[J. Thomas Scharf (1886)] mingling in the active affairs of the town. Robert Hallock owned a large farm and a fine water-power on Plum Brook, a mile and a half west of Somers vil-lage. Here, surrounded with all the elements of prosperity, he attended to the duties of life and be-came the head of a family. He was an early settler of the town and his mill was known for miles around in every direction. The mill is still in operation and the old house is still an evidence of the substantial construction of the early days. It is approached through a lane leading from the highway, and is now owned by Harvey Varis, a direct descendant of the Van Vares of New York and New Amsterdam. On the east side of this lane is the family burying-ground, where lie the remains of the members of the family — not all of them, however, as some are buried in the Friends' burying-ground at Amawalk. Robert died in 1853, at seventy-nine years of age, and Sarah, his wife, in 1863 at eighty-eight years. They left a large family, James, Edmund and Robert remain-ing settled in the town. Robert occupied the home-stead and had sons — Elbert and William S. James owned a handsome residence, a fine farm and a saw and grist-mill a mile west of the old home, on Plum Brook, which are owned at present by Halstead B., his son. Edmund owns a farm adjoining the home property and his tasteful residence overlooks the farm of his father. They are among the most reliable and highly respected residents of the town.