Читать книгу History of Westchester County, New York, Volume 2 - Группа авторов - Страница 4

For more than thirty years Judge Dykman has been a resident of White Plains, Westchester county, New York, and he has a warm place in the hearts of the people of this place, while for integrity and justice he enjoys a reputation that extends beyond the bounds of the state.

Judge Dykman is a native of the Empire state. He was born in the town of Patterson, Putnam county, New York, and is a descendant of one of the early settlers of that county, his great-grandfather, Joseph Dykman, having settled in what is now the town of Southeast, Putnam county, in colonial days, where he became well known and influential; he was a captain in the Continental army in the Revolutionary war.

The youthful days of the subject of our sketch were spent in a manner similar to those of other farmer boys, — in attending school in winter and working on the farm in summer. By the time he reached manhood he had obtained a fair education, enough to enable him to teach a common school, and for some time he was engaged in teaching. Choosing the law for his profession, he entered upon its study in the office of the Hon. William Nelson, then a distinguished lawyer of Peekskill, Westchester county, under whose able instructions he was diligent in study and made rapid advancement. Being duly admitted to the bar, he engaged in the practice of his profession in his native county, at Cold Spring, and shortly afterward was honored, with official position there, first being elected to the office of school commissioner and subsequently to that of district attorney of the county.

Since the spring of 1866 Judge Dykman has been a resident of White Plains. Two years after locating here, in the fall of 1868, he was elected, by a handsome majority, district attorney of Westchester county, a responsible position which he filled with marked ability, particularly distinguishing himself by the successful manner in which he conducted the famous Buckhout murder trial. In the fall of 1875 he was again honored with official position, this time being elected to the high office of justice of the supreme court of the state of New York for the second judicial district.

He was nominated and supported as the regular candidate of the Republican party and at the election received a majority exceeding ten thousand, his support at the polls coming alike from Democrats and Republicans.

Judge Dykman's career on the bench has shown that the confidence of the people was not misplaced. Sound judgment, discretion, kindness, absolute fairness and impartiality, and a wide and deep knowledge of the law, are among his chief characteristics. Simple in habits, and modest and polite in manner, he has a happy way of ingratiating himself with all with whom he comes in contact, and those who know him best esteem him most highly. He is in many ways an illustration of what may be accomplished in this country of ours, with its republican institutions, where all positions are within the grasp of those who desire to obtain them. Without the aid of wealth or influence, and through his own energy and perseverance, he has ;gained the high position he adorns. On neither his public nor private character does there rest a stain.

Judge Dykman has had a long and happy married life, and is the father of two sons, both lawyers, — William N. and Henry T. Mrs. Dykman was formerly Miss Emily L. Trowbridge, of Peekskill, a descendant of one of the New Haven families of that name. In her character is found a noble -example of the devoted, loving wife and mother and benevolent Christian woman. Of their sons we further record that William N. married Miss Belle Annan and is a resident of Brooklyn, where he is successfully engaged in the practice of law. Henry T. married Miss Ella B. Cline, of Dutchess county, and is located at White Plains, where he has acquired a large clientage and good practice.

Politically the Judge is a Democrat in the broadest sense of the term, and his religious creed is that of the Protestant Episcopal church, of which he is a consistent member.