USA > New York > Queens County > History of Queens County, New York : with illustrations, portraits, and sketches of prominent families and individuals. > Part 65
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Manufacturing facilities, building lots and water front in this section are daily becoming more and more in de- mand. This part of the city is composed mainly of two large estates-that of the trustees of Union College and the estate of James Thomson, which are being graded |health and happiness." In 1854 and again in 1855 was
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THE DE BEVOISE FAMILY.
Mr. Jackson chosen to the position of vice-president of the New York State Agricultural Society.
In 1859 a charter was obtained for a turnpike road from Hunter's Point to Flushing, a distance of six n iles, once known as Jackson avenue. The Hunter's Point, Newtown and Flushing Turnpike Company was formed; and Mr. Jackson was elected president and had general supervision of the construction of the turnpike, which when completed was pronounced the best road on Long Island. As a mark of the appreciation in which the stockholders held the efficient services of Mr. Jackson, they tendered him a handsome dinner service of silver plate. He continued president of the company until the road was disposed of to the town of Newtown and became a free road. The best interests of Long Island City have been advanced by Mr. Jackson in an able manner, and all progressive movements find in him a ready supporter.
THE DE BEVOISE FAMILY.
The subjoined account of the family of De Bevoise is extracted from "Riker's Annals of Newtown." It will be noticed that in the following article the name is spelled Debevoise except in the instance of Carel, who spelled it de Beauvois. The change in orthography from de Beauvois to Debevoise has been followed by other changes in dividing and capitalizing the latter word, so that now different branches of the family write it vari- ously de Bevoise, Debevoise, De Bevoise and De Be Voise, and attention is called to the fact that in sketches of several of the family of the present generation and that only just passed away the writer has adopted the orthog- raphy in use by each of the branches thus represented, and in the title of this article that which seems to be the most common.
" Carel de Beauvois was a highly respecta- ble and well educated French Protestant, who came from Leyden, in Holland. He was of a family whose name and origin were probably derived from the ancient city of Beauvais, on the river Therin, to the northwest of Paris; but there is reason to suppose that he himself was a native of Leyden. He arrived at New Amsterdam in the ship ' Otter,' February 17th 1659, accompanied by his wife, Sophia Van Lodensteyn, and three children born to them in Leyden and now aged eight, six and three years respectively. His literary merits and ac- quaintance with the Dutch language soon acquired for him the situation of a teacher, and in 1661 he became 'chor- ister, reader and schoolmaster' for the people of Brook- lyn, at a salary of twenty-five guilders and free house rent. He afterwards served as public secretary or town clerk, which office he held till 1669. His children were Jacobus first; Gertrude, who married Jacob W. Van Boerum; Catharine, who married Jacob Hendrickse Haste; and Cornelia, who married Gerrit G. Dorland.
" I. Jacobus Debevoise, only son of Carel, was born at Leyden. In early manhood he embraced religion and joined the church at Brooklyn of which he was after- ward a deacon. He married, June 12th 1678, Maria,
daughter of Joost Carelsz, and died in the early part of the next century, his widow surviving him. They had sons Carel second, born 1680; Joost, born 1683; Jaco- bus, born 1686; and Johannes, born 1689. Jacobus married, in 1715, Sarah, daughter of Joris Remsen, and died on his farm at Bedford, aged about four score. His children were Jacobus (who died in 1751, and whose only daughter, Engeltie, married Isaac Degraw of Brook- lyn) and George, who was born in 1720, married Sarah Betts October 18th 1746, and inherited all his father's estate at Bedford. Joost married, in 1707, Mary, daugh- ter of Joris Remsen; remained a farmer in Brooklyn, and died a few years before the Revolution, in advanced age. He had issue: Jacobus; Phebe, who married John Johnson; Mary, who also married; Anna, who married Johannes W. Wyckoff ; Elizabeth, who married Peter Cowenhoven, and Sophia, who married Albert Nostrand. Jacobus inherited his father's farm at the Wallabout; married in 1736 Maria Garretson, and died prior to the American war. His children were: George; Samuel, who died without issue; Ida, who married Ferdinand Suy- dam; and Mary, who married Garret Van Duyn. George last named married Elizabeth, daughter of Jeremiah Van- derbilt, and died at the Wallabout in or prior to 1784. Issue: Maria, who married Captain Jackson; Catharine, who married John Van Alst; Phebe, who married Jacob Ryerson; Sarah, who married Jeromus Ryerson and John Cozine; and Ida, who married in succession two persons of the same name, Francis Titus.
"II. Carel Debevoise, son of Jacobus Ist, married Mar- garet Meserole, and became a notary public in Brooklyn, fully sustaining the prominence in civil and church rela- tions which the family enjoyed for a long period in the above town. From 1752 to 1761 he was county judge. He lived on the premises [later] of his great-granddaugh- ter, Mrs. Prince. His sons were Jan 4th, Jacobus, Carel 3d and Johannes. Jacobus was born in 1709, and resided at Gowanus, where he died in 1766. His first wife was Maria Van Housen, whom he married in 1736; his second was Mary Stillwell, who survived him. He had issue: Charles; Richard; Margaret, who married Charles Doughty of Brooklyn, afterward member of As- sembly; Ida, who married John Godfrey Muller of New York; Adriana and Mary. Of these Charles remained at Gowanus and had issue James, Wynant, and others. Johannes was town clerk of Brooklyn, and a somewhat important citizen. He married, June 15th 1749, Han- nah, daughter of Thomas Betts of Flatbush, and died November 19th 1792, having had issue Thomas, Charles, Margaret and Hannah, all of whom died single but Mar- garet, who married Dr. John Duffield, a surgeon in the American Revolutionary army. They were the parents of Susan Duffield, who married Captain Charles K. Law- rence; Anna, who married Captain Christopher Prince; and Margaret, who married first Captain Archibald Thompson and secondly Samuel A. Willoughby, Esq., of Brooklyn.
"III. Carel Debevoise, son of Carel 2nd, married, October 9th 1736, Eve, daughter of Coert Van Voor-
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HISTORY OF QUEENS COUNTY.
hees, of Gravesend, and became a farmer in Bushwick on the property now of Charles I. Debevoise, Esq. He died in 1757, and his widow in 1793, aged 74. His children were: Margaret, born May 9th 1738, who married Peter Colyer; Nelly, born March 16th 1740, married Carel De- bevoise; Carel, born February 5th 1742; Maria, born March 2ist 1744, married John Devoe; Anna, born June 26th 1746, married Dr. Andrew Van Allen and Joris Debevoise; Coert, born October 28th 1748; John, born April 14th 1751; Catharine, born March 22nd 1753, mar- ried John Buskirk; Jacobus, born January 31st 1755; and Isaac, born July roth 1757. Carel married Maria Van Houten and had sons who [for many years have been] deceased. Coert married Elizabeth Sloat. Jacobus married Aletta, daughter of John Rapelje, and was the father of John and Charles Debevoise, living [1852] at the English Kills. Isaac married Jane, daughter of Joris Debevoise, and Magdalena, daughter of Tunis Schenck, and was father of George, of the English Kills [1852], and Charles I. Debevoise aforesaid, [at one time] super- visor of Bushwick, the latter by the second marriage. John married Jane, daughter of Moses Beegel by his in- termarriage with Jane, daughter of Frederick Van Nanda, and located at Fresh Ponds, in Newtown, where he died March 15th 1829, and his widow August 20th 1847, aged 90. They had issue: Jane, born November 8th 1776, who married James Titus and Daniel Lake; Eve, born October 7th 1770, died unmarried; Sarah, born June 4th 1781, now [1852] the widow of Charles G. Debevoise; Moses, born July 2nd 1783, married Maria, daughter of Peter Duryea, and died December 12th 1831 (leaving children: Peter, John, Sarah Ann and Charles); Charles I., born February 21st 1785, married Maria, daughter of Johannes Covert, and died August 26th 1831 (having is- sue: John, Rebecca Ann, Covert and Cornelius); Ann, born April 26th 1793, married Charles Debevoise, Crip- plebush; and John, born March 3d 1798, who married Cornelia M., daughter of Cornelius Van Cott, and re- sided [1852] at Fresh Ponds, having served the town as supervisor.
"IV. Jan Debevoise, son of Carel 2nd, was born in 1704, at Brooklyn, and married Jane, daughter of Lieu- tenant Joris Rapalje, of Newtown, in which town Mr. Debevoise located, being'the first of his family who came to this township and the ancestor of most of the name since resident there. His farm was that lately [1852] occupied by George Pine. Having been esteemed as a good man and useful as an elder in the Dutch church, he died April 26th 1777, aged 73. His widow died Au- gust 25th 1781, aged 74. Their children were Carel, Joris 5th, Jacobus, Daniel, Johannes 6th, and Cornelius. Daniel died unmarried in his 82nd year, February 14th 1819. Cornelus died unmarried October 8th 1773, aged 27. Carel married his cousin Nelly, daughter of Carel Debevoise; was a worthy deacon of the Dutch church,and died June 9th 1792, aged 64. His widow died March 23d 1806, aged 66. They had issue: Jane, who married Isaac Rapelye; Eve, who married Francis Duryea; and Agnes, who married Folkert Rapelye. Jacobus married Maria, daughter of Abraham Cook, and settled at Cripple- bush. He died October 5th 1813 in his 80th year, having had issue: John, born March 10th 1759, married Eliza- beth, daughter of Charles Titus (and was the father of
Charles Debevoise, now living at Cripplebush, and his brothers, James, Francis and John); Abraham, born Sep- tember 3d 1763, married Jane, daughter of Garret Kou- wenhoven, and had sons Garret and James; Charles, born October 14th 1765, who married Leah, daughter of John Titus; Gabriel, born January 19th 1775, married Mary, only child of Coert Debevoise and lives [1852] in Bushwick; and Jane, born March 16th 1777, who mar- ried Hermanus Stockholm.
"V. Joris Debevoise, son of Jan 4th, served prior to the Revolution as a deacon in the Newtown Dutch church. He died in his 72nd year, July 9th 1802, liav- ing been thrice married-first to Ann, daughter of Abra- ham Rapelje, who died childless; secondly to Nelly Schenck, of Cow Neck, and thirdly to Anna, daughter of Carel Debevoise and widow of Dr. Van Allen. By the last he had issue Charles G. and by the second John, Susannalı, who married Abraham Duryea, and Jane, who married Isaac Debevoise of Bushwick. John married Eve, daughter of Andrew Van Allen, and died, in his 56th year, November 25th 1822, having had issue: George, living [1852] in Flushing township; Andrew and John, who [1852] occupied portions of the paternal farm at Dutch Kills; Ann, who married John Oakley; and Ellen, wife of John I. Van Alst. Charles G. married Sarah, daughter of John Debevoise, and died in his 52nd year, March 22nd 1836, his sons John and George pos- sessing [1852] his farm at Dutch Kills.
"VI. Johannes Debevoise, son of Jan 4th, was born February 28th 1742, and lived at Fresh Ponds. He mar- ried Sarah, daughter of Abraham Rapelje, who dying November 3d 1766 he married, secondly, Adrianna, daughter of Jacob Remsen. She died on February 19th and he on February 20th 1812, and both were interred together. His children were: John, born June 13th 1766, who married, but died without issue April 2nd 1818; Jacob, born August 11th 1771, died February 15th 1786; Sarah, born February 4th 1773, died August 8th 1775; Jane, born August 26th 1776, married Theodorus Kolyer; Charles and Catherine, twins, born March 22nd 1778, the former died single May 9th 1819, the latter married Wil- liam Morrell; Sarah, born August 16th 1780 [married and survived] John Burroughs; Isacc, born January 14th 1783 [lived at Fresh Ponds in 1852]; Adriana, born July 27th 1785, married Cornelius M. Ditmas; Nelly, born October 15th 1787, died unmarried; Anna, born November 2nd 1789, who was the first wife of C. N. Dit- mas; and Jacob, born September 26th 1792, who married Catalina, daughter of John Ditmars, and resided [1852] at Newtown."
The foregoing is the complete, genealogy of the De Bevoise family as published in 1852 by Riker, and referred to as correct by the present De Bevoises of Queens county. Biographical sketches of a number of the name are presented on other pages, and the above is to a great degree prefatory to and explanatory of each of them. It is probable that there is not a more numerous family on Long Island, and it is remarkable that without an ex- ception the De Bevoises have been and are men of worth, highly esteemed by their fellow citizens, and that for generations the name has been prominent in the civil and political history of Queens county.
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From Photograph by Bogardus.
Peter Van Flo
PETER VAN PELT.
The name of Van Pelt was conferred, with a title, on the progenitor of all the Van Pelts of America. At an early period in the Dutch settlement of America the Van Pelts located on Staten Island and intermarried with the family of Vanderbilt, another old family of that island.
Peter Van Pelt sen. was born on Staten Island, May 30th 1797. At the age of 28 he married Maria Char- lotte Payntar, daughter of William Payntar. The next year he removed to Newtown and located on the farm where his widow and son and other members of his fam- ily now live, and where he died March 17th 1869. He was a master carpenter and boat-builder and constructed the second winding staircase ever put in a house in New York.
Peter Van Pelt was born March 4th 1842, on the old homestead, now in Long Island City. He assisted his father on the farm until the death of the latter, after which he, in connection with his brother William, con- ducted the farm until about three years ago, when Wil- liam removed to Rockland county, leaving Peter in sole charge of the home interests. In 1881 Mr. Van Pelt engaged in the milk trade, in which he has continued successfully.
January 3d 1877 Peter Van Pelt married Cornelia H Payntar, his cousin and a daughter of John Payntar, well known in the neighborhood. She died April 28th 1878, leaving one child, a daughter, named in her honor Cornelia, who is still living.
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From Photograph by Bogardus
Jane De Bevar
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From Photograph by Bogardus
John I Debevoise
JOHN I. . DE BEVOISE.
John I. De Bevoise was born at Dutch Kills, August 20th 1813, and is a son of John G. and Eve De Bevoise. In his boyhood he attended the district school near home and assisted on the farm. Becoming a farmer he lived on the family homestead until November 1877, when he removed to his present residence in the western portion of Dutch Kills.
December 24th 1840 Mr. De Bevoise married Jane, daughter of Jacob and Catalina (Ditmars) De Bevoise,
the last of whom is mentioned on page 318. By her he has had three children-Jacob, born April 21st 1842, who married Mary E. Payntar ; Evanetta, born September 22nd :845, who married John B. C. Kolyer- and John Van Alst, born September 14th 1848, who died October 13th 1850.
Jacob De Bevoise died July 6th 1864; his wife January 6th 1867. Their children were: Johannes, born October 4th 1815; Jane (Mrs. John I. De Bevoise), born June 6th 1817, and Adriana, who is mentioned in the biogra- phy of her husband, Cornelius S. De Bevoise, deceased.
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HISTORY OF QUEENS COUNTY.
CHARLES H. ROGERS.
Charles H. Rogers was born at Bridgehampton, N. Y., November 12th 1806, and died at his residence in Ra- venswood, N. Y., September 20th 1880.
In his early life he received a good education. The family in time removed from Bridgehampton to New York, where the father followed his trade as a master stonemason. At an early age Charles adopted the trade of his father, at which he continued to work for a num- ber of years. Longing for a broader field of action he finally abandoned his trade and, after some experience as a clerk in a mercantile house, started for the west. He visited a number of cities and towns, but, being particu- larly pleased with Galena, Ill., located there and soon be- came established as a merchant. Afterward he became interested in the lead mines at Galena, and also in a banking house there.
In the course of a few years, having been singularly successful in all his business ventures, he returned to New York, where he established himself and continued in business until he finally retired, having realized a handsome fortune.
Mr. Rogers was married October 27th 1836, to Mary Post of Suffolk county, N. Y. He was a member of the Century Club, Union League Club and Historical and Geographical Societies, and interested in everything re- lating to literature and art.
He was in every sense a self-made man, and the suc- cess he achieved was due to himself alone. He had the most perfect confidence in himself. What other men had done he felt that he too could do. Once satisfied that a project was feasible, and worthy of his attention, he devoted himself to its accomplishment with a faith which knew no doubting. If he met with difficulties
they only served to increase his efforts, and he rested not until he had secured the victory.
Possessed of a singularly well balanced mind, he was amiable, kind and gentle, and yet, withal, preserved a quiet dignity which never failed to command respect. His knowledge of human nature was remarkable, and he knew men intuitively, seldom proving mistaken in his estimate of character. His perceptive faculties were re- markable. No matter how difficult or comprehensive a business problem might be he seemed able, almost at once, to detect its strong and weak points and arrive at a correct solution.
He took the deepest interest in the development of the material resources of the country, and was especially interested in the advancement of Anierican commerce; and any project looking to the accomplishment of this end might safely count upon the assistance of his money and influence. Among the many projects which he thus aided might be mentioned that of deepening the mouth of the Mississippi River by the jetty system. He was greatly interested in this work and from the beginning never doubted its ultimate success.
Although possessed of great force of character, and being in every sense a positive man, he was very retiring and unobtrusive in his manner. He greatly disliked ostentation and show. As he journeyed along life's highway he was ever ready to lend a helping hand to a brother in distress, but his deeds of love and mercy were always hidden from the public eye. In youth, in man- hood, and in age he was recognized as the soul of honor, and the blessings of his fellow men followed him to the grave. His memory will ever be dear to the hearts of the many who knew and loved him.
Chut Rogen
325
Drugle Schwalenberg
WILLIAM H. SCHWALENBERG.
Charles Schwalenberg was a German by birth, and for a number of years was a grocer in New York, first in Elm street and afterward at the corner of Monroe and Jackson streets. In 1860 he removed to Hunter's Point, where in 1859 he had built the Hunter's Point Hotel, which he kept until his death, December 3d 1876, and which has since been under the management of his son, William H. Schwalenberg.
He was prominent in social, business and political circles, and was one of the most widely known and re- spected men in the place. He left a widow, two sons and a daughter, all of whom are living. At the time of Mr. Schwalenberg's removal to Hunter's Point that locality was coming into notice as the terminus of the Long Island Railroad. The. Thirty-fourth street ferry was established about that time, and Mr. Schwalenberg foresaw, to a considerable degree, the future growth and importance of Hunter's Point, which he later saw realized.
William H. Schwalenberg was born February 24th 1852, at the corner of Monroe and Jackson streets, New York, and accompanied his father's family in its removal to Hunter's Point. While still a resident of New York he attended a school in Madison street, and after his re- moval to Hunter's Point attended school in the old stone school-house there. Later he attended a school at Greenpoint and the Thirty-seventh street school in New
York, of which William H. Wood, since superintendent of the public schools of New York, was then the princi- pal. Subsequently he graduated from Bryant, Stratton & Clark's business college in Brooklyn.
Mr. Schwalenberg immediately afterward began his business career as assistant cashier of the Kings County Savings Bank, in Brooklyn. September Ist 1869 he re- turned to Hunter's Point and became an assistant in his father's growing hotel business, with which he has ever since been identified, becoming a partner in 1873, when his father visited Europe, and sole proprietor at his father's death.
Following in the footsteps of his father politically, Mr. Schwalenberg has been a lifelong Democrat. ever active in the advocacy of the principles and the advancement of the measures of that party. In the fall of 1880 he was elected supervisor of Long Island City for a term of two years, and he is a prominent member of the Queens county board of supervisors.
. November 12th 1879 Mr. Schwalenberg married Carrie J. Steffens, of New York, daughter of August Steffens, formerly a grocer and an old friend of his father; now a liquor dealer at the corner of Tenth ave- nue and Forty-sixth street. They have one child, an infant, named William H. Schwalenberg jr. Mr. Schwa- lenberg is prominent in business and public affairs and is closely identified with the leading local interests. Added to his other duties is that of director of the Long Island City Shore Railroad.
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326
HISTORY OF QUEENS COUNTY.
PETER G. VAN ALST.
On another page is given a sketch of the history of the Van Alsts of Dutch Kills.
Isaac Van Alst, son of John Van Alst, married Ida Sut- phin. Their children were John I., whose biography appears elsewhere in this volume, and Elizabeth, born June 26th 1808. For his second wife Isaac Van Alst married Helen Gorsline, who was born April 3d 1730 and died in July 1856. His children by this marriage were seven in number, the first born having been Helen, born February 12th 1817, who died October 14th 1878. Joseph was born November 14th 1820, and died February 23d 1823. Isaac was born March 18th 1823, and died November 6th 1824. Isaac J. was born November 5th 1825, and, July 4th 1850, married Mrs. Eliza Johnson, by whom he had two children, Isaac H., born in May 1851, and Anne, who was born in Septem- ber 1852. Peter G., the subject of this sketch, was born May 28th 1828. Andrew G. was born December 13th 1830, and married Catharine Hoffman. His children are Andrew, and Edgar and Edwin, twins, born in 1867.
Mr. Van Alst was appointed by the Legislature com- missioner, in conjunction with H. S. Anable and Frost T. Covert, for laying out and building a highway (now called Thompson avenue) 100 feet wide, from Jackson avenue, Hunter's Point, to the village of Newtown, which highway was graded and macadamized its whole length. The plans were made by Mr. Van Alst, and the work was done under his supervision. May 25th 1872 he was ap- pointed by the Legislature commissioner, in conjunction with R. M. C. Graham and H. S. Anable, for the laying out of streets, roads, avenues and parks in Long Island City (commonly called the survey commission), and was appointed chairman of said commission. He made sur- veys and maps, which show the street lines, grades, sew- erage and monumenting of the city, and assessment maps of the different wards.
Again appointed commissioner, May 5th 1874, by the Legislature, in conjunction with R. M. C. Graham, H. S. Anable, William Bridge and James Dennen, for making improvements in and adjoining the first ward of Long Island City (commonly called the " improvement com- mission "), Mr. Van Alst was appointed chairman of said commission. The work of the commission is now pro- gressing, and at this date (September 1881) is nearly fin- ished. The commissioners have graded over ten miles of streets and avenues, have laid sewers in nearly all of the streets of the first ward, have paved, curbed . and flagged nearly all of the main streets and avenues in the first ward, and have built two iron bridges across Dutch Kills Creek, besides several railroad crossings. The whole cost of this work will be in round figures about $2,000,000.
Born on the old family homestead at Dutch Kills, Peter G. Van Alst received his preliminary education at the district school there, and later was a student at the Astoria institute, Rev. Mr. Whiting instructor. In 1845 he began the study and practice of city surveying with H. F. Betts, then village surveyor of Williamsburg, with whom he remained until near the time of the latter's death, which occurred in 1853. Soon afterward Mr. Van Alst purchased of the estate of Mr. Betts all of his former instructor's books, maps, surveying instruments and other articles pertaining to city surveying, and in January 1854 formed a partnership with J. V. Meserole, under the title of Van Alst & Meserole, as city surveyors of July 4th 1867 Mr. Van Alst married Miss Eliza John- son. His children have been Helen G., born April 13th 1868; Eliza G., born September 29th 1869, died Brooklyn. This partnership was dissolved two years later, and Mr. Van Alst continued in business on his own account as a city surveyor, residing in Williamsburg until December 7th 1874, and Peter G., born March 13th his removal to Long Island City.
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