Mr. Halsted, whose name introduces this review, was born in Rye township, November 22, 1836, and his boyhood days were spent under the parental roof. He had charge of the home farm from the time he was seventeen years of age until 1862, when he engaged in the produce and commission business, in New York city, carrying on operations along that line for three years. During the following four or five years he was engaged in newspaper work there, as associate editor of a stock paper, and on one of the prominent evening dailies, reporting political meetings and the actions of other large conventions and assemblages as his special department of the work. He next engaged in the manufacture of specialties in sheet-metal goods, and was the first in America to invent and make a self-regulating incubator. On account of ill health he retired from business in 1895, and is now enjoying a well-earned rest, free from the cares and responsibilities of business life.
Mr. Halsted married Miss Amanda M. Hayward, a daughter of Colonel John R. Hayward, a prominent citizen of East Chester, New York, whose farm comprised a greater part of the present city of Mount Vernon, and who died at the age of sixty-seven years. The children born to this worthy couple are as follows: Rev. Newberry O., an Episcopal minister, who is now superintendent of St. Johnland, Dr. Muhlenberg's home for aged men and orphan children, at Kings Park, Long Island; Carrie L. , wife of G. Arthur Tuthill, of Brooklyn, New York; James D., a contractor and builder, in Rye; J. Henry, who is engaged in advertising specialties and patent business in New York city; Jennie A., wife of William H. Porter, of the firm of William Porter & Sons, New York; Florence, a talented artist in miniature and figure work; A. Elizabeth, at home; and Robert A., who is attending the Irving Institute, at Tarrytown. The family is identified with the Episcopal church, and in politics Mr. Halsted affiliates with the Democratic party. For eighteen years he has been a member of the board of education, serving as its president for fifteen years, but he has never cared for political honors, always refusing to become a candidate for office. In manner he is pleasant, genial and approachable, and all who know him esteem him highly for his genuine worth.
DU BOIS, WILLIAM MAISON
Mr. du Bois was born in the town of Ossining, Westchester county, New York, and moved in 1871 to the town of White Plains, in the same county, to the residence on Hamilton avenue where he has lived since that time.
He was admitted to the bar of New York state as attorney and counselor at law in 1879, after having graduated at the Columbia Law School with the degree of LL. B. . and has followed the practice of the law, his office being located in White Plains. He was also admitted to the United States district court in 1879.
He is descended from many families whose names are to be found among the earliest records of this country, some of his ancestors being of Huguenot origin, to-wit: duBois, Le Fevre, Hasbrouck, Deyo (four of the patentees of New Paltz, New York), Bianshan, du Ry, Le Maistre, Le Comte, Parmentier and Cresson; some of them being Holland Dutch, to-wit: van Bomell, van Kleeck, van der Bogart, van Voorhoudt, van Schoonhoven, van der Linden, van Dyck, Viele, Aertsen, ter Bos, Segers, Schouw, Frederickse, Ten Broeck, Ten Eyck, Jorisen, Schermerhorn and Meyer; some of them English, to-wit: Skinner, Manning, Way, Marshall, Broadhead and Hughson; and some of them of various nationalities: for instance, Zabriskie (Poland), Goetschius (Swiss), Vermilye (Italian), Hazard (Welsh).
Mr. du Bois is a Freemason and a member and officer of White Plains Lodge, No. 473, F. &. A. M., of the state of New York, and also a member of the following (and other) societies, viz. : Society of Colonial Wars, Sons of the Revolution, Military Order of the Loyal Legion, Saint Nicholas Society of New York, Huguenot Society of America, Washington Continental Guard, New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, New York Historical Society, Westchester County Historical Society and the Westchester County Bar Association.
He married, at White Plains, New York, first, Grace Bartram, who died May 29, 1885, eldest daughter of Colonel Nelson B. Bartram; and secondly, Mabel Bartram, the second daughter of Colonel Bartram. Colonel Bartram, who died December 25, 1886, was of New England descent and commanded during the war of the Rebellion the regiment raised by the Union League Club of New York city.
Mr. and Mrs. du Bois have one child, a daughter named Mabel.
NEUMAN, A. WATSON
A. Watson Neuman, of Nepera. Westchester county. New York, is one of the representative and well-known men of this county. He was born here February 24, 1848, and belongs to a family long resident in America. His father, Alvah Neuman, was born in 1813, son of John Neuman and grandson of Joseph Neuman, a soldier in the Revolutionary war. John Neuman married Hannah Benedict, daughter of Colonel Benedict, an officer in the Revolutionary war. The subject of this sketch has the musket that was used by his great-grandfather, Joseph Neuman, in the Revolutionary war. It has the mark made by a saber cut in the hands of a British officer. While in charge he warded off the blow with his gun and used the bayonet. John Neuman had ten children: Joseph (1), Sarah, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Holly, Alvah, Deborah, Joseph (2), Mary Jane and Patience. Alvah Neuman, the father of our subject, married Nancy See, daughter of James Peter See and granddaughter of Peter See, a Revolutionary soldier. Thus it is seen that A. Watson Neuman can in more ways than one trace his direct descent from Revolutionary stock. Alvah Neuman and wife were the parents of nine children, three of whom died in infancy. Those who reached adult years are as follows: James A.; John Milton, of New York; William A., also of New York; A. Watson, whose name introduces this sketch; Abbie Amelia, wife of Bailey Kipp; and Loring, who died at the age of twenty-five years. The mother died in 1883, at the age of sixty-seven years, and the father died in 1891, at the age of seventy-eight. Sometime before his death he was thrown from a wagon and had a limb broken, and from the effects of this injury he never recovered. He was a prosperous farmer, religiously a member of the Reformed church, being an elder of the same, and politically a Democrat. April 3, 1809. by Daniel D. Tompkins, governor of New York, he was appointed an officer in the military regiment of Westchester county.
A. Watson Neuman was reared on the old farmstead, and in 1879 he married Miss Anna May Graham, daughter of Newman Graham, and, like her husband, having Revolutionary blood in her veins. Her grandfather, Dr. Isaac Graham, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war and was a descendant of the Scotch duke of Montrose. Newman Graham married Anne Onderdonk, a daughter of Abraham Onderdonk, a native of New York. Three children came to bless their union, — Ike Gilbert, of Tarrytown; William Warren, of SingSing; and Anna May. Mr. and Mrs. Neuman have four children, — Anna Kate, Albert Milton, Howard Graham and Laurinda.
Both Mr. Newman and his wife were reared in the faith of the Reformed church and they, like their parents, are consistent members of the same, he being an elder in the church. Politically, he is a Democrat, and has served several terms as township collector.
ODELL, GEORGE F.
Since 1893 George F. Odell has been a resident of the town of Congers, New York, while his place of business is in Yonkers. In both of these thriving little cities he is very well known and occupies a prominent place as a citizen. As an active member of the Citizens' Land Improvement Association of Congers he has forwarded the interests of the town, and is recognized as one who is thoroughly patriotic, striving ever that the communities with which his life is connected may be sent onward on the road to progress. He was one of the leaders in the movement to organize the association above mentioned at Congers, and has been the chairman of the same for three years. Not waiting for others, he has initiated and brought about numerous works of improvement there, and has ably seconded many enterprises which have materially benefited the place.
For years an able and efficient worker in the Republican party, he founded a club in Congers. At first it comprised but ten members, but the zeal and energy of Mr. Odell on behalf of the party and the constantly growing population of the town have wonderfully aided the club, which now, at the end of two years' existence, boasts
