At the close of the war business of all kinds, which had been long abandoned, was resumed ; a new court-house was built, and White Plains, by an act of the Legislature, became an independent town. With but few exceptions, new men became leaders in town affairs. In 1788 John Barker purchased the Owen farm, which extended on the west side of Broadway from the Presbyterian Church to Railroad Avenue, and in 1796-97 he represented the county in the Assembly. In 1799 Dr. Archibald McDonald moved into the town, having purchased the property on the corner of Broadway and Spring Street ; and for many years thereafter the sons of John Barker and of Archibald McDonald were active in town and county politics.

Richard Hatfield, a native of the town, was for many years the foremost man in every enterprise, whether it was organizing and incorporating a church or presiding at a town-meeting.

About 1795 Edward Thomas, a lawyer, located in town, on the Squire place ; he was appointed surrogate, but died in 1806. In that year Minott Mitchell, a young lawyer from Connecticut, settled in White Plains, and for half a century was active in every project to benefit the town and county. For a quarter of a century he was town clerk, and during that time the town was at no expense for his official or legal services.

For more than twenty years after the war the village hotel was opposite the court-house, and was kept by Dr. Graham ; he also had a store a rod or two south of the hotel. Both hotel and store passed into the possession of Stephen Barker, who continued them