LEON E., M. D.
Leon E. Peeler, M. D., a prominent young physician and surgeon of Harrison, Westchester county, was born January 7, 1871, in Sodus Center, Wayne county. New York, and is a representative of a well-known family of that part of the state. His parents being George U. and Augusta (Ireland) Peeler, he is a descendant on the maternal side of Martha Biddle and Lorenzo Ireland, his great-grandparents, Martha Biddle having been a sister of the well-known Nicholas Biddle, who was president of the United States Bank at Philadelphia until it was dissolved, during President Jackson's administration.
The Doctor received his preliminary education at the high school at Sodus, New York, and commenced the study of medicine in 1889, under the direction of Dr. H. F. Seaman, one of the oldest practicing physicians of Wayne county. In the autumn of 1892 he entered the medical department of the University of the City of New York, where he was graduated in the class of 1895 with honor, winning by competitive examination after graduation a position as interne to Bellevue Hospital. In July of the same year he located at Harrison, where he soon succeeded in establishing a good practice, which he still enjoys.
In September, 1896, Dr. Peeler married Miss Katherine Seaman, a daughter of Benjamin B. Seaman and a niece of our subject's former preceptor. As a family they are actively identified with the interests of Harrison, and are regarded as prominent residents by the members of that growing town.
ABBOTT, CHARLES H.
For a score of years this sterling old citizen of Westchester county has held the office of justice of the peace in Pound Ridge township. He comes from one of the pioneer families of this locality, and was born on the old homestead, which he now owns and carries on. On the paternal side he is of English descent, as his name implies, and his ancestors were numbered among the early settlers of Connecticut. His grandfather, Ebenezer Abbott, was a native of the town of Wilton, Connecticut, and both he and his wife, whose girlhood name was Molly Adams, lived for some years in Lewisboro township, this county, and there passed to their last reward. Their son, Moses A., the father of the subject of this review, was born in Wilton, Connecticut, in 1795, and died, when in his ninety-seventh year, in 1891. His boyhood and youth were spent in this county, and for many years, when he was in his prime, he was one of the most influential citizens of his home neighborhood. He chose for his wife: Miss Phoebe Lynes, a native of Lewisboro township, a daughter of Holly Lynes, who was of French extraction. She died at the age of seventy-four years, a faithful member of the Methodist church, to which her husband also belonged. He was a Whig and Republican in his political views, and enjoyed the high regard of all who knew him.
Charles H. Abbott, whose birth occurred June 3, 1839, is one of nine children, five of whom are deceased, namely: William, Elizabeth, Ebenezer, Ebenezer (the second) and Betsey J. Those of the family who survive are Cordelia, widow of Thomas L. Downs, of Montour, Tama county, Iowa; Emily, wife of Aaron Schofield, of Pound Ridge township; Julia, wife of Enoch Ambler, of Garwin, Tama county, Iowa; and Charles H.
In his youth Charles H. Abbott received an excellent education in the common schools of this county, and by special study and " burning of the midnight oil " prepared himself for the work of teaching. Having successfully passed the required examinations he was granted a teacher's certificate and for the following decade gave his attention to educational work. Since the expiration of that period he has devoted himself exclusively to agriculture and has cultivated the old homestead of seventy acres. The place is well improved with substantial buildings, a good orchard and fences, and is one of the best in the township. The year 1864 Mr. Abbott spent in Tama county, Iowa, where he had some idea of permanently locating, but he changed his plans and ultimately returned to the place made dear to him by the associations of childhood. In 1893 he went on an extended visit to Tama county, and, though for some reasons he believes it might have been better for him to have remained in the west after the close of the civil war, he does not regret his decision to live and die in the home of his father.
In 1883 Mr. Abbott married Miss Louisa Newman, a daughter of David Newman, of Brooklyn, New York. Both Mr. and Mrs. Abbott are active members of the Methodist Episcopal church and take an intelligent interest in all movements calculated to accrue to the lasting benefit of their fellow-citizens. They give their earnest support to various benevolent and religious enterprises, and are always to be safely relied upon to use their influence and means in the upholding of righteous law and good government. In his political affiliations Mr. Abbott is a Republican.
BROWN, FRANCIS D.
This honored and highly esteemed citizen of North Salem township, Westchester county, was born July 12, 1822, on the farm where he still continues to reside. His great-grandfather, Samuel Brown, was born in 1734, in Stamford, England, and later emigrated to America, locating in Stamford, Connecticut. In 1772 he came to Delancy township, now known as North, Salem, in Westchester county. New York, where his death occurred, in 1815. His wife Susan, who was born March 28, 1737, lived to the extreme old age of one hundred and three years. Their children were Rebecca, Mrs. Abby Palmer, Susanna, Nathan, Prudence, Samuel W. , Mrs. McGillavry and Mrs. Lamb.
Nathan Brown, the grandfather of Francis D., was born in Connecticut February 20, 1767, and in early manhood married Miss Lobdell, by whom he had four children, — Mary, Thomas (father of our subject), Abby and Ann. For his second wife he married a Miss Allen, and they had one child, whom they named Susan. Nathan Brown and both his wives died in this county.
Thomas Brown, our subject's father, was born and reared on the old homestead where his son is now living, and throughout life engaged in agricultural pursuits there. He was one of the leading and prominent citizens of his community, was a soldier in the war of 1812, an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and died June 24, 1857, at the age of sixty-three years. In early life he married Miss Sally Williams, of Bedford, a daughter of James and Polly Williams, who were related to the Lounsberrys of this county. Mrs. Brown departed this life November 4, 1891, at the age of ninety-eight years. She was a devout Christian, kind and charitable at all times; and it is safe to say that she did more work in the Methodist Episcopal church than any other woman of the congregation to which she belonged. In her family were one son (our subject) and four daughters, all residents of North Salem township, the daughters being: Susan, the wife of Clark Lobdell; Mary, widow of Hiram Reynolds; Chloe, the widow of Charles Bloomer; and Clarissa, the wife of Martin Todd.
On the home farm Mr. Brown early became familiar with every department of farm work, and he is recognized as one of the most thorough and skillful agriculturists of his community. His literary education was obtained in the public schools and the old Salem Academy. At the age of twenty-seven he married Miss Almira P. Frost, of the same town, a daughter of Stedwell and Eliza (Fowler) Frost, both of whom died in that township. Mrs. Brown departed this life in 1865, leaving two children: Elbert D., and Mary E. , now the wife of James Colwell, of New York city, by whom she had one son, — Francis, deceased, and a daughter, Mary F. Elbert D. grew to manhood upon the home farm and February 20, 1878, married Miss Frances I. Stevens, of Delaware county. New York, a daughter of James W. and Catherine (Christie) Stevens. They have had four children, two of whom, Almira C. and Francis D., Jr., are living. Our subject was again married in 1868, his second union being with Miss Jane E. Landrine, of Tarrytown, this county. She died November 25, 1892, leaving no children.
In his political predilections Mr. Brown has always been a Democrat, and for the long period of twenty-four years he most efficiently served his fellow citizens in the capacity of road commissioner. He has always taken a most active part in church and Sunday-school work, as a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, being for half a century superintendent of the Sunday-school, and he is therefore well known throughout the country in this part of New York state for his efficiency in that line. Although seventy-six years of age he is still well preserved, for nature deals kindly with the man who abuses not her laws, and he has an extensive circle
