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 25
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HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND CITY.
In the fall of 1893, Doctor Strong was elected to the office of County Coroner on the Republican ticket. He has ever since filled that position with the greatest satisfaction. In November, 1896, he was re-elected to the same position by a plurality of 5,859.
In 1884, at Indianapolis, Ind., Dr. Strong was united in marriage to Miss Alice Bartholomew, a native of Michigan. One child, a daughter, has been the fruit of their union.
Dr. Strong is a member of Island City Lodge and Encampment, I. O. O. F. He is also a Mason of high degree and belongs to Banner Chapter. He is a Royal Arch Mason and was made Knight Templar in Hillsdale. He is a prominent member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Order of Sons of Veterans.
WILLIAM J. BURNETT, M. D., was born in Perrinton, N. Y., but has been a resident of Long Island City for twenty-two years. He received his rudimentary education in common schools, after which he attended and was graduated from the University of Michigan. On February 13, 1879, he married Miss Clara Frick. Three children have been born to the union, only one living. Dr. Burnett has filled a number of important positions. He is Health Officer, County Physician, and has been Com- missioner of Education. His long successful career in Long Island City has placed him at the head of his profession.
GEORGE FORBES, M. D., was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., November 5, 1867. His father, George Forbes, was a native of Scotland, while his mother, Sarah A. (Johnson), was born in Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Dr. Forbes attended the public schools of Brooklyn until he was thirteen years of age, at which time he entered the drug store of his brother Henry. After following this business for four years he decided to adopt the medical profession. In the meantime he went to Astoria, and began reading medicine in the office of his brother-in-law, Dr. Neil Fitch. He afterwards entered the medical department of the University of New York, and in 1889 he was graduated therefrom. He . then located in Ravenswood, where he maintains his office and residence at No. 693 Vernon avenue. On July 15, 1891, Dr. Forbes married Miss Norine Cadmus, 'of Brooklyn. Two children have been born to them, Gladys and Mildred. In politics Dr. Forbes is a Democrat. He is a member of the Jefferson Club of Long Island City, American Legion of Honor and the Long Island City and Queens County Medical Societies. He also attends the Episcopal Church. Dr. Forbes was appointed County Physician and Surgeon August 9, 1896.
ROBERT F. MACFARLANE, M. D., was born in May, 1842, in Orleans County, N. Y., and is of Scotch parentage. His father was for many years editor of the Scientific American. The subject of this sketch was the eldest in a family of five children, who grew to mature years. He attended the schools of Brooklyn and New York, and was graduated from the Williamsburg school of the latter city in 1854. He then accepted a position in the dry goods business, in which he continued until the breaking out of the war, at which time he volunteered and became a member of the Seventy-ninth New York Highlanders. He later aided in the organization of Company K, Twelfth New York State Militia, and was mustered into service as Second Lieutenant. At the expiration of his service he was honorably discharged. On his return home he continued in mercantile business until 1884, at which time he began to take a thorough course in medicine. He entered the Albany Medical College, from which he was graduated, in 1888, having been valedictorian of the occasion. After spending two years abroad, in 1890 he returned to America, locating for one year in Albany. At the expiration of that time, Dr. MacFarlane removed to Long Island City, succceding to the practice of Dr. Lyttle. In 1877 he married Miss Eleanor Moore, to whom one child has been born. Dr. MacFarlane is a member of the Long Island City and the Queens County Medical Societies, being Vice-President of the latter. He is a Master Mason, being a member of Long Island City Lodge, No. 586.
JOHN FRANCIS BURNS, M. D., was born in New York City, December 5, 1863. He is a graduate of medicine, having received his diploma in 1889 at the University of New York. In 1892 he began his medical practice in Long Island City, where he has been actively engaged ever since. He is resi- dent physician and surgeon at City Hospital of New York, also physician at New York Maternity Hospital, also Assistant Medical Superintendent of Fort Hamilton Asylum, is visiting surgeon to St. John's Hospital, a member of the American Medical Association, and an active member of the Queens County and Long Island City Medical Societies. He is a regular contributor to a number of medical publications, including the New York Medical Journal and Record.
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HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND CITY.
FRANCIS E. BRENNAN, M. D., was born at Greenport, L. 1., January 28, 1873. He was formerly connected with the Metropolitan Hospital of New York City. When a lad of nine years he was sent to New York City, that he might complete his education. He first attended Grammar School No. 49 in East Thirty-seventh street, and on being graduated therefrom, in 1890, was admitted to the College of the City of New York. After carrying on his studies in this institution for one year, he decided that he would follow a professional life, and in the fall of 1891 he entered the New York Homeopathie Medical College, where he pursued the entire course, graduating May 3, 1894. As a result of the competitive examination held May 5, he received the appointment as junior assistant to one of the physicians of the Metropolitan Hospital. After a period of six months he was promoted to senior assistant, and again at the expiration of six months was made house physician. While in charge of the hospital, Dr. Brennan performed a greater number of operations than any of his predecessors, for during that time he had two hundred and thirteen patients operated upon (his nearest competitor having operated upon but 120). On retiring from the hospital, December 1, 1895, he was awarded a diploma in recognition of the ex- cellent work he had done while in charge of the institution. He then began practice in Long Island City, opening an office at No. 76 East avenue. He is the only homeopathie physician in the Hunter's Point district, and he has a large and lucrative practice.
Although Dr. Brennan was connected with the Metro- politan Hospital in New York, he has made his home in Long Island City since 1883. He is a member of the Alumni Medical Society, and has contributed many articles of interest and great value to this body. He is also a member of the Alumni Society of the Ward's Island-Metropolitan Hospital. He is medical commissioner to the Board of Health of Long Island City. The doctor is also a member of the Faculty of the Metropolitan Post-Graduate School of Medicine, New York City, being assistant clinician to the following chairs: Dermatology, Rhinology, Laryngology, Therapy and Physical Diagnosis. The parents of Dr. Brennan were Paul and Mary (Magee) Brennan, natives of Ireland, who are now living in Long Island City.
CLARENCE N. PLATT, A. B., M. D., was born in New Haven, October 29, 1864, and is a son of Charles N. and Abigail (Prindle) Platt, both being natives of Connectient. FREDERICK P. MORRIS. Dr. Platt attended the public schools of his native city, preparing for college. In 1880 he entered Yale, and four years later was graduated therefrom with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. In 1885 he became a student in the Homeopathie Medical College of New York City, and after completing the course in 1888, had conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Medicine. After practicing his profession for a short time in Brooklyn, in the Spring of 1889, he located in Astoria, where he succeeded to the practice of Dr. Vandenburg.
On December 20, 1888, Dr. Platt married Miss Catherine Meeker, of Bridgeport, Conn. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum, and is examining physician of Astoria Council He has been visiting physician to the Astoria Hospital since its establishment. He is a member of the New York Homeo- pathie Medical Society, and of St. George's Episcopal Church.
GODFREY L. MICHON, A. B., M. D., was born in the Province of Quebec, Canada, in 1863, while his mother was visiting there. He was reared in Troy, N. Y., where his parents removed about 1854. He attended the public schools until he was twelve years old, after which he was placed in the Laval Uni- versity, Quebec, and was graduated therefrom in 1884 with the degree of A. B. Soon after finishing his literary course, he began the study of medicine, and after a thorough course he was graduated from the medical department of the University of the City of New York in 1887, as an M. D. After practic- ing his profession for several years in New York, he located in Astoria in 1895, where he now enjoys a lucrative and growing practice. He was for one year physician to Riverside Hospital at North Brother Island, an institution for contagious diseases. In New York, Dr. Michon married Miss Mary Fallon, to whom one child (now deceased) was born in 1894.
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ROBERT SWAIN PRENTISS, M. D., a prominent medical practitioner of Astoria, Long Island City, was born in New London, Conn., October 8, 1842. He is descended on his mother's side from Ben- jamin Franklin, his maternal grandmother having been a grand-nicee. On his father's side he is descended from the well-known Prentiss family, who settled in New London, Conn., in 1631. Dr. Prentiss received a careful education in the Bartlett High School of his native city, and was valedic- torian of his class in 1856. After completing his studies, he decided to study medicine and surgery. In 1870 he received his diploma from the College of Physicians of New York City, and immediately began the practice of his chosen profession, and for the past six years he has been a resident of Long Island City, now residing at No. 65 Remsen street.
On September 27, 1879, Dr. Prentiss married Miss Madaline C. Johnson, of New York City. She died April 2, 1888. In 1839, he married his present wife, who was a Miss Ella Forfey, a member of a prominent family of Nashville, Tenn. Dr. Prentiss has three children living and one deceased.
Dr. Prentiss is one of the foremost, as well as one of the most popular practitioners in Long Island City. In a comparatively few years he has attained a professional position for which many strive throughout a lifetime. He is a non-resident member of the New York County Medical Association, and ex-member of the New York Medical Society.
DR. JULIUS M. STEBBINS, of Astoria, has been a prosperous dentist in that portion of Long Island City for the past eleven years. He is about forty years of age, and is of English extraction. His ancestors on the paternal side came to this country early in the eighteenth century. His great grand- father Stebbins was born in Massachusetts about the year 1762; his grandfather Stebbins was born in the same State in 1792, while his father, Dr. J. Monroe Stebbins, was born in New York City, and was a prominent physician and surgeon of his day. His mother, who was Miss Susan B. Otis, was born in Wilbraham, Mass., and was a student of Wilbraham Seminary. On his maternal side his ancestors were also of English origin, and came to this country as early as the seventeenth century.
: Dr. Julius M. Stebbins is a nephew of the late Dr. William K. Otis (his mother's brother), who was a prominent physician and surgeon; he is also a nephew of the late Albert G. Houghton, of the firm of Houghton, Mifflin & Co., publishers. His uncle, George H. Stebbins, was an carly member of the American Institute and also a member of the Historical Society of the Brooklyn Institute.
After leaving the public school, the subject of our sketch took a course at Eastman's Business College, in Poughkeepsie, and then commenced the study of dentistry. After graduating, he was ap- pointed demonstrator at the New York College of Dentistry; later, superintendent of the infirmary of the college, after which he became clinical professor of the same institution, and dental surgeon to the New York Ear and Metropolitan Dispensaries.
Dr. Stebbins has received several patents from the United States Government on an electric pneumatic engine and gold filling apparatus, and on electric batteries. These batteries can be used in connection with other appliances to relieve pain in dental operations. There has also been issued to him patents on his electric batteries from the governments of Canada, Great Britain, France, Germany, Belgium and Austro-Hungary. He anticipates the most successful results in dentistry from the future use of electricity in various ways. Dr. Stebbins is the author of "Care of the Teeth at Home or in Emergencies," and is the inventor of the well-known dentifrice " Shelline."
Dr. Stebbins assisted the late Dr. Samuel Sexton in his work relating to dental irritation and its effects on the hearing of young children. He also made several hundred examinations and took impressions of children's teeth, the greater portion of whose teeth were captious and erupting. From these impressions casts were made by Dr. Stebbins and his brother (the latter being a student in den- tistry). These casts, with a history and description of each case, were used for several years by Dr. Sexton in his writings and in books on aural surgery. Through Dr. Sexton's influence these casts and descriptions were finally placed in the Smithsonian Institute at Washington. That gentleman kindly gave Dr. Stebbins credit for his services.
Dr. Stebbins is not a politician or a club man, and is seldom seen out of his place of business. After office hours he devotes most of his time to study and to several inventions he has in hand, one of which is an improvement to be used when administering nitrous oxide gas in extracting teeth ; another being an ingenious arrangement to relieve the heating of rubber plates which come in contact with the gums or the mucous membrane of the mouth.
A visit to his workshop, or den, as he calls it, is of much interest. It is a large room, the walls of which are lined with shelves containing numerous books and various tools to facilitate the work he has
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in hand. A turning lathe and other machinery with many ingenious appliances, at much cost of time and money, have been added as they were found necessary to the construction of his inventions in dentistry and other uses. In spite of the long hours devoted to his large dental practice and in his experimental laboratory, he enjoys good health and retains youthful appearance for his years. He always wears a gracious smile, and has a courtly word for his friends and patrons, and proclaims the thought that is uppermost without fear or favor.
P. H. BUMSTER, M. D., is the youngest son of Matthew and Hannah Bumster, both natives of Ireland. Dr. Bumster was educated at the public school of Allentown, Monmouth County, New Jersey, and after graduating therefrom entered into the cigar manufacturing business, at Allentown, which business he followed successfully for six years, when he came to New York City. He long had a desire to study medicine, and in 1890 he entered the Medical Department of the University of the City of New York, and was graduated in April, 1893, after an honorable collegiate career. The same year he was appointed from that institution to the position of House Surgeon of St. John's Hospital, Long Island City, in which capacity he served for eighteen months. At the expiration of that time he decided to locate here for the practice of his profession, and established an office at 143 Fifth street, his present location. Dr. Bumster is visiting physician to St. John's Hospital, and was for a time assistant physician to Demilt Hospital, New York City. He is a charter member of Long Island City Medical Society, a member of Queens County Medical Society, and is Exam- ining Physician for the Prudential Insurance Company, also for the New York Life Insurance Company.
JOHN J. MEGRANE was born in Cambridge, Washington County, N. Y., November 28, 1850. In 1860 his father removed with his family to Troy, N. Y., where our subject received his education. At the age of sixteen he became a fireman on the N. Y. C. & H. R. R. R., and when twenty years old he began running a passenger locomotive between Troy and Albany. Later on he came to New York City, and when he was twenty-two years of age, he received a clerkship appointment in the New York Post Office. One year later he was promoted to the position of Chief Clerk in charge of the Newspaper Department. In 1876, on account of ill-health he resigned that position and accepted another in the capacity of engineer on the Manhattan Elevated Rail- road, where he remained eleven years. In 1889 Mr. McGrane, without any previous experience, engaged in the AUGUST HEATH. jewelry business at 187 Broadway, New York, and in this latter business he has made a phenomenal success. For the past ten years he has resided in Long Island City, where he is a large real estate owner. His properties consist of several houses and over one hundred building lots, most all of which are located in the vicinity of the proposed entrance to the Blackwell's Island Bridges
Mr. MeGrane organized the Railroad Brotherhood Savings and Building Association about five years ago, and has been its treasurer ever since. He has received for the association over $200, 000, and its standing in New York City is of the best. He was elected Vice-President of the United States Watch Company, of Waltham, Mass., two years ago, and on his suggestion the first seventeen jeweled double-rolled large size watches were made. Since then, nearly all the watch companies imitated the United States Company in the manufacture of their watches.
Mr. MeGrane has displayed much ingenuity as an inventor, and has taken out on various inventions six patents, besides having applied for patents on two others on acetyline gas generators, from which an exhibition of light has already been shown at his residence and in his New York office.
Mr. MeGrane was for two consecutive years President of the Catholic Benevolent Legion. When he assumed charge of that organization it had but eight members, and at the time he withdrew it had over one hundred. He organized and was the first President of the Catholic Club, a now prosperous organization of Long Island City, having a large membership. Politically he has always been a Repub-
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lican, but has never been in sympathy with rings of any kind or their henehmen. He has never sought political honors of any kind, and has on two occasions refused commissionerships on the city boards. In 1873 he married Miss Mary E. Sullivan, a native of Troy, N. Y. Ten children have been the fruit of their union, six of whom are living.
THEODORE KOEHLER, legislator, eldest son of C. C. T. Koehler and Dorothee von Koepcke, was born in the Province of Schleswig-Holstein, July 30, 1856. He is descended from ancestors noted for military spirit and bravery, his grandfather having been knighted by Frederick VII, King of Den- mark, and his father decorated with the order of the Iron Cross.
In April, 1871, he entered an apprenticeship with one of the largest business houses in Leubeck, where he continued until November, 1875. Having completed this preparatory stage, he served for a few months with the same house, then enlisted in the army, but subsequently (in 1876), he secured a release from his service obligation and eame to America. He landed in Philadelphia with the expectation of joining a friend, but that friend having died in South America, the youthful stranger was thrown entirely upon his own resources in a strange land. With a bravery and pluck worthy of his subsequent achievements he sought promiscuous employment for the sake of a livelihood, and after a few years of toil and perseveranee found himself in a position to achieve greater things. In 1883 he accepted an offer from an English firm to represent them in South America, and joined an exploring expedition in the course of which he met with many thrilling experiences and on several occasions narrowly escaped with his life. Returning to the United States at the end of his engagement in 1884, he represented the firm at the New Orleans Cotton Exposition. On returning to New York at the close of the exposition he accepted a position as manager of a large wholesale house. In the fall of 1885, an offer was made him of a head bookkeepership of one of the most important and far-reaching industries of Long Island City. This position was held for about ten years, during which time a wide reputation was gained as an expert accountant and he was frequently called upon to adjust the books of corporations and business firms in the vicinity of New York, and also to teach private classes. When the examination of the books of the various departments of Long Island City needetl a thoroughly competent expert, the Common Council called upon Mr. Koehler to undertake the work, which he is still conducting to their entire satisfaction.
Up to this time the subject of this sketch had not been regarded as " in politics," but his merits as a keen business man were recognized, and being placed in nomination to represent Long Island City in the Queens County Board of Supervisors, he was triumphantly elected. On taking his seat he was accorded, by common consent, a foremost place in the councils of the board, although its youngest member, and throughout his entire term proved himself faithful, painstaking and hardworking. Among other things he accomplished the transforming of the unsightly spot of ground immediately in front of the Court House into a well laid-out park. He also worked hard for the construction of a tunnel under Newtown Creek as a means of permanent communication between Brooklyn and Long Island City. The question having become a burning issue, was taken to the polls, and Mr. Koehler, being re-nomi- nated for a second term, was elected by a large majority. A bill was passed by the Legislature author- izing the construction of the tunnel, but it was vetoed by the Governor. He also did efficient service in the cause of good roads, reducing the whole matter to a system, which, if carried out, would make the county the envy of the entire state. It is worthy of mention that he was the only supervisor ever elected from Long Island City who served three consecutive years.
So well did Mr. Koehler serve his constituency in this office, that in the autumn of 1895, he was elected to the State Senate by a splendid majority over his Republican competitor, who was a candidate to succeed himself. The honor was unique on account of the three years duration of his term as pro- vided by the constitution of 1894, making him the only Senator from the Second Senatorial District who will ever serve for the same length of time. Likewise he was the first Senator ever chosen from Long Island City and the first to represent the Island District composed of Queens County alone. In this body he was recognized as a rising man, and at once assigned by Lieutenant-Governor Saxton to membership in three of the most responsible committees, in which he became an active worker. Rep- resenting one of the most populous and intelligent districts in the state, made up of many and diversi- fied interests, he has been called upon to present and champion many bills; so that no more busy man than he could be found at Albany, and considering that he belonged to the minority, he has been emi- nently successful in the major portion of his efforts. Mr. Kochler is eminently a man of the people, thoroughly self-made and has a large share of that determination, push and pluck, which make him a
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man of mark. When it is remembered that fully one-half of his life was spent upon a foreign soil, that here he began with nothing, and for many years waged a hard battle with poverty, he appears as a veritable marvel among men. By the people of his district he is regarded as being thoroughly trust- worthy, holding sacred his word once pledged, and above all methods of deceit to gain friendship, polit- ical or otherwise.
In the section of Long Island City known as Steinway, he has a beautiful home where he spends his time when not engrossed with business cares. Here, with his most estimable and gifted wife, he entertains with a liberal hand his large circle of friends and admirers, continually showing the nobility of true manhood, and the full strength of an ideal citizen. He was married in 1877 to Bernardine Helmeke of New Jersey.
Mr. Koehler is a member of the Advance Lodge, No. 618, of F. and A. M., Astoria; Mecca Temple of the Mystic Shrine; the L. I. City Wheelmen; the Century Wheelmen of New York City; the Institute of Accounts, New York City; the Astoria Maennerchor, Harmonic and Arion Singing Societies, and various other organizations.
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