of New Rochelle, his first opponent being the late James W. Todd; his second, Hon. John Q. Underbill, and third, Charles H. Roosevelt, and his administration of the public affairs was most progressive, business-like and commendable. His fidelity in the discharge of every duty devolving upon him in connection with public office is above question, and his service has ever materially advanced the interests of the community he represents. For ten years he was an active member of the fire department, and within that period was both foreman and assistant foreman of his company.
Mr. Banks' operations in real estate have been extensive and profitable. He owns much valuable property in New Rochelle and elsewhere in Westchester county and has erected many buildings in the city, including the United States post-office building, a three-story brick structure, one hundred and ten feet long, at the corner of Huguenot and Bridge streets. New Rochelle. It is in this building that his law offices are located. In his practice he has steadily risen to an eminent position at the Westchester county bar, and he has a large and lucrative clientage. He has largely mastered the science of jurisprudence, and prides himself on a thorough preparation of every case committed to his care, which enables him to meet fairly any contingency that may arise, and his opponent often finds great difficulty in overthrowing his masterful logic. Mr. Banks is a member of the State Bar Association, the Westchester County Bar Association, the Republican Club, the Board of Trade of New Rochelle, and the Exempt Firemen's Association.
Mr. Banks married Miss Fannie E. Morgan, only daughter of Charles V. and Susan M. (Badeau) Morgan, of the town of East Chester. For the past ten years Mr. and Mrs. Banks have spent the winters in sunny Florida, where he has ample opportunity to indulge his taste for tarpon fishing. He finds another source of recreation in driving, and is a lover of a good horse. He has owned fully a dozen with a record of 2:20 or better, and his stables are never without some valuable specimens of the noble steed. He is also the owner and proprietor of Fashion Stock Farm, which is credited in the horse world with choice specimens of equine stock. His life is practically that of a self-made man. Through his own efforts he has risen to a position of professional prominence and commercial leadership, and at the same time has gained the highest regard of an ever broadening circle of acquaintances and friends. Mr. Banks enjoyed the friendship and confidence of the late Hon. William H. Robertson, General James W. Husted and Judge Silas D. Gifford, all of whom were elected to office upon the Republican ticket with him upon one occasion.
Among the important criminal cases that Mr. Banks was connected with early in practice, and successfully helped to defend, was that of Richard Hanna, indicted and tried for his life, for the murder of Thomas White, a hotel-keeper, at New Rochelle, and also the case of Frederick Eveson (colored), indicted and tried for his life for the murder of a white girl in the outskirts of New Rochelle. Eveson, like Hanna, was acquitted. Another case was that of Levison, the jeweler, indicted for grand larceny, charged with extracting a three-hundred-dollar diamond from a ring belonging to a Miss Emmet, and substituting an imitation in its place. The defence was an ingenious one and the jeweler was acquitted.
Among some of the important civil cases that Mr. Banks has been connected with in the past might be mentioned the action of the receiver of the New Rochelle Savings Bank versus William R. Humphrey, secretary; George J. Penfield, president; Thomas L. Disbrow, treasurer; and George Wilson and others, trustees. This action was brought to recover upward of twenty thousand dollars, embezzled by the secretary, Humphrey. Mr. Banks appeared for trustee Wilson in the case, but really in fact was in the interest of the president, Mr. Penfield, and the treasurer, Mr. Disbrow. Through a clever arrangement of Mr. Wilson's counsel, his client paid a nominal sum for a general release, which also released the joint wrong-doers, Messrs. Penfield and Disbrow. Another important case was that relating to the probate of the will of the late James Morgan. Mr. Banks had drawn the will, which related to real and personal estate of the value of one hundred thousand dollars or more. The probate of the same was contested from the surrogate's court to the court of appeals, but was sustained in every court.
Mr. Banks is and has been executor and trustee of many large estates, among which might be mentioned that of' the late Hon. Albert Badeau and Henry L. Dean; he is also counsel for many large estates and has the handling of large amounts of trust funds and securities. It is estimated that during the past fifteen years more than five millions of dollars have been personally invested by him for his clients, in county bonds and mortgages.
Mr. Banks politically is a Republican, but has many warm Democratic friends and supporters, as is evidenced by the fact that in the dozen times or more that he has been a candidate upon the Republican ticket he has always succeeded in getting a handsome majority in the city and town in which he resides. Mr. Banks is a hard worker, does his own thinking and is noted for his staying qualities.
LAWRENCE, WILLIAM VAN DUZER
The well-known founder of Lawrence Park, Bronxville, New York, is the subject of this sketch. He purchased about one hundred acres of the old Prescott estate, ten years ago, and transformed it into one of the most beautiful and attractive suburban parks near New York city. The grounds are well fitted by nature for the purpose for which they are now used, being considered the highest and most picturesque point of land in all this section of the country. The park is a natural forest of great trees and has been laid out in irregular lots, with roads winding in and out instead of being on regular lines and blocks as is usually the plan in laying out suburban residence districts. These lots are sold under certain restrictions, and they have been taken largely by the artistic and literary class of citizens, and Lawrence Park has become quite celebrated for its colony of noted people who have purchased cottages there.
In 1897 Mr. Lawrence erected the Gramatan Inn on the top of Sunset hill near the Bronxville station. It contains one hundred and twenty-five rooms, has wide porches and verandas, making it a most beautiful place in summer and winter for visitors and guests. It is a fine Colonial structure, with all modern improvements, including electric lights and bells, and steam heat, and from its verandas one has a fine view, extending from the Hudson river to the Sound. In the winter these porches are enclosed with glass, forming sun parlors, and the Inn is open all the year round. One of its most desirable features is its close proximity to the city, being only a twenty-six minutes' run on the New York & Harlem Railroad from the Grand Central station, Forty-second street, New York, so that the busy man, who is obliged to remain in the city during the day, can here find cool, bracing country air, where he can enjoy the society of his family and friends in the evening. In the construction of the hotel no convenience has been omitted that would add to the happiness and comfort of the guests.
Mr. Lawrence is a native of New York city, where he was reared and educated, is a cultured and pleasant gentleman and thorough business man. He has not developed Lawrence Park as a money-making scheme, as is usually the case in suburban park affairs, but his methods have been quite original and new, and therefore successful.
SECOR, NORMAN, Jr.
Ad historic old family of Westchester county is the one of which the subject of this sketch is a worthy scion. The Secors were among the French Huguenots who, fleeing from the persecutions with which they were beset in their own loved country, came to the hospitable shores of the New World, where they might have " freedom to worship God " according to the dictates of their hearts. This little band of refugees landed at New Rochelle, Westchester county, in 1681, and here they founded homes and became a thriving, prosperous little colony, respected by all with whom they had dealings.
The great-grandfather of our subject belonged to this brave band, and his son Thomas, the next in the line of descent, was born on a farm in the vicinity of East Chester, this county, where he spent his entire life. His son Norman, the father of our subject, was born in the town of East Chester, September 9, 1818, and after having spent a long, useful life as a tiller of the soil is now enjoying a justly earned rest from labor. He has passed the eightieth milestone on life's journey, and for one of his years has remarkably good health. In his early
