USA > New York > Nassau County > Long Island; a history of two great counties, Nassau and Suffolk, Volume III > Part 25
USA > New York > Suffolk County > Long Island; a history of two great counties, Nassau and Suffolk, Volume III > Part 25
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Mr. Cruikshank married Florence Barry, daughter of Thomas and Catherine Barry, in the rectory of St. Patrick's Church, New York City, on August 30, 1041. They have a daughter, Kathleen Anne, born April 12, 1945. Mrs. Cruikshank is a communicant of the Roman Catholic Church in Malverne.
W. HARRY LISTER-Elected mayor of the vil- lage of Rockville Centre, Long Island, in 1945 on the Home Rule Party ticket with its announced policy of "giving the village government back to the people," W. Harry Lister was re-elected in 1947 and con- tinues to hold the high respect of his fellow citizens for his efficient and untiring public service. Mr. Lister, who for twenty years has been president of
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W. Harry Lister, Inc., a successful automobile busi- ness in Rockville Centre, has been associated all his life with civic and community enterprises in his native village.
He was born in Rockville Centre, on Long Island, September 20, 1901, the son of William P. and Jane R. (McCarten) Lister, the former a native of Brook- lyn and the latter of New York City. William P. Lister was for many years postmaster of Rockville Centre but is now retired, and he and his wife are enjoying a well earned leisure.
W. Harry Lister attended the public schools of Rockville Centre, graduating from Rockville Centre's Southside High School in the class of 1921. He then entered Lehigh University at Bethlehem, Pennsyl- vania, from which he graduated in 1926 with the de- gree of Mechanical Engineer. While at Lehigh Mr. Lister was captain of the lacrosse team and played on the basbetball team. After his graduation Mr. Lister was employed as plant engineer by the New York Telephone Company and continued in this capacity until 1928, when he purchased the Buick Agency in Rockville Centre, then known as Rockville Centre Buick, Inc. The name of this concern was changed to W. Harry Lister, Inc. and Mr. Lister be- came its president and has continued as such ever since. The agency, with show rooms and shops lo- cated at 133 Sunrise Highway, now employs approxi- mately fifty persons.
During World War II Mr. Lister was deputy director of Civilian Defense for Rockville Centre and carried out his duties in such an able fashion that the village was hailed as a model for New York State. For twenty-eight years Mr. Lister has been active as a volunteer fireman and he has served as chief engineer for the Rockville Centre Fire Department, in 1933 and 1934, as president of the Fire Chiefs Council of Nassau County in 1937 and 1938 and as president of the Executive Council of Firemanic Associations of Nassau County in 1938 and 1939. In 1945 he was elected mayor of the village of Rockville Centre on the Home Rule ticket, and he was re-elected in 1947. In addition to handling general administration, Mayor Lister has personally supervised the police, sewer, light, and water departments, in his effort to give the village good government. He is a member and past president of the Rockville Centre Chamber of Com- merce, past president of the Rockville Centre Lions Club, president of the Municipal Electric Utilities Association, State of New York, a member of the Rockville Centre Country Club and of Delta Upsilon fraternity. He belongs to the Episcopal Church of the Ascension, and his political ties are with the Re- publican party. Fraternally Mr. Lister is affiliated with Massapequa Lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons, No. 822, with the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, holding the thirty-second degree, and Kismet Temple in Brooklyn, Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is a director of the Rock- ville Centre Building and Loan Association. His favorite hobby is boating.
W. Harry Lister married on December 3, 1938 Eleanor G. Wilcox of Rockville Centre, the daughter of Fred N. and Louise (Knauff) Wilcox. Mr. and Mrs. Lister are the parents of three children: Wil- liam Harry, Jr., born September 15, 1941; Donald W., born September 3, 1943, and Pamela, born May 4, 1948.
EDWARD O'CONNOR, JR .- The late Edward O'Connor, who established the O'Connor Real Estate
Company at New York City and Floral Park in 1912, was one of the pioneers in the development of that Nassau County village into one of the pleasantest and most populous of the Long Island suburbs of the metropolis. His son, Edward O'Connor, Jr., in asso- ciation with his mother, Jane Agnes (Callahan) O'Connor, ably carries on the real estate, residential construction and insurance business of this company, and is an influential and popular figure in real estate and in political life.
Born at Norwalk, New Jersey, on March 30, 1909, Edward O'Connor, Jr., graduated from high school at Hempstead, after which he attended the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at Troy, New York, and New York University in New York City. Upon the death of his father he took over the active management of the O'Connor Real Estate Company at Floral Park, which continues to be an important factor in the build- ing up of that community, and looks forward to greatly increased activity in the erection of new homes and the sale of homesites in the post-war period.
The elder Edward O'Connor was a veteran of the Spanish-American War, and Edward O'Connor, Jr., rendered distinguished service in World War II. His first assignment was to the role of a civilian negotiator and expeditor for the North Atlantic Division of En- gineers of the United States Army. In March, 1943, he became a private in the 8th Armored Division, and in May 1944, he was sent overseas with the First Psy- chological Warfare Division, which was a staff section of the SHEAF. In this connection he saw active serv- ice in the European Theater of Operations until Octo- ber, 1945. Later Mr. O'Connor was attached to the Office of War Information, with headquarters at the American Embassy in Paris, France. In token of his military service, Mr. O'Connor is entitled to wear three battle stars.
Mr. O'Connor is a member and a director of the Long Island Real Estate Board. He is a member of the Democratic party and very active in politics, serv- ing on the Democratic county committee for Nassau County. In 1935 and 1936 he was president of the Eighth Zone Democratic Club of Floral Park. His fraternal affiliation is with Theta Nu Epsilon, also known as Skull and Keys. He is a communicant of the Catholic church at Floral Park.
Edward O'Connor, Jr., married at Fontainebleau, France, Magdalen Snyder.
GEORGE RENWICK BRENNAN-Among the many achievements of George Renwick Brennan on behalf of his fellow citizens in the town of Hempstead, one that will always be remembered was his recovery of forty-seven acres of waterfront property for the town. Mr. Brennan, a leading attorney in Hempstead and Mineola, is known throughout Nassau County and extensively in New York State. He is a former member of the New York State Assembly, chairman of the Nassau County Republican committee and a vice president of the Association of Towns of the State of New York. In World War I and II he was active in Selective Service and Red Cross work and related types of drives. Before World War I, he was a member of the First Cavalry in the United States Army on the Mexican border.
Mr. Brennan was born in New York City on No- vember 6, 1884, the son of George Washington and Alice Amelia (Renwick) Brennan. His father was in the dry goods business in the metropolis. George R. Brennan first went to school in Brooklyn. After being graduated from high school in the borough, he
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attended St. Lawrence University (Brooklyn Law School), receiving his degrees of Bachelor of Laws in 1908 and Master of Laws in 1909.
Admitted to the New York State bar in 1909, Mr. Brennan became associated with the law firm of Bren- nan, Flamman and Simpson, with offices in the Lawyers Trust Company Building at 160 Broadway, New York. He remained with this firm until 1939. In 1938 he was appointed as town attorney of the town of Hempstead, a position he holds today.
In 1939 Mr. Brennan opened his present office in Mineola, and has been in continuous practice there ever since.
Mr. Brennan was first elected to the New York State Assembly in 1914, to represent the Eleventh Assembly District, Brooklyn. He was then a member of the First New York Cavalry, Troop C, of Brook- lyn. It was with this outfit that he went to the Mexican border in 1916, serving as a corporal. When he returned, he resumed his law practice and finished out his service in the Assembly, where he remained until 1917. In 1934 he was named chairman of the Nassau County Republican committee.
In 1939, as town attorney, Mr. Brennan recom- mended to the town board that an ejectment action be brought against the Randall Interests, a real estate firm in Freeport, to recover town lands on the bay at South Freeport. He contended he could prove these were town lands under Colonial patents. Authorized by the town board to proceed, Mr. Brennan won a judgment in the Supreme Court upholding the town's claim. Title to the forty-seven acres of waterfront property, worth approximately $150,000, was declared to be in the town. Mr. Brennan has acted success- fully for the town in numerous other matters.
He is past president of the Kiwanis Club of Rock- ville Centre (1940) and is a member and former director of the Nassau County Bar Association. He is a member of the New York State Bar Association and Massapequa Lodge, No. 822, Free and Accepted Masons. He and his family live in Rockville Centre and attend the Congregational Church there.
Mr. Brennan married Miriam Margaret Applebee in Greenwich, Connecticut, on June 30, 1917. Mrs. Bren- nan, the daughter of James K. and Eleanor (Brew) Applebee, was born in Nashville, Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Brennan are the parents of three children: George Renwick, Jr., born August 10, 1920, and Kenneth and Dorothy, twins, born September 24, 1923. George Renwick Brennan, Jr., served in World War II as a corporal in the Fourth Marine Division and took part in engagements on Saipan, Tinian and Iwo Jima. Kenneth Brennan was with the American Field Service, attached to the British Eighth Army in Africa and Italy.
JAMES TIMOTHY KELLY, D.D.S .- Formerly in practice at Westbury and now in practice at Hunt- ington, Dr. James Timothy Kelly is well-known as a dental surgeon throughout Suffolk County. He is a veteran of World War II, in which he served as a dental officer in a combat area.
Dr. Kelly was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, on January 2, 1902, the son of James Joseph and Mary Catherine (Murphy) Kellv. His father was an in- dustrial engineer in Detroit. Michigan.
The future dentist was graduated from the Warren Harding High School in Bridgeport, Connecticut. in 1926. After that he spent two years at Catholic Uni- versity in Washington, D. C .. and then trained for his profession in the Dental College of the Uni-
versity of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia, from which he received his degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery in 1935.
Following receipt of his degree, Dr. Kelly was on the staff of St. Luke's Hospital, Bethlehem, Pennsyl- vania, for one year and, for another year, on that of New York Hospital, in New York City. He has been an attending dentist at that hospital ever since. In 1937 Dr. Kelly established himself in private prac- tice at Westbury. Five years later, he was commis- sioned in the United States Army Dental Corps and, attached to the Ninth General Hospital, was sent into the Pacific Theater of Operations. From August, 1943, to February, 1945, he was at New Guinea; and he was awarded a battle star for his campaign ribbon. When he was placed on inactive status in February, 1946, he was a captain.
Returning to Suffolk County, Dr. Kelly opened offices at 22 Oakwood Avenue, Huntington, and has since developed a flourishing practice. He is a mem- ber of the American Dental Society, the American Society of Anesthesiologists, the New York State, Nassau County and the Suffolk County dental so- cieties, and of Beta Kappa fraternity. He is also a member of the Kiwanis Club of Westbury. Dr. Kelly is a communicant of St. Aloysius Roman Catho- lic Church at Great Neck.
He married Edith Frank, daughter of Edward and Elizabeth Frank, at Great Neck on August 19, 1939. Mrs. Kelly worships at the All Saints' Episcopal Church in Great Neck.
MILTON TURK-Serving many important clients both in the great legal center of New York City and in that part of Suffolk County centering about his adopted community of Lindenhurst, Milton Turk has achieved eminence among the members of the legal profession in Long Island, although in his youth he originally fixed his ambition on a career not in the law but in engineering.
Milton Turk's father, the late Louis Turk, who was born in Latvia, then a part of the Russian Empire, was a tailor by trade. Coming to the United States in 1890, he married Bessie Slovinsky, a native of Poland. Louis Turk died in 1946 and is buried in the Borough of Queens, New York City. His widow, surviving him, now lives in the Borough of the Bronx. To this couple the son they named Milton was born in New York City, on July 11, 1899. After completing his elementary schooling he entered the De Witt Clin- ton High School in New York City, from which he graduated with honors. From high school he went on to Columbia College, New York, from which he graduated with honors in mathematics with the class of 1919, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa honorary college fraternity, in 1919. Continuing his studies at Columbia University, in 1922 he was awarded the degree of Civil Engineer. While enrolled at Columbia Uni- versity he also received three Pulitzer scholarships. About this time, however, he came to feel that his vocation was to the law, and in 1928 he received the degree of Juris Doctor from New York University, New York City.
Since his admission to the bar of the State of New York in 1929, Milton Turk has conducted a notably successful general practice at Nine East Fortieth Street, New York City, and since taking up his resi- dence in Lindenhurst in 1932, he has also maintained an office in that village.
During the first World War Mr. Turk saw service
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as a private in the United States Army. He is a mem- ber and a past commander of the Feustel-Kurdt Post of the American Legion at Lindenhurst, and also be- longs to the World War Veterans in that village. He takes an active part in the work of the Lindenhurst Chamber of Commerce. Long an outstanding leader in civic and public affairs, he was elected mayor of the village of Lindenhurst on March 18, 1947, an office which he fills with ability and distinction at the present writing. In 1933 Mr. Turk was legal advisor of the National Recovery Administration for the town of Babylon, and fee attorney for the Home Owners Loan Corporation, 1933-36. In 1947 Mr. Turk was a candidate on the Veterans and Democratic tickets for supervisor for the town of Babylon, Suffolk County, New York. Mayor Turk's religious affiliation is with the Hebrew Congregation of Lindenhurst.
On December 21, 1928, Milton Turk married in Union City, Rose Kinkelin, a native of New Jersey, and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. August Kinkelin, both of whom are now deceased. The two children of this marriage are: I. Roger, who was born in Lindenhurst on December 7, 1933. 2. Penrod, born also in Linden- hurst, on August 22, 1935.
HARRY FREDERICK MILLER, JR .- A promi- nent insurance broker at Floral Park, Harry Frederick Miller, Jr., is also known for his work on behalf of underprivileged boys and girls, for his promotion of music for youth and adults and for an outstanding career in the Lions Clubs. He is one of Floral Park's leading citizens.
Mr. Miller was born in the old town of Newlots, now a part of Brooklyn, on May 25, 1892, the son of Harry Frederick and Anna (Reuter) Miller, the former being the sexton of the Arlington Avenue Presbyterian Church. He was educated in the public schools of Brooklyn and in January, 1909, was gradu- ated from what was then called the Commercial High School, now Alexander Hamilton High School. At sixteen, Mr. Miller became an office boy for the North British and Mercantile Insurance Company, on William Street in New York City. He held this position, rising to newer responsibilities quickly, from March I, 1909, to 1916, when he left to join another firm he was in charge of the collection department. From 1916 to 1917 he was with William H. McGee, marine insurance. He then opened his own insurance brokerage office in New York City. On April 15, 1926, Mr. Miller moved to Floral Park and established an insurance agency, Harry F. Miller and Company, Inc., at 237 Jericho Turnpike. There he has remained since, with constantly increasing success.
Music Week, an event built around the students' band at Seawanhaka High School, is one of the pro- jects now supported by the entire community first launched by Mr. Miller. Some years ago, when the national competitions among high school bands and orchestras were centered in Cleveland, the Seawan- haka High School band wanted to participate but could not go for lack of funds. Mr. Miller pro- moted and staged a show with paid admissions. This raised $2,300, enabling the entire high school band to travel to Cleveland. Music Week dates from that time. Mr. Miller has also been instrumental in hav- ing the teaching of music, even band music, included in the curriculum of the grade schools.
Many of Mr. Miller's community activities are car- ried on through Lions Club projects of which he is the leader. A member of the Floral Park Lions Club since July, 1926, he has been vice president and
president of that organization. President in 1941-42, he is now a director. In 1943-44, he was district governor of District No. 28 of Lions International, compris- ing the counties of Kings, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk. Since 1944, he has been an international councilor of Lions. He is one of the organizers of the New Hyde Park, East Northport and Northport-Center- port Lions clubs. Throughout World War II Mr. Miller was active in a variety of home defense and fund-raising, War Bond and salvage campaigns, all also through the Lions Clubs.
He was the first man to be made a Mason in Floral Park, this taking place in 1923. He is now senior warden of Floral Park Lodge No. 1016, Free and Accepted Masons. He is also a member of the Hempstead Lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In 1946 he was president of the Floral Park Board of Trade. Mr. Miller is also a former member of the board of directors of the Floral Park Bank and Trust Company. His church is the Presbyterian.
Mr. Miller married Gladys M. Moore in Brooklyn, on August 23, 1912. She is the daughter of Edgar L. Moore, former chairman of the appeal board of the office of the collector of internal revenue for the First District of New York, and Amelia (Munroe) Moore. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have two children: Mrs. George L. Saunders, born January 31, 1914, and Warren R. Miller, born April 25, 1918.
WILLIAM VALENTINE PEARSALL-For forty-five years William Valentine Pearsall was a customs broker in New York City. Today he is deputy county treasurer of Nassau County and a man active in a variety of public and quasi-public affairs. He is mayor of the Baxter Estates, has been chairman of the Baxter Estates District in American Red Cross War Fund campaigns and is treasurer of the Exempt Volunteer Firemen's Association and vice president of the Port Washington Building and Loan Association. Since 1914 he has been one of the leaders of the Republican party in Nassau County.
Mr. Pearsall was born in Port Washington on Au- gust 3, 1880, the son of James H. and Abbey N. (Mackey) Pearsall, both of whom were also natives of Port Washington, as was Mrs. Pearsall's father. James H. Pearsall was in the oyster business in that community. William Pearsall was educated in the public schools of Glenwood Landing and Port Wash- ington.
Then began a typical American story-from office boy to head man. The young William Pearsall went to work in a downtown New York customs brokerage firm in its lowliest office position. But he learned fast. Possessed of energy and ability, he soon moved into positions of greater responsibility. He began in 1898. By January 13, 1919, he was ready to estab- lish his own brokerage business in the customs house area-with headquarters at 15 Whitehall Street. There he remained until January 1, 1944, when he was ap- pointed deputy county treasurer of Nassau County, with headquarters in the Court House at Mineola.
Since 1914 Mr. Pearsall, whose home has always been on Long Island, has been a member of the execu- tive committee of the Nassau County Republican Committee. Since he was eighteen years old, back in 1898, he has been a member of the Atlantic Hook and Ladder Company. For thirteen years he was secretary and treasurer of the volunteer firemen's group. He remains active in it today. His treasurer- ship of the Exempt Volunteer Firemen's Association
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is part of this interest. He has been active in num- erous civic promotions and fund-raising campaigns, not alone in the ked Cross drives. As mayor of the Baxter Estates, he has been instrumental in promot- ing many improvements. In addition to other or- ganizations, Mr. Pearsall is a member of the Port Washington Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, and the l'ort Washington Sportsman's Club. He served as commissioner of police for the village of Port Washington for approximately one year.
Mr. Pearsall married Grace A. Walker, the daugh- ter of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen B. Walker. They are the parents of a daughter, June Ellen. The Pearsall family attends the Methodist Church.
ROBERT GEORGE HAILE -- Young in years and in active participation in the real estate business, Robert George Haile will bring to the firm in which he has become a partner a specially trained back- ground which is always of importance in real estate operations.
A native Long Islander, Mr. Haile was born at Mineola, county seat of Nassau County, on June 23, 1916. His father is Gustave Adolph Haile, a printer by trade, and his mother, Katherine B. Haile. Robert George Haile, after passing through the Mineola public schools, attended New York University in the city of New York, receiving his degree of Bache- lor of Arts from that institution upon his graduation with the class of 1945. He won a New York State War Veterans Scholarship in 1944 and under the benefit of this scholarship he attended The Brooklyn Law School, where he received the degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1947, being meanwhile an active partner in the C. J. Haile Realty Company. He was admitted to practice in the State of New York in the December term, 1948. Second Judicial Department, as an attorney and counsellor at law.
During World War II Mr. Haile served as a V. O. c. with an anti-aircraft unit in 1943, being stationed in Virginia. He is a member of the Willis- ton Post No. 144 of the American Legion at Williston Park, Long Island. He is also affiliated with Phi Delta Phi, and Evarts Inn, an international legal fra- ternity.
At Williston Park, Long Island, on August 29, 1941, Robert George Haile was married to Dorothy Frances McNamara, a daughter of Joseph D. and Frances McNamara. Two children have been born of this union: I. Penelope Joyce, born July 9, 1942. 2. Robert George, Jr., born December 18, 1944.
JOHN S. RYDER-For leadership in agriculture, education and town planning Brookhaven Town has long looked to John S. Ryder. Once a building con- tractor, Mr. Ryder has been a potato and cauliflower grower since 1909 at Miller Place, in the Town of Brookhaven. For years he was a director and chair- man of the Suffolk County Farm Bureau and served as chairman of the Board of Education, School Dis- trict No. 8, and of the Brookhaven Town Planning Board.
Mr. Ryder was born at Gravesend, in Kings County, New York, on October 14, 1873. the son of John S. and Ella J. (Cornell) Ryder. His father, born in Gravesend in 183-, was a farmer who was also active in town affairs as well as in the Reformed Dutch church. His mother was a native of Whitestone, Long Island.
The younger Mr. Ryder was educated in the dis-
trict schools of Gravesend. At the age of sixteen he became a carpenter's apprentice. When he completed the apprenticeship, he followed the trade as journey- man for some years and then became a contractor, with headquarters in his native Gravesend. In 1909, he purchased his present seventy-acre farm in the Town of Brookhaven and has since grown potatoes and cauliflower there with increasing success. He was chairman and director of the Suffolk County Farm Bureau from 1930 to 1942, though active in that organization before and since holding the chief office. He is a former Town Trustee of Brookhaven and was long a member of the School District No. 8 Board of Education, of which he became chair- man in 1937. He held the planning board chairman- ship from February 2, 1938 to October 23, 1947. Mr. Ryder is a former member of the Rotary Club of Port Jefferson and is active in the Congregational Church. He married Emma B. Lott, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Lott of Gravesend, June 29, 1898.
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