and then under private instruction. He entered upon his business career as a salesman in the store of Odell Brothers, grocers of New York city, and afterward served in the capacity of bookkeeper in the same establishment. On leaving that firm he returned to Yonkers, where he engaged in the butchering business on his own account, following that industry for many years. Recently, however, he has turned his attention to the real-estate business, and is now handling some valuable property, and also has an interest in his father's estate, which recently disposed of the old homestead for sixty thousand dollars. While in the butchering business his honorable dealing, his earnest desire to please his customers and the excellent line of meats which he carried secured to him a very liberal patronage and brought to him a good income. In his present undertakings he manifests the same reliability, and his reputation in business circles is unassailable.
On the 21st of September, 1858, Mr. Crisfield was united in marriage to Miss Susanna Van Tassel, who belongs to one of the oldest families of the Empire state, of mixed English, French and Dutch extraction. The name is closely associated with the early history of the state, and has been immortalized by Washington Irving in the Sketch Book and Diedrick Knickerbocker's History of New York. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Crisfield are George and Edward, who are engaged in the butchering business; Fred, a clerk in the East View Almshouse, of New York; Joseph, a mechanic who enlisted for service in the Spanish-American war and was severely wounded while discharging his duty, on account of which he was honorably discharged; Harry, a printer; and Minnie, wife of John C. Stillwell, a boot and shoe merchant of Yonkers.
During the greater part of his life Mr. Crisfield has resided in Yonkers, and has always been deeply interested in its progress and advancement. He served as receiver of taxes for the town in 1863, and for four years was clerk of the city court. He has also filled other ward offices, always discharging his duties in a prompt and faithful manner. His political support is given to the men and measures of the Republican party.- Courteous, genial, well informed, alert and enterprising, he stands to-day one of the leading and representative men of his city.
TALLMAN, DOWAH D.
For thirty years this well-known citizen of Tarrytown has been engaged in his present business, the manufacture of fancy stairs and newels, balustrades, screens and various kinds of wood-carving. He has met with the success which he justly deserves, for he is faithful in the execution of all orders and can be safely relied upon in every particular. His word, indeed, is as good as his bond, and anything which he undertakes is always carried on to successful completion. For three terms he was village trustee, and for a number of years was the president of the board of water commissioners. In all matters of local interest and importance he takes an active part, supporting by his vote and influence good government and progressive enterprises.
The birth of D. D. Tallman took place in Rockland county. New York, June 15, 1835. His father, Peter Tallman, was likewise a native of the county named, born in the year 1804, and by occupation he was a farmer. Grandfather Dow Tallman, who married Miss Maria Blauvelt, was of Holland-Dutch extraction, his ancestors having settled in the Empire state in early colonial days. For his wife Peter Tallman chose Caroline Harring, a native of Rockland county and a daughter of Casper Harring, of an old respected family of Dutch descent.
The boyhood years of D. D. Tallman were passed quietly on the parental farm, his education being gained in the district schools of his native county and in the collegiate schools of New York city, where he graduated in 1850. In his sixteenth year he was apprenticed to his uncle, John Harring, to learn the trade of stair-building. The uncle was a member of the firm of Conover & Harring, manufacturers of stairs, and under his wise supervision our subject mastered every detail of the business. When he was in the employ of Van Saun & Vorhees, for thirteen years, in one capacity or another, he was foreman most of the time. At length he concluded that he would embark in independent business, and, coming to Tarrytown, he, in partnership with a Mr. Brinkerhoff, established the factory which since 1868 has been conducted by Mr. Tallman alone. The shop is fifty by one hundred and fifty feet in dimensions, two stories in height, and equipped with the latest improved machinery used in the business. Employment is given ten or more skilled workmen, and the beautiful, artistic work which they turn out may be seen in numerous private and public buildings in this city and elsewhere. By long experience the proprietor is specially qualified to execute contracts of any size or description, his work always giving entire satisfaction to his patrons.
In 1860 Mr. Tallman married Miss Mary S. Cypher, a daughter of Isaac Cypher, of Westchester county. Mr. Tallman was the eldest of four children, the others being John Henry, a contractor and builder; Casper H., who has a stage route from Nyack to the West Shore Railroad and is now living in Nyack; and Mary A., who married George Wyman and died, leaving three children.
Mr. Tallman stands high in the Odd Fellows society, being connected with Tompkins Lodge, No. 9, of New York city. He reorganized the old Westchester Lodge, which is now in a flourishing condition.
PHELPS, H. D.
Glenellen, the beautiful home of Henry Delafield Phelps, is located at New Rochelle. It stands in the midst of spacious grounds, a palatial residence whose interior furnishings and exterior adornments are all that a refined taste could suggest regardless of expense. The owner is a prominent capitalist of Westchester county to whom success has come as the reward of untiring energy, combined with excellent executive ability, sound judgment and keen discrimination in the management of his commercial interests. As a business man he is considered one of the most successful in the county, and at the same time he possesses those social qualities which endear him to his acquaintances and win him a large circle of friends.
Mr. Phelps was born in the city of New York, September 8, 1836, and is the only child of Henry and Catherine (Wilkins) Phelps, natives of the metropolis. The paternal grandfather, Henry Phelps, was a native of England, and coming to America was prominently identified with the manufacture of iron goods. For many years Henry Phelps, Jr., father of our subject, was successfully engaged in merchandising in New York city, and possessed excellent business qualities. He died about 1880 in his native city.
Martin Wilkins, the maternal grandfather of our subject, was born in Westchester county and represented one of the old families of the Empire state. His father, Isaac Wilkins, was familiarly known as " Parson Wilkins," having for thirty years served as rector of St. Peter's church, in Westchester county. When the war of the Revolution broke out Parson Wilkins remained loyal to the crown and fled to England, where he remained until the cessation of hostilities. Returning then to this country, he re-purchased his old homestead, " Castle Hill," which had been confiscated by the government, where he continued to reside until his death, at the advanced age of over ninety years. Rev. Wilkins married Isabella Morris, a sister of Lewis Morris, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. In tracing the genealogy of our subject we find that he is descended from a long line of sturdy, intelligent and honorable ancestors, and that in both the lineal and collateral branches representatives have been prominent in the history of the nation. Mr. Phelps is a grand-nephew of Gouverneur Morris, who was a minister at the court of France during the reign of terror and was a stanch friend of the rights of man. He lived until his death at the old manor in Morrisania, which has been the family seat for two hundred and thirty years. This old homestead of five thousand acres was a grant memorial from the king. Here on one occasion Gouverneur Morris entertained Louis Phillipe and William Henry, Duke of Clarence, with a full service of gold.
Henry Delafield Phelps acquired his early education in a private school in White Plains, taught by Doctor Harris, and afterward matriculated in Trinity College, in Hartford, Connecticut, where he was graduated with the class of 1855. He then entered Columbia College, and was graduated in the law department of that institution with the class of 1859. On leaving that school he was admitted to the bar, and soon after associated himself in business with Walton W. Evans, of New Rochelle. The partnership between Mr. Phelps and Mr. Evans continued for fifteen years and was crowned
