At the time of the death of Mr. Wells, says Allison, Yonkers was " a hamlet of one hundred people -- more or less -- and a little more than a score of houses/' Meanwhile, however, there had been a gradual accession of valuable citizens in the sections bordering the manor property -- some of them land purchasers of substantial means, and others men of enterprising traits, all realizing the natural advantages of the locality and standing ready to promote its development. As early as 1804 Ebcnezer Baldwin became a resident, coming from Norwich. Conn., at the solicitation of Mr. Ilowland, then the owner of the manor

GENERAL

COUNTY

HISTORY

estate, for the purpose of rebuilding the steeple of the church. Mr. Baldwin liked the place and remained, subsequently taking aii active part in stimulating its growth and business activity. Many of the most conspicuous Yonkers people of this day are numbered among his descendants, or among those connected with his family by marriage. In 1820 some two hundred and twenty acres about one mile north of the Manor House were purchased by Frederic Shonnard, son of a French officer, who had served in the body guard of Frederick the Great. At that time Judge Aaron Vark, who united the functions of magistrate, country storekeeper, and postmaster, was the principal man in the little community. In 1828 William 0. Waring and Hezekiah Nichols began to manufacture bodies for wool hats. This was the first introduction of the hat industry -- now so .important-- in Yonkers, and it was also the first appearance of the name of Waring. The Warings were from Putnam County. -John T. Waring came some years later. Rut our space does not admit of any attempt to recapitulate the names of the founders of the early Yonkers.