History of Westchester County, New York, Vol. I
Their only son, Caleb, a young man of great promise, died, in 1869, soon after his graduation from Columbia College.
Mr. Purdy is a member of the Episcopal Church, and now holds the position of senior warden, and is superintendent of the Sabbath -school.
Soon after establishing his practice at West Farms
\
THE BENCH AND BAR.
he purchased tlio homestead formerly belonging to Dr. William Hoffman, on the west side of Main Street, or the old Boston Post Road, which lias ever since been his residence.
Mr. Purdy is a type of the self-made man. Comnienciog with small means he has accumulated a competency ; by strict attention to business, and by his integrity and honesty of purpose, he has gained what is of still greater importance, the confidence and resi)ect of the entire community.
WILLIAM AU(iU.STI-S HEACH.
On Broadway in Tarrytown stands the handsome stone mansion, which for four years previous to his death was the residence of William Augustus Beach, formerly a leading lawyer in New York City, and is at present occupied by his family.
Mr. Beach was born at Saratoga Sjirings, New York, December 10, 1809. His father. Miles Beach, was an early settler and successful merchant in that village. His mother, whose maiden name was Catharine Warren, was a first cousin of General Warren of Revolutionary fame. Augustus (as Mr. Beach was usually known) received no college education. He studied law in his native village and for some years after his admission to the bar was engaged there in the practice of his profession. In the law firm of which he was a member, Nicholas Hill, Jr., and Augustus Bockes, who was later a supreme court judge of that district, were the other partners. From the first, he showed remarkable powers in influencing juries to the conclusions he desired, and a keenness in seizing upon the jjoints of advantage in his cases, and he soon acquired a local reputation as an advocate of ability.