Brief Biography of James Hyatt, Town Clerk and Town Supervisor of Pelham in 19th Century

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.

In 1886, in his multi-volume History of Westchester County, J. Thomas Scharf included a brief biography of James Hyatt who served as Town Clerk and, later, as Supervisor of the Town of Pelham during the 1860s, 1870s and 1880s. That biography appears immediately below, followed by a citation to its source.

"JAMES HYATT.

Mr. James Hyatt, former supervisor of the town of Pelham, was a son of James H. Hyatt, who married Eliza Balcom, and resided in New York City. He was born there December 1, 1830, and was educated in the district school, which he left at the age of fifteen to engage in the butcher business.

He first entered as a clerk the shop of James Kent, in Tompkins' Market, at the corner of Sixth Street and the Bowery, New York. Here he remained during four years, at the expiration of which he removed to Mott Haven, and was engaged in the business with his uncle there for five years. He then left Mott Haven for the town of Westchester, and entered the butcher store of William Cooper, which he left after five years to open a market for himself in the same town.
One year afterward he removed the concern to City Island, where he still remains.

He is well known throughout Westchester, especially in its political life. He is an earnest Democrat and has held several political positions, both elective and by appointment. In 1863 he was appointed board clerk of the town of Pelham, and one year later was elected to the position, being re-elected to it for seven terms. In 1873 he was elected supervisor and re-elected to the office eleven times successively. He was also town constable for one year, and at one time was collector of school taxes.

Mr. Hyatt's consistent political life, and his earnest advocacy of correct principles in the government of his town and county, entitle him to the respect and esteem of the citizens of Westchester, wherever found.

Source: Scharf, J. Thomas, ed., History of Westchester County, New York Including Morrisania, Kings Bridge and West Farms Which Have Been Annexed to New York City, Vol. 1, Part 2, Chapter XX. Westchester Town by Fordham Morris, p. 714 (Philadelphia, PA: L.E. Preston & Co. 1886).

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.