USA > New York > Bronx County > History of Bronx borough, city of New York : compiled for the North side news > Part 34
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TIMOTHY J. KELLY, of Williams & Kelly, builders and architects and real estate men of Van Nest Park, is a native vi lunt's Point, and a young man just past his majority. He Is exhibited, however, a character and judgment beyond his years. ile has been in business for himself for some time and with his partner has drawn many plans and filled contracts for amitterotts Van Nest structures. Mr. Kelly attended a while
Public Schools No. 65 and 15; also the public night schools; he has taken a course of architecture, too, in the correspondence schools, and for a time was an attendant at Cooper Union. But his chief qualification for business is marked native ability, that combines with an untiring energy and youthful vigor. He takes a lively interest also in politics. He is a member of the Chippew. Tammany Club and vice-president of the Muggleston Associa- tion and belongs to the Thos. O'Neill Association; also to the Van Nest Property Owners' Association, the Catholic Church of Van Nest and the Knights of Columbus.
F. VINTON SMITHI, President of the F. V. Smith Com- pany, who succeeded the old firm of Thilemann & Smith, was born on the corner of Thirteenth Street and Second Avenue, New York City, on September 14, 1862, and was educated at old Grammar School No. 40, on Twenty-third Street between Second and Third Avenues. He entered the contracting busi- ness, and has for several years been one of the most active in this line, among the largest concerns engaged in the business. As organizer and president of the F. V. Smith Contracting Co .. he has opened more streets, and executed more public improve- ments in the Borough of the Bronx than any similar firm engaged in the business. He is popular with the municipal authorities and his large number of employees, and applies himself diligently to the supervision of his large business affairs. Mr. Smith is a sturdy Democrat in politics, but has never aspired to public office. He is a member of the Democratic Club of New York, the Harlem Club, the New York Athletic Club, and is an at- tendant of St. Andrew's Church, 127th Street and Fifth Avenue.
JOHN JACOB REEBER, the original and during his life, the most famous second-hand building material operator in Har lem, and throughout the Greater New York, was born in Ger- many in 1806. When he came to the United States, he was thoroughly equipped to meet the exigencies of a stranger in a strange land. He had learned the carpenter trade in his native home, and after arriving here devoted his attention to this latter pursuit. Struggling along in the early periods of forty years ago, Mr. Reeber applied himself carefully and vigorously to his trade profession, and through his practical mechanical idea: and the proper execution of his work, he gained the confidence of his employers. Prudent and economical in his methods of life, he finally concluded to enter business on his own account as a builder. From the start his enterprises were saccessial and continued so until 1870, when he conceived the grand idea of entering into a new feature of the city, namely, on account of the large demand for properties to be removed for larger and greater improvements, he saw the opportunity for purchasing and tearing down the old sites, storing the material taken there- from in what might be termed and is now known as a second hand lumber yard, and offering for sale to builders, carpenter .. contractors or the public at large, almost everything in the shape of second-hand building material. At the time he entered into this business, he took with him into partnership his soul. John Jacob Receber, Jr., who, in connection with his father, were the real and original founders of the second-hard building 1:1 :- terial business in the metropolis. Mr. Recber had i very .r.k. ing personality. His physique was of the most robust character. bis method of conducting business was systematic in all in. details, his habits were based upon the highest ideals of col .. sisteney, and were governed ander his rule of christian disempliun. His business methods were so well established and so malter-
JOHN JACOB REEBER
JONAS WEIL
SIDNEY R. WALKER
CHARLES ALBERT BERRIAN
247
HISTORY_OF BRONX BOROUGH
ably impressed upon those with whom he had business trans- actions that his integrity was never questioned. A grand figure in the commercial interests of our metropolis, he passed away quietly and peacefully, leaving behind him a heritage of honor and glory to his name and to the large and well known family, who still conduct the great business he founded in connection with his son John J., Jr., and who are to-day known and re- .pected as among the first citizens of Manhattan and the Borough of the Bronx. Mr. Reeber was in politics a Democrat, but never aspire to any public office; he was a prominent member of St. Jolin's Church at 30th Street and Seventh Avenue, and at his death left ten children who revere his memory, and are named as follows: Joseph, Frank, John, Jacob, George, and William Reeber; Elizabeth, Many, Lena, Louise and Katy Reeber. After his lamented death, the business was left to his two sons, George A., and William Reeber, who are at present conducting it upon the same plan and systematic goverment originated by their father, and his son John J., Jr., and upon which they have attained such success that the house of J. Reeber & Sons, stands at the head in front rank of second-hand building material of the Greater New York.
JONAS WEIL, senior member of the real estate firm of Weil & Mayer, was born in Emmendinger, Baden, Germany, and came to this country in 1861. His father, Ephraim Weil, was highly respected in the community for his integrity, religions fervor and straightforwardness. He gave his son a good educa- tion, inculcating in his mind the principles he practised. Backed by these and his own indomitable spirit, he started in connection with other enterprises in the real estate line. As the business in- creased Mr. Weil was liberal in his donations to charity, so at present it is an exception not to find his name in the list of some deserving charity in this city. In his contributions he makes no distinction-he gives to both, Jewish or Christian. Every year he sends to the Mayor of his native town, as well as to the president of the Jewish congregations, large sums of money, and engraved resolutions of thanks have been presented to him by the recipients of his benevolence. Emmendinger has conferred upon him the title of Honorary Citizen. In memory of his father he erected a synagogue in East Sixty-seventh Street, be- tween Third and Lexington Avenues, which bears his name. It is an edifice worthy even of Greater New York. In this synagogue there is also a Hebrew free school with about 250 pupils, many of whom are poor, but are well taken care of. He is the centre around whom the uptown Jewish orthodox move- ments gravitate. Some time ago, with his brother, Samuel Weil, and his brother-in-law, Ferdinand Sulzberger, he contributed a considerable part of the money for the foundation of an orphan: asylum in Baden. His highest ambition has been realized in the founding of Lebanon Hospital, to which he gave $10,000 in money, and donated the property, valued at $15.000, upon which the Training School for Nurses has been erected. This is re- garded as one of the finest of its kind, with all modern improve- ments and containing forty-five rooms and a large hall for lec. tures, etc. Aside from the above donations, Mr. Weil gives his undivided attention and energy to soliciting outside aid for the welfare and maintenance of this institution, of which he is the president. He is also president of the Zichren Ephraim Syna- gogue, of which his son-in-law, Rev. Dr. Benard Drachman, is the spiritual head. His home is in East Seventy-fifth Street, Dear Madison Avenue, and contains everything cultured taste and desire for real family life could require. Mr. Weil has two sons, Benjamin and Louis, who are bright business men, and are members of the firm of Weil & Mayer.
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SIDNEY R. WALKER, real estate operator, of 743 East 14Ist Street, is a life-long resident of the Bronx, and knows its property interests from "A to Izzard." He was born here Sep- tember 7, 1872, and was educated in the public schools and at City College. He is a Democrat and member of the Demo- cratic Club. the Borough Club and the Almirantis; also of the Brownson Catholic Club, and is at present a member and chairn: ir of the Borough Board of Education. He married, September 28, 1897, Miss Agnes M. Kehoe. They have three children, Sid ney R., Jr., Joseph S. and Agnes M.
CHARLES ALBERT BERRIAN has been engaged in the real estate business in New York City since 1870, and is e-pe- cially an expert on realty values in the 23d and 24th Wards-th: Borough of the Bronx. He subdivided many of the old farms in this section, and disposed of them as building lots. During the past ten years he has been almost exclusively engaged in making appraisals of property values either for the city of New York or for private owners. His services to the city include the con- demnation of property for the Jerome Park Reservoir, as well as properties for the Grand Boulevard and Concourse, the famous avenue and driveway projected on a scale surpassing anything existing in any other city in the world. He has been a member of the Republican County Committee of New York County for several years, and frequently has been a delegate to county. cnt; and State conventions. He was a member of the State Conven- tion which nominated Governor Morton, and of the City Con- vention which nominated Mayor Strong. He has held the office of United States Custom House Auctioneer under President Har- rison's administration, and continues to hold it to the present timc. He was for two years president of the Fordham Club, and is now chairman of its executive committee. He is also a mem- ber of the Republican Club of the City of New York and Union Republican Club of the Bronx ; the North Side Board of Trade. and the Auctioneers' Association of the City of New York: di- rector of the Bronx Borough Bank, and trustee of the recently organized Bronx Savings Bank, and secretary and treasurer of the Creston Company (real estate) ; member of the Masonic fraternity for thirty-five years. He was born in New York City. January 30, 1845, the son of the late Philip HI. Berrian and Phebe, daugliter of Captain John Marshall. His father, who was long engaged in the real estate business in New York City, was a resident of Fordham, as was his grandfather. Charles Berrian. The first of his ancestors to settle at Fordham, Nicholas Berrian. was one of the sons of Cornelius Berrian, who, in 1727, bought Berrian Island. He was the son. in turn, of John Berrian and Ruth Edsall, and grandson of Cornelius Jansen Berrian and Junnetie Stryker. The family is of French Huguenot anteced- ents, hailing from Berrien, Department of Finisterre, France They were driven to Holland by religious persecution, and from the latter country Cornelius Jansen Berrian immigrated to New Amsterdam, settling in Flatbush, L. I .. as early as 1660. He was deacon and town official. and in 1683 commissioner to levy a special tax by appointment of the New York Colonial Assembly Mr. Charles A. Berrian was educated in the public schools and at Farnham Preparatory Institute, Beverly. N. J. He became ciers in a banking house in New York City, and for several years was secretary of the Ashburton Coal Company. During the next three years he held the office of Deputy County Clerk of Self County. New York. He was married. Jannary 30. 1867. to Susta Almy, daughter of Stephen C. Rogers, of Huntington. L. I. where the family had been seated for many generations. M !- Rogers was for seventeen years Supervisor of his town, and i : three years County Clerk of Suffolk County, New York. M. and Mrs. Berrian have two daughters, Maria Augusta, wife of
MATTHEW ANDERSON
WILLIAM G. WATT
WILLIAM GREENLEES
THOMAS GREENLEES
249
HISTORY OF BRONX BOROUGH
James B. Sheldon, of Brooklyn, and Sarah Rogers, wife of Wil liam B. Smith, of New York.
WILLIAM SIMPSON, one of the most active contractors and builders in the Borough of the Bronx, was born in New York City, March, 1874, and was educated at the public schools. and studied mechanical drawing at the Peter Cooper Institute, and architecture at Munton's School of Architecture. In 1896, he commenced business for himself as a builder and general contractor; having been thoroughly trained for this character of work, he entered vigorously into it, and has been successful in all of his ventures and undertakings. He built the three-story, twenty-room frame house, 50x150, on Melrose and Belmont Avenues, a five-story flat house at 164th Street and College Ave- nue, and a large store at 119th Street and Third Avenue, 50x90, two stories. In his general contracting business, he has aided largely in the development of the great Borough, and in the mean- time has always taken a deep interest in the advancement of all public improvements. An enterprising citizen, he has the con- fidence and respect of all with whom he has had business rela- tions. Mr. Simpson was married in June, 1900, and has two children, Raymond and Wilhelmina Simpson. He is an active member of the Building Trades Employers' Association, and Gavel Lodge, F. A. M.
MATTHEW ANDERSON .- Prominent among those in the Bronx who have been active in advancing the progress of the great district beyond the Harlem River, is Mr. Matthew Ander- son, widely known and held in much esteem for his high standard of integrity and strict business principles. Mr. Anderson was born in Belfast, Ireland, March 1, 1841, coming to this country when a boy, and residing in New York and vicinity ever since. He was a pupil in the old Ninth Street public school, Manhat- lan, and at the age of fifteen years took up the leather business as a vocation with the firm of Thos. Scott & Sons, remaining with them until 1863, when he was twenty-two years of age. He then embarked in the oil business, and was connected with several large firms in the manufacture of refined oil, continuing in that line until 1870. That year he returned to the leather trade at Newark, N. J., following it up to 1875, when he moved back to New York and settled in the Bronx. From that time until 1883 he was engaged in several industrial pursuits, and in that year began in the real estate business, a line he has pursued very successfully ever since. He was one of the first to discern the great future of the Borough of the Bronx, and one of the first to take advantage of its growth and possibilities. He has devoted himself strictly to business. and has the management of several large estates, taking entire charge of properties, rents, and collects, negotiates loans on bond and mortgage, and is the regu- lar broker for a number of capitalists. Mr. Anderson has been a notary for the past eighteen years. He is a member of the Dutch Reformed Church, and in 1886 was an active member of the "Reformed Men's Temperance Union," also of the Reform Club, giving much of his valuable time to those organizations. He was one of the seven organizers of the "North Side Board of Trade," and has continued an executive officer of that body, and has always taken a deep interest in all its undertakings. He is also one of the organizers of the Association of Bronx Real Estate Brokers, and is its treasurer. Aside from the above or- ganizations, he is affiliated with other local movements. In 1801 . he was tendered the nomination for Alderman of the 23d Ward on the Prohibition ticket. but declined the honor. In 1803 he ran for Street Improvement Commissioner against Louis J. Heintz. . He is an independent in politics. He was also vice-president of
the Mott Haven Improvement Association, and through his energy, after a number of years, the Mott Haven Canal was closed. Mr. Anderson has been married twice; his first mar- riage was to Miss Fannie E. Wygant, in 1889, by whom he had no issue. The second was to Miss Louise E. Brintnall, in 1892. Four children were the offspring of this union, William B., Adrienne L. (deceased), Matthew A. and Robert E.
WILLIAM G. WATT, real estate agent and insurance broker, with offices located at 106 East 125th Street, Manhattan. is a native of Newburgh, N. Y., and a graduate of the New York public schools. He has been a resident of this city for the past forty-five years, and has resided in the Bronx for twenty years. JIe is a Republican politically, and has always taken an active in- terest in politics. In 1905 he received the nomination from the Republican and Citizens' Union for Alderman in the 38th Alder- manic District, Borough of the Bronx. Is a member of the Re publican Club, and has been identified with the organization for many years. He is also a member of the Mohawk Athletic Club. the leading athletic body of the Borough, and is a charter member of the Bronx Board of Real Estate Brokers. He is a widower without children. Mr. Watt was an instructor in the male de- partment New York Catholic Protectory-Industrial branch- some eighteen years. He is now superintendent and manager of the Suburban Land Improvement Company, and is largely interested in other Bronx property. He is also secretary of tlie Mount Morris Co-operative Building and Loan Association. Mr Watt, as the name indicates, is of Scotch descent, and very proud of it. He is the son of Archibald Watt, of Dalkeith. His mother, Mrs. Margaret Watt, has been one of the largest, most enterprising and most persistent buyers of borough property, and events have certainly justified her faith and judgment of it.
THOMAS GREENLEES, building contractor. of the Bronx, located at Fourth Avenue and 219th Street, Williamsbridge. is a brother of Wm. Greenlees, of the same line. They were formerly in partnership, but dissolved. Both have been emi- nently successful apart. Mr. Thomas Greenlees was born in Renfrewshire, Scotland, in 1854, and was sent to school in the parish of Lochwinnoch. He was apprenticed to carpentry in the oid country, and landed here twenty-five years ago a finished mechanic. Not long after that we find him, with the connyness of his race, embarked in business on his own account; result. prosperity as we have stated. Mr. Greenlees built the Mile Square Reformed Lutheran Church at Yonkers in 1899; the Church of the Holy Family at Unionport in 1897; the First Presbyterian Church at Williamsbridge in 1904; the residence of Jos. Bueliler, on Park Avenue, in 1902, and has constructed. in Williamsbridge and surroundings, over 300 residences and cottages. He is a Republican in politics, a member of the Presbyterian Church, and belongs to the Royal Arcanum and the Westchester Exempt Firemen's Association. On January 20. 1885, he married Miss Mary A. Crawford. They have five children living, three girls and two boys.
WILLIAM GREENLEES, who, as a builder on an ex- tensive scale, has contributed much to the development of the Bronx, was born in Scotland forty-six years ago. He learned hit> trade there, mastering it, as required in the old country, to the minutest details-even to cabinet-making, which is a separate branch of the business here entirely. He came to this country twenty years ago, and settled in the Bronx in 1880. At first be worked at the trade by the day, but when he moved to this Borough he formed a partnership with his brother, and, taking
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ALBERT ROTHERMEL
PETER STEPHEN O'HARA
5
JOHN FLEMING
JOHN L. O'HARA
251
HISTORY OF BRONX BOROUGH
contracts in the Bronx, soon met with uncommon success. This partnership was dissolved in 1802, and each one going it alone, they have found the field ample for both. Our subject has found his specialty, one and two-family houses, a particularly profitable line. Mr. Greenlees lives in good style in the Woodlawn sec- tion of the borough. He is a member of the First Presbyterian Church there, and treasurer of its building fund. He belongs to Woodlawn Council, Royal Arcanum, and has been its treasurer ever since it started in 1902. He is also a member of the "Clan Mckenzie." In politics he is an independent. He married, in 1894, Miss Isabella Lawrence, a young lady of the Bronx. They have one child, a girl, Marion Isabella. In 1903 Mr. Greenlees, having attained what may be regarded a liberal measure of for- tune in his business, took, with his family, an extended tour through Europe, visiting, of course, the old home, and meeting there his brothers and sisters, while he, for his part, renewed old friendships and acquaintance, a pleasure, indeed, on both sides, after so long an absence.
ALBERT ROTHERMEL, born in Yorkville January 29, 1874, but a resident of the Bronx for ten years past, has been one of the leading architects and speculative builders of the borough. He attended Public School No. 37 as a boy, and took a High School course in architecture at Kaiserslantern and Karls- ruhe, Germany. He studied the building art also at the New York Trade School and under several of the leading architects of New York City. Mr. Rothermel is also engaged in the hard- ware business, which, in fact, is his principal occupation, at 686 and 688 East 149th Street. His place there is new and one of the most complete in this part of town. He makes a specialty of tools, cutlery, builders' and shelf hardware, and is building up a handsome trade. Mr. Rothermel belongs to the Schnorer and Bronx Clubs; the Arion Society; the Manhattan Club, and to the Lebanon Hospital Association. He enlisted in the ranks of the Bronx Borough Benedicts January 29, 1902, taking for bet- ter half on that occasion a lady of Chicago, Miss Tessie Wos- stick. This union has proven an exceptionally happy one. Two children, Albert and John, are the fruits of it.
. JOHN FLEMING, a well known contractor, was born in the County of Kerry, Ireland, 1856. At the age of 16 he emi- grated to this city full of ambition, pluck and energy, which he exercised to such an extent that in a few years he became one of the most successful contractors in the country. In the year 188o he formed a partnership with Mr. Charles A. Brown, under the firm name of the "Fleming-Brown Contracting Co." The operations of the firm were very extensive and profitable in the Bronx and in other parts of Manhattan Island. In 1903 this partnership terminated, Mr. Fleming continuing the busi- ness with offices at 155 Broadway, where he is in touch with large corporations and financiers, who require important work to be done by an experienced contractor. Mr. Fleming married Margaret Tiernan, daughter of Francis Tiernan, a highly re- spected citizen of Long Island City. Two sons were born of this marriage, David, deceased, and John, who was born in 1886, resides with his father at the family residence, 1225 Lexington Avenue, New York City, Mrs. Fleming having died in 1898. In politics Mr. Fleming is a Democrat, a member of the Democratic Club; also a member of the General Committee of the 13th Assembly District, Tammany Hall. the Algonquin Club, Chico- pee Club and various other organizations.
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ALBERT P. MESSINGER, one of the most noted real estate ยท operators and owners in the Bronx, began in that line about fifteen years ago, and has meanwhile acquired some very fine
properties. He lives in a style becoming his fortune, in one of the handsome homes on Palisade Place, Morris Heights, one of the most picturesque residence parts of the metropolis. Mr. Mes- singer was born in New York in 1842, and though now past three score, exhibits an appearance of health and strength that would be creditable to a man many years younger. This fact he ascribes to his early experience and training in athletics. He was once a celebrated gymnast, well known both in this country and Europe, but abandoned that line some thirty years or more ago, to take up a business calling. Mr. Messinger is a product of the New York public schools. He married Miss Dora Harf, of New York, in 1902, and has one child by a former wife, a daughter. Hle has been resident in the Bronx about three years. Though not specially active politically, he subscribed to Democratie prin- ciples and policies.
ALBERT P. MESSINGER
JOHN L. O'HARA, real estate agent of the Bedford Park district of the Bronx, is one of the firm of O'Hara Bros .. auctioneers and appraisers, and leading real estate men of that vicinity. They began five or six years ago there and have earned a great reputation as hustlers and experts. They give special attention to the district north of 177th Street, and not only to property interests there, but to the well being of the whole section-to taxes, street improvements, rapid transit. schools, even to matters of amusement and charity. They make a specialty of handling real estate and real estate interests, as loans for instance, in the Bronx and Westchester. Mr. John L. O'Hara, junior in the firm, is 25 and unmarried. He was born in Manhattan, but came to the Bronx in early yonth. lle is a graduate of old Fordham School 64, and of the Evening High School at 125th Street, Harlem; also of Brooklyn Law School of
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