The house was built in 1808 by a Mr. Lugdam, and thus for almost a century it has looked forth upon the surrounding district and the wonderful changes which have occurred in that long period.
Its present owner, John R. Ogden, is a native of Mississippi, his birth having occurred in Natchez-on-the-Hill, January 8, 1837, his parents beings Dr. Charles arid Ann S. (Routh) Ogden. The paternal grandfather, Nathan Ogden, was a native of New Jersey and belonged to an old and prominent English family. The father was born in Morristown, New Jersey, where he was reared to manhood, and then went to Natchez, Mississippi, where he successfully engaged in the practice of medicine for several years, securing a large patronage which brought to him excellent financial returns. As a citizen he was also held in high esteem and became widely and favorably known throughout his section of the state. He married Miss Ann S. Routh, a daughter of John Routh, a prominent citizen and extensive cotton-planter. Dr. Ogden died in Natchez, in 1848, but his wife, long surviving him, passed away in 1873.
John R. Ogden spent the days of his boyhood and youth in his native city and acquired his preliminary education in a private school there, after which he went to Scotland and entered the University of Edinburg, in which, institution he pursued his studies for six years. Thus, by superior educational advantages, he was well fitted for the practical and responsible duties of life. Returning to the sunny south, Mr. Ogden located upon his plantation and turned his attention to planting cotton, employing five hundred slaves in the care of his extensive crops. He continued to successfully engage in that business until 1860, but at the outbreak of the civil war he entered the Confederate army, being true to his loved southland and the institutions amid which he was reared. He was commissioned a captain on General W. W. Loring's staff, and served in that capacity until hostilities ceased in 1865, being a most brave and fearless officer and manifesting marked loyalty to the cause he espoused. He was always found at his post of duty, faithfully following the flag under which he enlisted, and was thus true to his honest convictions.
At the close of the war Mr. Ogden returned to his southern home and resumed the management of his cotton plantation, his time being thus occupied until 1877, when with his family he came north and took up his abode in Westchester county. New York, at Oak Shade, which has since been his place of residence. He still, however, conducts his large cotton plantation, which is not far from the city of Vicksburg, Mississippi, and is now under the immediate supervision of his manager. This yields to him an excellent income, and is a very valuable realty interest.
In 1863 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Ogden and Miss Josephine Marshall, of Natchez, a daughter of Colonel L. R. Marshall, who was a distant relative of Chief Justice John Marshall. To Mr. and Mrs. Ogden have been born five children, one son and four daughters, namely: John R. , who is engaged in business in New York city; Charlotte S., wife of Edward N. Dickerson, a prominent attorney of New York city; Sarah D., Mary M. and Josephine E. , all at home. The family is one of prominence in the community, holding an enviable position in social circles. Mr. Ogden's genial, pleasant manner has made him quite popular among his acquaintances in Westchester county, where he is also recognized as a valued and public-spirited citizen, who takes an active interest in the general progress and lends his support and cooperation to every movement for the public good.
CRISFIELD, GEORGE H.
One of the most straightforward, energetic and successful business men of Yonkers is George H. Crisfield. Few men are more prominent or more widely known in this enterprising city, than he. In business circles he has long been an important factor, and his popularity is well deserved, for in him are embraced the characteristics of an unbending integrity, unabating energy and an industry that never flags. He is public spirited, has taken an active part in local political affairs, is a supporter of all measures for the public good, and for many years has been numbered among the valued and honored residents of Yonkers.
A native of this city, he was born November 26, 1835, his parents being John and Martha (Beale) Crisfield. His paternal grandfather, John Crisfield, was a native of county Kent, England, and there spent his entire life, dying when about thirty-eight or forty years of age. He had five children, namely: John; Tellbrook, who lived in county Kent; George; Edward; and Eliza. The family possessed a coat of arms, which, according to the last authentic information of Mr. Crisfield, on the subject, was in possession of his oldest brother, John Crisfield.
The father of our subject, who also bore the name of John Crisfield, was born in. Kent, England, and lost his father when sixteen years of age. He was provided with excellent educational advantages for that day, and was conversant with the German and French, as well as the English languages. In early manhood he was married, and with his wife and one child came to America when twenty-one years of age, landing in New York city. In his native country he had held a position as cutlery agent, in which capacity he traveled over the greater part of the British Isles and France. In New York city he established a little dry-goods store, which was conducted by his wife, while with a peddler's wagon he traveled throughout the adjacent country, going as far north as Albany. His genial manner made him a very welcome visitor among the country people along his route, and his business proved a very profitable one, bringing him an excellent income and in this way he became acquainted with many people, among whom were a number who later won celebrity in the state. One of these was Augustus Van Cortlandt, whose name is inseparably interwoven with the history of New York city and the Empire state. Together they frequently went on hunting expeditions in lower Westchester county and through the region now known as the Van Cortlandt Park. They often spent a week together in this way, the hours passing in a most enjoyable manner, as with gun in hand they tramped through the forest in search of game. Hunting was always to Mr. Crisfield a source of great pleasure, and he never went upon any of his peddling trips without taking his gun with him. He continued in that business for many years, meeting with excellent success, and then came to Yonkers, establishing one of the first hotels in the city. It was called the Squangum House and was located on the present site of the store of Miller & Welsh, in Broadway. Later he also conducted a livery stable and a general mercantile store, and was actively connected with the early business interests of Yonkers. Later he sold out and removed to Saugerties, New York, where he established a country store, which he conducted for two years, when he closed out his business there and returned to Yonkers.
In the meantime he had purchased twenty-five acres of land on South Broadway, which has ever since been known as the Crisfield homestead. Upon this property he erected a good residence, which continued to be his home until his death. During a part of that time he was engaged in the grocery business on South Broadway, near the present site of St. Joseph's hospital, but for eighteen years prior to his demise lived retired from active commercial or industrial cares. He was very successful in business, his investments proved profitable, and he became a man of considerable wealth, — a just reward of his well-directed and honorable labors. He was quite active in the local affairs of the city, gave his political support to the Democratic party, served as street commissioner, was also justice of the peace for the long term of twenty-six years, and so fair and impartial was he in the administration of justice that during that entire time none of his decisions were ever reversed in a higher court. Socially, he was connected with the Masonic fraternity, and was a member and vestryman of St. John's Episcopal church. He died in 1880 at the ripe old age of eighty-four years, and Yonkers thereby lost one of its best citizens, a man whom to know was to esteem and honor. He had eleven children, nine of whom grew to maturity: John, who engaged in the. butchering business in Yonkers, died at the age of seventy years, leaving a wife and three children; two of the children, Harriet and William, are now living; Eliza is the widow of Robert Lawrence, a mechanic; Mary Ann, who resides in Nyack, New York, is the widow of Martin Demarest, a carpenter; Martha is the wife of John J. Banta, a carpenter and builder, now of Deland, Florida; George Henry is the subject of this sketch; Tellbrook W. resides at Irvington; and the other of the children are Emily V. (Mrs. William Read), Charles R. , Jessie R. (Mrs. James Strang) and two who died in infancy.
George Henry Crisfield, 'whose name introduces this sketch, was reared in Yonkers, and was educated first in the public schools
