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 19
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Under Long Island City's second Mayor -- Mr. Debevoise-Mr. Lockwood was appointed Police Commissioner. By virtue of this office he was also a Health Commissioner and Fire Commissioner. the three positions being combined in one official. He served for a full term. He did not hold any public office again until Mayor Gleason was elected, when he was appointed a Police and Fire Com- missioner. The office of Health Commissioner had been separated from the other two by act of the Legislature Sinee his retirement from this position, Mr. Lockwood has refused further political honors, although his interest in the welfare of the city has been as keen as before. The quietude of his home life is more congenial than the turmoil of politics.
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In the year 1853 Mr. Lockwood married Miss Julia A. Westlake, of New York. They have one daughter, Mrs. S. G. Beals, who, with her husband and two young sons, resides at the old home on Broadway.
PETER G. VAN ALST was born at the Van Alst homestead, Dutch Kills, May 28, 1828. His ancestors being among the earliest settlers on Long Island. He received his early education at the district school, and later at the Astoria Institute. In 1845 he began the study and practice of surveying with H. F. Betts, of Williamsburg, with whom he remained until near the time of the latter's death, which occurred about the year 1853. Soon thereafter, Mr. Van Alst purchased of the estate of Mr. Betts the entire outfit and effects of his office, and in January, 1854, formed a partner- ship with J. V. Mesrole. The partnership lasted but two years, Mr. Mesrole withdrawing and Mr. Van Alst continuing in business on his own account. Mr. Van Alst has been appointed by the Legislature several times as a commissioner in conjunction with others to survey and supervise the construction of some of the leading highways, which office he has always satisfactorily filled. While officiating in that capacity he acted as Chairman of that body. He made surveys and maps which show the street lines, grades, sewerage and monumenting of the city, and assessment maps of the different wards of Long Island City. In 1893 a bill for the improvement of Vernon and Jackson avenues and the Boulevard was passed, and Mr. Van Alst was appointed a commissioner, a position he held for some time. In January, 1896, he was appointed general engineer by the Improve- ment Company, which position he still retains. On July 4, 1867, Mr. Van Alst married Miss Eliza Johnson, to whom three children were born, two of whom are living, a daughter Helen G., and a son Peter G., Jr., the latter having been born March 13, 1874.
CORNELIUS RAPELYE. TRAFFORD .- A history of that portion of Long Island City known as Astoria, and biographical sketches of its most prominent people would be indeed incomplete without special mention of the subject of this sketch, who was born in Astoria, March 26, 1809, and died here September 14, 1872.
His parents were John Trafford, one of the earliest settlers at Hallett's Cove-the original name of this locality-and Grace HON. J. P. MADDEN. (Rapelye) Trafford and occupied the beautiful, although more than a century old, homestead at the junction of Boulevard and Main street, now the winter home of Mrs. Lydia L. Rapelye, widow of Mr. Trafford's cousin, Cornelius Rapelye.
Mr. Trafford was intimately identified with the public affairs of the village of Astoria, and was for years an influential and progressive member of the board of village trustees at a time when such sub- stantial and public-spirited men as Mr. S. A. Halsey, J. B. Reboul, Josiah, Robert and Henry Black- well, James Tisdale, and other citizens took an active interest in the governmental affairs of the then beautiful village, and much of the old time attractiveness of the place was due to him and his official associates, all, with him, long since deceased.
Mr. Trafford was a man of large means, which he expended liberally in the building of very many of the most attractive dwellings in different parts of Astoria and particularly on the "Hill"-always the aristocratie section. He was largely interested in the Astoria ferry, and aided materially in the first introduction of street cars, in fact, was to the time of his decease one of the most important factors in the community. He was noted for his geniality, and many remember with pleasure and gratitude his acts of unostentatious charity.
Mr. Trafford was never married, and therefore leaves no direct descendants to perpetuate the name. The beautiful chimes in the tower of the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, on the Crescent, were given in his will by Mr. Trafford, and annually on the recurrence of his birthday, ring out sweet melodies. A massive granite cross is a striking feature on the beautiful lawn in front of the church and marks the last resting place of Mr. Trafford.
CORNELIUS RAPEISE was born in New York City, November 16, 1833, and was a son of George Rapelye, a native of Newtown. His mother, whose maiden name was Jane M. Suydam, died when the
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subject of this sketch was about two years old. He was reared by his aunt, Mrs. Grace (Rapelye) Trafford, a most excellent Christian lady. Our subject received a careful education, attending private schools in New York City. In 1853 his father died, after which he began to make his home in Long Island City with Cornelius R. Trafford, who was largely interested in what afterward became known as the East River Ferry Company. For many years thereafter Mr. Rapelye was president of that corpor- ation.
In Newtown, December 1857, Mr. Rapelye married Miss Lydia L. Hyatt, daughter of John B. Hyatt. Both Mr. and Mrs. Rapelye were always devoted members of the Reformed Church, and during his lifetime the former was for many years an elder of this church. Ile contributed large sums of money to the support of church work, and in a business and financial way, he was recognized as a citizen having much weight, and was held in high esteem. Socially, he was a member of the Holland Society.
HENRY SHELDON ANABLE, whose demise occurred September 3, 1887, was one of the oldest and best known residents of the Hunter's Point section of Long Island City; in fact, he may be credited with having been the "father of the city," as he was always foremost in shaping and pushing all great improvements long anterior to the date of incorporation.
Mr. Anable was born in Albany, on June 21, 1815, and was educated at the Albany Academy, the late Bishop Loughlin, of Brooklyn, being among his classmates.
His earlier years were spent in the dry goods business in New York City, Utica and Sheboygan, Wis., and as a banker at Sacramento, Cal., where he went, in 1852, across the plains by means of the primitive mule teams and " prairie schooners" of the pioneer days. In 1855 he married Miss Rosanna Frick, of Sheboygan, Wis., by whom he had three children, a son (a lawyer) and two daughters, all of whom survive him.
He was best known as the successful manager and agent, for nearly thirty years, of the great real estate interests at Hunter's Point and at Greenpoint, then owned by the late Dr. Eliphalet Nott, president of Union College, of Schneetady, N. Y., and Messrs. Crane & Ely, and afterwards owned by the trustees of Union College. Coming to Hunter's Point in 1855 as the representative of Dr. Nott, who had long been his friend and who had married Miss Sheldon, an aunt of the subject of this sketch, Mr. Anable soon became the manager and agent of all interested in the estate, a position which he held after the title became vested in Union College in 1860, and until April, 1884, when he resigned his trust, and was succeeded by his son, Eliphalet Nott Anable.
It is worthy of note that during his long service of the college interests, upwards of two and a quarter millions of dollars passed through his hands, and that at the final audit and settlement of his accounts there was an exact balance, to a farthing, of the large amount.
During this period he was active in carrying through Jackson avenue, the first important county highway ever constructed; and also in the opening of the broad and fine macadamized thoroughfare known as Thomson avenue. It was also mainly through his instrumentality that the Long Island Railroad and the Flushing Railroad were induced to make their terminus at Hunter's Point, which finally led to the organization of the East River Ferry Company and the inauguration of a ferry system which has grown to its present wonderful development. And to the same influential and indefatigable worker the credit is chiefly to be given of making Long Island City the county seat of Queens County.
Under Mr. Anable's management the extended water front of Hunter's Point was docked and filled, hills were eut down, swamps filled in and a system of streets and avenues was laid out and graded, at an expense of more than $400,000, by Union College. When Long Island City was incor- porated he was prominent in drafting and securing its first charter and afterwards served as a member of the Survey Commission which was intrusted with the important work of laying out streets and avenues and preparing maps of the same for the entire city. Later on he served on the First Ward Improvement Commission, which body conducted to successful completion one of the most gigantic public improvements ever undertaken on Long Island.
In pushing forward the material interests of the city, Mr. Anable was among the foremost. He was vice-president of our first street railway, and one of the originators and vice-president for years of our admirable Savings Bank. In religious matters he was prominent in the Baptist denomination, being one of the founders and a deacon of the First Baptist Church of Greenpoint, a vice-president of the Baptist Social Union of Brooklyn, and one of the founders of the Baptist Home of Brooklyn, and at the time of his decease was a deacon of the East Avenue Baptist Church of Long Island City.
HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND CITY.
The funeral obsequies, which were held Monday, September 5, 1887, were the largest that ever occurred in Long Island City. His remains were interred at Albany, N. Y.
FREDERICK WILLIAM BLECKWENN, senior member of the well-known Real Estate and Insurance firm of Frederick W. Bleekwenn & Son, No. 202 Lockwood street, Astoria, Long Island City, was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1839. After graduating from school he learned the book trade, and for several years satisfactorily managed a large circulating library, containing over 30, 000 volumes, in the City of Hanover. It was then, right among the treasures of the old and new authors of the world, that he acquired a thorough literary education and an extensive knowledge of human nature.
In the year 1858 he came to this country and soon found employment in the Publishing and Importing House of William Radde in New York City. By very close application to business he soon advanced to a position of trust and confidence. Having special charge of the vast landed interests of his employer, he received a perfect and valuable training in the real estate and conveyancer business, and studied all the laws relating thereto. In the interest of the publishing branch of the business he wrote and translated a number of books and poems, and read the proofs of all of the new publications of the firm, thereby putting to practical use his literary acquirements.
In 1871, when his employer was elected an Alderman in the City of New York, Mr. Bleekwenn, in his confidential capacity, gained quite an extensive knowledge of public and municipal affairs.
After important changes in said firm, Mr. Bleekwenn, in 1880, accept- ed the position of bookkeeper and cashier with the well-known firm of Keuffel & Esser, of New York, man- ufacturers and importers of drawing materials and mathematical instru- ments, the most prominent and suc- cessful firm in this trade in the country. Mr. Bleekwenn, with good will and energy, soon mastered the intricacies of his new position. After DAVID HISCOX. a short time he was given full power to manage the extensive financial affairs of the firm. Mr. Bleekwenn moved to reside in Astoria, now Long Island City, in 1866, and in the fall of 1882, when he was with the firm of Keuffel & Esser, he was, without his knowledge and consent, appointed by the Common Council of Long Island City to fill a vacancy in the office of City Treasurer and Receiver. He respectfully declined the proffered appointment, and it was not until the Common Council offered him the appointment a second time, and after he had received the popular nomination for the office for the next full term, that he accepted both appointment and nomination. lle was elected by a handsome majority over a very prominent and popular opponent for the term ending December 31, 1885. In that year he was re-elected, without opposition, for another term of three years. In 1888 he received more majority than his opponent received votes, for a third term; and in 1891 he was elected for a fourth terin by a large majority. Much against his own inclination
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he was induced again to accept the nomination in 1894, but was defeated in the general political landslide, and withdrew from public life after having served for over twelve consecutive years.
When asked by a friend how it was possible that he was defeated, he answered in his characteristic pleasant way: "Simply because I did not get enough votes."
At the time when Mr. Bleckwenn took hold of the responsible office the city was at the verge of bankruptcy, but by hard work and the application of true business principles he soon succeeded to re-establish the credit of the city. Of him it can be truthfully said that no public official ever worked harder, personally, in the public service.
About the time of the expiration of his last term of office, in December 1894, he declined the offer of a lucrative publie position. The honorable position of trustee of the Public Library, to which he was appointed by Mayor Sanford, in December, 1894, he has resigned since. He says that he has served the publie long enough and must now look out for himself and his family.
Mr. Bleekwenn was the principal organizer of the Astoria and Hunter's Point Railroad Company, whose road now forms the " Blue Line " branch of the present Steinway Railway. In that company he held the position of director and secretary up to the time its road was taken charge of entirely by its lessee.
Mr. Bleckwenn is now devoting all his time and energy to the development of the real estate and insurance business, which he established with his eldest son, Julius Bleekwenn, in 1890, and the experience which both have as conveyaneers, in the line of drawing legal documents, entitle them to a liberal share of the patronage of our citizens.
Mr. Bleekwenn was first married, in 1862, to Marie Limberg, sister of Mr. Otto Limberg, of this city. She died in 1882. After remaining a widower for seven years he contracted a second happy marriage, in 1889, with Katie Korfmann, daughter of the late ex-Alderman John Korfmann, of this city.
Of the eight children born to him by his first wife only two are now living, namely his eldest son, Julius Bleekwenn, his partner in business, and his son Alfred Bleckwenn, who is a clerk in the renowned piano-forte house of Steinway & Sons. By his present wife he has one son, Rudolph Bleekwenn.
During the time Mr. Bleckwenn resided here he has been a member of the German Reformed Church of Astoria (Dr. Steinfuhrer).
In polities Mr. Bleekwenn has always been an Independent Democrat. He is one of the trustees of the Long Island City Building and Loan Associations and a member of the "Frohsinn " and "Astoria Maennerchor " Singing Societies, and of the "Long Island City Turn Verein." He is a man of plain and correct habits and happy disposition, and any person who is in quest of good advice will find in him an open-hearted friend.
BENJAMIN WINGROVE, President of the Board of Aldermen, and one of the oldest residents of Ger- man settlement, Astoria, was born in the parish of Penn, Buckinghamshire, England, November 17, 1846. The first thirteen years of his life were passed in his native place, where he attended school during the winter and worked on farms in the summer. At that age he went to Twickenham, where he was apprenticed to the wheelwright's trade. Five years later he went to London, where for a period of two years he worked at his trade. In 1867 he came to America, landing in New York penniless and a stranger. On the ist of May following, he began to work in the Fourth Ward, Long Island City, where he was first employed by Taylor & Co., and later by Schwartz & Son.
In January, 1868, Mr. Wingrove married Miss Johanna Schmidt, a native of Bunde, Westphalia, Germany. Three daughters comprise the family of Mr. and Mrs. Wingrove: Mary, Augusta and Adelaide. The family is prominent in social circles, where they are also very popular. Mr. Wingrove is a large real estate owner, and among the improvements made by him may be mentioned the three story brick block, with a frontage of fifty feet, situated on Broadway and Ninth avenue. He is greatly interested in the educational interests of Long Island City, and when elected school trustee, he was instrumental in securing the erection of the schoolhouse on Ninth avenue, which was the first ever built in the city. Later he served as school commissioner under Mayor Petry. A Democrat in polities, he was elected to represent the Fourth Ward on the Board of Aldermen in the fall of 1887, and served two years. In 1891 he was nominated for alderman-at-large, and was elected by twelve hundred majority and re-elected in 1893. In 1895 he was chosen President of the Board. Prior to this, he served as Chairman of the Public Works Committee. In 1894 he was a delegate to the State Convention of his
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party, and during the same year, he was chairman of the Jeffersonian Democratic general committee, and is still a member, also chairman of the Fourth Ward general committee. While a member of the council, he was among the first to start the Vernon and Jackson avenues, and the Broadway improve- ments. Since the organization of the general improvement committee he has served as one of its active members. In the organization of the Long Island City Building and Loan Association he took a leading part, and has been one of its trustees from the first. He is a member of a number of organiza -. tions, including Enterprise Lodge No. 22, K. P., at Astoria.
CHARLES WESLEY HALLETT, a descendant of one of the eldest families in Astoria, was born in New York City, July 16, 1831. He received a careful education in private schools. Mr. Hallett has resided in what is now a part of Long Island City ever since he was eighteen months old, he having been orphaned at that age, and was reared by his grandparents until their death. He is, and has been a successful merchant, doing business at 127 Fulton avenue for many years. Mr. Hallett is a trustee of the Long Island City Savings Bank. He has served two terms as a member of the board of aldermen, and has been a member of the board of water commissioners. He is a member of Astoria Lodge No. 155, I. O. O. F., and of Advance Lodge No. 635, F. and A. M. He is prominently identified with the First Presbyterian Church of Astoria. On March 19, 1857, Mr. Hallett married Miss Christina Crawford Ellison, to whom six children have been born, three sons and three daughters.
DAVID HIScox was born in Newfoundland, N. J., October 4, 1837. The family of which he is a member originated in England and Wales. The name was originally Hitchcock, but was changed to its present spelling during the life of the grandfather of this sketch. Mr. Hiscox was the eldest child of his parents, Freeman and Nancy (Westerfield) Hiscox. He was reared at Fort Lee, N. J., and New York City, attending Grammar School No. 15, in Fifth street, where he graduated. He then entered New York College, where he remained until his junior year, and then, owing to ill-health gave up his studies. For several years he was a clerk in his father's J. ANDREW SMITH, DECEASED. timber yard in New York. He afterwards began the study of art, making a specialty of landscape painting, but his health again becoming impaired, forced him to change his occupation. Entering the wholesale drug house of S. R. Van Duzer, he was placed in the charge of the manufacture of patent medicines, and in that way was led into his present business. Resigning his position in 1875, Mr. Hiscox associated himself with other gentlemen and started in the manufacture of medicines in New York City. He began the manufacture of Parker's Hair Balsam and Ginger Tonic. His other specialties are now Hindercorns, Greve's Ointment and Greve's Horse Ointment. In 1868 he bought, and two years later built, at No. 382 Webster avenue, Long Island City, and in 1890 erected a large brick building, three stories in height, and here he has his manufactory and store room, the business being carried on under the firm name of Hiscox & Co. His medicines are sold not only in the United States, but throughout the . world.
Mr. Hiscox married Miss Mary Van Velsor, of Long Island City, and a daughter of Ebenezer Van Velsor, who at one time was a prominent contractor and builder, and is now living retired. Six children have been the fruits of their marriage, viz: Everett, Jessie, Frederick, Hattie, May and Daisy. Politically, Mr. Hiscox is independent. He is a member of the Association of Proprietary Articles in the United States, also the Wholesale Druggists' Association. Ile has prospered in business to a remarkable extent, and has the warm friendship of all who know him.
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HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND CITY.
ABRAM RAPELVE TOTTEN was born at Bowery Bay (North Beach), L. I., in the homestead still in possession of the Totten family. He is a member of the Dutch Reformed Church at Steinway, where he is an active worker. His two sisters, Gertrude Rapelye Totten, and Mary Catharine, the wife of the celebrated pianist and composer. Ferdinand Quentin Duleken, reside in their picturesque villa on Debevoise avenue, Astoria.
Abraham Rapelye Totten had three brothers, the two eldest, Joseph and Isaac, dying in early manhood. William, the youngest brother, is living in New York City, and is married to Emma Louisa, daughter of Elizabeth Larremore and Martin Rapelye, having one child, Charles Herriman Totten.
Abram Totten's mother was Ann Eliza Rapelye, daughter of Margaret Polhemus and Isaac Rapelye, two of the oldest and most respectable families of Long Island. She had two sisters, Ger- trude, and Aletta V. A. Van Wyek, and two brothers, Daniel, dying in boyhood, and Jacob Polhemus Rapelye, who died October 20, 1883.
Mr. Totten's father was Jacob Suydam, son of Catharine Monfort and Joseph Totten. The family has many mementoes of these old families. Old Bibles, printed in the Holland tongue, with the name of Monfort written on the fly-leaf and engraven on the silver clasp. A marriage certificate, written on parehment, well preserved, of Sarah De Blanck to Pietor Monfort, at Amsterdam, Holland, dated June 11, 1630, who came to this country the same year. A will of Sarah De Blanck Monfort, bequeathing her property to her son Yan (John). A lieutenant's commission, given to one Pietor Monfort, signed and sealed by Richard, Earl of Bellmont, and dated 1698, and many other old and curious documents. Mr. Totten is fond of reading, has a large collection of old eoins and Indian arrowheads, found on the Totten and Rapelye properties at Bowery Bay. He has presented some from his collection to the New York and Long Island Historical Societies.
JOHN ANDREW SMITH .- Among the pioneers of Long Island City none was more widely known than J. Andrew Smith, familiarly called " Pop" Smith.
He was born in John street, New York City, July 12, 1808. His boyhood days were spent in private schools in New York, getting there the foundation principles of the successful life which he afterwards led. His school days were limited, but Mr. Smith, as, known, was a successful, shrewd business man, and self-made, as regards his educational qualities and abilities.
Mr. Smith was born of Dutch parents, his father having emigrated to this country from Amster- dam, Holland, while still young in years. Our subject made several trips to his father's native home during his early manhood.
Mr. Smith, Sr., moved from the city to Seneca County, New York, where he located on a farm while his family were yet young, taking most of his large family of boys with him, a few, however, remaining behind, and among those was John Andrew, the subject of this sketch. By trade he was a cooper, and followed it until his marriage in 1833.
His frequent changes in business made him well known in Fulton market and along the shores of the East River, where he kept fishing stations at Kip's and Turtle Bays. His changes in business sometimes led to a change of residence, and among the places where he resided was Thirty- fifth street and Forty-eighth street, where he built himself homes, these, however, he disposed of when he came to this city, that part then known as Hunter's Point.
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