History of Westchester County, New York, Volume 2. Группа авторов
Peter Paulding, the direct subject of this review, received his education in the private and public schools of his native town and is a graduate of the White Plains high school, a member of the class of 1876. On leaving school he engaged in newspaper work as reporter for several journals, among which were the New York Sun and New York Herald, for fifteen years devoting the whole of his time and attention to this work. In 1889 he was appointed by the Park Board of New York city, superintendent of the Van Cortlandt Park. This position he filled about one year and then returned to newspaper work. February 27, 1893, he was appointed by President Cleveland to the position of postmaster of White Plains, and served till May 1, 1898.
Mr. Paulding is a man of family. He was married December 21, 1889, to Miss Marie L. Fowler, of Flushing, Long Island, daughter of Joseph B. and Frances (Bogart) Fowler, and they are the parents of two children, Gertrude and Hazel.
Mr. Paulding is a member of White Plains Lodge, No. 473, F. & A. M. ; the Andre Monument Association, organized in memory of the capture of Major Andre; and the A. O. U. W. of the United States. He was at one time chairman of the White Plains Democratic Club, of New York, of which he has been a member for a number of years.
VAIL JOHN
About the year 1740 John Vail, who was the first of the name to locate in Westchester county, came from Long Island on horseback and settled in Somers township on a large tract of land embracing several hundred acres. From this tract many farms have since been sold, while a part of it is still retained in the family. He married Hannah McKeel, and lived to the extreme age of one hundred and four years. They were the parents of four sons and several daughters: the sons were Isaac, Moses, John and James.
Isaac made his home in this township during his entire life. He was conceded to be one of the best farmers in the county, and he accumulated considerable property. He dealt in livestock, doing an extensive business, especially in sheep and cattle. He married Elizabeth Carpenter, who was born in Yorktown, this county, a daughter of Jacob Carpenter. They brought up nine children, — Jacob, Isaac, Daniel, Betsey, Hannah, Abraham, James, John and George.
The only surviving member of this family is John, the subject of this sketch. He was born August 23, 1812, and is now in his eighty-eighth years He has been a most active man of business and closely identified with all that has pertained to the building up of the community. He has been one of the progressive farmers, dealing largely in cattle also, and handling them in car lots. His farm comprises one hundred and thirty-five acres in this township, while he owns also a farm of seventy acres in Yorktown township, near Lake Mohansic. He has planted an orchard of forty acres, from which he obtains some of the most delicious fruit, and he manufactures vinegar of the best quality. He is a man of intellect and takes a deep interest in the workings of the Republican party, with which he has lately been identified.
He was married in 1841, to Miss Sarah Cornell, who was born in this county, February 15, 1821, a daughter of Abraham Cornell, and died in her sixty-third year. They were the parents of five children, namely: Hannah, the wife of Nathaniel Flewellyn, of Yorktown: Oliver J., a resident of the same place; William Edgar, who occupies the old farmstead; Elias, a farmer of this township; and Ida, the widow of Hal Palmer, of Yorktown Heights. For years Mr. Vail has been connected with the Methodist Episcopal church and is highly esteemed for his upright conduct as a citizen and a man.
VAIL WILLIAM EDGAR
William Edgar Vail, son of John Vail, sketched in the preceding paragraphs, was born April 4, 1855, and during boyhood was a pupil in the public schools, later attending the state normal school, and Claverack College one term. He has devoted his life to agricultural pursuits, cultivating the old homestead, and he ranks second to no farmer in this section.
He was married November 4, 1885, to Miss Ida Clark, a native of this county and a daughter of Aaron Clark. She was born December 7, 1855, in the town of Bedford, and was married by the Rev. R. L. Shurter. Two bright children bless their home: Bessie B., born in 1887; and Earl C. , born June 30, 1892.
In his political principles Mr. Vail is a Republican, while the family are attendants of the Methodist Episcopal church.
VAIL, ELIAS
A son of John Vail, the venerable pioneer mentioned in preceding paragraphs, Elias Vail is considered one of Westchester county's typical men, representing a class of younger citizens whose energy, push and shrewd business acumen are rapidly bringing the county up, in thrift and prosperity, to rank among the first in the state. He is a son of John and Sarah (Cornell) Vail, and was born in Somers township, this county, September 23, 1856. His education was obtained in the public schools, and his life has been practically one continuous effort to better the conditions usually surrounding farm life, — to add to the profits, and at the same time to add to its comforts, and do away with much of its routine discomfort. His first venture for himself was for one year on the home farm, after which he went to Yorktown and farmed three years, when he bought his present property. This consists of one hundred and eighty acres, and it has been so improved under his care that it is now one of the finest farms in this section. In 1894 he erected a handsome residence, equipped with all modern improvements and conveniences. His barns, wagon-house and all the outbuildings are models of neatness and convenience, while the entire farm is kept in the most perfect condition, and under a high state of cultivation. This was formerly known as the Josiah Travis farm, and the improvements made by its present owner are, indeed, noticeable. He has been quick to adopt new ideas and machinery when he saw they would improve his former methods of work, and the facility and ease with which his work is done bear evidence to the success of his experiments. Although he is principally engaged in general farming, yet he handles large quantities of livestock, making this one of his special lines of business. He is a strong Democrat, and renders much valuable aid to the party in this community.
Mr. Vail was married, on Thanksgiving day, 1876, to Miss Ardilla Fowler, who was born in New York city, May 31, 1855. Her parents were James and Malvina (Stephens) Fowler, both of whom died in this county. Her father died in the year 1859, when about twenty-six years old. He was employed in the custom-house for some time, and afterward operated a hotel at Katonah, this county. After his death, the mother was again married, to David E. Bassett, of Somers. Mrs. Vail was the eldest of two children. The younger child, Anna W. , is the wife of David Naugle, of New York city. The family is of Dutch descent, and is among the oldest and most respected in the county. The children who have been spared to Mr. and Mrs. Vail are three in number, as follows: Wallace F. , Charles C. and Lisle H. They are attendants of the Friends church, and are upright. Christian people.
ACKER, WILLIAM
The subject of this review has spent his entire life in Westchester county and for many years has been prominently identified with her agricultural interests. His is the honorable record of a conscientious man, — one who by his upright life has won the confidence of all with whom he has come in contact. He is now almost eighty years of age, but has the vigor of a much younger man, and in spirit and interest seems near his prime. Old age is not necessarily a synonym of weakness or inactivity. It needs not suggest as a matter of course helplessness or the want of occupation. There is an old age that is a benediction to all who come in contact with it, that gives out its richest stores of learning and experience, and grows stronger intellectually and spiritually as the years pass. Such is true of the life of Mr. Acker, — an encouragement to his associates and an example well worthy of emulation by the young.
He was born on the old Acker homestead, in the town of Greenburg, Westchester county. May 29, 1819, and is now the only living male representative of his father's family. His parents were Abraham and Mary (Lawrence) Acker and his original ancestors were from Holland, but four or five generations of the family have been born in this country. The father also was born in the town of Greenburg, in 1777, and throughout his active business life followed the occupation of farming. He was a man of strong will power and great force of character, and was a Democrat of the Jeffersonian stamp. He died in 1864 and was buried in the White Plains cemetery. The grandfather, Jacob Acker, was likewise a native of