Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 123

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

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DAVID SPRINGSTEEN.

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cashier in the Woodhaven Bank, one of the re- liable institutions of the county, and does all that he can to further the advancement of his community in an educational and financial way.

Mr. Wyckoff and Miss Jennie H. Spader, daughter of Stephen L. and Serena L. (Smith) Spader, were united in marriage in 1886. Her father, who departed this life many years ago, was one of the prominent and leading citizens of Queens County and for several terms filled the responsible position of county clerk. Mr. and Mrs. Wyckoff have two children, Jeanette and Margery. The family occupy a beautiful home in Clinton Avenue, Jamaica.

D AVID SPRINGSTEEN. The world is crowded with men and women, each try- ing to gain success through the different avenues of money-making, and day after day the ceaseless round of duty goes on; some giving at- tention to professional callings, some buying and selling in commercial headquarters, and others cultivating the soil. It is generally conceded that of all men the agriculturists lead the most inde- pendent life, and certainly to no class of bread- winners are we indebted for more beneficial re- sults than to the farmer.

Among those who are identified with the latter- named class may be mentioned David Spring- steen, a life-long resident of the town of Newtown and one of the stirring, energetic men of his local- ity. The farm upon which he now resides and where he was born February 23, 1849, lics two miles southeast of the village of Newtown on the White Pot road and has been occupied by six succeeding generations of the Springsteen family. The first of the name to come here were Joost Casper and Johannes Springsteen, with their widowed mother, who arrived at New Amsterdam in 1652 from Groningen, Holland, and in 1660 joined in the settlement of Bushwick. From them have descended all of the name in the country. Junc 10, 1663, Joost married Cathar- ine, daughter of Abraham Lothie and widow of Peter Praa; as his second wife he married Mag- dalena Jansen. His son Casper married Maria, daughter of Derrick Storm, and after residing for a time in Westchester County, came to New- town in 1700, and herc died May 21, 1729. His son Joost Derrick settled in Kent County, on the Delaware, and became the father of Jacobus

Springsteen, who gave the site for the White Pot schoolhouse. Another son of Casper was David, who served as a deacon and kirkmaster of the Dutch Church and died October 14, 1763, leaving among other children a son Casper. The latter, who was born September 1, 1725, in- herited the paternal estate at Hempstead swamp and died May 29, 1803. By his marriage to Bar- bara Bloom of the Wallabout, he had an only son, David, who fell heir to a new house crected by his father and there resided until his death, April 6, 1840. David marricd Phebe Strikcr, of Flat- bush, and their only son, Michael S., inherited the old homestead and died there September 15, 1886. David, the only son of Michael S., fell heir to the estate upon which a new residence had been built in 1859 by his father.

Born on the old homestead November 3, 1804. Michael S. Springstcen grew to manhood here and adopted as his life calling the occupation of a farmer, which he followed until his death. A public-spirited citizen, he aided all local move- ments and held a number of offices. In religious faith he followed the belief of his forefathers, and held membership in the Dutch Reformed Church of Newtown. December 12, 1844, hc married Al- lctta B. Duryea, of Jamaica, L. I., who was born September 2, 1807, and died December II, 1873. Unto them were born three children, of whom David alone survives. The other son, John D., was born August 7, 1847, and died June 14, 1857, the daughter, Phebe H., whose birth occurred February 2, 1846, passed from earth October ;, 1888.

Assisting his father in the management of the home farm, our subject gained a thorough knowl- edge of the occupation which he adopted as his own upon reaching manhood. At the death of his father the home placc reverted to him, and here he has since lived, maintaining the high class of improvements that have characterized the farm from the first. Interested in educational matters and in everything that pertains to the welfare of children, he was elected trustee of the school board in 1887, and is still serving in that capacity. In the Dutch Reformed Church he filled the of- fices of dcacon, clder and treasurer for a number of years. He supports the Republican party by his vote, but is liberal in his views, believing that in local matters it is of the utmost importance to sccure for every office men of probity, honor and cnergy, whatever may be their politics. With trute public spirit and characteristic liberality, he

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has aided every enterprise that would in any way advance the welfare of the community.

April 11, 1888, Mr. Springsteen was united in marriage with Miss Annie W. Monfort, daughter of Azariah Monfort, of the city of Brooklyn. To this marriage were born four sons and one daughter, of whom the sons still survive, namely: Azariah M., born January 3, 1889; David, August 6, 1890; Howard D., January 1, 1893; and George S., June 23, 1895.

L ORENZO BURDETTE SMULL, of Port Washington, is a member of a family honorably associated with the history of the United States for several generations and descended from distinguished ancestors in the Old World. The first of the name to establish his home in America was John Smull, who was born in Castle De Paltz on the Rhine in Germany, an ancient and historic building, one of many famous structures that dotted the shores of that picturesque river. An oil painting formerly in the castle is now in our subject's possession and gives indication of the prominence of the family.

On coming to this country John Smull settled in Pennsylvania and it is thought that he was the owner of a tannery there. His son, Thomas, who was born in Egypt, Pa., moved thence to New York and for some time was enaged in business as a wholesale leather dealer, meeting with fair success as a result of his judicious investments and untiring energy. Among his children was Charles Gilman, our subject's father, who was born in Cliff Street, New York, February 13, 1838, and died March 22, 1873, at the age of thirty-five. Reared to a knowledge of his father's business, he selected it for his life calling, and was known as a man of good education and excellent business qualifications. Politically a Democrat, he was an intimate friend of Hamilton Fish and other well known politicians, but was not himself an office seeker, preferring to give his attention unreservedly to his business inter- ests. Socially he was a Mason of the thirty- second degree, and belonged to other fraternal organizations.

The death of Charles G. Smull was caused by an accidental, and apparently trivial, injury to one of his fingers, which resulted in blood poison- ing and terminated fatally. In personal appear- ance he was prepossessing, being about five feet, eight inches in height, and one hundred and

seventy-five pounds in weight, with blue eyes, light hair and fair complexion-a man who easily won friends and as easily retained their friendship through the magnetism of his genial manners and unfailing cordiality.

By his marriage to Eleanor Burdette, who was born in Eldridge Street, New York, Charles G. Smull had two children. Thomas, the elder, was born in New York, November 11, 1860, gradu- ated from Yale College in 1885, and is unmarried, making his home at the family residence in Port Washington. The subject of this sketch, who is the younger son, was born in Twelfth Street, New York City, January 25, 1863, and received excellent educational advantages, being a gradu- ate of Brown University, Providence, R. I., in the class of '85. In 1875 the family moved to their present place, where they have a substantial and commodious residence.

At Sea Cliff, L. I., August 14, 1887, Mr. Smull married Miss Emma O. Davis, who was born in Brooklyn, but at the time of her marriage was a resident of Port Washington, this place being still the home of her parents, William J. and Susan C. (Osborne) Davis. Three children bless their union, namely: Irma, who was born at the family residence July 28, 1891 ; Nita, born Feb- ruary 14, 1893, and Lorenzo Burdette, Jr., October 23, 1895. In political views Mr. Smull is a Democrat, and upon that ticket was a candidate for the office of commissioner of highways in 1893, but was defeated. Socially he is a charter member of Seawanhaka Lodge No. 670, I. O. O. F., in which he is now past grand.

R EV. WILLIAM THOMAS WILSON, who was born in New York City, in the year 1834, was a son of James L. Wilson. His primary education was received in his na- tive city and later he entered Yale College, from which he was graduated with the class of '55. Upon leaving that institution he returned home and about a year later entered the general theo- logical seminary of New York, where he pre- pared himself for the Episcopal ministry. After four years spent in that school he was ordained and entered upon his ministerial duties. For five years following he was rector of St. Peter's Church at Albany, N. Y., and twenty-five years held a pastorate in New York City. His death occurred in 1890. He possessed a fine and orig- inal mind, was a fluent, forcible and eloquent

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speaker and was one of the most prominent cler- gymen in the city.

In the year 1865 Mr. Wilson married Miss Caroline Bleecker, daughter of William Edward and Elizabeth (Russell) Bleecker, both of Al- bany, N. Y. Five children were the fruits of this union, as follows: Ethel, wife of Augustus Van Courtland of Tuxedo, N. Y .; Ralph L., Mary H., Caroline R. and Catherine B. Mrs. Wilson has a lovely home in the north side of Rockville Center and has occupied this fine residence for the past three years. For many years of his life Mr. Wilson was very delicate, but carried on his ministerial duties, and his death was keenly felt in the church and by all who were favored with his acquaintance.

H ENRY A. BOGERT. The legal profes- sion has many able representatives in New York, men who have combined na- tive gifts of a superior order with thorough study of the best authorities in the law, and who, by reason of these two qualifications, have gained a large measure of success. In the list of well known attorneys we place the name of Henry A. Bogert, of Flushing, with office in the Bennett Building, Nassau Street, New York. A man of liberal education and scholarly attainments, he is a concise, logical reasoner, and always has his cases and the law governing the points well in hand. In his profes- sional transactions he is methodical and exact. Method is the governing principle, and he carries that trait of character into his practice as well as in private affairs. An illustration of this may be seen in the fact that upon the two occasions when, as attorney for the New York Life Insur- ance Company, his papers were carefully and thoroughly examined, even in minute details, not a single flaw was to be found in them, which shows the care he exercised in every matter per- taining to his profession.

New York City is Mr. Bogert's native place, his birth having occurred there May 9, 1827. The family of which he is a member originated in Holland, and its first representative in America was John Loweson Bogert, of Harlem, concern- ing whom mention is made in the "Annals of Harlem," by Riker. The great-grandfather, John Bogert, was a large land owner in Harlem and a prominent business man in the early days of New York City. Next in line of descent was Peter

Bogert, who, in partnership with Henry Knee- land, some time between 1780 and 1790, founded the wholesale commission house of Bogert & Kneeland, in which they were succeeded by their sons. At one time he owned all of Whitestone Point, and his country seat comprised two hun- dred and twenty acres; he married Mary Law- rence, a member of an old Long Island family that took a prominent part in the Revolution.

Henry K. Bogert, father of our subject, was born in New York City, and succeeded his father as a member of the firm of Bogert & Kneeland, wholesale cotton commission merchants and the oldest house in New York at that time. Success- ful in business, he was enabled to surround his family with every comfort and give to his children the advantages that fitted them for careers of usefulness in business or professional circles. In religious belief he was an Episcopalian and served as vestryman and warden of his church. He continued to make his home in New York until his death at seventy-five years. His wife, who died at the age of eighty-three, was in maiden- hood Mary E. Bogert and was born in New York City. Her father, John G. Bogert, a prominent attorney, was consul general to Russia, and held the position of grand master of the Masonic fraternity in New York state; while yet in the prime of his manly vigor, he was called from earth. The family was one that inclined to pro- fessional life, having tastes and ambitions in that direction, and tracing the lineage back one more generation we see this fact evidenced in the career of Cornelius Bogert, a successful attorney of New York, who died in 1832.

In the family of Henry K. Bogert there were three sons and one daughter, all of whom are living but Charles, who served in the Seventh New York National Guard during the Civil War and afterward died in New York. Of the children Henry A. was the only one who established his home in Queens County. He was educated in New York, graduating from Columbia College in 1846 with the degree of A. B., and three years later the degree of A. M. was conferred upon him. At once, after completing his literary educa- tion, he began the study of law and in 1848 was admitted to the bar in New York, where he began his practice in the central part of the city. He has since carried on an active professional busi- ness, and it is said of him that he has examined more titles than any other attorney in the city, he having made a specialty of this line for years.

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In 1866 Mr. Bogert became attorney for the New York Life Insurance Company and had charge of all their real estate business in New York and vicinity until 1893, a period of twenty- seven years, when he retired at a change of ad- ministration. Assisting in the organization of the Queens County Savings Bank in 1859, he has since held the position of treasurer of the institu- tion and has also had entire charge of its legal matters. Since 1854 he has made his home in Flushing. The preceding year he was married, in the Episcopal Church at this place, to Miss Mary Lawrence, who was born here, being a daughter of John and Mary (Bowne) Lawrence. Her father, who, for many years was a successful merchant in New York City and held the position of president of the Seventh Ward Bank of New York, was one of the leading citizens of Flushing and had many warm friends throughout Long Island, whose friendship he gained by his able representation of his constituency while in the United States Congress. His father-in-law, Walter Bowne, was a member of an old Quaker family, and for a long time engaged in the mer- cantile business in New York City, of which he was once the mayor.

The residence of Mr. and Mrs. Bogert is situ- ated in Lawrence Avenue and is a commodious and attractive dwelling, the centre of a refined hospitality. They are the parents of six children, and it is a notable fact that all of their five sous are graduates, like their father, of Columbia Col- lege, and three are attorneys by profession. Henry L., the eldest, has a law office in New York City; John L. is regarded as the finest manufacturer of machine tools in the United States, and has already achieved noteworthy suc- cess in this business; Walter L., an attorney, resides with his parents; Marston T. is an in- structor in Columbia College and president of the Y. M. C. A. of Flushing; Theo. L. is a student in the School of Arts of Columbia College; Fannie, the only daughter, is the wife of R. H. E. Elliott, of this village.

Prior to his removal to Flushing in 1854, Mr. Bogert was school trustee of the seventeenth ward for some years, and he has held a similar position with the schools here. He is a member of the Holland Society and vice-president for Queens. A Congregationalist in religious belief, he has been a Sunday-school teacher since November 1, 1845, and at different times has had charge of seven Sunday-schools, being superin-

tendent of two at the same time. At present he is superintendent of the Union Bible School and teacher of two Bible classes. In 1852, when the first Y. M. C. A. of America was organized in New York City, he became identified with the work, attended the meetings held in a back parlor at Stewart's and held an official position from the first. On coming to Flushing he assisted in the organization of the association here and has since been a trustee.

We have thus briefly sketched the outline of a busy and active career. As intimated above, Mr. Bogert comes from an ancestry that have been noted for their prominence in the professions, notably the law. At no time in his life has he sought political prominence, although he has always adhered to the policy of the Republican party and aided in organizing the Republican Club. Learned in law and general literature, he is capable of sound reasoning, and in this respect is eminently well equipped for his profession. He is emphatically a man of the times, and helpful to his community, filling a place few others could fill. Possessing an analytical mind, he excels in equity and real estate cases, though by no means deficient in knowledge of other departments of the law. During his long life, actively engaged in professional and other business, he has merited and enjoyed the reputation of an honest and honorable man.

E DWARD COOPER, vice-president of the Hempstead Bank and the leading mer- chant of this village, was born in Babylon, December 1, 1839. He is the son of Samuel and Maria (Cornwell) Cooper, the former of whom, a tanner by trade, died in 1841; the latter, who was a native of Hempstead, departed this life when over sixty years of age. In the parental family there were five children, those besides Edward being Michael and Samuel, who took part in the Civil War and are now deceased; Elbert, de- ceased, formerly for several years a partner in the mercantile business with our subject, and Mary, wife of Samuel Mott, of Jamaica.

Educated in the schools of Babylon and Hemp- stead, Mr. Cooper, at the age of sixteen, entered the store of S. C. & I. Snediker, with whom he remained for three years. Later he became a clerk for L. D. Rushmore & Son and after three years he and his brother, Elbert, bought the busi- ness. This was in 1861, and his brother remained

EDWARD COOPER, OF HEMPSTEAD.

RICHARD DOWNING.

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in partnership with him until his death, when his interest was purchased by Henry Powell, and the present firm of Cooper & Powell was formed. When Mr. Cooper first secured a clerkship, his wages were only $40 a year, but he was economical and saved his earnings until he had $400. Though this amount was small, yet from it, as a nucleus, he has built up the largest general mercantile business in Hempstead.

Aside from his mercantile business, Mr. Cooper has had other important interests. He was one of the founders of the Bank of Hempstead and has been its vice-president from the start. During the Civil War he was a member of the Eighty- ninth New York Regiment of militia and was an orderly sergeant, but saw no active service. In politics a Republican, his first presidential vote was cast for Abraham Lincoln, and he has voted for every Republican candidate since that time. For six years he has held the office of treasurer of the village. For three years he was vice-president and for three years president of the Queens County Agricultural Society, serving longer than any other official of that organization. The society was nearly bankrupt when he became its head and its treasury was empty, but at the expiration of his term of office, it was in good financial condition with all bills paid and $17,000 in the treasury. Into this work he put the same energy that has made his private business a suc- cess. He has always taken an active interest in local affairs and has held nearly all of the local offices. At the present time he is chief of the Hempstead fire department.

The first wife of Mr. Cooper was Lydia Thomas, of Hempstead, who died, leaving a daughter, Ida L. In 1876 he was united in mar- riage with Addie H. Hendrickson, of Hempstead, and one child, Ethel May, blesses their union. He owns and occupies a pleasant residence in Washington Street. For several years he was a trustee in the Presbyterian Church. He is num- bered among the progressive men who have con- tributed to the growth and prosperity of Hemp- stead.

R ICHARD DOWNING. This prominent resident of East Norwich has a variety of occupations, being farmer, auctioneer, and dealer in agricultural implements, fertilizers and real estate. He is the son of George S. Downing,

one of the well known and highly respected resi- dents of this county, and the brother of Charles Downing, who for fifteen years has been deputy county clerk of Queens County. His sketch will appear in full on another page in this volume.

When three years of age the parents of our subject removed to Mineola, where the father had his office while acting sheriff of the county, and with the exception of six years spent there he has always made his home in East Norwich. He attended the common schools for a time, but his education was completed in the private academy conducted by Lott Cornelius, at Locust Valley. Soon thereafter he assumed the management of the home place, being interested in general farm- ing until within the last few years, since which time he has devoted the place to market gar- dening. In 1873 he formed a partnership with Halstead H. Frost, with whom he has successfully operated since that time. They are well known1 throughout this and Suffolk counties and are called long distances from home to attend to the selling of both real and personal property. In 1895 Mr. Downing began handling real estate, in which line he has met with signal success. For the past fifteen years he has acted as administra- tor and executor for various large estates in the county, this confidence being reposed in him not only on account of his honesty and integrity as a gentleman, but on account of his ability as a business man. He is the local agent for the Glencove Mutual Insurance Company and in this, as in everything else which he undertakes, has been successful.

Mr. Downing has done much to advance the cause of education in his district during the ten years in which he has been trustee. He believes in good schools, and his untiring efforts have been to give to his locality the best facilities pos- sible in the way of good buildings, good teachers and interest in school matters in general. He is very liberal in politics and gives to others the right which he reserves for himself, to vote for the best man regardless of party lines. In fra- ternal affairs, he is a Master Mason, belonging to Matinecock Lodge No. 806 of Oyster Bay. He is likewise a member of the Royal Arcanum, and when convenient meets with Arbutus Council No. 1362, of the same place. Mr. Downing is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and for a period of twenty years has served his congregation as trustee and steward. He has also taken great interest in the work of

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the Sunday-school, and during his more active years was superintendent.

In 1873 our subject married Miss Mariana Ver- non, the daughter of John Vernon, of East Nor- wich, which was also the birthplace of Mrs. Downing. Of the children born to them a daugli- ter and two sons are yet living: Mabel, the wife of Harry G. Haywood, bookkeeper in the Oyster Bay Bank; James E., a student in the Friends' Academy of Locust Valley; and Richard, Jr., at home with his parents. In 1893 our subject ac- companied by his daughter, attended the World's Fair held in Chicago, and during the progress of the Atlanta Exposition went South with his wife. They spent several weeks in visiting the many points of interest in that portion of the country. On the journey down they spent a few days in Washington, D. C., and then traveled by way of the Shenandoah Valley. They also stopped at Lookout Mountain, Chattanooga and Chicka- mauga, where they secured numerous relics of battlefields.

C HARLES H. SEBALD, who is engaged in the grocery business at Jamaica, was born in Paterson, N. J., March 7, 1862. His father, George Sebald, was a native of Ba- varia, Germany, and early in life displayed re- markable musical talent, which, being cultivated, brought him into prominence in his own coun- try. For some years he taught music, but after coming to America gave his attention principally to the management of a private German school in New York City for a time. In 1869 he removed to Jamaica, where he had charge of a private school in Union Hall Street and also was organ- ist at the Episcopal Church. Later he turned his attention to the grocery business, in which he was engaged at the time of his death.

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Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 123

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