USA > New York > New York City > Leslie's history of the greater New York, Volume III, Pt. 2 > Part 29
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GARRETSON, JOHN LAKE, was born in Clifton, S. L., in the old Lake homestead, now called the Austin House, November 15, 1815, and is the son of John Connor Garretson, who held important county offices, and of his wife, Eliza Ann, daughter of Joseph Lake, and grand- daughter of Daniel Lake. On the parernal side he is the grandson of Colonel John Garretson and Elizabeth Connor, and the great- grandson of Johannes Van Wagener Garretson. He is but one more generation removed from Garret Garretson, who came from Holland in 1660, and whose oldest son, Garret Garretson, was Chancellor of New Jersey. Johannes Van Wagoner Garretson, mentioned above,
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in 1686 purchased a tract of land on Staten Island containing five hundred acres, and on a portion of this the present Mr. Garretson now resides. The latter was educated in various private schools on Staten Island, and has since successfully followed the business of a builder. He has held various local offices, such as School Trustee, Village Trustee, and Assessor. 'At one time he was a Captain in the Seventy-first Regiment of New York City. He married Louise C., daughter of the late John Stillwell, of Monmouth County, New JJer- sey, her ancestors having served in the patriot cause during the Revo- lution. They have had four children, of whom two are now living- Mary Emily and Edgar Garretson. They also have a grandson, John Louis Garretson, son of their oldest son, John Stilwill Garretson, now deceased. The other son who died was Oscar Garretson.
CARLIN, PATRICK JOSEPH. contractor, of the Borough of Brook- lyn, was born in Ireland, July 1, 1850, and is the son of Patrick Carlin and Catherine, daughter of Henry MeDermot, and is the grandson of Patrick Carlin and Hannah Kennedy. On the paternal side his an- cestors were builders for six generations. At twelve years of age, Mr. Carlin was taken from the School of St. Mary's, Star of the Sea, Brook- lyn, and set to work as a bricklayer under his father. At the same time, for seven years, he attended the night school of William J. Dainty. He continued to work as a bricklayer under his father until eighteen years of age, when he was made foreman. At the age of twenty-one he became his father's business partner, and so remained until he was twenty-five, when he engaged in business alone. IIe has erected many of the largest buildings in Brooklyn, including the Hall of Records, the Boys' High School, the Franklin Building, and others. He finished the Capitol at Albany, erected the State Hospitals at King's Park, and is the builder of the new City Prison on the site of the " Tombs," New York City. With his brother. F. W. Carlin, and his cousin, John J. Carlin-both of whom had served him in the ca- pacity of foreman -- Mr. Carlin, in 1890, organized the firm of P. J. Carlin & Company, the leading firm in its line in Brooklyn. Mr. Car- lin is President of the Atlantic Savings and Loan Association, and is a director of several other financial and manufacturing corporations. He is a trustee of St. Mary's Hospital, Brooklyn; is a trustee of the Church of the Sacred Heart, in the same borough; is a director of the Roman Catholic Orphan Asylum Society; is a member of the Colum- bian Club of Brooklyn, of which he is an ex-president, and is a mem- ber of the Catholic Club of Manhattan Borough. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1896, but could not accept the platform adopted, and voted for MeKinley.
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MeADAM, THOMAS, lawyer, was born in New York City, April 23, 1863, and is the son of Hon. David and Carrie MeAdam, and the grand- son of Thomas MeAdam and Jane Crawford. His father is the author of several standard legal authorities, including " Landlord and Ten- ant," and is one of the best known Judges on the New York bench, having formerly presided on the City Court bench, while he is now a Justice of the Supreme Court. Mr. MeAdam's mother was born in Yonkers, N. Y. His paternal grandparents were both born in Glas- gow, Scotland, of old families long established in Scotland. Mr. Mc- Adam received his early education at the Moeller Institute and Dr. Sach's Collegiate Institute; in 1883 was graduated as a Bachelor of Arts from Columbia University, subsequently receiving the degree of Master of Arts, and in 1885 was graduated as a Bachelor of Laws from the Law School of Columbia University. Admitted to the New York bar in 1885, he has since been actively engaged in general practice in New York City. He has been successful in many interesting and important cases. He is a Master Mason, and is a member of the Harlem Club, the Arion Society, and the Phi Gamma Delta Greek letter fraternity.
TOWNSEND, RALPH S., architect, was born and educated in New York City, where he has practiced his profession for the past fifteen years. During that time he has designed and erected many notable buildings. These include the Hotel Savoy, the Herald Square Hotel. the Pierrepont Apartment Hotel, the Sherman Square Hotel, the fif- teen-story office building, at Numbers 9-13 Maiden Lane; the twelve- story office building, Numbers 12-16 John Street; the twelve-story office building, Numbers 95-97 Liberty Street; the nine-story building on the northeast corner of Broadway and Howard Street, and many others.
GIBSON, ROBERT WILLIAMS, architect, was born in Essex, Eng- land, November 17, 1854, and is the son of Samuel Lodwick Gibson, the grandson of William Gibson, and the great-grandson of John Gibson. Hle received his early education at the Ingrets School, of Gravesend, England, subsequently being graduated from the Royal Academy of Arts, London. Here he acquired the principles of architecture, taking a number of medals and prizes as a student. In 1881 he came to the United States, of which he is a naturalized citizen. He has practiced as an architect in New York City. He has designed and erected many bank buildings, including the New York Clearing-House Building; many church buildings, including the Protestant Episcopal Cathedral. at Albany, N. Y .; many office buildings, including the Coffee Exchange Building, New York City, and various public buildings, including those of the Botanical Museum, Bronx Park. He is a member of the Metro- politan, Century, and Seawanhaka-Corinthian Yacht clubs, the New York Chamber of Commerce, the American Institute of Architects,
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and its New York Chapter, and is President of the Architectural League of New York.
KENT, WILLIAM WINTHROP, of the firm of Jardine, Kent & Jardine, architects, of New York City, was born in Bangor, Me., Feb- ruary 23, 1860, and is the son of Henry Mellen Kent and Harriet Am. daughter of Henry B. Farnham and Harriet May. He is the grand- son of William Kent and Katherine Hutchins, and the great-grandson of William Austin Kent. He is of the same family as Edward Kent, who was Governor of Maine, United States Consul at Rio Janeiro, and Judge of the Supreme Court of Maine. Mr. Kent attended Exeter ( N. H.) Academy, and in 1882 was graduated from Harvard College. He studied architecture at Harvard and with H. HI. Richardson, of Boston, and in Europe. Since 1885 he has practiced his profession in New York City. He has designed and erected many city and country residences in Massachusetts, Connecticut. New York, and Washington, D. C., together with many commercial and ecclesiastical edifices in Buffalo and New York City. With Heins & La Farge, he was one of the sue- cessful competitors for the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, New York City. In association with his brother, E. A. Kent, he was suc- cessful in competition and designed and built the Temple Beth Zion, at Buffalo. "With the other members of his present firm he designed and built the Morosini Mausoleum at Woodlawn Cemetery; the apart- ment houses and business premises now occupied by the Equitable Life Assurance Society on West 136th and 138th streets, and some hospital structures. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects, New York Chapter; the Architectural League of New York, and the Gramatan Club of Westchester County.
CONSTABLE, HOWARD, architect and engineer, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., October 23, 1855, and is the son of James Constable and Sarah Lippincott, daughter of B. W. Richards and Sarah A. Lip- pincott, and granddaughter of William Richards and Margaretta Wood. He is the grandson of William Constable and Mary Eliza Me Vickar, is the great-grandson of William Constable and Anna White, and is the great-great-grandson of Dr. John Constable and Jane Kerin, the former being of the Constables of Yorkshire, England. but became seated, at the time of the restoration, A. D. 1660. in County Wexford, Ireland. Mr. Constable's great-grandfather, William Consta- ble was aide to Lafayette in the Revolution, and both before and during the struggle for independence was active in the interest of American mercantile development in Philadelphia and New York City. Having been educated at the Episcopal Academy of Philadelphia, and at the University of Pennsylvania, at the latter studying architecture and on- gineering, he became connected in the line of his chosen work, with the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad. He was subsequently connected
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with the Pennsylvania Railroad, and still later with the Erie Railroad. Since 1886 he has been engaged in general practice as an architect and engineer in New York City. He has designed and constructed many buildings, bridges, and systems of fire-proofing and testing. In 1897 he received the highest award at the hands of the committee of architects appointed to select a supervising architect of the United States. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects, and of its New York Chapter; of the American Society of Civil Engineers' Club, of New. York City; the Engineers' Club, of Philadelphia; the Engineers' Club, of St. Louis; Friendly Sons of St. Patrick; the Calumet Club, of New York City; Honorary Member of the British Fire Prevention Com- mittee.
GRAHAM, THOMAS, was born in London, England, February 16, 1844, and is of Scotch descent on the paternal side, being a clansman of the Duke of Athol, while on the maternal side he is of English descent. Having been educated in the public schools of New York City, he studied architecture in the office of Jardine & Thompson. In 1861 he left their employ and enlisted in the battery attached to Colonel Ser- rell's First New York Engineers, serving until the close of the war. Upon his return he learned the trade of a cabinet-maker and stair- builder. In 1870 be-again took up the study of architecture, and has since practiced as an architect. Among other notable buildings he de- signed and erected the Holland House, the Buckingham Hotel, and the Hotel Graham. Prior to 1890 he was associated with his father and. brother in large building enterprises. He now has his son, William Van Wyck Graham, associated with him in various building opera- tions. In 1888 he organized the building corporation of C. Graham & Sons Company, of which his brother, Jolm Graham, is now president. He has erected many fine residences on Fifth and Madison Avenues, including those of William R. Grace and the late Sidney Dillon. He is a member of Copestone Lodge, No. 641, Free and Accepted Masons, and of Summer Post, Grand Army of the Republic. Charles Graham, his father, was a sturdy abolitionist prior to the Civil War, Wendell Phillips and Horace Greeley being among his intimate friends.
MOSLEY, RICHARD K., architect, was born in New York City, May 18, 1868, the son of Lester Lewis Mosley and Isabella Howard. daughter of General Mathew Keeler and his wife, Serena Howard. Ilis maternal grandparents wore Stephen Keeler and Margaret Pinch- eon. He descends from John Cotton, one of the early settlers of Boston, Mass., and from Major William Pyncheon. the founder of Springfield, Mass. His grandmother, Rachel Hargrove, was a daughter of John Hargrove, for many years Registrar of Baltimore, Md. His father was born in England, the son of Richard Mosley, and came to America in 1853. Mr. Mosley attended the Dearborn Morgan School, at Orange.
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N. J., and in 1889 was graduated from the School of Architecture, Co- lumbia University. He worked as a draughtsman in the offices of several of the best-known architects, and in the spring of 1892 opened his own office in this city. His work has principally been the erection of country houses throughout the Oranges, New Jersey. He has re- sided at East Orange, N. J., since 1871. He is a member of the New England Society, of Orange, N. J., and of the Columbia University. School of Mines Alumni Association.
BUCHMAN, ALBERT, of the firm of Buchman & Deisler, architects, of New York City, was born in Cincinnati, O., June 11, 1859, the son of - Raphael Buchman and Julia Hirsch, both of whom were natives of Bavaria, Germany. He received his education at the Charlier Institute, New York City, and at Cornell University, and from 1880 to 1887 was associated with H. J. Schwarzmann. . During the next two years he practiced his profession alone, while in 1889 he formed the firm of Buchman & Deisler, in partnership with Gustav Deisler. He is a di- rector of the J. Hood Wright Memorial Hospital, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Botanical Gardens, and a number of charitable in- stitutions. He is a member of the Reform, Zeta Psi. Cornell Univer- sity, and St. Andrew's clubs; the Liederkranz, the Architectural League, and the Numismatic and Archaological Society.
DEISLER, GUSTAV, of the firm of Buchman & Deisler, architects, of New York City, was born in Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany, Feb- ruary 3, 1858, the son of J. Martin Deisler and Katherine Brand. He was educated in private schools at Frankfort, and at high schools at Stuttgart and Munich. In 1879 he came to New York City and entered the office of HI. J. Schwarzmann, architect. From the fall of 1881 to 1883 he followed his profession in Buffalo. He then returned to New York City and entered the office of Schwarzmann & Buchman. Since the death of Mr. Schwarzmann, in 1889, he has been the partner of Mr. Buchman, under the style of Buchman & Deisler. They have de- signed many prominent buildings in the city.
MERSEREAU, WILLIAM IL., architect, was born in New York City, March 22. 1862, the son of Nicholas R. Mersereau and Mary T., daughter of Philetus H. Holt and Lydia G. Curtiss. His maternal great-grandfather was Stephen Holt, whose ancestor came from Eng- land to New London, Conn., in 1650. On the paternal side his grand- parents were John W. Mersereau and Amelia Petronella Rossi, his great-grandparents were Stephen Mersereau and Lanah Winant, and his great-great-grandfather was Daniel Mesereau, whose ancestors. French Huguenots, came to this country about 1680. Mr. Mersereau attended private schools on Staten Island and in New York City, and studied under a private tutor. From 1878 to 1885 he was connected
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with E. L. Roberts, architect. From 1885 to December, 1889, he was the partner of John A. Hamilton. He has since practiced alone, al- though associated with Mr. Hamilton in various business matters. They are interested in the erection of the school building at Castleton Corners, West New Brighton. Mr. Merserean restored Washington Irving's home, " Sunny Side," at Tarrytown, built in 1656, and the old Dutch Church at Sleepy Hollow, built in 1697; as well as the old Swedes Church, at Wilmington, Del., built in 1698. He is a member of the Architectural League of New York, and the New York Chamber of Commerce.
KEISTER, GEORGE, architect, was born in Belleview, Iowa, Feb- ruary 10, 1859, the son of George W. Keister and Mary R., daughter of Archibald MacMurphy and Rizpah B. Bacon. He is the grandson of William Keister and Elizabeth Bowman, and is the great-grand- son of William Keister on the paternal side, and of William Mac- Murphy on the maternal side. He descends from the Bacons and Grimeses, old colonial families of Massachusetts. The MacMurphys, Highland Scots, have been settled in the State of New York for several generations. The Keisters came from England to Virginia about 1750. The Bowmans came from Germany, near Essen. Mr. Keister was educated in the public schools of Jackson County, Iowa, and Rochester, Minn., at Cornell College, Iowa, and studied architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He also studied in the offices of Ware & Van Brunt and George F. Meacham, architects, of Boston. During the next two years he was superintendent in the office of Mr. Meacham. In 1885 he came to New York City, and from that year until 1890 was associated in professional work with Russell Sturgis. Since 1890 he has practiced alone. He designed the Gerard Hotel, the First Baptist Church building, the residence of Joseph Eastman, No. 4 East Seventieth Street; several residences on Central Park West. and 35-37 East Twentieth Street, all of this city, and the residence of E. P. Durant, State Street, Albany. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects, and the New York City Chapter; the Architectural League of New York City, the National Sculpture So- ciety, the Fine Arts Society, and the Madison Avenue Methodist Epis- copal Church. He is also a thirty-second degree Mason.
DICKERSON, WARREN CHANCELLOR, was born at Bay Port, L. I., December 27, 1853, the son of Joel S. Dickerson and Martha Mapes. His ancestors on both sides were among the earliest settlers of Long Island, Dickerson and Mapes both coming from England. Mr. Dickerson was educated in the public schools and at Cooper In- stitute, and also took private lessons in architecture. His first work was in culling oysters on Great South Bay, while he was subsequently em- ployed in lathing, then in ship-building, and still later worked as a
PERSPECTIVE OF CLUB HOUSE. R. N. ANDERSON, GREATER NEW YORK
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carpenter in New Haven, Conn., and New York City. He engaged in business as a contractor in Florida. Later on ho established himself as an architect at Deadwood, Black Hills. Dakota. He was in the office of James Reide, architect, of Coronado Beach, Cal., and also studied and worked in offices in New York City, Tacoma, Wash., San Diego, San Francisco, and Sacramento. He also followed the business of an architect in San Francisco and San Diego before becoming established in New York City, where he has done $8,000,000 worth of work in five years past. He married, October 6, 1892, Elmira M. Barry, of New York, in Alameda, Cal.
ANDERSON, ROBERT NAPIER, architect, is a native of Glasgow, Scotland, where he was born, January 9, 1841. The son of William Anderson and Janet Napier, he descends on both sides from old Scot- tish families, both of which were in independent circumstances in Glas- gow, living on incomes derived from their real estate. He received a classical education at the Glasgow Collegiate, and then studied archi- tecture in his native city. In 1859 he came to the United States, and making New York City his residence, has long and very successfully practiced his profession as an architect. He has designed and erected many notable buildings. He married, in 1870, Miss Isabella H. Carter, and bas a son, Arthur C. Anderson. twenty-six years of age, who was graduated from the College of the City of New York, studied archi- tecture in his father's office, and is now a practicing architect in South- ern California. He also has one daughter, Mildred N. Anderson, who is an artist.
BERG, CHARLES I., architect, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., February 25, 1856, the son of Leon Berg, merchant. He was educated in Philadelphia, Paris, and London, subsequently becoming a student in architecture. He began practice as an architect in 1880. having then completed his studies in the Ecole des Beaux Arts, of Paris. For a number of years he was associated with Edward H. Clark, of New York City, under the firm style of Berg & Clark. . He now practices alone. Ho designed and erected the Ambulance Station and Vaccine Laboratory for the Health Department of New York City; the Darling Building, 208 Fifth Avenue; the Gillender Building: the Deeves houses, Manhattan Square, North; the Manhattan Trust Company Building, Wall and Nassau streets -- for the size of the lot the highest building in New York City; various apartment houses and blocks of residences; many country residences, and the Pahquiogne Bank, Danbury, Conn. For ten years he was Secretary of the Architectural League of New York City. He is now Corresponding Secretary of the New York Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. He is also a member of the National Sculpture Society, the Beaux Society, the
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National Arts, Grolier, Camera, and Knollwood Country clubs, and the Blooming Grove Park Association.
WALTHER, BARTHOLOMEW, architect, was born in Bingert. Bavaria, Germany, January 2, 1833, the son of John Conrad and Ana Maria Walther. His father was born in the Swartz Walt, Bavaria, near the border; was apprenticed as a weaver; served his term in the army; married, and in 1837 came to the United States with his family. Ten years later he settled in Harlem. Since that time Mr. Bartholo- mew Walther has been a resident of Harlem. He attended school until eleven years of age, when he began to work, at the same time attending night schools. As a boy he worked in Partridge's match factory. When sixteen he was apprenticed to learn the carpenter's trade. When twenty he erected his first edifice, and since that time he has continued in the building business, gradually advancing into architecture, which he has practiced during the last thirty years. He designed and erected the Harlem Library, the Harlem Presbyterian Church, W. H. Hall & Sons' factories, the East River Factory, the Harlem House, Richard Webber's Cold Storage Building, the market of C. F. Rime, the buildings at 220-222 East One Hundred and Twenty- fifth Street, 2330 Third Avenue, and 166 East One Hundred and Twen- ty-ninth Street; the first building of St. Paul's German Lutheran Church, six Pavilions for the Insane on Blackwell's Island, a school on Randall's Island, and the Police Station on One Hundred and Twenty- sixth Street. During the last fifteen years he has had as his associate his son, John P. Walther. Mr. Bartholomew Walther served a full term as a member of the Volunteer Fire Department, and was honor- ably discharged. He is a Mason, and a member of the Harlem Man- nerchor. He married. in 1857, Catherine Liebig, who died in 1883. In 1886 he married Margaret Triepswetter, by whom he has no children. By his first wife he had four children, of whom two survive-John P. Walther and Emily E. Kemmer.
LYONS, ROBERT TOWNSEND, born in New York City, February 23, 1873, was graduated from New York University, and in 1890 en- tered the office of Clevedon & Putzel, architects, of New York City. In 1896 he studied abroad. In the spring of 1897 he opened his own office in New York City. He was the architect of the Jones Building. the Mela Building, and the Mercantile Building. He has also composed considerable music, being the author of the popular pieces, " Seventh Regiment March," " Company 3." " N. Y. A. C. March." " The Reverie." " The Serenade," and " \ Noonday Sonata." He is a member of the New York Athletic Club, and is an ex-champion " sprinter " and " broad jumper." In 1895 he won the Canadian championship for the broad jump. He was a member of the New York Athletic Club Inter-
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national Athletic Team, which contested with a team of the London Athletic Club in 1895.
BLOODGOOD, WILLIAM E., architect, was born at 215 Thompson Street, New York City, October 20, 1853, and is the son of Freeman Bloodgood and Matilda W. Raynor, and the grandson of William Bloodgood. His first paternal ancestor in America came from Holland in 1642. Mr. Bloodgood was educated at Grammar School No. 35, on Thirteenth Street, near Sixth Avenue, New York City. He then stud- ied architecture, and has practiced his profession in New York since January 1, 1883. He has designed and erected many prominent build- - ings.
EMERY, MARSHALL L .. architect, was born in Albany, N. Y., March 19, 1866, the son of William B. Emery and the grandson of Horace Emery. His ancestors on the paternal side came to this coun- try from England between 1660 and 1700. Through his mother, Miriam, daughter of Cornelius M. Lansing, he descends from Garret Frederick Lansing, who came to this country from Holland in 1650. Having been educated in the public schools and High School of Albany in 1883 Mr. Emery entered the office of Walter Dickson, architect, of that city. In 1889 he entered the office of Withers & Dickson, archi- tects, of New York City, while in 1892 he opened an office on his own account. He designed and erected the Polhemus Memorial Clinic, Henry and Amity Streets, New York City, together with many city and country residences, apartment houses, churches, schools, and other buildings.
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