His prompt action at this time not only saved him much money but enabled him to hold his trade till he could replace the destroyed building by the elegant brick one, which is at present devoted, with the exception of a public hall occupying a portion of the second floor, to the purposes of his business. The property has a frontage of eighty-two feet on Main and one hundred and forty upon Centre Street, and is probably the largest establishment of its kind in Westchester County.

Ever since he started in business Mr. Ferguson has been gradually adding to his financial strength and is now in possession of a large amount of prop- ! erty in and about the village which has been the scene of his success.

He married, February 3, 1856, Miss Julia F. Hudson, and has one son and three daughters, two of whom are married. In politics he is a Republican, and has been since the organization of the party. Formerly he was village clerk and afterward was also town clerk of New Rochelle. At present he is a useful member of the board of education, for the duties of which office he continues to find time, even amid the press of private business.

JO.SEPH B. BREAVSTER.

Mr. Brewster is descended from Elder William Brewster, who came to this country with the Puritans in the "May flower." His father was the celebrated physician, Dr. Elisha Brewster, who moved from Norwich, Conn., to White Plains, N. Y., early in the century. Dr. Brewster married Mary Burling, of u family famous in the Revolutionary history of Westchester County, and Joseph B. is the second of their nine children. He was sent at the age of thirteen to a boarding-school at Jamaica, Long Island, and among his earliest recollections is that of crossing the East