Читать книгу History of Westchester County, New York, Volume 3 - Группа авторов - Страница 69

One of Westchester county's most distinguished and honored citizens, and an author of considerable prominence, is Charles Pryer, who resided upon the old Pryer homestead in the town of New Rochelle, where he was born in 1851. His father, John Pryer, was born in the city of New York, in 1802, and after completing his education in the schools of the metropolis, he began his business career there as a merchant. In 1839 he removed, with his family, to the town of Mamaroneck, Westchester county, where he purchased one hundred and fifty acres of land, but soon afterward disposed of that property. His death occurred April 18, 1875, and his wife, who survived him for some years, departed this life June 9, 1887, at the age of seventy-five. They were the parents of five children who reached years of maturity, but George is now deceased, and William E. died September 24, 1888, in New Rochelle, where he successfully engaged in the practice of medicine from 1867 up to the time of his death, having a large practice; John T. resides in New York city; Adeline C. makes tier home in New Rochelle; and Charles completes the family.

On both the paternal and maternal sides our subject is descended from most distinguished ancestry. Jasper Pryer, the founder of the family in America, was a Norman Knight and a descendant of Sir Thomas Pryer, guardian of Prince Edward, known as the Black Prince. It was in 1692 that Jasper Pryer came to the New World and located in New York city, where he removed his family. One of his sons later became a resident of Bergen county, New Jersey. Our subject's great-grandfather was Thomas Pryer,, and his grandfather was Captain Thomas Pryer, who made his home in New York city during life and was in the United States Navy for a number of years. Mrs. Pryer, our subject's mother, was in her maidenhood Miss Eliza Matilda Chardovoyne de Crevecoeur, and was the daughter of William St. John Chardovoyne, who was a son of Eli Chardovoyne de Crevceoeur and was America's first minister from France.

Charles Pryer was principally reared upon the farm, and at a private school in New York city he prepared for college, and passed a college course under private tutors. He has since given his attention mainly to the operation of the farm and to his literary work, contributing to different magazines many able articles, which have received most favorable notice. He is also the author of a work entitled Reminiscences of an Old Homestead, Legends of Westchester county. New York; the Booklet for historic New York, entitled National Ground; and a history of American yachting, which appeared in the Sporting Encyclopedia. His works have all been most favorably commented upon by the press and literary critics of the day.

On the 17th of June, 1880, Mr. Pryer was united in marriage with Miss Julia C. Miller, a daughter of A. B. Miller, of New Rochelle, but she died in October, 1884, leaving one son, Harold C. He was again married in 1888, his second union being with Miss Mary E. Harmer, daughter of John H. Harmer, and to them has been born a daughter, Alice de Crevecoeur.

In politics Mr. Pryer is conservative. He is a leader in social circles, taking quite an active and prominent part in a number of societies and clubs. He is a director of the Knickerbocker Press, in which he has filled the office. of secretary; was commodore of the New Rochelle Yacht Club, and of the Corinthian fleet for three terms; is a member of the Century Club, of New York city; the Atlantic Yacht Club; Larchmont Yacht Club; New York Yacht Club; the Wood Club; and the New York Historical Society; and is also a fellow of the American Geographical Society; the American Numismatic and Archaeological Society; and the Botanical Garden and Zoological Society, of New York city. He has a fine private library and one of the most extensive collections of foreign coins in the state. He is a man of marked ability, forceful character and distinctive culture, — one who will leave his impress upon the world, — and the community is certainly fortunate that numbers him among its citizens.