A Newspaper story from 1901
Hiram Mabie, the oldest person living
in Peekskill to day, celebrated his 95th
birthday last Tuesday.(Feb 19,1901)
He has seen his native country grow and develop as he grew older, until he feels honored in being a citizen of the greatest and most prosperous Republic in the world; which, when he was born,nearly a c e n t u r y ago, was a young Republic— a struggling infant — now a
sturdy giant.
Only six years of the 19th century
had elapsed when the subject of our
third sketch first saw light of day, at
Shrub Oak, town of Yorktown, county
of Westchester. N Y., Feb 19. 1800.
His paternal grandfatner was Captain Ezeklel Hyatt, an officer in the Continental
line, u n d e r McDongal and Drake.
He died on March, 1819, aged 90 years.
Hiram's father was Elijaih Mabie, who
died in 1827. His mother was Sarah Hyatt, daughter of Captain Ezekiel Hyatt.
Elijah Mabi was a prominent, and ardent Free Mason, and if was for that
reason that the son was named Hiram— a name familiar and dear to the Craft.
There were ten children, all of whom
lived to a good old age. Of the ten but two remain—Hiram, aged 96, of Peekskill,
and John Mabie, of Bavonno, N. Y ,
who was 78 years old, J u l y i, 1900.
In early youth Mr Mabie learned the trade of a wheelwricht, and worked
faithfully at it in the little hamlet of his nativity until the year 18__. At that
time he journeyed to Peekskill to " l o ok
for a j o b . " He became a pattern-maker
and general utility man in the foundry
of David L. Seymour. From that year
Mr. Mabie continued to work at the
trade until 1890, a period of two score
Years. Eleven years ago, at the age of
HI, he gave up his daily toil, and has
since lived a life not of idleness nl'o-
, • • • , - • *
heart alwaysfound something to do; but
he enjoyed that rest which his long,
eventful, active and diligent career had
earned. He was a skilled artisan at his
trade, and his ability in that, line and
his strong constitution was evidenced by
t h e fact that he continued at his daily
task u n t i l he had passed his four score
years.
Mr. Mabie married Mary Smith, of New York city, in 1888 She died J u ne
1ft, 1888, t h e y having lived together in t h i s happy domestic companionship for
a half centurv. They had three children— J a m e s Mabie, who died some years
since, and William Mabie and John Mabie, two present respected citizens
of Peekskill, who live to love and honor a loyal and estimable father.
After • residence of some forty-seven
vears i n S h r u b Oak, Mr Mabie removed his family to Peekskill, in 1854 He came here to work in 1850, but it, was four years later when his family were brought here, He lived one month in
t h e house n ow occupied by Hiram Horton,
on the corner of First and South
Division streets. Then, when t h e house
on the corner of Elizabeth and South
Division streets was sold at auction, he
bought t h a t place and resided there until
1888, a period of SIS years. Upon the
death of his wife he took up his residence
w i t h his son William Mabie, corner
of Fremont and Elm streets, where
he now lives.
Mr. Mabie never affiliated with the
fraternal organizations, Despite his
father ' s love for the Masonic craft, the
son never wore the square and compass.
In latter life, when speaking of this
matter, he said that the Morgan excitement
was rife at the time he would
liked to have associated himself with
t h e f r a t e r n i t y . At that time men feared
to he known as Free Masons, and he
with thsrest . He often related how in
those s t i r r i n g days ofnoiala of the order
nsed to go s h o u t the country quietly and
•ub »o*a, m a k i n g Masons, v i s i t i ng them
Hiram, then a sturdy young lad.
was often called upon to convey such
parties by sleigh or farm wagon from
Peekskill to Shrub Oak, where they
wonfd rest over night with the elder
M»hl«, a n d where a lodge meeting wonlrt
be held. The next day t h e lad would
drive t h em on east to the next hamlet
where t h e r e were Masons
I n church matters Mr. Mabie h a s been
an earnest Methodist and a consistent
church member from eariv youth. He
became a t r u s t e e of the Shrub Oak M.
E. church in 1884 and served for many
years. When he became a resident of
our village he consummated a membership
in the F i r s t M E. church, a n d has
since remained one of t h e faithful.
Mr. Mabie never fonght in war, but
was a member of t h e State Militia in
the early part of the century.
He has in his possession a quaint, old certificate
which states t h s t he enlisted September
5. 1825, in the Second Regiment of Horse Artillery in the troop under command of Captain John W. Frost
The same certificate shows that he was
honorablv discharged October 13, 1833,
His reminisoenses of the parades and musters of t h e old days in Westchester county are exceedingly interesting and a never failing source of entertainment
for those about him. He always loved
to march, and until w i t h i n a few years
took a keen interest in military and
patriotic m a t t e r s . He attended the nn
yelling of the Hale statne. in City Hall
He was a T r u s t e e of t h e Village of Pe>k-
Kklll in 1857, 1858 a n d 1859. Mr. Mabie
came from Democratic stock. His father
was a Tammany man, a member of the
Yorktown branch. One of the relics
t h a t Mr. Mabie exhibits with pleasure
and pride is the roll of membership of
t h e Tammany Society for the year 1809,
a t which time Captaiu Hyatt, Mr. Mabie's
grandfather, was a member.
Mr. Mabie is a member of the Society
of the Sons of the Revolution of New
York State, as Is also bis sou, William
Weble, a n d his grandson. Louis Ferris
Mabie.
Mr. Mable's health has always been of
t n e nest, tie nas never been ill until
recently, when in the fullness of years
n a t u r a i l y infirmity has come upon him,
and he is now q u i t e feeble and confined
to his bed.
Speaking of newspapers, Mr. Mabie recalls the birth of every Peekskill newspaper, The first printed paper of any kind he recalls was the American Artisan, for which he was one of the
first subscribers some seventy years ago.
Mr. Mabie has in his later years been
rich with reminiscence, and it was a
most entertaining hour that one could
spend in his presence listening to his
recollections of fifty, and sixty and seventy years ego. Columns of this paper could be filled with the amusing anecdotes
and beguiling incidents he could relate. One of his descriptive and delightful yarns is the story of a trip he made in the forties. He drove by team to Newburgh, t h e r e took a sloop to
Albany, a canal boat by t h e Erie canal
t o Buffalo, then embarked on a sailing
vessel and sailed u p t h e Lake 100 miles.
From a point of l a n d i n g be took a stage
to the Pennsylvania line. Thence he walked many miles into Pennsylvania to see a sister. On the return he went by stage from his s i s t e r ' s home to Cleveland, thence to Buffalo by vessel, from Buffalo to Albany by canal, and from t h e Capitol city to Peekskill by sloop.Mr. Mabie was about 40 years of age at that time. The j o u r n e y to and from the Pennsylvania town occupied about two months. Now the trip can be made back and forth in a day for a few dollars.
Such is the progress and development of these United States, which have
grown prosperous and great as Mr.Mabie has grown old.
Highland Democrat
Published Feb 23,1901