Directly adjoining this residence on the south is the large estate of Charles Butler, an uncle of the preceding, known as the " Fox Meadows," which has so often been mentioned in the town's history. Mr. Butler first made the town his home in 1853, purchasing the original " Fox Meadows " from the heirs of Caleb Tompkins, and ha* since added largely to its extent by the purchase of the Travis farm on the north and part of the Varian farm on the south.

Previous to this the Vail house, which stood in the midst of a locust grove about midway up the hill, and celebrated as the birth-place of trovernor Tompkins, had been entirely disma'ntled and nothing but the foundations now remain to mark the spot, and they are almost gone from sight. The old roadway, however, still remains, now all grass-grown, and near it a small clear spring, -- the scene of the death of one of the old-time school-masters. At the time of the purchase of the estate by Mr. Butler the residence of Caleb Tompkins stood on the rising ground, just west of the site of the old Vail house. This mansion was almost entirely remodeled and rebuilt in 1869, and little remains of the original structure. The present estate of " Fox Meadows" includes nearly four hundred acres, and extends from the post road to the ' Bronx, and from the Sedgwick property on the north

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

to the Popham estates on the south. Much of the estate was swamp and marsh when Mr. Butler made his purchase, but nearly all has been reclaimed and the whole estate laid out and beautified with great taste. There are large lawns surrounded with many stately trees and for nearly a mile along the bank of the river Bronx stretch many acres of woodland, through which run several small tributary streams*, and a beautiful drive is thus afforded entirely within the limits of the estate.