Charles Harriman — are improving the beautiful suburb of Harriman, where they have erected many handsome residences, now the homes of some of the best people of the Terrace City. They have erected a very attractive station on the New York Central & Hudson River Railroad for the convenience of the residents of the town and have introduced all modern improvements, including an excellent system of paving and water-works. The situation of this suburb is unsurpassed in the entire section of the country. It lies along the east bank of the beautiful Hudson river, which is justly famed in song and story, and commands a view of the stream for at least twenty miles, including the palisades and other attractive features which have made the valley unsurpassed for its quiet and charming loveliness.
On the 21st of February, 1867, Mr. Hawley was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Reed, a daughter of Hercules Reed, a merchant. Four children were born to them: H. Reed, now a practicing physician of Staatsburgh, New York; Adelaide, who was born in 1873 and is now the wife of Claude Gignoux, an attorney of New York city, residing in Suffern, this state; John S., who was born June 18, 1877, and is employed in the office of Hawley & Hoops; and Elisha Roswell, who was born July 20, 1878. He was a young man of exceptional ability and promise, of noble character and most admirable qualities. It was his chief ambition to study for the ministry of the Universalist church and devote his life to the betterment of mankind, but death cut short his career, December 22, 1898. This was a great blow to his family and friends, for he had won the love and respect of all who knew him, and his life seemed bright with the promise of its future possibilities. The mother died December 9, 1892, and on the 6th of February, 1894, Mr. Hawley was again married, his second union being with Margarettha Voss, a most estimable lady and a daughter of John Voss, of Jersey City, New Jersey. The family have maintained their residence in Yonkers since May, 1898, and also have a beautiful summer home at Lake Placid, New York.
Mr. Hawley usually supports by his ballot the men and measures of the Republican party, but is not strictly partisan. In religious belief he is a Universalist, holding membership in the church of the Eternal Hope, in New York city, of which Dr. Crow is pastor. He contributes most generously of his means to church and benevolent institutions, and in all such work is prompted by a most broad, philanthropic spirit. The donations which he has made, both known and unknown to the public, have been many, but none of his beneficent acts is more deserving of commendation than his labors in connection with the Charlton Industrial Farm School. The establishment of this splendid charity was due to Mr. Hawley, in whose brain originated the plan and through whose generosity the plan was made practicable. In a little pamphlet which has been published concerning the institution it is told how, on a certain October morning in 1890, Mr. Hawley stood on the platform at the railway station in Utica, New York. At the further end he noticed a group of men and boys, and on approaching them saw two boys in the care of a constable, — one about eighteen, the other probably twelve years of age. They were chained together with handcuffs. Neither had a criminal nor a vicious face. Mr. Hawley spoke with them and asked if they had been in some mischief. His sympathy was aroused for the lads who seemed on the downward road to ruin. A few days later Mr. Hawley was standing in the door of a confectionery establishment in St. Louis, when he noticed a little boy of seven or eight years endeavoring to climb into a wagon with the intention of stealing, but he missed his footing and fell under the wheels of a passing truck loaded with iron. The wheels crushed his chest, killing him instantly. These pitiful sights led Mr. Hawley to resolve that if he were ever able he would endeavor to help boys thus starting out on a criminal course, and near the close of 1894 he corresponded with Dr. James T. Sweetman, of Charlton, New York, concerning the establishment of an Industrial Farm School in that town. The subject was agitated and one of the best farms of the town was purchased. It contains over two hundred acres, is beautifully located and is in the highest state of cultivation. Mr. Hawley having donated twenty-five thousand dollars to the project, the school was opened in 1896. There has been an enrollment of twelve boys, and soon a new building will be completed that can accommodate thirty or forty boys. The affairs of the institution are in the control of a board of trustees, consisting of five prominent citizens of the vicinity. The school is managed so that no indebtedness is incurred Its object is to teach the boys the value of character, to give them a plain common-school education and a thorough knowledge of farming, including especially the care of fruit-trees, and to form in them habits of industry and frugality. Great improvement has been shown by the boys who have been taken into the home, and the noble work is deserving of the greatest encouragement that it may take these homeless and oftentimes neglected ones from the paths of vice and make them respectable, law-abiding citizens. Such is the work of the school founded through the beneficence of Mr. Hawley, whose broad spirit and kindliness prompts him to extend a helping hand to all in need of aid, so far as it lies within his power to so do. He is especially interested in these boys, and everyone who in years to come shall leave that school as a respectable young man will be a living monument to Mr. Hawley, whose life is so largely permeated by the principles of Him who came not to be ministered unto but to minister. This institution has become the pride and ambition of Mr. Hawley, and he hopes to live to see the school endowed in such a substantial way as to make it perpetually self-sustaining.
WOOD, JAMES.
The gentleman here named is justly regarded as one of the most cultured, public-spirited and useful citizens of Westchester county. He has contributed largely to the literary development of the county by his writings, his lectures and his earnest efforts to promote intellectual activity and especially historical research. He is the author of two chapters of the History of Westchester county, by J. Thomas Scharf, that on the Indians of Westchester county and another on the Early Explorations and Settlers of the county. Mr. Wood has done much other notable work, which has consisted mainly in lectures upon historical subjects and travel, delivered before colleges and many literary and other bodies and in a wide range of articles contributed to the magazines and other periodicals, religious and secular.
James Wood was born November 12, 1839, at the place where he now resides, and where his father and grandfather lived before him, one mile north of the village of Mount Kisco, in the township of Bedford, Westchester county, New York. His grandfather's name was James and his father's Stephen. The latter died in 1876.
The family came from Long Island early in the last century. They are descended from Jonas Wood, who came from Halifax, England, in 1635, and was named in the patent of Hempstead, Long Island, in 1644. The family was connected with that of the present Lord Halifax.
Mr. Wood's mother was Phoebe Underhill, daughter of Caleb Underbill, of Yorktown, a descendant of that John Underhill who came from Ettington in Warwickshire, England, and settled at Oyster Bay, Long Island, in 1667. The Underhill mansion and buildings are still standing at Ettington, where numerous brasses and monuments to the family remain in the old parish church. The. estates are now in the possession of the Shirleys, with whom the Underbills intermarried. Lord Freres is the present head of that family. Another John Underhill of this family was chaplain to Queen Elizabeth and was made Bishop of Oxford in 1589.
Mr. Wood married June 7, 1866, Emily Hollingsworth Morris, daughter of Henry Morris, of Philadelphia. They have three children — Ellen M., Carolena M. and L. Hollingsworth.
Mr. Wood was educated at Havorford College, Philadelphia, from which institution he has the degree of A. M. He is now (1899) the president of the college chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. He has been a member of the board of managers of the college for twenty years and also of its executive committee; he has been a trustee of Bryn Mawr College for ten years, and he is also connected with Cornell College.
Mr. Wood holds a remarkable number of official positions in institutions and organizations in the state and county. He is the president of the board of managers of the New York State Reformatory for Women, and also president of the Westchester Temporary Home for Destitute Children. He is the president of the Westchester County Historical Society and has held this office for twenty years. He was one of the society's charter members. He is the president of the Mount Kisco Village Improvement Association and of the Oakwood Cemetery Association. He has been president
