Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 118

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 118

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J OHN MESSENGER is a member of the firm of Clonin & Messenger, dealers in coal and wood, brick, lath, lime, cement, etc., with offices at No. 756 Boulevard, Long Island City. He was born in the city of New York in 1854, a son of W. F. Messenger, who was born in Germany. At the age of eighteen years the father left his native land and came to America, taking up his residence in New York City, where he was engaged in the manufacture of shoes un-

til his retirement from business. He died in that city in 1875, at the age of sixty-three years. He and his wife became the parents of nine children, only three of whom are now living, the subject of this sketch being the sole member of the fam- ily residing in Long Island City. His brother, William F., was a soldier in the Union army dur- ing the Civil War and lost his life in the second battle of Bull Run.

The subject of this sketch was educated in the New York City public schools and had reached the grammar department and his sixteenth year when he laid aside his books to begin the active battle of life. He then became the correspond- ing clerk for different New York firms and for twelve years was the confidential clerk of Reiche Brothers, the largest importers of animals and birds in America. He then became superintend- ent of the aquarium at Coney Island, for Coop & Reiche, in which capacity he continued for four years, and for the two following years was treas- urer of the New York aquarium at Thirty-fifth Street and Broadway. Seven years of the time while confidential clerk were spent in traveling all over the United States from the Atlantic sea- board to the great Rockies, and from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico in the interests of his employers.

After resigning this position Mr. Messenger engaged in business as a retail butter and egg dealer in New York City. After selling out he was for a time engaged in speculating. In 1890 he came to Astoria and formed his present partner- ship with Mr. Clonin, with whom he purchased the old Rapelyea coal yard, which they have com- pleted and greatly improved. They have built up a very large commercial connection and eight teams are kept constantly busy. Their dock is on East River, and the capacity of their estab- lishment is unlimited, as navigation is possible throughout the winter months.

In 1876 Mr. Messenger was married in New York City to Miss Eleanor Clark, a native of Del- aware, who has borne him three children: John, Jr., who is attending college in New York City; Gertrude and Leslie. Mr. Messenger has shown his approval of secret organizations by becoming a member of several: Alma Lodge No. 728, F. & A. M., of New York, and Alma Council No. 191, R. A., of New York City, and has represented his lodge twice in the grand council, first in Brooklyn and next in Syracuse. He is also iden- tified with the American Legion of Honor, Amity

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Council No. 576, of New York, in which order he has held official position in the Grand Council. Mr. Messenger has traveled extensively through- out his native land, and being a close and accu- rate observer, he improved his opportunities and has a far better knowledge of America than the great majority of her native-born citizens.

M ISS MARY J. GARDNER, one of the bright, intelligent women of Astoria, Long Island City, comes of an old and influential family of Long Island. She is of Eng- lish origin on the paternal side of the house and the first member of the family to settle in Amer- ica was Thomas Gardner, who came here from England in 1600 and located in New Jersey. Later he removed to New York City, engaged in merchandising, and became the owner of much wealth, a considerable part of what is now the lower portion of the city being in his possession. Miss Gardner's grandfather, Charles Gardner, was born near Grand Street, New York, and he was married there to Miss Ella Bennett, daughter of Jacob Bennett. For many years after his mar- riage he was engaged as a grain merchant in New York, but later sold out there and bought a farm near Newtown, L. I., where he died of cholera a number of years afterwards.

John Gardner, father of Miss Gardner, was · born in Brooklyn, and followed the carpenter and contractor's business, having a shop on the dry dock of New York City, but subsequently he moved to Long Island City and continued his chosen occupation until retiring. He passed away in August, 1870. He was a man of strict integrity, quiet and unassuming and very domes- tic in his tastes. For many years he was a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary McAllister, was a native of County Tyrone, Ireland, and the daughter of James McAllister, who was born in Scotland, but who, when a small boy, was taken by his parents to Ireland, where he grew to man- hood. He there married a Miss Henry, and later followed contracting for a livelihood. The daughter, Mary McAllister, came to America when a young lady and made her home with a married sister and a cousin in New York City until her marriage to Mr. Gardner. She died No- vember 23, 1895. She was a very intellectual woman and a devout member of the St. Cle- ment's Church, New York.

Previous to his union with Miss McAllister John Gardner married a Miss Simmons, who bore him four children, all now deceased. One son, John, served through the Civil War in a New York regiment and died some years afterward; after one severe engagement there were but five men of his company left. Mr. Gardner's second marriage resulted in the birth of six children, four of whom are now living: James H. resides in Long Island City; Charles A. was in the Unit- ed States navy during the Civil War, but is now deceased; Albert is in business in New York City; George J. is a business man of Long Island City and Greenpoint. All of these children were born in Long Island City. Miss Gardner owns valuable property in this city and possesses excellent business acumen. She is an earnest member of the Church of the Redeemer and is liberal and charitable to an unusual degree. She is possessed of superior gifts and endowments of mind and heart, and wherever met she reflects the virtues of highest womanhood.

S AMUEL D. NUTT, M. D., is one of the successful medical and surgical practition- ers of Queens County, and since the fall of 1894 has been coroner of the town of Jamaica. He is living in the village of Woodhaven, where he is in command of a large and lucrative pat- ronage.

Our subject was born in New York City, June 24, 1865. His father, Joseph D. Nutt, was also born in that city, and for many years has been a prominent jeweler in the metropolis. We are un- able to give any facts relating to the ancestors of our subject other than they were residents of New York State and many of them lived on the banks of the Hudson River. The lady whom Joseph D. Nutt married was Celia Upham, a native of Ver- mont, and the sister of Selah B. Upham, for many years one of the prominent druggists of New York, but who is now living retired in the village of Woodhaven. For a history of the Uphanı fain- ily we refer the reader to his biography in this volume. We will, however, make mention of the fact that Mrs. Nutt's grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and was present at the battle of Burlington, Vt.

The subject of this sketch, after completing his education in the common schools of his native city, took a course in the College of New York. He then was associated with his father in the jew-

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elry business for a short time, after which he be- gan as clerk in the drug store of his uncle, S. B. Upham. During the time he was in his employ he studied medicine, and in 1883 entered Belle- vue Medical College, from which he was gradu- ated three years later. The year following he spent in practice in the Ninety-ninth Street Hos- pital and the next twelve months visited the pa- tients in Bellevue Hospital.

In 1889 Dr. Nutt made permanent location in Woodhaven, where he succeeded to the large practice of Dr. Combs, who abandoned his gen- eral practice in order that he might give his atten- tion to a hospital which he had established. Dr. Nutt rapidly grew in favor with the people, and at the present time is without doubt one of the most efficient physicians of the county. He is progressive and enterprising in all that relates to the welfare of his community and has given the best of satisfaction by the able manner in which he discharged the duties of health officer of Wood- haven. He was the candidate of the Republican party for the position of coroner of the town of Jamaica and was elected by a large majority. He is a member of the Queens County Medical So- ciety and the New York Order of Railroad Sur- geons, and at the conventions of these various organizations he has delivered many interesting addresses. Socially he is a leading member of Woodhaven Lodge No. 204, I. O. O. F.

In 1891 Dr. Nutt was united in marriage with Miss Rita, daughter of Edward H. Wallace, a large contractor and builder in New York City, and senior member of the firm of Wallace & Rob- inson, who have been associated in business for some time. Dr. and Mrs. Nutt have one daugh- ter, Edna G.

F RANCIS N. MCKINNEY, late superin- tendent of the Standard Oil Works of Long Island City, is now deceased. He was born in North Carolina in 1842 and was or- phaned by the death of his parents when about eight years of age. He was then taken into the home of his parental grandparents, by whom he was reared. During the late war our subject was forced into the rebel service, and after the cessa- tion of hostilities made his way to Oil City, Pa., where he became an employe in what is now the Standard Oil Company. He became an expert in the refining of oil, acquiring his knowledge of this business under a Mr. Rodgers.

In 1871 Mr. Mckinney came to Long Island City, where he was made foreman of the works of the company, and later was promoted to be superintendent. During his residence here the interests of the Standard Oil Company increased until now its buildings cover acres of ground. Mr. McKinney continued to make his home here un- til the fall of 1891, when he was transferred to Florence, Colo., as inspector for the company, and there died September 18, 1892. He was a devoted member of Grace Methodist Episcopal Church in Long Island City, of which he was trustee and class-leader, in fact was one of the most influential members of his congregation and was active in the work of the Sunday-school and Epworth League. Personally he was a man of strict integrity and true worth and in every way possible he used his voice and influence for the promotion of those measures which were of benefit to his community. In politics he was an enthusiastic Republican.

Mr. Mckinney was married in the South to his first wife, and after her death, or June 17, 1871, he was united in marriage in Oil City, Pa., to Miss Mary T. Adams, a native of Beaver County, that state, and the daughter of Maj. Oscar E. Adams, also born in that portion of the Keystone State. Grandfather Dr. Milo Adams also hailed from that locality and was a lineal descendant of John Quincy Adams. Dr. Adams practiced medicine in Beaver County and was one of its most promi- nent and skilled physicians. The father of Mrs. McKinney was for many years superintendent of what was known in Pennsylvania as the Plummer oil lands. After severing his connection with the owners of this territory he held the same position with other companies and was also largely in- terested in oil fields himself. He was thoroughly acquainted with his business, to which he gave his energies and strict attention for his entire ac- tive career. He was well known throughout the country, as his operations in this line were very large. Mr. Adams departed this life in Decem- ber, 1877. He was also a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church and was a Republican in politics.

The mother of Mrs. McKinney was Helen M. (Easton) Adams, a native of Beaver County, Pa., and the daughter of David Easton, well known to the residents of that section as the popular pro- prietor of one of its best hotels. This estimable lady is still living and makes her home with some of her married children who reside in Oil City.

WILLIAM AUGUSTINE LAWRENCE.

EDWIN S. LAWRENCE.

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

There was born to Maj. Oscar and Helen M. Adams a large family of children, fourteen in number, of whom four are now deceased. Of this household Mrs. McKinney was the eldest. Her childhood was passed in her native state, but when old enough to go to school she was sent to a female seminary at Brighton, where she ac- quired a fine education. By her union with our subject there have been born three children, of whom Claudius Adams is the only survivor. He is a shrewd and thoroughly businesslike young man and a graduate of Columbia Grammar School. He was with his father at the time of the latter's death, and, taking up the business, carried it on with satisfaction to the company un- til 1895, when he returned East and is at present a student at Simpson's Theological Seminary in New York City. It is his intention to be a mis- sionary, and he is about to sail for Africa. Mrs. Mckinney is a consistent member of the Meth- odist Church and is active in all the good works in which that body is engaged in her community. She occupies a beautiful home in Hunter's Point, which at the time of its erection, in 1887, was one of the first built in Eleventh Street.

E T DWIN S. LAWRENCE. Material wealth must not exclude the riches of character in the recountal of the values which have been brought to Queens County by its citizens, and among its most precious treasures must be estimated the lives of those citizens who, by their intelligence and uprightness, have assisted in raising the standard of life and thought among the people. No one is doing more in this line than the subject of this sketch, who, like many other prominent citizens, is a native-born son of the county and a descendant of a family that has long been identified with the history of this lo- cality.

Some mention of the life of Lieut. William Augustine Lawrence, our subject's father, will be of interest in this connection. He was born in Flushing, June 28, 1811, and died at the family homestead at Fresh Meadow, when sixty-four years of age. In the early part of his life, from 1831 to 1833, he was associated in partnership with his brother, Edwin, in the mercantile busi- ness at Flushing, but upon the death of his father he returned home, where he afterward gave his attention to general farming, market gardening and the raising of cattle and horses. In every-

thing that he undertook he was thorough, efficient and capable, and in the lines of which he made specialties he won large success. Many of his horses and cattle took prizes when exhibited at local fairs, and he also frequently received diplomas and premiums for his displays of vege- tables. Indeed, if he may be said to have had a hobby, it was in the direction of improving vege- tables and raising the standard of quality. He was the originator of the Lawrence cabbage, known all over Long Island, and prized for its fine quality.

The marriage of William A. Lawrence to Cath- erine Elizabeth Ely took place March 24, 1841, and resulted in the birth of eleven children, namely: Edwin Seabury, Ann Augusta, Mary Elizabeth, William Augustus, Theodore Brown, John Augustine, Amelia Stratton, Sarah Louisa, Kate Lois, Henry Bogert and Euretta B. Of this family four sons and four daughters are still living.

The paternal grandparents of our subject were Thomas and Elizabeth (Stratton) Lawrence, who died at the respective ages of fifty-seven and seventy-two. The great-grandfather, Thomas, Sr., who was born July 31, 1721, and died Novem- ber 4, 1795, married Mary Willett, whose birth occurred November 25, 1726. The great-great- grandparents were Samuel and Mary (Hicks) Lawrence, born April 15, 1690, and October 15, 1698, respectively. The father of the former was Maj. William Lawrence, who married De- borah, daughter of Richard Smith, of Smithtown, L. I. The major was a son of Capt. William Law- rence, who came to this country in 1635 on the ship "Planter," Captain Palmer, and married Elizabeth Smith, a sister to his son's wife.

The subject of this record was born at the old homestead, wl.ere six generations had lived and died, the date of his birth being March 24, 1842. He commenced his education in the public school of Flushing and finished at Union Hall Academy. Jamaica. Of a large family he is the only one who continues as a tiller of the soil and is devoted to the occupation he has chosen for his life work. From 1856 to the present time he has kept a diary, where may be found a record of extremes of weather, fluctuations in market prices, changes in farming, and record of deaths of many promi- nent people as well as of members of the inmedi- ate family, which often proves very convenient in verifying some important date or event in his past life.

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

J OHN J. MCLAUGHLIN. There are few more familiar figures in public life in Queens County than the subject of this sketch, John J. McLaughlin, the man to whom more than any other one individual the people of the county are indebted for the maintenance in its present ex- cellent condition of the eighty-two miles of ma- cadam roads known as the county road system. Mr. McLaughlin is the county engineer, an of- fice which he has held for nearly four years, and in the discharge of the duties of which he has re- flected credit upon himself and given general pub- lic satisfaction.

John J. McLaughlin was born at Jamaica, Sep- tember 16, 1860, and is therefore in his thirty- sixth year. He attended first the private school taught by the Misses Waters and later the public school in Jamaica. Then he took a course in the New York University, from which he was graduated with high honors in 1879. In the same year he was engaged as assistant by R. L. Waters, city surveyor of New York, which posi- tion he retained until 1887, when he resigned to accept a position as surveyor under the city gov- ernment of Brooklyn. In New York the work of Mr. McLaughlin consisted of extensive municipal improvements, he being the first assistant in charge of the surveys for the new parks and for the city farm at Central Islip, L. I.

When he became engaged in Brooklyn, Mr. McLaughlin had charge of a large number of street improvements, which continued until 1891, when at his own request, owing to press of pri- vate practice, his city work was discontinued.

Mr. McLaughlin has acted as engineer for Kings and Queens Counties in the matter of bridges over Newtown Creek since 1887, con- structing the Grand Street and Meeker Avenue bridges, and making repairs to the other bridges over the creek. He has had charge of many ex- tensive private improvements in Queens County, particularly those instituted by F. W. Dunton in the town of Jamaica. He made the preliminary surveys for the Bicycle Railroad in Queens and Suffolk Counties, and had charge of a portion of the Jamaica road improvement under the board of macadam commissioners. He is also engineer for the Jamaica sewerage commission, and pre- pared the plans for sewers and disposal works accepted and approved by the commission.

Mr. Mclaughlin was appointed with G. A. Roullier as engineer of county roads in Queens County in 1892, and the following year, when the

county was converted into one district, he was appointed engineer in charge. While county en- gineer he established the present system of road maintenance in Queens County.

In spite of his busy life Mr. McLaughlin has found some time for sociability and is known as a jolly good fellow. In 1888, while living in Brooklyn, he married Adelaide M., daughter of John D. Carroll. Mr. McLaughlin is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, of the Royal Arcanum and of the Catholic Benevo- lent Legion, besides several lesser organizations.

G EORGE FORBES, M. D., is one of the leading and successful young physicians whose field of practice is in Ravenswood, a portion of Long Island City. He is a member of the leading medical societies of the county, taking an active part therein, and makes it a point to keep himself posted on all the leading discov- eries. Dr. Forbes was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., November 5, 1867. His father, George Forbes, a native of Anstruther, Scotland, left his native land in his youth and, after becoming fully ac- quainted with the ways of the American people, accepted a position as bookkeeper, working his way up until he became general manager for Gil- bert, Potter & Co., of New York City. He re- mained with them for a period of fifty years, or until the firm went out of business, when he re- tired. He is now living in Brooklyn, where he has a delightful home. Although seventy-five years of age, he is remarkably healthy and so comfortably situated, financially, that he is enabled to enjoy life to the fullest extent. He worships with the members of Westminster Pres- byterian Church, of which he is a member.

Mrs. Sarah A. (Johnson) Forbes, the mother of our subject, was born in Poughkeepsie, N. Y. She became the mother of five children and departed this life in 1872. Of this household only three are now living: Margaret, the wife of Neil O. Fitch, a physician of Astoria; Thomas, who is a traveling salesman for a New York house, and who makes his home in Brooklyn, and our subject. Henry A. was a prominent pharmacist in Astoria, where he died in 1894, aged thirty-six years.

George Forbes attended the public schools of Brooklyn until a lad of thirteen years, and the following year entered the drug store of his broth- er Henry, which was located on the corner of

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Grand and Putnam Avenues, Brooklyn. After following this business for four years he was de- sirous of adopting a professional life and aban- doned every other occupation in order that he might give his entire time to reading medicine. In the meantime he went to Astoria and entered the office of his brother-in-law, Dr. Fitch, where he had access to a splendid library of the best medical authorities and was also instructed by that able physician. In due time he entered the medical department of the University of New York City and in 1889 was graduated therefrom with the degree of Doctor of Medicine.

When looking around for a suitable location Dr. Forbes found a good opening for a progres- sive physician in Ravenswood and lost no time in opening an office here. He is engaged in gen- eral practice, and by his skill and knowledge in his profession has built up a good and paying business. He is especially successful where his skill as a surgeon is necessary, and has performed many difficult operations. His residence and of- fice are at No. 693 Vernon Avenue, one of the prettiest streets in the place.

Dr. Forbes was married in the Sumner Ave- nue Methodist Episcopal Church in Brooklyn, July 15, 1891, to Miss Norine Cadmus, a native of that city. Two children have been granted them, Gladys and Mildred. Mrs. Forbes is a consistent member of the Episcopal Church. The Doctor is a stanch Democrat in politics, and in order that he might help forward the work of his party in this part of the county he has allied him- self with the Jefferson Club of the city and is a member of the general Jefferson Democratic city committee. He belongs to the Long Island City Medical Society and also takes an active part in the work of the Queens County Medical Society. Personally the Doctor numbers many warm friends in all circles and has among the clients many of the best families of the county.

G EORGE A. MCNULTY, alderman from the first ward of Long Island City, and an employe of the "New York Sun," was born in New York City, December 10, 1867. His father, Robert, who was a native of Londonderry, Ireland, crossed the Atlantic in boyhood and set- tled in New York, where he secured a place in the employ of the "New York Sun." Beginning in a menial position he worked his way up until he became foreman of the pressroom, which respon-

sible position he held for a long time, his entire connection with the paper covering a period of twenty-eight years.

Politically a Democrat, Robert McNulty was actively interested in local affairs from the time of his settlement in America. Ever true in his allegiance to the country of his adoption, he was a public-spirited citizen, desirous of aiding every measure that would promote the welfare of the people. In 1868 he came to Long Island City and established his home at No. 147 Third Street, where he continued to reside until his death, May 30, 1886. For two terms he was overseer of the poor, and for years served on the general com- mittee. Twice he was elected to represent his ward on the board of aldermen, of which he served as president, and for a short time he was acting mayor. His father died in Ireland, but his mother came to this country and died in Long Island City.

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Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 118

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