Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 108

Author: Chapman, firm, publishers
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: New York ; Chicago : Chapman Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1220

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November 30, 1891, occurred Mr. Mckeown's marriage with Miss Mary L. Stewart, a daughter of Dr. James Stewart, of New York City, and the following March he began the erection of his present beautiful residence, which was completed on Decoration Day following. Mr. Mckeown has always supported the men and measures of the Republican party and in 1891 he received the ap-

JOHN E. BACKUS.

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pointment of deputy sheriff of Queens County under Sheriff Norton, and after the election of Sheriff Doht, in 1895, he was reappointed by him, and is thus in the fourth year of his service. He is an active and able officer and discharged his duties in such an efficient manner that in October, 1895, he was appointed sergeant of the Queens County police force, and still holds the position.

In 1889 Mr. Mckeown was elected to the of- fice of game constable of the town of Jamaica, and filled this office very satisfactorily to all con- cerned for three years, and especially so to those . who supported him. Our subject is one of the representative citizens of the county, is a believer in law and order and makes it a point to see that his views are carried out as far as possible. Both Mr. and Mrs. McKeown are identified with the Catholic Church.

J OHN E. BACKUS. A prominent position among the citizens of the town of New- town is held by the gentleman whose name introduces this biographical notice, and who, dur- ing his lifelong residence in the county, has been interested in its welfare and a friend of its institu- tions. A man of broad knowledge and superior ability, as well as the genial courtesy of manners which wins and retains friends, he merits the high regard in which he is held by all who know him.

Germany has furnished Long Island with many worthy citizens, but she has contributed none more worthy of mention or whose career has been such a complete success in every way, than Ascan Backus, father of the subject of this notice and for years one of the most influential mien of Newtown. His life shows what may be accomplished by determined energy, even in the face of many obstacles. He was born in Saxe- Gotha in 1814, being the son of a prominent farmer and stock-raiser, who, owing to the part he took in political affairs during the troubled times of his country, was stripped of his posses- sions. Ascan, who at that period was studying for one of the professions, was obliged to leave his books and face the problem of earning a live- lihood.

Coming to America, Mr. Backus landed in New York, July 4, 1829, being then a youth of fifteen. At first he assisted his brother, Charles, who had arrived a year before, in the manage- ment of his farm. By economically saving his earnings, he soon amassed a sufficient sum to en-

able him to hire a small place. There he began for himself, with what success every resident of Queens County knows. He made a specialty of raising produce, which in those days had to be shipped by boat down Newtown Creek and around the battery to New York. Making the acquaintance of the principal market men of the metropolis, he gained their friendship through his strict integrity and upright dealings. The markets were closely watched by him and his sales were made accordingly.

As the years passed by, an ever increasing suc- cess came to Ascan Backus. As he increased the amount of his landed possessions, he also en- larged his corps of employes, built new structures for his grain and produce, and purchased addi- tional stock. Among his laborers he was re- spected. In any dispute his word was respected as final. In their sickness he was a sympathetic friend, in their holiday sports an approving on- looker, and it was his desire to inculcate within them habits of economy and prudence. Not a few of them owed their success, afterward at- tained, to his words of counsel and encourage- ment. When he died, March 18, 1880, rich and poor alike mourned his loss as that of a kind friend, good citizen and accommodating neigh- bor.

By his marriage to Mary A. Beethan, Ascan Backus became the father of six children, of whom there now survive John E., Frederick D., and Mary E., wife of Dr. J. H. Lever of Flushing. Our subject was born on the family homestead in the town of Newtown, September 25. 1846. His education was obtained in the Flushing In- stitute, and as he neared man's estate his business ability manifested itself and he was made an as- sistant manager by his father of his large es- tates. His success in that position fully justified the confidence reposed in him. After his father's death in 1880, he was made executor of the es- tate and for some years afterward he and his brother carried on the farming interests in part- nership on a large scale, until the final settlement was made.

The undoubted business ability possessed by our subject has brought him prominently forward among the progressive men of the town. He is treasurer of the Citizen's Water Supply Com- pany of Newtown, which was incorporated in 1893. In the Queens County Agricultural So- ciety he is serving as a director. He is one of the commissioners of the State Normal School of

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Jamaica, and is treasurer of the board. In the Dutch Refornied Church, to which he and his family belong, he has filled the offices of elder and deacon for years.

November 5, 1873, Mr. Backus married Miss Phoebe S. Vanderveer, who presides with grace and hospitable dignity over his elegant home in Hoffman Boulevard, midway between Jamaica and Newtown. They are the parents of three liv- ing sons, one having died. F. Eugene is at home, The parental family consists of eight children, all living, namely: Peter; George and Matthew, who live in College Point; Michael, who is in the state of Washington; William, of Paterson, N. J .; Mrs. Susan Bush, of Sullivan County, N. Y .; Mrs. Louise Earthman, also of Sullivan County, and Mrs. Annie Rohn, who is in Russia. Our subject was educated in the schools of New York and College Point. At the age of fifteen he went assisting his father in the management of his large interests. I. Wyckoff and J. Edwin are students in the Flushing Institute. Mrs. Backus is the daughter of Isaac W. Vanderveer, and a granddaughter of John R. Pitkin, one of the best known men of his day. He was the founder of East New York, Kings County, and of Wood- haven, Queens County. In 1846 he was instru- mental in drawing, and after two years of diligent * to sea, shipping on a whaling vessel, "Iowa," from and persistent work succeeded in having adopted, New Bedford, and engaging in sperm whaling in the South Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans. Four years were spent on this voyage, and while on board ship he learned the carpenter's trade. one of the general manufacturing laws of the state of New York, under which to-day a vast amount of individual capital and enterprise is as- sociated in the development of the state's re- Returning to New Bedford, six weeks after- ward Mr. Renart shipped on the "Java," which took practically the same route as the "Iowa," and he was employed as carpenter and cooper during the four years he remained on this vessel. On retiring from the sea he came to College Point in 1851 and afterward followed his trade until 1885, since which time he has given his attention to jobbing. He erected his residence at No. 148 Fifteenth Street, and here he has established a pleasant home. sources. For years he was a successful mer- chant, but later became interested in the develop- ment of the shoe manufacturing interests of the state and was a prominent factor in inducing practical shoe manufacturers to remove from New England to New York. In 1860-61, with a few friends, he founded the East New York Boot, Shoe and Leather Manufacturing Company, which was later conducted by his children, and in which about three thousand pair of shoes were manufactured daily. His success was all the more remarkable when we consider that he was self-supporting from the age of twelve, having neither the prestige of wealth nor the influence of friends to aid him in attaining prosperity.

P ETER RENART, who has resided in Col- lege Point since 1851, was born in New York City in 1840 and is of German and French descent. His paternal grandfather, who was born in France, removed to Germany, where he was employed as a farmer and linen weaver. The father, Michael, was born in Rhine Falls, Germany, and in youth followed the occupations in which his father engaged, but after coming to America and settling in New York, he was em- ployed as a boiler maker. In 1851 he came to College Point, where he entered the Enterprise

Rubber Works. He died here in 1894, aged sev- enty-five. Politically he held Democratic views, and in religion was a Lutheran. In New York he married Margaret Bornham, who was born in France and died in College Point at the age of seventy-two. Her father, who took part in the Napoleonic wars, emigrated to America and settled in Lancaster, Pa., where he was employed as a mason and builder.

In New York City Mr. Renart married Mrs. Elizabeth (Markey) Willman, who was born in Rheinpfalz, Germany. Her father, Peter, was a son of Peter Markey, Sr., and was born in Ger- many, where he engaged in farm pursuits until his death, at the age of eighty-three. In religious belief he was a member of the Catholic Church. He married Magdalene Brown, a native of Prus- sia, and daughter of John Brown, who was the proprietor of an oil mill. There were eight chil- dren in the family of Peter Markey, of whom three are living, all in America. Mrs. Renart, who is next to the eldest, was educated in Ger- many and came to America in 1857. Her first marriage was to Michael Willman, who enlisted in the Union Army as a member of the Fourth New York Infantry and was killed in the battle of Antietam. Two children were born of this un- ion, Michael, who lives in Paterson, and John,

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who died in College Point. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Renart were born three children, namely: Mrs. Susan Sweeney, Mrs. Mary Kreamer and Peter, Jr., a silk weaver by trade, all being residents of College Point. For eight years Mr. Renart was foreman of the Eagle Hook and Ladder Com- pany, in which he is still a member.

F RED MEDERO, agent for Boyer's Freight Line, of New York, Flushing and College Point, was born May 28, 1855, in Flushing, where he now resides. His father, Michael Me- dero, a native of Canary Island, near the west coast of Africa, and a descendant of Spanish an- cestry, left home at the age of eight years, taking passage on a boat commanded by Captain Jones, of West Creek, N. J., on the occasion of his first trip to that island. He reached New York and soon afterward went to sea with Captain Jones. At the age of seventeen he was owner and cap- tain of a vessel, with which he engaged in the oyster trade on the coast of New Jersey and Vir- ginia. Later he was in the fruit trade between New York and the West Indies, and was among the first to bring bananas by cargo to New York City. His vessel, which he still commands, sails between the metropolis and the West India Islands, carrying out a general cargo and return- ing with logwood. His life of adventure on the high seas has not undermined his strength; on the contrary, he is unusually hale and vigorous for a man of seventy-three. Besides speaking the English language fluently, he converses readily in Spanish and French.

The mother of our subject, Mary C. Seaman, was born at West Creek, N. J., and died in Flush- ing, having had a family of eleven children, of whom four survive. Fred, who is the next to the eldest, was reared in Flushing and attended the public schools until fourteen, when he en- tered a broker's office in New York City. Dur- ing the eleven years that he was thus engaged he did all the custom house work for the firm. In 1880 he started in the brokerage business for him- self at the corner of South and Old Slip Streets, where he continued as a ship broker for some time. Later he was in partnership with Charles I. Hill, under the firm name of Charles I. Hill & Co., succeeding I. R. Staples & Co. in business at No. 66 South Street. On coming to Flushing he started in the green grocery business at No. 91} Main Street. In 1887 he became agent for

Boyer's freight line, of which he has since been general manager. He runs one steamboat, the "L. Boyer," which is a boat of one hundred and fifty tons; this stops at College Point, Steinway and Pier No. 23, leaving at 2 p. m. for home. The freight business is very large and the enter- prise has proved of much benefit to the people of Flushing. The employes are boys residing in this place, and the location at the foot of Broad- way is most advantageous for the purposes of trade and transportation.

By his marriage to Mary, daughter of Patrick Kanna, of this place, Mr. Medero has four chil- dren, namely: Charles, who is local agent for the Boyer Freight Line at Flushing; Mary, Joseph- ine and Fred. The family residence is situated at No. 18 North Prince Street. Mr. Medero is a member of the Flushing Building & Loan As- sociation and the United Banking Company of New York. Since 1875 he has been identified with Mutual Engine Company No. I, in which he has held all the offices. He is a firm adherent of Republican principles, and a progressive citi- zen who takes an interest in all worthy enterprises.

G I EORGE HACHTEL, who is engaged in the bakery business in Second Avenue, between Sixth and Seventh Streets, Col- lege Point, was born in Bavaria, Germany, March 26, 1866, and is a son of George and Lena (Stand- inger) Hachtel, natives of the same place, where the father is still engaged in farm pursuits; the mother died some years ago. Of five children comprising the family all but one are living, the subject of this sketch being the eldest of the number and the only one in America. He was reared in the parental home and aided in the work of cultivating the farm, also attended the German schools until fourteen years of age.

In 1880 Mr. Hachtel took passage on a steamer at Bremen, and after an uneventful voyage land- ed in New York. His first employment in this country was upon a farm in Glencove, Queens County, where he remained for six months. He was then apprenticed to learn the trade of a bak- er in New York City, where he remained, the most of the time, for the six following years. In 1886 he came to College Point, and three years later was here united in marriage with Miss Cyn- thia Jacobs, daughter of Charles Jacobs, a far- mer of this village, where she was born.

Continuing at his trade, Mr. Hachtel in 1893

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bought out his father-in-law's business, which is one of the oldest bakeries here, and he has since been proprietor of the place at Nos. 94-96 Sec- ond Avenue. Steady employment is furnished to two bakers, and a wagon is run for the conven- ience of customers in College Point and Flush- ing. While he has been very successful in every line of his trade, his specialty has been the mak- ing of rye bread, in which he has few equals. He is a member of the Adelphi Social Club and the Order of Foresters, and in religious belief is iden- tified with St. Paul's Episcopal Church. He and his wife have three sons, George G., Frederick G. and Charles H.

A NTON HAHN, who is of German birth and parentage, came to America in 1893, and located in Long Island City, where he is a leading florist. He deals in all kinds of potted plants, shrubs and choice cut flowers and makes a specialty of floral pieces and decorations for weddings, parties and funerals. Prior to coming to America he was the court gardener to Her Majesty, the late Empress Au- gusta of Germany. He has in his possession six- teen first prizes, medals and diplomas from all the principal exhibitions held in his native land, also letters of recommendation from Empress Augusta and Emperor Frederick III.

The birth of Mr. Hahn occurred in 1857 in Coblentz, Germany, which was also the birth- place of his father, Mathias Hahn, who was like- wise a florist of wide reputation and extended knowledge. His wife was formerly a Miss Er- ben, both of whose parents are now deceased. To them was granted a family of ten children, of whom six are now living. Of this household, An- ton is the only one who makes his home in the New World. He attended the schools of Cob- lentz until nineteen years of age, when he en- tered the Pobbelsdorff Botanical Garden Insti- tute and after completing the course there stud- ied in other schools of the kind, finally being graduated from the Geisenheim Horticultural School when only twenty-two years of age.

After becoming fully qualified our subject en- gaged in business with his father until the death of the latter, when he carried on affairs alone un- til 1893, the year in which he came to America. Choosing Long Island City as his future abiding place he first worked for a Mr. Arnold, and later became florist and gardener for a gentleman own-

ing one of the finest homes in Brooklyn. Upon leaving his employ he was given the position of second foreman in an establishment in New York City, remaining there until September 15, 1894, when he bought out Mr. Arnold of Astoria, and has continued at this stand ever since. He has made many improvements in the place, which is without question one of the largest and finest in Long Island City. His greenhouses and garden cover twenty-two lots and both are supplied with all the conveniences for propagating plants and shrubs of all kinds. He supplies the decorations for the Museum of Art in Central Park, and at various times has had charge of the decorations at St. Patrick's Cathedral, located in Fiftieth Street, New York. Mr. Hahn was called upon to do the decorating for a wedding at the residence of Mr. Byke of Brooklyn, and displayed such ex- cellent taste and good judgment in his arrange- ment of the different rooms that his skill as a florist was mentioned in glowing terms in the New York papers and copied by the English and German papers.

The marriage of our subject occurred in his native land, in 1886, when Miss Anna Reiche be- came his wife. They have one daughter, Katie. In religious affairs Mr. Hahn is a Catholic.

W ILBUR F. JOHNSON. It was in 1881 that Mr. Johnson opened a furniture and undertaking establishment at East Norwich. The business was at first conducted upon a small scale, but by fair and honorable methods and untiring industry, there was a gradual increase in the trade, to accommodate which the stock was increased and the facilities enlarged. To meet the needs of the growing business, in 1885 Mr. Johnson purchased prop- erty conveniently located and here he erected a commodious and substantial building. His busi- ness is now one of the most extensive and com- plete in this line of any outside of the large cities, and his trade extends throughout this section.

Noting the history of the family, we find that our subject's grandfather, Stephen Johnson, was born and reared in Hempstead, Queens Coun- ty, where for many years he engaged in mer- cantile pursuits. Our subject's father, Rev. Samuel F., was from boyhood conspicuous for his talents, and at an early age entered the min- istry of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which he devoted his active life. His labors were chief-

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ly on Long Island, in addition to which he spent twelve years in Connecticut. In his various charges he labored indefatigably to advance the spiritual interests of the people, and through his upright, consistent life and earnestness as a speaker he won many into the church. His self- sacrificing efforts finally resulted in failing health, which obliged him to retire from ministerial work. His last days were spent at Rockville Cen- ter, where he died April 24, 1886, after a long and useful life devoted to the cause of Christianity. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Smith, makes her home with her daughter, Har- riet, wife of Rev. W. A. Layton.

In the parental family there were five children, namely: Wilbur F .; Harriet; Sidney, who died in childhood; Frank, who is bookkeeper for the First National Bank of Pasadena, Cal .; and Ar- thur, who is engaged in business in Drayton, Pembina County, N. D. The first eighteen years of our subject's life were spent beneath the paren- tal roof, and he attended the public schools of the various places where his father resided. When twenty-one he entered Packard's Business Col- lege of New York City, where he completed the commercial course. For the six years following he taught the East Norwich school. During that time he was married, August 20, 1877, to Miss Emily, daughter of John Vernon, of one of the old families of East Norwich.

The religious connections of Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are with the Methodist Episcopal Church of East Norwich, in which he has for fif- teen years been steward and class leader. Also active in Sunday-school work, he has been sup- erintendent for some time, and has been instru- mental in promoting the welfare of this depart- ment of the church. His political belief brings him into co-operation with the Republican party, with which he always votes and works. He is a careful, conscientious business man, and has gained a measure of success of which he may well be proud.

W ILLIAM RASQUIN, JR. Although still in the dawn of a successful career, Mr. Rasquin is one of the prominent attorneys of Long Island, a region well repre- sented by some of the country's most talented legal lights. His present position has been ac- quired by arduous study and a strict adherence

to an honorable course, and as a citizen he is well and favorably known. He is a native of Philadelphia, Pa., and was born in September, 1864. His father, William Rasquin, Sr., was a native of Cologne, Germany, his ancestors be- ing exiles from France. In his youth he learned the shoemaker's trade, and upon reaching man- hood became a soldier in the German army. Upon his arrival in America in 1856 he took up his residence in Philadelphia, and until his re- inoval to Brooklyn, in November, 1864, was en- gaged in the shoe business. His wife was Louisa Lindauer, a native of Canton Schwytz, Switzer- land, on Lake Zurich, and six children were born to them, four of whom are living.

William Rasquin, Jr., was the eldest child born to his parents, and was graduated from the pub- lic schools of Brooklyn when thirteen years of age. For two years following this he was with David M. Stone, editor of the "Journal of Com- merce," then began the study of law with Erastus New in New York City. At this time he was but fifteen years of age, and when twenty-one years old he was admitted to the bar in Brooklyn, in September, 1885. For one year thereafter he was associated with Mr. New, and after the latter's death he entered the office of Robert Sewell of New York City, with whom he has since been professionally associated. Since November, 1893, Mr. Rasquin has been a resident of Flush- ing and has a well appointed office at No. 11 Main Street. He at once identified himself with the in- terests of the place and his intelligence and abil- ity soon became recognized, for after a residence here of only a year and a half, he was elected, in the spring of 1895, chairman of the town board of auditors for a term of three years. He is the local attorney for the United States Building and Loan Bank of Flushing, and although formerly a member of the Kings County Bar Association he transferred his membership to Queens County upon locating there.

A stanch Democrat, Mr. Rasquin was a dele- gate to the state convention of 1895 and was on the committee on credentials. He is a Royal Arch Mason and a member of Cornucopia Lodge No. 563; also belongs to the Royal Arcanum. Besides holding membership with the Flushing Boat Club, he is also identified with the village improvement association, Murray Hill Improve- ment Association, and was one of the organizers of the Murray Hill Hose Company, serving as its first president, and is now chairman of its board

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of trustees. He is also a member of the Mer- cury Wheel Club.

Mr. Rasquin was married in Brooklyn to Miss Ella Rockefeller, who traces her ancestry in this country to the landing of Henry Hudson, and is consequently of Holland-Dutch stock. Grand- father Rockafellow (the original spelling of the name) located in Columbia County, N. Y., and some of the family subsequently moved to Or- ange County. To Mr. and Mrs. Rasquin two children have been born: Almon Gilson and William Rockefeller. They have a beautiful home on Murray Hill and are attendants of the Reformed Church. Mr. Rasquin was for seven years a meniber of the Third Battery National Guard, and held the rank of sergeant five years. He is an enthusiastic wheelman and when in Brooklyn was a member of the Long Island Wheelmen. He was a delegate to the National Wheelmen's Convention, was chairman of the roadbook committee of the New York division and has ridden all over New York state on his wheel.

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Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 108

Author: Chapman, firm, publishers Publication date: 1896 Publisher: New York ; Chicago : Chapman Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 1220

Author: Chapman, firm, publishers
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: New York ; Chicago : Chapman Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1220