USA > New York > Queens County > History of Queens County, New York : with illustrations, portraits, and sketches of prominent families and individuals. > Part 64
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The large trade and the eminence this firm have gained are due to two things, viz. the equality of their goods, and personal attention to their business. They employ the most skilled workmen and best materials. The busi- ness office of the firm is at 110 John street, New York city
In 1881 George Hopper established the Long Island Paint and Color Works, which are located on the corner of Tenth street and West avenue, Astoria. Eight men are daily employed in these works and are able to turn out 500 tons of paint per day. Different grades of paint are manufactured. Oil refined paint is a specialty.
FOUNDRIES AND MACHINE SHOPS.
The Long Island Iron Works are the outgrowth of an enterprise established about sixteen years ago by Robert O'Hara at the foot of Seventh street, and conducted on a small scale some eleven years in a shop 25 by 50 feet, which was destroyed by fire. A new shop of the sanie size was immediately erected on the old site. About a year later an addition 25 by 50 feet was made to the shop and the hand-power tools were replaced by machinery driven by steam. About 1878 the business facilities were doubled by the erection of another shop building, 50 by 100 feet, in which was put more new machinery. John W. Rowland, who had for some years been Mr. O'Hara's business manager, and to whose tact the growth of the enterprise was in no small degree due, became a partner in the concern in February 1880, the firm being known as O'Hara & Rowland till the following October, when Mr. Rowland, by the purchase of Mr. O'Hara's interest,
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LONG ISLAND CITY MANUFACTORIES.
became sole proprietor, Mr. O'Hara retiring from busi- ness. In November 1880 ground was purchased at the foot of Sixth street, where the buildings occupied by the Long Island Iron Works were erected. After the busi- ness had been removed from the old shops they were almost entirely torn down. Under the ownership and Edward and Charles W. Preston, were made executors of management of Mr. Rowland the business is signally prosperous. Land and marine steam boilers of every description are manufactured, also tanks, stills, pans, vats, filters, gasometers, retorts, sugar pans, hop-jacks, single and double bottom iron mash tubs, iron surface coolers, steep tanks for malt houses, iron beer kettles, acid blowers, vapor pipes, varnish and tar kettles, con- densers, settling pans, smoke pipes, agitators, lard kettles, mixers, vacuum, upright and horizontal oil and tar stills, and all other iron works for fertilizers, saleratus and var- nish factories, chemical works, gas houses, oil and sugar refiners, brewers, maltsters and every manufacturing busi- ness. Patterns, castings and fittings of all kinds are made and repairs of all kinds are promptly attended to. Mr. Rowland is a practical engineer and machinist. The New York office of the Long Island Iron Works is loca. ted at 150 Nassau street; the works at the foot of Sixth street, Long Island City.
The Long Island City Foundry is on Sixth street and West avenue; Joseph McGee is proprietor. Heavy and light castings of every description are manufactured, and machine and pattern work is done. The business was es- tablished in 1863, by George Kniffen, who was succeeded by Thomas Cassidy about seven years later. In 1874 Mr. McGee bought the foundry, and he has since owned it, and conducted the enterprise with such success that an annual business averaging about $75,000 is done, giv- ing employment to about thirty men.
Edward W. Howell, machinist and engineer and man- ufacturer of marine, stationary and hoisting engines, and mill and mining machinery, on Sixth street, between Vernon and West avenues, came to Long Island City from Nova Scotia in the fall of 1879. In February 1880 he established his present business, which has gradually increased until it ranks among the foremost of similar en- terprises in the city, giving employment to from six to twelve hands at various seasons.
Among enterprises similar to the above may be men- tioned the shops of the Long Island Railroad Company, and some smaller establishments doing a limited busi- ness in various parts of the city.
THE PRESTON FERTILIZER COMPANY.
The principal office of the Preston Fertilizer Company is at Greenpoint. The officers of the company are: Ed- ward Preston, president; Henry Preston, superintendent of the factory at Point Comfort, N. J .; Edward Preston, superintendent of transportation; Alfred I. Preston, su- perintendent of the factory at Blissville. The business to which the proprietors of this house are the successors was founded by Henry Preston in 1843, he being chief among the pioneers who established the industry in the United States. The factory he started, with a monthly
product of ten tons, has had its yield gradually increased to 1,000 and more. Ripe in years, Henry Preston died in 1878. His eldest sons, Thomas J. and Henry Preston jr., were his surviving partners in the late well known firm of H. Preston & Sons. The three other sons, Alfred I., their father's will and legatees of his half in the business. The five sons subsequently associated themselves with their father's old friend Charles Harriman, in the forma- tion of a corporation under the general manufacturing laws of New York, the six being the only stock- holders, the capital being ample, all paid up in cash, with abundant resources at command to extend the manufacturing facilities indefinitely. The firm manu- factures ammoniated bone super-phosphate, ground bone or bone dust, bone-sawings or sawdust, acid-phosphate or super-phosphate (not ammoniated), dissolved bone, dried fish guano, coarse, fine and pulverized bone black, calcined bone and bone knife-handles. The principal factory is at Blissville. Here bone-boiling, bone-sawing for knife-handles which are furnished to cutlery estab- lishments, calcining bones and manufacturing bone- black, and the grinding, mixing and chemical processes are carried on in extensive buildings, affording employ- ment to a large force of men. Here the company has abundant docking facilities, and employs its own pro- pellers. The bone-black made here is extensively em- ployed in sugar refining and the manufacture of blacking and for various chemical purposes. The Blissville fac- tory was established by George Moller. It passed into the hands of H. Preston & Sons in 1861. The works have since been enlarged. At Point Comfort, on the New Jersey shore, the company has recently built another extensive factory, also a long dock, and there also is the company's fish factory.
ELEGANT CABINET WORK.
Gust. Autenreith, manufacturer of plain and fancy cabinets, cases and general woodwork, Vernon avenue and First street, has been for thirty years in business as a manufacturer, removing from New York to Hunter's Point in May 1867, when he purchased his shop, locally known as the " glass-house," tore down a portion of it and erected substantial shops contiguous to it. He early was extensively engaged in manufacturing sewing ma- chine cases, making the first ones used by the Singer company and continuing to manufacture for that well- known firm until its business was removed to the west. Mr. Autenreith is now making cases for silks, threads, needles, clocks and regulators, and other varieties of light and fine cabinet work. The manufacture of refriger- ators was for years a leading department of his general business. He has never had partners in his business in the usual sense of the word, but from time to time has had others associated with him in the manufacture of certain specialties. The property of Mr. Autenreith oc- cupies over two acres of ground and has a water front of 1,265 feet, now all occupied, a portion by Robertson's saw-mill, built in 1880, the rest by the New York Cedar
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HISTORY OF QUEENS COUNTY.
Ware Company. The dock on which these enterprises are located was built about two years ago, at which time Mr. Autenreith graded up the low ground between his factory and the river, and generally improved the local- ity for manufacturing uses.
C. B. French, successor to C. H. Lambkin & Com- pany, manufacturer of telephone cabinet work, pen, pencil, needle and medicine cases and all kinds of cabi- net work, at 46 and 48 West avenue, began business March Ist 1879 at the corner of First street and Vernon avenue, as a member of the firm above mentioned. Mr. Lambkin withdrew from the enterprise January Ist 1881, and Mr. French, who had all along been the active and practical manager, became sole proprietor. The business was established on a small scale, but grew slowly until January 1881. Since that date, under Mr. French's sole management, its growth has been very rapid. Th business during 1881 averaged $10,000 per month or more. About thirty five men were employed. A specialty is made of wood mountings for telephones. Large numbers of cases for Clark's O. N. T. Thread Company and for Milward's needles are manufactured; also cases for Brown's soaps.
CANNERS OF FRUIT AND VEGETABLES.
John Romain began the business of canning fruit and vegetables at Hunter's Point about eighteen years ago. He removed to his present location at Dutch Kills about twelve years ago. The establishment is one of the most complete of its kind and is supplied with the best ma- chinery and appliances. Mr. Romain puts up about 1,000,000 cans of fruit annually and employs some 85 hands. The factory is under the supervision of Edward King, who has had an experience of about twenty-two years in the business. It is probable that Mr. Romain leads all other manufacturers in the amount of tomatoes and asparagus which he places on the market.
Pryer Brothers .- In 1869 W. H. Pryer began the man- ufacture of pickles, vinegar and catsup at Bowery Bay, and he did a small business until 1873, when he removed to Astoria. At this time the firm of Pryer Brothers was formed, M. Pryer purchasing an interest in the business. Ground was leased on Mills street, south of the Ninety- second street ferry, and a factory built thereon. In the summer of 1880 the firm removed their business to a building they had erected on land which they had pur- chased, lying on the same street, north of the ferry. An idea of the extent to which the manufacturing facilities of this firm have been increased may be gained from the fact that at the beginning only two bushels of pickles could be made at a time, while the present capacity of the factory is twenty-five barrels. The business has all along been very prosperous and is now being largely in- creased.
The Erie Preserving Company was incorporated and organized in 1873, with a capital of $25,000, which was increased to $50,000 in 1876 and at a later date to $100,- 000. The company has large packing houses at Ravens- wood and at Buffalo, Brandt and Farnam, Erie county,
that at Ravenswood being very large. At each of the four central depots a can-manufacturing department is maintained, employing from 75 to 80 hands. In preserv- ing apples the company claims to have distinguished it- self more than any other similar concern. All the large fruits are preserved at these various establishments, such as peaches, pears, quinces and pineapples, and also cher- ries, all kinds of berries, pumpkins, squashes, etc. Jams, jellies, preserves, marmalades and fruit butters are manu- factured, of assorted varieties and flavors and put up in attractive packages. The officers of the company are: Benjamin Fenton, president; W. W. Hammond, vice- president; James Fenton, secretary and manager of the Buffalo house; S. Fenton jr., assistant treasurer, New York.
Hudson & Co., packers of canned goods, factor- ies at the corner of West avenue and Third street, Long Island City, and at Locust Valley, Long Island, are prominent manufacturers. The members of the firm are W. H. Hudson, William Bridge and John Gregory. They began operations in the spring of 1878. The enterprise is under the personal supervision of Mr. Hud- son, who has had twenty-five years experience in the canning business. All kinds of fruit and vegetables in their seasons are packed; also meats and poultry during the winter season, for the European markets. Among the well known vegetable specialties of this firm, popular with the trade, are their " Oyster Bay Asparagus," " Long Island Tomatoes," and "Locust Valley Sweet Corn." The establishment is supplied with the best machinery, and in one department the numerous cans used are man- ufactured. From fifty to seventy-five hands are em- ployed during the packing season. The products of the factory are sold principally to wholesale dealers in New York, Boston and Philadelphia and find a ready sale. The business has grown with great rapidity. In 1880 it amounted to $75,000 or $80,000 and promised to be much larger in 1881.
OIL-CLOTHS-DYEING.
The Hyde Manufacturing Company began business in East Newark, N. J., as manufacturers of oil-cloth in 1876. Their factory was burned in 1878 and they removed their business to Astoria, occupying the shops vacated by John McAloney as a carpet factory. A large and constantly increasing business has been done here. It now (1881) aggregates about $100,000 annually. It is expected that it will be largely increased, if not doubled, during the coming year. The establishment is under the supervision of Louis Frey, superintendent, who has had an experience of thirty years in the manufacture of oil- cloth. Three thousand yards a day can be turned out. The varieties include those known to the trade as "table," " enameled," and " star " oil-cloth. Five good- sized buildings, besides several small ones, are occupied, and about 17,000 square feet of flooring are brought into requisition. In the spring of 1881 the Hyde Manu- facturing Company was succeeded by E. P. Tappey, who had been the junior partner in the concern.
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MANUFACTURES IN LONG ISLAND CITY.
Messrs. King & Ingram, dyers and dealers in cotton yarn for the trade, began business in 1872, at the corner of Broadway and Van Alst avenue, making extensive additions to the old factory buildings, which had fallen into their hands. The establishment is fitted up with the best and most modern appliances for carrying on the business, and twelve men are employed. The aggre- gate of the business of this firm in 1880 was $60,000.
VARIOUS CHEMICAL MANUFACTORIES.
E. W. Abendroth, whose factory is at Blissville, is one of the three manufacturers of tartaric acid in the United States. The raw material for this staple drug is known as " argols," and is imported from France. The other fac- tories are in Philadelphia and Brooklyn respectively. That of Mr. Abendroth is the newest and most com- pletely fitted up of the three. Much of the machinery in it was imported from Germany, where tartaric acid is manufactured in considerable quantities. Mr. Abendroth has an office at 28 Cliff street, New York.
The Standard Chemical Company, manufacturing chem- ists, is chartered under the laws of the State, and was or- ganized in 1876 or thereabout. The factory is in Long Island City; the general office at 114 Pearl street, New York.
There have been and still are other establishments in the city where chemicals of different kinds are manufac- tured. Some of them are small and have been in opera- tion only a limited time. More definite information con- cerning them could not be obtained.
POTTERY AND DRAIN PIPE.
The Long Island City Pottery is at the foot of Sixth street. Drain, sewer and water pipes and chimney tops are manufactured. The business was established in April 1865, by John Smith, who was the sole proprietor and manager until his death, June 25th 1878. The business then passed into the management of John Smith jr., who died November 30th 1880. It has since been carried on by his widow, under the personal management of E. S. Kelly, who has been employed about the establishment for the past seven years. Quite an extensive business is done, the pipe from this pottery being sold through- out the State of New York. Twelve hands are em- ployed.
The Hunter's Point Pottery was established by Joseph Newbrand, the present proprietor, in 1874. Enameled, earthen and stone ware, fancy flower pots for gardens and apparatus for chemical purposes were formerly man- ufactured. Since January 1880 chemical apparatus has been made exclusively. Three hands are employ- ed. The factory is located at the foot of West Sixth street.
MARINE RAILWAYS.
The Marine Railway of Long Island City was built in 1855, by the Marine Railway Company of Hunter's Point, of which William Tyson was president. At the incorporation of Long Island City the name of the com- pany was changed to the Marine Railway Company of Long Island City. In 1867 Mr. Tyson bought the entire business, of which in 1870 Henry L. Tyson became the active manager. William Tyson died May 22nd 1880, since which time Henry L. Tyson has continued to con- duct the business as the representative of the estate of the deceased proprietor. An important business has been done in docking ships for repairs, repainting and general renovation.
The Van Winkle Marine Railway at Astoria is also well known. Ship-building has been carried on there more or less extensively. The favorable location of Long Island City for such work enables many carpenters who would not otherwise be constantly employed to engage with profit in boat and ship building and repairing.
GRAY'S REFRIGERATORS.
A very prominent business and manufacturing enter- prise in Long Island City is the " Eureka " refrigerator manufactory of Sylvester Gray, on East Fourth street. The "Eureka " refrigerator has a galvanized wrought- iron bottom and is unquestionably the best made for all practical purposes. Mr. Gray, with many years' experi- ence in the manufacture of refrigerators, gained in the employ of H. L. Mace & Company, of New York, began business for himself in 1862, successfully- putting in operation some original plans and applying some original ideas and devices to the construction of refrigerators. That they were as practical as original is attested by the popularity of the "Eureka." Mr. Gray is strictly in the wholesale line, manufacturing for the trade, and is doing a large and rapidly growing business, the demand for his refrigerators increasing year by year.
VAN IDERSTINE'S WORKS-MISCELLANEOUS.
P. Van Iderstine, renderer of tallow and dealer in hides, began business in 1855. The factory is supplied with seven kettles, with a capacity of from 6,000 to 9,000 pounds each, and six presses that will hold 3,200 pounds of fat each. With these facilities 30,000 pounds of fat can be melted daily. The process employed by Mr. Van Iderstine is the most approved one in use, condensing all steam through a jet from the kettles. Eighteen men are employed, and the establishment is under the manage- ment of J. M. Thompson, who has been in the business as long as any man in the Union now actively engaged in it. The tallow is sold to the trade, and for the past ten years the scraps from the establishment have been shipped to London.
The pottery business of F. Ibert was established on West Sixth street, in April 1880. In July following it was removed to near Central avenue and Eighth street. The distillery of Gaff, Fleischman & Co. was es- tablished in 1858, by other parties. In 1866 Gaff, owned it. He makes white-lined pipkins for the trade. 'This bus- iness, like others of a similar character in Long Island Fleischman & Co. purchased it and they have since City, is small.
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HISTORY OF QUEENS COUNTY.
The shirt and clothing manufactory of John Apple- ton at Dutch Kills is an important and prominent enter- prise, in which considerable capital is invested, and which gives employment to quite a number of persons.
We have now written more or less at length of every important or representative industrial enterprise in Long Island City of which we were able to procure reliable data from any source. It has not been deemed expedient to cumber our pages with accounts of insignificant manufacturing enterprises such as are to be found in larger or smaller numbers everywhere.
ADVANTAGES AND PROSPECTS.
Long Island City occupies a water frontage of about ten miles-four miles on the East River immediately op- posite the upper and growing part of the city of New York, three miles on Newtown Creek and three miles on the sound. As a point for manufactures and commerce no location could be more appropriate. It is surrounded by navigable water on three sides of the parallelogram which it forms, and is penetrated by creeks which afford access by canals and basins into the interior.
The improvements made and being made at Hell Gate by the federal government, coupled with the open- ing of the Harlem River for navigation directly from the Hudson at Spuyten Duyvel Creek, will give to Long Island City peculiar prominence. Outgoing and incom- ing commerce through Long Island Sound will find there a convenient depot where the grain can readily be transhipped which will pass down the North River fromn the canals and directly through the Harlem River with- out the long circuit around the Battery.
Its municipal affairs are in a very favorable condition. Its entire city debt amounts to only about $1,000,000, being an average of less than $50 for each inhabitant, or less than half the proportion of New York, Brooklyn, Poughkeepsie and other cities of the State. This debt of $1,000,000 includes the war debt, and the total ex- pense of water works furnishing an ample supply of pure water derived from wells in the heart of the city and dis- tributed through over thirty miles of pipe.
Like all other great cities Long Island City has its " West End." The beautiful village of Astoria included within its limits, filled with elegant dwelling houses and villas, is the place of residence of large numbers of New York's most prominent business and professional men and retired capitalists.
The southerly portion of the city, or that included in the first and second wards, is well calculated for business and manufacturing purposes. It adjoins Brooklyn and is directly opposite Thirty-fourth street, New York; it is the converging point of the network of railways extend- ing over all Long Island, and also of all the horse car lines of Long Island City.
and tastefully laid out. From their proximity to New York and Brooklyn and the moderate prices of building lots, large numbers of thrifty people have flocked thither from the overcrowded cities to secure or to build more retired and comfortable homes for their families. Be- tween these two estates, at the junction of the first, sec- ond and third wards, and on the line of Jackson avenue, is located the new Queens county court-house, which was built at a cost of $300,000 in 1874.
The population of Long Island City is about 20,000; from its location and facilities, it is readily apparent that in the early future it must rank with the large cities of the United States.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
JOHN C. JACKSON.
The subject of this sketch, one of the most respected and widely known citizens of Queens county, was born at the Staffordshire potteries, England, April 7th 1809, and sailed from Liverpool for New York January Ist 1830.
Upon his arrival in New York Mr. Jackson embarked in business as an importer of china and earthenware, and he continued in the same trade until his retirement from active business in 1869. November 18th 1834 he married Martha M., daughter of the late Captain Andrew Riker. In February 1839 he removed with his family to his pres- ent residence, Oak Hill, now in Long Island City, the birthplace of Mrs. Jackson, the house having been built by her father, Captain Riker. Mr. Jackson has one daughter, the wife of John L. Riker.
In 1850 Mr. Jackson interested himself in the breed- ing of fine cattle. He made his first exhibit for prizes in 1852, at the Queens county fair, at Flushing, and ob- tained a prize for every separate entry. Becoming ex- tensively interested in stock breeding and agricultural affairs generally, he was chosen president of the Queens County Agricultural Society in 1863, 1864, 1865, 1874 and 1875. Deeply concerned in the advancement of agricultural and kindred interests, Mr. Jackson was a liberal supporter of the society of which he was so long the recognized head. At the annual meeting held at Mineola in the fall of 1864, on motion of ex-Governor John A. King, the following resolution was passed: " Resolved, That the thanks of the society are hereby tendered to John C. Jackson, Esq., for the able, liberal and impartial manner in which he has discharged the duties of president for the past two years." On his re- tirement from the presidency of the society the last time, in 1875, this resolution was passed: " Resolved, That the thanks of the society are hereby tendered to John C. Jackson, our retiring president, for the able and efficient manner in which he has discharged his duties, and for the generous and noble spirit of liberality that has marked his course during the period of his official terms; and that he retires with our best wishes for his future .
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