History of Westchester County, New York, Volume 3. Группа авторов
Four children have been born of this union: Hamilton Woolley, George Munson, John Van Tuyl and Frederick Melville.
Mr. Bonnett is a member of the Dutch Reformed congregation of Hastings, and contributes most liberally to its support. He has been closely identified with the growth and prosperity of the village during these past twenty years, and few projects are put forward looking toward the improvement of the village, without securing his advice. He is at present a member of the village board of health, and is treasurer of the board of education, having served in both capacities for several consecutive terms. He is ever ready to give moral and financial support to every movement which is calculated to advance the interests of the place and its people. Mr. Bennett's exemplary character, his business ability, unpretentious manner and genial disposition have made him a great power in molding the life of the community, and have won for him a host of friends, all of whom regard him with the deepest respect and affection.
ACKERMAN, AMOS
Mr. Ackerman, who is one of the prominent and influential citizens of Mount Pleasant township, was born near the place where he now lives, November 18, 1823, and throughout life has been identified with the agricultural interests of that section. He now owns and occupies what years ago was known as the old homestead of Major William Van Tassell, an officer of the war of 1812 and later a prominent Democratic politician, who knew by sight every voter in the county. He was a gentleman of the old school and a soldier of fortune.
James Ackerman, our subject's father, was of Holland descent, and was born in this state, being a son of David and ––– (Tillison) Ackerman, both of whom died in the neighborhood of our subject's home. Here James grew to manhood and learned the weaver's trade, at which he did a good business for many years, but later in life devoted his attention to farming. He married Catherine Van Tassell, daughter of Abraham Van Tassell, one of the seven men who captured Major Andre. He was a large, muscular man of great strength and endurance, and was Washington Irving's hero, Brom Bones, in the Legends of Sleepy Hollow. He married Elizabeth Yerks, the daughter of a large land-owner in Westchester county. In the family of James and Catherine Ackerman were eight children, namely: Hiram;. Berlin; Mrs. Eliza Requaw; Leonard; Elliott V.; Amos, our subject; Mrs. Jane Requaw; and Mrs. Mary De Revere. Our subject is the only one now living. The father was a strong Democrat in politics, an admirer of Andrew Jackson, and was a member of the Dutch Reformed church. He died at the age of seventy-four years, and his wife, who was a most estimable woman and a member of the same church, departed this life at the age of eighty-three.
Reared on the home farm, Amos Ackerman pursued his studies in the district schools of the neighborhood, and at the age of seventeen began learning the blacksmith's trade with his brother Berlin, remaining with him for four years, or until the brother's death, in 1844. He then took charge of the shop and engaged in business on his own account at East View and later at Switching's Corner, which half a century ago did an extensive business and was headquarters for politicians, stockmen, drovers and others for miles around.
In October, 1846, Mr. Ackerman was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Bird, who was born, reared and educated in Mount Pleasant township,, a daughter of John and Mary (Secor) Bird, and to whom was born one child, — Mrs. Emma Hunter, of Pleasantville, this county, who has four children, Leonard, Kate, Leman and Amos. Mrs. Ackerman died in 1852, and subsequently our subject was again married, his second union being with Miss Mary Angevine, a native of Mount Pleasant township, and a daughter of Goris and Catherine Angevine. One daughter also blessed this union, Addie, now the wife of Colonel Ellsworth Van Tassell, by whom she has two children: Mary Leta and Ethel. The Colonel was born here in 1862, was reared and educated in this county, and is a son of Sylvester Van Tassell, and grandson of Major William Van Tassell, previously mentioned. After a happy married life of several years, Mrs. Ackerman was called to her final rest May 1, 1890.
She was a loving wife and affectionate mother, and an earnest Christian woman, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, at Pleasantville, to which our subject also belongs. Politically he is identified with the Republican party and is a supporter of all measures calculated to advance the moral, educational or material welfare of his town or county. He is recognized as one of the most useful and valued citizens of his community and is very popular socially.
UNDERHILL, HON. JOHN Q.
If kindness and geniality count for aught in this world, if a life above reproach, both in the discharge of public and private duties, is deserving of commendation, then John Quincy Underbill has certainly merited the high regard which is uniformly accorded him. In business he is the soul of honor and integrity, and from a humble clerkship has worked his way upward until he now has an important official connection with one of the leading insurance companies of the country. As a leader in Democratic circles he has also won prestige and has been honored with high political preferment.
Mr. Underbill was born in New Rochelle, in 1848, and is a representative in the eighth generation of a family that is descended from Captain John Underbill, who fought with Captain Mason against the Indians in New England. He crossed the Atlantic in 1630 and about 1660 made a permanent location on Long Island. His first wife was a sister of Governor Winthrop, of the Massachusetts colony. Members of the Underbill family, descendants of Captain John Underbill, removed from Long Island to Westchester county, New York, establishing here what is now one of the oldest and most honored families of the locality. Peter Underbill served his .country in the war of 1812 and rose to the rank of colonel. John Bonnett Underbill, grandfather of our subject, was a native of Westchester county, where also occurred the birth of George Washington Lafayette Underbill, father of him whose name introduces this review. He married Julia Ann Barker, also a native of Westchester county and a daughter of Isaac Barker. They are still residents of New Rochelle, and for many years the father was actively connected with the business interests of the city. In early life he was a farmer but afterward engaged in merchandising, which he carried on until his retirement from active business life.
In the district schools near his home John Q. Underbill acquired his early education, and later attended the Free Academy, now the College of New York City. In 1869 he entered the employ of the Westchester Fire Insurance Company, in a clerical capacity, and has since retained his connection with that corporation, steadily advancing step by step as he has demonstrated his mastery of the business and his ability to handle successfully its interests. In 1879 he was made secretary of the company, and in 1892 was elected both secretary and vice-president, but in that year resigned the former position in order to assume the duties of treasurer in addition to those of vice-president. Such is his present connection with the company with which he has been associated for thirty years. Largely owing to his able and sagacious management, a most gratifying success has attended this enterprise during his connection therewith, and the assets have increased from two hundred thousand dollars to two million five hundred thousand dollars during that period. Mr. Underbill is a man of keen discrimination and unabating perseverance, and with a judgment rarely in error he formulates his plans and carries them forward to a prosperous conclusion. In connection with others, he aided in the organization of the New Rochelle Bank, in 1887, and has since been a member of its directorate. He is a man of unswerving loyalty to any interest entrusted to his care, and his honesty in business matters is proverbial.
But it is not alone in the business world that Mr. Underbill is well, known. He is regarded as one of the essential factors in the public life of New Rochelle, was three times elected president of the village, and was a member of the town board for a number of years. For ten years he had the general management of the construction of the sewers of the village, and introduced a system which adds much to the healthfulness of New Rochelle, and is unsurpassed in any town of its size in the Empire state. While serving as trustee and having charge of the sewer system, more than a million dollars of public money passed through his hands, every cent of which was faithfully accounted for. He drafted a bill, which was passed by both houses of the legislature, making New Rochelle a city, and though he met the most stubborn opposition on the part of a number of citizens, he persevered in the pursuit of this commendable purpose until his object was accomplished. He is eminently popular, a fact which was shown in 1898, when he was elected on the Democratic ticket to the fifty-sixth congress from the sixteenth congressional district