History of Westchester County, New York, Volume 3. Группа авторов
or more earnest desire to meet every requirement of an important and difficult position than he, and during the fifteen years of his service for his firm he has always been found faithful to their interests, active and anxious to promote their welfare.
The birth of Reuben Borland took place in Yonkers on the 2nd of March, 1868. He is a son of James and Sarah (Sloss) Borland, and when he had attained a suitable age he became a student in the public schools of this city. He was graduated here in 1883 and soon afterward entered upon his business career. Entering the employ of the famed Alexander Smith Carpet Company, he began at the bottom rounds of the ladder, and was gradually promoted from spool-boy in the sitting department to one and another position, and finally was made foreman of the yarn department. Then, having become thoroughly familiar with every detail of the sitting department, and having served for four or five years as assistant foreman, he was promoted to the post of foreman, and acted in that capacity until 1894. For the past four years he has been superintendent of the great "moquette" mill, where he has five foremen to assist him, and has under his supervision about eighteen hundred persons. In this mill are manufactured moquette carpets, the handsomest and most expensive carpets that are made. The Alexander Smith Carpet Company has a world-wide reputation, and is, indeed, the most extensive concern of the kind in this or any other country. Forty-five hundred persons are employed by the establishment, and the carpets which are manufactured here find their way into every portion of the civilized world. The highest possible excellence of goods, quality, style and workmanship is maintained, and thus the great importance of Mr. Borland's position is apparent. He duly appreciates the high esteem in which his superiors hold him, and for years their business relations have been of the pleasantest and most satisfactory nature all around.
In local society Mr. Borland is a great favorite, and he is a member of the Hollywood Gun Club. His principal diversion in his leisure moments, however, is music. He has become very proficient on the violin, and is taking a special course of instruction to further perfect himself in the use of that instrument. In political affairs he is a stalwart Republican. He is a member of the Episcopal church, and is liberal in his gifts to religious and charitable enterprises.
WHITE, EDWARD
To a student of human nature there is nothing of greater interest than to examine the life of a self-made man and analyze the principles that he has followed, the methods he has pursued; to know what means he has employed for advancement, and to study the plans which have given him prominence, enabling him to pass on the highway of life many who have had a more advantageous start. Through his own efforts Mr. White has attained to a position of prominence in business circles, and he is to-day a leading merchant and undertaker of Croton, New York.
He was born in that place, November 23, 1851, and is a son of Patrick and Margaret (Cartigan) White, both natives of Ireland, the former born in Queens county, the latter in county Kilkenny. When young they crossed the Atlantic, and their marriage was celebrated in New York city. On coming to Westchester county they located on the sand flat below the old Croton dam, and when the dam gave way they lost all their property and barely escaped with their lives. The father, who was a laborer, died in the prime of life, at about the age of forty-seven years. In his family were nine children, of whom four are now deceased. In order of birth they are as follows: William, who was foreman in the brickyard at Virplanks, and is now deceased; Charles, a boatsman, deceased; Mary Ann; John, deceased, who was for many years captain of engine No. 12, fire department, New York city; Catherine; Margaret; Thomas, a grocer of Peekskill, New York; Edward; and Elizabeth, who is deceased.
At the early age of nine years Edward White began earning his own livelihood as an employee in a brick-yard, and he continued to follow that occupation until he attained his majority, during which time he saved his money and assisted in caring for his aged mother. At the age of seventeen he decided to embark in business on his own account, in connection with his brother Thomas, and at the end of two years they had saved from their earnings six hundred dollars, after having paid off an indebtedness of one hundred and seventy-five dollars. With this capital they started in business, spending five hundred dollars for a stock of groceries and liquors, and in this way the present mercantile establishment of our subjects was founded. At the end of about four years they dissolved partnership and Edward has since been alone. He has a good general store, well stocked with a high class of goods, and since 1884 has also been interested in the undertaking business, doing the only business in that line in the village. At SingSing he also established a business similar to his own in Croton, and in partnership with John Dorsey the store is conducted under the firm style of White & Dorsey.
Mr. White has since twice married, his first wife being Miss Mary Ann Vaughey, and she and the three children born to them all died within a few months. His second union was with Miss Elizabeth Donovan, by whom he has had four children, Maggie, Mamie and Catharine, all living, and one deceased. Mr. and Mrs. White are communicants of the Roman Catholic church, but Mr. White gives liberally of his means to the support of all churches, and his aid is never withheld from any enterprise which he believes will prove of good to the community. He is a public-spirited, progressive citizen, broad-minded and liberal in his views, and has the confidence and esteem of all who know him. The Democratic party has always found in him a stanch supporter of its principles, and he has been an influential delegate to its various county conventions, and has also been a member of the town committee for years. For five or six years he filled the office of overseer of the poor, and is now president of the board of fire commissioners.
FAGAN, BENJAMIN
Mr. Fagan, who is a well-known attorney of SingSing, is one of the younger members of the Westchester county bar, but his prominence is by no means measured by his years; on the contrary, he has already won a reputation which many an older practitioner might well envy.
Mr. Fagan was born in Brooklyn, New York, April 1, 1874, and is a son of Thomas and Mary (Guilfoil) Fagan, both of whom are natives of the Emerald Isle, and who now reside at SingSing. The father, who is a stonecutter by occupation, is of Irish descent and has made his home in Westchester county for the past thirty years. In the family are six children, namely: Edward, a manufacturer of metallic roofing paint at Lincoln, Nebraska; John, a resident of Westchester county and a member of the engineering corps of New York city; Frank, a stonecutter of SingSing; Catharine E., at home; Joseph, also a stonecutter of SingSing; and Benjamin.
The subject of this sketch first attended public schools and later a preparatory school, after which he entered Cornell University in 1892, taking a complete course in law. There the degree of LL.B. was conferred upon him June 21, 1894, and the degree of LL. M. June 20, 1895. In the latter year he opened an office in SingSing, and has since successfully engaged in practice, making a specialty of corporation and real-estate law. He is thoroughly in love with his profession and is eminently gifted with the capabilities of mind which are indispensable at the bar. As a Democrat he takes quite an active and prominent part in political affairs and is an efficient campaign worker in this state. Religiously, he is a member of the Catholic church of SingSing.
HUNT, JAMES F.
The well-known and popular young postmaster of Croton, New York, has spent his entire life at that place, his birth occurring there January 31, 1869. His father, John Hunt, was a native of Kings county, Ireland, and was twice married, having by his first wife one child. In New York city, he wedded Miss Ellen McGuire, the mother of our subject, and in 1866 they removed to Westchester county, where he worked as a laborer until life's labors were over and he was called to his final rest, in 1882. In religious faith he was a Roman Catholic.
The schools of Croton afforded James F. Hunt his educational advantages, and when his school days were over he engaged in various forms of labor. At the age of thirteen years he commenced working at brick-making and while thus employed attended school during the winter months. He made excellent use of his opportunities and passed the required examination at North Tarrytown for the normal course. He early learned that knowledge is the key with which the poor boy anywhere can open the storehouse of the world and cull its choicest fruits, and he has therefore fitted himself to occupy any position in life which may fall to his lot.