An Editorial from Early Pelham Newspaper The Register Published in 1906

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Pelham had a number of early newspapers of which no copies (or an insignificant number of copies) are known to exist.  One such newspaper was The Register, a Democratic newspaper published in the early years of the 20th century.

I have written about the history of Pelham's various newspapers before.  For examples, see:

Mon., Aug. 04, 2014:  A History of Newspapers Published in Pelham.

Thu., Jun. 26, 2014:  A History of the Early Years of The Pelham Sun, A Pelham Newspaper Institution. 

Mon., Sep. 05, 2005:  The Pelham Republican:  Official Newspaper of The Villages of Pelham and North Pelham in 1902. 

Mon., May 23, 2005:  Thomas M. Kennett, Long Time Editor of The Pelham Sun. 

Fri., Apr. 01, 2005:  The Earliest Newspaper in Pelham?

The Register likely was Democrats' answer to The Republican, a newspaper published in Pelham during at least the years 1902 and 1903, if not later.  In his account of early Pelham newspapers published in 1929, J. Gardiner Minard recalled that The Register was founded after The Pelham Sun in 1910.  Minard's memory, however, failed him.  It is clear that The Register existed as early as 1906 and, perhaps, earlier.  

According to Minard, Charles B. Forbes (who later became publisher of the White Plains Daily Press) founded The Register with the assistance of J. Gardiner Minard.  In 1929, Minard wrote:  

"Between the two of us we kept the political pot boiling. Forbes received a tempting offer from a Washington, D. C. newspaper for a few years, during which time I pulled off a neat stunt. Robert Lucas Forbes, brother of my original partner, was running the New Rochelle Paragraph and although it was independently Republican, he found conditions in New Rochelle so unbearable that he supported the Democratic candidates in spite of threats from the Republican Committees to deprive him of then county printing. My paper was Democratic and when the official county newspapers were designated the Register was included, and I celebrated the event by transferring the paper to Forbes. Mr. Ceder subsequently consolidated the Record and Register with the Pelham Sun."

Source:  Minard, J. Gardiner, MANY NEWSPAPERS HAVE ENTERED PELHAM FIELD SINCE PELHAM PRESS WAS PUBLISHED IN 1896, The Pelham Sun, Apr. 5, 1929, p. 9, cols. 1-6.

No known copies of The Register exist today.  Yet it is possible to get a little flavor of the publication by virtue of an editorial it published in 1906 that was reprinted in the October 3, 1906 issue of the Daily Argus published in Mount Vernon.  

Pelham Democrats were very unhappy in October, 1906.  They were angry about the Democratic ticket for State positions that would be decided in the November 6 election.  Indeed, they seemed a little embarrassed about the contrast between the well-organized, smooth, and orderly Republican State Convention held September 25-26 and the somewhat tumultuous and disorderly Democratic State Convention held September 25-27.

Following an intervention by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, the Republican Convention nominated Charles E. Hughes for Governor, Merton E. Lewis for Comptroller, and renominated all remaining incumbent State officers by acclamation.  In contrast, at their State Convention Democrats nominated William Randolph Hearst as candidate for governor on the first ballot.  Independence League candidates were proffered for a number of remaining positions so that a Democratic / Independence League fusion ticket was presented to voters in the November election.    

Pelham Democrats were not unhappy with the Democratic / Independence League fusion ticket.  Rather, they were unhappy with the nomination of William Randolph Hearts as the Democratic candidate for Governor.  The editorial that appeared in The Register stated:

"'The Democratic nominations made at Buffalo last week are a keen disappointment to the old line Democrats who relied upon their delegates to name a strong man who would stand a good chance against any candidate the Republican party might name.  On the contrary, they named a decidedly weak man, one whose inconsistency is shown in assailing Boss Murphy, Bourke Cockran and Pat McCarren less than six months ago and now delightedly and contentedly basking in their smiles.  The contrast between the smooth running, orderly convention at Saratoga and the disorderly conference is as striking as the characters of the nominees.  The Register is Democratic and accepts the result, unless it is proved conclusively that honestly elected delegates were barred by dishonest methods from the convention.'"

Pelham Democrats and their local mouthpiece, The Register, seemed to agree with most New Yorkers.  In the November 6 election that followed, the entire Democratic / Independence fusion ticket was elected with the exception of William Randolph Hearst who was rejected by New York voters throughout the State but especially in New York City.  Significantly, with the exception of the governorship, the election results ended a twelve-year Republican era in New York State politics.  See "New York State Election, 1906" in Wikipedia -- The Free Encyclopedia (visited Oct. 7, 2017).

William Randolph Hearst, 1906 Democratic Candidate for

Governor of the State of New York, a Nomination with Which

Pelham Democrats and the Democratic Newspaper The

Register were Dissatisfied.  Source:  Wikipedia.

NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

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"PELHAM DEMOCRATIC PAPER DISATISFIED [sic] WITH HEARST
-----
The Register Says Nomination Is Unsatisfactory and Remarks Upon Candidate's Inconsistency.
-----

North Pelham, Oct. 3. -- If an editorial which appeared in the Pelham Register of this week's issue is any criterion, the Democratic party in Pelham is in a disgruntled state of mind concerning the nominations made at the Democratic convention in Buffalo.

The Register, which is purported to be the Democratic organ of the town, is dissatisfied with the way things went at Buffalo, and contrasts the Republican convention with the Democratic convention, referring to the former as a 'smooth running and orderly convention,' and the latter as the 'disorderly Buffalo conference.'

The editorial follows, showing no doubt the sentiment of the sober-minded Democrats of the town:  'The Democratic nominations made at Buffalo last week are a keen disappointment to the old line Democrats who relied upon their delegates to name a strong man who would stand a good chance against any candidate the Republican party might name.  On the contrary, they named a decidedly weak man, one whose inconsistency is shown in assailing Boss Murphy, Bourke Cockran and Pat McCarren less than six months ago and now delightedly and contentedly basking in their smiles.  The contrast between the smooth running, orderly convention at Saratoga and the disorderly conference is as striking as the characters of the nominees.  The Register is Democratic and accepts the result, unless it is proved conclusively that honestly elected delegates were barred by dishonest methods from the convention.'"

Source:  PELHAM DEMOCRATIC PAPER DISATISFIED [sic] WITH HEARST -- The Register Says Nomination Is Unsatisfactory and Remarks Upon Candidate's Inconsistency, Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Oct. 3, 1906, Whole No. 4435, p. 1, col. 1.

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Pelham Democrats Held a Parade "More Resplendent than the New Comet or the Full Moon" in 1892

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Pelham Democrats were excited about the presidential election of 1892.  Democrats in the new village of Pelham Manor created "The Cleveland and Stevenson Club of Pelham Manor" early that year.  In July, City Island Democrats created their own Cleveland and Stevenson Club.  The two quickly merged to form "The Cleveland and Stevenson Club of Pelham."  

Local Judge Henry DeWitt Carey, who served as a judge in the Special Sessions Court at White Plains for many years and founded a local dairy known as the Willow Brook Dairy in which he owned an interest for many decades, was an affluent and ardent supporter of the movement.  He offered the use of Carey Hall on City Island free during the campaign.  Carey Hall became the headquarters of The Cleveland and Stevenson Club of Pelham.

The presidential election of 1892 was an emotional one that involved a divided nation split nearly evenly between Democrats and Republicans.  The election, in fact, was essentially a rematch of the hotly contested presidential election of 1888 when Democrat Grover Cleveland won the popular vote over Republican Benjamin Harrison but lost in the electoral college.  In 1892, Grover Cleveland ran again against incumbent Republican President Benjamin Harrison.  This time, Grover Cleveland won both the popular vote and the electoral college vote and became the only person ever elected to a second presidential term that did not immediately follow a first term.  

As the election results became clear in the days following November 8, 1892, Pelham Democrats rejoiced and began planning a grand celebration.  On the evening of Tuesday, November 22, 1892, the celebration exploded in what was described as "a blaze of glory."  A local newspaper described the celebration as "more resplendent than the new comet or the full moon" -- a reference Comet Holmes that was discovered only days before the celebration on November 6, 1892 by British amateur astronomer Edwin Holmes.

The celebration included a parade led on horseback by Democrat Town Supervisor Sherman T. Pell who was known locally as the "Little Giant of Democracy."  (Barely one year later Pell was defeated in his own bid for reelection after which he disappeared and it was discovered that he had stolen town funds, forged Town bonds, and sold more than $100,000 of forged bonds to New York City investors who eventually were left holding the bag.  Pell was never seen again, rumored to have fled to South America.)

The Little Giant of Democracy led the parade from astride a large black charger.  The parade began on City Island but crossed the City Island Bridge to the mainland.  

City Island was, indeed, ablaze in glory.  Hundreds of homes of Democrats were festooned with incandescent lights, flags, and bunting.  Additionally, candles burned in the windows of each home.  Stretched across the main roadway of the island were several rows of multi-colored lanterns.  According to one account, it all made for "one of the grandest displays ever witnessed on this island."

At 8:00 p.m. that evening, Supervisor Pell shouted "forward march" and the parade began.  Immediately behind Pell were twenty mounted "aides" who followed the Little Giant on horseback.  Behind them were more than two hundred fellow Democrats on foot.  Each carried a lantern, flag, and transparencies.

Shouting, singing, and marching, the group proceeded to the north end of City Island and crossed the City Island Bridge to Pelham Bay Park.  There they met about two hundred additional Democrats from New Rochelle and the surrounding region accompanied by the Port Chester Band.  The march of victory continued to a spot where a "grand display of fireworks" celebrated the victory of Grover Cleveland.  

One notable symbolic feature of the parade revolved around a live depiction of "Baby Ruth," the two-year-old daughter of Grover Cleveland after whom the chocolate bar of the same name is believed to be named.  A tiny Shetland pony pulled a beautiful surrey with a young City Island girl named Jenny Bell who represented Baby Ruth.  On the back of the surrey rested a trunk with a sign that read "Via B & O, Washington, D. C." to represent the upcoming journey of two-year-old Ruth Cleveland with her father, the president-elect, to Washington, D. C. and the White House.  

Pelham and its Democrats certainly knew how to throw a celebration in those days.  A local Democratic newspaper crowed breathlessly afterward that:  "City Island never does anything by halves, and this parade showed it to be a truism; nothing was left undone to make this occasion memorable in the minds of the Democrats for years to come.  It was superb."

1892 Campaign Poster for Grover Cleveland and Adlai E. Stevenson.

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"Westchester County Notes. . . . 

The Cleveland and Stevenson Club of Pelham Manor will unite with the club now forming at City Island, and be known as the Cleveland and Stevenson Club of Pelham.  Justice Carey has presented the Club with the use of Carey Hall on City Island free during the campaign, and they will make it their headquarters. . . ."

Source:  Westchester County Notes, The Evening Post [NY, NY], Jul. 20, 1892, p. 8, col. 1.  

"CITY ISLAND IN A BLAZE OF GLORY.
-----
THE CLEVELAND AND STEVENSON CLUB'S GLORIFICATION PARADE.
-----
Two Hundred Visitors from New Rochelle and Surrounding Towns -- Many of the Noted Men of the Democratic Party Present.
-----

More resplendent than the new comet or the full moon did glow the beautiful parade of the Cleveland and Stevenson Club on Tuesday evening, Nov. 22d.  Along the route the houses were handsomely decorated with hundreds of incandescent lights, flags and bunting.  Each Democratic house was illuminated from top to bottom, some with dozens of candles in each window, adding greatly to the beauty of the scene.  Stretched across the roadway were several rows of vari-colored lanterns, making one of the grandest displays ever witnessed on this island.

Among the notable Democrats whose decorated homes were deserving of mention were Duncan Marshall, Mr. McElheney, the well known auctioneer of New York City, J. F. Jordan, whose house covered with State shields proved a credit to this staunch young Tammany Hall leader, James Bell, Pheneas Feguson, Percy Pell, Philip Flynn, Joseph Powell, Thomas Keller, John Stamp, Judge Hawkins, Counselor Early, Mr. Neuphert, Fred Wesselman, George Leviness, C. Walthers, Wm. Williams, the well known inspector of the Board of Health, whose little home was handsomely draped from top to bottom, Hon. Sherman T. Pell, Mrs. Barstow, Mrs. Grad, James Horton, Esq., Henry Piepgras, James Brown, Robert Brown, Alex. Banta, Stringham Bros., C. Von Liehn and several hundred others too numerous to mention.

Precisely at 8 o'clock the 'Little Giant' of Democracy, Supervisor Sherman T. Pell, mounted his black charger, and looking as happy as he did the night of election when he heard the returns in favor of Grover Cleveland's election, he gave the order to 'forward march,' and followed by his staff of twenty mounted aides and about 200 good, solid Democrats on foot, each carrying lanterns, flags and transparencies, the pageant moved forward triumphantly.  The hosts proceeded to the north end of the island and across the bridge to Pelham Bay Park, where they received their fellow Democrats, numbering about 200 men from New Rochelle, accompanied by the Port Chester band, and commanded by John Dillon, Esq.  After opening ranks the visitors passed through and the march of victory commenced amid great shouts and cheers and a grand display of fireworks.

City Island never does anything by halves, and this parade showed it to be a truism; nothing was left undone to make this occasion memorable in the minds of the Democrats for years to come.  It was superb.

One of the special features of the parade was a small Shetland pony, Lexington, who has won several prizes at the Westchester County Fair and at Madison Square Garden, which was loaned to the Democrats of the Second district through the kindness of Mr. McElheney, his owner, to represent Baby Ruth on her way to the White House.  The pony and surrey was prettily decorated with flags and bunting, and on the back rested Baby Ruth's trunk labeled 'Via B. & O., Washington, D. C.'  Baby Ruth was impersonated by beautiful little Jenny Bell, daughter of Captain Nathan Bell, who looked and felt as happy as a little queen; I heard the women on all sides of me say as she waved her tiny handkerchief, 'Oh my, she looks too sweet for anything,' and so she did.  The pony was driven by Mr. James J. Adair who was dressed in full livery.  The Democratic Club, through THE ARGUS, wishes to thank the New Rochelle visitors and inhabitants for their kindness in lending their aid toward making this one of the most important events in City Island's history."

Source:  CITY ISLAND IN A BLAZE OF GLORY -- THE CLEVELAND AND STEVENSON CLUB'S GLORIFICATION PARADE -- Two Hundred Visitors from New Rochelle and Surrounding Towns -- Many of the Noted Men of the Democratic Party Present, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Dec. 1, 1892, Vol. I, No. 204, p. 2, col. 2.

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Allegations that Pelham Republicans Stole the Town's Democratic Primary in 1898

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"I reject the cynical view that politics is a dirty business."

-- U. S. President Richard Milhous Nixon . . . .

With the 2016 U.S. presidential election upon us, it seems a perfect time to revisit how entertaining Pelham's own local politics have been over the years.  The subject has been fodder for a host of Historic Pelham articles including, by way of merely a few examples, the following:

Wed., Jan. 25, 2006:  The Pelham Manor Protective Club Flexed its Muscles in the 1886 Town Elections.  

Fri., Feb. 27, 2009:  More on the 1906 Village of North Pelham Elections in Which the Village Blacksmith Surprised Republicans and Democrats Alike and Won. 

Tue., Feb. 26, 2008:  Disputed Pelham School Board Election of 1882 Led to Charges of Fraud.  

Fri., July 8, 2005:  How Did a Village Blacksmith Win the 1906 North Pelham Election by Cornering the Market on Sleighs? 

Tue., Oct. 14, 2014:  "There Is Endless Bitterness of Heart" -- Pelham Manor Women Pull a Fast One in 1882.

Mon., Jun. 08, 2015:  Was "Honest Jim Reilly" Really So Honest?  Blacksmith and, Later, Politician in the Village of North Pelham Died in 1937.

Wed., Aug. 17, 2005:  More on the Village Blacksmith Who Won the 1906 North Pelham Election by Cornering the Market on Sleighs.

Thu., Mar. 12, 2015:  Pelham Democrats Purportedly Stole the Supervisor Election in 1886 by Importing Paupers from Hart Island to Vote.

Wed., Mar. 23, 2016:  The Bitter Battle Over the Incorporation of the Village of North Pelham in 1896 Continued After The Vote to Incorporate.

Thu., May 12, 2016:  Forget Luck of the Irish! We Should All Have the Luck of the North Pelham Democrats (At Least in 1901).

Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog tells the story of how Pelham Republicans stole the Town Democratic Primary on Monday, March 14, 1898 to ensure that their Republican slate for Town officers would appear on the Democratic ticket during the general election as well.  The story is quite simple and revolves around the notice of the primary vote.

It seems that in advance of the highly-anticipated "Democratic Primary and Convention" in the Town of Pelham, notice of the vote stated that the vote would take place on March 14 from "8 to 9 o'clock."  Democrats were to vote for County Committeeman, Town Committee, and delegates to the Town Convention.  The notice, however, did not state whether the vote would be in the a.m. or the p.m.

No suspicions were raised among Democrats because the notice made clear that the Town Democratic Convention would be held the same day.  Such conventions previously had been held in the evening, immediately following the vote.  This time, however, things would be different. . . . 

There were a number of Pelhamites in on the scheme who were described in one account as the "knowing ones."  The knowing ones knew something unusual was afoot.  Additionally, "all arrangements [had been] made" in advance.

Promptly at 8:00 a.m. that Tuesday, the polls were declared open and voting began.  Promptly at 9:00 a.m., the polls were declared closed.  Only seven votes were cast.  It appears that the seven votes were cast by the "knowing ones" . . . . 

The Democratic Convention was held that evening as in previous years.  As one might expect, however, during the day word trickled out that the primary vote had been held that morning and that Frank Lyon had been elected County Committeeman while W. A. McGalliard, Charles A. Barker, and several others had been elected to the Town Democratic Committee.

The entire Town was abuzz throughout the day with the news that the "knowing ones" had pulled a fast one in an apparent effort to take control of the upcoming Town Democratic Convention scheduled for later that evening.  When the Convention opened, Pelham's rank and file Democrats packed the old Town Hall.  Indeed a crowd gathered for a little good old-fashioned entertainment.  What next happened to the rank and file Democrats reportedly "took their breath away."  

Frank Lyon acted as Chair of the convention.  Lincoln White acted as Secretary.  The Town Committee and the Convention promptly endorsed the entire Republican Ticket to run on the Democratic ticket for Town offices (except the candidate for Tax Collector and two Town Constables).  In the case of Tax Collector, the Committee and the Convention endorsed Charles A. Barker for the candidacy -- one of those who had participated in the shenanigans.  

The crowd was furious and let out a chorus of hisses.  As the crowd hissed, the Chair quickly declared the Convention closed.  Only then did the room settle enough for rank and file Democrats to demand another session.  With the Convention closed, however, "it was too late and the party must abide by the action of the convention."

It was, according to one local newspaper, "one of the most remarkable primaries ever held."  Only in Pelham, only in Pelham folks. . . . . . 

The Old Town Hall on Fifth Avenue Where Today's Town

Hall Stands.  Here the Democratic Convention Following

the Primary Vote on March 14, 1898 Took Place.

NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge. 

Please exercise your right today, dear Pelham, and vote!

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Immediately below is the text of a newspaper article about the events that form the basis of today's article.  It is followed by a citation and link to the source.

"PELHAM'S QUEER PRIMARY AND CONVENTION.
-----
A CONFUSING PRIMARY CALL RESPONSIBLE.
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The Republican Ticket Practically Endorsed.
-----

The Democrats of Pelham held their primary Monday.  It was in more than one sense of the term the most curious meeting ever held in that old town.  The call for the meeting read from '8 to 9 o'clock.'

It did not state whether this was to be a.m. or p.m. and a majority of the party took it for granted that it would be p.m. as the convention was advertised to be held on the same day.

However, a few of the knowing ones had all arrangements made, and at 8 o'clock in the morning the polls were declared open and voting for County Committeeman, Town Committee, and delegates to the Town Convention was begun and candidates for these offices chosen.

It is reported that when the polls closed at 9 o'clock there had been just seven votes cast.

Frank Lyon was elected to the County Committee, and the Town Committee was made up of W. A. McGalliard, Charles A. Barker, and several others.

The primary naturally formed the topic of conversation on the street of this quiet little town and when evening came a crowd gathered in the old Town Hall.  Frank Lyon acted as chairman of the convention and Lincoln White, Secretary.

What surprised the rank and file more than anything else, and almost took their breath away, was the endorsing of the entire Republican ticket with the exception of Tax collector and for this office Charles Barker was named.

The constables nominated were Democrats.

When the ticket was named a round of hisses went over the room.  Several Democrats protested after the convention adjourned and threatened to call another session but the time had gone by, it was too late and the party must abide by the action of the convention.

It was one of the most remarkable primaries ever held."

Source:  PELHAM'S QUEER PRIMARY AND CONVENTION -- A CONFUSING PRIMARY CALL RESPONSIBLE -- The Republican Ticket Practically Endorsed, Mount Vernon Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Mar. 15, 1898, Vol. XXIV, No. 1816, p. 1, col. 6.

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Samuel Lippincott, Town Supervisor of Pelham in 1859, 1860, and 1861

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Samuel Lippincott (also known as Samuel Lippencott) served as town supervisor of the Town of Pelham in 1859, 1860, and 1861.  Little is known about him.  Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog is an effort to document a little about Lippincott's life.  

Lippincott was born on November 27, 1827 in Rahway, New Jersey, according to his obituary (and consistent with the 1850 and 1860 United States Censuses).  By the age of 23, Lippincott was married to an eighteen-year-old woman named Mary L. who was born in New York in about 1832.  The couple lived on City Island in the Town of Pelham near storekeeper Benjamin Horton and oysterman Joseph B. Horton, according to the 1850 United States census.   

Samuel Lippincott is described as a "House Carpenter" in the 1850 census and as a "Builder" in the 1860 census.  The term "House Carpenter" was a term of art from at least the late eighteenth century until the mid-nineteenth century.  It denoted a master builder who was the equivalent of an architect, engineer, and carpenter combined. 

As a house carpenter and builder, Samuel Lippincott benefited from the fact that the population of the Town of Pelham almost doubled between 1850 and 1860 from 577 people to 1,025 people, most of whom lived on City Island.  Indeed, the 1860 U.S. census indicates that Lippincott was comparatively affluent with real estate valued at $4,500 and personal property valued at $1,000.  

By 1860, according to the federal census, Samuel and Mary Lippincott had five children, all of whom lived with them:  Mary E. (born abt. 1850), Stephen H. (born abt. 1854), Robert B. (born abt. 1856), Helen M. (born abt. 1857), and Belle Louisa (born abt. 1859; died 1872).  According to the 1860 U.S. Census, the couple had a number of others living in their household including:  Catharine Crane (a 22-year-old Irish "Domestic"), Mary Johnson (a 25-year-old Irish "Cook"), and Henry A. Mason (a 30-year-old "Pilot" born in New York) and his wife Cornelia H. (a 24-year-old native New Yorker).

Genealogical research reveals that Samuel and Mary Lippincott had at least two other children:  Frank (born 1861; died 1883); and Edith C. (born 1868; died 1869).  Mary L. Lippincott died on July 25, 1869.

Samuel Lippincott was described in a news article published in 1859 as an "'American' Democrat."  See Our Town Elections . . . PELHAM, Eastern State Journal [White Plains, NY], Apr. 1, 1859, p. 2, col. 3.  In 1859, Lippincott was first elected to the Town Supervisor position and was reelected to the position in each of the following two annual elections.  When he first began service as the Supervisor in 1859, he served with the following other town officials:

Town Clerk:  Benjamin Hegeman
Town Assessor:  George W. Horton, Sr.
Commissioner of Highways:  William S. McClellan
Justice of the Peace:  George W. Horton, Sr.
Justice of the Peace:  Benjamin Hegeman
Justice of the Peace:  James A. Grenzebach
Constable:  Alexander Rolle
Tax Collector:  Alexander Rolle
Overseer of the Poor:  Stephen D. Horton
Overseer of the Poor:  John L. Cooper
Inspector of Elections:  Alexander Jackson
Inspector of Elections:  John L. Roscoe

Source:  Id.  

The audited Town accounts for 1859, Lippincott's first year as Town Supervisor, provide an excellent example of the nature and cost of the town services Lippincott oversaw during the first year of his three-year tenure as supervisor.  The town spent $338.63 paying town officials for their services and expenses that year, of which Supervisor Lippincott received $10.75.  In addition, the town spent $1,670.01 on town services in 1859.  Finally, the town collected a total of $3,239.67 in State, School, and County taxes during the same year.  Immediately below is an abstract of the town's accounts published in a local newspaper at the time. 

"PELHAM.

Abstract of Accounts audited by the Board of Town

Auditors of the town of Pelham, at their Annual

Session, Nov. 10, 1859.

		Claimed.	Allowed.
Samuel Lippencott, supervisor	………………	$10.75	$10.75
George W. Horton, assessor	………………	50.00	50.00
George W. Horton, inspector of election	………………	9.00	9.00
George W. Horton, supervisor in 1858	………………	19.75	19.75
Benjamin Hegeman, justice	………………	12.75	12.75
Benjamin Hegeman, town clerk	………………	36.95	36.95
William S. McClellan, commissioner of highways	………………	49.75	49.75
William S. McClellan, justice	………………	20.25	20.25
William S. McClellan, overseer of the poor	………………	27.00	27.00
Joseph B. Horton, assessor	………………	27.72	27.72
Orrin Baxter, clerk of election	………………	9.00	9.00
William S. McClellan, inspector of election, and for disbursements	………………	15.75	15.75
John L. Roscoe, inspector of election	………………	9.20	9.20
Alexander Rolfe, constable	………………	5.25	5.25
William S. McClellan, assessor	………………	48.25	48.25
Moses T. Strong, constable	………………	7.26	7.26
		$338.63	$338.63



I certify that the above is a true Abstract of all the Accounts audited at the last session of the Board of Town Auditors of the town of Pelham.  --  Dated November 12, 1859.
SAMUEL LIPPENCOTT, Supervisor.

Audited by the Board of Supervisors:
Harvey Kidd, referee	………………		$3.00

APPROPRIATIONS.



For temporary relief of the poor	………………		100.00
For the support of roads and bridges	………………		650.00
To pay damages in laying out new road on City Island	………………		194.56
To work and grade said new road	………………		150.00
To pay for a new ballot-box	………………		5.00
To pay for painting town hall	………………		30.00
To pay Valentine G. Hall, for error in assessment	………………		409.24
Rejected tax of 1856	………………	119.82
Interest on same, 7 per cent	………………	8.39	128.21
			$1,670.01
Audited Town bills	………………		338.63
Total	………………		$2,008.64
State tax	………………		$1,430.60
School tax	………………		613.12
County tax	………………		1,195.95
			$3,239.67"

Source:  PELHAM.  Abstract of Accounts audited by the Board of Town Auditors of the town of Pelham, at their Annual Session, Nov. 10, 1859, Eastern State Journal, [White Plains, NY] Dec. 23, 1859, p. 2, col. 1. 

Samuel Lippincott was serving as Pelham Town Supervisor and, thus, a member of the Board of Supervisors of Westchester County at the time the Civil War began.  He attended a special meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Westchester County on May 1, 1861, although it appears that he arrived late.  In that meeting, the Board considered whether to implement a county tax on the citizens of Westchester County to support the Federal war efforts against the Rebel states.  The Board concluded that it was not authorized under the law to implement such a tax and, thus, resolved to pledge the faith of the board for the "adoption of such measures by this Board, at its next session, as shall be necessary for the proper support of the families of her patriotic sons who have or may volunteer their services for the defence of our common country." See Board of Supervisors, WESTCHESTER COUNTY -- Special Meeting, May 1, 1861, Eastern State Journal, May 3, 1861, p. 2, cols. 4-6. 

After serving as Pelham Town Supervisor, Samuel and Mary appear to have moved their family to Oswego, Oswego County, New York where Mary died on July 25, 1869.  She is buried in Riverside Cemetery, Plot 59N, in Oswego.  The 1870 U.S. Census describes Samuel Lippincott as a "lumber merchant" which may have been a contributing factor for his move to Oswego, New York. 

Within a relatively short time after Mary Lippincott's death, Samuel Lippincott seems to have remarried to a woman named Lucinda (born 1838 in New York; died 1899).  (Great care must be taken in connection with the conclusion that Samuel and Mary moved to Oswego and that Samuel remarried to Lucinda after Mary's death.  There were a number of men named Samuel Lippincott of about the same age who lived in the region at the time.  Nevertheless, it appears that this was the same man to some family researchers.)

By about 1873, Samuel Lippincott and his wife, Lucinda, moved their family again and Samuel changed careers.  The couple moved to Brooklyn, New York where Samuel Lippincott became a baker in the Bedford-Stuyvesant area.  He remained in the baking business in Brooklyn for the next twenty seven years.  During the last five years of his life, Lippincott suffered from diabetes and asthma.  He lost his wife to death in 1899.  He then retired from his baking business shortly before his 0wn death in 1900.

Family researchers believe that the Samuel Lippincott who served as Town Supervisor of Pelham, New York in 1859, 1860, and 1861 died on March 29, 1900 in his home located at 740 Herkimer Street, Brooklyn, Kings County, New York.  He is buried in Riverside Cemetery, Plot 59N, Oswego, Oswego County, New York.  His brief obituary read as follows:

"Samuel Lippencott.

Samuel Lippencott died at his home, 740 Herkimer street, this morning of diabetes and asthma, after an illness of five years.  He had been in the baking business for twenty-seven years in the Stuyvesant section and had just retired from active life.  He was born in Rahway, N. J., November 27, 1827.  He was a Democrat of the old fashioned type.  He leaves three sons and two daughters.  The funeral will be at his late home and the burial in Oswego."

Source:  Samuel Lippencott, The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Mar. 29, 1900, p. 3, col. 6. 

Map of Town of Pelham with Inset of City
Island, 1868. Source: Beers, F.W., Atlas
of New York and Vicinity, p. 35 (NY, NY:
Beers, Ellis & Soule, 1868).  NOTE:  Click
Image to Enlarge.

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