History of Westchester County, New York, Volume 2. Группа авторов
where he spent his entire life, dying in December, 1835. He was twice married, his first wife being a Miss Bookout, his second Miss Maria Demarest. Our subject's great-grandfather was William Acker, and his grandfather, Jacob Acker, took an active part in the Revolutionary war, valiantly aiding the colonies in their struggle for independence. Our subject's mother was. born in Poughkeepsie, New York, in 1780, and was a daughter of John and Sarah Lawrence, whose ancestors were originally from England. Six children were born to Abraham and Mary (Lawrence) Acker, three sons and three daughters, all of whom lived to maturity, were married and reared families of their own, but only two are now living. Their names and dates of birth are as follows: Simon, 1802; Catherine, 1803; Jacob, 1806; Julia, 1810; William, 1819; and Harriet, 1824. Besides our subject, Harriet is the only survivor; she is the wife of Elgin Tompkins and resides in Greensburg.
During his boyhood and youth William Acker remained under the parental roof and became thoroughly familiar with every department of farm work. He attended the common schools of the town of Greenburg, his only teacher being George H. Zinks, who was a rigid disciplinarian and a noted instructor. In this school Mr. Acker completed his education, and then worked for his father on the home farm until he attained his majority. On starting out in life for himself he operated rented land in the town of Greenburg for several years. In the meantime he was married, in 1841, to Miss Rebecca Tompkins, the only daughter of Elijah and Esther (Lawrence) Tompkins, and after his marriage located upon his father-in-law's farm, comprising one hundred and twelve acres. They came into possession of the place upon the death of Mr. and Mrs. Tompkins, and Mr. Acker has since successfully conducted it and has also extended its boundaries by adding more land. The old home being destroyed by fire, he erected a new and more commodious residence, has also built good barns and outbuildings, and made many other improvements which add' greatly to the value and attractive appearance of the place.
Mr. and Mrs. Acker have a family of four children: Gardner T. ; Elijah; Esther, wife of Warner Le Fergy, who resides in the town of Greenburg; and Anna, at home. The parents are both sincere and faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which Mr. Acker has been, one of the trustees for many years. He is a stockholder and director in the Dobbs Ferry Bank, and as a public-spirited and progressive citizen he takes a lively interest in all matters calculated to prove of public good. In politics be is a stanch Democrat, and served for some time as commissioner of highways and' as school trustee. He has been a strictly temperate man, never using liquors and only occasionally smoking, and he has the esteem of his friends and neighbors and the confidence of all who know him.
PARK, THOMAS LYON
Mr. Park is one of the most prosperous farmers and fruit-growers of Harrison township, Westchester county, as well as one, of its most highly esteemed and honored citizens. He was born March 6, 1821, on the farm which he still occupies, and is a worthy representative of one of the prominent old families of the county. His great-grandfather, Thomas Park, was born here, of English parentage, and settled among the Indians. As he was kind to their children the red men never forgot it and remained friendly neighbors as long as he remained among them.
Joseph Park, our subject's grandfather was born in Rye, October 10,1750, was married March 29, 1778, to Miss Elizabeth Lyon, a native of Bedford, this county, born November 6, 1756, and a representative of an old and prominent family. Their house was burned by the British soldiers in 1776. To Joseph Park and wife were born four children; Israel, born October 10, 1778; Mrs. Charlotte Horton; Mrs. Mary Sniffen; and Abbie, who died when about eighty years of age. The parents of these children were Episcopalians in religious faith.
Israel Park, the father of our subject, was born near the old Rye bridge in Rye township, and was a lad of twelve years when the family removed to the farm in Harrison township now owned and occupied by our subject. He assisted in the arduous task of clearing the land and placing it under cultivation, and throughout life devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits. March 29, 1802, he married Miss Deborah Kile, who was born in Harrison township, December 10, 1779, a daughter of Christopher and Mary (Tucker) Kile, the former born October 15, 1747, the latter July 2, 1744. Israel and Deborah Park became the parents of nine children, three sons and six daughters, as follows: Elizabeth, Charlotte, Phoebe, Mary, Joseph, Arna, Timothy, Sophia and Thomas Lyon. All are now deceased with the exception of Thomas. Joseph died January 9, 1899.
Amid rural scenes Thomas L. Park passed his boyhood and youth in much the same manner as most farmer boys of his day, early acquiring an excellent knowledge of agricultural pursuits, and attending the local schools when his services were not needed at home. He now owns the old homestead, comprising one hundred and fifty acres of valuable land, under excellent cultivation; and has erected thereon a beautiful modern residence, which is liberally supplied with all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. In connection with general farming, Mr. Park has devoted considerable attention to fruit culture and has a fine orchard of twenty-five acres, from which he shipped one thousand barrels of apples to Europe in 1897.
On the 12th of April, 1848, Mr. Park led to the marriage altar Miss Hannah Coles, a native of Mount Pleasant township, and a daughter of Robert and Ann (Tompkins) Coles, who belonged to old and prominent families of this county. Three children were born of this union, one son and two daughters, but Anna, who was born October 21, 1862, died October 6, 1865. The son, Frank L. Park, married Elizabeth Fowler, of Mount Pleasant, a daughter of Moses Fowler, of that place, and they have two sons: Burton Fowler and Harold Halsted. The daughter, Caroline Park, born on the 26th of May, 1849, is now the wife of Peter B. Vermilya, of New York city, and has six children: Arthur P., who married Grace Hill and has two sons and a daughter, — Howard Park, Wallace Hill and Estelle; Herbert M., Frank B., Percy S., Helen and Norman L. Frank L. Park was born September 29, 1857. For half a century Mr. and Mrs. Park have traveled life's journey together, sharing its joys and sorrows, its adversity and prosperity, and April 12, 1898, they celebrated their golden wedding. They are sincere and faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and they and their children have the respect and esteem of all who know them. Politically father and son are both identified with the Republican party, and give their support to all measures which they believe calculated to prove of public benefit.
MILLER, SAMUEL C.
In tracing the genealogy of this gentleman, we find that he is descended from a long line of sturdy, intelligent and honorable ancestors. More than two centuries have passed since the family was founded in America, and its representatives have been prominently connected with the progress and development of this section of the Empire state through all the period of colonial settlement, of Revolutionary struggle and victory, of the establishment of the republic, and of its latter-day progress and advancement. It was about the year 1680 when John Miller, a native of Germany, crossed the Atlantic to the British possessions in the New World and located in the county of Westchester, New York. An old chronicler says: " He possessed all the land from the north line of the rural cemetery, bounded on the west by Bronx river, northeasterly by the Bronx and the land of William Davis, about two miles in length and a half in breadth. He left four sons and four daughters. The land was divided among the sons, who were James, Abram, Elijah and Anthony." Mr. Miller, of this sketch, is descended from both Elijah and Anthony, Martha, the second daughter of Elijah, becoming the wife of William, eldest son of Anthony Miller, and their oldest son, also named Elijah, was the grandfather of Samuel C. Miller. Elijah, the third son of the Westchester pioneer, was a lieutenant in the Continental army. He married Ann Fisher, and in a memorial which appeared in the Methodist Magazine, in December, 1819, it will be seen that their farm-house in Westchester, after having been used as Washington's headquarters, became one of the earliest places of worship for the Methodists, — next, in fact, to the old John street church in New York city. This article, in speaking of Ann Fisher Miller, said: "She, who had given water to wash the hands of Generals Washington, Putnam, Lewis and others, officers and soldiers, now provided for the disciples of Christ, bearing the despised Methodist name, bread and water. She became a mother in the church and an heir to righteousness. She prepared her home for meetings, and bore the expense for several years, some gradual fruit of the Word appearing among her friends and neighbors. Among others, the hearts of the Hon. Pierre Van Cortlandt and his amiable wife, with some of their children, were turned to favor the cause of Methodism