PROMI- 
 NENT IN THE LIFE OF MOt NT YERNON. 
 
 THE HON. EDWIN W. FLSKE, Mayor of the city of Motint 
 \'ernon, and the subject of this sketch, is one of those fortu- 
 nate individuals who have been endowed by nature with all 
 the requirements for success in this life; ability, character, 
 energy and appearance, all are his, and these gifts have been 
 well used. Mayor Fiske was Ijorn at Shaniokin, Penn., on 
 July 17, 1861. He is the son of Samuel and Amanda Stod- 
 dard Fiske, the father being of Puritan ancestry, and a na- 
 tive of Massachusetts. Mayor Fiske received his education in 
 Harrrisburg, after which he served an apprenticeship with 
 the Bessemer Steel Manufacturing Company, and afterward 
 worked in the steel business with the Pennsylvania Steel Com- 
 pany. Removing to New York City he engaged in the steam 
 and hot water heating trade, and continued in the same 
 business in Mount \ernon, to which place he removed in 
 1885. In 1892 he disposed of his heating interests, and de- 
 voted his attention to real estate, of which he is a large 
 holder, and also to the oil business, in which his sagacity 
 showed him vast possibilities. That he had unusual success 
 in all the above mentioned undertakings admits of no con- 
 tradiction, and personal experience has made Maj-or Fiske 
 an ardent advocate of the rights of labor. He married Miss 
 Annie E. Smith, daughter of the late Henrj- C. Smith, first 
 president of the Pecjple's Bank, and one of Mount Vernon's 
 most progressive citizens. Almost from his arrival in Mount 
 \'ernon, Mayor Fiske has been interestetl in the welfare of the 
 Fire Department. He was one of the organizers of Steamer 
 C<}. No. 3, and was foreman of that company for three 
 years, then becoming chief engineer (^f the Mount Vernon 
 Fire Department, to which office he was elected three times, 
 resigning to become Mayor of the city. I'nder his leadership 
 the Department was expanded and developed, so that at 
 present there are nine companies, with apparatus such as is 
 usually found in the largest cities. The discipline is equal 
 to that of any paid department. Mayor Fiske has also 
 served with distincticjn as a member of the military, becoming 
 a member of the former Eleventh Separate Company, he speed- 
 ily rose to the rank of first lieutenant, and on the organ- 
 ization of the First Regiment, became battallion quarter- 
 master of the First Battallion. The Mayor is a member of 
 the Old (iuard of New York City. Socially, Mayor Fiske is 
 very po]5ular, and has retained the friendship of the people 
 through all his career. Once a friend, always a friend, is his 
 maxim, and probably this has constituted as much to his 
 success in life as anything else. As he takes an interest in 
 everything connected with the welfare of his city, he is neces- 
 sarily a member of a great many organizations, religious, so- 
 cial, political and fraternal ; in all of these he takes an active 
 interest. Politically Mayor Fiske is a democrat and from 
 the very first has taken a strong interest in the affairs of the 
 city of Mount Vernon. Elected a trustee in 1889, his saga- 
 city taught him that the greatest obstacle to Mount X'ernon's 
 
 progress, was the want of good roads, and through his pub- 
 lic career he has always and successfully worked to obtain 
 these. Mount \'ernon's position to-day as a city of model 
 roads, and its continued growth, prove the correctness of his 
 judgment. In 1893 he was elected Alderman and in 1894 the 
 Democratic party, recognizing in him the talents which indicate 
 the leader, under whose guidance the city's progress and suc- 
 cess would be assured, unanimously nominated him for the 
 office of Mavor. The election was very close, and after ex- 
 tended litigation was decided by a judge of the western part 
 of the State in favor of his opponent by one vote. Again 
 in 1896 he was the candidate of the Democrats, and was 
 elected by a majorit3' ''^ 505. The growth and prosperity of 
 the city during this term was so pronounced that he was 
 re-elected in 1898 by a majority of 671, also in 1900 by a 
 still greater majority. His political opponents in 1901 had 
 an act passed b\^ the Legislature, changing the city election 
 from May to November, hoping that the State ticket would 
 influence voters int(j voting for the local candidates on the 
 Republican ticket, but in spite of the fact that the city went 
 Republican on State issues, and also the fact that there was 
 a Republican tidal wave in New York Citv, the Ma3-or was 
 again re-elected. In 1902 Mayor Fiske was elected chairman 
 of the Democratic Committee i f Westchester County, which 
 position he now holds. Mayor Fiske's wonderful success in 
 public life has no secrets. The interests of all the people have 
 ever lieen his; he makes no distinctions; he is ever at the 
 service of all his constituents, and the interests of the whole 
 city have been paramount. 
 
 GEORGE R. CRAWFORD was born on June 21, 1841, in 
 White Plains, Westchester County, N. V., his parents having 
 been Elisha and Judith (Tompkins) Crawford. After com- 
 pleting his education at the White Plains Military Academ3-, 
 he became engaged at an early age in the fire insurance busi- 
 ness, which pursuit he has followed through life. He became 
 connected with the Westchester Fire Insurance Companj', 
 which was established in 1837, and after filling many offices 
 in that company, he was in 1879 elected to its presidency, 
 which position he now holds; and the prominence and success 
 which this corjjoration enjo3's is due, in a large measure, to 
 his ability. Mr. Crawford became a resident of Mount Vernon 
 some thirty-four years ago, and since that date he has been 
 a great factor in the making of the history of the place. He 
 is a prominent Mason, having filled many prominent offices 
 in that order. He is a memljer of Hiawatha I^odge, No. 434, F. 
 & A.M.: Mount \ernon Chapter No. 328, K. A. M. ; Bethlehem 
 Conimandery No. 53, K. T. ; Wauregan Encampment of O. 
 D. O., and is a member of all the branches of Scottish Rites 
 and of the Mecca Temple. Mr. Crawford was elected a village 
 trustee of Mount Vernon, in 1870, and again in 1873. He 
 was elected village president in 1876, and served two years. 
 
WILLIAM J. .\L\KSnALL 
 
1 1 I S T ( » K ( ) 1- MOUNT \' Iv R X < ) N 
 
 77 
 
 Ik- skives many iiiU'i (.-sliii^ iriiiiniseciKvs in fDuiicclion with 
 liis st'i vicc in llic I'iri.' I 'I'parl nicnl, in llic orjiaiiization of 
 wliifli he was viTv cliit'ient. In ])cililii's he is an In(k'])cn(k'nl. 
 He was married on May 2."), 1S()4-, to Miss Liicrelia (">rei;;, 
 (l.'Uijjhter of James I,, and Kehecea (">rei^', of Brooklyn. Mr. 
 Crawford is a niemlierol'a nnniher ol' prominenl soeial or;.;an- 
 izalions, ammiL; whieh are the Siwanoy (iolf Chil) and the 
 Sons of the Revohilinn, his ;^re.-it-;j;randfather havin;^ l)een 
 an ollieer in the .Vnierie.an .irmy, and Uilled in a skirmish with 
 the British troops, at Stephen Ward's tavern, on the White 
 Plains road, Tuekahoe, .N. \., on the site of the residenee ol 
 the laic Jiid<j;e Silas I), (".ifford. 
 
 ('.IvOKf.l- IIAVl-S was horn in the t'ily of (".lotieester, \'.\\<i- 
 land, in ISIO. lie was edneatid as an arehiteet, eivil and 
 mechanical en<4incer. He has traveled extensively in Iuiro])c, 
 Asia, .\friea and America. Acionnts of his travels in many 
 countries have been ])td)lished and read with niiuh interest, 
 his description of persons and ihin^^s hein;;; verv entertaining^. 
 He is well known in all the principal cities of this continent 
 as well as in Ivnrope. He has established as man\- as twenty- 
 two mamifactitries in various cities of this coTilinent and in 
 Buro])e and has created many new indnstiies in which many 
 thousands are cnijjloyed. He is a sui-ccssful business man, 
 a prolific inventor and author of many treatises u])oii 
 architectural and engineering.; topics. It would be almost 
 im|)ossible to erect a modern dwelling; without the emjiloy- 
 mcnt of some of his invi-ntions, and there is scarcelv 
 a city in the civilized world, however remote, in which 
 some ol his inventions are not practiced. To his ellorls 
 the use of metal to a very considerable extent has su])erse(k'd 
 material whieh had hitherto been inade(piate to the successful 
 accom])lishmeiit and advani au'i-ons const nn-t ion, es|)eeiall\- 
 in modern buildin^^s. In awarding the medal to Mr. Il.aves 
 at the Centennial lv\hiI)ilion in ISTf), wiiere he h;id erected a 
 bnildin.Lj in whieh he i neorjiora ted his inventions, the jud-^es' 
 report was: " l"or the in.t;enniiy displayed in the construction 
 of the various articles, based on sound priiieii)les, and especially 
 for the perfection arrived at in the c^justrtietion of skyli-ihts." 
 Mr. Hayes has at various times been awarded over one hun- 
 dred medals: his contributions to lite-savint; devices and (ire- 
 jjroof construction are well and widely known. He has indeed 
 led a most active, useful and evcilfid life: such men of |)ro- 
 ^ress inny be justly regarded as std)stanlial benefactors. Ib- 
 is a member of' The Cicneral Societ v of .Mechanics and Trades- 
 men of the City of .New \'ork, The .American Institute, The 
 .Association of .-American Inventors, (of which he was for sev- 
 eral years its vice-jjresident) , The Buildiiif^ Bmiiloyers' Asso- 
 ciation (of whieh he w.is for some years its iiresident) , The 
 American Soeietv of .Mechanical I-"n;j;ineers, The International 
 Association of l-"ire l-;ni;ineers, l-.mployers' .Association of Roof- 
 ers and Sheet Metal Workers of dreater .New York (of which 
 he is ,111 ex-president,) and of all the various Masonic bodies, 
 includin<j; honorary mcmhcrshii) in Anjilo-American I.od<ie, in 
 London, I-yim:land. He was fornierlv a meiuber of the Reiiub- 
 lie;in Club of Xew N'ork, the Abinudon ;uid several other 
 clubs. He is ;it jiresent a member of I he Republii-;in Club ot' 
 Mount X'ernon. Mr. Hayes and family resided in the City 
 of Xew York from ISC),") to 1S'.)S, when they moved to Mount 
 \ crnoii, residinji on Cl'ireniont avenue, since which time Mr. 
 Hayes has adoi)ted a life of comiiarative leisure: he is, how- 
 ever, the president and principal stockholder in the C.eortre 
 Haves Company, of New York, and he contiiuies to be in- 
 terested in various other enterprises mainlv of his own creation. 
 Mr. Hayes is an amateur imisici;in, and claims that the deve- 
 lopment of liis inventjons and the furtherance of his business 
 enterpri.ses have been accelerated, and the cares and respon- 
 
 sibilities incidental to his suciesslul and busy ca leer ha ve been 
 alleviated, by the ha|)py diversions afforded him by his love, 
 knowledge and practice of music, to<,'elher with the interest 
 he h;is taken and the services rendered by him in -Masonic 
 .•\ssociatiou, in which he has held many h'i}ih oflices and is 
 re^^arded as a most distinj,mishe(l member. He is sjioken of 
 in the most <,dowinj,' terms in the book entitled "The Standard 
 History of' l-"reemasonrv in the State of New York." In S];eak- 
 inj; of him it says in part: "In reco;;nilion of his services, 
 the C.rand l,od;,'e by special legislation in l.^'.Mi made him a 
 life meinber of its body, and by his election to the office of 
 • irand Treasurer at the annual meetinji in 1S1)7, became by 
 virtue of that ofhce a life member of the (irand I-odf^e, so 
 that he enjoys the uni(pie distinction of havin;; his meinber- 
 shi|) in the (irand body fortified by two (jualifications." The 
 first act here refi-rred to, is an honor never before or since 
 conf(.-rred n])on any jierson and it means that he holds in 
 a dual capacity, a jiosition, which out of nearly one hundred 
 and twenty thousand masons in the State of New York, 
 twenty persons only at the jjresent time hold th;it distinguish- 
 ed honor. A<;ain we find it slated by the same authoiily : 
 "On declining,' to serve a second term as (irand Treasurer, 
 after bein,!.: re-elected to that othee by acclamatioti in IS'.tS, 
 the (irand Lod;j:c adojited a resolution recojiiiiziiif; the eminent 
 value of Brother Hayes' lon.!„' continued services to the Masonic 
 Institution in .Xew \'ork." .Mr. Hayes is in jxissession of 
 many very substantial tokens of regard, showin;^ still further 
 the hij^h esteem in which he is held. He is a fientleman of 
 refinement and cidtiire, ])ossessin;; a Ijirf^e and varied fund 
 of knowlcdiic and is an extremely l)ri<rhl and intereslin<; eon- 
 vers;itionalist. 
 
 MlLToX RATllBI X, late resident of Chester Hill, .Mount 
 \ eriioii, X. \ ., was liorn on .•\u;;:tist 3, 1 S+-4-, at X'lrona .A'ills, 
 then called Rathlninville, near Rome, -X. and was the son 
 ofSoloinon and Hannah Kathbun. liis ancestors were Hick- 
 site (Quakers, well known, inthiential, and were noted amonj; 
 other attributes f<)r veracity and straiiihl-foruardness. In 
 isr>7the familv removed to S])rin,i;field, .Mass., where he con- 
 tinued his edui-ation. In Isiio he came to .Xew York City and 
 entered in the employ of Mr. Hai.uht, in the hay and jjrain 
 business, conlinuint; until the day of' his transition (with the 
 exception of two ve;irs) in the same business, and in the same 
 building;. In 1S72, without cai)it;tl, or any family financial 
 backinji, his father having lost his f<)rtune in the ])anic of 
 1S.17, he assumed the ownershi]) of the business iheo con- 
 ducted by l-;ibert H;dlock. By dilijjence, |)er.severa nee, honest 
 dealinii, su|)erior jud.Ltnient, and slu])endous courage he 
 built nji the business to L;reat ])roi>ort ions, and in IS'.lO a 
 stock compnny was fornie<l with Mr. Rathbun as the President 
 and holdiiii,' the conlrollini; interest. This pros]'erous con- 
 cern is known as the .Milton Rathbun Coin])any and is located 
 at -4-5.'{ I-ourih avenue. New \'ork City. He was also inter- 
 ested in mines in British Columbia, and ojierated them to 
 some extent. .-Mthouudi very ])opular wiHi his business asso- 
 ciates .-iiid m inv others he was essentially a home man and 
 devoted to his family. In lS7.'i he w:is married to r.-irriet 
 Lee P.iles, of Bellport, L. L: two s<ins survive him: Pr.ank 
 Halloek, a Ljraduate in the cl.iss of' Harvard I'niver- 
 
 sitv, now \'ice- President of the Milton R.iihbtin Com]iany, 
 and Charles Stephen, an under-iiraduaie of the same college. 
 The family lived in .Xew York City until 1SS-1-, when thev 
 loe.-itcd in th.' plcfisant home in this eily, which his wit'e and 
 sons still occupy. In early youth he received indubitable 
 proof of spirit return and communion, and becime a firm 
 spiritualist, never swervinij^ from that siandpoint, althoujjh 
 he took an interest in all schools of' progressive thought and 
 
HISTORY O F M O U N T 
 
 V E R X () N 
 
 shared with each in all that he ton ml to be truth. He showed 
 his reverence for Ciod hy his deeds ot love to man; he found 
 good in all religions, and was tolerant toward every dissent- 
 ing faith. His religious ideals covered all the problems of 
 life and dcstinv and he fraternized in any effort for the good 
 of mankind. Becoming interested through the writings of 
 Dr. Edward Hooker Dewey on diet and believing it to be 
 in the interest of good health, he made two extended fasts, 
 the first in 1899, of 28 da\'S, duration, and the second in the 
 early part of 1900, lasting for 35 d;iys, during which he 
 attended to business as usual and experienced little or no 
 inconvenience therefrom, with results beneficial to both body 
 and mind. Mr. Rathbun was very favorably known in com- 
 mercial life, being a member of the Produce and Haymarket 
 lixchanges, of New York City. He was also on the (Tovern- 
 ing Board of the Chester Hill Club of Mount X'ernon, and a 
 member of the Mount \'ernon Hospital Association. He was 
 a man of quiet, unobtrusive, retiring manners, a])t at busi- 
 ness and endowed with a cultivated insight of men and 
 methods, which made him a wise administrator of his affairs 
 and a successful employer of labor. He was a close student 
 and a well-read man, not only in commercial matters, but 
 also in current and standard literature and ]iossessed one of 
 the finest libraries in Westchester County. Creiiial and enter- 
 taining to his friends, kind and loving to his family, sym- 
 pathetic and charitable to the world at large, he was held 
 in the greatest respect and esteem by all. Mr. Kathbun de- 
 parted this life for the life beyond death on September 7, 
 1902, at Riverhead, L. I., and his remains are interred at 
 \'erona Mills, N. Y., the place of his birth. The obsequies 
 attending his funeral were held in VYillard Hall, and were very 
 imposing; besides the relatives a large concourse of people 
 were present, including many business and social friends, 
 among them the entire body of officers and employees of the 
 Milton Rathbun Company, of New York, many members of 
 the Produce and Haymarket Exchanges and a large delegation 
 of the Westchester Woman's Club of Mount Yernon. The 
 floral tributes were numerous and more elegant than ever 
 before seen in this city. Mrs. Rathbun, who survives the 
 honored subject of this sketch, is a refined and cultured woman, 
 most pleasing in manner, and is very prominent and popu- 
 lar in social circles. She is President of the Westchester 
 W'oman's Club of Mount Vernon, composed of some 240 
 members. The object of this society is "to form a recog- 
 nized center for social and mental culture, to further the edu- 
 cation of women for the responsibilities of life, to encourage 
 all movements for the betterment of society and to foster 
 a generous public spirit in the community." Mrs. Rathbun 
 is als<i the President of the Westchester County Political 
 Equality (Woman's Suffrage) Club and Treasurer of the New 
 York State Spiritualist Association. She is also one of the 
 founders of the Mount Vernon Hospital, being Chairman of 
 the House Committee until the hospital was successfully in 
 operation. She is a charter member of the Martha Wilson 
 Home for Old Ladies, and served many years upon its Board 
 of Managers. She is also actively engaged as a director of 
 the Peo])le's Institute of Mount Vernon, and is President of a 
 select Social Club. That Mr. l\athl)un and his family were 
 held in high esteem and that his memory is honored is evi- 
 flcnced by the fact that eight sets of resolutions, some of 
 them handsomely engrossed, were forwarded tf) the family 
 by leading organizations of Mount \'ernon, and by the Mil- 
 ton Rathbun C(jmpany and the Eirst Society of Spiritual- 
 ists of New York City. 
 
 MINOT C. KELLOGG was born at New Canaan, "Conn., 
 December 17, 1834-. He was the son of Matthew and Electa 
 
 (Croibot) Kellogg; his ancestry dates back to Daniel Kellogg, 
 who was born in 1638, and who was an early settler ofNor- 
 walk, Conn. Mr. Kellogg was educated in the public schools. 
 He is president of the Patterson Bros. Co., of New York City, 
 hardware merchants, president of the Bank of Mount Vernon, 
 president of the Co-operative Building Bank, New York City, 
 one of the trustees of the Eastchester Savings Bank and on 
 the board of managers of Mount \'ernon Hospital. He is in 
 politics a Republican, is j)resi(ient of the board of trustees 
 of the First Methodist Church, and a member of the Hard- 
 ware Club, New York. On September 24, 18(53, he was mar- 
 ried to Emily E., daughter of Charles E. and Abigail Ann 
 Disbrow, of Norwalk, Conn., who died in Februar}-, 1889, 
 and on January 7, 1891, he was married to Miss Mary L. 
 Tallmadge, daughter of the late William H. Tallniadge, of 
 New Canaan, Conn. Mr. Kellog is a gentleman of sterling 
 worth and integrity, interested in everything that is for the 
 good of the community and for the interests of mankind, he 
 is refined and urbane in manner, a true friend in all the re- 
 lations of life and discharges his various duties with loyalty 
 and fidelity. He holds an enviable position in the esteem of 
 his fellow citizens, to which he is eminently entitled, for his 
 pure and honorable life is above reproach, and he is distinctly 
 one of the ])roniinent and leading residents of Mount X'ernon. 
 
 CLARENCE STEWART McCLELLAN, a prominent busi- 
 ness man, former postmaster and city treasurer of Mount 
 \'ernon, was born in that community on the 6th of May, 
 1860, being a son of Pelham L. and Sarah A. (Ferdon) Mc- 
 Clellan. He is descended from the original Scotch ancestors, 
 although the family has been a resident in this country- for 
 several generations. His great-grandfather, Hugh McClellan, 
 was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and his grandfather, 
 William W. McClellan, a citizen of New Rochelle, was an attor- 
 ney and served as Master of Chancery. Mr. McClellan's father 
 was a lawyer and held the offices of Supervisor and District 
 Attorney of Westchester County. He died in October, 1892. 
 Clarence S. McClellan was educated in the public schools of 
 Mount Vernon. In 1S78, at the age of eighteen, he embarked 
 in the real estate and insurance business, in which he still 
 continues. In 1891 he associated with him Thomas R. Hodge, 
 former Register of the County of Westchester, and the firm 
 was continued under the name of McClellan & Hodge until 
 January, 1903, when it was dissolved by mutual consent, 
 Mr. Hodge retiring. Mr. McClellan, in addition to his real 
 estate business, has been closely identified in the organization 
 and management of several large corporate interests in West- 
 chester County. In the year 1889 he organized the People's 
 Bank of Mount Vernon, with a capital of $50,000, and he 
 was elected its vice-president, which position he retained until 
 he succeeded to the presidency in January, 1898, which office 
 he still retains. On April 1, 1900, the People's Bank was 
 converted from a State to a National l)ank, .-issumiiig the title 
 of the " First National Bank of Mount \'ernon, X. Y.," ■•iiid 
 its capital increased to $1()0, ()()() and surjihis $50,000. The 
 First National Bank of MouiU W-nion is recognized as one of 
 the leading banks in tlic county. In the sjiring of 1 899, Mr. 
 McClellan co-operated in the organization of the City Bank 
 of New Rochelle, which was incorporated under the State 
 laws and commenced Imsimss on July 10, 1899, with a cajii- 
 tal of $50,000 and surplns , ,f $5,( lOO. In the year 1902, the 
 City Bank of New Rochelle was re orLjanized under the Nation- 
 al system, with a cai)ital of $100,000 and surplus of $10,000. 
 Mr. McClellan is one of its directors. He is also one of the 
 directors~of the Gulf and Ship Island Railroad. He is also 
 executor and a 'ministrator of several large estates, and has 
 been a]ipointed on a inimber of commissions by the Supreme 
 
DAXIKL C lllCk 
 
HISTORY ( ) I- M (•) I ■ X I" \' Iv K N ( ) N 
 
 81 
 
 Court jiul^es of his (listrici. In jjoliiics Mr. McClcllaii lias 
 lieen identified since boyhood with the neiiioeratic jiarty. At 
 the age of twcnt^'-nnc he was elected School Trustee of Dis- 
 trict No. +, of the old town of Ivastchestcr. Later he served 
 as villa<;e trustee, representing; the third ward. At the first 
 election held for choice of officers for the new city of Mount 
 \'ernon, (May, 1892), he was chosen city treasurer, con- 
 liiiuing in that office until junc, 1S',)1. In A])ril of the latter 
 year he was apjiointed by I 'resident Cleveland, ])()Stniaster 
 of Mount X'ernon, having received the unanimous indorsement 
 of his ])arty organization. Since his retirement from the 
 postmastership in August, IS'.IS, he has devoted his time 
 exclusively to his husincss interests. 
 
 MI-:K\VIN E. GENI NC, was horn in Coxsackie, N. Y., 
 SeiHeniher IS, 1858. He was the son of Rev. R. M. (k-nung, 
 ;i jirominent Methodist Episcopal clergyman and meniher of 
 the New Vork Ivast Conference for thirty-five years. lie was 
 educated at the ])ul)Iic schools and afterward at America 
 Seminary; he had exjiected to take a collegiate course, hut 
 was prevented by the illness and subsecjueiit death of his 
 father. Shortly after leaving school, he went with Samuel 
 Scott, at White Plains, a dr^' goods merchant, serving an ap- 
 prenticeship of several years with him, during which time he 
 was advanced from an errand boj-'s position to that of mana- 
 ger. After this he went to Portchester, N. V. and started 
 in business with Mr. Scott, where he remained for fifteen years, 
 until the death ot' Mr. Scott, when he severed his connection 
 with the lirm. Mr. (".enung had formed a friendshiji with a 
 fellow clerk, John II. .\Ic.\rdle, which friendship had continued 
 to exist, and when the opportunity' offered they formed a 
 co-partnership in 1897 under the firm name of fk-nung 8z 
 .McArdle. Representing the newer and more progressive ele- 
 ment, they took the old store formerly occujiied by Mr. John 
 Berry, one of the most jiromincnt and best-known merchants 
 of Mount X'ernon. This w;is a small store 25 xlOO feet; the 
 new firm at once made radical changes to meet the demands 
 of the time. They enlarged the store, bought pro])erty and 
 have made only recenth' purchases of propertv on Fifth avenue. 
 They now have the choicest property in the city, running from 
 Fourth to Fifth avenue, wnth a frontage of 54 feet and ex- 
 tending back 210 feet, making it a very commodious and 
 complete mercantile establishment, with a large and varied 
 stock of goods. They have a bninch store at Mainaroneck, 
 which is under the supervision of Mr. .McArdle, while the store 
 in .Mount \'ernon is directlv managed by Mr. Cicnung. The 
 subject of this sketch is a conservative Republican in politics, 
 never sought nor accepted oflice, believing it is better to do 
 one thing well th-ui m-mv indifferently. He is a member of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church and belongs to the Royal 
 Arcanum. lie was married September 25, 1889, to Miss 
 Louise Reynolds, ot lireeiiwich. Conn. They have one daugh- 
 ter, Helen. .Mr. Genung devotes himself with great assiduity 
 to the details of his business, which is conducted with ad- 
 mirable system. He is a very agreeable, unobtrusive gentle- 
 man and has the hajipy faculty of winning friends and retain- 
 ing them. He is kind, unaffected and approachable, and every 
 one who has business with him receives his courteous atten- 
 tion. He has great faith in the future of Mount Vernon and 
 is always ready to give his support to any measure that 
 will inure to its development and benefit. 
 
 I\ A. STRATTO.N', vice-president of the Westchester Light- 
 ing Company. .Mr. Stratton is a native of the State of New 
 Vork, but has lived much in the South, where he still has 
 large jjroperty interests. He is now at the head of the Light- 
 ing Company furnishing liolh gas and electricity to nearly 
 
 all of Westchester County and ])art of New Vork City. Mr. 
 Stratton modestly sa^'s the superior service his company is 
 giving the peojile, and the business-like administration of its 
 affairs, is due entirely to the valuable advice <»f the other 
 oHicers of the companv, together u-ith the able and efficient 
 assistance of the engineers of the different departments, and 
 of the superintendents in the various divisions, with the loyal 
 service of the employees generallv, rather than to any execu- 
 tive ability which he may possess. .\Ir. Stratton, though iU)t 
 actively engjiged in any other business, is interested in several 
 other enterprises and v.'irious oper;itions. Among others he 
 is secrctarv and treasurer of the Dominion Coal Company, 
 of Virginia; ])resident of the Dominion .Mining Comj)any, of 
 Virginia; secretary and treasurer of the .McClure Coal Com- 
 jiany; also ;i director in the I)um])s Creek Coal, Land and 
 Timber Comjiany, the Amerieati Land Company-, the Monte 
 \'ista Cemetery Comjiany, the Watauga Lighting Company, 
 the Johnson City Traction Company, and is financialU* inter- 
 ested in several others. Mr. Stratton is a rnemlier of the 
 New Rochclle Yacht Club, the Siwanoy- Country Club of 
 Mount X'ernon, and the Lotus Club of New York City. 
 
 HENRY C. J()NIi;S, .M.D., was born in East Hartford, 
 Conn., November 2(), 1833, and received his education in the 
 liiiglish and Classical School of that place and Conn. Lit- 
 erary Institution. He studied medicine in Hartford and grad- 
 uated at the Worcester Medical College, Mass., 185G, and set- 
 tled in the fall of that year, in -Mt. \'ernon, where he has re- 
 mained from that time to the present. Dr. Jones has had 
 in his day a very large and prominent clientele, but is now 
 taking only a very limited jiractice. Dr Jones in ])olitics is a 
 Republican, but he has always refused to be a candidate for 
 any jiolitical oilice. In the village life of .Mt. Vernon he was 
 for a period a memlier of the Board of Education. He is at 
 present and has been for a great many years a Director in 
 the Bank of Mount X'ernon, .\. Y. Dr. Jones is <'i member of 
 the Westchester County Homeopathic Medical Society and 
 the American Institution of Homeojiathy. He is a jiublic 
 spirited citizen, aiding all kinds of improvement for the good 
 of the city and has been especially active in promoting ed- 
 ucational interests. He is possessed of much general informa- 
 tion, is a close student, a good business man, an agreeable 
 aciiuainiance and a warm and abiding friend. 
 
 J0SI:PH AC.ATl-: Iiorsi:, .M.D., was bom in New Vork 
 City, January 8, l.S5(). He graduated at the Troy Academy 
 and afterward at the Eclectic Medical College of New Vork 
 in 1880, and affiliated wHth the Homeopathic School, in 1881. 
 Dr. House has been a resident of Mount ^'erllon for ten years, 
 and has practiced his profession with much success and dis- 
 tinction. He is a Re]nibHcan in politics, a member of the 
 Westchester County .Medical Society and also of the New Vork 
 Homeopathic .Medical Society. He is not married. He is a 
 gentleman of culture ;ind refinement, courteous in manner, 
 and deservedly pojuilar. He is sincere in his friendshi]) ;ind 
 is a conscientious, faithful, vigilant physician, and greatly 
 esteemed. 
 
 H. IvLGIvNI- SMITH, M.D.. was born in Jersey City, 
 N. J.. July +, 18(;o. He is a son of the late Henry C. Smith, 
 of Mount X'ernon, who was prominently connected for many 
 years with the Custom House, New Vork ; removed to Mount 
 X'ernon in 1884-, organized and was the first President of the 
 People's Bank, now the First National Bank. He was an 
 enthusiastic fireman, belonged to Mount X'ernon Steamer 
 Com])any, and was highly esteemed at the time of his deatli, 
 
S2 
 
 H I S T ( ) R \- ( ) F M O U N T \^ E R X O N 
 
 in 1890. Doctor Smith acquired much of his education in 
 PubHc No. 18 and the old School No. 35, whose principal was 
 Thomas F. Hunter. An association named after Mr. Hunter still 
 exists and graduates therefrom comprise a number of prominent 
 names, including financial, political and professional celebrities. 
 Dr. Smith studied also in the college of the City of New York ; 
 after graduating he matriculated in the University Medical 
 College of New York, 1880, and graduated v\'ith high honors in 
 the class of 1883. After a hospital practice and career in the 
 department of charities and correction for eighteen months, 
 and wishing to travel he gratified his desire and went abroad 
 and visited various hospitals and medical colleges in the old 
 world. Upon his return from Europe he practiced his pro- 
 fession in New York City continuously until 1886, and then 
 removed to Mount Vernon, where several of his family re- 
 sided. Doctor Smith is a man of affairs. He is a member 
 of a number of medical societies, including Westchester Medical 
 Association, Jenkin's Medical Society, The Physicians' Mutual 
 Aid Society, The American Medical Association, and the Asso- 
 ciation of Military Surgeons of the United States. He was 
 assistant surgeon of the First Regiment, N. Y. N. G., and 
 surgeon of the 11th Battahon until it disbanded. He is a 
 member of the Masonic Order from Hiawatha Lodge, No. 434, 
 F. and A. M. to Mecca Temple (Mystic Shrine), Royal 
 Arcanum, Foresters, Order of Red Men, Loyal Legion (New 
 York Commandery ) , Sons of Veterans, Azin Grotto of Veiled 
 Prophets, the Elks, Knights of St. John and Malta and a 
 member of the Y. M. C. A. He was elected to the Board of 
 Education of Mount Vernon in 1889 by a large majority, 
 and re-elected by an increased majority. Dr. Smith belong- 
 ing to the Brotherhood of Bachelors, has naturally identified 
 himself with club life and its environments. For many years 
 he has lieen a member of the City Club of Mount \'ernon, 
 was its president several times; declined re-election and gave 
 his warm support to his successor, Doctor Edward F. Brush, 
 the present encumbent, although he remains on the Board 
 of Governors. He is a member also of the Westchester Wheel- 
 men, the Mount Vernon Turn \'erein, and New York Athletic 
 Club. He is steady and unwavering in his advocacy and 
 support of the principles of Jeffersonian Democracy, has filled 
 the position of police surgeon, and has been city physician, 
 and since 1897 has been Health Officer. Doctor Smith is fond 
 of music, a patron of the Mount Vernon Musical Society and 
 the late Choral Society. Although much of his time is de- 
 voted to worldly pleasures and diversions, and his prominence 
 in society, he is unobtrusively interested in church matters, 
 and particularly in the Methodist Episcopal denomination. He 
 is a man of large heart, generous and charitable in his im- 
 pulses and genial and refined in nature. Having a pleasing 
 address, his courtesy readily wins him friends whom his ster- 
 ling virtues retain. 
 
 GEORGE C. WELSS, M.D., was born in Mount Vernon, 
 May 20, 1861, he was educated in the local schools and 
 graduated at the College of the City of New York and at 
 the Bellevue Hospital Medical College. He has lived in the 
 city during his entire life and is a Democrat in politics. He 
 was House Surgeon of Charity Hospital in 1884, Health 
 OfBcer of the city in 1887, City Alderman in 1895 and 1897, 
 and President of the Board of Health in 1899. He is a mem- 
 l)cr of the City Club of Mount Vernon, President of the Medi- 
 cal Association of Mount Vernon and environs and member 
 of the Medical Society of Westchester County and of the 
 State Medical Society; he is also a member of the Society 
 of the Alumni of City (charity) Hospital, New York City. 
 Dr. Weiss is prominently identified with the Mount Vernon 
 Hospital, being Visiting Surgeon and a member of the Board 
 
 of Managers; he is one of the incorporators of the Training 
 School for Nurses, connected with the hospital. When an 
 officer of the city, he used his influence for its benefit and was 
 sure to be found on the side of progress in everj'thing that 
 tended to promote the development and industries of the 
 community. He has a large practice, stands high in his pro- 
 fession and discharges his duties with promptness and fidelity. 
 He is broad-minded and liberal in his views and is popular 
 with a large circle of friends and acquaintances. 
 
 JOHN LAWRENCE HUGHES, M.D., of Mount Vernon, 
 N. v., was b(jrn in the City of New York, October 20, 1876, 
 he received his preliminary education at the Columbia Gram- 
 mar School, New York ; he then entered the College of Phy- 
 sicians and Surgeons, of the Columbia University, New York, 
 and graduated in the class of 1899. He was resident physi- 
 cian at the City (charity) Hospital, Blackwell's Island, from 
 
 JOHN I.AWKHNCK HI'CtHH.S. M.IK 
 
 1899 to 1901. He was resident physician at the New York 
 Infant .\syluni from 1901 to 1902. He is a member of the 
 Society of the Alumni of City Hospital, also of the Medical 
 Society of the County of Westchester. He has been a resident 
 of Mount Vernon for five years, his residence and office are 
 located at 21 Archer avenue, Chester Hill. 
 
 WILLIAM HENRY PURDY, M.D., was born at Harrison, 
 Westchester County, N. Y. His early education was at the 
 district schools of Harrison and Rye Neck, later at Chappa- 
 qua Mount Institute, then entered Bellevue Hospital Medical 
 College, from which he graduated with honors. He has lived 
 in Mount Vernon five years. Dr. Purdy's ancestor, Francis 
 Purdy, came to this country in the year 1638 from York- 
 shire, England, and was among the earlier settlers of West- 
 chester County. His descendants lived in Harrison and other 
 places in the county and also in Fairfield County, Conn. 
 His great great grand-father was Caleb Purdy and married 
 
iii;nk\' c. i-okihiam. 
 
1 1 1 s T ( I K V OF ^r () r x r \' !■: \< x o x 
 
 ll.iniiah liiown. His ^rcat •^raiul-l'allKT wjis lilias l'ur(l_v 
 and married kachacl Mcrritt, his ^^r.-ind-i'alhcr was William 
 Henry Purdy and married Hannah I'urdy, his father was 
 William Ilcnry I'urdy and married Mary Francis I'urdy, 
 One of the landmarks of Mount Vernon is the old I'urdy 
 homestead on the northeast corner of South Sixth avenue 
 and West 4th street, which was owned 1)3^ Sylvanus I'urdy, 
 >^rand-uncle of the subject of this sketch. The old I'urdy 
 farm-house is still in a line stale nf jjreservation. Dr. I'urdy 
 is a prominent physician of Mouni \ crnon, was elected ])rcsi- 
 dent of the Board ol IlcaUli Fel)ruary, 1901, and is the 
 present incumbent of the oirue. He is a member of the Pro- 
 testant Ivpiscopal church, the Westchester County Medical 
 Society, Mount \'ernon Medical Society, Royal Arcanum, 
 Hiawatha Lodge, Bethlehem Commandcrv P. and A. M., and 
 Mecca Shrine. He was married June 27, I'JOO, to Miss (Irace 
 .Maud Bronson, daughter ol Charles Randolf Bronson, of 
 Bridgeport, Conn. She is a graduate of Pmerson College of 
 ()rat(jry, Boston, Mass. She is a fine elocutionist and a lady 
 of culture and refinement, and never so happy as when en- 
 gaged in good and charitable deeds. I'r. I'nrdy is a refined, 
 hospitable and courteous gentleman, simple and unaftt'ctcd 
 in manner, generous to all in distress, and is always ready 
 to assist in every philanthropic and religious enterprise, lie 
 holds a leading place in his ])rofession and society, and his 
 personal honor and integrity are without blemish. 
 
 1H)X. ISA.\C .\. MILLS, lawyer and jurist, was b<n-n in 
 Thompson, Conn., September 10, 1S51. He is descended from 
 a distinguished family of Rhode Island Quakers, old residents 
 of that State, among whom was General ("ireene, of Revolu- 
 tionary fame. Judge .Mills entered Providence Conference 
 Seminary, at Greenwich, R. I., to prepare for college; there 
 he graduated in 1878, and then attended .\mherst College. 
 During his course there, he was distinguished for his excellence 
 in the classics, philosojjhy, physiology and extemperancous 
 oratory; he graduated in 187-i and was the valetudinarian 
 of his class. Subsequently he entcreii Columbia L;nv College, 
 from whence he graduated in 187(), with many honors. He 
 removed to Mount \'crnon the same 3'ear and began the 
 Ijractice of law and became famous in his ])roiession and has 
 been connected with many important cases. In 1883 he was 
 elected County Judge, and filled that position until 1895, 
 with ability and impartiality. He is a staunch Republican in 
 politics and is high and influential in the councils of his party, 
 and an earnest advocate of its principles. He was elected 
 State Senator in 1900, and renominated in 1902. He is Past 
 .Master of the Masonic Order, a Knights Temj)lar, a member 
 of the New England Society and the Sons of the Kevohnion. 
 ludge Mills has pre-eminently a legal mind with an acute 
 knowledge of human nature, well prepared for the consider- 
 ation and decision of intricate points of law, and is chosen 
 among the able jurists of the State. His interests in his 
 clients' cases is unfailing, leaves nothing to uncertainties, but 
 is alwa\'S full\' prejiared and presents the evidence with con- 
 vincing effect. By the strength of his personal character, his 
 fidelitv, uniform courtesy, unquestioned integrity and legal 
 ability, he has won eminent distinction. 
 
 lOSLPH S. WOOD became a resident of .Mount Vernon 
 [anuarj- 2, 1865. He has contiimed to be one ever since. 
 He has had much to do with history of Mount \'ernon. PVom 
 the day he took up his residence here until now he has taken 
 an active part in public affairs, and man)' of the improve- 
 ments and benefits which the Cit}' enjoys arc due to his en- 
 ergy and foresight. He came here as the jirincipal of the 
 schools of School District Number Four of the Town of liast- 
 
 chestcr. This district included nearly all ol the village of 
 .Mount X'ernon, and several adjoining villages als(j. During 
 the twelve years prior to January 1, 1805, it had had seven 
 |)rincipals; and the schools were naturally in a disordered 
 condition. I'-rom the day .Mr. Wood took hold of them they 
 improved and grewra])i(il3', so thaton his retirement from their 
 superintendence in 1870 it was generall)' conceded that the 
 I)ublic schools of .Mount \'ernon were among the ver}' best 
 in the State. I'or the tw(j ye.'irs immediately preceding his 
 residence in .Mount N'crnon .Mr. Wo(jt1 had been the superin- 
 tendent of the Cooper Union in New \<>rk Cit\-; and f<jr one 
 year after he became the i)rinciijal of the -Mount \'ernon school 
 he still retained the ])rincipalshi]) of the Cooper Union Night 
 School. At that time he was only twenty-two 3'ears of age. 
 On his retirement from the Ccjcjper Union the trustees i)assed 
 a rcs(jlution highh' commending him for his successful adminis- 
 tration of its man3' de])artments Jind for the improvements 
 and extensions he had introduced, .\bout the 3'ear 1805 the 
 so-called Boulevard Ring was at the height of its power. It 
 had almost all of Westchester County at its mere3'. William 
 .M. Tweed w;is then .'dl-powerful in New York Cit3- and State, 
 and some of his satellites had taken u|) their residence in this 
 vicinity. They were causing acts to lie passed b3' the legis- 
 l.'itnre in which Tweed's nod was suflicient, bonding the towns 
 in the lower ])art of this county hundreds of thousands of 
 dollars lor niac£idamized roads, and the burden was greater 
 than the taxpayers could bear. Mr. Wood determined to do 
 what he could to stop the extravagance, corruption and 
 fraud of this Boidevard Ring. In 1808 there was a little 
 newspaper published in -Mount \'ernon bv two 3'oung men, 
 Arthur .MacDonald, jr., and Samuel lloldrege, both of whom 
 had been pu])ils under .Mr. Wood in the .Mt. \'ernon schools. 
 .\s they wished to sell out their paper, Mr. Wood bought it. 
 He enlarged and greatly imi)royed it, anil called it "The 
 Chronicle." He took it to fight the Boulevard Ring and to 
 advocate generally the interests of the ])eople ; and for twent)'- 
 five years, as long as he wielded his trenchant pen, "The 
 Chronicle" was a ])owcr in Westchester County. The fight 
 against the Boulevartl Ring was a long and a bitter one, 
 l)ut "The Chronicle" won out. .Mr. Wood then took up the 
 demand for lower rates of fare on the New York and New 
 Haven Railroad. At first his efforts were laughed at. Who 
 had ever heard of a newspaper or a ])rivatc individual com- 
 pelling a gigantic railroad corjjoration to reduce its fares.' 
 But the fight went on. Year after year the struggle was re- 
 newed in the legislature, and finally, in 1873, the railroad 
 came to terms and reduced its rates of fare. The commuta- 
 tion rates were reduced from $95 a year to $00, and the 
 way fare from forty-five cents to thirty cents. Mainly for 
 this achievement, but incidentally for other good works as 
 well, about a hundred of the leading citizens of' -Mount Vernon, 
 at a j)ublic meeting, presented -Mr. Wood with a beautiful 
 gold watch, in which is this inscrijUion : " Presented to Jo.seph 
 S. Wood l)y his friends as a token of their appreciation of 
 his ctlorts on behalf of the Public. .Mount \ernon, N. Y., 
 May 5tli, 1873." About the time this contest was brought 
 to a hapjn- issue, theic was an era of extravagance and reck- 
 lessness in the town governmeni, espeei;illy among some of 
 the justices of the peace. Tramps were .sent to the county 
 jail by the score every week, ami in many ca.ses, although 
 sentenced for a month, they were back again and ready for 
 recommitment in a very few days. I'or each coniniiiment 
 a justice ol the jieace received several dollars. Prominent 
 among the justices of the i)cacc .'it that time was Robert 
 W. Edmonds, and for many ye.irs he proved himself so adroit 
 a politician that it was impossible to get him out of oflice. 
 His bills against the town for services were especially large, 
 
HISTORY OF AI () U N T V E K X ON. 
 
 SG 
 
 and Mr. Wood, through "The Chronicle" and in pubHc meet- 
 ings, opposed them vigorouslj-. One of the improvements 
 which Mr. Wood persistently advocated was the making into 
 a park of all the land between the New York, New Haven & 
 Hartford Railroad, Lincoln avenue, as it is now called, Fourth 
 avenue and Crary avenue. Mr. Charles Crar3' offered to give 
 a large part of the land and other landowners who owned 
 parts of the proposed park offered to donate their land also. 
 In fact, the entire plot could have been secured for $60,000. 
 Almost every progressive man in Alount Vernon favored the 
 project, but the great majority voted it down. Mr. Wood 
 also advocated securing a water-supply for Mount Vernon 
 from the upper part of the Hutchinson River; but while the 
 people were arguing over the question Mr. Adrian Iselin se- 
 cured it and organized the New Rochelle Water Company. 
 Shortly after this the Mount Vernon Water Company was 
 organized, and an attempt was made to get a water-supply 
 from an artesian well. The village however vtry soon out- 
 grew the supply, and the company passed into the hands 
 of outside capitalists. In 1876 Mr. Wood resigned the princi- 
 palship of the Mount Vernon Public Schools to resume the 
 study of law, which he had begun when superintendent of the 
 Cooper Union, and in 1877 he was admitted to the Bar. 
 As his business increased rapidly, he took in as a partner Mr. 
 Isaac N. Mills, who had been a fellow-student with him at 
 Columbia College Law School, and that partnership lasted 
 six years. In 1877 Mr. Wood was elected as the School Com- 
 missioner of the First District of Westchester County, which 
 office he held for three years. In 1878 Mr. Wood married 
 Miss Susie E. Mixsell, and their home has ever since been a 
 center of social and intellectual culture and enjoyment. Thej' 
 have been blessed with four children, two boys and two girls; 
 but they lost the elder of the latter when she was in the tenth 
 year of her age. About 1882 Mr. Wood and Mr. John Mullaly 
 — who was one of the editors of the "New York Herald" — 
 organized the movement which culminated in the creation of 
 the Van Courtlandt, Bronx and Pelham Bay Parks. Mr. 
 Mullaly wrote a series of articles in the "New York Herald" 
 on the subject, and through a common friend, he and Mr. 
 Wood were made acquainted with each other. At Mr. Wood's 
 suggestion, it was resolved to organize a Park Association 
 to put the project in practical shape. A parlor in the Fifth 
 Avenue Hotel was secured and the invitations for a meeting 
 thereat were prepared by Mr. Wood and were printed in the 
 office of "The Chronicle." At the outset, the Bronx Park 
 and the Parkways were not thought of. They were suggested 
 later by Mr. Charles Crary. The only one of the three great 
 parks which is twice as large as Van Courtlandt Park, 
 wholly in the limits of New York City was Van Court- 
 landt Park, and nearly every member of the Park Association 
 was a prominent citizen who resided or owned property in its 
 vicinity. It was Mr. Wood who proposed the Pelham Bay 
 Park, which is twice as large as Van Courtlandt Park, 
 and which was then wholly outside the limits of New 
 York City. Almost all the other members of the Park Asso- 
 ciation strongly opposed the Pelham Bay Park, saying it 
 would kill the whole project to ask for it, but Mr. Wood was 
 backed up by Mr. Crary and a few others, and ultimately 
 won, by threatening t(j oppose the Van Courtlandt Park if 
 the Pelham Bay Park were not included in the plan. When 
 a commission was appointed by the legislature to report on 
 the proposition, the Honorable Luther R. Marsh was made 
 the chairman thereof; and as he had the foresight and breadth 
 of view to realize the magnificent possibilities of Pelham Bay 
 Park, he became one of its most enthusiastic advocates. 
 The struggle lasted for several years, Mayor Grace and ex- 
 Mayor Hewitt being among the most bitter opponents of the 
 
 project; but through the devotion of Messrs. Marsh, Wood 
 and Mullaly, i'elham Bay I'ark was established as a part 
 (jf the great park scheme of which New York City is now so 
 justly proud. In 1885 Mr. Wood was the corporation counsel 
 of the Village of Mount Vernon, and a short time later became 
 the counsel for the Eastchester Savings Bank. Mr. Wood, 
 in 1891, favored the organization of Mount Vernon as a city, 
 and assisted in the making of the city charter. In 1886, when 
 James G. Blaine ran against Grover Cleveland for the Presi- 
 dency, there was a split in the Republican I'arty. In Mount 
 Vernon it was wide and deep. Mr. Wood was one of the 
 leaders of the Mugwumps and challenged the champions of the 
 Republicans to a public debate. The challenge was accepted, 
 and two nights for the debate were selected. On the first 
 night his former partner. Judge Mills, was his adversary; 
 on the second night the Rev. Oliver D3'er took up the cudgels 
 for the Republicans. It is needless to say that the excitement 
 was intense and that Fuller's Hall, where the debate took 
 place, was crowded to its utmost capacity. Shortly after the 
 city was created it became necessary to look for an additional 
 water-supply, as the one on which the city had to depend 
 was inadequate. A water commission was thereupon organized 
 under a special act of the legislature, and Mr. Wood was made 
 its counsel. The report of that body, which was very com- 
 prehensive and exhaustive, pointed out the way in which 
 the city could secure an abundant supply of pure and potable 
 water, and the water compan}^ was swift to carry out the 
 coinmission's recommendations. The matter of an outlet 
 sewer for the disposal of the sewerage by filter-beds or other 
 means has been agitated by Mr. Wood for many years, and 
 it now appears probable that an excellent plan for sewage 
 disposal hy a filter-fjed will soon he carried out. In 1898 
 Mr. Wood was elected the president of the Board of Educa- 
 tion, and through his knowledge of the Public School System 
 was able to recommend many improvements. He earnestly 
 favored the purchase of a tract of five acres for a children's 
 playground, at a cost of $25,000, but the people voted it 
 down. In 1899 and 1900 Mr. Wood was the president of the 
 Westchester County Bar Association. He has also been the 
 president of the Mount Vernon Board of Trade and several 
 other organizations. There has not been a year since Mr. 
 Wood took up his residence in Mount Vernon wherein he has 
 not taken an active part in public affairs. His voice and 
 pen have always been found on the side of justice, economy, 
 progress, reform and improvements. For several years past 
 Mr. Wood has given a considerable part of his time and energy 
 to securing for Mount Vernon additional transportation lines 
 and facilities, realizing that in that way lies prosperity. He 
 has been an outspoken champion for every extension and im- 
 provement to the trolley lines which would help Mount Vernon, 
 likewise the New York and Portchester Railroad, and espe- 
 cially for the continuation of the rapid transit system of 
 New York City to the Mount Vernon boundary line. This 
 last named extension is now in a fair way to be realized. 
 Mr. Wood graduated in 1861, with high honors, from the 
 New York Free Academy — now the College of the City of 
 New York — and has always taken an active part in its affairs 
 and in those of the entire public school system of New Y'^ork 
 City. He is a member of many organizations, among them 
 being the Refor.n Club, the New Y'ork Athletic Club, the Man- 
 hattan Chess Club, the Transportation Club, the City College 
 Club, The City Club, the Siwanoy Club, the Westchester 
 County Bar Association and the Bar Association of the City 
 of New York. 
 
 CHARLES H. LOVETT, was born at Prattsville, Greene 
 County, N. Y., September 26, 1857, being the onl}' son of 
 
josi:iMi s. wool). 
 
CHARLES H. LOVETT. 
 
HISTORY ( ) I- MOT N T V E R X O X . 
 
 Rev. Xobk' Lovctt, of" the New Vork M. 1-^ Conference, now 
 (k'ccased. When fifteen N'ears of" age he coiniiiciiced to su])- 
 port himself", learned a trade, and by working and tcachinj^ 
 paid his way throu<^h school. He was educated at the New 
 Vork Conference Seminary, and Colleiriate Institute of" the 
 M. Iv. Church, at Charlottevillc, X. \., the State Normal 
 School at Albany, the Law Department ol Tnion College, and 
 the Universitj- of the City of New Vork, graduating with 
 honors, in 18S0, and receiving the degree of LL.B. In May 
 of the same \-e ir, at I'oughkeepsie, N. he was admitted 
 to practice as an attorney and counselor at law in the 
 State courts, and has since been admitted to practice 
 in the U. S. Courts, in New Vork, New jerse}-, and 
 Washington. In 1880, he commenced the practice of" his 
 profession in the city of New Vork, and by his ability and 
 faithful attention to the interests of his clients has built up a 
 large and lucrative practice. While conducting a general liti- 
 gated business he has given special attention to corporation, 
 admiralty and surrogate's practice, and now holds an appoint- 
 ment from the State as Transfer Tax Ajjpraiser f"or the Coun- 
 t\' of Westchester. He has been f"re(|tiently honored by the 
 Courts, having had the distinction, within a period of two 
 years, of receiving references in important matters from every 
 Judge then on the Supreme Court bench, in New York County, 
 and from the Surrogate of that County. On July 6, 1891, 
 he married Miss Florence M. Mills, daughter of Edgar K. 
 Mills, of Helena, Montana. Mr. Lovctt lives with his wHfe, 
 one son and two daughters at 271 Summit avenue, this city, 
 and has a summer home at Atlantic Highlands, N. J., where 
 he has large real estate interests. Me has offices in the Post- 
 Office building, this cit)^ and at 150 Nassau street, New 
 York City. He came to Mount Vernon, October 1, 1895, and 
 has since taken an active interests in public affairs. In 1896, 
 he represented the cit\- in the Common Council, and in the 
 first McKinle3' campaign was corresponding secretar}' of the 
 McKinley T-caguc and president of the McKinlc3- and Hobart 
 Club. In 1900, he was elected to the Common Council by 
 a large majoritv, being the only Republican city ofTicial elected 
 in that year. During his term as .Alderman, though his party 
 was in the minority in the board, Mr. Lovett succeeded in 
 uncovering serious irregularities in some of the citj- depart- 
 ments then under the control of his political opponents, and 
 as a result of his fearless probing, and the resulting exposures, 
 public feeling was aroused to such an extent that at the fol- 
 lowing election there was practically a political revolution, 
 nearly every RepubHcan on the city ticket being elected. In 
 1901, he was elected president of the Common Council, and 
 had the Mount X'ernon and several other delegations for the 
 nomination for District- Attorney of his county. He is now- 
 serving his second term as jiresident of the Republican Club 
 of the City of Mount \'ern<jn, is chairman of the I--xecutive 
 Committee of the Republican City Committee, and in 1902, 
 was chairman of the Republican Campaign Committee. He 
 is an exempt fireman, a member of the Chester Hill M. E. 
 Church, and has associated himself with the Westchester 
 County Bar Association, the Rei)ublican Club of the city of 
 New York, the Board of Trade, the K. of P., the I. O. of O., 
 the Royal Arcanum, and several other organizations. 
 
 ROLLAND B. ARCHER was born in the town of liast- 
 chester, April 2-t, 1807; he was educated at the public schools 
 of Mount Vernon, graduated from Bleecker and High street 
 Sch(5ol at West Mount \'ernon (known as the Fifth District 
 School) in 1883, and subsetjuently graduated from Columbia 
 College Law School in New York, in 1889, with degree LL.B. 
 After graduating, was admitted to the bar on September 8, 
 1890, at Brooklyn; was managing clerk for Joseph A. Wood 
 
 H9 
 
 until the s[)ring of IHU'i, at which lime he began the jiractice 
 of" law on his own account. In 1H97 he received degree LL..\I. 
 from New Vork I'niversity. In ])olitics he is a Rejjublican, 
 but hiis always declined offers of political preferment, us the 
 same would interfere with his growing law practice. He has 
 lived ail his life in the town of" Ivastchester and Mount ^'er- 
 non; he is a member of the Reformed Dutch Church, Rcjjub- 
 lican Club, Westchester Bar Association, Clinton Hook and 
 Ladder Comjiany, New Rochelle Rowing Club, and of the 
 Masonic fraternity. On Septemlier 8, 1898, he married .Miss 
 Josephine .Mcintosh; they have one son, Rolland B. Archer, 
 Jr. .Mr. Archer comes f"rom an old and distinguished ancestry, 
 is a leading attorney of .Mount \'ernon, highly ])opular not 
 oidy with his colleagues, but among all classes. He is honor- 
 able and upright, with unfailing courtesy to all with whom 
 he conies in contact, and sincere in his friendships. He dis- 
 charges his duties faithfully and conscientiously, and by his 
 honorable omrse in life he has merited the confidence ;ind 
 esteem of all who know him. 
 
 J()HX M. Sill.X.X, attorney and counselor at law, was 
 born on October 25, lS+9, at Dubuque, lowa. His ancestors 
 
 JOHN M. SIIINN. 
 
 came to the I'nited States in 1(54-8 and settled in New Jersey. 
 He was educated at the High Scht>ol, Waterloo, Iowa, Poly- 
 techni(jue Institute, St. Louis, Mo., National University ot 
 Washington, New York Law School, New York Cit^-, and the 
 I niversity Law School. He is a Republican in polities and 
 (juite active. He was Collector of Taxes, and is now Super- 
 visor of the town of Pelham, and was chairman of the Board 
 of Su])ervisors l"or two years. He has been a member of the 
 Board of Education and jmncijial of the Pelham Manor 
 School. .\t Washington, D. C, he was in charge of the col- 
 lection and tabulation of statistics relating to the Roman 
 Catholic Churches for 1880. He is a member of the Republi- 
 
90 
 
 H I S T O K' V OF MOUNT VERNON 
 
 can Clubs of the cities of New York, New Kochellc and Mount 
 \'ernon. He belongs to the Masonic Order, K()\al Arcanum, 
 Foresters and is a member of the Presbyterian Church at 
 I'elhaiu Manor. On October 20, 1876, he was married to 
 Miss Isabelle K.ing, formerly of London, England ; there are 
 three children living: Natalie F., Grace A. and John M., Jr. 
 Mr. Shinn is a man of strict integrity and fine intelligence; he 
 is particularly fitted for the profession which he has chosen 
 to follow and his well known ability and public spirit have 
 gained for him many admirers and friends. 
 
 FRANK M. buck:, born October 27, 185;), Tarrytown' 
 Westchester County, N. V. Father, David Buck, a minister 
 of ttie Alethodist Episcopal Church, now living, age 92. Mr. 
 Buck attended school at Drew Seminary, Carmel, Putnam 
 County, N. V., for four 3'ears, and graduated therefrom. He 
 also attended the New York Uinversity Law School for two 
 years, receiving his diplomti in the year 1884. He was ad- 
 mitted to the bar and received his diploma as an attorney 
 and counsellor at law in the year 1885. He opened an office 
 in New York City at No. 229 Broadway, and continued there 
 until 1889, when he formed a partnership with Milo J. White, 
 and opened an ofiice in Mount \'ernon on the corner of Fourth 
 avenue and First street. In 1886, Mr. Buck married Minnie 
 L. Cline, of South Anienia, Dutchess County, N. W, and the 
 following year removed from New York City to No. 338 South 
 Fifth avenue, Mount Vernon, buying the property from Mor- 
 ton L. Doremus. Mr. Buck has always been active in politics, 
 being a staunch adherent of the Republican party. He has 
 been at different times. Assistant District Attorney of this 
 County, Deputy Attorney General, and has Ijeen for the past 
 two years and is at this time, holding the position of Attor- 
 ney for the State Comptroller in this county, in all proceed- 
 ings pertaining to the collection of the Collateral, Inheritance, 
 or Transfer Tax. Mr. Buck has two children. Franklin and 
 Helen, aged respectivel3' 14 and 8 years, and resides in a 
 handscjme house at No. 284 Rich avenue. 
 
 WILLIAM J. MARSHALL, Corporation Counsel of the 
 city of Mount Vernon, was born in the town <j1 Eastchester, 
 May 10, 1858. His father was Willia.n Marshall, a native 
 of New Rochelle, N. V., and was one of the early settlers in 
 Westchester County. The subject of this sketch pursued his 
 studies in the public schools of Mount \'ern(jn and was ad- 
 mitted to the bar at Poughkeepsic, N. V., in May 1879, and 
 has since been engaged in the successful practice of law. In 
 June 1897 he was appointed Corporation C<junsel for the city 
 for a term of two years, and that is his present official posi- 
 tion. He is a Democrat politically and has rendered effective 
 service to his party. He married Miss Sadie E. Quirke, of 
 Yonkers, N. Y., the daughter of Thomas Quirke, an influential 
 and respected citizen of that place. Mr. Marshall is a good 
 lawyer, a pleasant and agreeable gentleman, kind in manner, 
 and has many friends. He is a progressive citizen and may 
 be counted on for his share in whatever is proposed for the 
 welfare of the community. 
 
 CHARLES WATERS SINNOTT, attorney at law, member 
 of the firm of Ferguson & Sinnott (with offices at 41 Park 
 Row New York), is a native of New York City and was born 
 September 18, 1877. His father, Thomas Sinnott, was an old 
 resident and merchant of New York City; his mother, Maria 
 T. Waters, was the daughter of Charles Waters, one of the 
 first trunk and leather goods manufacturers in New York. 
 Mr. Sinnott attended school in New York, moved to Mount 
 Vernon in 188G and was five years in public school here, and 
 
 up(3n graduation entered Fordham College in 1891, whence 
 he graduated in 189 () with degree of A. B, He received 
 Hughes medal for competetive examination in mental and 
 moral philosophy. He then entered New York Law School in 
 September, 1896, to pursue his studies, and in 1898 received 
 degree of LL.B., and was admitted to the bar of the State 
 of New York the same year. He was managing clerk for the 
 law firm of Sheehan & Collin, of New York, the senior mem- 
 ber of the firm being Lieutenant-Governor Wm. F. Sheehan, 
 and Chas. A. Collin, formerly legal adviser to Governor Hill 
 and Flower. He remained with this firm fi)r three years and 
 in 1899 formed a partnership with Wm. A. Ferguson, of 
 Brooklyn, N. Y. They conduct the practice of their profession 
 with much success and have been engaged in many important 
 cases, among others the famous Fiske-Brush election contest 
 for Mayor of Mount Vernon, representing the Hon. Edwin W. 
 Fiske, and were successful in sustaining his election after a 
 
 chakm-s \\ ati;rs sixnott. 
 
 hard legal contest. Mr. Sinnott reccivctl the degree ol .Master 
 of Arts from Fordham College, in 1899; he was appointed 
 acting City Judge and served in that capacity for nine months. 
 He is a Democrat in politics, is a member of the Sacred Heart 
 Roman Catholic Church of Mount Vernon, Royal Arcanum, 
 Knights of Columbus, Westchester County Wheelmen and 
 Siwanoy Country Club. On April 23, 1902, he was married 
 to Elsie Marie Ofenstein, who is the grand-daughter of Jacob 
 Weimar, one of the pioneers of Mount Vernon. Mr. Weimar 
 resided here since 1853, and was famous as an inventor of 
 locks and combinations for large safes and bank vaults. He 
 was for fifty years with the Herring-Hall Safe Company, of 
 New York, Mr, Sinnott is a gentleman of integrity and honor, 
 with a perfect appreciation of the higher ethics of life; is a 
 g(jod citizen, prominent in society and is a staunch and loyal 
 friend. 
 
COLIN MACKHXZli:. 
 
CllAkLES \V. STKAUB. 
 
1 1 I S T n R o I- M ( ) I • N T \' Iv R X ( ) X 
 
 93 
 
 HON. SVI)Ni:V ALL1:N SVMI:, attorney at law, I.vuas 
 huildiiifT, was born in New Orleans, La., July 1(>, His 
 mother was an Allen and came of an old New Orleans family 
 of that name; his grandfather was Dr. James Synie, of Scot- 
 land, ])hysician to the late (Jiieen X'ictoria, and his jjrand- 
 mother, a Cooikt, was the L;rand-(lauL;hler of the illustrious 
 
 HON. s\iim;v ai.i.kn s\mi;. 
 
 James Feniniore Coojjer. Mr. Syine attended the schools at 
 New Orleans, and at twelve years of age he came north and 
 finished his preparatory education at the Barnard Military 
 School in New York, then graduated at Princeton College, 
 class of '95; afterward attended the New York Law School, 
 graduating in 1S97 with the degree of Bachelor of Laws, and 
 in 1S98 he took a post-graduate course, receiving the degree 
 of .Master of Laws. He was admitted to the bar in .\pril of 
 the same year and commenced the practice of law in New 
 York City in co-partnership with Senator Russell. He moved 
 to Mount Yernon and is now practising his profession in 
 this city. In November, 1902, he was elected Justice of the 
 Peace on the Democratic ticket, notwithstanding the almost 
 general triuniiih of the ]\c])ublican ticket at that time. In 
 January, 1903, he was appointed Acting City J udge of Mount 
 Vernon. .Mr. Svme is a member of the Church of the Ascension 
 (Protestant Episcopal), of the Westchester County Bar Asso- 
 ciation, Siwanoy Country Chili, Westchester County Wheel- 
 men, Mount Vernon Turn \erein, Ko^-al .Arcanum, Hiawatha 
 Lodge No. 4-3-t, F. & A. M., Wausegan f-ncampment No. 1, O. 
 I). O., and has been, secretary of the Democratic City Com- 
 mittee of Mount Vernon for the last four years. Mr. Synic 
 was married in 1895 to Neva \'. Lary, of New York City. 
 He does general civil jiracticc of law and has ac(]uired a large 
 clientele. Personally he is very jiojiular and a liright future 
 awaits him. 
 
 ELMRK PLATT S.MITII, attorney and counselor at 
 law, with offices at 4-5 Broadway, New York City, w.is 
 
 1)orn at Rocky Point, on the north shore of Long Island, 
 in 18(55. When he was about ten years of age his parents 
 moved to Port Jetferson, at that time a noted shipbuilding 
 town. His father, Brewster P. Smith, was a sea captain, and 
 while a young boy, Mr. Smith spent much of his time on the 
 sea. After finishing the public school, he went on the water 
 for a time, and then attended Williston Seminary, liasthani])- 
 ton Mass., where he pre])ared for college. He was graduated 
 by Amherst College in the class of '92 with the degree of K. 
 S. In order to secure the benefits of a higher education he 
 was obliged "to work his way" through college. He was 
 active in athletics, esiK'cially footliall. He is a member ot 
 the Greek Letter Fraternity, Theta Delta Chi. He represented 
 his class in the College Senate, and also as its church com- 
 mitteeman throughout his course. While there he joined the 
 "Student Slum .Movement," spending his vacaticni in the 
 rescue work and studying the social needs and conditions 
 of the so-called "slums" of our great city. After receiving 
 the degree of LL.B. from I'nion I'niversity Law School at 
 Alliany he came to New York and in 1 S9 1- was admitted to 
 the bar. During the following year he came to Mount \'ernon 
 and has since that time resided here. He has been engaged 
 in the general ])ractice of law, including admiralty, and has 
 steadily gained for himself a good jiractice and the high 
 respect of both the bench and bar, as well as the esteem of 
 those with whom he has been thrown in contact. He is a 
 member of the Westchester County Bar Association, the First 
 M. R. Church, Hiawatha Lodge F. & A. M., Mount Vernon 
 
 i:i.mi;k ri..\ i i smi i u 
 
 Chapter K. .\. M., Bethlehem Commandery K. T., and the 
 Mvstic Shrine, and Koyal .\rcanum. Mr. Smith was married 
 at Port Jellerson, in 1895, to Miss Sara K. Terry, daughter 
 of (iriflin Terry, deceased. He has two children, Elmer (lillam, 
 born in 1897, and Ivdna B.. born in 19()0. Mr. Smith is j-vcr- 
 
City 
 
 H 
 
 City Hall, Lucas 
 Common Council 
 all. Kncas lUiildinj;. 
 
 Building 
 Chamber 
 from First Street 
 
CI.ARHNCI-: S. McCI.i;i,I.AN 
 
JAMES L. REYNOLDS. 
 
II I S '1' ( ) K \- ( ) I- M () n X T \' H R X ( ) X 
 
 97 
 
 so nail \' a f^eiiial, whole-souled man of cxcni])larv virtues. lie 
 is a true and valued friend, one prompt and reliable in his 
 business relations. 
 
 D.W'II) SWITS, of .Mount \'ernon, former eorporation 
 eounsel of that citv was born in Seheneetady, X. V., I'ebru- 
 ary IS, 1<S()3. His ancestors cnii<»-rated to the United States 
 from Holland and were anionj; the early settlers of the ISth 
 century in Schenectady. His father was David Swits of the 
 old Ivaton & ('Filbi'rt Car .Manufacturinjj Company of Tro_v, 
 X. V. He died in ISSS. His mother's name was Harriet 
 Hoyt. Mr. Swits is directly descended from an old Westchester 
 County family, which came from Connecticut soon aiter the 
 Revolution, lon<; resident in the town of Lewiston, and is 
 still represented in the county by numerous collateral branches. 
 Mr. Swits received his education in the jjublic schools and 
 graduated from the seminary at Canaan, Coini., in issl. 
 
 D.wiD swns. 
 
 He llien went to Xew York City and entered Columbia Col- 
 lege Law School and graduated with the degree of Bachelor 
 of Laws in ISS-t. He was admitted to the bar just after the 
 completion of his 21st year. In ISSo he removed to .Mount 
 X'ernon and formed the law co-partnership of Lawler & 
 Sv\Tts. This firm was dissolved in 18S9 and Mr. Swits has 
 since practiced alone. He enjoys a well earned reput.'ition 
 for ability and success at the Westchester bar and is held 
 in high esteem. In 1893 he was ajjpointed by .Mayor Brush, 
 corporation counsel of .Mount X'ernon. In this important 
 official position he served with great credit and ethciency for 
 five 3'ears. His political affiliation has always been with the 
 Republican part}' and has frequently been a delegate to the 
 party conventions. Mr. Swits is one of the board of governors 
 of the City Club of Mount Vernon, is a member of the Forest- 
 ers, ()dd Fellows, the Westchester Bar Association, the Xew 
 York I^'ague of Republican Clubs, and the .Mount X'ernon 
 
 Cycle Clul). He is also a member of the Dutch Reformed 
 Church. He was married to Hester A. Oakley, daughter of 
 the laic Thomas Oakley, of. Mount \'ernon. The}' have a high 
 social position in the community. 
 
 STlU'HlvX J. STILWIiLL was born on a farm near Von- 
 kers, X. Y., on the 10th day of .May, ISGO; his mother still 
 occupies the old homestea<l. He is descended on both sides 
 from illustrious Revolution;iry stock. He received his edu- 
 cation in the district schools at and near Yonkers, and when 
 thirteen years of age becaiiie a clerk in a real estate office in 
 .Mount X'ernon and l.'iter went on the road as a harness sales- 
 man, but his ambitious tendency w<-is ;dw£iys toward the j)ro- 
 fession of law. He began the study (jf law with the firm of 
 \'an Dusen and Taylor, ])rominent attorneys of Xew York 
 City, and entered the Xew \'ork I'nivcrsity L;iw School, gradu- 
 ating in the class of 18S7. Afterward he removed to .Mount 
 X'ernon and began the pr;ictice of law in a co-partnership 
 with Jared Sanford, at that time president of the village, 
 but has pr.'icticed alone since 1891, and now h.'is pleasant 
 offices in the Chronicle building, Xo. 25 South Fourth avenue. 
 .Mr. Stilwell is widely known in the jjrofession; he is both 
 counsellor and advocate and has had many cases of more 
 or less ini])orlance, in which he has met with marked success. 
 He is a member of the .Masonic Order, the Foresters, the 
 Knights of St. John and Malta, Tammany Societ\' of Xew 
 York City, City Club of .Mount Vernon, and the Chippewa 
 Club of Westchester. He is a Democrat in j)olitics, but has 
 never held office, having no leaning tf uard ])olitical prefer- 
 ment; he is one of the stewards and trustees of Olin .M. E. 
 Church of Willianisbridge. He was married in February, 
 18S7, to .Miss Celia A. Blanck, of Xew York; they have two 
 children, Eugenia B., and Edna. Mr. Stilwell, in his practice, 
 is painstaking and laborious in obtaining fully the facts from 
 his clients, and untiring in his effi)rts to look up the law 
 with determination to state his cases in clear Jirgument to 
 the judge and jury. He works with ingenuity and energy and 
 his motto is "Xever Say Die." He is an extremely affable 
 and courteous gentleman, is highl_v esteemed, honorable and 
 uj)right in all things, with a genuine kindliness of heart, and 
 is most ])o]^ular not only with his colleagues, but with the 
 community at large. 
 
 COL. lIlvXRY IirSS, a distinguished citizen of .Mount 
 Vernon, was born at Furth, Bavaria, (>ermany, on the ^18th 
 day of February, IS-tl. He is descended from one of the 
 oldest families in Germany and traces his genealogy through 
 three branches of the family from the years 1370, 1373 and 
 1382 to 184-1. His father, Anthony Henry IIu.ss, came to 
 Xew York in 18-4-(!, when the subject of this sketch was a boy, 
 and then removed to Bridgeport, Conn. Colonel IIuss located 
 at Mount \'ernon in 18(57 and he has resided here ever since. 
 He was President of the village in 18S0 and 1881, having 
 been previoush' one of the Trustees of the village for several 
 3'ears. He was President of Mount \'ernon Hospital five 
 years and one of its founders, and afterward elected an Honor- 
 ary Member of the same for life. He was one of the Super- 
 visors of the town of Eastchester and, while acting in that 
 capacity, made the office self-sustaining, and he was appointed 
 Postmaster of the citv of Mount X'ernon by President Har- 
 rison in 1888 and conducted the office with marvellous success. 
 The receipts of the office for the first year of his occupancy 
 were $21,000, the second year, $27,000, the third year, over 
 $4-0,000, at which time it was ]iromoted to the rank of a 
 first-class office; the fi)urth year, under his administration, 
 the net ]>rofit to the I'. S. ('.overnment was $3(>,000. The 
 percentage of expense was 27 and the percentage of profit 
 
98 
 
 HISTORY OF M O IT XT \' E R N O N 
 
 73, and it made the best showng of any post-office of the 
 same class in the State of New York, thus making an excep- 
 tionally good record. Col. Huss has also been President of 
 the Board of Trade and has been closely identified with near- 
 ly- everv movement for the benefit of the community in which 
 he resides. He was a gallant soldier of the Civil War, having 
 enlisted in the 17th Regiment of Connecticut, commanded by 
 Col. W. H. Noble. He was an officer at various periods of 
 his military career on the staffs of Generals Jno. F. Hart- 
 
 cou. HHXRV iirss. 
 
 vanft, of Penna. ; Jno. C, Robinson, of N Y. ; Adams, of 
 Mass.; Lawler, of III., and Warner, of Penna.' and leceived 
 by letter and orally from each much commendation for his 
 meritorious conduct. He fought with great gallantry in the 
 battles of Chancellorsville and Fredericksburg and was a par- 
 ticipant in the battles of Forts Wagner and Sumpter, S. C, 
 and in the Florida campaign. He was First Lieutenant of 
 Company B, 3d Regiment, oi' Westchester County, under 
 Col. John G. Fay, promoted to Captaincy and subsequently 
 promoted to the Lieutenant-Colonelcy 27th Regiment, N. G., 
 S. N. Y. He was on the F~ifth Division Staff, commanded 
 by Major-General James W. Husted. On the disbanding of 
 the division, the staff was rendered supernumerary and Col. 
 Huss reports annually to the Adjutant-General of the State 
 as Chief of Ordnance. He is Commander of the William T. 
 -Minor Post No. 85, Department of Conn. G. A. R. He was 
 offered from the authorities at Washington an appointment 
 of Colonel of the Westchester County Volunteer Regiment 
 during the late war with Spain, which, for personal reasons, 
 he was obliged to decline. He was the prime mover in the 
 erection of the Soldiers' Monument, located on the square at 
 the intersection of Valentine and Seventh avenues, which was 
 dedicated on Memorial Day, 1891, with great ceremony and 
 eclat. He was married on the 12th day of December, 1860, 
 to Miss Mary B. Busch, of New York, a very exemiilary and 
 
 accomplished lady; they have five children: Wni. II., Laura 
 E., \Yeimar, Max F., Henrietta Bang, and Henrj', Jr. Col. 
 Huss is now engaged in the real estate business in New York 
 City and devotes his attention thereto. He is an upright 
 man, a good counsellor and a worthy citizen and has the 
 entire confidence of the comniunitv. 
 
 DANIEL LEWIS is the son of Andrew D. Lewis, of Mam- 
 aroneck, and Emily Devoe, of Greenburgh, Westchester Countv, 
 and the date of his birth was January 15, 18-1-6. He attended 
 the district schools at Yonkers ; he did not graduate, but 
 commenced work as a boy of nine years of age. He was a 
 painter and decorator until 1873, and since that time has been 
 in the printing and stationery business. He has been for 
 thirty-two years a resident of Mount Vernon. He belongs to 
 the Republican party and takes an active interest in its affairs. 
 He was Supervisor in the Second Ward of Mount Vernon in 
 1895, by appointment under Mayor Edson Lewis; he was 
 elected in 1896 for the full term of two years and refused a 
 renomination. He is a member of the Republican Club of 
 Mount Vernon, and an attendant of the First Methodist 
 Church, is a member of all the Masonic fraternities, from 
 Blue Lodge to Mystic Shrine, and honored by election to the 
 highest offices in several of them. He was married on May 
 1, 1869, to Miss Mary C. Brown, who died, and on June 6, 
 1894-, he was married again and to Miss Hattie L. Craft; they 
 h ive one child, Gladys. Mr. Lewis is an honored citizen of 
 
 DANIBL LEWIS. 
 
 Mount Vernon, and has always taken a deep interest in the 
 affairs of the city and his opinions are invariably held in 
 respect. He is honest and upright in all his transactions. 
 He is a progressive business man and has the high esteem of 
 every one. 
 
 STEPHEN VAN TASSEL is a native of White Plains, 
 where he was born June 13, 1864, the son of Bruce \'an Tas- 
 
si'i:iMii-:x j. sTii.\vi-i,L. 
 
Residence of Mayor HrUvin W. Fiske. 
 
HISTORY or 
 
 M O r N T V E R X O N 
 
 101 
 
 sel, a mason and huilikr. He rctci vid his education al the 
 county scat. He is descended from one ot the oldest families 
 in Westchester County and those who have read W'asliin^^ton 
 Irvinji's " Lef^cnd of Slcc])y Hollow," will rei'all the \ ;in Tas- 
 sel name. His first enij)loyment was that of'a messen;.;er hoy, 
 then became a tclcj^raph operator and afterward made as- 
 sistant station a^ent al W'oodlawn junction. Later he was 
 selected, hccatisc of his exiierl knowledge, to inauf;urate 
 the famous Sykes Interlocking; Block System on this division 
 of the Xew York Central Railroad. In 1 ss,') Mr. \'an Tassel 
 was promoted to the ])osition of Assistant Stiition Master at 
 White Plains. In 1SS7 he was ajjjiointed a^ent of the New 
 York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad at .Mount X'ernon. 
 In this resijonsihle jiosition he has always j^iven eminent 
 satisfaction to p.-itrons and employers alike. In June, IS'.x;, 
 .Mayor lidwin W. Fiske a])i)ointed .Mr. \'an Tassel a Police 
 Commissioner and in attending to the duties of that oliice he 
 
 sTi:rin:\ \'an iassi:!,. 
 
 made an enviable record. In Ma^-, 1S9S, he was elected a 
 member of" the Board of Supervisors from the Second Ward 
 of .Mount \'ernon. In lUOO he was again elected with the 
 support and ajjproval of both political parties. On the (iood 
 Roads Committee he was especialh- active and he jjave much 
 satisfaction. He was selected to serve as Secretary to one of 
 the foreuujst committees £it the last State Convention of Ciood 
 Roads held at Albany-, N. Y. The record is that .Mr. \'an Tas- 
 s 1 has always been a hard-working, j)ainstaking public ser- 
 vant. He is clean, honorable and competent, and this applies 
 to ever\' position he has held. He was married October 12, 
 189G, to .Mary Alice Miller, daughter of E.\- Register josejih 
 O. .Miller, of -Mount Kisco. They have had three children : 
 S. Rollin (deceased), Joseph O. M., and Zillah. .Mr. \'au 
 Tassel stands high socially, is a staunch Democrat and is 
 Chairman of the City Democratic Committee. He is Regent 
 of Golden Rod Ci)uncil, Royal Arcanum; a mendjcr of the 
 
 .Mount \ernon Turn \ erein, the City Club, and belongs to th<^ 
 first Iv. Church. .Mr. \'an Tassel is a man of pure life, 
 very popular and has an extensive ac(juaintance. He jxjssesscs 
 a fine ])hysi(iue, is afl'able, courteous and genial in manner 
 and is a great favorite in all circles. The success he has 
 achieved in lite- is certainly well deserved. 
 
 |.\.Mi:S L. RIvV.NOLDS was Ixjrn in Greenwich, Conn., 
 and educated in the .public schools there. He is a merchant, 
 engaged in general marketing, witli stores at 120 and 128 
 South I'ourth avenue, .Mount X'ernon; 274- -Main street, New 
 Rochelle; .It Railroad avenue and another at 107 and lO'J 
 Railroad avenue. White Plains, .N. V. He started business in 
 .Mount \ernon in 1.S7S, in New Rochelle in 1885, and in 
 White Plains in 188<J and enjoys a large and growing trade 
 in each place. .Mr. Reynolds is ;i self-reliant man and has 
 been his own architect of his successful career. With little or 
 no capital he stiirted in business and by his industry, energy- 
 and ability succeeded in gaining the front rank among the 
 liest-known merchants in Westchester County. He lives in a 
 well-appointed residence in .New Rochelle with cajiacious 
 grounds beautified by nature and art, where he dispenses 
 hospitality with a bountiful hand. In all his dealings he 
 displ.iys strict integrit3' and honesty: enjoys a reputable 
 character and never forgets to be a courteous and conser- 
 vative gentleman. 
 
 COLIN -M.YCKlvNZIE was born at Scarsboro, Canada, 
 Mav 14-, 1S4-S. He is of Scotch ancestry. He was educated 
 in the public schools. He is an architect, was formerly a 
 l)uil(ler and carpenter for seventeen years. He is now Receiver 
 of Taxes tor the city of .Mount X'ernon, where he has resided 
 for thirty-three years, to which oflice he was elected in I'JOl, 
 to serve until November, 1903. He is a Republican in 
 politics and enjoys the confidence of his party and the 
 community at large. On December 17, 1871, he was married 
 to .Miss Margaret .\itken, of Mount \"ernon, Mr. MacKenzie 
 is a (piiet, unpretending citizen, without a flaw in his charac- 
 ter or a spot upon his reputation. He is true to his friends 
 and steadfast iind courageous in the ])erformance of his duties. 
 
 CHARLLS WILLIAM STRAUB, City Treasurer, is a 
 native of .Mount \'ernon and was born December G, 1857. 
 He attended and was educated in the public schools, lie 
 was with R. H. Mac\- & Co., the well-known merchants of 
 Xew York, and afterward with Carjienter & Petiengill^ coal 
 dealers, for seventeen years. He engaged in his present busi- 
 ness as grocer at 11-t West Lincoln venue. Mount X'ernon, 
 June 1, 1898. He was elected City Treasurer in 1901. He 
 is a Republican, a member of the 4-th Ward Republican 
 Association, and was for three terms a member of the Re- 
 I)id)lican City Committee and has been an active and stead- 
 fast adherent of his party. He is a member of the Chester 
 Hill .M. Iv. Church. He was married to Mary A. Oakley, 
 daughter of the late Thomas Oakley. Mr. Straub is a capable 
 and good business man, self-reliant and enteriirising, and has 
 achieved a high degree of success. He is kind, unafl'ected and 
 ap])roachable and every one, receives his courteous attention. 
 
 M.VRK D. STILIiS, though not "to the manner born," 
 came to Mount X'ernon twenty-two years ago, and, with an 
 intermission of six years, has lived here continuously since. 
 His paternal ancestry include jiarticipanls in the Revc)lu- 
 tionary War, the W;ir of 1812, and the Civil War, in addition 
 to those active in the church, at the bar and in public coun- 
 cils; while his mother was a lineal descendant of Jt)hn Han- 
 cock, the first signer of the Declaration of Independence, 
 One of his best known forefathers was the Key. Lzra Stiles. 
 
102 
 
 HISTORY OF M O U X T VERNON 
 
 D.D., LL.D., who was president of Yale Colleye from 1772 
 until his death in 1795. Mr. Stiles was born in Minnesota 
 in 1860. After the death of his father, a soldier in the Civil 
 War, in 1863, he was taken to Vermont, where he passed his 
 3'outhful da3-s on a farm, and received his education in the 
 district schools. In 1876 he became a student at the Academy 
 of Design in New York City, where he received honorable 
 mention in the class of '77-' 78, besides exhibiting for several 
 years in the Academy exhibitions. In 1890 he engaged in 
 the business of publishing art works, and in the manufacture 
 of art goods and novelties. The Ullman Manufacturing Com- 
 pany, of which Mr. Stiles is vice-president and a director, is 
 a successful organization with about four hundred employees ; 
 indeed, it is probably the largest concern ot its kind in this 
 country. Mr. Stiles is an esteemed citizen, active in promot- 
 ing the best interests of the community. He is a deacon 
 and trustee of the First Baptist Church, a member of the 
 Royal Arcanum, of Hiawitha Lodge, F. & A. M., of the 
 Siwanoy Country Club, of the Republican Club, and an asso- 
 ciate member of Farnsworth Post, G. A. R. He is one of 
 the proprietors, and has editorial direction of the Daily Argus, 
 a l(jcal newspaper mentioned elsewhere in this volume. He 
 is also a director in the Bank of Mount \'ernon, and one of 
 the incorporators of the Mount \'ernon Trust ComjDany, 
 besides being, as he has been for three years, chairman of the 
 Republican City Committee. Mr. Stiles is public-spirittd 
 liberal and broad-minded ; he believes the creed of his partj' 
 and, believing it, defends it manfulh' and has the courage of 
 his convictions. Any course he may pursue in relation to 
 public affairs, one may be quite sure is dictated hy conscien- 
 tious motives. Mr. Stiles' home on Primrose avenue is a 
 unique and striking example of picturesque architecture, and 
 there he and his charming wife are frequenth' hospitable hosts 
 to delighted guests. 
 
 FRANKLIN ASBURY MERKIAM was Ix.rn June 7ili. 1807 
 at Aurora, Ills. His ancestors were am :)ng the earliest 
 settlers of the State of C(jnnecticut, being recorded as land own- 
 ers in that state as early as 1640. During the American Re- 
 volution they took a ver}' active part on the side of the 
 colonies, eight of them serving in the Continental Army. 
 Early in life his parents moved to Lockport, N. Y., and 
 subsequently to Newark, N. J., v^'here he received his education. 
 Shortly after attaining his majority, he entered the printing 
 and publishing business and up to 1888 was connected with 
 the Ithaca (N. Y.) Daily J(jurnal. In that year his health 
 failed and he was compelled to give up active business. In 
 1891 on regaining his health in a measure, he entered the 
 office of the Daily Argus of Mount \'ernon, N. Y. as General 
 Superintendent. In the Pall of 1897 he purchased the interest 
 of Henry O. Sniffen in the Argus and assumed the business 
 management of the paper. Under his energetic, but conservative 
 direction the paper was placed on a firm financial basis and 
 has become one of the leading Journals of Westchester Countv. 
 Mr. Merriam has resided in Mount Vernon for fifteen years; is 
 a Republican in politics and is one of the Charter Members of 
 the Republican Club of Mount Vernon; he is also Treasurer of 
 The Westchester County Press Association and an attendant 
 of the Methodist Episcopal Church. On February 6th, 1891 
 lie married Eva Belle Sickels of Newark, N. J.; they have one 
 daughter, Ethel Carolyn B. Mr. Merriam is the oldest jour- 
 nalist in Mount Vernon, thoroughly understands his business 
 and is capable and energetic in his business methods, he is a 
 man of sterling worth and irreproachable character and is 
 one of the most respected citizens of Mount Vernon. 
 
 COL. CORNELIUS McLEAN, of Mount Vernon, was born 
 in New Y'ork City, June 10, 1841. His ancestry is old and 
 
 distinguished. He is one of the descendants of William 
 McLean, of .McLean Island, Stamford, Conn., who died in 
 1749. He is also descended from James Hammond, a native 
 of Westchester County, N. Y., who was commissioned Lieut. - 
 Colonel of the 1st Regiment of that county militia, October 
 19, 1775, and re-appointed to that position June 16, 1778. 
 Col. McLean is the grandson of Cornelius McLean and Han- 
 nah Hammond; great grandson of James Hammond, and 
 son of James Monroe McLean, former President of the Man- 
 hattan Life Insurance Company, of New York, first \'ice-Presi- 
 dent of the Union Trust Company and connected as director 
 or otherwise with many large financial institutions. He died 
 May 13, 1890, universally mourned and respected. The 
 subject of this sketch was educated in the grammar 
 school of New York. He is Commander of the John A. 
 Rawlin's Post, G. A. R., No. 80, department of New York; 
 Captain on the Honorary Staff of the Old Guard of New 
 York; life member of the Army of the Potomac; member of 
 the Ancient and Honorable Artillery of Boston, Mass. He 
 was Lieutenant of the 42d New Y'ork Volunteers; private. Ser- 
 geant and Lieutenant in command of a company in 39th New 
 York Volunteers; Lieut. -Colonel on the Staff of Governor 
 Stoaeman, of California ; Lieut. -Colonel on Department Staff, 
 G. A. R., of New York, under Commander .Ytkinson, and rank 
 (jf Colonel on National Staff, G. A. R., 1896-97. He is a mem- 
 ber of the Sagamore Club of New York and of the Indian 
 Harbor Yacht Club. He was married to Rebecca Hyslop, of 
 New York, who died in 1880, and was married again in 
 1883 to Leslie A. Eagar, an accomplished lady of beautiful 
 characteristics, devoted to works of charity and benevolence, 
 and to all that is conducive to the amelioration and benefit 
 of mankind. Col. McLean served his country v\nth fidelity in 
 the Civil War, was in the Army of the Potomac and was 
 engaged in many of the conflicts in which that grand mi- 
 litary organization participated. He has retired from bus- 
 iness, is fond of athletic sports, and is particularly devoted 
 to yachting. He lives in a fine residence in Mount Vernon 
 and is surrounded with every comfort. He is a gentleman of 
 the old school — physically a man of fine stature and presence. 
 He is genial, refined and hospitable and possesses those 
 fe atures of heart and mind which endear him to his fiiends 
 and to those who know him well and intimately. 
 
 WILLIAM H. MENDEL was born in New York City and 
 was educated in the public schools. In politics he is a Demo- 
 crat, although not active. He was ticket agent at the Grand 
 Central Railroad Station, New York City, for twenty years, 
 and fifteen years ago succeeded his father in the package 
 department at the same station, which business he is now 
 conducting with great success. He is the proprietor of the 
 lunch room, as well as the fruit, candy and flower stands at 
 the Grand Central Station he is also proprietor of a bakery 
 at No. 5 Vanderbilt avenue, opposite, and of a confectionery 
 store at No. 51 East 42d street. All of these enterprises 
 receive much of Mr. Mendel's personal attention and are 
 under his immediate direction. Mr. Mendel has resided in 
 Mount Vernon for the past ten years; he is one of the owners 
 of the New York Infant Asylum property in the suburbs, 
 which is to be developed in the summer of 1903, and he is 
 also interested in the Alameda Park Tract lying in the out- 
 skirts of the city. He is a member of the Siwanoy Country 
 Club of Mount Vernon, and of the Church of the Ascension 
 (Episcopal). Mr. Mendel is married and his wife is quite 
 active in the afi^airs of the Westchester Woman's Club of 
 Mount Vernon. Their residence at No. 145 Summit avenue 
 is very commodious and handsome. He is a successful busi- 
 ness man and a pubhc-spirited citizen. 
 
FRAXKLIX A. .Ml-RKIA.M. 
 
GEORGE C. WEISS, M. D. 
 
HISTORY OF MOT XT \' E U X O \ 
 
 105 
 
 ADOLPII WILLIAM WALI.AXDI-R was horn in Swcdiii, 
 Mav 7, 1854-, and cniij^rau-tl In the l iiiled Slates. He it- 
 tcived his education in the pul)lic schools of his native eoun- 
 trv. He has been a resident of Mount \'ernon sixteen years. 
 He is a Kepui)lican in politics; was ai)])ointed hy Mayor 
 lirush as I'ire Commissioner in IS'll- and re-.-ipi)i)inle(l hy 
 
 ADOLl'lI Wll.l.IAM WAI.I.AXllIvK. 
 
 Mavor Lewis in IS'JG. He was elected Alderman of the Fifth 
 Ward of the cit3' in 1.SU7 and served the regular term of two 
 years; was re-elected Alderman for the short term in TJOl. 
 and again elected for the regular term in 1902 to serve until 
 Novemher 15, 1904-. He is a member of the City Club of 
 Mount \'ernon and also a member of the Church of the 
 Ascension (Protestant-Episcopal). He was married in ISTa 
 in San Francisco, California, to Miss Amanda Christina Lun- 
 nell. They have five children, four daughters and one son. 
 Mr. Wallander is a very prominent merchant tailor with an 
 elegant store on 5th Avenue, New York City, near the I'nior. 
 League Club; his customers are of the best character and he 
 does an extensive trade, both domestic and foreign. He is 
 devoted to his business, but finds time to closely identify 
 himself with all jilans for the social, moral and financial 
 elevation of the comnmnity in which he lives. He is a gentle- 
 man of good business ability, shrewd common sense and 
 stands deservedly high among his fellow-citizens. 
 
 GEORGE W. BARD was born in Mount Vernon July 22, 
 1861. He entered the public schools and graduated in the 
 High school in 1877. From 1879 to 1881, he was actively 
 engaged in the real estate, auctioneering and insurance busi- 
 ness, in Mount Vernon. In 1881, he entered into the high- 
 grade advertising business, traveling throughout the I nited 
 States and Canada. In 1884, he was appointed special agent 
 and inspector for the Mutual Fire Insurance Company of 
 New York; his duties were very responsible and required 
 great tact and discretion in their administration; he developed 
 into a prominent insurance adjustor and his services have 
 frequently been called upon in difficult insurance appraise- 
 ments. In 1889, he returned to Mount Vernon, when a boom 
 in real estate was pending and he planned and executed many 
 methods of advertising, whereby the city and its advantages 
 became widely known, and it largely owes its remarkable 
 
 development and progress to the clforls, sagacity and pre- 
 science ot' this gentleman. Ivvcrything that would materially 
 aid in the promotion of enler])rise and advantage for the 
 public good was advocated by him, antl his untiring activity 
 achieved much renown for the city, and his name and rejju- 
 lation have been eontenqioraneous with its remarkjible growth. 
 Mr. Bard is a staunch Republican in politics, a prominent 
 Mason, Knight Tcnq)lar and Shriner. He is thoroughly in 
 touih with the subject of masonry ;ind has been the reci|)icnt 
 of many ined.'ils and honors, and tokens of ihe highest esteem. 
 He is a member of ihe Rei)uhlican Club of .Mount X'eriion ai.d 
 the Royal .\rcanum. On October 21, isss, Mr. Bard w,-;s 
 married to Madge M. Watts ol' New \'ork. They have ihiie 
 children, all daughters: Marjorie .Mai, Hazel Lodiee, and 
 Harriet Beatrice; the lauiliy occupy a high jiosition in social 
 circles in this cilv. I'uhlii-spirited in a high degree, cng.'iging 
 ill his ni inners, versatile in his liusiiiess methods. Mr. Bard 
 
 has ever l)een loyal to his native city, and it owes as much 
 to him as to any other m;in tor its growth and stability. 
 He is still actively and successfully engaged in the real estate 
 and auctioneering business in the city of Mount \'ernon. 
 
 THEODORE TAYLOR was horn in Brooklyn, N. V., in 
 1853. He went to Mount \'ernon with his jiarenis in IStil, 
 and was educated in the jniblic school of that place. He 
 entered the hardware l)usiness at an early ;ige in New York 
 City, and after six years became associated with Potticr and 
 Stvmus Manufacturing Company, one of the most extensive 
 furniture manufacturing companies in the I'nited Stales, with 
 whom he remained about seventeen years. Entering as stock 
 clerk, he soon rose bv mpid ])romoiion until he became man- 
 ager of the factory, and in 1888 became secretary of the 
 conqianv, which ]iosition he held until the plant was dc- 
 slroved by fire. He then withdrew from the conip.-iny. In 
 
lOG 
 
 HISTORY OF MOUNT VERNON 
 
 1886 he became interested in the laundry business in Mount 
 Vernon, establishintj one of the first laundries in Westchester 
 Count_v, which has rapidly grown, lie employs about ei<fhty 
 hands and does the largest business in that part of New York. 
 I'oliticalh- Mr. Taylor is a Republican He was elected as one 
 of the first aldermen of Mount Vernon after its incorpor- 
 ation as a city. He was chairman of the Street Committee, 
 and was appointed one of the Civil Service Commissioners 
 and helped to organize the first Civil Service Board of the 
 city. In 1S95 he was appointed one of the first Police Com 
 missioners, and was for three years president of the hoard 
 He was a member of the Clinton Hook and Ladder Company 
 about twenty years, and in 1889-90 was chief of the Fire 
 Department. He is a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, 
 Exempt F'iremen's Association, City Club, Kepublican Club, 
 of which he is one of the trustees. He is also a mendoer ol 
 
 I 
 I 
 
 THEODORE TAVEOK. 
 
 Hiawatha Lodge No. 4-34-, F. & A. M. ; Minnehaha Lodge 
 No. 227, O. E. S. ; Mount Vernon Chapter No. 228, R. A. M. ; 
 Phoenix Council No. 701, R. & S. M. ; Wauregan Encamp- 
 ment, O. D. O. ; Mecca Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. ; Bethlehem 
 Commanderj', K. T. ; and Royal Arcanum. Mr. Taylor was 
 married in 1890. He has two children, Theodore Clinton and 
 Herbert Vernon Taylor. 
 
 THEODORE GOULD, deceased, was born in Mount \'er- 
 non, December 12, 1851. He was the only son of George and 
 Sarah Gould, who emigrated from England to the United 
 States and who were among the earher settlers of Mount 
 Vernon and very prominent and distinguished citizens. The 
 subject of this sketch was educated in the public schools of 
 Mount \'ernon, and when reaching manhood, engaged in the 
 hotel and livery business, owning and conducting the Mount 
 \'ernon Hotel, an old and well-known hostelry. He resided 
 in this city until 1884', when, on account of impaired health, 
 he removed to Sullivan Count}', N. Y. In politics Mr. Gould 
 
 was a conservative Democrat. He was a member of the Prot- 
 estant Episcopal Church, being baptized In' the Reverend 
 Dr. Coffee of St. Paul's Church, Eastchester. He took great 
 interest in the fire department of Mount Vernon and was 
 a member of the Clinton Hook and Ladder Co. He was 
 
 Tiii;c UK )Ki; cui LH. 
 
 married Sept. 28, 1875, to Miss Louise S. Sageman, of Mount 
 \'ernon, an estimable and cultured lady, whose ancestors 
 were well known and illustrious and among the oldest and 
 most esteemed residents of Westchester Count}'. There were 
 born to them three children, two of whom are living: George 
 C. Gould and Lillie M. Gould. Mr. Gould died in Liberty, 
 Sullivan Count}', Sept. 28, 1896, and was sincerely mourned 
 by his relatives and friends. He is buried in Woodlawn Ceme- 
 tery. 
 
 HENRY CARLOS FORDHAM, the founder and publisher 
 of the Movjnt Vernon Daily Eagle, became a resident of this 
 city in June, 1895. He resigned his position with the Ameri- 
 can News Company, of New York City, to assume the posi- 
 tion of reporter on a suburban weekly, the Mount Vernon 
 News, in June of that year. He did this because he wanted 
 to learn the newspaper business thoroughly, and recognized 
 that there was no place in which to do this like the office of 
 a weekly in the country or suburbs. Air. Fordham, who was 
 born May 3, 1870, in Astoria, L. L, is the oldest son of for- 
 mer School Commissioner Charles W. Fordham, of Bay Shore, 
 L. I., and Mrs. Jennie Blossom Fordham, of Cleveland, O. 
 After going through the country grammar school, Mr. Ford- 
 ham entered a college preparatory school at New Haven, 
 Conn., and later became a student at Hudson River Institute, 
 at Claverack, N. Y. Later, after passing the entrance examin- 
 ations, he became a member of Columbia LawSchool under 
 Professor Dwight. Subsequently he became Long Island cor- 
 respondent of the Brooklyn Daily Times, and it was then 
 
HISTORY O F M () r N T V E R X O X 
 
 109 
 
 ho made up his niiiul to Ijccoinc a iic\vs|)a|KT ])nhlishcr. Af'lcr 
 Mr. I'ordhain had been reporting for the Mount X'eriioii News 
 lor a lew months, Dr. Edward P. Brush made him a more 
 hicratTve offer to join the reportorial stall' of" the former 
 inaj'or's new daily, The Sentinel. When the Sentinel eejised 
 publication, Wr. I'lirdham joined the staff of the Vonkcrs 
 Daily Oazetle. While in \'onkers he learned that Mr. Arthur 
 F. Blot wished to dispose of the Mount \ ernon News and in 
 181)7, he leased the News for one year. When the lease exjiired 
 Judf^e Geor^je C. Appell, who had, in conjunction with Gcorfje 
 C. Weiss, and some others, started the News, secured Mr. 
 Blot's stock and on January 1, 1S9S, the paper was sold to 
 W. B. and E. G. Sutherland, of White Plains. They retained 
 Mr. I'ordham as manajier and editor. In November of that 
 year, 1S9S, Mr. Pordhani was married to Miss Grace Beres- 
 ford Burrowes, onl_v daufjhter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard W. 
 Burrowes, of this city. Mr. and Mrs. Pordhani have one child, 
 Janice Grace Pordhani. Mr. Pordham is a member of the 
 Ro^-al Arcanum, City Club, Westchester Wheelmen and Ancient 
 Order of United Workmen. July, 1K99, Mr. Pordham ]nir- 
 chased the Mount X'ernon News from Messrs. Sutherland. In 
 April, 1900, he published the first number of the Mount \'er- 
 non Dailv Eagle. The Westchester Publishing Company was 
 incorporated for the [nirpose of publishing the new daily, and 
 Mr. Pordham who was at the head of the Mount N'ernon 
 News Publishing Comjjan}-, became president of the new 
 corporation. Mr. John II. Bangs, of the New York Sun, and 
 Mr. Harry D. Whittle, of the New York Herald, were inter- 
 ested with Mr. Pordham in the publication of the new dailv. 
 The year following the publication of the Daily Eagle, the 
 Daily Argus was made a Keijublican newsj)a])er, the Daily 
 liagle becoming the only Democratic daily in the city. The 
 Daily Eagle has been successful, and a paying business jiropo- 
 sition from within a few months of the jjublication of its 
 first issue. It is Democratic in the widest and best sense of 
 the term, and aims to be the progressive newsjjaper of the 
 community. The Daily Eagle became the official Democratic 
 city newspaj)er during its second ^-ear and was again design- 
 ated last year by the Common Council. Major J. B. Hop- 
 per has charge of the business department of the Daily Eagle 
 and Mr. Harry D. Whittle is news editor. Mr. Pordhani has 
 spent over $10,000 in thoroughly equipping the Eagle with 
 one of the best newspaper plants in Westchester County. A 
 linotype and a Cox Duplex perfecting press, run by electric 
 motors, are among the up-to-date features of the plant, which 
 is located at No. 14 Depcjt Place, in the City Hall building. 
 The only other newspaper perfecting press (which prints from 
 the roll instead of flat, cut sheets) is in the office of the 
 Yonkers Statesman. The Cox Duplex press prints (both 
 sides at a time) and pastes, cuts and folds 6,000 complete 
 papers per hour. The well equipped job oflice of the ])lant is 
 leased to Mr. Walter Kockett, formerly foreman of the Daily 
 Eagle. Walter K. Selth, William J. Harper, and Thomas Hitch- 
 cock are on the reportorial staff of the Daily Eagle and Wni. 
 C. Pells is White Plains correspondent. 
 
 SIEGPRIED WrRZBURG, Police Commissioner of the 
 City of Mount Vernon and successful real estate and insurance 
 broker, was born in Berlin, Prussia, and was educated at the 
 Royal Prederick William High School. After graduating he 
 travelled on the Continent upon important business interests 
 and was for many years a representative of the Jacob Stalil 
 Cigar Pactory of New Y'ork City. He came to Mount Vernon 
 in ISSl and engaged in the real estate business and now has 
 offices in the Bank Building, Third avcnueand Pirststreet. Ik- 
 is considered an expert on real values in Westchester County, 
 and represents leading domestic and foreign insurance com- 
 
 panies. He is <i public-s])iritcd citizen and lakes a deej) in- 
 terest in all that ajjpertains to the welfare of his adopted 
 city. Mr. Wurzburg has been Police Commissioner of Mount 
 \ ernon since July, IS'.l'j. He is one of the liovernors of the 
 
 sii;r,i-Kii;i) wi kzhi kc.. 
 
 City Club, a member of the .Masonic Order, Cycle Club and 
 Road Drivers' Association of New York. He has a large circle 
 of friends and acquaintances with whom he is (juite popular. 
 
 MELVILLE S. PAGE, D.D.S, was born at Middlebury, 
 Conn., where he received his early education, sul)sequently 
 removing to Woodbur\-, Conn., where he commenced the 
 practice of his profession and carved his way to success. 
 After leaving Woodbury, he attended the Pennsylvania College 
 of Dental Surgery in Philadelphia, and graduated with high 
 honors. He practiced his profession in Ohio for a time and 
 came to Mount Vernon in 1887, where he has since resided. 
 He first located on Third street, and then removed to 150 South 
 Second avenue, where his present residence and oflice are loca- 
 ted. He has a very lucrative and extensive practice. He is 
 a Republican in politics, a member of the Pirst Presbyterian 
 Church of Mount X'ernon, and one of its trustees. He is a 
 prominent mason, belonging to King Solomon's Lodge No. 7, 
 Woodbury, Conn., a member of Bethlehem Coniniandery, No. 
 
 Knights Templar, of Mount \'crnon, and Mecca Shrine, 
 of New \'ork City. Dr. Page has always been a great lover 
 and i)atron of music, he was formerly organist of the I-'irst 
 Congregational Church in Woodbury, Conn., and has been 
 closely identified with the various musical societies in Mount 
 \ ernon. He is pleasant in manner, genial in disposition, 
 public-spirited and iJrogressive, and gives his sujiport to all 
 measures for the lienefit of the community. He is a kind, 
 conscientious, christian gentleman, a pojiular and influential 
 citizen and has many warm friends. He was ni.arried Decem- 
 lier 1879, to Miss Mora E. Smith, of Southbury, Conn. 
 
no 
 
 HISTORY OF AI O U NT Y E R N O N 
 
 CHARLES WEBER, Alderman, was born in New York 
 Cii v in Mareh, 1860. He was edueated in the jjublic schools— 
 afterw;ird learned the trade of butcher with his father, thus 
 per]X'tuatin<^ the name of Weber as a faniil_v of butchers. 
 He came to Mount Vernon in 1877, and commenced business 
 under the name of the Weber Packino: Company in 1885 on 
 Mount \'ernon avenue, and has btiilt up a large, flourishing 
 industry, manufacturing lard, sausage, hams, shoulders, mak- 
 ing in fact everything appertaining to a modern packing house. 
 Mr. Weber is a Democrat and has been very active in the 
 allairs of his partv, has l)een efficient in pul)lic service as well 
 as influential in part}- councils. He was elected Alderman of 
 his ward in the spring of 1899, holding over two vears 
 and a half to even up the change in the Charter Election. 
 In January, 1901, he was ajiiiointed Health Commissioner 
 by Mayor Fiske. In November, 1902, he was again elected 
 to the Board of Aldermen. He is now the Chairman of 
 the Committee on Building and member of the Health, Pounds 
 and Pound Masters and Lighting and Water Committees. 
 Mr. Weber has been very efficient in the Fire Department and 
 is considered one of the best fire fighters in the citv. He 
 was the organizer of the Columbus Hose Company and is 
 still a member. He is also a member of the Firemen's Be- 
 nevolent Association, Exempt Firemen, Roval Arcanum, Lnited 
 
 ci,ARLi;s wi;hi:k. 
 
 Workmen, Turn X'erein, Quartette Club and other societies. 
 In l.S9() he was married to Miss Christine Reihm. He is 
 thriving and ])rompt in business and is a good citizen. 
 
 WILLIAM AKTHLK MacNICHOLL, D.D.S., is of Scotch- 
 Irish ancestry and the son of Reverend Robert Turner Mac- 
 Nicholl, a prominent clergvnian of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, and was born at Roxbury, Conn., May 30, 1876, 
 and when two years of age, moved with his parents to New 
 York Citv. He was educated in the schcxjls of New York, 
 graduated from Grammar Sch(jol No. 49, entering the College 
 of the City of New York in 1893. In 1896, he took up the 
 study of dental surgery under the preceptorship of Dr. Bald- 
 win, a noted surgeon of Xorwalk, Conn. In the fall of the 
 same year, he entered the Philadelphia Dental College, from 
 whence he graduated in April, 1899, as Treasurer of his class; 
 he was Treasurer also of the (ramma Chapter of Xi Psi Phi 
 I-^r iternity during the senior year. He passed the New York 
 
 State Examination to practice dentistry with honor. The 
 Doctor is also a graduate of the Philadelphia School of Anat- 
 omy. He has been a resident of Mount Vernon for three 
 years; he was President of the Young Men's Debating Club 
 of New York; he is now Secretary of the Westchester County 
 Sunday-school Association and Treasurer of several social 
 
 WILLIAM ARTHTR M icN I C HO LL. I). I). S. 
 
 organizations. He is a member of the Chester Hill M. E. 
 Church, Fellow of the Xi Psi Phi Fraternity, the Alumni 
 Society of the Philadelphia Dental College, Garretsonian I'hilo- 
 sophical Societv and a member of the Bowling Club and sev- 
 eral other societies of Mount \'ernon. He is not married, but 
 his engagement is aniuiunced to Miss Nellie Louise Murdock, 
 daughter of Chas. H. Murdock, a prominent and leading citi- 
 zen of South Bend, Ind. Dr. MacNicholl is a very popular 
 man, honored for his fidelity to principle, esteemed for his 
 genial manner and loved for his many admirable (pialitics. 
 
 DANIEL C. HICKEV, deceased, was born in Ireland 
 February 24, 1840, and when eight years of age, came with 
 his family to the United States, settling in Lawrence, Mass. 
 He was the son of John and Catherine (Crowe) Hickey, his 
 mother being a sister of Archbishop Crowe, of Ireland. He 
 was educated in the schools of Lawrence, Mass., where he 
 lived. In 1868 he removed to Mount Vernon. Mr. Hickey 
 was a large railroad contractor and achieved much suc- 
 cess in ttinnelling the Palisades at Fairview, N. J., for the 
 Susquehanna and Western Railroad, and in constructing the 
 Vosburg tunnel for the Lehigh Valley Railroad. He was in great 
 demand b_v the railroad companies of thecountry and had accu- 
 mulated a large fortune at the time of his death. He was a 
 leader in the Democratic party, a Tammany representative 
 and a member of the Democratic State Committee. He was one 
 of the Supervisors of Westchester Cotmty, a member of the 
 Roman Catholic Church and one of the founders of the People's 
 
'owcr House 1)1" the I nion K K. Co. al West I'ai ins. 
 
HISTORY ( ) P M O U X T \' B R X O X 
 
 113 
 
 Bank of Mount \'criion (now the First National Bank) and 
 one of its larj^cst stockholders. On Aujjust 1, 1S74, hf niarricti 
 Miss Ellen Hlizal)eth Bird, dauj^hter of Terrence Bird, of Me- 
 tuehen, N. J., who survives him and is a much esteemed .and 
 accomplished ladv and resides in one of the most beautiful 
 residences in Mount \'ernon. Mr. Ilickcy left six children, 
 one by his former wife, Miss Catherine llickey, and five by 
 the second wife, Mrs. Marj^aret Winship : jiio. ]., Rose M., 
 Nellie J., and Dan'l. C, jr. lie died July 12, 1 SI) 1-, lamented 
 b^- his neighbors and friends. 
 
 WILLIAM ()RI(;!:.N TllKOOI", D.D.S., was born in 
 Schoharie, Schoharie County, N. V., July 14-, 187.'5. He at- 
 tended the ])ublic schools and graduated in his profession at 
 the Haliimore College of Dental Surgery. He has lived in 
 Mount \'ernoii five j^ears <ind is closely' identified with her 
 interests. He is a Republican in politics and a member of the 
 Dutch Reformed Church. He was married to Miss Margaret 
 A. Mcintosh and they have one child, Charles .Mortimer 
 
 WILLIAM OKKUvN TllKOOI'. 
 
 Throop, 2d. Doctor Throo]) is a worthy representative of his 
 profession, has a large circle of friends, and is very highly 
 esteemed in the city of his adoption. 
 
 ill-NRV B. I'RCSIvR was born in New York City on the 
 fifth day of September, 1857. He was educated in the public 
 schools of New York and graduated from a business college. 
 Afterward he was for ;i number of j-ears confidential clerk in 
 a large wholesale grocerv firm in New York City. He removed 
 to Mount Vernon in 1880 and became engaged in 188v5 in 
 the coal business in that citj', in which he has continued until 
 the present time. When embarking in this business eighteen 
 \'ears ago, he bought out the Miller Bros, yard, since that 
 time his business has increased greatly and he now has, in 
 addition to large yards in the city, an extensive plant at the 
 foot of Fulton avenue, Eastchester, in which locality he is 
 
 one of the ])ioneers. Mr. Pruser is a Democrat and has been 
 inrtueiitial in the affairs of his ])arty ; he was cit\' treasurer 
 for three consecutive terms, running through a period of six 
 3-ears; he retired from this office in June, 1902. During his 
 incumbenc3' the affairs of the office were conducted with pre- 
 cision and faithfulness. He stands high in the .Masonic fratcr- 
 
 IIICNKV B. I'KISICK. 
 
 nity, being a 32d degree Mason, a member of the Mecca 
 Temple, Mystic Shrine, the O. D. O., and also of the Masonic 
 Historical Society' of New York; he was master of Hiawatha 
 Lodge for several 3'ears, and while in that position was ap- 
 pointeil to the office of grand marshal of the Grand Lodge of 
 Masons of the State of New York. He is a member of the 
 Royal .-Yrcanum, Turnverein and City Club of Mount Ve!:non. 
 He was married in September, 1882, to Louise .M. Neuberth 
 of New York City. They have one daughter. Miss Mary .M. 
 Mr. Pruser is a gentleman of pleasing manner and address, 
 and a man of strong personalitv. He possesses m<-iny warm 
 friends, and holds a high position in the business coniinunity. 
 
 CHARLES FAYERWEATHER SHER.MAN was born at 
 Redding, Fairfield County, Conn., on the third day of Sep- 
 tember, 1872, and educated at the district schools of that 
 place. He has resided in Mount Vernon for the jiast eight 
 years. I le is a commercial teacher and princijial of the Mount 
 X'ernon Business School, situated at 3+ and 30 South Fourth 
 avenue. In ])olitics he is a Republican and although not 
 much of a jiarty man, he lielieves in its princijiles. He is 
 a member of the First Methodist I-!])iscopal Church, Hiawatha 
 Lodge No. 4-34-, F. and A. M., Mount \'ernon Chajiter R. A. 
 M., C. J. Nordquist Cam]) No. M, S. of \'., Vernon Con- 
 clave No. 510, Imjiroved Order Hejitasophs, New York Com- 
 mercial Teachers' .Vssociation, Registered Business Schools' 
 .Association, Treasurer of Young Men's Christian .Association 
 and President Westchester County Sunday School -Association. 
 He was married on May 8, 1S94-, at Bridgeport, Conn., to 
 
114 
 
 HISTORY OF MOUNT VERNON 
 
 Miss Susie A. Elliott. The Mount Vernon Business School, 
 of which Mr. Sherman is principal, has been registered by 
 the University of the State of New York (Board of Regents) 
 
 CHARLES F. SHERMAN. 
 
 since 1898; it is centrally located and convenient to the rail- 
 road stations. It has a reputation for fair dealing and main- 
 tains satisfactory educational standards and teaches all busi- 
 ness subjects. It has a very extensive patronage. Mr. Sher- 
 man, though a young man, has attained eminence in his 
 profession ; his appearance is commanding and impressive and 
 his dignity of manner is marked by great courtesy and kind- 
 ness. In recognition of his upright life he has been vouch- 
 safed the respect and esteem of his fellow-men and his dili- 
 gence, energy and character have won for him the confidence 
 of the community in which he lives. 
 
 WILFRED THEODORE VAN YORX, JR., is a native of 
 Bridgeport, Conn., and was born in 1870. His education was 
 received in the district schools of Connecticut. He is by 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. WII.I'OKI) T. VAX VORX. 
 
 profession a singer and vocal teacher; he has a large and 
 select clientele, his studio being at No. 6 East 17th street, 
 New York City. He also has charge of the Vocal Depart- 
 
 ment of the Conservatory of Music at Hartford, Conn., to 
 which work he gives much attention. For the past seven 
 years Mr. Van Yorx has been very prominent in the concert 
 and oratorio field and he enjoys the distinction of being one 
 of the most prominent artists in that work in the country. 
 He is at present the tenor soloist in the choir of All Souls' 
 Church (Unitarian), 20th street and 4th avenue, Nev\,' York, 
 and also in the choir of the Temple Emanuel, 43d street and 
 Fifth avenue. New York. He is independent in politic?, is a 
 member of the Siwanoy Country Club of Mount Vernon, 
 and of the Masonic Order, among other degrees being a 
 Knights Templar. Mr. Van Yorx has resided in Mount Ver- 
 non for the past three years and by his pleasant and courte- 
 ous manner has made a large number of friends. On Novem- 
 ber 11, 1895, he was married to Miss Ida Belle Cooley; they 
 have two sons. Mrs. Van Yorx is soprano soloist in the 
 Madison avenue Baptist Church, corner 31st street and Madi- 
 son avenue. New York. The joint recitals of Mr. and Mrs. 
 Van Yorx are very popular musical functions, especially in 
 the Eastern and Central States. 
 
 H. criLI-dKli BATMAN, I). I>. S. 
 
 E. GUILFORD BAUMAN, D.D.S., whose residence and 
 office is at 141 South Tenth avenue. Mount Vernon, N. Y., 
 was born in Guilford, Conn., in 1875. In 1886 he took up 
 his residence in Mount Vernon and has resided there ever 
 since, having received his preliminar}' education in the public 
 schools of that city, of which he is a graduate. He is also a 
 graduate of the New York Trade School, after which he entered 
 and graduated from the New York College of Dentistry, the 
 profession which he now so successfully practices. Dr. Bau- 
 man is a member of the Westchester County Wheelmen's Club 
 of Mount Vernon, N. Y., a member of the Golden Rod Coun- 
 cil of the Royal Arcanum and of the Siwanoy Country Club 
 of this city and also a member of the New Rochelle Yacht 
 Club. 
 
Tlic Circle. North Fourth anil Uincoln A vciuics. 
 Park. I-Movcnth Avcmio and First Street. 
 Clareniont Aveiuie. lookinjj North. 
 
MomiinciU Park. 
 Park, Glen Aventu- and Willow Place. 
 
II I S T () K V O I- MOT X T \' I- R X ( ) X 
 
 117 
 
 CARI. i;i,IAS DUFFT, M.D., \v;is horn al liiluit. Ct-r- 
 maii3', May 22, IcSGf). He came to this country at an early 
 age and was educated in the jjublic schools of Western Penn- 
 sylvania and graduated at the College of" I'hysicians and 
 Surgeons, New York City. He is a professional singer and 
 vocal teacher. He stands in the front rank of his profession, 
 having studied with such eminent ])recei)tors as I'rederick 
 Walker, Edwin Holland and William Shakespeare in London, 
 and in New York with Alberto Laurence, Louisa Ca])i)iani, 
 George Sweet and James Sauvage. Dr. DufFt is very promi- 
 nent in church and oratorio work; he is at ])resent the bass 
 soloist in the choir of the Marble Collegiate Church, 2;)th street 
 and Fifth avenue. New York City, of which Dr. David James 
 Murrell is pastor, while in oratorio he is well known in all of 
 the principal cities east of the Mississippi river. He is at 
 the head of the Yocal Department of the Chautautjua Insti- 
 tution, situated at Chautauqua, X. Y. : to this branch of the 
 work the "Chautauqua" is now devoting much attention, 
 with a view of making it one of the most prominent and eflicient 
 departments. Dr. DutR's studio in New \<trk City is al No. 
 
 CAKI. ICI.IAS Dll'I-T. 
 
 30 East 23d street ; he has made Mount \'crnon his home since 
 the fall of 1900. In i)olitics he is independent; he is a mem- 
 ber of the Siwanoy Country Club of Mount X'ernon, Crescent 
 Lodge No. 4-02, F. and A. M., Crescent Chapter No. 220 
 R. A. M., and the Palestine Commander3- No. IS; he is also 
 a Scottish Kite Mason of the 32d degree and a member of 
 the Mecca Temple of the M^'stic Shrine. Dr. Dufft is broad- 
 gauged and progressive in his ideas and is endowed with 
 much energy and perseverance, possessing great personal 
 magnetism. On June 2(), 1S94-, he was married to Miss Bertha 
 Marie Carr, of Springfield, Mass.; the\- have three bright and 
 interesting children: Carl Iv., Jr., James Ilenrv and Rcgina 
 Marion. 
 
 WILLIA.M E. YAN AKSDALE, the well-known undertaker 
 and cmbalmer of Mount Yernon, was born in New York City, 
 July 1802. He was educated in the district schools of 
 the city, and has been a resident thereof for thirty-seven 
 3'ears. After graduating in the public schools, he attended 
 the Oriental College of Embalming in Boston, Mass., gradu- 
 ating therefrom Se]>teniber 29, 1891. He is a Republican, 
 but has never held nor sought olhce of any kind. He is a 
 member of the Church of the Ascension (Episcopal), Wheel' 
 men's Westchester Club, Odd Fellows, Knights of St. John and 
 Malta, Improved Order of Heptasophs and of the Royal Arcan- 
 
 um. He was married April is, ISSS, to Miss Minnie K. Wey- 
 and, o( .New \'ork, and they have one daughter, I";innie A. .Mr. 
 \'an .\rs(l;de is a representative business man, .-ifiable and 
 
 WII.I.IA.M i;. \AN AKSHAI.I- 
 
 polite and justly ranks among the best citizens of the com- 
 nmnity. 
 
 C.IvORCI'; W. 1-ENNI:LL was born April 1, 1S7S, in New 
 York, lie was educated in the ])ublic schools and graduated 
 
 (•.i;()K(;i; w. i i:nni;i.i.. 
 
 from the New York Institute. He is engaged in the real estate 
 business, and is the senior member of the tirni of George 
 
lis 
 
 HISTORY OF MOUNT VERNON 
 
 Fennell & Co., dealers in furniture and carpets, with stores 
 at 110-114 South Fourth^avenue, Mount Vernon, and in New 
 York City. He is a member of the City Club of Mount Ver- 
 non and of the Royal Arcanum, is a business man of ability, 
 and is a pleasant, courteous gentleman, possessing the con- 
 fidence and regard of all who know him. 
 
 MAURICE J. SULLIVAN. Here is a man who will be al- 
 waj'san aggressive force in any community where he ma^- live, 
 a man who thinks rapidly and acts quickly. Here is a man 
 who sees, and seeing observes. Correct bases of conviction 
 and judgment are the resultants. Here is a man who has 
 in him no chicane nor seed of treachery, discriminating in his 
 thought, judicial in his judgments. Having weighed men or 
 measures in the light of reason, fitness, capability, having 
 thus reared his structure of conviction or belief, this man 
 clings stubbornly to principle, goes "sled-length" with his 
 friend, and abides with his opponent unto the end of the 
 road. Maurice Joseph Sullivan was born forty-six years ago 
 in the Murray Hill district of New York City. He is a grad- 
 uate of St. Gabriel's School, famous for its high standards. 
 When the lad left school thousands of men released from the 
 Army of the Civil War were seeking employment. All chances 
 of endeavor were congested with applicants. Young Sullivan 
 standing with his face to the morning made his way into the 
 Federal Service at the New York Custom House, making his 
 way among older men and war veterans. He acquired there 
 the self-reliance that comes to men of metal when ground in 
 such a turmoil as the Customs Service in New Y'ork City. 
 
 The father had died years before, and the demise of the 
 cherished mother loosened the local tendrils and the youth 
 left New Y'ork. He made his base at Philadelphia, and in- 
 troduced for a firm of that city the scroll- saw and its re- 
 markable possibilities. Youngster that he was Sullivan had 
 fitted his shoulders to life's responsibilities, and he was en- 
 trusted with a wonderful display of scroll work at the Cen- 
 tennial in 1876. Such capabilities challenged attention and 
 when his work at the Centennial had closed he was drawn 
 into the employ of a great machinery and tool manufactur- 
 ing concern. During his residence in Philadelphia, Sullivan 
 strengthened his life position by marriage with a beautiful 
 and gracious woman, Miss Therese C. Kellar, daughter of 
 Andrew C. Kellar, a leading shoe manufacturer of Lancaster, 
 Pa. Then came other evidences of development, among them 
 a desire for the wider field of the metropolis. He became 
 allied with the New York Steam Heating Company, pushing 
 their system into general use. At this juncture the wave of 
 building construction rolled into upper Manhattan, and Sul- 
 livan divining the trend of the tide plunged into interests that 
 were potent in covering the Harlem district with new homes. 
 With keen vision the young man foresaw the inevitable ad- 
 vance in realty values, and by an easy stride he stepped 
 into the real estate business. He followed and led in this 
 enterprise until Harlem was settled, and then he pushed out 
 to the border possibilities. Naturally enough he moved his 
 family to Williamsbridge in 1887. There the man's dominant 
 spirit, his sterling integrity and ceaseless push, brought him 
 into the governing board of the newly incorporated village. 
 Thence he moved to Mount Vernon and became identified 
 there with large real estate and building operations, reach- 
 ing constantly for new channels. Mr. Sullivan, two years ago, 
 turned his attention to an invention for the saving of coal in 
 stoves, boilers and heaters. This has so developed in its 
 results and possibilities that Mr. Sullivan has recently organ- 
 ized a company in New York, of which he is Secretary and 
 Treasurer. In all the progress of his business life Mr. Sul- 
 livan has not neglected the social and ethical side, being pro- 
 
 minent in each. He has grown abreast of the times, being 
 an omnivorous reader and a thinker of breadth and liberal 
 tendencies. He is an ardent lover of music and has been a 
 leading tenor in churches of New York City and Westchester 
 County. He has organized and vitalized a literary club of 
 Mount Vernon citizens, in which the political and social pro- 
 blems of the age, day and hour are subjected to keen scrutiny 
 and broad, intelligent debate. The influence of such a man in 
 his community cannot be fully measured in his own day. The 
 results of Mr. Sullivan's interest and endeavor will be strong- 
 est in years to come, after the city's formative period has 
 passed and when his posterity harken back with respect to 
 the memory of a mother who was their guide, and to the 
 influence of a father who was a standard for them and for his 
 community. 
 
 CLARENCES. MERRILL, ex-alderman of Mount Vernon, 
 was born November 2-4, 1870, and is the son of Oliver H. 
 and Anna F. Merrill. He was educated in the public schools 
 of Manchester, Conn., and the High school of Hartford. He 
 
 CUARENCE S. MERRII.L; 
 
 then entered the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, 
 Md. He became a citizen of Mount Vernon in 1897. For 
 thirteen years previously, he was connected with the Under- 
 wood Manufacturing Company of Tolland, Conn., first as 
 salesman for seven years and afterwards was their manager 
 in New York. His political affiliation is with the Democratic 
 part3^ ; he was elected alderman of the city of Mount Vernon 
 in 1899 and served with great ability and efficiency until 
 November, 1901. He is a member of the Commercial Travel- 
 ers Club, Golden Rod Council of Royal Arcanum, Clinton 
 Hook & Ladder Co., and many other societies. In June, 
 1892, he was married to Lelia C. Munsey, of Laconia, N. H. 
 They have two daughters : Ella and Anna. Mr. Alerrill is a 
 man of great natural ability and energy, is courteous, well- 
 informed and enterprising, and takes a prominent part in 
 
Two (lid I,atidniarks. 
 The Stevens Homestead. Residence of Mr. Ocorpe Stevens. 
 The Collins Homestead, Residence of Mr. W.J. Collins. 
 
II 1ST () R Y o r 
 
 M () r X T V I-: K X o x 
 
 121 
 
 the social life of Mouiil \"criion. For the past year he has 
 been the geiierjil agent for Westchester County for the Aeoli- 
 pyle Company-, manufacturers of apparatus f or perfecting com- 
 bustion, with home offices at 237 Water street, New York 
 City, antl who do a very extensive business. 
 
 (iENBKAL IIi:.\KV II. HOVCE was born in Ohio, being 
 the youngest of five boj-s ; his father, whose family numbered 
 ten children, removing, when the subject of this sketch was 
 but three years old, to Wisconsin, where he engaged extensive- 
 ly in farming and railroad building. Here the future soldier, 
 as soon as he was old enough, worked on the farm in the 
 summer and attended the district school in the winter. From 
 the time he was twelve years of age until he was sixteen, he 
 performed all of the work of a man, ploughing, driving a 
 breaking-team and hauling grain to market twenty miles nwny. 
 All of his spare time was given to study, preparing to enter 
 college. When the Civil War broke out he was one of the first 
 to respond to President Lincoln's first call, but was not 
 able to get into the three-months' service. A little later he 
 enlisted for three 3-ears in the 45th Illinois Volunteer Infantry 
 and was rapidly promoted to second lieutenant in November, 
 1861. He was promoted first lieutenant for gallantry on the 
 field at the battle of Shiloh, and was made captain of his 
 company when twenty years of age. His regiment partici- 
 pated in twenty-three battles, being with the army of the 
 Tennessee all the way from Cairo, 111., in 1861, to Washington 
 D. C, in 1865. At Fort Donelson, February 15, 1862, Lieu- 
 tenant Boyce was severely wounded, being shot through the 
 hip while his regiment was assaulting the works. At \'icks- 
 burg on the 25th day of June, 1863, Captain Bovce was 
 again desperately wounded, while his regiment, the 45th 
 Illinois was leading the assault on Fort Hill. In honor of 
 that gallant charge, the regiment was given the right of 
 the line when (General Grant's victorious army marched into 
 Vicksburg, July 4, 1863, and the flag of the 45th Illinois 
 was the first to be raised over the court-house in the cap- 
 tured city. Captain Boyce later was with his regiment in 
 the Georgia campaign, and after that in Sherman's "March 
 to the Sea." He was chief engineer of 3rd Division 17th 
 Army Corps, being Logan's old division, serving on the stati" 
 of General M. D. Leggett, whose high appreciation of Captain 
 Boyce's soldierly qualities is shown by the letter given below, 
 and addressed to Governor Yates, the war governor of Illinois. 
 
 Headquarters, 3rd Division 17th A. C. 
 Army of the Tennessee. 
 
 Savannah, Ga., Dec. 28, 1864. 
 His Excellency, the Governor of Illinois, 
 
 Governor: — Captain Henrv H. Boj-cc, 45th Regiment 
 Illinois Veteran \'olunteer Infantrv, has just been obliged to 
 resign his position in the army, in consequence of the un- 
 favorable condition of a wound received during the siege of 
 Vicksburg, while assaulting "Fort Hill," on the 25th of June, 
 1863. In our late campaign he has been a member of mj- 
 staff, and has acted as chief engineer of ni3- division. It is 
 due to Captain Bo3-ce that I should state, that whether with 
 his regiment or on stafl' dut}-, he has alwaj's displaj-ed to a 
 high degree the qualifications of a soldier and gentleman. 
 Always affable, kind and generous, intelligent, gallant and 
 brave, j-et cool and discreet and his habits strictlv temperate 
 and upright. No offcer in my command is more highlv es- 
 teemed, and none more worthy of confidence and respect. I 
 take great pleasure in recommending him to your kindest 
 regards. Very respcctfulh-, 
 
 Y'our Obedient Servant, 
 
 M. D. LEGGETT, Brig.-Gen'l. 
 
 After leaving the armv, the subject of this sketch was 
 enqjloyed in teaching £in(I other work £ind removed to Cali- 
 fornia some j'cars later, where he was engaged in real estate 
 and banking business. He organized the Southern California 
 National Bank, n<jw the .Merchants Nati(jnal Bank, at Los 
 Angeles, Cal., and was its first president. The Ijank is a 
 prosperous concern and has been a dividend paver from the 
 start. Governor K. I). Waterman commissioned him Brigadier- 
 General commanding the First Brigade National Guard of 
 California. On account of business (k-ncral Boyce removed 
 east in 1891, and later purchased a home in Mount \'crn<jn, 
 at 345 Bedford avenue, where he has resided for the last 
 nine years. In 181)9 he was elected president of the Wyoming 
 Southern Railway Company', and in 1902 he was elected 
 president of the Lowe Coke and Gas Companv, capital $5,000,- 
 000. Genera! Boyce is an active and influential Republican, 
 and at the present time is vice-president of the Rejmblican 
 Club of Mfjunt \'ernon and vice-chairman of the Republican 
 City Committee of Mount \'ernon. 
 
 JOHN J. IIICKEY, a son of the late Daniel C. Ilickey, 
 is a native of Mount \'ernon, N. \'., and was born August 
 17, 1878. He was educated at Fordham College and gradu- 
 ated at Mount St. Mary's College, Emniettsburg, Md. He 
 has been a resident of Mount X'ernon all his life; he is Presi- 
 dent of the Motmt Vernon Automobile Company, one of the 
 directors of the I'irst National Bank of Mount \'erni)n, a 
 
 JOHN ,1. IIICKICV. 
 
 member of the Siwanoy Country Club, Autoniol)ile Club of 
 .\merica. Mount \'ernon Engine Co. No. 3, and of the Fire- 
 men's Benevolent Association. He was married on May 24, 
 1901, to Marie M. Rosenheimer. .Mr. Ilickey is a rising young 
 business man, of good habits and fine ajipearance. and devotes 
 great attention to the .\utomobile Company, of which he is 
 president. He is well and favorably known, with a remark- 
 able faculty for the conduct and dispatch of business. 
 
122 
 
 HISTORY OF M O U 
 
 NT \' E R N O N . 
 
 WILLIAM \V. HIGGINS was born in Bnxjklyn, N. Y., on 
 November 30, 1877. He received his education in the 
 pubhc schools. He was first engaged in the real estate 
 business in New York City with J. Delmage Triml)le. In 
 1898 he enlisted in the 71st Regiment of New York, Company 
 B, and was a good soldier during the Spanish-American War. 
 After its termination he was occupied as a builder in New 
 York and Indiana. He returned to Mount Vernon in Novem- 
 ber, 1901, and he is now proprietor of the Westchester Trans- 
 fer Company, v\-ith office at the New York and New Haven 
 Railroad Station. He was married to Miss Charlotte R. Roe, 
 of Mount Vernon, daughter of the late Josiah Roe. They 
 have two children, William and Walter. Mr. Higgins is a 
 member of the Spanish War V eterans and the 22d Regiment of 
 Engineers of New York. He belongs to the Church of the 
 Ascension, Chester Hill, Mount \'ernon. He stands well in 
 
 WILLIAM W. HIGGIXS. 
 
 the community, is a good citizen, kind and unassuming, and 
 his rectitude of character has gained for him the esteem and 
 confidence of his fellow-men wherever he is known. 
 
 JOHN HENRY ARMBRUSTEK, whose studio is located 
 at No. 56 South Fifth avenue, Mt. Vernon, was born at White 
 Plains, N. Y., February 23d, 1865, where he received his edu- 
 cation in the public schools. I'olitically, Mr. Armbruster is a 
 conservative Democrat. He has never held nor sought any 
 office. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum and of the 
 Protestant Episcopal Church. In photograpic matters Mr. 
 Armbruster is a master of his profession, he having served for 
 more than twenty-five years in that line. Most of the por- 
 traits reproduced in this volume were made in his studio. He 
 
 JOHN' H. ARMBRX'STKK. 
 
 has .'I large and select clientele for whom he executes work. 
 .Mr. .\rmbruster is popular with all classes. 
 
 The office building here represented is occupied by the 
 Westchester Lighting Company, one of the notable business 
 concerns of the city of Mount Vernon, which furnishes both 
 gas and electricity to the city, as well as to nearly the entire 
 countv of Westchester, and to part of New York, supplying 
 
 Westchester Lifihting Co. Huililing. 
 
 about two hundred and fifty thousand people with these 
 necessities. Through the offices occupied by the Company in 
 Mount Vernon is transacted not only the local business, but 
 the general business for its entire territory. Some idea may 
 be obtained of the magnitude of its business, and the benefits 
 
HISTORY OF M O r X T \' Iv U N ( ) N 
 
 123 
 
 derived troiu the operations of this Company liv the eily 
 ol' Mount Vernon, when it is known that more than a hun- 
 dred and tif'ty men are constantly emiihjyed in the ollices here, 
 who, if not already residents, necessarilj- become such, man\- 
 of whom have families, and who receive in salaries over 
 $10,000 a month, the most of which is paid out to various 
 local merchants and business people. In addition, the Com- 
 pany pays to the city of Mount Vernon over $9,000 annually 
 in taxes, and to the business firms of the city, for supplies 
 of different kinds incident to the local requirements, more 
 than $100,000 annually; it is, therefore, an industry of no 
 small importance to the community. The same proportion 
 of expenditure occurs in the other districts in the county cov- 
 ered by the Comjjany's operations. The workin<^ force of 
 the Company is from a thousand to twelve hundred em- 
 ployees. Since the absorption of the minor companies hy the 
 Westchester Lighting Company, the records show a gradual 
 decrease in the price of both gas and electricity to its con- 
 sumers; and the people of this citj' generally bear witness to 
 the satisfactory service. The Company has done much re- 
 cently in the way of introducing electric power and gas en- 
 gines into small manuacturing plants. The results have been 
 entirely satisfactory ; and in view of the present scarcity of 
 coal, and its prohibitive price, the motive power supplied by 
 this Company is likeh- to become more popular in the future. 
 
 NEW YORK TELEPIIOXE CO. On January 1, 1000, 
 there were in service in the city of Mount Vernon, 386 tele- 
 phone stations. The Central Office was located in the build- 
 ing at No. 24" South Fourth avenue, and the equipment was 
 the old style magneto kind. The New York Telephone Com- 
 pany since taking charge of the business has constructed a 
 new building, designed for telephone purposes, at No. -tO South 
 5th Ave., a picture of which is shown in this book. On Janu- 
 ary 18, 1902, the magneto equipment was taken out and the 
 very latest and best type of common battery equipment was 
 substituted. The number of stations in service January 18, 
 1902, was 971; the number of stations in service on Decem- 
 ber 1, 1902, was 1,307, being an increase of 921 since Janu- 
 ary 1, 1900. Equipment necessary to serve 6,000 subscribers 
 is provided and, with the rapid growth of the city of Mount 
 Vernon and the increased popularity of the telephone service, 
 the Company hopes to secure enough subscrilx*rs within the 
 next few years to utilize the entire equipment provided. 
 
 THE MOUNT VERNON WATER CO. was originally in- 
 corporated January 28, 1882, by 33 then leading and re- 
 presentative citizens of Mount Vernon, who nominated the 
 following named gentlemen from their number to serve as 
 Trustees for the first yea.r : Charles Hill Willson, Oliver Dyer, 
 Joseph S. Wood, Gerd Martens, David Quackenbush, William 
 D. Chapin, Burr Davis, John Berry, Edson Ix!wis, Max Huss, 
 Elijah N. Wilscjn, Simeon L. Close. Their source of supply 
 was from an artesian well sunk in property on South Seventh 
 
 avenue, near Third street. The well still remains, though the 
 machinery has been dismantled. This conqjany was succeeded 
 by the New York and Mount \'ernoii Water Conqjany, incor- 
 ])orjited January 23, 188(;. The controlling interest of this 
 conqjany was in New York City. At that time the ]iuni()ing 
 station was located at a jjoint where the N. Y., N. 11. & 11. 
 R. R. Co. intersects the boundary line lietween -Mount \'ernon 
 and Pelham and its supjily was then taken from the Hutchin- 
 son river. The station still remains at this point, alth<jugh 
 it has been enlarged and nmch inqjroved since that time. On 
 March 26, 1891, the New York City Suljurban Water Com- 
 pany was created to take over the predecessijr conqjany and 
 to pr(jvi(le means for increasing the suppl\' of water rccjuired 
 by the increasing wants of the rapidly growing city. Much 
 property for reservoir purposes was acquired within the pres- 
 ent limits (jf the city <jf New Rtjchelle and many costly improve- 
 ments were undertaken for the purpose of yielding a better 
 service to the city. The filter plant, <jne of the first t<j be 
 inaugurated in this country', svas c<jnstructed during that 
 ]jeriod. The strain (jf these heavy expenditures, running into 
 hundreds of th(jusands (jf dollars, coupled with the financial 
 depression which existed at that time, resulted in the in- 
 solvency of the company, which was re-(jrganized and suc- 
 ceeded by the New Y'ork Suburban Water Company, incor- 
 porated Mav 25, 1895. Under this corporation the rights 
 to the watershed of the Mamaroneck river were secured. 
 The present company, the New York Inter-Urban Water 
 C(jmpany, acquired all pr(jperty and rights of the fijrmer 
 conqjany on N(jvember 28, 1901. The present c(jmpany has 
 extended and enlarged upon the improvements begun under 
 the administrations of the several predecessors, by construct- 
 ing a large conduit main, 7 miles in length, from Mamanj- 
 neck to Mount \'ernon, and has now approaching completion 
 at Mamaroneck, one (jf the nnjst beautiful and co:nplete 
 pumping stations in this part of the country. It is expected, 
 when this station shall have been completed, that the com- 
 bined res(jurces of the conqjan}' will be equal to the watei 
 requirements of a city of 200,000 population. Many statistics 
 affecting the water company may be found on pages 8 and 
 9 of the Mayor's report for 1899-1900. The company has 
 nearly 50 miles of mains and nearly 500 hydrants in the 
 cit}'. The State Geologist for Pennsylvania, conimissicjned 
 b)' the U. S. Government to inspect and report upon the 
 water companies (jf the country, for use in construction and 
 enlargement (jf the services for the cities tif WashingttJn, D.^C, 
 and Philadelphia, Pa., imparted to the writer that, after a 
 thorough investigation of water plants throughout the coun- 
 try, he considered that the Mount ^'ernon plant, from the 
 neatness of its surroundings, the quality of water supplied, 
 and the general standard of its operation, was the most 
 satisfactfjrv cjf those he had visited, and that Mount VerncJn, 
 for a city of its size and class, had no superior in the matter 
 of a v^'ater service. 
 
124 
 
 HISTORY OF MOUNT VERNON. 
 
 THK KVERKTT PIANO COMPANY 
 
 AND ITS WORLD FAMOI S PRODUCT. 
 
 Frederick Wallace, in the December (1902) number of 
 the "National Magazine" has written a long illustrated art- 
 icle entitled 
 
 "The Making of the Everett Piano," which opens as 
 follows : The justly celebrated Gabrilowitsch has recently 
 been giving a number of performances at and near Boston. 
 Those who have had the good fortune to hear them have 
 had a musical treat, indeed, a treat to be remembered. Music 
 so beautiful, so sweet, so clear, rarely meets and charms the 
 ear. The rise and swell and fall of melodies, the rapid flow of 
 sound, all under such mastering guidance; now rushing along 
 like a winter's torrent, now meandering like a summer's 
 stream, until the very air feels instinct with music. Aside from 
 the triumph of the artist, I was interested in the conquest of 
 the American artisan who made this possible. I wished to 
 know something about the instrument on which he pla3'ed 
 — the Everett Piano. I no longer wonder at the thrilling 
 effects heard from such an instrument when in the hands 
 
 of a great master, exercising boundless control over its won- 
 derful capabilities." 
 
 It is not necessary to follow the detailed description of 
 the manufacture of the Everett Piano in this place, as the 
 Everett has a world-wide reputation as an instrument of the 
 highest possible artistic qualities. Not only Ossip Gabrilo- 
 witsch, the great Russian pianist, but Richard Burmeister, 
 the eminent German pianist, our own Mme. Nordica, the 
 great opera singer, and hundreds of other musicians use this 
 matchless instrutnent in their concert work. The Everett 
 manufactory is located in Boston, occupying the entire block 
 on Albany street from Wareham to Maiden streets. This is 
 one of the largest, most perfectly appointed plants for the 
 manufacture of artistic pianos in the world, and has been 
 called "a veritable school of art with every man an artist." 
 The Company has branch houses in Cincinnati and Chicago, 
 while the New York house, where always is displaj'ed a very 
 large number of the choicest grands and uprights, is located at 
 141-143 FIFTH AVENUE, NEAR 21st STREET. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL 
 INDEX. 
 
 If lookiiiLi tor Portrait, consult first nunihcr: 
 if" lookiuji tor Hio^in-iphy, consult second nunihcr. 
 In cases where only one number is f^iven, there is 
 no Portrait or no Bio;^ra|)hy. 
 
 A. Pages. 
 
 Archer, Rolland B +7, s;» 
 
 Arnihruster, William 11 122, 122 
 
 H. 
 
 Bard, Oeor^re \V lO.", 10r> 
 
 Baunian, K. ('.uiltord . . . . 11+, 11 + 
 
 Beach, (k'or/^c O +0, 11 + 
 
 Boyce, ('.en. Henry II G7, 121 
 
 Buck, IVank M 90 
 
 C. 
 
 Crawford, (icorijc K. .... 7, 7+ 
 I). 
 
 Duflt, Carl E 1 1 7, 1 1 7 
 
 I-:. 
 
 Everett Piano, The 12+, 
 
 I-. 
 
 IVnnell, C.corge \V 1 1 7, 1 1 7 
 
 Fiske, Hon. Bdwin \V. ( I'roniispiecc) . 7+ 
 
 Fordham, Henry C s;{, loG 
 
 G. 
 
 (k-nunj,', Mcrwin E 3'J, SI 
 
 Could, Theodore lot;, loC, 
 
 II. 
 
 Hayes, Gcor-ic Ill, 77 
 
 Hickcy, I>anicl C 7;>, 1 lo 
 
 Hickey, John j 121. 121 
 
 Hi-rtrins, William W 122, 122 
 
 House, Pr. Joseph .\. .... 8r>, SI 
 
 Ilujihes, Dr. John I S2. S2 
 
 IIuss, Henry Its, ;i7 
 
 .T. 
 
 Jones, Dr. Henry C 11, M 
 
 K. 
 
 Kcllo<'<'. Minot C lo. 7S 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX 
 CONTINUED. 
 
 L. Pages. 
 
 Lewis, Daniel 98, 98 
 
 Lovett, Charles H 88, 86 
 
 M. 
 
 Mackenzie, Colin 91, 101 
 
 MacNicholl, William A 110, 110 
 
 McClellan, Clarence S 95, 78 
 
 McLean, Col. Cornelius .... 51, 102 
 
 Marshall, William J 75, 90 
 
 Mendel, William H 102 
 
 Merriam, Franklin A 103, 102 
 
 Merrill, Clarence S 118, 118 
 
 Mills, Hon. Isaac N 23, 85 
 
 Mount Vernon Water Co. ... 123 
 
 N. 
 
 N. Y. Inter-Urban Water Co. . . . 107, 
 
 N. Y. Telephone Co 53, 123 
 
 P. 
 
 Page, Melville S 63, 109 
 
 Pruser, Henry B 113, 113 
 
 Purdy, Dr. William H 59, 82 
 
 R. 
 
 Rathbun, Milton 43, 77 
 
 Reynolds, James L 96, 101 
 
 S. 
 
 Sherman, Charles F. .... 114, 113 
 
 Shinn, John M 89, 89 
 
 Sinnott, Charles W 90, 90 
 
 Smith, Dr. H. Eugene .... 55, 81 
 
 Smith, Elmer P 93, 93 
 
 Stilwell, Stephen J 99, 97 
 
 Stiles, Mark D 31, 101 
 
 Stratton, F. A 27, 81 
 
 Straub, Charles W 92, 101 
 
 Sullivan, Maurice J 71, 118 
 
 Svvits, David 97, 97 
 
 Syme, Hon. Sydney A 93, 93 
 
 T. 
 
 Taylor, Theodore 106, 105 
 
 Throop, William 113, 113 
 
 U. 
 
 Union R. R. Co., Power House. . . Ill, 
 V. 
 
 Van Arsdale, William E 117, 117 
 
 Van Tassel, Stephen 101, 98 
 
 Van Yorx, Wilford T 114, 114 
 
PORTRAIT AMI UK X.RAPII ICAl. ISDLX 
 C(>STISIi:i). 
 
 W. Pajfcs. 
 
 W.-illaiukr. A. \V 10.-), 105 
 
 Wcht-r, Charks 110, 110 
 
 UViss, Dr. (icorf^c C 10+, S2 
 
 WVstchcstcr Li;,duiii;,' Co., HiiiUlin;,' . 122, 122 
 
 Wood, Joseph S. ..... <s7, S.-) 
 
 Wur/.hnr;,', Si(.';,'lii(.-(l lO'.t, lO'.l 
 
 INDEX TO GENERAL 
 ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 Tape. 
 
 The Old Boweriiiaii Homestead, Soutli Col- 
 
 lunlius Ave., 5 
 
 Ruins Caused by I'ire, at I'irst St. and I'ourtli 
 
 Ave., Oct. H, IST.'J 5 
 
 Depressiiifi Track of the .\. V., .\. H. ^: II. 
 
 R. R., I-'irst St., bet. I'ilth and Sixth 
 
 .■\ves., ........ r, 
 
 Bastchester Dock 
 
 Summit .Ave., Lookinir North from Sidney 
 
 .\ve t; 
 
 South Fourth .\ve., at I'ourih St., . . 
 
 Mt. \'eriion Hospital, H 
 
 .\rniory, Co. R, I-'irst Re<,'., -N. ('.. X. Y., . 
 
 Martha Wilson Home (Old Ladies), . . 'J 
 
 Second Ave., Lookinji; North Irom Fourth St., lo 
 
 Lincoln .\ve., Lookins; West Irom I'ultoii .\ve., 1(» 
 
 I'ourtli .Vve., Lookiiifi South Irom I'ourth St., lo 
 
 N. v., N. II. iS: II. R. R. Station, . . . 1.5 
 
 Ivast First St., West from Third .\ve., . . \'A 
 
 .Martens Buildini,', i;{ 
 
 Ivast I-'irst St., from City Hall, . . . 13 
 
 Soldiers Monument, l-l- 
 
 Bronx River, at Oak St. Bridi^e, ... 1 1- 
 
 St. Paul's Church, Episcopal, . . . . 1 + 
 
 Second St., Lookinsj East from I-;it;hth .\ve., 17 
 
 Second St., Lookin<; North from Third St., . 17 
 .\rcher Ave., LSjokinj^ North from Prospect 
 
 Ave 17 
 
 V. M. C. A. Buildin- is 
 
 Lincoln Ave., Ivast from Rich .\ve., . . IS 
 
 Second .\ve.. North from I-"ourtli St., . . IS 
 
 Police IIead(|uartcrs, ...... Is 
 
 I-'irst Ave, Lookini; South from Second St., 21 
 
 I-'ourlh Ave., Lookiuir North from Second St., 21 
 Fulton .\ve., Lookini; North from Lincoln 
 
 Ave 21 
 
 Read's Mill 22 
 
 Seaton I'alls 22 
 
 Mt. \"crnon Pumping Station, N. N'. Inter- 
 
 Prban Water Co 22 
 
 Central Hose Co., No. +. Truck Co. No. 2. . 25 
 
 Clinton H. and L. Co.. Niavjara Hose Co.. . 25 
 
INDEX TO GENERAL ILLUSTRATIONS 
 CONTINUED. 
 
 Page. 
 
 Independent Hose Co. No. 2, . . . . 25 
 
 Washington Engine Co. No. 1, ... 29 
 
 Protection Engine Co. No. 2, . . . . 2".) 
 
 Engine Co. No. 3 30 
 
 Columbia Hose Co. No. 5, .... 30 
 
 Church of Our Lady of Victory, R. C, . 33 
 
 St. Paul's German Lutheran Church, . . 33 
 
 First Presbyterian Church, .... 33 
 
 Dutch Reformed Church, 33 
 
 First Methodist Episcopal Church, . , 34- 
 
 Trinity Church, Episcopal, .... 34 
 
 First Baptist Church, 34 
 
 Church of the Sacred Heart, R. C, . . 34- 
 
 Swedish M. E. Church, 37 
 
 First Congregational Church, .... 37 
 
 South Ninth Ave., South from Fourth St., . 37 
 
 German M. E. Church, 37 
 
 Swedish Lutheran Church, .... 38 
 
 Universalist Church, 38 
 
 St. Johannes Evangelical 38 
 
 Congregational Chapel, "\'ernon Park, . . 38 
 
 English Lutheran Church 41 
 
 North M. E. Church 41 
 
 St. Mary's Church, R. C, 41 
 
 Church of the Ascension, Ejiiscopal, . . 41 
 
 Chester Hill M. E. Church, .... 42 
 
 Republican Club, Mt. ^'ernon, .... 42 
 
 South Fifth Ave., North from Fourth St., . 57 
 
 High School, South Fourth Ave., ... 57 
 
 School No. 1., South Fifth Ave., ... 57 
 
 South Fourth Ave., South from Fourth St., 57 
 
 Union Hill vSchool No. 6 58 
 
 School No. 5, North High St 58 
 
 School No. 3, Eleventh Ave., .... 58 
 
 School No. 9, Vernon Park, .... 58 
 
 School No. 4, Fifth Ave., near Sixth St., 61 
 
 Chester Hill School No. 2, .... 61 
 
 School No. 7, South Fulton Ave., ... 61 
 
 Scho(jl No. 8, Howard St., .... 61 
 
 City Hall, Lucas Building, .... 94 
 
 Common Council Chamber, .... 94 
 
 City Hall, Lucas Building, from First St., . 94 
 
 Residence of Mayor Edwin W. Fiske, . . 100 
 
 The Circle, North Fourth and Lincoln Ave., 115 
 
 Park, Eleventh Ave. and First St., . . 115 
 
 Claremont Ave., Looking North, . . . 115 
 
 Monument Park, 116 
 
 Park, Glen Avenue and Willow I'lace, . . 116 
 The Stevens Homestead, Residence of George 
 
 Stevens, 119 
 
 The Collins Homestead, Residence of Mr. W. 
 
 J. Collins 119 
 
Ex IGibrtH 
 
 SEYMOUR DURST 
 
 H'beii you leave, please leave ibis hook 
 
 Because it has been saui 
 "^iver'lhific) comes I him icbo loatls 
 
 Eycepi a loaned book." 
 
 Am in Arc mil c Ti rai wd F-'i\i Aris I.ibr \R^ 
 
 (ill I Ol Si ^ Alol R B. 1)1 KSl Ol I) \'l)KK LiHK \1<^