Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 125

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

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D AVID JARVIS, a man of influence in his community, is engaged as a general mer- chant at Flower Hill, which is within two and one-half miles of the postoffice of Roslyn. He was born in this vicinity September 20, 1820, his parents being Daniel and Mary (West) Jarvis, whose household included eight children. They were people of moderate circumstances and were able to give their children only meager opportu- nities for gaining an education.

David, of this sketch, was reared in the town of North Hempstead, and after leaving school worked at whatever he could find to do. As he was industrious and economical, as soon as he had saved a sufficient sum of money, he purchased

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a horse and wagon, and a varied assortment of household goods, selling the latter through the country. He was prospered in this undertaking and shortly after his marriage with Miss Mary Newton, which occurred April 1, 1845, he erected a small building on the site which is now occupied by his large and substantial store. In this he placed a stock of goods, and while he was making trips through the country, his wife attended the store. In 1858 he built his present building, which is a store and residence combined.

The Newton family, of which Mrs. Jarvis was a member, is one of the oldest on the island, yet the information concerning former generations is very meager. Mrs. Jarvis was born at Middle Island, Suffolk County, and was the daughter of Isaac and Maria (Furman) Newton. Her union with our subject resulted in the birth of four children. Leverett N., after graduating from the schools of Homer, N. Y., took a course in East- man's Business College, at Poughkeepsie, and was later made cashier of the wholesale dry goods store of Mills & Gibbs, of New York City, which responsible position he held for twelve years. He married Miss Fannie C. Hewett, and his death occurred in July, 1892. Adelaide Jarvis died when five years of age. Mary Emma, who assists her father in conducting the store, is a graduate of the Friends' School at Sands Point, which is presided over by Adam and Mary Mott. Ida Maria married Clifford Woodnutts and makes her home at Norwood, N. J .; they have two chil- dren, Howard David and Mary Elizabeth.

Although not actively identified with political affairs, Mr. Jarvis is a straightforward Repub- lican. His first vote was cast for Henry Clay. Together with his family he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Although now well advanced in years he is still an enterprising and useful citizen, taking a deep interest in move- ments of public importance.

E A. PERPALL. The manufacture of stoves has grown to be a great industry . which naturally must be nearly equalled by the industry connected with their sale. An extensive dealer in this line is E. A. Perpall, of Flushing, who has been established in business here since June, 1891. He was born in Nassau, New Providence, Bahama Islands, to John H. and Elizabeth (Johnson) Perpall, natives respec- tively of England and New Providence.

The childhood days of E. A. Perpall were spent in acquiring an education in private schools, but in August, 1865, he left home and came to New York City, and in January of the following year he became a clerk in a retail hardware store, where he remained until January, 1871. At that time he took up his residence in Flushing and became a clerk in the hardware store owned by Thomas Elliott at that time, and for sixteen years he had charge of the business. Upon the death of Mr. Elliott in June, 1891, the firm of E. A. Perpall was established. Mr. Elliott's stock was purchased, and since that time business has been successfully conducted at the old stand, at the corner of Main and Washington Streets. A gen- eral line of hardware and house furnishing goods is kept, and they are at all times prepared to do roofing and furnace work. He has done work on the high school building, the residence of G. H. Clements, that of Mrs. A. E. Leavitt and G. Howland, the Gas Company's works and the residences of C. A. Willets, C. A. Willets, Jr., Robert B. Parsons, S. B. Parsons, Henry A. Bogert, William Ellimon, George Pope and scores of others, beside St. George's Episcopal Church and various other buildings.

Mr. Perpall was married in New York City to Miss Mary E. Affleck, a native of that city, and to them four children have been given: Mary F., Laura L., Albert E. and Elizabeth B. Mr. Per- pall is a member of the Royal Arcanum, in which he has been vice-regent and is now orator, and belongs to the Flushing Business Men's Associa- tion. He was a deacon in the Baptist Church and his wife is also a member of this church.

G EORGE W. PINKHAM. For the past twenty years and upward George W. Pinkham has been engaged in the gro- cery business in Flushing, and during the entire period intervening to the present has been stead- ily increasing his hold on public favor and patron- age. His grocery establishment is one of the most popular and well patronized of its type in this section of the village, and commands a large and lucrative local trade.

Mr. Pinkham was born in Flushing in 1850, and is a son of John L. and Ann (Farrington) Pinkham. The Pinkham family is an old and influential one on Long Island, and the original members came from Scotland. They settled in New York, but some of the descendants came to

ELBERT H. BOGART.

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Long Island, and there the grandfather of our subject, Obed Pinkham, commanded a vessel on the sound. The Pinkhams were Quakers in their religious views. John L. Pinkham was a carpen- ter and builder by trade and followed that many years, although the latter part of his life was passed on a farm adjoining the village. He died in Flushing when sixty-seven years old. His wife had passed away five weeks before this, when sixty-four years old.

Of the children born to this worthy couple, two daughters and four sons survive. Of these, our subject is the eldest. He grew to manhood here, received his education in the public schools, and at an early age displayed unusual musical ability. He began studying music, first violin, under Professor Woolley, of Brooklyn, and later received instruction from Professor Holbrook, in New York City. In the spring of 1869 he began earning a living by his bow, and was on a concert tour through the United States. In March, 1870, he went abroad and traveled over the United Kingdom, visiting all cities of more than five thousand inhabitants. He was in partnership with the Charles Dawson Concert Company, and this was a successful venture.

In March, 1873, Mr. Pinkham returned to New York, and in 1875 engaged in the grocery busi- ness, and also has engaged in the practice of his profession, which he has followed ever since. Pinkham's Orchestra is well known and furnishes music for dances, parlor recitals, etc., and is sure to give the best of satisfaction. He furnishes music to all the surrounding cities, has gained a widespread reputation, and is worthy of all praise. Mr. Pinkham was married in Flushing to Miss Mary E. Wright, a native of Queens County, N. Y. Four children have been given them: George L., Arthur M., Richard H. and Selah Clinton.

E LBERT H. BOGART, who still makes his home on the farm in the town of North Hempstead, where his birth occurred May 18, 1811, is one of the oldest and most highly re- spected residents of the county. During the more active years of his life he prosecuted farming and was also engaged as a winemaker

Mr. Bogart is the son of Isaac and Catherine (Hegerman) Bogart, the former of whom was born at Brookville, formerly called Wolver Hol- low, December 3, 1775, and died July 3, 1858. He

in turn was the son of one Tunis Bogart, whose birth also occurred at Brookville, January 12, 1752. The great-grandfather of our subject, Isaac Bogart, was born at Wolver Hollow Octo- ber 13, 1718, while the great-great-grandfather came hither from the western end of the island, where one of two brothers, natives of Holland, and the first representatives of the family in America, first settled. The other brother made his home in New Jersey. They were engaged as market gardeners in those early days and became well-to-do. The descendants of these brothers became very numerous, and it was very often the case that their letters were delivered to the wrong person, causing much dissatisfaction. Finally they appointed a date when they all met together and agreed that those living in New Jersey should spell their name with an "e" instead of an "a," while the descendants of the brother who located on the island should be known as Bogarts.

Isaac, the great-grandfather of our subject, when asked to choose between Long Island and New Jersey, decided to make his future home in Wolver Hollow, where he was given a farm by his father about the year 1732. This property was inherited by his son, Grandfather Tunis Bo- gart, who sold the estate in 1784, when Isaac was a lad of eight years. He then purchased the farm on which our subject now lives, and which is one of the best improved in the county.

The father of Elbert H., of this sketch, served a short time as a soldier in the War of 1812. He was an old-line Whig in politics, but, like his father and grandfather before him, never sought public office, and in fact no member of the family ever served in a public capacity. The parental family included four children, of whom Elbert H. is the only survivor. The eldest daughter. Phebe, married Daniel Brinkerhoff, and at her death left two children. Phebe Ann Bogart be- came the wife of Hobart Wooley, and at the time of her decease, in 1875, left a family of nine sons and daughters, of whom seven still survive.

Elbert H. Bogart was not permitted to attend school regularly, for as soon as he was old enough to be of any use to his father in conducting the homestead, he was kept out of school and com- pelled to work early and late. He was anxious, however, to become well informed and every leis- ure moment was employed in reading good books and in studying such text books as he possessed. Although he had received very little instruction in mathematics, he opened an account book and

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in this manner gained much valuable information regarding bookkeeping.

Our subject remained with his father until at- taining his thirty-sixth year, when, having accu- mulated $100, he decided to engage in farming on his own account. He accordingly took posses- sion of a forty-five acre farm, for which he went in debt $2,000. This was located near his father's place and was cultivated by him in a most thor- ough and profitable manner, so that at the end of eight years he found that he had not only been able to free the place from debt, but had saved something besides. He later sold the place for $8,000. In the various enterprises in which Mr. Bogart has been engaged he has met with very flattering results and is now the proprietor of one hundred and twenty acres of fine farming land. His possessions formerly included a much larger amount, but as his real estate increased in valuc he disposed of it at a handsome profit. At one time he paid a great deal of attention to the rais- ing of potatoes, and during the progress of the Queens County Fair placed on exhibition one hundred and sixty varieties of this vegetable.

Mr. Bogart cast his first presidential vote in 1832 for a Whig candidate, but on the organiza- tion of the Republican party joined its ranks and has ever since supported its candidates. He was elected one of the trustees of the Jones Institute much against his will, and when, on the expira- tion of his term, he was urged to remain in this capacity, he positively refused, as it was never his desire to hold office of any kind. Like his father and grandfather before him, he is a devoted mem- ber of the Dutch Reformed Church, holding membership with the congregation at Manhasset, in which he served as deacon. Mr. Bogart has never married.

W ILLIAM G. DE BEVOISE. One of those business men whose probity is well known and whose career has been distinguished for enterprise is William G. De Be- voise, who is engaged in a most important and lucrative calling, that of market gardening. His grandfather, Charles G. De Bevoise, was born in what is now Hill Street, Long Island City, and traced his ancestry back to the French Hugue- nots, who, in defense of their religious principles, first removed to Holland and then to the United States. In early days the family was well known in Beauvais, France, near the city of Paris.

Charles G. was the only child of Joris and Anna De Bevoise, the former of whom was married three times. He was born in Newtown, became a tiller of the soil, and was a member of the Dutch Reformed Church. His father, Jan De Bevoise, was born in Brooklyn in 1704 and was married to Jane, daughter of Lieut. Joris Rapelje, of New- town, and in this village he made his home until his death, April 26, 1777. His father, Carel De Bevoise, was born in Brooklyn, where he became prominent and held the position of county judge from 1752 to 1761. His father, Jacobus De Be- voise, was the only son of Carel De Bevoise, who was the founder of the family in this country, coming thither with his wife and three children. He went to New Amsterdam from Leyden, Holland, February 17, 1659. His wife's maiden name was Sophia Van Lodenstein. He possessed decided literary tastes and was a teacher of the Dutch language, and later became a reader and schoolmaster in Brooklyn. He also filled the positions, of secretary and town clerk. Jacobus was his only son and was married to Maria, daughter of Joost Carelsz.

George C. De Bevoise, father of the subject of this sketch, and son of Charles G., was born on the old home place in Long Island City, and be- came a tiller of the soil. He inherited thirty-two acres of land near the boundary line of Newtown and Long Island City from his father, who bought it after his marriage. He built a house thereon and turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, following the same until his death in 1861, in the forty-sixth year of his age. He was commissioner of highways, was captain in the state militia of the Light Guards of Newtown, and also held other positions. His wife, Joanna Wyckoff Kouwenhoven, was born in Newtown in March, 1818, a daughter of Garrett Kouwen- hoven, who was a native of Holland and a far- mer by occupation. He died in the vicinity of Newtown. His father, William Kouwenhoven, who was born at Flatlands, was a far- mer and was married in 1798 to Joanna, daughter of Johannes W. Wyckoff. He was a son of Gar- rett, son of William, son of William, who was a son of James. (For a detailed history of this fam- ily see the sketch of Frederick Kouwenhoven.)

To the marriage of George C. and Joanna (Kouwenhoven) De Bevoise the following chil- dren were born: Cornelia, Mrs. Lott, of New- town; Charles, who died at the age of four years; Sarah E., Mrs. Cutter, of Flushing; William G.

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and George C. William G. De Bevoise, who was born October 14, 1851, was reared on a farm and received a good education in the old Dutch Kills schools and the New York City grammar schools. From early boyhood he has been familiar with farming and market gardening and at the early age of sixteen years he assumed the management of the old home place. Assisted by his brother, George C., who is unmarried, he has successfully devoted it to market gardening ever since. He stands among the leaders of this work on Long Island, and finds a ready and profitable market for his products in Brooklyn and New York City, besides various places nearer home. The land is within the corporate limits of Long Island City and all of it is being tilled.

Mr. De Bevoise was married in Newtown to Miss Cornelia Rapalje, a daughter of John Rap- alje, a farmer. Their marriage resulted in the birth of two children: Joanna Wyckoff, now liv- ing at home with her parents; and Van Antwerp Rapalje, who died in infancy. Mrs. De Bevoise is a member of the Reformed Church of New- town.

F REDERICK J. DE BEVOISE, of Ever- green, is a member of one of the most ancient and influential families of Long Island, the origin of which is traced, by careful examination of records, to the old city of Beall- vais, on the River Therin, northwest of Paris, France, it being supposed that the family name is derived from the name of this city. The first of the name to settle in America was Carel de Beauvois, a native of France, who left his native country and went to Leyden, Holland, at the time of the mas- sacre of St. Bartholomew. There he settled and married. He arrived at New Amsterdam in the ship "Otter" February 17, 1659. He was an edu- cated French Protestant, and his literary merits, to- gether with his knowledge of the Dutch language soon gained for him the position of a school teacher. In 1661 he became chorister, reader and schoolmaster for the people of Brooklyn at a salary of twenty-five guilders and free house rent. Later he held the office of public secretary or town clerk until 1669. Among his descendants there have been men who have gained promi- nence in public life and in the Dutch Reformed Church.

The father of our subject, John de Bevoise, was born in the family homestead October 26,

1820, and was the son of John, Sr., who at one time held the position of supervisor of the town, and the grandson of John C., the original pur- chaser of the family homestead. In youth he went to Brooklyn, N. Y., to accept a clerkship with Benjamin H. Field, a prominent commission mer- chant, where his services were so satisfactory that after some seven years his employer offered him an open credit of $50,000 to start a house in St. Louis, but he declined the flattering offer. For about seven years he held a clerkship with M. Morgan's Sons, bankers of New York, finally resigning this position to engage in the lumber business in Williamsburg, where he remained five years. His next position, which he held about ten years, was in the Bank of America in Wall Street, New York, where he remained until, at his father's death, it became necessary for him to attend to the settlement of the estate.

Since returning to the old homestead Mr. de Bevoise has made many improvements that have increased the value of the place, including the macadamizing of Myrtle Avenue and the intro- ducing of the car line. For more than forty years he has been a member of the Dutch Reformed Church, and during twenty-five years of this time he has been superintendent of Sunday-schools at Brooklyn, East Williamsburg and Newtown. Four times he represented his church in the General Synod and for a number of years he served as deacon and elder of the congregation.

By his marriage to Gertrude Jane Suydam. John de Bevoise became the father of eleven children, of whom six survive, namely: John H .; Frederick J .; Cornelia G., wife of John Vander- veer; Gertrude S., Mrs. Howard L'Hommedieu: Abraham B., and Marietta, who married Howard Hayden. The eldest of the family, John H., was born at the old homestead, near Fresh Pond, June 4, 1845, and was educated in private sub- scription schools of Brooklyn. At the age of eightcen he entered the broker's office of Davis, Morris & Co., on the corner of Wall and Water Streets, New York, where he remained for six years. Afterward he entered the banking house of M. Morgan's Sons, where he remained until the failure of the firm twenty years later. Mr. Dixon, of the firm of Miller, Peckham & Dixon, attorneys and counsellors at law, was appointed receiver to settle up the estate, and he retained Mr. de Bevoise to assist in the work, in which capacity he is now employed. He was married in 1882.

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The subject of this sketch was born March 9, 1854, in Clossen Avenue, Brooklyn, and was about one year old when his parents moved to his present place of residence. Here he grew to manhood, acquiring his education in the common schools. When about fourteen years old he worked in the Nassau Cordage Company, in which his father was interested. At nineteen years he went to Pittsburg and was employed by an uncle in an oil mill, where he did office work some three years. Going from there to New York, he secured a position with George F. Bas- sett & Co., a wholesale crockery firm. There, by successive promotions, he was given charge of the fancy goods department, was made shipping clerk, and finally became foreman of the house. Giving his attention closely to the details of the business, his arduous labors undermined his health and after six years he was obliged to resign his position. Returning home he and a brother became managers of the farm, which he has since superintended.

In 1893 our subject was elected to the office of justice of the peace on the Democratic ticket and took his seat January 1, 1894. He is chairman of the board of education and to his assiduous efforts in a great measure is due the high standing of the Evergreen school among the graded schools of the county. In religious views he is identified with the Dutch Reformed Church, and since 1893 has served as a deacon in the con- sistory. By his upright and active life, he is adding lustre to the distinguished name he bears, a name that has been associated with every worthy project for the advancement of the county since an early period in its settlement.

C APT. FRANK N. BELL, one of the most popular men of Flushing, is a native of Darien, Conn., born January 30, 1852, and a son of George S. and Esther M. (Weed) Bell, both natives of the Nutmeg State. This family is an old and prominent one in America and came originally from England with the "May flower." Some time after the landing of the Pil- grims the family settled in Connecticut, and the first white child born in Stamford, that state, was Francis Bell, one of our subject's ancestors. Mr. Bell comes of good old fighting stock, his great- grandfather, Thaddeus Bell, having been with Putnam in the Revolutionary War at the battle of Horse Neck. His grandfather, Hon. Holly

Bell, served as corporal in the War of 1812, and later passed through the various grades up to the rank of colonel. For years he was also a member of the assembly.

George S. Bell, father of our subject, was a ship- builder and contractor, and still follows that busi- ness in South Norwalk, Conn. He is a Repub- lican in politics and was elected to the assembly two terms. His wife was a daughter of Eben- ezer Weed and a descendant of the Slawson and Hoyt families of Connecticut, both of which were prominently identified with the Revolution and War of 1812. Mrs. Bell died at an early age, leaving three sons, John W., our subject and Charles S. Mr. Bell was married again and four daughters and a son were the fruits of this union.

From the age of four years our subject resided in South Norwalk and he received his education in the public and high schools. In 1868 he came to New York City and became clerk in a whole- sale hardware house and was thus occupied until 1874. That year he came to Flushing, and has made his home here since. For three years he had charge of the hardware department of Cle- ment & Bloodgood, and then went to New York City, where he became bookkeeper for the First National Bank, and is head bookkeeper there at the present time. He is a director in the Flush- ing Cooper Building and Loan Association.

Mr. Bell was married in Flushing to Miss Louise Waters, a native of this village and daugh- ter of David T. Waters, who was a contractor and builder. Her mother, formerly Esther Layton, came of an old and prominent Long Island fam- ily, and was of English origin. Mr. and Mrs. Bell have two children, Ernest Layton and Esther. Mr. Bell is a member of the Royal Arcanum and has been an officer in the same. In 1879 he joined the National Guard of the State of New York, served as private three months, but was elected first sergeant and served in that capacity for eight years. He was then elected first lieu- tenant, and afterwards became captain, but re- signed the position in 1896. He is a member of +the veteran association.

G EORGE HEANY, who has been engaged in the plumbing and steam heating busi- ness in Flushing since 1893, was born in Mt. Pleasant, Henry County, Iowa, in 1858, being a son of James and Sarah (Findley) Heany, na- tives respectively of New Orleans, La., and Galt,

JACOB VALENTINE.

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Canada, the latter being of Scotch descent. The paternal grandfather, who was a native of Ireland, was a soldier in the English army and was pressed into service during the War of 1812. Sent to New Orleans with his regiment, he was taken prisoner by General Jackson, and afterward re- mained in this country, residing for a time in New Orleans, but later going to New York City.

James Heany, who was a mason and brick- layer, removed from New York to Iowa, but after eight years returned to the Empire State, where he died at the age of forty years. Of his six children, three are living, George being the next to the eldest. He was two years of age when the family returned to New York City, and his edu- cation was obtained principally in the grammar school at No. 40 East Twenty-third Street. Later he spent two years in a college in that city. At the age of fifteen he was apprenticed to the plumber's trade under James Muir, and was thus engaged for eight years, after which he was em- ployed in Washington, Baltimore, Chicago, Omaha and other cities of the United States.

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Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 125

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