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 21
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In 1876 Mr. Gray organized the Long Island City Savings Bank, of which he was President until his death, which occurred March 20, 1896. He was also one of the organizers of the Seventeenth Ward Bank in Brooklyn, of which he was a Director at the time of his death.
Mr. Gray married Miss Laura A. Lane (now deceased), of Cape Ann, Massachusetts. Four children were born to their union, Eugene W., Mary W., Josephine S. and Francis H. For some time prior to his death Mr. Gray was Excise Commissioner, and was for some time Chairman of that Board. He was for five years Chairman of the Board of Education. Politically he was a Democrat. He was an exceedingly clever and agreeable gentleman, liberal and public-spirited.
JOHN H. THIRY will be longest remembered as the introducer of the School Savings Bank system in this country. This is sufficient to give him fame, not alone during the present, but for all time to come as well. Since retiring from business and taking up his residence in this city. Mr. Thiry has
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devoted much of his leisure time to matters pertaining to the education of the young. The successful operation of the school banking system in foreign lands suggested to his mind the possibilities of the development of the same system in this country. The new idea was first adopted in the schools of Long Island City in 1885, and has gradually spread throughout the country, and the amount deposited by school children in banks amounts to several hundred thousand dollars.
Mr. Thiry was born in Belgium in 1822. Entering the public schools as soon as he was old enough to attend, he spent several years in them. On leaving the public schools, being desirous of fitting himself for a teacher, he entered one of the Belgium Normal schools, from which he was grad- uated in 1845, receiving his graduation diploma from the Minister of the Interior. After following his chosen profession for a year or two, he gave up teaching to accept a more lucrative position in the office of the Minister of Public Works, which he held for twelve years-from 1847 to 1859. In the latter year he resigned his position, in order that he might realize the dream of his boyhood days by taking a trip to the New World. Accompanied by his wife and his two sons, aged respectively five and six years, he landed at Castle Garden in mid-summer, 1859.
Mr. Thiry had no fixed business purpose when he arrived in New York, but he possessed a thorough knowledge of literature, was a lover of books, and he embarked in the book business. He started in business on a very modest scale, renting a small store at the corner of Canal and Centre streets at $6 a month. Prosperity attended the venture, and in less than eight years he was occupying the two remaining stores of the block between Canal and Walker streets, with a stock of 25, 000 volumes, embracing every department of literature in twelve languages ..
Following the general trend of business, in 1868 he moved uptown and rented a store at 730 Broadway. These quarters were more commodious and better located than the old store. He con- tinued to carry on the business until 1875, when he sold out to a southern dealer and retired from an active business life.
City life was not entirely congenial to Mr. and Mrs. Thiry, and after he retired from business they began to look around for some place in the suburbs of New York where they might quietly pass the remainder of their lives. After looking over the whole field, they decided to make Long Island City their future home. Four lots were purchased on Academy street, and a commodious dwelling was erected thereon. Subsequently Mr. Thiry acquired additional property in the vicinity, and this, together with that which he already possessed, enabled Mr. Thiry to gratify his horticultural inclina- tions. One of his pastimes since he has removed to this city has been the culture of grapes. Ile has devoted much time to the study of this subject, and has been very successful.
Mr. Thiry's thorough knowledge of educational matters and the keen interest he had taken in the schools of the city made him well qualified for the position of school commissioner, to which he was appointed by Mayor George Petry in 1884. As school commissioner he was instrumental in establish- ing the monthly meeting of teachers under the supervision of the superintendent, and these meetings have been continued since with beneficent results. The abolition of the mid-session recess after the plan adopted in Albany and Rochester was favored by him and was brought about while he was a member of the Board in 1885.
On the election of Mayor Gleason, Mr. Thiry retired from the Board of Education, but when Mayor Sanford took office Mr. Thiry again took his place in the board, and has since been a member of that body. Several years ago he favored the placing of the public schools of the city under the Regents, and had the satisfaction of assisting in accomplishing this soon after the present administra- tion came into power.
Mr. Thiry's greatest achievement in the cause of education was the introduction of the school savings bank system into the schools of this city. At the solicitation of the United States Commis- sioner of Education he made an exhibit at the World's Fair in Chicago. The exhibit occupied a prominent place in the educational exhibit and a jury of award granted him a medal and diploma in recognition of his efforts in behalf of the cause of public education.
In the retirement of his later years Mr. Thiry still keeps up his interest in the questions of the day, particularly in those topics pertaining to educational matters. His library contains the latest works on educational subjects, as well as on gardening and horticulture.
Mr. Thiry is now seventy-four years of age, but advancing years have left slight traces, and he retains all the physical and mental activity of his younger days. Having acquired a competency in
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business, he lives a quiet, retired life, and extends the hospitality of his home to his numerous friends n which he takes much pleasure.
Mr. Thiry was married in Belgium to Miss Ernestine De Samblanc (recently deceased), a native of that country. Two sons have been born to them, Raphael O. and Joseph. Mr. Thiry is a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church.
WALTER E. FREW, President of the Queens County Bank, was born on Brooklyn, July 18, 1864. He is the son of George E. and Amanda Frew, both being natives of the State of New York. Walter E. Frew received his educational training in private schools of Brooklyn and in Greenpoint Academy, and when fifteen years of age began business in Wall street with Shepherd Knapp, banker and broker. He remained with Mr. Knapp until he was twenty years old, and in July, 1884, entered the Eleventh Ward Bank as messenger, but in two weeks was made bookkeeper and later became assistant cashier. He remained in the bank about four years, and in March, 1889, was made cashier in the Queens County Bank in Long Island City. On April 11, 1895, he was elected president of that bank. He is the youngest man in the State of New York holding the position of bank president. When Mr. Frew became cashier of the Queens County Bank, it was not in a very flourishing condition, having only $144, 000 on deposit, but by his business acumen and good judgment the bank has become one of the sound financial institutions of the country, and has a line of deposits of over $1, 500, 000.
Mr. Frew was a Director of the Steinway Railroad Company, which controls all the lines from Long Island City to Flushing. He is Trustee in the Long Island City Savings Bank, and is interested in numerous other institutions. He belongs to the American Legion of Honor, Bank Clerk's Mutual Business Association, New York State Banker's Association, and is a member of the Executive Com- mittee of Group No. 8, having served as a delegate to the convention at Saratoga. For some time he has taken an interest in Kent Street Reformed Church, of Brooklyn. Mr. Frew was married in Brooklyn to Miss Ella Louise Carman, a native of Brooklyn, and a daughter of Samuel Carman, of `Long Island. They have one child, Helen Louise.
J. HARVEY SMEDLEY was born in Lockport, Niagara County. in 1840. He was of New England and Scotch descent, his father having been born in Brattleboro, Vermont, and his grandfather in Scotland. The latter was one of the pioneers who emigrated to the western part of the State many years before railroads and canals were thought of. The family lived for a time in Monroe County and then removed to Niagara county. His father was a machinist by occupation, and for several years held the position of superintendent and collector of the village in which he lived. Afterward he became manager of the property owned by Devoe College, an institution founded for the education of orphans.
In the days of Mr. Smedley's boyhood Niagara County had no railroads. He remembers the first one that went through. Previous to that, people traveled on the packet boats on the canals. He took a trip to Albany and return in one of these boats. ៛
The public schools of Niagara County afforded him a common school education, and then he went to Rochester Institute, where his education was completed. His first position was in the distributing office of the post office department at Suspension Bridge, to which place his father had removed some time previously. Suspension Bridge at that time was a point for distributing the Canadian mails.
On leaving Suspension Bridge in 1862, he went to Chicago, where he entered the employ of N. K. Fairbanks, a manufacturer of lard oils. He was superintendent of the factory for two years. At the end of that time he came to New York and became an outside salesman for P. S. Justice & Co., a large importing firm, handling iron and steel. The iron industry in America was in its infancy. Nearly all the structural and architectural iron, as well as that used for other purposes, was imported. The firm of P. S. Justice & Co. were the American representatives of the Charles Campbell Cyclops Company, of Sheffield, England, one of the largest iron firms in the world.
After a year and a half he came to Long Island City in 1865. He entered the employ of Dexter Smedley, an uncle, who was engaged in the lard oil business. He became superintendent of the factory, which was at the corner of Vernon avenue and Tenth street, and held the position until 1874, when the place was destroyed by fire. His uncle retired from the business after this catastrophy, but the factory was rebuilt by L. D. Holbrook, and Mr. Smedley continued as superintendent. It was operated about a year, and in 1876 was sold to the Howe Lard Oil Manufacturing Company, and he retired from business.
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It was during this year that the idea of a savings bank was conceived, and finally developed into the Long Island City Savings Bank. Among the incorporators were Sylvester Gray, H. S. Anable, C. H. Rogers, John Bodine, James Corwith, H. R. White, Dr. Lewis Graves, Major Appleton, John B. Woodruff, J. A. Smith, Isaac Van Riper, W. H. Bowron, John J. Horan, John Claven, and others. At the first meeting of the directors, Mr. Gray was chosen president and J. Harvey Smedley, secretary.
Under the conservative management, in which Mr. Smedley had a large share, the institution has had a very prosperous career. Its growth has been gradual, but constant, without any retrogression. The number of depositors has increased until now they number many thousands. The savings bank is the poor man's best friend in the city. It has helped to build many homes. It has been a source of relief to many in times of adversity. It gains a fuller confidence of the people with each year, and will have an enlarged prosperity and usefulness under the Greater New York.
In 1861 Mr. Smedley married Miss Frances Pierce in Niagara Falls, N. Y., in which place she was born. She died in 1885, leaving four children: Newell D., Edith A., Mason O. and Mabel F. Mr. Smedley is a member of Island City Lodge and Banner Chapter, F. and A. M., of the New York Association of Secretaries of Savings Banks, and of St. John's Episcopal Church. He is a man of great public spirit, his influence is sufficient to bring success to various undertakings, both of a public and business character.
H. M. THOMAS was born at Holyhead, North Wales, in 1829. He came of honorable parentage, his father being a farmer, an occupation he followed until his death, which occurred in his seventy-seventh year. The mother, who was Ann Roberts prior to her marriage, died in her native land at an advanced age. Of the five children born to them, but two are living at the present time. Two sons came to America, one of whom died in Long Island City. H. M. Thomas is the only one of his family now in the United 1 States, and until he was fourteen years of age he assisted his father in the duties of the farm and at the same time acquired a practical education in the common schools of his native country. He was afterwards apprenticed to learn the carpenter and builder's trade, and in 1848 he embarked for America where he obtained work at his trade in Brooklyn and Greenpoint. In 1854 he settled in what is now Long Island City. . He is now the oldest contractor and builder JOSEPH CASSIDY. within its limits. He has constructed many buildings in all parts of the city, many of which will remain monuments to his skill as a master builder. In the very early days of his activity he erected a steam planing, moulding, sash, door and blind mill on Vernon avenue and Fourth street, and after successfully operating it for about fifteen years, shut it down. In 1865 he moved it to its present location, and actively continued its management up to about 1888, when it was closed permanently. He is the owner of many fine residences and other valuable properties in Long Island City. He built the East Avenue Baptist Church at the corner of East avenue and Eighth street, and many other prominent buildings. Mr. Thomas has been one of the trustees of the Long Island City Savings Bank since the year of its founding (1889), and for some time past has been its Vice-President.
Mr. Thomas was married in Greenpoint to Miss Georgiana Newcomb. Their union has resulted in the birth of one child, Annie L., now Mrs. Richerstein, of Long Island City. In 1890 or 1891 Mr. Thomas was appointed commissioner to pave and improve Vernon avenue and Jackson avenue. In various other ways he has done much to improve Long Island City. Although a stanch Republican, he has never had any political aspirations. He is a member of Island City Lodge, F. and A. M. and has attained the Royal Arch degree, and is a member of the Consistory of New York City.
HENRY MENCKEN .- Among the representative men of Long Island City none are more prominent than Henry Meneken, who was born in Germany, September 19, 1826. He came to America in 1848, locating in New York City, and in 1862 in Long Island City, where he engaged in the grocery
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business, and where he has resided ever since. After conducting the groeery business for many years, he engaged in his present business in 1881, at 839 to 847 Boulevard.
In 1852 Mr. Mencken married Miss Anna Whetseheaben, of New York. Four children have been born to the marriage, one son and three daughters.
Mr. Mencken is a member of the Second Dutch Reformed Church, in which he has been an elder for a great many years. He has served one term as a member of the Board of Aldermen, a position in which he did the city and himself much credit. He is a self-made man, and is highly esteemed as a citizen. He resides at 109 Newtown avenue.
REV. C. D. F. STEINFUHRER, D. D., the pastor of the German Second Reformed Church of Astoria, enjoys the rare distinction of never having had more than one pastorate, although he has been a clergyman for nearly thirty years. Immediately after the completion of his theological course, he was ealled to take charge of the German Seeond Reformed Church of Astoria, Long Island City. Almost a generation has passed. The passing years have witnessed many changes in the congregation, which has increased from forty-five to nearly three hundred. Many of the original members have passed away. Some have sought other homes, while not a few have entered into eternal rest. The house of worship, also, has been remodeled and enlarged, and every department of the church bears evidence of the Pastor's sterling qualities.
The Rev. Dr. Steinfuhrer was born of Christian parents in Stargard, a city of the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg, Strelitz, January 12, 1841. He was one of five children, there being three sons and two daughters. He is the eldest and only survivor. His brother Ernest, a well-known and very efficient druggist of Schenectady, died in 1883; the other brother, Dr. Gustavus, graduating from the College of "Physicians and Surgeons " of New York. He became a prominent physician of Sehenec- tady, where he died in 1890. His early years were passed in the city school of his native place.
In August, 1854, when thirteen years of age, he accompanied his parents to America. On arriving in New York the family went at once to Schenectady, N.' Y. The future pastor entered the "Classical Department " of the public schools known as Union School, and took up the study of classies preparatory to entering college. In the fall of 1860 he entered Union College, where he took a full collegiate course, receiving the degree A. B. Union College was then at the height of its pros- perity under the direction of that celebrated instructor, the Rev. Dr. Eliphalet Nott, and among the members of the faculty were sueh distinguished names as Dr. Tayler Lewis, Dr. D. L. Hickok, Prof. J. Foster, Prof. J. Jackson and Prof. Chandler, men famed for their learning. In July, 1864, he grad- uated with honor in a class of sixty-five members, among whom were the Rev. Dr. David Van Horne, now President of the Theological Seminary of the Reformed Church, at Tiffin, Ohio; Dr. Daniel Stimson and Warren Schoonover, celebrated physicians in New York City, and Dr. E. W. Paige, a prominent New York lawyer, and at one time Deputy Attorney-General of this state.
In the autumn following his graduation from College, he entered the Theological Seminary of the Reformed Church at New Brunswick, N. J., where he spent three years of preparation for the ministry, graduating in 1867, and receiving the same year the degree of A. M. from Union College. While in the Seminary, he assisted Dr. Tayler Lewis in the celebrated translation and compilation of Lange's Genesis.
In May of that year, having received and accepted a eall to his present pastorate, he came to Astoria. At that time the congregation were building a home of worship on the site of the present edifice, and until it was completed, his people occupied the basement of the Reformed Church on Remsen street for their religious serviees. At that period the German Second Reformed Church of Astoria, and the German Reformed Church of Newtown were under the charge of one pastor, and he was pastor of both until 1873, when they were made separate charges. Since that time he was the pastor of the Astoria Church only. He has always made Astoria his place of residence. The first church building was occupied for the first time June 23, 1867, and on the following Sunday he was ordained and installed as pastor, this ceremony having been deferred in order that it might be solemnized in the new building. Seven years ago, 1889, the church was enlarged by an addition of thirty-two feet, and remodeled to its present style. The cosy parsonage, nestling by the side of the church, was already built by his untiring zeal in 1870. In 1892, the twenty-fifth anniversary of his ordination and installation was celebrated, and was made a notable event. Nearly all the Protestant churches of Astoria joined in commemorating the event. In November, 1868, a parochial school was
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established in connection with the church. It has been continued up to the present time, and has been more or less a blessing to the congregation.
In 1868 Mr. Steinfuhrer was married to Miss Louise Dorrmann Knecht, of Schenectady, N. Y., an estimable lady, who has been his efficient helpmate in all his undertakings during his long pastorate, especially in Sunday School and in connection with the church music. They celebrated their silver wedding in 1893, in which the whole congregation participated. The Rev. Dr. W. H. Ten Eyck, who twenty-five years ago united them in marriage, officiated again at this occasion, and the Rev. Mr. and Mrs. C. F. C. Suckow, of Philadelphia, Pa., who at the first wedding acted as best man and bridesmaid, respectively, acted in the same capacity at their silver wedding.
During the years of Mr. Steinfuhrer's residence in Long Island City, many changes have taken place, both in municipal affairs and in the religious bodies. With the exception of one church, all the churches, Protestant and Catholic, have changed pastors several times. No clergyman of his denomi- nation in the North Classis of Long Island has been pastor of one church so long as Mr. Steinfuhrer.
One of the most pleasant things in connection with his pastorate is the amicable relations that have always existed between him and his fellow clergymen in the city.
During the time that the "Isabell Home " was located in our midst (1875-1889), Mr. Steinfuhrer acted as the chaplain of that institution. The "Ottendorfer family," the founder and principal supporter of that noble monument, in memory of their deceased daughter, Isabella, impressed with the untiring zeal and unselfish motives of this humble pastor, expressed repeatedly their high appreciation of his kindly services to that institution.
From the founding of the Astoria Hospital in 1892, he has been interested and intimately associa- ted with its progress. The high esteem with which he is regarded, on account of his hearty sympathy in respect to this noble work of Christian philan- thropy, was manifested on the occasion of the laying of the corner stone of the new Astoria Hospital, November 1, 1895, when the board of managers unanimously chose him to deliver the dedicatory JOSEPH DYKES. address, notwithstanding his earnest protests. Mrs. Steinfuhrer is also very much interested in this samaritan enterprise. She is at present a member of the board of managers of the training school for nurses at the hospital.
At a meeting of the Trustees of Union College, Schenectady, N. Y., held on Tuesday, June 23, 1896, the honorary degree of "Doctor of Divinity " was conferred upon him. The public announce- ment of this official act was made at the commencement exercises of the college, Wednesday, June 24th. Union College, his beloved Alma Mater, has honored itself by thus recognizing one of her deserving sons in such gratifying form.
The New York Times of July 12, 1896, in an article portraying the activity of the different cler- gymen of Astoria, writes the following :
"Astoria has no minister more universally respected and liked, in and out of his denomination, than the Rev. C. D. F. Steinfuhrer, D. D., pastor of the German Second Reformed Church on Second avenue. For many years this kindly German clergyman has gone quietly about doing much good with tongue, pen and hand, and Astoria has come to feel that no large gathering is complete that does not include his welcome presence. He is a prodigious worker in his modest way, and his value to Astoria from every point of view cannot be measured even by those who from long association know him best."
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Rev. Dr. Steinfuhrer looks back over the perspective of nearly thirty years. Lights and shadows are mingled, but the former predominate. Children whom he baptized in early years have grown to man and womanhood ; have been joined in marriage by the same pastor, and their children in turn have been baptized by the same pastor who baptized them. All these memories serve to draw pastor and people closer together and knit more firmly the bond of sympathy with each succeeding year. As a minister he has been faithful, efficient and energetic. Possessed of more than ordinary pulpit talent, and with special gifts as a pastor, he has brought to his work rare earnestness and Christian consecration. In his church and out of it he has shown him- self a friend of humanity, deeply interested in the welfare of all, and full of sympathy for those who are in sorrow and distress. IIe has endeared himself to many friends, and has won the confidence of all, without respect to their differences of opinions on doctrinal and political points. As a noble son of his dear Alma Mater, Union College, he seems to have imbibed the very spirit of her glorious motto, "In necessariis Unitas, in dubiis Libertas, in omnibus Caritas."
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