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

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Biographies:

William Holms Chambers Bartlett, mathematician, was born at Lancaster, Pa., in 1804. His parents removed to Missouri in his infancy, and he received an appointment to West Point from that state in 1822. His genius for mathematics manifested itself in the early days of his cadetship, and during the last two years of his course at the academy he was assistant professor of mathematics. He was graduated in 1826 with highest honors, being one of the few students to pass through the rigid course without demerit marks. He was commissioned 2d lieutenant of engineers, and assigned to duty as assistant professor of engineering at the academy. In 1829 he was detailed on engineering duty, in the erection of coast defences and fortifications; in 1834 returned to West Point as acting professor of natural and experimental philosophy, and was made full professor in 1836. In 1840 he visited the principal observatories of Europe, having been commissioned to procure astronomical instruments, and to observe new methods with a view to the improvement of the course of instruction at West Point. He was an honored member of many scientific associations, and was one of the original incorporators of the National academy of sciences. Princeton college conferred upon him the degree of A.M. in 1837, and Geneva (now Hobart) college, that of LL.D. in 1847. He is the author of "A Treatise on Optics" (1839); "Synthetical Mechanics" (1850-'58); "Acoustics and Optics" (1852-'59); "Analytical Mechanics" (1853-'59), and "Spherical Astronomy" (1855-'58), and a series of text books originally designed for the West Point cadets. Colonel Bartlett, at his own request, was retired in 1871, and for the subsequent twenty-two years held the position of actuary to the Mutual life insurance company of New York. He died at Yonkers, N.Y., Feb. 11, 1893.

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

Jacob Odell, soldier, was born in Greenburg, N.Y., July 25, 1756; son of Abraham and Rebecca (Dyckman) Odell; grandson of Johannes and Johannah (Vermilye) Odell, and a descendant in the sixth generation of William Odell of Concord, Mass., 1639, Fairfield, Conn., 1644. Jacob Odell served during the war of the Revolution in Col. Samuel Drake's regiment. On the return of peace he was commissioned brigadier-general of New York state militia by Maj.-Gen. Morris, and commanded the first brigade of horse artillery. He married Ann, widow of Abraham Brevoort, and daughter of David and Mary (Van Vleckeren) Devoor. He lived at Yonkers, N.Y., was member of the state assembly, 1812-13, a Monroe presidential elector in 1821, and a Jackson elector in 1829. He died at Yonkers, N.Y., in 1845.

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

William Allen Butler, lawyer, was born in Albany, N. Y., Feb. 20, 1825; son of Benjamin Franklin and Harriet (Allen) Butler. He was graduated at the University of the city of New York, 1843, read law with his father, and was admitted to the bar in 1846. He travelled abroad, 1846-48, engaged in practice in New York city, was a lecturer on admiralty and maritime law, jurisdiction, and practice in the University of the city of New York; member of the commission on cities, 1875-76; president of the New York bar association, 1886-87; of the American bar association, 1886; member of the council of the University of the city of New York after 1862, and a vice-president after 1891, and a member of the New York geographical and New York historical societies. He received the degree LL.D. in 1880, from the University of the city of New York. He contributed to periodicals and published The Future (1847); Barnum's Parnassus (1850), Nothing to Wear (1857); Two Millions (1858); and General Average (1860) all poems. He also wrote: The Bible by Itself (1859); Martin Van Buren (1862), and Lawyer and Client (1871). His collected Poems appeared (1871). In fiction he wrote Mrs. Limber's Raffle (1875); Domesticus (1886); The Revision of the Statutes of New York and the Revisers (1888), and Oberammergau, (1891). He died at Yonkers, N. Y., Sept. 9, 1902.

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

Thomas Jefferson Morgan, soldier and educationist, was born in Franklin, Ind., Aug. 17, 1889; son of Lewis and Mary (Causey) Morgan, and grandson of Adonijah Morgan. His father was a Baptist clergyman and a founder of Franklin college. He matriculated at Franklin college, but left in 1861 to enlist in the 7th Indiana infantry; and in August, 1862, was commissioned 1st lieutenant in the 70th Indiana regiment, Col. Benjamin Harrison. He subsequently recruited the 14th, 42d and 44th U.S. colored infantry, and became successively major, lieutenant-colonel and colonel. He commanded the first colored brigade organized in the Army of the Cumberland under Gen. George H. Thomas, and also served for a time on the staff of Gen. O. O. Howard commanding the 4th army corps. He had two horses shot under him in battle, and was brevetted brigadier-general for his gallantry at the battle of Nashville. General Howard gave him the credit of saving Sherman's army from disaster at Resaca. He was graduated from the Rochester Theological seminary, 1868, and was secretary of the New York Baptist Union for Ministerial Education, 1869-72. In 1870 he married Caroline, daughter of the Hon. Frederick Starr of Rochester, N.Y. He was professor of homiletics and church history in the Baptist Union Theological seminary, Chicago, Ill., 1872-79; and later principal of state normal schools at Potsdam, N.Y., and Providence, R.I. He served as U.S. commissioner of Indian affairs under President Harrison, 1889-93, during which time he broke up the Indian contract school system; secured civil service rules to many positions in the Indian service, and increased the school attendance from 16,000 to 21,000. In 1898 he accepted the secretaryship of the American Baptist Home Mission society, which office he still held in 1902. He received the honorary degree of D.D. from the University of Chicago, and that of LL.D. from Franklin college, Indiana. He became an overseer of the corporation of Columbian university, Washington, D.C.,in 1889. He is the author of: Studies in Pedagogy, Patriotic Citizenship and The Negro in America. He died at Yonkers, N.Y., July 13, 1902.

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