Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 128

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

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to remain in New York, but showed him the necessity of public study, especially in drawing."

He applied for admission in the life class at the Student's League and was received on account of his general proficiency and knowledge of art and kindred subjects. Mr. Sartain, his professor, on seeing his first drawing, said: "For heaven's sake, how were you ever admitted to the life class?" But the work of a man sitting next to Mr. Beard in the class was so much worse that the latter was encouraged. At the end of four years Mr. Sartain told him his drawings were the best in his school. After this he began his busy studio life, and his brilliant work in Harper's Weekly, Young People, St. Nicholas, etc., made him the most popular illustrator of the day. One of his recent articles was for Scribner, "The Lumber Camp," taken from the great lumber regions of Michi- gan, which he visited in winter when the ther- mometer was 30 degrees below zero. A recent number of Munsey (June, 1896,) also contains several of his drawings in "Our Great Summer Playground."

Mr. Beard is a charming story teller and, if any- thing, writes as well as he sketches. and to know and enjoy him at his best one should read his most recent work, "Moonlight and Six Feet of Romance," on social inequalities. His most popular work, "The American Boys' Handy Book" is the standard work of the day in its class. He illustrated most charmingly a book by Will- iam Waldorf Astor and several of Mark Twain's including "Tom Sawyer Abroad" and that very important work to both author and artist, "A Yankee at King Arthur's Court."

He is a regular contributor to the water color exhibition and his pictures always find a ready sale. He is the most versatile genius we have met among that brilliant class of black and white artists or illustrators in which New York is so very strong, and his fund of information seems inexhaustible. In ornithology he is at home, that being his hobby, and he knows all about the "web-footed birds and birds of prey," as well as the bright feathered songsters. He is a member of the Ornithological Union and the Linnaeus Society, the Ohio Society of New York and several clubs, such as Aldine and Twilight.

Mr. Beard takes an active part in the affairs of Flushing, where he resides, is a member of the board of education and president of the Single Tax Club. He is ardently interested in athletics and everything pertaining to physical culture, and

is himself a splendid example of the all-round athlete and an oarsman of considerable repute. He is now in the prime of life, being forty-five years old, and has made for himself a name and position of which he has every reason to be proud.

F RANK H. CORDTMEYER. Among those whose career in business has been rendered conspicuous by the honorable methods and careful attention shown throughout is Frank H. Cordtmeyer, a Dane by descent, but a native of the city of New York, his birth occur- ring in the year 1864. His parents, Henry and Mary (Nieman) Cordtmeyer, were born in Laa- land, Denmark, and Hanover, Germany, respec- tively, and after their marriage came to the United States, following agricultural pursuits in the state of New York. In this undertaking they were reasonably successful, but the father did not live long to pursue it, for his death occurred in 1868, and that of his widow at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., in 1874.

By the death of the parents four children were left orphans, and from 1870 Frank H. found a home with Mrs. E. Korn, of Astoria, who sent him to the public schools of the fourth ward, from which he was graduated under Professor Gould. Afterwards he completed his education in Cooper Union, New York City, which institu- tion he attended three years. He then found him- self well equipped to begin the battle of life for himself and at once embarked in the real estate business and contracting, and since 1889 has been a general real estate dealer. He laid out seven acres in Briell Street, improved it with a number of good residences and then disposed of them at a fair profit. In this enterprise he was assisted by his partner, F. Krombholz. Mr. Cordtmeyer has always been actively interested in the im- provement of the city and has been instrumental in bringing to a satisfactory conclusion several important measures for the building up of the place. From 1890 to 1893 he was a draughtsman in the water department, and to him is due the credit of having satisfactorily completed the municipal census for 1890.

Politically Mr. Cordtmmeyer has ever been a Republican, and for years has been a member of the general committee. Socially he is a member of the following organizations: The Knights of Pythias, in which he is past chancellor, and a member of Enterprise Lodge; Advance Lodge,

SYLVESTER GRAY.

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F. & A. M., and has been trustee of the Turn Verein. He is also a member of the Lincoln Social Club, and was one of the founders of a zither club, he being one of the most skillful and accomplished players. Mr. Cordtmeyer was mar- ried to Miss Emily F. Young, a native of New York City, who died in December, 1894, leaving two little children, Elsie and Bertha.

S YLVESTER GRAY. At the time of his death, which occurred March 20, 1896, this gentleman was efficiently filling the office of president of the Long Island City Savings Bank. He was one of the oldest residents as well as a prominent and influential business man of this place, and one who performed his part in the development and improvement of his community. He was for many years actively engaged as a manufacturer in this place, but in the latter part of his career gave his entire attention to looking after his banking interests.

Mr. Gray was a native of this state and was born near Monticello, Sullivan County, April 29, 1828. His father, Samuel Gray, was a native of Round Ridge, Conn., of which state the grand- father, John Gray, was also a native. The latter was a farmer in the Nutmeg State for many years, and after leaving that locality settled in Sullivan County, N. Y., where he was one of the pioneers. This now thickly populated district was little more than a wilderness, but finding the soil more than usually fertile and rich, Grand- father Gray decided to remain here. He died at the age of seventy-five years.

The father of our subject was a lad of fourteen years when the family removed to New York. When ready to embark in life for himself he too became a tiller of the soil, purchasing a place adjoining the estate of his father. His farm was located two and one-half miles north of Monti- cello, and has lately been known as Pleasant Lake. He made this place his home until his demise, which occurred when he was in his sev- enty-fifth year. His wife was Miss Lydia Hill prior to her marriage. Her father was John Hill, a native of New York State, who was also a far- mer in the vicinity of Monticello. Mrs. Gray de- parted this life when seventy-six years of age. She became the mother of five children, two of whom are deceased. Of this family, Sylvester was next to the youngest.

The subject of this sketch lived on the old

homestead until a young man of twenty-one years. In the meantime he gained a splendid practical education, and for three years, from the age of seventeen to twenty, taught school at Gra- hamsville and Barryville. About this time he was employed by John T. Robery, the builder of the Brooklyn bridge, to work on the lock on the Delaware and Hudson Canal, and also as- sisted in building the lock at the mouth of the Lackawanna. This work consumed about a year. and in 1850 Mr. Gray came to New York City, where for a twelvemonth he was engaged in house carpentering, of which trade he had a fair knowledge.

About this time our subject obtained a posi- tion with John M. Smith, the only manufacturer of refrigerators at that time in the city. He remained with him for a year, during which time he gained a fair knowledge of the business, and then hired to L. H. Mace & Co., who had just established a factory of this kind, and for twelve years was their superintendent. On resigning his position Mr. Gray was occupied as a ship- builder during two years of the war, and in 1862 located in Long Island City. Here he engaged in business for himself, establishing a factory in Fourth Street, where he put in steam power and began the manufacture of refrigerators, starting with a capital of $10,000. Later he put in a full line of wood-working machines and gave employ- ment to forty men. He manufactured the "Arc- tic" and "Eureka" refrigerators, which were all that he claimed for them, and it was not long before he received orders from retailers all over the country. He continued in this business until July 21, 1893, when his factory was burned to the ground, and he did not deem it advisable to rebuild the factory. Instead he erected on the same site what is known as Gray's Block, a build- ing four stories in height and 60x80 feet in di- mensions. He also owned five stores in Vernon Avenue, the rooms over which are arranged into flats of convenient size. In addition to this prop- erty Mr. Gray owned three three-story and base- ment residences and one two-story and basement building in Third Street, besides several lots in other portions of the city.

In 1876 Mr. Gray organized the Long Island City Savings Bank, of which he was the president until his death. It is a most reliable institution. and its depositors are among the wealthiest busi- ness men of the county. Mr. Gray was also one of the organizers of the Seventeenth Ward Bank

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in Brooklyn, of which he was a director at the time of his death.

In Cape Ann, Mass., occurred the marriage of our subject with Miss Laura A. Lane, the daugh- ter of Nathaniel Lane. Her death occurred No- vember 24, 1893. She became the mother of four children, of whom we make the following men- tion: Eugene W. is foreman of Truck No. I of the Long Island City fire department; Mary W. married William M. Hudson, of Mattituck, L. I .; Josephine S. and Frances H. are at home, the latter attending the high school at Flushing.

For some time prior to his death Mr. Gray was excise commissioner, for some time was chairman of the excise board, and was chairman of the board of education for five years. He was an earnest advocate of Democratic principles and was one of the best citizens and most public- spirited men of Queens County.

Personally Mr. Gray was an exceedingly clever and agreeable gentleman, liberal and public- spirited.

C ORNELIUS VALENTINE GARRI- SON, who is engaged in the bottling business at No. 74 Boerum Avenue, Flushing, was born in Willet's Point, L. I., in 1862, and is a member of an old Dutchess County family. His grandfather, David Garrison, who was born in Garrison, N. Y., spent his early years in Dutchess County, removed thence to New York, where he was employed as a truckman, and later located at Willet's Point, where he was em- ployed as foreman in the government work. He is now living in retirement at Bayside.

The father of our subject, Charles W. Garrison, was born in Cherry Street, New York, and learned the trade of carpenter and builder there, but later engaged in the hotel business at Whitestone. About 1878 he located at Bayside, where he kept a hotel known as the Willet's Point Hotel. When the Civil War broke out he was at Key West, Fla., but made his escape and returned to Long Island, where he was assistant superintendent in the building of the fort at Willet's Point. His death occurred December 21, 1895, at the age of fifty-five years.

Emily, mother of our subject, was a member of an old Holland-Dutch family. She was born. in Whitestone, where her father, Augustus Kis- sam, was engaged in the mercantile business until his death. In religious belief she was an Episco-

palian. Of her marriage there are four living sons, Cornelius V. being the eldest. He was reared at Willet's Point and Whitestone, and at the age of fifteen began to clerk in the Whitestone Hotel. Later he was employed in a tin plate decorating factory for a time, after which he started a retail butter market in New York City, in which way he was engaged about five years. His next venture was the raising of poultry at Bayside, after which he was for four years fore- man of the bottling department of Abbot's brew- ery in Brooklyn. In 1892 he came to Flushing and built his place in Boerum Avenue, where he now engages in bottling beer, carrying on a large trade among the families and clubs of Flushing, Bayside, Whitestone and Little Neck. His trade is exclusively private, and no orders are filled from hotels or saloons. ' In his factory there is a steam engine for washing the bottles and steam- ing the beer. Especial attention is paid to clean- liness. The bottles are washed three times, then rinsed with pure hydrant water and drained until dry. Every bottle is labeled, thus preventing im- position on the part of outside parties. He is the only one in Flushing authorized to sell the "Rienzi" Rochester beer, and among his other brands are the "Imperial Foam," "Cabinet," "Culmbacher," "Apollo" and "Barthalomay."

Politically the sympathies of Mr. Garrison are with the Democratic party, the principles of which he supports in national and local elections. He is a member of Grace Episcopal Church at White- stone and contributes generously to benevolent projects. His marriage took place in Brooklyn and united him with Elizabeth Trapp, who was born in Bayside, being a daughter of George Trapp, of Whitestone. They are the parents of a son, Cornelius Valentine, Jr.

M AX ZEHDEN, proprietor of the College Point Casino and Annex Hotels, was born in Berlin, Germany, in 1855. His father, Benedict M., a native of the same city, brought his wife and seven children to America in 1865, and after many hardships and struggles gained independence and success. For some time he was superintendent of the German depart- ment of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Com- pany of New York, after which he was engaged in the custom business for twelve years, until his death, in 1889. While in the old country he held the rank of general in the German army, and in

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that capacity took part in the Schleswig-Holstein War. After coming to this country he espoused the principles of the Republican party. Socially he was prominent in the Masonic fraternity, the order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, and about fifteen other societies. A man of letters and culture, he was especially well informed re- garding political affairs, and his ability as an orator made his name a household word among the Germans. Frequently he spoke at meetings with such men as Carl Schurz.

The paternal grandfather of our subject was a horse dealer and supplied the German gov- ernment with horses. The family is of German origin, but is not a large one, our subject being the only representative in America. His mother, Fannie (Simons) Zehden, was born in Berlin and died in New York. He was the only child of the family who attained mature years. He accom- panied his parents to America, reaching New York after a voyage of thirteen days, and for a time attended a grammar school in West Twen- ty-seventh Street. His first position was that of office boy, from which he worked his way up, until at the age of seventeen he began for himself in business. On coming to College Point he built his · present place, to which he afterward made additions. There are forty rooms in the Casino, including a large restaurant, ball grounds, dancing pavilion, boating and bathing pavilion, the latter having about fifty rooms, There are accommodations for fifty guests, and every facility is provided for the entertainment of visitors during the summer months. There are two landings for both steamboats and sailing crafts, and boats are hired to those desiring an outing on the water. The space is ample, being six hundred feet square, with ample facilities for ball games and all outdoor sports. Steady em- ployment is furnished to fourteen men, though in the busy season forty waiters are employed in the two restaurants in each hotel. Mr. Zehden has an efficient assistant in his wife, who was Miss Eliza Bloom, a native of Germany. He is a member of the Liquor Dealers' Association and several lodges.

J OHN F. DUNN. It is a notable fact which speaks volumes for the high grade of our civilization that in no civilized land the world over is more attention given to all the de- tails of the burial of the dead than in our favored

onc. Of the many persons who are engaged in the duties of the calling of an undertaker no more considerate one can be found than John F. Dunn, of Flushing. He was born in this place in 1865 to Patrick and Mary (Ellis) Dunn, both natives of Ireland, the former of Queens County and the latter of Dublin. They came to America when young, located in Flushing, and here Mr. Dunn began running a hack. He continued this and the transfer business until his death in 1881, in which year his wife also passed from life. Four of their children grew to mature years: Mary, Margaret, John F., and Martin, who died in 1895 at the age of twenty-eight years, on the eve of his ordina- tion to the priesthood from St. Mary's Theologi- cal Seminary, Maryland, after studying three years.

John F. Dunn was an attendant of St. Michael's school until he was fourteen years of age, but after the death of his father it became necessary for him to do something for himself, and he at once assumed charge of the hack and transfer business. On the 20th of January, 1890, he opened an undertaking establishment and has since been one of the popular funeral directors of the place. His careful attention to all the niinute details of conducting a funeral in the most desirable manner have gained him much popu- larity with persons in need of his services. He is also an embalmer, having taken a course in this branch in Brooklyn, and keeps a superior line of goods required by his calling. His office is located at No. I Jagger Avenue and his ware- rooms are in the rear.

Mr. Dunn has served for fifteen years as a member of Rescue Hook and Ladder Company of Flushing and one term acted in the capacity of foreman. He belongs to the Order of American Firemen, is a member of the Kings and Queens County Undertakers' Association, politically is a Democrat, and, like all the members of his family, is connected with St. Michael's Catholic Church. He is a useful and trustworthy citizen, and is universally respected and esteemed.

J' ACOB ROCKER, a prominent resident of Astoria, is superintendent of the Sohmer & Co. piano factory, which is located at Long Island City, and is one of the oldest employes of that company. Mr. Rocker was born in the city of Worms, Germany, August 30. 1836. His father, Georgc Rocker, was likewise a native of

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that city, which was also the home of Grandfather Rocker. The latter was a cabinetmaker by trade and a representative of one of the old and re- spected families of Worms. He fought in the battle of Waterloo, being sergeant of his com- pany, and in that conflict was seriously wounded in the right leg. In religious matters he was a member of the Lutheran Church.

George Rocker was well educated in the model schools of the Fatherland, and when ready to embark in life for himself, learned the business of cabinetmaker, in which his father was engaged. In this he was unusually successful and soon began manufacturing furniture on his own ac- count, managing his business in a very able manner. He lived to be seventy-two years of age. The lady to whom he was married bore the maiden name of Kate Fuchs, also a German by birth, and the daughter of John Fuchs. She de- parted this life when in her sixty-second year. The father was afterward married to Miss Tuchart, by whom he had three children. His first union resulted in the birth of seven children, three of whom are living at the present time, and to this family our subject belongs.

Jacob Rocker attended school in the city of Worms until a lad of fourteen years, when he entered his father's furniture factory and became thoroughly acquainted with the business in all its details. He then traveled over various portions of the empire, working at his trade in Wurtem- berg, Hanover and Frankfort. In the latter city he first began to work as a piano maker.

In 1857 Mr. Rocker enlisted in the One Hun- dred and Sixty-third German Regiment and served his full time as a soldier. In 1864, having determined to try his fortunes in America, he took passage on the steamer "Hanover," bound for the city of New York, and in due time was landed upon the soil of the New World. The splendid recommendations which he brought gained him admittance into the factory of Sohmer & Co., which was then located in the metropolis, and, beginning at the bottom round of the ladder. he gradually worked his way until he now occu- pies the most responsible position in the concern. Five years after entering the employ of this com- pany he was made foreman of the key making de- partment, and in 1880 was promoted to be super- intendent of the factory, which was then known as the old Needham factory in Twenty-third Street.

In the year 1887 Sohmer & Co. erected a new

factory in Long Island City and moved their effects hither. Mr. Rocker was then made first superintendent, which position he has held ever since. He personally superintends the work in each department, being an expert in the manufac- ture of pianos, and has under his charge two hundred men. He buys all the lumber, veneer, etc., used in the construction of these instruments and the company are profiting by the inventions which he has made in the way of a machine for the manufacture of the keys and another for boring rest planks. He is truly self-made, having worked his way by the exercise of his own natural talents and perseverance.

The marriage of Mr. Rocker and Miss Caroline Roh, who was born in Germany, occurred in New York City in 1864. To them have been born three sons, George, Henry and Frederick, all of whom follow the business of their father and are in the employ of Sohmer & Co. In 1878 our subject built a beautiful residence at No. 225 Jamaica Avenue and has made this his home ever since. Socially he belongs to Navigator Lodge No. 232, F. & A. M. He is also associated with the Arion Singing Society of New York and meets with the Frohsinn and Turn Verein Societies. The Inde- pendent Schuetzen Club of New York City claims him as one of its most prominent and valued members. In politics he is a true blue Repub- lican. His son, Henry, is a very prominent young politician and is at present a member of the General Republican Committee.

T HOMAS T. CORNELIUS. The vocation of an undertaker is essentially a very deli- cate one, and it involves for its successful prosecution peculiarly important qualifications, which but comparatively few individuals possess. It is only through long experience as well as natural aptitude that a man is able to discharge his duty in that relation to the entire and un- qualified satisfaction of those most deeply inter- ested. Prominent among those engaged in this line of work in Seacliff, is Thomas T. Cornelius, whose character and reputation for honorable principles have placed him among the leading undertakers of the place. He is a native of Sea- ford, L. I., born December 25, 1863, the son of Carman and Martha (Buck) Cornelius. The father is one of the wealthy and influential resi- dents of Seaford, where he has resided many years. He is a member of a yacht club, takes

CARROLL F. NORTON.

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great delight in hunting, and although a resident of Seaford, he has, for the past twenty-three years, spent his winters at Carituc Beach, N. C.

Thomas T. Cornelius resided at Seaford, L. I., for fifteen years and there obtained his schooling. When about fifteen years old he went to Amity- ville, where he began learning the undertakers' business with Solomon Ketcham, with whom he remained nine years. While there he married Miss Annie E. Crum, of Babylon, L. I. Her death occurred at the end of about six years and afterward Mr. Cornelius moved to Roslyn, where he was in the employ of H. C. Thorne, having full charge of the undertaking establishment con- ducted by that gentleman. Later he married Miss Julia Kilpatrick, of Roslyn, who was the daughter of Kelsey K. and Frances Kilpatrick. After leav- ing Roslyn, Mr. Cornelius went to Brooklyn, where he was in the employ of George F. Carlis in the undertaking business for a number of years.

About the year 1890 he came to Seacliff, L. I., where he established himself in business. He has mct with more than ordinary success in his chosen occupation and has a fine residence in that village. While a resident of Amityville, L. I., he took a deep interest in politics and voted for J. G. Blaine in 1884. He has ever since remained with the grand old party. Socially he is a mem- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Glencove, and has held a number of offices in that order. He is the first and only undertaker in the village and often receives calls from Brook- lyn and New York City to serve in that capacity. For the last three years he has been sexton for the Methodist Church here.

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Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 128

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