Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 113

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

USA > New York > Queens County > Long Island City > Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York > Part 113

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The residence of Mr. Lawrence is situated on the corner of Amity Street and South Par- sons Avenue. By his first marriage he has three children, while by his second union, which made Miss Elizabeth A. Hover his wife, he has four children, namely: Fred N., a merchant in New York; Henry W., who is employed as a clerk in New York; Mrs. Kate Peck of Flushing; and Grace, who is with her parents. Socially Mr. Lawrence is a member of Cornucopia Lodge No. 563, F. & A. M., and was once actively connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, but is now demitted. In national politics he is Demo- cratic.

C HRISTIAN HELLWARTH, trustee of the village of College Point and a success- ful business man of New York City, was born where he now resides March 10, 1863, to Christopher and Fredericka (Wilken) Hellwarth, natives of Germany. His father, who was born in Stuttgart and was a florist by occupation, came to America in early manhood and settled in Col-

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lege Point, where he married. He and his wife now reside in Newport, R. I.

The younger of two children, our subject was educated in the public schools and College Point Academy, from which he graduated. At the age of fifteen he entered the office of the College Point Rubber Company, Limited (now the Chel- ton Point Works), and later was transferred to the New York City office. In 1880 he resigned his position with the company in order to enter the dry goods business. He was successively with Wilkin, Lord & Taylor, Altman and James McCreery in Twenty-third Street, remaining with the last named gentleman nearly nine years. At this writing he still holds this position, which is one of responsibility and importance.

Though in business in New York, Mr. Hell- warth has always retained his home in College Point, where he erected and occupies a commo- dious and elegantly appointed residence in Thir- teenth Street, between Sixth and Seventh Ave- nues. He was married here to Hannah Krieg, a native of College Point, and two children blessed their union, of whom Ralph survives. In public affairs here Mr. Hellwarth has always been influential and active. At one occasion he was chairman of a meeting of citizens at the time of the nomination of a school trustee and agitated the question of carrying on the study of Ger- man in the public schools. In the fall of 1894 he was nominated on the Citizens' ticket to the office of village trustee and was elected, taking the oath of office in January, 1895, to hold office until January, 1898. He is chairman of the auditing committee and member of the police committee and the committees on lights and wells and pumps. Socially he is connected with the Royal Arcanum and the Krakehlia Singing Society, and at one time was vice-president of the Adelphi Social Club. In religious belief he is connected with the Dutch Reformed Church. Politically he is a Democrat, but is popular with men of opposing belief and is regarded as one of the influential citizens of the village.

W ILLIAM METHVEN, captain of the Queens County police and one of the leading liverymen of Flushing, was born on the last day of the year 1855 in Cleish, Kinross-shire, Scotland. He is a member of an old Scotch family, his grandfather, Alexander, having been superintendent for an estate in that

country. His father, Alexander, Jr., was born in Cleish, where for some years he engaged in farm- ing, but afterward removed to Dundee, where he had charge of the horses of the North British Railway Company until his death in 1893. In religious belief the family adhered to the Scotch Presbyterian faith.

The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Jean Stark, and was a daughter of Robert Stark, a weaver and boatman on Loch Leven, a popular summer and fishing resort in the west- ern part of Scotland. She is still living and makes her home in Dundee. Of her eleven chil- dren, all but one attained years of maturity and nine are now living, William being fourth in order of birth. He was educated in the schools of Cleish and Dundee and from boyhood was en- gaged in the horse business. In Dundee he mar- ried Miss Jessie Smith, by whom he has seven children. Coming to America in 1880, he soon afterward settled in Flushing, where he had charge of Mr. Colton's stables at the fashion track. During the three years that he was with this gentleman, much of his time was given to the training of horses. Later for two years he had charge of Ewen's stables, after which he carried on a hotel in Main Street for two years and was then located on the corner of Main and Broadway. After having rented Mickle's stables for eighteen months he opened the Flushing Hotel stables at No. 90 Broadway, which he has since conducted.

As a trainer of horses Mr. Methven is well known both on Long Island and in New York, and he prepared many horses for the New York market. He is a member of the Flushing Driv- ing Park Association, of which he was superin- tendent for a time. While he has broken a large number of fractious colts, he has never been in- jured. At one time he owned "Hussar," which had a track record of 2:21, but could make a mile in 2:123. At different times he has owned other fine standard horses.

In 1895 Mr. Methven was appointed captain of the Queens County police for three years, and in that capacity he has stopped prize fighting and made a number of raids on pool rooms. Dur- ing the car strike in Brooklyn he was for five weeks in charge of the Queens County end and took an active part in quelling disturbance. In 1894 he was elected constable for the town of Flushing and served one term. Socially he is connected with the Knights of Pythias, Red Men

DAVID KETCHAM.

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and Order of American Firemen. He served his time in the Empire Hose Company No. I, of which he was foreman, then second assistant en- gineer for two years and assistant engineer under McCormick for two years. He has served his party-the Republican-as a delegate to county and state conventions and is a member of the Re- publican Club.

D AVID KETCHAM, who holds the re- sponsible office of assessor of the town of Jamaica, is one of the well-known and wealthy residents of the beautiful village of Hol- lis. He was born in the town of Huntington, Suf- folk County, July 29, 1823, and is the son of Zeb- ulon Ketcham, whose birth occurred in that local- ity in 1804. The latter was a farmer by occupa- tion and for several years was collector of taxes of the town of Huntington. At the time of his decease, in 1840, the community lost one of its best and most highly esteemed residents.

James Ketcham, uncle of our subject, now de- ceased, was for many years a hotelkeeper at Patchogue, L. I., and also wreckmaster off the Long Island coast. Grandfather David Ketch- am was also born in the town of Huntington, and during the War of 1812 served as lieutenant of his company, which was stationed at Ft. Green. He was a farmer by occupation and lived to the advanced age of ninety-four years. When a lad of ten or twelve years he saw General Washing- ton pass through Long Island during the prog- ress of the Revolutionary War. He married Abby Nostrand, whose family, as well as that of the Ketchams, was among the oldest and most prominent on this island.

Mrs. Abby (Oakley) Ketcham, mother of our subject, was a sister of Jesse Oakley, who mar- ried the sister of Mr. Ketcham. This lady, Han- nah Oakley, is now living at Huntington and is eighty-seven years of age. Mrs. Abby Ketcham survived her husband many years, being eighty- four years old at the time of her decease. She had three brothers, David, Jesse and Timothy, of whom the last named was for many years a prominent merchant of New York City.

David Ketcham was the eldest in the family of six children born to his parents. He had one brother, John O., formerly a carpenter and build- er living in Brooklyn. During the excitement in the Pennsylvania, oil fields he repaired to that region, where he died soon afterward. Mary

Ketcham married David Jarvis, now deceased. who for many years was engaged in the grocery business in Brooklyn, where Mrs. Jarvis died in the spring of 1895. Elizabeth departed this life when eighteen years of age. Phebe married George W. Uhler, formerly a merchant of Brook- lyn, but who is now deceased. Susan died when sixteen years old.

Receiving a fair education in the district schools, Mr. Ketcham, when quite young, went to New York City and was employed in the store of his uncle, Timothy Oakley, until the death of his father, in 1840, when, being the eldest of the family, he returned home to manage the farm, and remained on the estate until March 12, 1849. In the meantime he married Miss Mary Oakley and in the year above mentioned they removed to the town of Jamaica, purchasing property which has since been laid out into lots and sold to the residents of the beautiful village of Hollis. Up to this time he had given his undivided attention to agricultural pursuits, and in this occupation was remarkably successful, accumulating a snug little fortune. His farm, however, soon became very valuable, and in order to make the most of his opportunities he sold it to Mr. Campbell of Brooklyn, who has laid it out in town lots.

Mrs. Ketcham became the mother of two chil- dren and departed this life January 17, 1893. Her daughter Elizabeth lived to be seventeen years of age, when she too passed to her home be- vond. Aaron Oakley Ketcham, the son, mar- ried Kate Lott, member of one of the oldest fam- ilies on the island. They had two sons, Frank Lott and David W. The husband and father de- parted this life in 1889 and his widow and family now occupy a beautiful home adjoining the resi- dence of our subject in the village of Hollis. For many years the son had looked after the manage- ment of the old farm and it was really not until his death that Mr. Ketcham made up his mind to sell the property.

Mr. Ketcham has not only been one of the leading farmers in Queens County, but he has been successful in every enterprise in which he has engaged. His influence has always been di- rected toward furthering the best interests of his community, although he cannot be considered a politician in any sense of the term. He is Demo- cratic in politics and not only possesses the con- fidence of his party, but that of the Republican voters as well. He has been before the people in various positions of honor and trust and since

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1872 has held the office of assessor of the town of Jamaica, receiving almost the entire vote of the district. As a citizen he is on the side of every social and moral reform; as a neighbor he is kind, and as a friend stanch and true. The poor and distressed find in him a cheerful helper, to whom no appeal is made in vain. He occupies one of the most pleasant homes in Hollis, which during the past few years has been darkened and saddened by the death of his wife and both chil- dren. He is a devoted member of the Presby- terian Church and for many years was trustee of his congregation.

D AVID H. LANEY, a successful and en- terprising business man of Woodhaven, is a florist of wide reputation in the coun- ty and has a large trade among its best people. He was born in Hampshire, England, June II, 1842. When he was a lad of eleven years his mother died, leaving ten children, which it was impossible for the father to keep together.

David H., who had but a limited education, was thus obliged to commence the battle of life on his own account, his first occupation being as a gardener's assistant. He soon became an expert in this industry and rose from one position to an- other until he was given a position in the gar- dens of Buckingham Palace, the Queen's private residence in London. Here he remained for two years, giving the best of satisfaction.

In 1870 young Laney bade good-bye to his relatives and friends in England and boarded a vessel which landed him in due time in America. He brought the best of recommendations with him and found employment without much delay. For ten years he was private gardener for D. B. Wesson, junior member of the firm of Smith & Wesson, manufacturers of firearms in Spring- field, Mass. It was his great desire, however, to get a situation nearer the metropolis, and when Mr. Wesson closed his place in order to go abroad, Mr. Laney came to New York and it was not long before he was employed by Mr. Grosjean of Woodhaven, the millionaire proprie- tor of the great agate works located here, to take charge of the grounds of his private residence. Although now in business for himself, he still has the oversight of the laying out of the grounds surrounding Mr. Grosjean's home and supplies all the flowers and shrubs used in its decoration.

Our subject has been very successful in all his

ventures since he came to America, and all of his surplus capital he invested in property which now comprises his gardens and on which are lo- cated his hot houses. These are fitted out with every convenience for the successful prosecution of his work and are among the largest in the county. He keeps himself well posted regarding the best methods of caring for plants by subscrib- ing to many of the leading journals devoted to this subject which are published in America.

Just prior to embarking for the shores of the New World, Mr. Laney was married to Miss Hannah Windsor. To them has been born a son, Albert, now in charge of a business which his father established for his benefit. Mr. Laney is deeply interested in the progress of the place which has so long been his home, and although he has been often solicited to hold public office has always refused to do so, as he feels that he can render his fellow citizens as much benefit in private life as when representing them in some of- fice. He is an Odd Fellow of high standing in the community and is a charter member of the lodge at Woodhaven, with which he has been connect- ed for seven years. He is also a charter member of the Royal Arcanum.

An upright, honorable man, Mr. Laney has a reputation for veracity and high principle which is second to none in the neighborhood.

M OSES R. SCHENCK, of the firm of Schenck Brothers, manufacturers of car- riages at Great Neck, was born in Cold- spring Harbor, Suffolk County, L. I., February 8, 1855, being a son of Simeon and Mary A. (Darling) Schenck. He remained in the village where he was born the most of the time until he was nine, when he accompanied his father to Port Washington, and there attended the public schools. When about fourteen years old he be- gan to work in the shop with his father and re- mained in his employ until he was twenty-three, when the two entered partnership under the firm name of Schenck & Son.

In 1880 the death of the father obliged the son to assume the entire responsibility of the busi- ness, which he carried on successfully until 1883. Meantime, on the 23d of November, 1881, he married Miss Sarah E. Mackey of Port Washing- ton, daughter of Henry and Catherine (Van Nos- trand) Mackey, and a native of the village of Roslyn, L. I. In the fall of 1883 the firm of

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Schenck Brothers was organized and our sub- ject moved to Great Neck, his present place of residence. He is known as one of the progres- sive and energetic business men of this village and stands high in the community.

Three children comprise the family of Mr. and Mrs. Schenck, namely: Mabel Louise, who was born in Port Washington October 3, 1883; Ber- tha Irene, born at Great Neck September 25, 1886; and Clifford R., born in Great Neck March 28, 1892. Mrs. Schenck is a granddaughter of John Mackey, a brother of George Mackey, Sr., to whose sketch upon another page the reader is referred for the history of the Mackey fam- ily.

Politically a Democrat, Mr. Schenck was elect- ed tax collector in 1890 and 1891, and was also appointed to fill an unexpired term as assessor, but refused a nomination for the office. He has served as a member of the school board, of which he was president one year, but upon the expiration of his term refused re-election. At various times he has been a delegate to town and county con- ventions, but has refused to go to state conven- tions. With his wife he holds membership in All Saints' Church at Great Neck, and he is treasurer of the Union Sunday-school. Socially he belongs to Cornucopia Lodge No. 563, F. & A. M., at Flushing, and Pentalpha Chapter No. 206.

W ILLIAM M. THOMAS. The experi- ence of this gentleman goes to prove that success may be obtained, even though for years she eludes the pursuer, evading his most energetic and persevering efforts. Mr. Thomas met with much in earlier life that would have daunted a man of less determination, but it only stirred him to renewed endeavors, and final- ly he achieved a success that was a tribute to his ability and force of character. While his resi- dence is in Corona, much of his time is spent in New York City, where he is engaged in the real estate business at No. 35 West Thirtieth Street and Fifty-ninth Street and Eighth Avenue, and is also proprietor of the Mineola stables at Eighty-fourth Street and Boulevard.

The son of Alfred and Elizabeth (Knight) Thomas, the subject of this record was born in Torresdale, Pa., July 23, 1849. His boyhood days were principally spent in Belvidere, N. J., where he was employed in his father's mill. After

completing the studies of the common schools he spent one year at Nazareth Hall, a Moravian boarding school in Northampton County, Pa. When about sixteen years of age, in 1865, he en- listed as a member of the Fifteenth United States Infantry, stationed at Ft. Adams, R. I., but after a service of two months his father put a stop to his boyish enthusiasm by taking him out of the army.

After working in the commission business in New York City for a time, Mr. Thomas was for one year with William H. Stiger, and then for three and one-half years was with a firm at No. 165 West Street. October 20, 1869, he married Miss Mary R. Philips, who was born in Dutchess County, N. Y. Not long afterward his employer went out of business and he was thrown out of employment, but he soon secured a job as driver of a wagon, selling flour in various parts of Massachusetts near the state line. His employers were Moffat & Reese. From there he went back to New York and began to deliver produce in various parts of the city, for which he first re- ceived $12, later $18 per week. One week was spent as conductor on a Broadway street car, when he resigned, having an offer to go into the real estate business with Dye & Curtis. This was in 1870 and he remained with them until they went out of business, five years later, which caused a change of his plans. Borrowing $100, he started in business for himself in the office formerly occupied by his employers. He made a success in buying, selling and collecting, and has continued the business to the present time, hav- ing had a partner since 1877.

In 1881 Mr. Thomas purchased a place at Bay- side, where he made his home for a few years, selling the property at a profit of about $5,000. He then bought twenty acres at Corona, where he now resides, also a farm of two hundred and fourteen acres, known as the Strong place, one of the oldest homesteads in the county. In addi- tion to this, he has invested in property in New York and also owns three of the largest stables in the city. In 1872 he voted for General Grant for the Presidency, later he adopted Democratic views and in 1874 became connected with Tam- many Hall, being secretary of the Eleventh As- sembly District of that famous organization. For twenty years he has been a notary public. Reared in the faith of the Hicksite Friends, he still clings to that connection and meets with other members of the society in Philadelphia every year. So-

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cially he has been chaplain of the Knights of Honor, and for two terms served as treasurer of the New York Lodge of Masonry. While living in the city he was connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, but has not been identi- fied with that organization for many years past.

D ENNIS SULLIVAN, a contractor by occupation, is one of the most popular citizens of Flushing and in the various public offices which he has filled has proved the possession of public spirit, energy and integ- rity. He was born in Rochester, Monroe Coun- ty, N. Y., in December, 1840, being next to the oldest in a family of five daughters and two sons, of whom one daughter and both sons are liv- ing. His parents, Dennis Sullivan, Sr., a mold- er by trade, and Mary (McCarthy) Sullivan, died in Auburn, N. Y., the former about 1854.

From four years of age until man's estate, the subject of this record resided in Auburn, where, at the age of fourteen, he entered the em- ploy of the Auburn Gas Light Company, in the early days of the business when gas was manu- factured from rosin. In 1857 he came to Flush- ing, where he was employed for a time as a gas- fitter. Next he went to Morristown, where he was similarly engaged. In 1859 he located in Astoria and became foreman of the Astoria gas works on Hell Gate. January 4, 1864, he again came to Flushing as superintendent of the Flush- ing Gas Light Company, which responsible posi- tion he filled until 1890, and during that time the plant was remodeled and increased in size.

While in the employ of the gas company, Mr. Sullivan began contracting, which business in- creased to such an extent that he finally resigned his position and turned his attention entirely to general contract work. He built the Flushing & College Point Street Railroad, nearly four miles in length, crowding the work so rapidly that it was completed in less than two months. He also had the contract for the water works at Munson, Mass., and built the water works at Northville, N. Y. From 1877 until 1889 he was a member of the board of trustees, of which he was president one term; he served on the prin- cipal committees and was chairman of the water committee during his entire term of office. In 1875 he was superintendent of the building of the water works, the completion of which was celebrated the following year.

Politically a Republican, Mr. Sullivan has often been delegate to county and state conven- tions. For one term of three years he served efficiently as county superintendent of the poor. For two years he held the position of overseer of the poor in the town of Flushing, and at differ- ent times was called to other local offices. He was a member of the old Hamilton Guard, and for three years belonged to Rescue Hook and Ladder Company. In Astoria he married Miss Maria Fay, sister of Michael E. Fay, of whom mention is made on another page of this volume. They are the parents of four children, namely : Edward and William, who are contractors; Mar- garet ; and Mary, wife of Eugene Eglee, of New York.

J OHN JONES WRIGHT was born Feb- ruary 14, 1835, in the village of Flushing, which was also the native place of his fath- er, Samuel, and grandfather, William, the for- mer a horse-shoer, and the latter a car-man by occupation. His mother, who bore the maiden name of Mary Ann Duff, was born in Oyster Bay and died at Flushing when seventy-five years of age; her father was Oliver Duff, whose father-in-law and four brothers-in-law partici- pated in many of the most sanguinary conflicts of the Revolution. Samuel Wright died at the age of sixty-six years, having spent a busy, in- dustrious and honest life among the scenes and with the people familiar to him from boyhood years. He and his wife attended the Episcopal Church and were people of generous and neigh- borly disposition.

The subject of this notice is one of twelve chil- dren, nine of whom attained years of maturity, namely: William, who resides in the western part of this state; Joshua, who in 1857 enlisted in the regular army, served for five years, and later was accidentally killed in New Orleans; Thomas, who died in Flushing in 1888; John Jones; Sam- uel, who died in this village; Charles, a resident of Brooklyn; Mrs. Eliza Reed, and Mrs. Cath- erine Webb, of this place: and Jane, who died here.

At the age of sixteen our subject was appren- ticed to the trade of a carriage blacksmith under Mr. Ketchum at Flushing and on completing the trade, in 1857 opened a general blacksmith shop here. In 1862 he located in Hunter's Point, Long Island City, and built a shop at No. 33

OLDFIELD HENDRICKSON.

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Jackson Avenue, where for two years he carried on a general blacksmithing business, but after- ward gave his attention solely to horse-shoeing. For thirty years he shod horses for James Mc- Mahon, of Bowery Bay, and the best horsemen of the country, being known as the miost prac- tical and successful horse-shoer of his locality. Accumulating money which he invested in real estate, he became well-to-do and is now the owner of two residences in Third Street, Long Island City, as well as a shop there, and a resi- dence at No. 282 Amity Street, Flushing. His success is due to the energetic manner with which he has devoted himself to business; he has never been an idler, but has led a busy, use- ful and industrious life.

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Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 113

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