History of Westchester County, New York, Volume 3. Группа авторов
On both the paternal and maternal sides our subject is descended from most distinguished ancestry. Jasper Pryer, the founder of the family in America, was a Norman Knight and a descendant of Sir Thomas Pryer, guardian of Prince Edward, known as the Black Prince. It was in 1692 that Jasper Pryer came to the New World and located in New York city, where he removed his family. One of his sons later became a resident of Bergen county, New Jersey. Our subject's great-grandfather was Thomas Pryer,, and his grandfather was Captain Thomas Pryer, who made his home in New York city during life and was in the United States Navy for a number of years. Mrs. Pryer, our subject's mother, was in her maidenhood Miss Eliza Matilda Chardovoyne de Crevecoeur, and was the daughter of William St. John Chardovoyne, who was a son of Eli Chardovoyne de Crevceoeur and was America's first minister from France.
Charles Pryer was principally reared upon the farm, and at a private school in New York city he prepared for college, and passed a college course under private tutors. He has since given his attention mainly to the operation of the farm and to his literary work, contributing to different magazines many able articles, which have received most favorable notice. He is also the author of a work entitled Reminiscences of an Old Homestead, Legends of Westchester county. New York; the Booklet for historic New York, entitled National Ground; and a history of American yachting, which appeared in the Sporting Encyclopedia. His works have all been most favorably commented upon by the press and literary critics of the day.
On the 17th of June, 1880, Mr. Pryer was united in marriage with Miss Julia C. Miller, a daughter of A. B. Miller, of New Rochelle, but she died in October, 1884, leaving one son, Harold C. He was again married in 1888, his second union being with Miss Mary E. Harmer, daughter of John H. Harmer, and to them has been born a daughter, Alice de Crevecoeur.
In politics Mr. Pryer is conservative. He is a leader in social circles, taking quite an active and prominent part in a number of societies and clubs. He is a director of the Knickerbocker Press, in which he has filled the office. of secretary; was commodore of the New Rochelle Yacht Club, and of the Corinthian fleet for three terms; is a member of the Century Club, of New York city; the Atlantic Yacht Club; Larchmont Yacht Club; New York Yacht Club; the Wood Club; and the New York Historical Society; and is also a fellow of the American Geographical Society; the American Numismatic and Archaeological Society; and the Botanical Garden and Zoological Society, of New York city. He has a fine private library and one of the most extensive collections of foreign coins in the state. He is a man of marked ability, forceful character and distinctive culture, — one who will leave his impress upon the world, — and the community is certainly fortunate that numbers him among its citizens.
DAVIS, GEORGE T.
The village of New Rochelle, in which Mr. Davis now resides, is also the place of his nativity. He was born December 12, 1843, and traces his ancestry back to an old and prominent family of New England that was founded in America in 1665 by ancestors who came from Wales and located in Derby, Connecticut. His great-grandfather, Colonel John Davis, was born in Oxford, Connecticut, and was colonel of the Connecticut militia. The grandfather, Truman Davis, was born in Oxford, New Haven county, Connecticut, in 1787, and was a carpenter by trade, but in his later life he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. He loyally served his country in the war of 1812, and died in his eighty-second year. His wife was Mary Allen, of Woodbury, New Haven county.
Captain Clark Davis, the father of our subject, was born in the town of Naugatuck, New Haven county, Connecticut, in 1815. Having attained his majority he wedded Mary Ann Toffey, a native of the town of New Rochelle, Westchester county. She died in 1880, leaving four children: George T. ; Mary Esther, wife of Homer Riggs, of New Rochelle; Anna Eliza, wife of Albert Cornell; and Francis H., superintendent of the New Rochelle Water Company. Captain Davis was for a time engaged in shipping interests, owning and running a sloop between New Rochelle and New York city, but the major part of his life was spent on his farm. He was one of the progressive men of the county, and was importuned to accept office, but always refused except in a few cases of local preferment. He died in October, 1898.
The boyhood days of George T. Davis were passed in his native town and there he acquired his literary education. He entered upon his life career as a farmer. In 1862 he enlisted in the Twenty-second New York Militia, Colonel Monroe commanding, and was sent to Baltimore, Maryland, later to Harper's Ferry. In 1863 he took part in the Gettysburg campaign, being in action at Hampton or Sporting Hill and Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
After receiving an honorable discharge Mr. Davis returned to the farm. In 1864 he entered an undertaking establishment and became thoroughly acquainted with the business in its various departments. He assisted his father in an undertaking business until 1871, when he opened his present establishment, and has since worked up a very large trade, having a splendidly equipped establishment, fine horses and excellent teams. His store is located on Huguenot street, and his reliability and honorable dealing have secured to him a good patronage.
In 1869 Mr. Davis was united in marriage to Miss Henrietta Palmer, of New Rochelle, daughter of John Palmer, and they are now parents of three children, — two sons and a daughter: George M., who is associated with his father in business; and Harry F. and Edith M., at home. The family occupies a leading position in social circles and the members of the household enjoy the hospitality of the best homes of New Rochelle, where intelligence and true worth are taken as the passports into good society.
In his political views Mr. Davis is an earnest Republican and always keeps well informed on the issues of the day. His fellow townsmen, appreciating his worth and ability, have called him to public office and he has served as trustee of the village one term and village clerk for five years. He is a member of Huguenot Lodge, F. & A. M., and Flandreau Post, No. 509, G. A. R., Old Guard of New York city. In 1898 he made strenuous efforts to enlist in the military service of this country against Spain, but his advanced age prevented his acceptance as a private, and radical changes in military tactics since the civil war prevented his taking a command. He started to raise a company, but the government refused to accept raw recruits. He always takes an active interest in all things pertaining to military affairs. He is treasurer of the New Rochelle Building & Loan Association and is a man of pronounced business ability who carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes. For twenty-seven years he has been connected with the fire department of New Rochelle, and probably has done more than any other one man in perfecting the fire-alarm system. He was for a time foreman of the Hook & Ladder Company and of the Huguenot Engine Company, and for one year was chief engineer of the department. He is a public-spirited and progressive citizen who gives a loyal support to all measures for the public good. His life is one commanding the highest regard, for his fidelity to duty and honesty in business and his faithfulness to his friends have .won him unqualified confidence and good will.
FOLEY, M.
The proprietor of the Pocantico Hills Hotel, of Pocantico Hills, New York, is a prominent hotel man of Westchester county, having been in business at his present place since 1891. The house is a well arranged hotel containing sixteen rooms, and is situated in the midst of a beautiful lawn covered with shade and ornamental trees and shrubs and flowers, making a very picturesque scene. It stands opposite the depot, has a good bar, and has become headquarters for politicians, commercial travelers, tourists and others stopping at Pocantico Hills on business or pleasure bent. The landlord, Mr. Foley, is a man in the prime of life, of pleasing personality, frank, genial and accommodating in manner, is well informed on subjects of general interest, and the guest or traveler that tarries at his fireside is loath to leave the place. He has had many years' experience in the hotel business, and it is therefore not surprising that he is so successfully conducting his present house.
Like many of the hotel men of New York, Mr. Foley is a native of the Emerald Isle, born in 1848, of worthy parents, and there he was reared and educated until fifteen years of age, when he came to America, stopping first in New York city. From there he came to Tarrytown, Westchester county, and later was engaged in the hotel business in Yonkers, this state, and in 1891 came to Pocantico Hills. He was married at Yonkers to Miss Honora McCarthy, who has been a true helpmeet to him, and nine children bless their union: Hannah, Katty, Joseph, Mary, Jennie,