USA > New York > Bronx County > History of Bronx borough, city of New York : compiled for the North side news > Part 51
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ber of niany New York clubs, including the Schnorer, B. P. O. Elks, No. I Lodge, Jefferson Club, Sons of St. George, F. and A. M., 742, Star of Cuba I odge.
ARTHUR BOEHMER, architect, has won distinction among his confreres of that profession as a man of European educa- tion, culture and training, and as one who has given special attention to the artistic side of the work. He was born in an art center, indeed, and schooled there, brought up in an atmos . phere of art in fact, an inestimable advantage to one in his line. He is a native of Dresden, Germany, and was educated in the high school there and at the Royal Polytechnic and Royal Academy of that city. At 21, having served his tinte as a soldier, as all the German youths must do, he went from Hamburg, where he had been stationed, to Paris, and entered the Ecole des Beaux Arts, there to study architecture. He graduated from that great school with honors in 1883, at the age of 24. and, having spent a year travelling through France, Italy, Austria, Germany, Holland and England, returned to Dresden and "buckled down to business." His talents were readily recog- nizcd, but in 1885, seeking a broader field, he came to the United States and was employed for several years at Scranton, Pa., in the construction of factories. In 1888 he settled in New York and opened an office down town at Nassau and Liberty Streets, with a branch in Tremont. Here he has competed for such work as the Grant monument and Hall of Records, and has drawn plans for many large factories in the South, Southeast and New England and for tenements, apartments, colleges. etc .. in New York and its environs. Mr. Boehmer is an accomplished linguist ; he speaks fluently a number of the European languages. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, unmarried as yet, an independent in politics, a devotee of hunting and fishing and very fond of all animals. His single public service was a con- nection at one time with the Board of Education.
GEORGE FIENCKE, the popular treasurer of the Twenty- third Ward Property Owners' Association, who started in busi- ness in 1871 at 1245 Broadway, New York City, as decorator, was born May 12, 1839, in the town of Luneburg, Germany, where he received an ordinary education. In 1865 he came to New York and settled in what is known as the Melrose section of the Borough of the Bronx. He went almost immediately into the business of selling paints, wall paper, etc., and was very successful front the beginning. He applied the major por- tion of his time to the welfare of his business and very soon became an authority on "How to Succeed." Hc is prominent in the administration of the affairs of the Melrose Turn Verein, an institution of increasing popularity, for advancing intellectual and physical welfare. He is one of the founders, and only treasurer, of the Twenty-third Ward Property Owners' Association, where his admirable qualities and public spiritedness caused him to be offered the office of treasurer which he ac- cepted and which he holds at the present day. Mr. Fiencke has three children: Bettic, George and Virginia.
JAMES P. DUNN, a native of the city, 42 years old, and a graduate of Manhattan College, class of IS78, is General In- spector of Water Supply for Bronx Borough, which position he has held for eighteen ycars. He is a Democrat, ten years resident in the borough, a member of the Elks, the Knights of Columbus and the Bruckner Association. Ile is a married man with a wife and seven children, of whom five are sons and two daughters. His wife was, before their marriage, Miss Mar- garet E. Goss.
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HANDEL VICTOR PHASEY
361
HISTORY OF BRONX BOROUGH
FREDERICK HITCHCOCK, whose ancestors came to Westchester County several years previous to the American Revolutionary war, and who were among the first settlers of the county, was born at West Farms, January 18, 1860, and was graduated at Public School No. 60. His grandfather, Jeremiah Hitchcock, owned a farm and inn at Brouxdale, which is now in possession of a millionaire. This farm consisted of about fifty acres and, as in those days, was laid out in parcels. During the Revolutionary war Jeremiah Hitchcock suffered severely from foraging attacks of the Hessians, who had at that time invaded his neighborhood, and he was often obliged at night time to sleep out under an old oak tree which stood close to a stone wall, in order to save his life. This tree still remains and flourishes. Mr. Hitchcock's father was born on this prop- erty on May 7, 1835. and is one of the brightest examples of the older residents of Westchester County, being hale, hearty and vigorous in his health, both mentally and physically. The latter's sister, Margarette, now 92 years of age, is living in robust health at Mount Vernon and his brother, William Fred- erick Ryer Hitchcock, at Brooklyn. After his graduation he chose to enter a mercantile life and after an experience of a few years in the fish, meat and grocery trade, he commenced business on his own account in 1883 and laid the foundation of his large wholesale and retail fish and oyster business, which he has so successfully conducted at No. 2726 Third Avenue. One of the largest dealers in the Bronx and one of its most active business men, he has become popular among the leading residents for his genial manners, his absolute fairness in his dealings and for the fine quality and perfection of the sea food always to be found at his market. In 1896 he organized the now famous Hitchcock's Fishmongers' Association, of which he is the present and origi- nal standard bearer. The association has a large membership and holds its outings annually, which are attended by large numbers of Bronx citizens who proclaim it one of the most popu- lar associations of the great borough. He is also a prominent and active member of the North Side Board of Trade. Mr. Hitchcock was twice married, his first wife being Miss Margaret Smith, of the Bronx, deceased, and his second marriage to Miss Hannah Swartz, of the Bronx; he has three promising and in- teresting children, May, Elsie and Frederick Hitchcock. He is the son of George and Mary Ann Hitchcock, both of whom were born in Westchester County, the father who is at present nearly 70 years of age, is hale and hearty, while the mother died about thirty-eight years ago. Mr. Hitchcock has three branch stores, one at 1897 Washington Avenue, Tremont, the second at Ford- ham Square, near the Fordham Depot, and the third at No. 8 Palisade Avenue, Yonkers, and one on Main street, Westchester. From these distributions he supplies the very best families of the borough, and maintains the position of the largest fish and oyster dealer north of the Harlem River.
EDWARD SMITH, a prominent builder and contractor, whose office is located in the Hamilton Bank building at 125 East 125th Street. Harlem, was born in Ireland. but early in youth he came to America with his parents who located in New York. He attended the public schools when a boy, where he received a good education. For the past eight years Mr. Smith has been a prominent resident of Bronx Borough. Ile is en- gaged largely in the work of erecting high class apartment build- ings in the upper Harlem district, as well as in the Bronx. He has recently constructed some very fine ones on 140th Street in the fashionable district near the North River. Mr. Smith is 1 Democrat in polities, but not active. He is married and has ' four children, viz. : Edward M., Daniel L., James W., and one daughter.
L. E. LEVY & CO .- The popular dry goods firm of the Bronx and proprietors of the Bostonian store at Third Avenue, corner 164th Street, which they opened in 1901, have built up an extraordinary business at the Bostonian. They have popular- ized themselves salong the people of the Bronx and adjacent villages for the excellent class, quality and variety of the goods they carry in stock and the moderate prices they charge for the same. Visitors and purchasers who enter the Bostonian are amazed at the perfect system employed by the firmn, for the general courtesy of the employees towards them, and for the affable treatment they receive, whether they are purchasers or not. These methods, so often lacking among the retail dry good houses, has brought an avalanche of trade and praise from the large army of lady purchasers throughout the great bor- ough. . The head of this large and flourishing dry goods em- porium is Mr. L. E. Levy, the senior member, whose strong personality and practical business ideas and methods are con- spicuously noticed in every department of the Bostonian. His treatment of fifty employees is not only fatherly, but it is of such a business nature that his instructions are faithfully obeyed, and it seems to them a pleasure to do so. Keen and alert to the wants of the people, he has established for his
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prosperous house a reputation second to no other similar e-tab- lishment in the Bronx. For several years Mr. Levy conducted business successfully on his own account at Willis Avenue and 137th Street. The Bostonian Dry Goods Store has become 3 watchword among the families of the Bronx, and its reputation for square dealing, honest prices, goods of the first quality and general satisfaction guaranteed. The Bostonian store is a credit to the large and rapidly growing mercantile community of the borough and is more than worthy of a place in its history.
OWEN JOSEPH CLINTON, the "village blacksmith," as he is known throughout Westchester-and proud of it-is the well known house-shoer and wheelwright of We: Farms Road. lle was born in County Louth, Ireland, but came :) this country and settled in the locality he is in now, when he was 10 years old. He attended school in Westchester. started as a boy in his present line, and has pursued it ever since. He is a good Democrat and fervent Catholic, and belongs to St. Raymond's Church and the Holy Name Society, to the A. O. IL and Knights of Columbus, to the Foresters and Brotherhood c: the Union. He married in 18;5, Margaret Cosgrove, and again upon her death, Mary Jane Lane. Twelve children, fruits of these two unions, nine sons and three daughters, are living.
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PETER GOETZ
JOHN THOMAS JORDAN
ALPHONSE GERMAN CARON
JOHN NIMPHIUS
363
HISTORY OF BRONX BOROUGH
EDWARD ROWAN, proprietor of the Dental Depot at 837 East 163d Street, and manufacturer of the famous "Decimal Gold Foil" preparations, was born in Canada, in 1850, where he received his early education. He came to New York City in 1872, and devoted six years to the art of producing chemically pure gold. In 1878 he commereed business on his own ac- count, to manufacture goods of his own design, which were principally the Deeimal Gold Foil adapted to dental purposes. So complete had been his success, that for the past twenty years his goods have been the standard of purity, ease of manipulating, and general exeellenee for the dental profession. As a refiner of gold for dental purposes, his reputation is world wide, and the representative practicing dentists of the present day could not enjoy the satisfaction of having absolutely reliable materials to work with if they were not able to proeure gold filling ma- terial like the Decimal Extra Pliable Gold, manufactured by Edward Rowan. For five years he sent travelers throughout the United States, introducing his goods, on their merits, and with such marked sueeess, that in 1890 he came to the Bronx, and built his present plant, which he owns outright, and em- ploys a large number of people, perfect in the manufacture of dental filling material, who have constant employment with him, owing to the steady demand for his dental gold, whose peculiarly excellent qualities make them very desirable. There is no dull season in his line of industry. The machinery required to per- feet the manufacture of his dental materials is built upon the most modern improvements. From his large stoek he is in a position to supply quickly the requirements of his already large business, which not only includes the United States and Europe, but also far off Australia, New Zealand, and Argentine Republic. All dentists know that success in the dental profession depends upon the use of the purest materials ; the purity of the "Rowan" productions and the skill employed and required in their pre- paration are attested to by the steady growth of his enterprise, and the confidenee he enjoys from the leading dentists and deal- ers in dental supplies throughout the world. The variety of his manufacture embraces every form of metallie filling gold, from the Untrimmed Deeimal Gold Foil, to that aeme of filling gold, the "Extra Pliable Deeimal Gold Rolls." For 33 years Mr. Rowan has been engaged in the study and manufacture of the chemical and physical properties of gold, so that he is in a position to produce the very finest goods. Mr. Rowan was married in 1878. He has four children: Alfred G. Rowan, the eldest, who is with his father at present, and will be his sue- eessor. The development of this important industry in the Bronx, which exports such large quantities of its own produets to all parts of the world among the most eminent dealers in dental supplies, is a distinguished feature that but few of our present inhabitants have heretofore been made acquainted with. Mr. Rowan, as the manufacturer of the "Decimal" brands, stands highest in the order of merit on the market to-day.
FRANK ARMINGTON SPENCER, the Chief Clerk of the Labor Bureau of the Civil Service Commission of Greater New York, was born in Boston, Mass., October 11, 1856. Hle received his primary education at the old Allen Street School, and took a post-graduate course at the old famous College of . the City of New York, thit has given to our country so many famous men who are to-day prominent not only in municipal, but state and national affairs. Mr. Spencer has been a bonafide . resident of New York City for the past forty-two years, and a . resident of the Bronx for the past eight years. During his residence in the Bronx, as a Democrat, he identified himself
with the regular organization of his distriet and, owing to his activity and the prominence he attained through his personal ability and his able counsel to the organization, he was appointed in charge of the Labor Bureau of the Civil Service Commission of the city in January, 1896, which position he still maintains and is aceredited through the head of our municipal department as a most invaluable adjunct to the important duties and re- sponsibilities required of him by the department and the people. Mr. Speneer has been honored in other directions by the people. He served for seven years as trustee of our publie schouls, ac- credited to the Tenth Ward of this eity, and during his term rendered invaluable service to the interests of our public schools. April 15, 1880, Mr. Spencer married Miss Evelyn L. Knight, the result of this happy union being three children, viz .: Ed- ward L., deceased ; Mary C., deceased ; and Frank A., at the pre -- ent a member of the junior elass at Harvard University. His family are menibers of the Methodist Church, and Mr. Spencer is prominently identified with a number of influential societies and organizations. He is a member of the Democratic Club. the famous Sehnorer Club of the Bronx, the Wampanoag, Gavel Lodge. F. and A. M., Joy Chapter, R. A. M., Constantine Com- mandery, K. T., Mecea Temple and the Mystie Shrine. A faith- ful servant of the publie, the gentleman enjoys the distinction of being one of the most popular members of the General Com- mittee of the Thirty-fourth Assembly District of the Bronx.
CAPTAIN WILLIAM H. HODGINS comes of old Nor- man-Freneh stock, his people settling in the County of Tippe- rary, Ireland, in the early part of the eleventh century, coming from England with King William the Second, having lived a short time in the county of Kent, England. His people became thorough Irishmen and were held in much respect by all who knew them. The captain settled in the Bronx in 1890 and was one of the first park policemen placed in charge of the new city parks. In 1898, when the police force of the Greater City were amalgamated, he was sent to care for Pelham Bay Park, later placed in charge of Morrisania Police Court, and in 1903 pro- moted to captain of police and placed in charge of the Seventh Precinct, later in command of the Thirty-eightli Precinct, West- chester, and now is in charge of the Fifth Precinct, Oak Street. where he is commended by all for his good work in Cherry and Water Streets. He is first on the list for inspectors and we hope to see him promoted in the near future. He lives in a comfort. able home with his wife and five children, at 2043 Ryer Avenue. Tremont.
FREDERICK COOK, well known to residents of the l'remont seetion, was born in New York City, June 12, 18;0. After graduating from the public school he entered the emplo: - ment of the Mott Cider Company, where he remained for eigh: years. Being desirous to engage in business on his own account. he started in the liquor trade in 1903, and has continued the same up to the present time. Before launching out in that line he was thoroughly equipped, having had experience from 1&n up to the opening of his own place. In politics Mr. Cook is a strong Democrat, and has made the acquaintance of many influential men affiliated with that party. He has taken a deep interest in all matters of public benefit, but has never aspire. to any public office, devoting all his time to his business. He is identified with many of the prominent organizations in the Bronx, chiefly among them being the Elks, the Red Men and the Jefferson Club. On August 3. 1000, Mr. Cook married M. Carrie Linestone, and four children have been born to the'n - Frederick, Jr., John, Edna and Addie,
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CHARLES KIESLING
WILLIAM KIESLING
ALBERT H. LIEBENAU
JEROME F. HEALY
365
HISTORY OF BRONX BOROUGH
GEORGE GARDNER ROCKWOOD, photographer, was born in Troy, N. Y., April 12, 1832, son of Elihu Robbins and Martha (Gardner) Rockwood, and a descendant of Sir Richard Rockwood, who emigrated from England in 1637, and settled near Boston, Mass. The family has been prominently repre- sented in the French and Indian war, the American revolution, the war of 1812 and the civil war. The son received his early education at the Ballston Spa Institute. He then entered a printing office, and soon after became a reporter on the Troy "Daily Times." At the age of twenty he was managing editor of the Troy "Daily Post," which paper, under his charge, quad- rupled its circulation within a year. In I885 his attention was directed to photography, to which he immediately devoted him- self with characteristic energy and enthusiasm. After three years spent in St. Louis, Mo., he settled in New York City, where he soon became known as an authority on the art to which his time and genius have been given. He was the first to make carte de visite pictures in this country, and among the important im- provements he introduced may be mentioned instantaneous pho- tography, photo-sculpture and photo-engraving. Mr. Rockwood has devoted much time to art in various directions, and attri- butes the excellence of his work to his application of artistic principles to mechanical laws. After gaining a thorough foun- dation and spending six years in the art centres of Europe, he yet finds the study of nature the best guide to successiul por- traiture, and to this may be added, of human nature. for he owes much to his remarkable ability and personality in bringing out the best expression of his sitter. Mr. Rockwood gives his ideal of a photographer as "one who is most of a Chesterfield in his manner; a Bacon in his range of information; a Daniel Hunt- ington in his art; a small edition of Shakespeare in his knowl- edge of human nature, blended with the genial humor of Charles Dickens;" and he certainly realizes something of his ideal. He has lectured on photography and kindred arts before important institutes and societies throughout the country, and has contri- buted to the press numerous valuable articles on scientific and technical subjects. He is the author of a scientific hoax, "Brain Pictures," which appeared in the New York "Tribune" in 1887. and which has been translated into many languages; "Child Beauty" ( 1890), and several small works on practical photos. raphy. He is a member of the Colonial, Quill and Columbia Yacht clubs, and of the Sons of the Revolution, a trustee of the Franklin Savings Bank, and since 1885 a member of the Troy Citizens' Corps. In 1853 he was married to Araminla. daughter of Josiah Bouton, of French Huguenot ancestry, and has two children.
CHARLES H. SPROESSIG, JR., the well-known propri- etor of the storage warehouse at 1098 Fast 170th Street, Borough of the Bronx, was born in New York City, October 3, 1876 ( Cen- tennial year), and was educated in the public schools, Leaving school after graduation, he took up the carpenter business and followed this vocation for eighteen months. Inspired with the desire to travel, and learn something of his country, he engaged with Rose Noble, and made an extended tour all over the United States. In 1898 he returned to New York City and engaged in the beer bottling business, which he successfully conducted until 1900, selling out his plant, and then prepared the founda- tion of his large and remunerative storage warehouse, a very . commodious and imposing structure, with five floors, each one having a dimension of 75x25 feet, with an L extension of 40\27 fect. Mr. Sproessig employs a number of men to look after and attend to his large and lucrative business, which requires . eight commodious and up-to-date vans that are constantly em- ployed in moving the household goods of citizens, both to city
and country and for the storage of their household effects in his warehouse whenever required by them. He has been an active and successful business man since he attained his majority, is popularly known as one of the Bronx's enterprising citizens, and lends his valuable aid in the advancement of its great progress. He was married December 15, 1899, to Miss Kate Bollenbach, and has two children, Charles H., Jr., and Frederick. Mr. Sproessig is not known in politics, devoting his whole time to bis large business interests, and is a member of Morrisania Coun- cil, Royal Arcanum, the Bronx Club, Grove Hill Bowling Club and Empire Bowling Club. Mr. Sproessig resides at 1393 Bris- tow Street, and has been a resident of the Bronx for the past twenty-three years.
WILLIAM ANTON WALDEYER was born on September 1, 1820, in the City of Munster, Westphalia, Germany. He received a good education, attending college until the age of 18. He was then apprenticed to the leading jeweler of Munster, and after serving his time, wandered through Germany, as was customary, working at his trade in a number of cities, at one time with one of the court jewelers. In 1849 he decided to emi- grate to America, and after an eventful trip of eleven weeks, during which the dread cholera broke out, he finally arrived in New York. Here he followed his trade with success and soon had a shop of his own, employing a number of men. He mar- ried, in 1852, Elizabeth Biekenbrock, also of Munster, whose father was a well known brick manufacturer of that city. Though retired from active business for many years, yet to the very end the love for his trade kept him ever busy making designs and many a unique piece of jewelry. He was an expert judge of diamonds and other precious stones. Mr. Waldeyer lived at Mt. Hope, Tremont, for over eighteen years, and although he had never affiliated himself with any society or political party during that time, he was well known and took a great interest in the wonderful development of the Bronx, which he knew in every section. Active in mind as well as in body, almost to the end. he was well able to realize the marvelous changes that had taken place in New York since the time he reached there in 1849. The Bronx was then a wilderness and it was his delight to relate stories of this section as he first knew it. A lover of outdoor life and with temperate habits, he retained his mental and physi- cal faculties to a remarkable degree. Ilis unasual kindly dispo- sition. combined with the highest ideals of honesty, both in thought and in action, placed him on a plane high above the average. Never was he known to refuse where help was needed Aged as he was, the alertness and quickness with which he walked up Mt. Hope hill was a marvel to his neighbors. His was a simple life indeed, and his unfailing kindliness of man. ner, honesty and integrity made him many friends. Mr. Wal- deyer died July 20, 1905. after a month's illness, surviving his beloved wife only by three years.
CHRISTOPHER FABEL. hardware merchant of Van Ne-t. is proprietor of the only large concern of the kind in that di- vision of the borough, a fact argning on his part more or less of business enterprise, foresight and forehandedness. Mr. Fabe: was born in Schwanheim on the Main, Germany, and was edu- cated in the elementary branches in the famous City of Frank- fort, in which place he spent his youth. He came here and established himself thirteen years ago. In 18o he married. His wife was Miss Bertha .P. Kart. They have three children, Julius Joseph and Bertha, all of course, still small. Mr. Fabel cares little for policies: basiness is his study. The only organist.on with which he is connected is the Bronx Mannercher Singog Society, of which he is president and was one of the leading organizers.
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