of E. B. Taylor, on Main street, Yonkers, where he remained for two years, when, on account of failing health, he returned to the farm. He was too ambitious to remain there for any great length of time, however, and after a year he began studying law in the office of Charles S. Purdy, of White Plains. In 1869 he entered the law department of Columbia College, in which he pursued a two-years course, teaching in the district school in Bronxville during the vacations of 1869 and 1870. He was graduated with honor and admitted to the bar, but did not at once begin an independent practice. Upon receiving his diploma he entered the office of Marshall & Verplanck, prominent attorneys, and soon became their managing clerk, attending to a large part of their litigated business. He was thus engaged until 1875, when he opened an office of his own. He was a most diligent and painstaking student, but in his early career it was thought by many that he would not achieve great success in the profession on account of his retiring disposition. In manner he was very unobtrusive, shrinking from public praise and avoiding everything that seemed to partake of the nature of ostentation. Success, however, did come to him as the result of his methodical habits and marked ability. He made it a rule of his professional career to be at his office the same hour every day, to remain there for a certain length of time, and to attend to such matters as might be entrusted to his management with thoroughness. His devotion to his clients' interests was proverbial, and this, added to his comprehensive understanding of the principles of jurisprudence, contributed not a little to his success. Working on quietly and patiently year after year, his practice steadily increased and he advanced in public favor. He resided at the family homestead in the town of Greenburg and there served as justice of the peace for two terms or eight years, until 1892, when he resigned. He had been the protector of his mother after the father's death, and remained at the old home until Mrs. Hart also was called away, when he removed to White Plains. He was also for a number of years attorney for the town of Greenburg and a member of the town board. He was by no means a politician in the sense of office-seeking, much preferring to devote his time and attention to his profession, yet realized fully the responsibility attaching to citizenship, and aided in nominating and electing good men of the Democratic party, in whose principles he believed so firmly.
When a young man Monmouth Hart united with the Presbyterian church, at White Plains, was ever active in its work, served as trustee for twenty-one years and was also treasurer and elder of the church for a number of years. He was a member of the Westchester County Historical Society and served therein as secretary and treasurer. He was also prominent in the White Plains Good Government Club, a director in the White Plains Bank, which he aided in organizing, and a trustee in the Savings Bank, serving as attorney of both financial institutions. His clientage was large and he was a safe counselor, his judgment being sound and his conclusions correct. His main practice was in real-estate law and in the surrogate court, but he was well versed in the various departments of jurisprudence. In his particular lines he stood very high, not only by reason of his eminent trustworthiness and thoroughness but also for his marked ability. He was truly a good man, noble-spirited and generous, — traits which were manifest in his treatment of poor clients, whom he served as faithfully as those able to pay large fees. But his ambition was greater than his strength, and his devotion to business caused his health to fail. He frequently visited the south for the benefit of his health, but died suddenly of pneumonia, December 7, 1895, just as he was entering upon his forty-fifth year. He died with a firm faith in the Christian religion and his death was mourned by many friends who gathered to pay their last tribute of respect as he was laid to rest in Rural cemetery, by the side of his mother, to whom he was ever most devoted.
VENN, ISAAC H.
Of the industrial interests of Yonkers Isaac H. Venn is a prominent representative, and his enterprise and progressiveness make him a valued factor in commercial circles. He is a native of Wilmington, Delaware, born March 26, 1856, and is of Welsh descent. His grandfather, William Venn, lived at Newport, in Monmouthshire, Wales, and his occupation was that of a cracker-maker. He took part in the charter riots of 1826, and was an influential citizen of the community. He held membership in the Presbyterian church, and died at the age of forty-eight years. His son, Cornelius H. Venn, the father of our subject, was born in Wales, and when twenty-three years of age came to America, locating in Wilmington, Delaware, where he followed the baker's trade for forty years. He has given his political support to the Republican party; socially, is connected with the Good Fellows Society, and in religious belief is a Presbyterian. He married Hannah Hambleton and to them were born five children: Mrs. Elizabeth T. Mahon, Richard T. , Isaac H., Mrs. Mary J. Davis and David H. The father, who was born January 1, 1818, is still living, at the advanced age of eighty years, but the mother passed away at the age of sixty-three years. She traced her ancestry back to the early part of the seventeenth century. The family is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and its representatives were among the earliest settlers of Chester and Bucks counties, Pennsylvania. In the latter lived James Hambleton, a Quaker, and from him was descended Samuel Hambleton, the grandfather of our subject and the son of the eighth John Hambleton. He was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, in 1785, and died March 24, 1851. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Hannah Brown, was born May 7, 1788, and died September 9, 1833, after which Mr. Hambleton married Sarah Walton. He was a farmer and nurseryman, and owned a farm in Upper Oxford township, Bucks county, all his life. He belonged to the Hicksite branch of the Quakers and was strongly opposed to all " ologies " and "isms." His children, all born of the first marriage, were Joseph, Isaac. John, Emil, Sarah, Rachel, Hannah and Samuel.
Isaac H. Venn attended the public schools of Wilmington, Delaware, until twelve years of age, and then worked with his father in the bakery, learning the trade in its various branches. At the age of seventeen, however, he began learning the pattern-maker's trade with the firm of Hillis & Jones, of Wilmington, remaining in their employ from 1872 until 1876. Later he crossed the Atlantic to Manchester, England, where he secured employment with the firm of Horner & Barker, manufacturers of sodawater machinery, ultimately becoming superintendent of their large plant, in which capacity he served for two years and six months. Subsequently he was employed for three months as assistant foreman in the pattern-making department of the Meadow -Hall Locomotive Works, and then took charge of the plant of the Mitchell Wisbrodale Foundry Company, near Barnsley.
While abroad Mr. Venn visited various points of historic and modern interest in Great Britain. He saw the famous Blarney stone of Ireland; the various palaces, now old in story; Dunbarton castle, on the Clyde; the tower of London, containing the relics of ancient, mediaeval and modern methods of punishment and execution; Holyrood palace, in Scotland; the home of John Knox, in England; Shakespeare's home, on the Avon; St. Paul's cathedral, covering seven acres; Westminster Abbey; the two houses of parliament; the Crystal Palace of London; and Cleopatra's Needle, the famous Egyptian obelisk which was then being prepared for shipment to New York, on the river Thames. On one occasion he was preparing to go to Australia, but owing to the alarming condition of his mother's health he abandoned the trip.
Returning to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Mr. Venn engaged in the installment business in that city, and afterward was connected with the Vulcan Brass Works, having charge of the pattern department for two years. In 1881 he took charge of the Charles Teal Pattern Works, in Philadelphia, and in April, 1883, he came to Yonkers, New York, where he has since made his home. Here he accepted the position of foreman of the pattern-making department of the plant owned by Otis Brothers & Company, and has since remained in charge, having control over eleven employees. His thorough understanding of the business and his many years of experience render him an expert in his chosen field of endeavor, and his skill and ability have contributed not a little to the success of the enterprise with which he has been connected. His thorough reliability has won him the confidence of all with whom he has been associated in business and his standing in the industrial circles of Yonkers is indeed enviable.
In October, 1883, Mr. Venn was united in marriage to Miss Lydia J. Broomall, a daughter of Nehemiah Broomall, of Delaware county, Pennsylvania, who was a cousin of Nehemiah Broomall, a miller in Brandywine, and of Judge John M. Broomall, of Delaware county, Pennsylvania. Her father held a number of local offices, and was a member of the Society of Friends. His family numbered seven children: Mary,
