Neal, author of the " Charcoal Sketches." Upon his death a few months later, she took charge of the literary department of Nerd's Gazette, of which her husband had been a proprietor, and conducted it for several years with success. She also contributed frequently to the leading monthly magazines. " The Gossips of Rivertown, with Sketches in Prose and Verse," from her pen, was publislied in 1850. She is also the authoress of a series of popular juvenile works published under the name of " Cousin Alice." In 1853 Mrs. j Neal was married to Mr. Samuel L. Haven, and has [ since resided at Mamaroneck.
Cornelius Mathews, the novelist, play-wright and journalist, was a native of Port Chester. He was b(u-n October 28, 1817. His early country life on the banks of Byram River and the rolling uplands of Rye and it-< picturesque lake, made a deep impression on liis mind, as is shown by traces in many pages of his writings. He was among the early graduates of the New York University in 1835, and began his literary career while still a youth. To t\\e Aiiierican Monthly Magazine of 183G, he contributed both prose and verse. He was also a contributor to the New York Reriev and the Kidckerbocker Magazine. In 1837 he was admitted to the bar. In " Behemoth " he produced an original romance, describing the efforts of a supposed anti-Indian race to overcome the ])re-historic animal known as the mastodon. From December 1840, to May 1842, he edited the Arcturus, [ a monthly magazine, besides writing a comedy and j another novel. In 1843 he ])ublished a volume of poems, and in 1846 his tragedy " Witchcraft," was successfully produced. This was followed by a number of tales and sketches. A collected editi^m of his \