History of Westchester County, New York, Volume 3. Группа авторов
knowledge that he has sufficient means to enable him to spend his last days in comfort and plenty.
In 1881 Mr. Leviness was united in marriage to Miss Alletta Olsen, who died in 1892. He is a Republican in his political views, and has always taken an active interest in state and county politics, but has not been an aspirant for office. He is a firm believer in the gold standard and expressed, his opinion by casting his vote William McKinley in 1896. He is an honored member of the Reformed church of Greenburg, and although in his eighty-second year is a remarkably bright gentleman who has retained the possession of all his faculties.
WILSON, WILLIAM M.
There is no denying the fact that austere virtue leads to the greatest degree of happiness, and that in the case of the Wilson family it has also led. to those great concomitants of happiness, — longevity, business ability and success generally.
Mr. Wilson, who has now for the past fourteen or fifteen years been Et retired resident of Mount Vernon, enjoying in the evening of life the happy results of a life well spent, was born March 16, 1820, in Colchester county, Nova Scotia, where his grandfather, William Wilson, was one of the first settlers, after England had gained possession of the dominion from the French. He was a farmer from Londonderry, Ireland, of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and his adherence to Presbyterianism was of the most zealous type, although in his manner he was quiet and unassuming. He married Esther Reid and had seven sons and three daughters, — Samuel, William, John, Henry, Frank, Robert, James, Hannah, Mary and Esther, — all of whom lived to be nearly a hundred years old, their ages aggregating eight hundred and seventy-six years! Their mother died at the age of one hundred years.
The father of William M. was James Wilson, who was born in Nova Scotia, was a farmer, owning a considerable amount of land, married Elizabeth Staples' and had thirteen children. All the sons engaged in agricultural pursuits for their life's calling. He departed this life in the year 1888, at the age of ninety-five years, in Nova Scotia. His children were: John, born July 5, 1816; Rachel, June 25, 1818; William M., March 16, 1820 (our subject); Robert, November 20, 1822; Easter, February 3, 1824; Jane S., October 6, 1825; Matthew, September 17, 1827; Mary C, June 5, 1830; Jervis, August 21, 1832; David, April 24, 1835; James, May 11, 1837; Sidney, October 13, 1839; and Junius R., January 18, 1840. The youngest died at the age of eleven years, but all the rest grew up to years of maturity. Their mother died at the age of seventy-four years.
Mr. William M. Wilson, the subject proper of this record, received his education in a private school, but being the eldest of the sons his work was of such a nature that he could not attend regularly. He remained an inmate of the parental home until he was twenty-one and a half years of age, when he left for the great metropolis, New York, with only sixty cents in money! There, among strangers, he was to seek his fortune and make his own way in the world. Learning the trade of carpenter, in which he soon became highly skilled, he followed that vocation for several years, when he began taking contracts for building and also engaged in speculating, buying lots and improving and selling them. Both in his contract work and his improvement of lots for sale he was signally successful, maintaining meanwhile the highest degree of credit and honor.
In 1884 he moved to Mount Vernon, which beautiful city has since been his place of residence, and here he has built a number of residences, including his own, he being his own architect. He has led a very active and busy life, but for the last fifteen years he has practically retired from the heavy duties and responsibilities of business. As a diversion he keeps a "spanking" team of trotters, his tastes leading him rather to out-door recreation.
In his views of national policies he is a Republican; and in his religious convictions he has been a decided and zealous member of the Baptist church ever since he was nine years of age, showing religious inclination even as early as the age of six. His piety is deep, his religious principles definite, positive and strong, and his church relations have ever been the most pleasant. He was a trustee of the Baptist church on Forty-second street, in New York city, and is now a trustee and deacon of the Mount Vernon Baptist church.
June 18, 1848, he was united in matrimony with Miss Sarah Maria Roff, and they have had five children, namely: Jane E., who died in childhood; Eunice, deceased; William F., who was a carpenter and builder, but at present is an inventor, residing in Mount Vernon; Ulysses S. Grant, a builder in Tuckahoe, this county, where he resides; and Schuyler Colfax, who died at the age of twenty-six years.
As a miscellaneous item we may mention that Mr. Wilson is related by blood to the Harper and the Cutten families, of Massachusetts, and the celebrated publishers of New York city, the Harper Brothers.
FEARON, THOMAS
In connection with the boat-building industry the name of Thomas Fearon is known throughout the country, and in rowing circles it is no less familiar, for his ability as an oarsman has gained him national fame. Almost his entire life has been passed in southeastern New York, where by his own unaided efforts he has risen from a humble position to one of prominence in the business world, his successful career standing as an exemplification of the possibilities that are open to young men of ambition, courage, enterprise and energy in this fair land.
Born in New York city. May 15, 1842, he is a son of Daniel and Mary (Strang) Fearon. His father was a native of Ireland, and on coming to America located in New York city, where he spent his remaining days. The mother died during the early boyhood of her son, who was then reared by strangers. He made his home with farmers in Westchester county, and secured his education in the district schools, pursuing his studies through the winter months, while in the summer he assisted in the cultivation of the fields. He was also for a time in school No. 2 at Yonkers, and in the little yellow school-house at Tuckahoe. In the spring of 1857 his employer, Mr. Westfield, removed to Chicago, Illinois, where he secured a farm, upon which Mr. Fearon worked until Mr. Westfield returned to the east. Our subject then secured a position as ship carpenter and followed that trade until the election of President Lincoln, when he was promoted to the position of draftsman in the navy yard at Brooklyn, where he remained until 1864.
In that year Mr. Fearon came to Yonkers and purchased the boat-building business of John Ackerman, whose establishment was located on the present site of the rubber factory. There he carried on operations until 1867, when he established his present plant at the foot of Gold street. He has conducted a successful business since that time and his reputation as a boatbuilder has extended throughout the entire country. He has been particularly famous for his racing shell-boats, which are regarded as the best produced in America. These are of the finest workmanship, and in their construction the most care and exactness is required, so that they shall be absolutely perfect. He builds the boats in use by various colleges, and since the decline of rowing as a sport he has made a specialty of steam launches and other small craft. He has a large factory, one hundred and fifty by thirty-three feet, supplied with all modern machinery and appliances necessary for the production of the finest boats known to the trade. In his business Mr. Fearon has met with most gratifying success, his sales having reached extensive proportions, as his products have found favor with the public owing to their excellence and superiority over many others that are produced. He has invested considerable capital in real estate, and now has some valuable realty holdings in Yonkers. His sound judgment in business matters, his thorough understanding of the industry, his reliability and resolution in carrying out his carefully formed plans, all insure him success, and at the same time have won him the confidence and respect of all with whom he has had dealings.
Mr. Fearon 's skill as an oarsman has also gained him a national reputation, and he is particularly well known as the amateur champion single sculler of America. He was prominent in the organization of the Vesper Rowing Association of Yonkers, which was formed August 12, 1867, other charter members being Thomas Franklin, R. C. Elliott, Benjamin Mason, William McFarlane, James T. Howland, William Hull and George Watt. They erected a club house at a cost of five thousand dollars, and the club became very prominent by reason of the victories won by its noted crew, composed of Thomas Fearon, bow; Owen Van Winkle, No. 2; William McFarlane, No. 3; and John H. Keeler, stroke. This crew participated in many contests with crews of the Hudson River Amateur Rowing Association, composed of clubs on the Hudson between New York and