USA > New York > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and family history of New York, Volume III > Part 16
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France. He was also actively interested in various other bus- iness enterprises, industrial and financial. His death occurred July 20, 1878, aged a little more than fifty years.
Mr. Lowenbein married, in New York city, Miss Hannah Engle. Of this marriage were born children named as follows: 1. Sarah, who became the wife of D. S. Hess, of New York city. 2. David. 3. Morris. 4. Ernest. 5. Henry. Two of the sons, to be further referred to, are associated in business under the firm name of A. Lowenbein's Sons.
David Lowenbein was born in New York city, August 2, 1854. He received his preliminary education in the city schools, and pursued a collegiate course in Enropean institutions of learning. After completing his education he returned home and entered his father's establishment. On the death of the parent, David Lowenbein, with his brother Morris, organized the firm of A. Lowenbein's Sons, furniture dealers and decor- ators, and removed to Fourteenth street, where they remained until 1888, subsequently to Twenty-third street, and in 1901 to 383 Fifth avenue, its present location. The house is known as one of the leaders of its class, and enjoys a large patronage of the wealthiest classes. Mr. Lowenbein is prominent in military circles ; is captain of Company F, Twenty-second Regiment, New York National Guard; saw service in the Spanish-American war, and is a member of the military order of Veterans of the Span- ish war. He is a Republican in his political affiliations. He married, in New York city, Miss Harriet Martens.
Morris Lowenbein, junior member of the firm of A. Lowen- bein's Sons, was born in New York city, October 6, 1856. He began his education in the city schools and took collegiate train- ing in Germany. Returning to the United States he joined his brother David in the business which now engages their attention. He is a member of the Freundschaft Club of New York city. He
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married, April 6, 1880, Miss Helen Axmacher, and they have one living child, Edna.
Ernest Lowenbein was born in New York city, October 23, 1858. He was educated in the New York city public schools, private schools in Germany and Cornell University, graduating from the last named institution in 1879. He then entered the Lowenbein's Sons' establishment, and in 1881 was admitted to partnership with his brothers in the firm. He is affiliated with Girard Lodge, No. 631, Free and Accepted Masons, in which he is a past master, and is a member of the Delta Beta Phi college fraternity. In 1881 he married, in Tivoli-on-the-Hudson, Miss Catherine Oberbaugh, and they are the parents of a son, Ralph.
CHARLES VAN BUREN.
The gentleman whose name forms the caption for this nar- rative enjoys the unique distinction of contributing in peculiar degree to the instruction and amusement of tens of thausands of people, native Americans and foreign tourists, through his skill in a peculiar field, that of manufacturer of wax figures, in which he is a master of unsurpassable ability.
He was born in Liverpool, Illinois, February 17, 1866, son of William Levi. His father was twice married, his first wife being Martha Kill, who bore him a daughter, Louise M., now the wife of Frank W. Wilson, residing in New York. By his second wife, Nancy, Mr. Levi had two children: One who died in in- fancy, and Charles, the immediate subject of this sketelı. The father died in October, 1872, the mother surviving him and dy- ing about 1874.
Charles, above named, after the death of his parents, came under the care of his stepfather, Mr. Van Buren, a direct de- scendant of President Martin Van Buren, and he adopted that family name (Van Buren) as his own. Charles Van Buren had
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no school advantages, and he carved out his own career. At the age of twenty-one years he enlisted in the United States regular army, in the Fifteenth Regiment Infantry, Colonel E. A. Crofton commanding, and completed a full five years term of service on the western frontier, having made a most honorable military record, also receiving a medal of honor for life saving, and was honorably discharged at Fort Sheridan, near Chicago, Illinois. About 1897 he engaged in the study of waxworks figures in the Eden Musee, Chicago, Illinois, and developed a remarkable ar- tistic and mechanical ability in the conception and execution thereof. In 1901, a master of his art, he located in the city of New York, at 262 Green street, where he has been busily occu- pied with his profession. A large number of his productions are among the exhibits in the celebrated Eden Musee in New York city, and he numbers among his patrons a large number of the leading department stores and other emporiums of fashion throughout the city and country. He is an enthusiast in his chosen field, and has made for himself a widespread reputation.
PEOPLE'S HOME CHURCH AND SETTLEMENT PARISH.
The excellent work now being conducted under the name of this institution was inaugurated under the auspices of the Fed- eration of Churches and Christian Organizations in New York city, with the purpose of engaging in a movement to redeem the city through a co-operative movement. In planning the work for the Fourteenth Assembly District, four blocks were assigned to the People's Home Church and Settlement Parish-the region just north and northeast of Tompkins Square, five blocks east of Grace (Protestant Episcopal) Church, and near the East river. This work was formulated under the foregoing plan in 1900, but its foundation had been already well laid. In 1892 the Rev. Ernest L. Fox, then engaged in missionary work in the old
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Asbury Church (Methodist Episcopal) on Washington Square, was appointed to the permanent charge of the work, and renamed the church "The People's Home Church," and, making his res- idence in the building, continued upon a larger scale his work of forming clubs, classes, boys' brigades, etc. In time he was en- abled to acquire a tenement house adjoining, which was refitted to include an anditorium, gymnasium, with lockers and bath; eleven rooms for the residents, and eight rooms for library, reading room, parlor, kindergarten circles, nursery, clubs and classes. Besides the gymnasium classes, sewing, carpentry, clay modeling, basketry and cooking are taught; and in the literary classes Italians are taught in the English language. Through the Home Makers' Club mothers are trained to make better the home life, and in the Men's Club is maintained a "free forum" for hearing addresses and engaging in discussions upon questions of the day. In the summer season provision is made for camp outings for mothers with small children, and for boys upon a colony farm. The settlement work is conducted by the Rev. E. L. Fox. headworker and treasurer, who has as assist- ants: The Rev. A. S. Muirhead, assistant pastor and business manager; the Rev. Joseph Braun, German pastor; Miss J. B. Fogg, director of work with boys; and Mrs. G. H. Diehl, chor- ister. There is also a corps of seventeen dispensary matrons. The People's Home Church is located on East Eleventh street, near Avenue B, Manhattan.
The Rev. Ernest L. Fox, founder and conductor of this beneficent work, is a man in the prime of life, admirably adapted by education and natural disposition for his self-appointed task, and possessing a boundless enthusiasm and undismayable op- timism. He was born December 31, 1857, in Oneida county, New York. He obtained his elementary education in a country school, subsequently attended a preparatory institution, and entered
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Syracuse University, from which he was graduated in 1881. For four years following his gradnation he was engaged in mission- ary work on the western frontier. In 1885 he took up theological studies in the Garrett Biblical Institute at Evanston, and subse- quently spent two years in the study of similes and philosophy at Yale University. After leaving Yale he spent two years as pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Waterville, New York, then coming to New York city to engage in the work previously outlined in this narrative. He was ordained to the ministry in Nebraska, in 1885.
ST. PETER'S GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH.
This flourishing parish was organized on May 1, 1862, as a mission of Old St. Matthew's Lutheran church, now corner Broome and Elizabeth streets, and the first services were held in a hall over a feed store on Third avenue near Forty-ninth street. On May 27, 1864, the congregation purchased the prop- erty of St. Alban's Episcopal church in Fiftieth street, between Lexington and Third avennes, and in October, 1871, it sold this property to a building contractor, purchasing the Presbyterian church at the southwest corner of Forty-sixth street and Lexing- ton avenne. Here the congregation remained until June 15, 1903. On account of the improvements being made by the New York Central railroad, the old church had to be vacated. Serv- ices were then held in the Methodist Episcopal church on Beek- man Hill until December 12, 1904, when the basement of the new church building was so far completed that it could be occupied. The cornerstone of this church, which is at Lexington avenue and Fifty-fourth street, New York city, was laid with appropriate ceremonies, November 29, 1903, and the church was dedicated May 14, 1905. The building is of Indiana limestone, is of modi-
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fied Gothic architecture, sixty by eighty feet, with spacious base- ment and auditorium. It is heated throughout with steam, and lighted by electricity, making it one of the most modern and imposing of the church edifices in the city. It has a seating ca- pacity of seven hundred; the communicant membership is four- teen hundred; and the average Sunday school attendance is five hundred and fifty. Sunday school classes are held in German in the morning, and in English in the afternoon. There is an after- noon parochial school, which holds sessions four times a week. The church services are conducted in German, with the excep- tion of the evening service on the first Sunday of each month, when the services are held in English. The choir consists of a hired quartette, and a chorus of mixed voices. The organist is Paul Ziegler.
In addition to the church property, the congregation owns the three adjoining buildings on the east-Nos. 130, 132 and 134 East Fifty-fourth street-the second being used for a parsonage, and the last for a parish house. It is the intention of the con- gregation to erect a new parish house on the site of these two buildings in the near future. They also own the buildings, Nos. 827 and 829 Lexington avenue, adjoining the church building on the south, which they are holding for the future needs of the parish. The value of the church is three hundred thousand dollars. The societies connected with the church are as follows : Ladies' Aid Society, founded in 1862, one hundred and eighteen members; Young Men's Association, incorporated, founded in 1875, two hundred members; Young Ladies' Society, founded in 1898, sixty-three members. Rev. Christian Hennicke, the foun- der of the congregation and the first pastor, served from May 1, 1862, until July 31, 1871, when ill health compelled him to relinquish his charge and remove to the northwest.
Rev. Edward F. Moldenke. Ph. D., D. D., deceased, the sec-
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ond pastor of St. Peter's, was born in Insterburg, East Prussia, Germany, August 10, 1836. He was educated at the college in Lyk, and also at the universities of Koenigsberg and Halle, Ger- many. After having served his prescribed time as the principal of a public school in East Prussia from 1858 to 1861, he was sent by the German Mission Board to the United States, espe- cially to Minnesota and Wisconsin, where he became a missionary pastor to the Lutherans of that section of the United States. He labored faithfully and successfully in that field for five years, and after having organized many congregations he founded in 1866 the Lutheran College at Watertown, Wisconsin, now called the Northwestern University. In the same year he returned to Europe and took charge of a large Polish congregation in Johannisburg, East Prussia, where he was obliged to learn the Polish language. He became dissatisfied with German church government and returned to America. He founded the Zion Evangelical Lutheran church, in New York, in 1869, which, in 1871, consolidated with St. Peter's, of which church he was the pastor from August 1, 1871, until his death, June 25, 1904. He was president of the general council of the Lutheran church of North America from 1895 to 1899, was editor of various church papers, and the author of several works on church government. How well he was liked by the congregation and how successful were his labors is attested by the fact that his catechumens have set a large and expensive window to his memory in the new church building, and the congregation has, in addition, erected a memorial bronze tablet.
Rev. Alfred B. Moldenke, Ph. D., the third and present pastor was born in the city of New York, December 15, 1871. Ilis early education was acquired in the Columbia grammar school, from which he was graduated in 1887. He entered Columbia Univer- sity in September of the same year, and was graduated from
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that institution in June, 1891. He continued his studies until 1893, when he received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Later in that year he went to Europe and for three years studied in the universities of Halle and Berlin. Returning to America in 1896, he was ordained and became a member of the Lutheran Ministerium of the state of New York. During this year he was appointed associate pastor of St. Peter's, and upon the death of his father, the Rev. Edward .F. Moldenke, he was unanimously elected his successor, July 1, 1904, and has since that time filled the office very acceptably. He is well liked by his congregation, and under his guidance and care the church looks forward to a future full of hope and promise. Dr. Moldenke is a clear and convincing preacher, gives careful thought to all the details of his work, and is very thorough. He is logical and energetic, and possessed of great executive ability. These characteristics, com- bined with his kindness of heart and charity, make him well fitted for the position he occupies.
REV. FREDERICK BREZINSKI.
Rev. Frederick Brezinski, former assistant pastor of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church, is the son of Frederick and Catherine Brezinski, and was born in the province of East Prussia, Germany, November 2, 1872. He secured his educa- tion in his native land at the public schools, and under his father, who was a teacher there for thirty-six years. He entered the seminary at Brecklum, 1890, graduating in the spring of 1895, after which he came to this country and was ordained to the ministry, September 29, 1895. He had, however, in the month of June, of the same year, entered the ministry as pastor of the German Lutheran church at Turners Falls, Massachusetts. He served that people for six years and in June, 1901, was elected to be assistant pastor of St. John's of this city. His labors began here September 1, 1901, and ended August 31, 1906.
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ST. MATTHEW'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH.
St. Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran church at One Hun- dred and Fifty-sixth street is the oldest Lutheran church in the Bronx; it was founded in 1862, the congregation worshiping for two years in a hall. In 1864 a small frame building was erected on Courtland avenue, between One Hundred and Fifty-fourth and One Hundred and Fifty-fifth streets, in which services were held until the present church was erected. The first pastor was followed by Rev. Paul Lubkert, and the succeeding pastors were Rev. Zenmer, Rev. Suddein, Rev. Knortz, Rev. E. A. Behrends. The last named was instrumental in the erection of the church edifice. Succeeding him came Rev. Paul Schneider, who of- ficiated one year and was followed by the present pastor, Rev. William T. Junge. The present officers of this church are as follows: George Scholl, secretary; Adam Moell, financial secre- tary; John M. Weiss, treasurer; A. Schulte, president; A. L. Lee, organist; George Scholl, assistant Sunday school superin- tendent. St. Matthew's has a seating capacity of about eight hundred. It is an imposing brick building with free-stone trim- mings and its interior is handsomely decorated. The societies of this church are: St. Matthew's Ladies' Mutual Aid Society, Tabca Society for young ladies, Matthew's Young Men's So- ciety, Confirmation League, Sunday School and Teachers' so- cieties.
Rev. William T. Junge was born in the northern part of Germany, May 29, 1872, and is the son of William and Catherine Junge. His early education was received in the land of his nativity, and when thirteen years of age he came to America and soon entered the Wagner College of Rochester, New York, where, after pursuing a course preparatory to entering upon his theo- logical course, he graduated in 1892. He then entered the Theo-
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logical Seminary of Philadelphia, where he took a three years' course in theology, graduating with honors, with the class of 1895. His ordination to the ministry took place June, 1895, at St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran church, Brooklyn, and imme- diately afterwards he was appointed pastor of the Lutheran church at Kendall, New York, where he labored faithfully and efficiently for three and one-half years and was then appointed to the pastorate of the church at Newburg, New York, remaining for one year, and in 1899 was made pastor of St. Matthew's, his present charge.
EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH OF OUR SAVIOUR.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Our Saviour, which is located at One Hundred and Seventy-ninth street and Audubon avenue, New York city, has for its present pastor Rev. William H. Feldmann, born in the city of New York.
His early education was acquired in the public schools of his native city and he pursued his classical studies in Gettysburg College, from which he was graduated with honor in 1895. He studied theology in Gettysburg Seminary, and spent one year at the universities of Erlangen and Leipzig, being graduated in 1898. Upon his return to the United States he was ordained to the ministry at Asbury Park, New Jersey, September 28, 1898, and shortly afterward assumed his duties as pastor of his present parish. He is an earnest, zealous worker, of an unselfish, self- sacrificing disposition, and has the best interests of his congre- gation at heart. His sermons are eloquent and forceful and he has made many converts.
Rev. William H. Feldmann, pastor of the above mentioned church, was born in the city of New York.
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ST. STEPHEN'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH.
St. Stephen's Evangelical Lutheran church at Union avenue is a thriving religious community, which was founded in 1902 by the present pastor. The church edifice is a frame building of a cheerful and inviting exterior, and the interior is no less inviting and homelike. It has a seating capacity of about four hundred, and a membership roll of three hundred. The Sunday school which is connected with this church was commenced with seven children, and has now (1906) an average attendance of over three hundred. The church also conducts a day school and a kindergarten, which are exceedingly popular. The instruction is in both the English and the German languages. The church music is rendered by a mixed choir and a chorus of male voices. The services are entirely in German, as the congregation con- sists entirely of Germans or those of German descent. This church is a branch of St. Matthew's, and the parish has been brought to its present flourishing condition by the pastor, Rev. Paul Roesener. There are a number of societies connected with the church, which do their utmost to further its interests. The societies are: Ladies' Association, Young Ladies' Association, Young Men's Association, and Sunday School Teachers' Asso- ciation.
Rev. Paul Roesener was born in Brandenburg, Germany. He received his early education in Erfurt and Breslau, making a specialty of philosophy and theology. He emigrated to Amer- ica in 1875, and completed his theological education in Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri. He was ordained at Little Rock, Arkansas, and his first pastorate was at Spring Creek, Harris county, Texas, where he officiated for three years. He was then stationed in New Orleans for nine years, leaving there to accept a call to Altenburg, Missouri, where he ministered for twelve years, and during that time he was president of the western
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district of the Evangelical Lutheran synod of Missouri, Ohio and other states. While there he received the call to St. Steph- en's church, which he accepted, and under his ministration it is growing in size and prosperity. He is a man who is thoroughly in earnest, and is so imbued with the true spirit of his work that he must of necessity leave his impress on all that he under- takes. He is greatly respected and loved by those under his guidance, and his counsel is sought in worldly troubles as well as spiritual ones.
GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS SWEDISH LUTHERAN CHURCH.
Gustavus Adolphus Swedish Lutheran church is located on Twenty-second street, near Third avenue. This parish was or- ganized in September, 1865, by Rev. A. Andreen. Services were held in St. James' Evangelical Lutheran church on Sixteenth street. Subsequently they purchased land and built a church on the site of the present edifice. The cornerstone of the new build- ing was laid, and the house was dedicated the same year by Rev. Dr. Hussenquist. During the construction of the new church the congregation worshiped again in St. James. The value of the church and parsonage is placed at $127,000. It is built of stone and has a seating capacity of eight hundred and fifty. The number of members is twelve hundred; number of souls in the parish fifteen hundred. The two Sunday schools have an aver- age attendance of three hundred. The societies connected with this congregation are: Two Sewing Societies, Young People's Society, Sick and Benefit Society, Aid Society. Once each month a service is held in English, but all others are in German, three being held each week. The mixed choir furnishes excellent music. The pastor has placed a new organ in the church, and
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organized a mission at Harlem, services being held at No. 168 East One Hundred and Forty-first street. The parish is now in a very flourishing condition. The first regular pastor of this parish was Rev. Axel Waetter, who remained three years, and was succeeded by Rev. J. Prihcell, who after a few years was succeeded by Rev. C. E. Lindberg, now the professor of theology in the seminary at Rock Island, Illinois. He ministered to this church for eleven years, and in 1890 was succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. Mauritz Stolpe.
Rev. Stolpe was born in Stockholm, Sweden, June 15, 1858, and there obtained his primary education. In 1879 he came to America, and the following year was ordained at Lawrence, Kansas, and appointed to preach at Marquette, that state. He remained there until 1885, which year he went to Ishpeming, Michigan, where he was pastor five years, and came to New York in 1890. He received the degrees of A. B. and A. M. from Bethany College, and that of Doctor of Divinity from Augustina College and Theological Seminary. In 1901 they conferred upon him the order of Wasa. This church has been brought into much prominence by numerous celebrities. Madam Christine Neilson presented the church with one thousand dollars; the late Captain John Erickson, the famous inventor, was one of its trustees; in 1893 Right Rev. Bishop H. Gezvon Scheele, on a visit to America to the Lutheran churches, was a guest of this church while here, he being the first Lutheran bishop to visit the city. He also visited this country again in 1901, on a mission to President Roosevelt, when he was once more the guest of this church. In the autumn of 1905 this church celebrated its fortieth anniver- sary. The present officers of the church are: Trustees-M. E. Halbertson, chairman; C. A. Peterson, treasurer; P. S. Lundin, secretary. The deacons are John Ohlin, S. Anderson, S. Ul- Vol. III-15
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berg, T. Johnson, A. Valentine, L. Matson, O. J. Olson, L. Brodie. The present deaconess is Ingred Anderson; organist, Professor J. Rudvall; sexton, Nels Linborg.
SWEDISH EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN BETHLEHEM CHURCH, BROOKLYN.
Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Bethlehem Church of Brook- lyn, New York, was organized in 1874, by Rev. P. J. Sward, pastor, who held services in private houses on Hudson avenue, then in Olive Chapel, Bergen street, in the German Lutheran church on Schermerhorn street, also in a hall on the corner of Boerum place and Pacific street. In 1882 a small chapel was bought from the Second Presbyterian church, which served until December 15, 1895, when the church was dedicated. It has a seating capacity of fifteen hundred. It is a brick building, trimmed in stone; also has a chapel in basement seating seven hundred. There were, on January 1, 1907, one thousand and sixty-four communicants, with a total membership of one thou- sand five hundred and forty. The Sunday school is very large and prosperous. The Swedish department has an average mem- bership of five hundred and fifty, the English two hundred and fifty-five. The Ladies' Sewing Society has a membership of seventy-five, Ladies' Missionary Society of fifty, the Lutheran League one hundred and fifty, Young Ladies' Society seventy, and the Aid Society one hundred and twenty-five. Young Women's Home, 202 Dean street, Brooklyn, opened May 1, 1906, gives a temporary home to young Scandinavian women who are without friends and employment who need rest and who desire employment in good homes.
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