USA > New Jersey > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, New Jersey, 1664-1920, Volume III > Part 34
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During the World War. 1917-18, he served on the Legal Advisory Board for the Metuchen district, and rendered other service. He is a member of the Phi Epsilon Pi. a college fraternity, and also the Lambda Alpha Phi, a legal fraternity, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is a devotee of all out-of-door athletics, his own specialties
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being running and high jumping. In 1915 he was the East Jersey High School high jump champion, and in 1920 won the same honor in the New Jersey Young Men's Hebrew Association competition. He also won the broad jump championship of the Young Men's Hebrew Asso- ciation in that year.
JACOB SMERLING .- From far away Russia came Jacob Smerling when but fifteen, and in the land of freedom and opportunity he has improved the advantages offered, and since 1907 has been engaged in mercantile business in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. He is a son of Chanon Smerling, born in and yet living in Russia, a lumber dealer, and his wife, Sarah (Smulak) Smerling, also living in Russia. They were the parents of seven children, all living in the United States except one who remains in Russia with his parents. Of the other six children three are in Pennsylvania, one in Michigan, one in New York, the other in Perth Amboy, and all are married.
Jacob Smerling was born in Russia, and there passed fifteen years of his life prior to coming to the United States. He remained in New York City for some time after coming to this country, and in the city night schools acquired the English language and an English education. Dur- ing those years he was employed in selling goods on the installment plan, being his own employer, for during his entire life in the United States he has worked on his own account. In 1907 he closed out his New York ventures and located in Perth Amboy, establishing with his limited capital a small tobacco and confectionery store at No. 327 State street. For nine years he remained at that location, and by energy and thrift made the store pay. He increased his lines and built up a good patronage that continued loyal to the little shop that served them so well. In 1916 he moved to his present store, No. 148 Smith street, changing his line with his location, and now deals entirely in musical instruments, including phonographs and accessories. He is a member of Beth Mordecai Congregation, Perth Amboy, is an independent in politics, and a member of several local societies, Brith Abraham, Zion and Loyal Association.
Mr. Smerling married, in New York City, July, 1900, Sarah Levine, born in Russia, where both her parents died.
FRANK STAS, of Perth Amboy, New Jersey, in choosing the line of business in which to make his own strike for success in America, placed himself where he is able to be of great service to his countrymen who come to our shores. In his steamship ticket agency, and also in his city office as notary public, many come to him who are glad to find this common bond.
Joseph Stas, father of Frank Stas, was born in Czechoslovakia, and died in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, at the age of sixty-nine years, Febru- ary II, 1919. His mother, Anna (Kokoska) Stas, also died in Perth Amboy, January 25, 1895, at the age of forty-one years. Joseph and Anna (Kokoska) Stas were the parents of eleven children, three of
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whom are still living: Theresa, wife of Emerick Karas, residing in Budapest ; Frank, of Perth Amboy, of whom extended mention follows; and Josephine, who lives in New York City.
Frank Stas was born in Budapest, July 17, 1878. He received his education in that city and learned, in part, the trade of machinist. He came to America with his mother when he was fifteen years of age, and was soon foreman of the lighterage department of the American Smelting and Refining Company. In 1900 he returned again to his trade of machinist, his natural mechanical ability qualifying him for work in that line, with the training he had received in the old country. . He remained with the American Smelting and Refining Company, in their machine shop, of which he was foreman for some time.
Having won the confidence and respect of the people of Perth Amboy, Mr. Stas was becoming known in political circles. He was elected notary public and later, in connection with the duties of this office, he estab- lished an agency for the handling of steamship tickets. This business has developed until, with his duties as notary public, his time is fully absorbed during business hours. Mr. Stas is interested in broad public activities outside his business. He is a faithful worker in the Repub- lican party, which nominated him for alderman in 1914. He is now a member of the Water Board. He is a director of the Raritan Trust Company and North Amboy Building and Loan Association. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Improved Order of Red Men, and is a chief in the Haymakers' Association. But his greatest interest lies in those organizations through which his fellow- countrymen, uniting to find mutual help in the new country, learn the principles of Democracy. He is supreme secretary of the Slovak Gym- nastic Union Sokol (Falcon) ; is a member of the Slovak National Soci- ety, and national treasurer of the Slovak League of America. He is also founder of the Slovak Roman Catholic church in Perth Amboy, and one of its first trustees. As relaxation from these multiplied activities, Mr. Stas indulges, occasionally, in hunting and fishing.
Mr. Stas married, in Perth Amboy, May 28, 1901, Anna Balak, daughter of John and Elizabeth Balak. She was born in Slovakia; her father died in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, but her mother survives him, and makes her home with the daughter. Mr. and Mrs. Stas have four children : Anna, born November 17. 1902; Frances, born August 7, 1903 ; Milan, born December 7, 1908; and Edward H., born October 5, 1910.
FREDERICK CHRISTIAN CHRISTENSEN .- From the sturdy blood of Northern Europe come many of the upright, hard working Americans, who help constantly to renew the life and vitality of the Nation. Frederick Christian Christensen is a man still in the prime of life, who, coming from Denmark, has made a substantial success in the country of his adoption in constructive lines which make for the pros- perity of the community.
Mr. Christensen is a son of Jens Peter Christensen, who was born and died in Denmark. He lived to the age of eighty years. He was a
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carpenter, as was his father, Christian Jensen. Mr. Christensen's mother was Karen Marie (Andreasen) Christensen. She also was born and died in Denmark, having lived until nearly eighty years of age. They were the parents of ten children, of whom seven are living: Frederick Christian, of whom extended mention follows; Sophia, Peter, Julius, Christina, Christian, and Viggo. The eldest is the only one who left Denmark.
Frederick Christian Christensen was born in Udby Lundley Station, Denmark, September 27, 1862. There he attended school, and later began to work with his father, learning the trade of carpenter. He per- fected himself in his trade in Copenhagen, remaining there and continu- ing to work along the same line for seven years. He next spent six months in Hamburg, Germany. In the year 1888 he came to America, bringing his wife and eldest child, Ellen Mary. He located in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, and began working at his trade as journeyman carpenter. He continued working thus, and by industry and economy laid up a little capital. In 1902 he went into business on his own account. He has been successful from the first, and is now doing business under the name of The Fred Christensen Construction Company, Incorporated, at No. 218 Madison avenue. Perth Amboy. He handles large contracts in a workmanlike manner, and no bit of construction is too small for his careful attention. Among the many important buildings erected by The Fred Christensen Construction Company may be mentioned : School No. 9, Perth Amboy, and Nos. 10 and II, Woodbridge ; remodelled Knights of Columbus building on High street, Perth Amboy.
Mr. Christensen takes a keen interest in all the activities of public life. In political affiliation he is a Republican. He is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and a member and active worker in those societies which lend a helping hand to his countrymen who come seeking a home and livelihood in this country. These are the Danish Brotherhood. the Danish Relief Association, the Danish Hundred Men Society, and the Danish Singing Society, Frem. He also serves as secretary of the Building Trades Association of Perth Amboy, having formerly served as president of that body. The family are members of the Danish Lutheran church.
Mr. Christensen married Ellen Margaret Dagmar Hansen, who was born in Denmark. Both her parents died there. Their four children are as follows: 1. Ellen Mary, wife of Edward J. Koster, of Metuchen, New Jersey. 2. John C., associated with his father in business, secretary of the company ; he saw eighteen months service in France, during the World War, in the Air Squadron, and at the time of his discharge was first class sergeant of the 469th Air Squadron ; he is a member of the Masonic order. 3. James Andrew, enlisted as a private in the service of the government during the World War, and at the time of his dis- charge was inspector of gas at a camp near Baltimore, Maryland; he is a member of the Masonic order. 4. Caroline Sophia, twin of James Andrew, wife of John Young Hunter, of Perth Amboy.
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FRITZ JAHNKE .- Among the well known business men of Perth Amboy, New Jersey, the name of Fritz Jahnke deserves conspicuous mention for the energetic part he has taken in its commercial life, where, as proprietor of the Standard Garage, he has won well merited success. Mr. Jahnke is a native of Bremen, Germany, born June 19, 1888, a son of Carl and Emma Jahnke. The elder Mr. Jahnke was born in Berlin, Germany, and has long been engaged in the hotel business in that city, where he is well and favorably known. He and his wife are the parents of three children, as follows: Agnes, who became the wife of Herman Scholtz, of Bremen; Margaret, who became the wife of Adolph Beyer, of Berlin ; and Fritz, of this sketch.
As a child Mr. Jahnke attended the schools of his native land, and afterwards learned the trade of machinist there, gaining unusual pro- ficiency in the craft for one of his age. He was only twenty years old when he determined upon the step of leaving his home and seeking his own fortune in the New World. Accordingly, he came directly to the United States and went to Buffalo, New York, where he found employ- ment in his trade, remaining about twelve months. Being a skilled machinist he had no difficulty in finding work, and his next step was to return to the East, where the next four years were spent in Jersey City, New Jersey, and New York. Coming to Perth Amboy, he spent a similar period in the same line of work, and in 1917 opened a garage on Smith street and prospered greatly from the start. In the month of May, 1919, he removed to his present location at No. 361 New Bruns- wick avenue, where the Standard Garage is now numbered among the best known and most largely patronized establishments in the neigh- borhood. The success of Mr. Jahnke has been due entirely to his ener- getic and intelligent conduct of the business he has built up, and equally to his good reputation for honesty and good service that he has won. He wholly merits the esteem and confidence of his fellow-citizens, which have been accorded him in large measure ; as he is yet a young man the notable success he has already won can be confidently counted upon as but a prophesy of a still greater achievement for the future. Mr. Jahnke has participated actively in the social and fraternal life of the community where he dwells, and is affiliated with the Order of Owls.
Fritz Jahnke was united in marriage, September 30. 1909, in Ger- many, with Emma Schultz, a native of that country, a daughter of Emil and Emilia Schultz. Mr. and Mrs. Jahnke are the parents of one child, Vernon, born March 5, 1911.
MARTIN AMARESCU since childhood has been interested in the violin and has made a thorough study of the instrument. Upon reaching manhood he began to manufacture this musical instrument, which has resulted in his having attained considerable fame as a violin maker.
Martin Amarescu was born in Roumania, February 18, 1883, the son of John and Catherine (Whitman) Amarescu. After receiving a common school education he came to this country and located in South River, New Jersey, where he has established himself as a barber, devoting
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all his spare time to the manufacture of violins. Active in his business relations, with a ready courtesy and sympathy for all, he commands the esteem of the entire community. In his religious affiliations Mr. Ama- rescu is a Presbyterian ; and he is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men. & FRAM. +243 SO. River.
On February 8, 1906, Mr. Amarescu was united in marriage with Julia Korporetch, a native of Slavonia, her birth having occurred there, April 8, 1887. Mr. and Mrs. Amarescu are the parents of the following children : Martin, born August 10, 1907; and Mary, born February 2, 1909. Mr. Amarescu is devoted to his home and finds his greatest pleas- ure in the circle of his own fireside. The family home is on Main street, Mr. Amarescu having purchased this home in 1916.
PHILIP SISKIND .- Among the successful business men of Perth Amboy, New Jersey, there is none better deserving of mention than Philip Siskind, who in spite of difficulties and obstacles of all kinds has worked his way from the humblest of positions to the prominent place he now occupies in the community. Mr. Siskind may truly be called a self-made man in the best sense of the term, for all that he has and is has been the result of his own unswerving efforts, efforts that were continued through years when circumstances were such as to daunt most men and turn them from their objects.
Philip Siskind was born September 10, 1873, in Maxtavo, near Janavo, Russia, of Jewish parents, and as a child met with the various difficulties which the ruling class in that country placed in the way of his oppressed people. His education, in both Hebrew and Russian, was obtained through the offices of private teachers, and upon completing his studies he was taken by his father into the latter's wood and lumber business. He remained in partnership with the elder man until his death two years later, and then for three years longer he conducted it by himself. He found, however, that competition with larger concerns in the same region resulted in a steady decrease of his trade, and he eventually abandoned it and secured a position with a very large concern worth a quarter of a million, engaged in the same line. He won the regard and affection of the superintendent, who personally taught him all the details of the business and imported to him all his knowledge. The young man proved an apt pupil, and in the five years during which he was connected with the concern managed by dint of the greatest industry and thrift to save up a considerable sum of money. In one of the slack seasons he returned to his home to visit his mother and there found that his eldest sister was engaged to a young man of fine character who had won the entire respect and approval of the young lady's family. She was short of funds, however, and to make up the deficiency Mr. Siskind made her a present of his hard earned savings. At the same time he deter- mined to leave his native land and journey to the United States, of the fame of which he had continually heard as a land where all men were free and equal and which, as he has himself expressed it, drew him like magic.
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He set sail for the land of his desires, August 1, 1893, and landed in New York harbor in due course and in good health and spirits, and was met by a cousin who displayed great friendliness and aided him in secur- ing a position. He received at first only eight dollars a month in wages, but his industry and intelligence gained him promotion, and three months later his salary had been doubled. About this time he was married, and with the assistance of his wife, he. engaged in business on his own account. In this venture, however, he was unsuccessful and nine months later was obliged to close up his store, having lost his entire capital. With the most praiseworthy courage, Mr. Siskind determined to start again on the humblest scale and came to Perth Amboy, New Jersey, where he secured a temporary position at nine dollars a week. He worked at this employment for about seven months and then once more started an enterprise of his own as a dealer in clothing, which he sold on the installment plan. This time his affairs prospered and he soon became well known in the town of Perth Amboy on account of his friendly and cheerful disposition and the strict honesty with which he conducted all his transactions. On January 1, 1900, he opened a store on State street and here he continued his clothing business with a marked degree of success for about eighteen months. By that time his trade had increased so greatly that he began negotiations for a larger store and soon began the construction of his present place of business at Nos. 324 and 326 State street, a modern, well equipped building, which was successfully opened in October, 1902.
It was about this time that Mr. Siskind's greatest misfortune occurred in the shape of a severe sickness which nearly proved his death. He first noticed its approach by the symptoms of great nervousness and severe colds which. as he was at that time working day and night, grew constantly worse. He consulted a number of specialists, but received no benefit, and his trouble was brought to a climax by a business trip taken in most inclement weather to Staten Island. He returned from this very ill and was carried from his carriage to his house in a state of paralysis which continued uninterruptedly for seven months. During this time the splendid devotion of his wife saved the situation as well as his life. She was indefatigable in caring for him, and at the same time attended to the store and outside business and altogether proved herself a woman of the noblest character and great resources. Mr. Siskind's condition grew steadily worse and at length, on the eve of Easter, 1903, he became so desperately ill that Mrs. Siskind had to hurry for medical aid in the emergency. She was unable to find a doctor for some time, but eventually she secured Dr. Stafford and he hurried to the bedside, only to find a man of whose life he nearly despaired. A medicine prescribed by him proved to be unobtainable, but Mr. Siskind fell into a deep sleep which continued the remainder of the night. He recalls vividly to this day that during that sleep he dreamed a curious dream in which his father appeared to him and brewed him some medicine which he drank and which brought him relief. Nevertheless, when the doctor visited him the following morn- ing he was so weak that it required electric tests to discover life and
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even these were for a time unavailing. Finally, however, the physician concluded that life was yet present, and as the disease was broken, it required only great care and constant nursing from that time on to insure his recovery. That he recovered at all appears to be due about equally to Mr. Siskind's great natural strength and to the devotion of his brave wife, whose attentions never flagged. Mr. Siskind eventually went back to work, although for some time he was obliged to get about on crutches and later with a cane, but in course of time his cure was complete and today he is as well as ever. His pleasant relations with his friends and patrons were resumed, and he is undoubtedly at present one of the most popular and successful merchants of the city, enjoying a reputation for integrity and honesty second to none and reaping in full measure the results of his virtues. He is a member of Shary Telfilah Temple and order Sons of Zion, being a trustee of the former and the presiding officer of the latter. He is also a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles and of the Order of Owls.
Philip Siskind was united in marriage, April 3, 1897, in New York City, with Rachel Weiner, a daughter of Benjamin and Tema Weiner, of that city. He and his wife are the parents of one daughter, Sarah, born February 5, 1909, in Perth Amboy, New Jersey.
Mr. Siskind has been a frequent contributor to the local newspapers, some of his articles attracting considerable attention, especially one on woman's suffrage and one predicting in 1914 a general European war. Mr. Siskind has made it his policy to please his customers, and his advice to all men is characteristic of his own cheerful and optimistic nature. To all men he says: "Be happy, do not lose confidence, never say I am lost ; approach everybody with a smile ; don't lose self respect ; honor everybody and love your neighbor as yourself."
HARRY WOLF GREENSPAN .- Brought by his parents to the United States when a boy of six years, Mr. Greenspan, now a substantial resident of Perth Amboy, New Jersey, and established in the grocery business at No. 265 Smith street, has but a dim personal knowledge of any other land than this. He is a man of energy, has prospered through his own efforts and enterprise, and fairly won his way to success.
Harry Wolf Greenspan was born in Russia, the son of Philip and Rebecca (Uterman) Greenspan, who are both residents of New York City. Harry W. Greenspan, upon being brought to this country by his parents, attended the public schools of New York City until he was fourteen years of age, when he entered the business world in the capacity of grocery clerk in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, where he remained until he was twenty years old. He then went into business on his own account and established himself in the grocery business at No. 265 Smith street, and has continued with success in this ever since. In the affairs of the community he holds an intense interest, but has never entered politics. He is a member of the Young Men's Hebrew Associa- tion, and is also a member of the Jewish Synagogue.
Mr. Greenspan married May Spewack, September 15, 1920. In busi-
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ness activities and in his life as a citizen, Harry Wolf Greenspan has made himself one of the men who count in his community, and everything indicates that the years to come will bring him larger opportunities of service resulting in successes more noteworthy and more fruitful than those of the past.
TYCHO THORVALD FILSKOV .- With a number of brothers and sisters residing in Denmark, and with his mother. Agatha Filskov, still living at her home in that country, Tycho Thorvald Filskov is the only member of a large family of children to come to the United States. The father, Johannes Filskov, was the proprietor of a general store in his home town in Denmark, where he died many years ago. He and his wife were the parents of nine children: Johanne, a school teacher in Denmark : Alfred, a minister ; Elisabeth ; Lorenz ; Johannes, president of a bank in Denmark : Christine; Axel, a steamship engineer ; Tycho, the editor of a newspaper : and Tycho Thorvald, of further mention.
Tycho Thorvald Filskov received an excellent education in his native land, first in the public schools and later in the University of Copenhagen, from which he graduated when twenty-one years old. Coming to this country almost immediately after his graduation. Tycho Thorvald Fils- kov landed in New York City, in 1892, and for some time was located there. In 1894 he went to Jersey City, where he was employed with the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company, remaining with them until 1896, then, returning to New York City, he was engaged in several different engineering concerns for a number of years, eventually coming to South Amboy to accept a position with the Raritan River Railroad Company as chief engineer. This was in 1914 and two years later he was appointed superintendent of the railroad, still serving as its chief engineer. Mr. Filskov afterwards became a director of the company, and is still holding this office with them.
In addition to his business interests, Mr. Filskov is a lover of out- of-door amusements, driving his own automobile being his favorite form of recreation. He and his family are all members of the Presbyterian church.
Tycho Thorvald Filskov married. in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1894, Marie Holm, a native of Denmark, where her father and mother were born and where they died. Mr. and Mrs. Filskov have had two children, both now living: 1. Harold, born August 13. 1896, a graduate of Ste- vens Institute of Technology at Hoboken. in the class of 1918, receiving the degree of mechanical engineer ; he is employed in the office of the Raritan River Railroad Company with his father, as assistant engineer. 2. Alfred, born June 11, 1898, a graduate of Stevens Institute, class of 1919: he is in the office of a consulting engineer in Newark, New Jersey. The family home is at No. 302 Main street, South Amboy.
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