History of White Plains, (Westchester County) New York United States of America

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Biographies:

Ferris Jacobs, soldier, was born at Delhi, N.Y., March 20, 1836; son of Ferris Jacobs. He entered the senior class at Williams college and was graduated in 1856. He was admitted to the bar in 1859, and settled in practice in Delhi, N.Y. In August, 1861, he raised a company in Delaware county, was elected its captain and joined the 3d New York cavalry. He served with Banks in the Shenandoah valley, Va., in the spring of 1862, and on returning to Washington joined Burnside's expedition to North Carolina. He was attached to the Army of the James in the winter of 1868 and 1864, and was promoted major and lieutenant-colonel. He commanded a brigade in Kautz's cavalry division and continued to serve during Grant's campaign about Petersburg until mustered out, Oct. 12, 1864. He returned to New York and was commissioned colonel of the 26th New York cavalry. This regiment had been mustered into service the February previous for one year, and he was brevetted brigadier-general of volunteers, March 13, 1865, and was mustered out, July 1, 1865. He was elected district attorney for Delaware county in the autumn of 1865, was a delegate to the Republican national convention in 1880, and was a representative from the 21st New York district in the 47th congress, 1881-83. He died at White Plains, N.Y., Aug. 31, 1886.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Isaac Craig Buckhout, civil engineer, was born at Morrisania, N. Y., in 1831. At an early age he was employed by the Harlem railroad as a surveyor's assistant, and he afterward occupied the position of city engineer, and superintendent of waterworks in Paterson, N. J. Later he was appointed city surveyor of New York, and in 1853, returning to the employ of the Harlem railroad company, he superintended the construction of extensive works on the Harlem River, and of important improvements in various parts of the road. He became chief engineer of the road in 1857, and its superintendent in 1863. He designed the Grand Central station, and was one of a committee of four engineers appointed by the legislature to carry out the provisions of the charter granting the privilege of constructing the Fourth avenue improvements. Mr. Buckhout's plans for the construction of the underground railroad, for which Mr. Vanderbilt obtained a charter, were pronounced the most practicable of those submitted, as were also his plans for a similar road in Brooklyn, N. Y. He died at White Plains, N. Y., Sept. 27, 1874.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

James Warren Nye, senator, was born in De Ruyter, N.Y., June 10, 1815; son of James Nye, a pioneer settler of Madison county. He was educated in Cortland academy, Homer, N.Y., studied law in Troy, N.Y., and practised in Madison county. He was district attorney, 1839, judge of Madison county, 1840-48, and was the defeated antislavery candidate for representative in the 31st congress in 1848. He practised law in Syracuse, N.Y., 1848-57, and was the first president of the Metropolitan board of police, New York city, 1857-60. During the presidential canvass of 1860 he made a tour of the west with William H. Seward, speaking for Lincoln and Hamlin. He was governor of Washoe (Nevada Territory), 1861-64, and assisted in prepering the territory for admission as a state in 1864. He was elected by the first legislature of Nevada, U.S. senator with William M. Stewart and drew the short term, serving, 1865-67, and was re-elected for a full term, serving, 1867-73. He died at White Plains, N.Y., Dec. 25, 1876.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Thomas Cornell, representative, was born in White Plains, N.Y., Jan. 27, 1814. He engaged in steamboating on the Hudson river between Kingston and New York city, from 1843, which business developed into the Cornell steamboat company, of which he was president until his death. He was founder and during his lifetime the president of the First national bank of Rondout, president of the Rondout savings bank and principal owner of the Ulster & Delaware and the Katterskill railroads, and of the Rhinebeck & Kingston ferry. He erected and largely supported the Wurts Street Baptist church in Kingston. He was a representative in the 40th and 47th congresses, 1867-69 and 1881-83; a delegate to the Republican national convention of 1884, and a presidential elector in 1888. He died in Kingston, N.Y., March 30, 1890.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor