USA > New York > Queens County > Long Island City > History of Long Island City, New York. A record of its early settlement and corporate progress. Sketches of the villages that were absorbed in the growth of the present municipality. Its business, finance, manufactures, and form of government, with some notice of the men who built the city > Part 16
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W'm. Pfeffer enlisted July 30, 1862, Private Co. D, 131st N. Y. Vols. ; discharged July 26, 1865; Sergeant Co. D.
Sam Baldwin enlisted August 25, 1862, Artificer, Co. B, 15th N. Y. Eng. ; discharged June 13, 1865. John Evers enlisted August II, 1862, Private Co. H, 51st N. Y. Infantry; discharged July 25, 1865; died March 17th, 1893.
George Oesterlein enlisted November 2, 1863, Private Co. D, 54th N. Y. Vols. ; discharged May 31, 1865. Robert Gaffney enlisted October 10, 1864, Private Co. A, 18th Cav. N. Y. V. ; discharged August 15, 1865.
John Walz enlisted December 9, 1863, Corp. Co. H, 5th N. J. Vet. Vols .; discharged August 25, 1865; died September 24, 1895.
Sam'l M. Furman enlisted September 24, 1864, Private Co. B, 4th N. J. Vet. Vols .; discharged June 22, 1865.
James McGinness enlisted January 25, 1865, Private Co. D, 25th Mass. Vols .; discharged July 13, 1865; died June 30, 1893.
Francis Stein enlisted December 14, 1858, Private Co. D, 18th U. S. Inf. ; discharged December 23, 1863.
Edmund Klespies enlisted August 29, 1863, Private Co. A, 33d N. J. Vols: ; discharged July 17, 1865. Wm. McCue enlisted September 5, 1864, coal heaver, Gunboat Seneca; discharged June 9, 1865; discharged from the G. A. R.
Thomas Darey enlisted March 5, 1865, United States Str. Corwin, coal heaver; discharged November 26, 1866.
Geo. Casey enlisted March 5, 1865, coal heaver, United States Str. Corwin; discharged March 24, 1866. Edward Flaherty enlisted July 12, 1864, Private Co. G, 77th N. Y. Vols .; discharged November 19, 1864; Corporal Co. G.
Thos. Carroll enlisted August 15, 1862, Private Co. G, 51st N. Y. Vols .; discharged June 29, 1865.
Frederick Steinmetz enlisted September, 1861, Private Co. A ; discharged September, 1965; Private Co. G, 15th N. Y. H. Artillery.
George M. Bosford enlisted March 1, 1865, Private Co. G, 14th Maine Vols. ; discharged August 28, 1865.
Chas. Horn enlisted June 16, 1863, Private Co. B, with N. Y. S. M .; discharged July 20, 1863; served two years as Chaplain.
. Valentine Weber enlisted March 26, 1864, Private Co. G, Ist N. J. Cav .; discharged June 9, 1865. Peter B. Conklin enlisted May 29, 1862, Corp. Co. F, 37th N. Y. S. M .; discharged September 20, 1862. Christian Lutzens enlisted June 20, 1861, Private Co. F, 40th N. Y. Vols .; discharged June 20, 1864.
W. Remsen Taylor enlisted September 12, 1862, Private Co. D, 29th N. J. Vols. ; discharged June 30, 1863; Colonel; died October, 1896.
Edward Bell enlisted July 6, 1862, Sergt. Co. K, with R. I. Vols. ; discharged September 14, 1864; Captain.
Frank Schopp enlisted February 21, 1864, Private Co. C, 3d N. J. Cav. ; discharged September 21, 1865, Corporal; died November 6, 1894.
James O'Connor enlisted April 20, 1861, Private Co. E, 69th N. Y. S. M. discharged October 6, 1864. as Sergeant.
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HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND CITY.
John Northacker enlisted May 28, 1862, Private Co. B, 11th N. Y. S. M. ; discharged September 16, 1862.
Herman Hirchfield enlisted October 16, 1861, Private Co. E, 54th N. Y. Vols. ; discharged June 8, 1862.
James Marshall enlisted January 4, 1864, Private Co. G, 8th Mich. Cav. ; discharged June 10, 1865. John Bulbert enlisted June 21, 1861, Private Co. H, 69th N. Y. S. M. ; discharged Angust 3, 1861. George Foster enlisted August 25, 1862, Private Co. B, 3d N. Y. Art. ; discharged July 13, 1865.
Richmond Davis enlisted September 5, 1860, Private U. S. M. Corps discharged June 17, 1839, as Sergeant.
Hugh Mckeon enlisted July 21, 1863, Private Co. G, 18th N. Y. Cav. ; discharged May 31, 1866. Robert Southwick enlisted August 9, 1864, Class boy, U. S. Navy;
discharged April 24, 1867, Private U. S. Navy; died April 7, 1895. Cornelius Foley enlisted February 16, 1864, Private Co. K, 13th N. Y. H. Art. ; discharged June 28, 1865.
William Hopper enlisted September, 1861, Private Co. D, goth N. Y. Inf. ; discharged February, 1866; hospital steward, served as Junior Vice-Commander, and is at present Senior Vice-Commander.
Michael Bergen enlisted September 12, 1861, Private Co. E, 5ist N. Y. Inf. ; discharged July 24, 1865.
William A. King enlisted November, 1861, Private Co. A, 102d N. Y. Inf. ; discharged July 21, 1865, as Sergeant.
Michael Smith enlisted January 25, 1863, Private Co. H. N. Y. M. Art. ; discharged January 20, 1804.
John Weber enlisted January 16, 1861, Drummer Co. I, 68th N. Y. Vols. ; discharged September, 1865, as Drum Major.
Edward Steinhart enlisted Angust 26, 1864, coal heaver, U. S. Navy; discharged June 14, 1865.
William S. Ott enlisted August 6, 1862, Private Co. A, 77th Ill. Vols, ; discharged June 17, 1865. now serving as Junior Vice-Commander.
BANKS.
THE LONG ISLAND CITY SAVINGS BANK.
This bank was organized April 18, 1876, with the following officers: President, Sylvester Gray; First Vice- President, John Appleton; Second Vice-President, H. S. Anable; Secretary, J. Harvey Smedley.
It has been an eminently successful institution from the outstart. By conservative management it enjoys the fullest measure of public confidence. lis list of depositors is constantly increasing for the people have learned how to utilize its advantages in their own interests. It is a credit to the city, not only because of its sound financial policy, but in its beneficiary relations with the large class of citizens who, from time to time, have been its patrons. .
Its present officers are :
President, W. J. Burnett, Secretary, J. Harvey Smedley.
Trustees. G. W. Williams,
Walter E. Frew, Hadwin Houghton,
C. W. Hallett,
II. F. Jones,
W. J. Burnett,
Chas. A. Thompson,
D. S. Jones, B. Moore, Jr., John Harvey,
A. T. Payne,
1I. M. Thomas,
L. P. Dexter, W. II. Siebrecht,
J. Harvey Smedley,
II. S. Sanford.
-- 1
LL
LONG ISLAND CITY SAVINGS BANK.
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HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND CITY.
QUEENS COUNTY BANK.
This prosperous bank was originally organized in Flushing and removed to this city in 1888, occupying the premises at 31 Borden ave. Two or three years later the present beautiful and commodious structure was erected on Front street, adjoining the ferries of the Long Island Railroad Company. It has a capital of $100,000, with a surplus of $60,000. Under its present management its policy is that of a progressive institution yet is combined with a due degree of conservatism. It does a general banking business and is regarded in the financial world as safe and sound. Its last report September 3. 1896, is as follows:
Loans and discounts, less due from directors, $1,010,528; due from banks, etc., $210,540; cash on hand, $155,000; cash items, $41, 038; items carried as cash, $5991; deposits, $1, 379, 119; due banks, $243,163; capital, $100, 000; surplus and profits, $82,659; total resources, $1, 814, 942.
Officers. President, Walter E. Frew, Vice-President, William Steinway. Cashier, James P. Besemer.
QUEENS. CO
1
-
ELECTRO-LIGHT ENG CU, N. Y. THE QUEENS COUNTY BANK.
Directors.
Walter E. Frew, President,
Shepherd Knapp-New York City, N. Y.,
William Steinway-Messrs. Steinway & Sons, N. Y.,
Wm. F. Havemeyer-Vice-Pres't Nat. Bank of North America, N. Y.,
H. K. Knapp-General Manager Union Ferry Co., Brooklyn and New York,
Emanuel Lehman-Lehman Bros., 22 William St., New York,
Emil Calman-Emil Calman & Co., L. I. City,
S. K. de Forest-Gen'l Manager toth and 23d Street Ferries, Brooklyn,
John B. Woodruff-Long Island City,
Joseph S. Auerbach-Cedarhurst, L. I., G. J. Garretson, Newtown, L. I.
125
HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND CITY.
NEWSPAPERS.
Various journals have at different times been published within the limits of Long Island City. Yet for causes which the historian is unable to trace, but one remains to connect the present with the preceding generation.
In 1853 the Astoria Gasette was published by William S. Harrison, and had a brief career of less than two years. An interval of eleven years followed, when the Astoria Herald began, under Mrs. Ritchie, a history even less brief.
In the spring of 1865 Thomas H. Todd located at Hunter's Point, where he opened a job printing office, and on October 20th, of the same year, established the Long Island City Star. For a full and detailed history of that enterprise the reader is referred to a special article, elsewhere given upon the subject.
In 1872 the Review was started by HI. W. Love as a daily paper, and was published for about three years.
An attempt was made in 1874 to found the Long Island City News, but with only temporary success.
The Long Island City Press and the Courier were organized respec- tively in 1875 and 1876. The former suspended in 1878, and the latter in 1885.
The Long Island Beobachter was established in 1876 as a distinctively German news medium. It is still published.
In 1880 the .Istoria Chronicle appeared as a Democratic campaign organ and was published for a few months.
SYLVESTER GRAY, DECEASED.
The Long Island City Tribune, published for a number of years under the direction of W. S. Overton, suspended in 1894.
In 1890 the Queens County Herald and the Weekly Flag were established, the former in Hunter's Point, the latter in Astoria. In 1895 the Mirror made its appearance.
MANUFACTURES.
Few cities in the United States have more extensive man ifacturing interests than are located in this city. The capital invested is vast while the market reached by the products of the various plants is world wide. These industries have been attracted thither by the natural trade advantages of the city. Desirable areas of land for sites have been, and are still, at the command of manufacturers while communication by river and rail is direct and constant.
THE STEINWAY ENTERPRISES.
Of these we have elsewhere spoken at large. The presence in the city of such a plant has been for a quarter of a century a constant stimulus to prosperity.
THE OIL COMPANIES.
The Standard Oil Company has here its gigantie works. The products of the Pennsylvania oil regions are transported thither in pipes, refined by all manner of scientific processes and exported
126
HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND CITY.
to the confines of the world. Acres of land, vast capital and hundreds of hands are in daily activity, much to the advantage of the local interests of the city.
THOMAS MORGAN conducts an extensive business as a commission merchant and wholesale dealer in Ilay, Straw, Grain, etc., on Newtown Creek, foot of East avenue. Hle built the present elevator in 1888, at which time the firm was known as Beyer & Morgan. Upon the retirement of Mr. Beyer, in 1892, Mr. Morgan became the sole member of the firm. From the outstart the business has been prosperous. Large quantities of grain are bought by him on the New York Prodnee Exchange and then taken into the elevator for sale to the different feed stores in the locality, and shipped on the cars of the Long Island Railroad to varions parts of the country-switch connect with railroad. Orders from any part of Long Island receives prompt attention because of facilities for rail- road cars-an order to-day arrives at its destination on the following morning, the capacity of the elevator of which is 50, 000 bushels. Inereas- ing demands recently required the replacement of the old one hundred horse power engine with a new low pressure one of two hundred and fifty horse power. A hay and straw warehouse 25x100 feet, was also erected during the summer of 1896. The plant, which is the only one of its kind in Long Island City, is eligibly located, with a frontage of 275 feet on Newtown Creek, and extending back 280 feet to East avenue. Mr. Morgan is also the proprietor of the large elevators and warehouses at the foot of Taylor street, Brooklyn, N. Y.
The plant of the NEW YORK ARCH- ITECTURAL TERRA COTTA Co. occupies four hundred feet on Vernon avenue north of Harris avenue and reaches to the river. The company was formed November, 1893, by the consolidation of Stephens, Arm. WALTER E. PREW. strong & Conklin, of Philadelphia, with the New York Architectural Terracotta Co. . The former is being now operated as a branch of the New York company, which is located at Ravenswood. The products of these works are in the highest style of art, and adorn public and private edifices in almost every city of America. The pay roll in this city reaches $150,000 per annum.
IN ASPHALT PAVING AND MATERIAL we mention the BARBER ASPHALT PAVING Co., foot of Sixth street, and the NEW YORK MASTIC WORKS, foot of Seventh street.
The firm of PETER YOUNG represents an extensive industry in bags and bagging at 337 Vernon avenue, Ravenswood.
VARNISH MANUFACTURERS.
The leading firms are Pratt & Lambert, foot of Fourth, Fifth and Ninth streets, Hunter's Point; Keystone Varnish Co., foot of Fourth street, Hunter's Point.
One of the oldest and most celebrated establishments for the manufacture of varnishes in this country is that of Mayer & Lowenstein. Their goods are sold and known throughout the world. The firm was organized by Gabriel Mayer and his brother Bernhard, in 1846, and continued under that nam
127
HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND CITY.
until the year 1865, when the present factory was built in Long Island City. The company was then organized under its present form by Siegfried W. Mayer and Otto L. Mayer, sons of Gabriel Mayer, together with Ludolph II. Abraham, when the present firm name was assumed.
QUEENS COUNTY VARNISH WORKS, 77 Ninth street, Hunter's Point.
EDWARD SMITH & Co., foot of Fifth street, Hunter's Point. The origin and history of this firm begins with the spring of 1827, when Paschal B. Smith, oldest brother of the late Edward Smith, built a small furnace in the old apple orchard which stood at the corner of Sixth street and Second avenue, New York City, and there first melted gum, and made and sold varnishes as a separate business for the first time in the United States. The venture became popular and was reported to the National Government. At the present time all candidates for the Civil Service are taught that varnish, as an American product, was first made and sold in 1828. The rapid increase of business required the assistance of the brothers, Samuel P. and Nathan Smith, and James L. Stratton, under the firm name of P. B. Smith & Co. In 1832 S. P. Smith withdrew and began business in Newark, New Jersey. The old firm continued until 1844,
J. HARVEY SMEDLEY.
when P. B. Smith retired, and the firm became Smith, Stratton & Co. In 1851 Nathan Smith died, whereupon the firm became Smith & Stratton. Previous to the death of Mr. Smith the factory was moved from New York to Astoria where Mr. Stratton resided, and was located on Mr. Stratton's property near Hallett's Cove, a part of which property became the comely residence of the late Robert Benner. The odors of the factory being objectionable to many residents, the firm, in 1856, purchased from the Union College six lots on Fourth and Fifth streets, and built the first build- ings at Hunter's Point for manufacturing purposes. The deed of the property contained a protecting clause against molestation on account of harmless odors, ete. Upon the completion of the factory buildings, two three-story apartment houses were also erected on Fifth street for employees. In one of these houses Richard Armstrong, the chief varnish maker, was born. At the death of Mr. Stratton in 1859, Edward Smith became sole proprietor, and JOHN II. THIRY. the business was conducted under his name until 1867, when John A. Elmendorf, who had been con- nected with the house since 1853, was admitted to partnership under the firm title of Edward Smith & Co. Upon the death of Mr. Smith in 1878, Chester Huntington became a partner as also Alexander Maitland in
128
HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND CITY.
1880. In 1889 the firm was incorporated under the laws of New York. The firm now consists of Alexander Maitland, President; John A. Elmendorf, Vice-President; S. V. V. Huntington, Treasurer and Manager; Andrew M. Bates, Secretary; A. H. Sabin, chemist.
LAWSON VALENTINE Co. was founded by Lawson Valentine, who was born at Cambridge, Mass., on April 13, 1828. On Monday morning, May 10, 1847, at 7:30 A.M., he first went to work in the paint and varnish business, in Boston, Mass. On Tuesday, September 15th, 1850, he became a member of the firm of Wadsworth, Nye & Co. (composed of Samuel Wadsworth, John A. Nye and Lawson Valentine), dealers in paints, oils, varnishes, etc. In 1852 he formed a co- partnership with Augustin T. Stimson and Otis WV. Merriam, under the title of Stimson, Valentine & Co., making a specialty of varnish. Lawson Valentine was then the only Valentine, any- where, connected in any way with the varnish business,
Later Mr. Merriam withdrew, and in 1867 Mr. Stimson retired, and the house then became Valentine & Co., which in 1882 was incorporated, Lawson Valentine being the President.
II. M. THOMAS,
In 1870, in a card reproducing in facsimile his handwriting and signature, Lawson Valentine first spread broadcast the claim that he had succeeded in producing a line of coach varnishes fully equal to the best English varnishes, which latter, up to that time, had held the American market unchallenged. Custom House records are the best evidence as to the effect of his bold claim.
In 1882 he retired from the presidency of the old house of Valentine & Co., and on November 1, 1886, with the co-operation of Mr. Hadwin Houghton, (whose portrait we give on p. 132) and Mr. David S. Skaats, the former having been associated with him in the varnish business for sixteen years previously, he inaugurated the business of the Lawson Valentine Co., of New York and Hunter's Point, makers of a still higher grade of coach varnish, to which business he devoted his entire attention up to the time of his death on May 5, 1891. This new company has nothing whatever to do with the old house of Valentine & Co., of New York and Williamsburg, the Lawson Varnish Co., of Chicago, or any other concern of similar title. On the contrary, the names of the THOMAS MORGAN, new goods and the appearance of their labels, packages, ete., are as different from all others as the company know how to make them. Shortly before; his death Mr. Valentine said: "I am willing to stand by my reputation of forty years past as a varnish
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HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND CITY.
maker. I trust it will help to gain for my new enterprise a fair share of the trade in high-grade coach varnishes, and I am confident that it will as soon as the high quality of the new 'H. H.' brand is understood and appreciated. I pledge that reputation when I claim that the goods now made by the
Lawson Valentine Co., under my supervision, are unequaled by any other varnishes in the world."
THE PRATT & LAMBERT VARNISH Co. was founded by Mr. Alfred W. Pratt, who started to learn the business in 1857. After devoting about ten years to this work, and having gained a thorough knowledge of the manu- facture of high grade varnishes, he resolved to commence business for himself, and erected a small plant on Fifth street, Long Island City, in 1866.
An early training had taught him that the way to success, was to make the best varnishes that could be pro- duced, keeping the quality always the same, and furnishing the trade at a reasonable profit.
VIEW OF THOMAS MORGAN'S ELEVATOR FROM WATER FRONT.
He invented and patented the celebrated Pratt's Patent Liquid Dryer, which still has a large sale and is manufactured extensively at all their works.
Under his personal supervision, the business grew so rapidly that at the end of two years he was obliged to have larger quarters, and he moved to a new plant at the corner of West avenue and Fifth street. On account of increased business, two years later he was obliged to have still larger quarters, and in the meantime, the sales had increased so rapidly, that arrange- ments were made with Mr. Henry S. 6 Lambert to join him, and the firm (which had been A. W. Pratt & Co. up to this time) was changed to Pratt & Lambert
MORGAN'S ELEVATOR
MILL FEED OATS, CORN,
MEAL
WAREHOUS!
A well-equipped plant, which they now oceupy, was built on Fourth street, and has been added to from time to time, until they have one of the most modern and best arranged plants in the country.
Mr. Lambert was acknowledged to have been at that time, one of the best salesmen in the varnish business, and under his direction, the house soon enjoyed a very large trade in every section of the country.
The firm was organized into a Stock Company in 1885. The plant VIEW OF THOMAS MORGAN'S ELEVATOR AND YARDS, at Fourth street was found to be over- crowded, so they secured a place on Ninth street, in which they located their stables, and stored their surplus stock of raw material.
In 1890 the business in the western part of the country had grown to such an extent, that it was deemed advisable to erect works at Chicago, and a location was selected at 370 to 378 Twenty-sixth. street, on which a fine, modern plant was built.
9.
COTTA WORKS
----
AMERICAN PHOTOENG
NEW YORK ARCHITECTURAL TERRA COTTA WORKS.
131
HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND CITY.
In 1895 the Cottingham Varnish Company was organized at Montreal, to manufacture the Pratt & Lambert varnishes for the Canadian trade, and a new plant was erected at the corner of Atwater avenue and St. Patrick street, where a full line of their goods are produced.
Their goods have the highest reputation in all parts of this continent and are considered as standard wherever they have been used. Their facilities are most ample, and their factories are equipped with the best appliances ever invented for the purpose, and neither money, time nor labor have been spared to make their product the best in the world. These goods are put up in convenient packages, handsomely labeled and securely packed for transport. Beyond this, the house guarantees the unvarying quality of its product and supplies the public at the most reasonable prices.
The reception which these goods has met in all parts of the civilized world has encouraged the house to extra effort in meeting foreign demand and supplying the export trade. To this end, they will ship trial orders either direct or through our foreign commission merchants. They will pack and ship their goods as directed, and invite suggestions from their patrons which will be carefully heeded. In every case the shipment will be accompanied by the full guarantee of quality and quantity, and they confidently appeal to buyers and users of varnishes in every country to make trial of their superior wares.
They have large factories in New York, Chicago and Montreal, and their main business offices are located at No. 47 John street and No. 5 Dutch street.
W. H. Andrews, the present treasurer and manager of the eon- pany, was born in Thomaston, Me., MAYER 1860, left school at seventeen years STABLISHED 1846 HAVEA of age, deelining a college education ; 164 `subsequently he took a course in a MAYER & LOEWENSTEINS commereial college in Boston, prior VARNISH WORKS to entering the employ of Wads- worth- llowland Company, of Boston, where he began his aetive business career, September 1 , 1878, at a salary of five dollars a week. During his first year in this company's service his salary was advaneed by successive additions, until at the end of the MAYER & LOEWENSTEIN'S VARNISH WORKS. year he was receiving fifteen dollars a week; at the end of five years, at the early age of twenty-three, he was admitted to the firm, and with Mr. John Wadsworth went to Chicago and opened a branch house. After doing so, the western business grew so rapidly that he organized a stock company and bought out the western branch of the house. In 1891 he acquired an interest in the firm of Pratt & Lambert, and acted as resident manager in Chicago, and built a modern plant at 370 to 378 Twenty-sixth street. The business prospered under the vigorous management given it, and on the retirement of Messrs. Pratt & Lambert, in 1895, from the active management of their company, Mr. Andrews was very naturally and most appropriately singled out and transferred to New York, and elected treasurer and general manager of the company.
EMIL CALMAN & Co., West avenue, corner of Fourth street, Hunter's Point. This firm consists of Mr. Emil Calman and his two sons, Gustave B. and Charles. Mr. Calman has been in the varnish business uninterruptedly sinee 1848, and is to-day among the oldest living manufacturers of varnish in the country. Ile was also the first to establish the varnish industry in Long Island City, having built his factory here in 1862, or thereabouts. The present daily production of the works of this firm is over 5,000 gallons, embracing the various grades, and representing everything that is demanded in the varnish line.
HILDRETH VARNISH COMPANY, West avenue, corner of Fifth street, Hunter's Point, and E. A. THIBAUT & Co., 72 Ninth street, Hunter's Point.
HAGAN & DALY, foot of Seventh street, Hunter's Point, are well known steam boiler makers.
132
HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND CITY.
THE NORTH AMERICAN METALINE COMPANY, R. W. Rhoades & Co., lessees, at West avenue and Third street, are manufacturers of pulley bearings, ete.
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