USA > New York > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and family history of New York, Volume IV > Part 13
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Mr. Polchinski married, August 27, 1876, Maria Hicks, born December 3, 1859, danghter of Matthew and Julia ( McCormick) Hicks, both of whom are natives of the Emerald Isle. The children born of this marriage were: Adalaide, died in infancy; Annie C .; Joseph Matthew; Julia ; J. William; Arthur; Marie, died in early life; Edward B .; Gladys, and Estelle. Mr. Pol- chinski and his family are faithful communicants of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church at Williamsbridge.
HERMAN KUHL.
Herman Kuhl, a substantial business man of Westchester, borough of Bronx, New York, is a representative of the type of progressive and enterprising German-American citizens who, by the exercise of the characteristics of the race, industry, frugality and a determination to succeed, have been such important factors in the growth and development of whatever section they locate in, and who figure prominently in whatever vocation or profes- sion they engage in. He was born February 9, 1851, in the town of Cluckstatt, province of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. His parents, Hans Henry and Ada Margaretta (Wendeldorf) Kuhl, reared a family of six children, three sons and three daughters, namely: John, who was an officer and mate on one of the Ham- burg line steamers; Herman, whose name heads this sketch, the only one who came to the United States : Tine, died at the age of eighteen years; Augusta, died at the age of eighteen years; Ernest Henry, died at eighteen years of age; Helena, who mar-
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rid a resident of the city of Hamburg, Germany. Ilans Henry Kuhl (father) was regarded by all who knew him as a just and conscientions man, his business transactions being noted for hon- esty and integrity. He was also an abstemious man in all his habits and customs, a loving husband, kind father and consider- ate friend.
Herman Kuhl obtained his education in the schools of the Fatherland, and at the age of fourteen years began to serve an apprenticeship of three years in the grocery trade. In 1868, upon the completion of his term of apprenticeship, he decided to come to the United States, hoping to find here better and larger opportunities and a broader field for his skill and labor. He arrived in the city of New York, June 10, 1868, and at once went to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he became engaged in a baking establishment and remained there about three years. At the expiration of this period of time he returned east, coming directly to the city of New York, and shortly thereafter located in West Chester, Westchester county, where he engaged in the grocery trade on his own account. In this undertaking he met with immediate success, this fact being attributed to various reasons, chief among them being that he aims to please his cus- tomers and patrons in every way possible. That he has suc- ceeded in this is fully attested by the large patronage accorded him, his customers being among the best families of the neigh- borhood. From time to time Mr. Kuhl has added new depart- ments to his establishment, and in 1899 he added to his already constantly increasing trade a grain, hay and feed business, which is highly profitable. He is the ardent supporter of all measures which have for their object the welfare of the people and the interests of the community.
Mr. Kuhl married, June 9, 1878, Johanna Magdalena Struve, born September 3, 1856, daughter of Paul and Meta (Stahl)
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Struve, and their children are: Henry Max, born October 28, 1879, married Carrie Glimm, and they are the parents of one child, Arthur Kuhl, born August 6, 1904; Meta, born January 16, 1882; Herman Ernst, born July 27, 1889. Mr. Kuhl and his wife are consistent members of St. Luke's Lutheran Church at West Chester. They are honored in the community in which they reside, and enjoy a wide circle of friends and acquaintances who estimate them at their true value.
FREDERICK A. BROHMER.
Frederick A. Brohmer, the first of his family of whom we have any authentic record, was born in the city of Leipsig, prov- ince of Saxony, Germany, May 3, 1832. He was educated and reared to manhood in the Fatherland, and also learned there the cabinet-making trade, and upon completing his term of ap- prenticeship traveled throughout the central European states, visiting the principal cities thereof, where he worked as a jour- neyman. In 1869 he decided to come to the United States, and upon his arrival here took up his residence in New York City, where he for some time was engaged at his trade and where he died January 1, 1889.
He married Bertha Schmidt, born in 1834, died February 11, 1894. They had a family of five children, two of whom died in infancy, and those who attained years of maturity were: Frederick A., Jr., of whom later; Anna, born July 21, 1869, died February 14, 1889; Charles E., born July 23, 1871, at- tended the public schools up to the age of sixteen, when he entered the Metropolitan Art School in New York City, where he studied for a period of five years. Mr. and Mrs. Brohmer were consistent members of the Lutheran Church.
Frederick A. Brohmer, Jr., born February 21, 1862, was educated in the public schools of New York City. Upon taking
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up the practical duties of life he engaged in the stone entting trade, which line of industry he pursued for a number of years. Later he engaged in business in partnership with his brother, Charles E. Brohmer, at Unionport, where they have by their industry and enterprise established a snecessful business in designing and preparing all kinds of cut stone for building purposes. They have built up an extensive business in this line of enterprise and give employment to a large number of skilled operators and workmen. The Brohmer Brothers have become well and favorably known in Unionport, borough of the Bronx, for their straightforward and honorable methods.
Frederick A. Brohmer, Jr., married Mary George, born June 2, 1878, daughter of John and Margaret (Loehr) George, natives of Bavaria, Germany. Of this marriage were born two children: Anna and Marguerite (twins), April 26, 1904.
EDWARD COX.
Edward Cox, for many years a venerable and highly re- spected citizen of Great Kills, borongh of Richmond, was a native of Chiselhurst, county Kent, England, where he was born December 6, 1840, and was one of a family of ten chil- dren of his parents, who were Steven and Annie (Thomas) Cox, both of whom were natives of county Kent, where the mother died in 1871 and the father in 1877.
Edward Cox, whose name introduces this review, was edn- cated in the schools of his native county and was reared to manhood years under the parental roof. Upon taking up the practical duties of life, he became associated with his father, who was extensively engaged in the care and use of horses, and in this way the young man acquired a thorough knowledge of the care and use of the noble steed. Upon his arrival in the United States in 1879, he took up his abode in New York city,
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where he became engaged in the livery business, having his establishment on Thirty-ninth street, between Fifth and Madi- son avennes. His thorough knowledge of the use and care of horses and the livery business, which he acquired in England, stood him in good stead and he at once met with a marked degree of snecess in the conduct and operation of his business. He became well and favorably known to a wide circle of business men, and was everywhere regarded as reliable and straightfor- ward in all his affairs. In 1899 he took up his abode at Great Kills, borough of 'Richmond, where he resided up to the time of his death, which occurred June 14, 1906. Mr. Cox was an active member of Richmond Lodge, No. 791, F. and A. M. He was a good, useful and loving husband and an indulgent father.
Edward Cox married, in New York city, June 1, 1891, Geoid Durant, a native of the city of Montbeliard, in the department of Dubs, France, where she was born March 5, 1865, daughter of Frank and Susan (Laurant) Durant, both of whom were natives of the city of Montbeliard. Of this marriage Mr. Cox had born to him one daughter, Minnie Cox, born in New York city, February 25, 1892. Mrs. Cox is a faithful communicant of St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church at Richmond. Mrs. Cox has been twice married. Her first nnion was with George Bergnon, a native of the city of Montbeliard, and of this mar- riage had born one daughter, Marie Louise Bergnon, July 16, 1886. The husband and father died in his native country in 1887, and in 1888 his widow and danghter came to the United States and took up their abode in New York city.
ROBERT KNIGHT.
The first of this family of whom we have any authentic in- formation was William Knight, who was a native of England. William Knight was a miller by trade and pursued that line of
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work and ocenpation for a number of years in his native land. He came to the United States with his family abont the year 1849 and took up his abode at Springville, Richmond county, married Honora Rumberlow, a native of England, and died at the home of his son Robert in the town of Westfield, aged sixty- two years, and his widow passed away at Springville, borough of Richmond, at the age of seventy-seven years. These parents had of their union in marriage two sons and two daughters, as follows: 1. Robert, whose name introduces this review. 2. Mary Ann, married Abraham Ellis, of Richmond county, New York. 3. Eliza, married Austin Dupuy, of Richmond county, New York. 4. Freeman, died in childhood years. Both the parents of the aforementioned children were consistent Christian people of the Episcopalian faith. William Knight was one of a family of four sons and two daughters. His ancestors were prominent in social and public affairs in England.
Robert Knight, whose name introduces this review, born September 4, 1844, came with his parents to the United States and was educated in the schools in the neighborhood of Spring- ville, Richmond county, New York. At the early age of ten years he became employed on a schooner that sailed to one of the towns along the Virginia coast, later made two trips abroad to England, and after pursuing a seafaring life for abont four- teen years, and while on board the schooner Philander Arm- strong, it was wrecked on a shoal fifteen miles north of Cape May, New Jersey, where he with the remainder of the crew ex- perienced great hardships for three days and two nights, when they were finally resened. Mr. Knight, upon returning home, relinquished the seafaring life and became engaged in the oyster planting business, which line of enterprise he successfully con- dneted up to abont 1893, since which time he has practically re- tired from active business pursuits.
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Robert Knight married, October 29, 1865, Charity Ann Decker, born September 1, 1847, danghter of Daniel C. and Cath- erine (Alston) Decker, of Springfield, Richmond county, New York. Of this marriage they had born to them the following children : 1. Robert, Jr., see forward. 2. Emma, married Abra- ham Androvette and has one child, Edith Androvette. 3. Annie, married Edward C. Sinker, of Great Kills, borongh of Richmond, and has one son, Frederick K. Sinker.
Robert Knight, Jr., eldest child and only son of Robert and Charity Ann (Decker) Knight, was born at Springville, borough of Richmond, Angust 2, 1866. He received his educational train- ing in the schools of New Springville, town of Northfield, and upon taking np the practical duties of life became engaged with his father in the oyster planting business, in which line of work he continued until 1891, when he engaged in the butcher trade at Great Kills, and in that undertaking has met with a marked degree of snecess, which has been the result of his straight- forward and honorable methods in condneting his business. In addition to his commercial interests Mr. Knight has done much for the material growth and development of the neighborhood wherein he resides. He is an active member of Enterprise Lodge, No. 48, Free and Accepted Masons, of Jersey City, New Jersey; and of the Tyrian chapter of the same craft at New Brighton, also of the Empire Commandery at Port Richmond, and the Junior Order of American Mechanics. Politically Mr. Knight is an ardent supporter of the principles advocated by the Repub- lican party and takes an active interest in local public affairs. He is a member of Engine Company No. 1 at Great Kills, and is president of the organization.
Robert Knight, Jr., married, June 23, 1894, Margaret Stellenwerf, born April 1, 1860, daughter of Jacob and Helen
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(Hegeman) Stellenwerf, of Flatlands, borough of Brooklyn. Of this marriage was born one danghter, Mildred, June 19, 1896, died August 23, 1898.
HERBERT HARRISON BROWER.
Herbert Harrison Brower was the first of this family to locate in Richmond county, New York. He was a native of Waterloo, Wayne county, New York, only son of Joseph and Maria (Snedeker) Brower, who also had one daughter, Jose- phine, who married William Lyman, of Newark, New Jersey. Joseph Brower was a tailor by trade, and spent the latter years of his life at Rochester, New York, where he was for a number of years engaged in business. His widow survived him for a num- ber of years and passed away at Syraense, New York.
Herbert Harrison Brower was educated in the schools of Syracuse, New York, and was there reared to manhood. He was for a number of years successfully engaged in the shoe trade at Syracuse, where he resided up until 1866, when he removed with his family to Richmond county. In 1886 he removed to Brooklyn, where he engaged in the real estate business, in which under- taking he met with a well merited degree of success, this being the logical result of his honorable and straightforward methods of conducting his business affairs. Mr. Brower died in Brook- lyn in March, 1895. The faithful wife and mother passed away June 21, 1906. Bothi parents were good Christian people and were highly esteemed by all who knew them.
Herbert Harrison Brower married Caroline Salisbury, daughter of Nathaniel and - (Goodrich) Salisbury. Of this marriage they had born to them a family of nine children: 1. Addie deceased. 2. Jessie, born 1861, did not marry. 3. Her- bert S., born October 16, 1863. 4. Marcia, did not marry. 5 and
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6. Katie and William (twins). 7. Walter, married Millie Schorn. 8. Lulu, married - Tompkins. 9. Mand, did not marry.
Herbert S. Brower, third child and eldest son of Herbert Harrison and Caroline (Salisbury) Brower, came with his parents to Richmond county, New York, and received his educa- tional training in the schools of the town of Northfield. At the age of seventeen he began to learn the tinsmith trade with Nich- olas Le Comte, of the firm of Le Comte & Perkins. After ac- quiring a practical knowledge of the varions details of the trade, he became employed as a journeyman, pursning this line of work, in addition to acquiring a thorough and practical knowledge of plumbing and steam heating in all its various details, up until 1885, in which year he came to Great Kills, borough of Richmond, and began business on his own account. Having started with but limited capital, Mr. Brower has by his indefatigable and persevering energy built up a successful and Incrative business and has done much for the material growth and development of the neighborhood wherein he resides. In addition to his numer- ons business interests, Mr. Brower finds time for and takes an active interest in fraternal and social organizations. He is an active member of Tompkins Lodge, No. 471, Free and Accepted Masons.
Herbert S. Brower married, at Great Kills, Carrie Brown, June 17, 1891; she died September 11, 1892. Mr. Brown mar- ried (second) Sarah Eleanor Cole, danghter of John Wesley and Martha (Brown) Cole, and of this marriage had born to him three children, as follows: 1. Emily, born February 21, 1897. 2. Mildred, born November 8, 1899. 3. John Wesley Cole, born September 25, 1900. The faithful wife and mother of the afore- mentioned children, Saralı Eleanor (Cole) Brown, died January 27, 1902. Mr. Brower married ( third), April 6, 1904, Rebecca H. Mills, born January 23, 1879, danghter of William and Rebecca
Roufus C Morris
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H. (Blizzard) Mills, and of this marriage has been born a son, Ralph, March 27, 1906. Mr. and Mrs. Brower are consistent members of the Moravian Church at Great Kills, and are highly respected in the community wherein they reside.
JOHN MORRIS.
The death of John Morris, which occurred at his home in Westchester, borough of the Bronx, December 28, 1883, removed from that section one of its most useful and highly respected citizens, who had made his home there for over thirty-six years. He was born in Hoboken, Hudson county, New Jersey. His parents, who were of Huguenot extraction, were for many years residents of Middletown, Monmouth county, New Jersey.
After the death of his father, which occurred when John was at an early age, his mother married again, and after her death he was placed in the care of strangers. Upon attaining to years of discretion he learned the trade of painter in the city of New York, which line of work he pursued during the active years of his life. He became a thorough master of his profession and executed a large amount of first-class work among the leading families of New York city, among whom may be named the Morris family of Revolutionary fame.
Mr. Morris married, December 24, 1851, Mary Winham, a native of New York city, her parents settling there upon their arrival from the north of England, where their births occurred. She was left an orphan at the early age of three years. She died at Westchester, April 21, 1898, aged sixty-nine years and eight months. Their children were: Frederick Ryer, born October 6, 1852, died at Westchester, August 29, 1898; he married a Miss Hoffman, and their children were: Maria, Mamie, Bertha, Julia and Frederick Morris. Rufus C., born February 7, 1855, of whom later. Joseph Lee, born August 12, 1857, died May 8,
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1894; he married Jennie Hines, and their children were: Alfred, Jennie, Walter and Nettie Morris. Asher Lee, born March 5, 1861, died July 13, 1898. Martha Ann, born June 29, 1863, died September 15, 1865, aged two years and two months. Mary Lee, born Angust 9, 1865, married Louis Philip Steiniger, and their children were: Louis, Rufns, Elizabeth, Edward, Mary, Cath- erine and Beatrice Steiniger. Jessie Merrill, born March 28, 1868, married William Wolf, no issue; she died July 19, 1899. Edward Ryer, born July 31, 1871, unmarried. John W., born March 1, 1875, married Annie Longford, and their children were: Lillian May, Mabel Lonise and Annie Elizabeth Morris.
Rufus C. Morris, second son of John and Mary (Winham) Morris, was born at Westchester, borough of the Bronx, Feb- rnary 7, 1855. He attended the public schools, and after com- pleting his studies learned the trade of butcher, which he fol- lowed for a short period of time. In 1875, desiring to see the country and learn something of the great northwest, he traveled overland to the Pacific coast and spent nearly three years in sight-seeing and engaging in various kinds of employment. Upon his return home he again took up his residence in West- chester, now borough of the Bronx, and after a short period en- gaged in the oyster planting business in the waters of the East river and Long Island sound. He began with limited capital, but by his indefatigable energy and perseverance succeeded in build- ing up an extensive and profitable business, and has gained a reputation for integrity and moral character. He has been in- strumental in aiding the progress and development of the com- munity in which he resides, and ranks among the useful and in- fluential citizens.
Mr. Morris married (first) Mary L. Corliss, born in May, 1851, daughter of Michael and Mary Corliss, natives of the north of Ireland, and their children were as follows: Joseph and John
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(twins), born June 26, 1884; Joseph, died July 29, 1884, and John, August 1, 1884. Thomas Edward, born February 2, 1886. William Henry, born September 17, 1887. Alice Elizabeth, born February 25, 1890. Mrs. Morris, who was a faithful wife and loving mother, died April 11, 1893. Mr. Morris married (second), August 29, 1896, Anna Maria Jackson, born February 2, 1870, widow of George Tiffany Jackson, and daughter of John W. and Mary (Robinson) Baxter, both representatives of old families of Westchester. The children of this marriage are: Elsie Waterbury and Ethel Minerva (twins), born October 17, 1897; Carrie Springsteen, born June 21, 1900; Rufus Crawford, born July 15, 1902. Mr. Morris and his family attend the Presby- terian Church at Throggs Neck.
CHRISTIAN WERTHMULLER.
Christian Werthmuller, a representative and highly re- spected French-American citizen of Grant City, borough of Richmond, was born in the province of Alsace, France, now part of the German Empire, son of Christian and Eva (Wolff) Werth- muller.
Christian Werthmuller (father) was for over twenty-five years a resident of Grant City, where he passed away June 19, 1905. He was born in the province of Alsace-Lorraine, at the village of Ohrmingen, June 6, 1816, and was the only son of his parents. His father died while Christian was in early childhood. He was there educated and reared to manhood, and upon attain- ing to eligible years was drafted in the military service, as was the custom in France, and after serving the regular period be- came employed in the custom department of the government, re- maining thus employed for a period of over thirty-five years. In 1870 Mr. Werthmuller was again drafted in the military service of his country and entered with the French army in the
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Franco-Prussian war and rendered loyal service at the siege of Strasburg. In 1874 he decided to come to the United States on a visit. He returned to his native country the same year, resid- ing there until 1880, in which year he again returned to the United States with his wife and youngest daughter, Emily. He' took up his abode at Grant City, town of Southfield, now the Fouth ward of the borongh of Richmond, where he spent the remaining years of his life.
Christian Werthmuller married, October 7, 1847, Eva Wolff, born at Sessenheim, province of Alsace, France, March 22, 1826, daughter of Jacob and Barbara Wolff, both of whom were na- tives of the same province. They had a family of fourteen chil- dren, of whom eight attained to years of man and womanhood and came to the United States. They are as follows: 1. Hen- rietta, married Jacques Castel, of Grant City, borough of Rich- mond. 2. Christian, Jr., whose name introduces this review. 3. Eva, who came to the United States; she married Joseph Sit- ter and removed to California ; she has two children: Theodore and Arthur Sitter; the mother, Eva Sitter, died in Brooklyn, January 14, 1894. 4 and 5. Caroline and Theodore (twins) ; the former married George Von Buhren; she died May 16, 1883, no issue. Theodore married Mary McCloskey, 1905, and resides at Tompkinsville, borough of Richmond. 6. August, who upon com- ing to the United States settled in New York city, and at present is a resident of Grant City, borough of Richmond; he did not marry. 7. Madeleine, born May 1, 1862, came to the United States in 1877; she married Edward Marks, born Angust 31, 1861, son of Adam and Annie (Hertzog) Marks, and has children surviving: Edward Adam, born January 5, 1887, and Caroline Antoinnette, born September 12, 1888. 8. Emily, who came with her parents to the United States, took up her abode in New York city ; she married Antoine Jean Stefane, and has one child,
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Ilelen Francoise Stefane, born August 18, 1904. The mother of the aforementioned children, Eva (Wolff) Werthmuller, died September 27, 1896; both parents are buried in the family bury- ing plot in the Moravian Cemetery at New Dorp, borough of Richmond.
Christian Werthmuller, whose name introduces this review, came to the United States in 1871. Upon his arrival in New York city he at once took up employment in the baking business, which line of pursuit he followed for some time. He next be- came engaged with his brother-in-law, Jacques Castel, in the restaurant and hotel business. In 1887 Mr. Werthmuller took up his residence at Grant City, where he became the proprietor of the Villa Cosmopolite. In 1893 he purchased lands comprising over thirty city lots, corner of Richmond road and Washington avenue, and here erected a large and commodions building and hall, known as the Atlantic Inn, and has resided on these prem- ises up to the present time. Mr. Werthmuller has by his progress and enterprise contributed much to the material growth and development of the neighborhood wherein he resides. He takes an active interest in social and charitable enterprises and is a generous contributor to church and other worthy purposes. He is an active member of Tompkins Lodge, No. 471, Free and Ac- cepted Masons, at Stapleton; La Concorde Lodge, No. 43, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, of New York city; Staten Island Lodge, No. 841, Elks.
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