Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 134

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 134

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branched out for himself as a teacher at Little Neck, L. I., and there began the study of law, being admitted to the bar at Poughkeepsie in 1877. From that time until 1880 he taught school and practiced his profession.

In the last mentioned year our subject opened a law office in Little Neck, and in 1882 estab- lished one in Flushing, but has always made his home in Little Neck. He married Miss Maria L. Van Nostrand, a native of Little Neck, and the daughter of Albert Van Nostrand, who was de- scended from an old and prominent Dutch family on Long Island. (For a more detailed ac- count of the family see biography of David L. Van Nostrand.) Two children have been born to this union, Lewis Bassett and Elmer Williams.

Fraternally Mr. Moore is a Mason, a member of Cornucopia Lodge No. 563, and is past senior deacon. Religiously he is a member of the Dutch Reformed Church at Manhasset, and has been deacon in the same for some time. For four years he was president of the board of education at Little Neck and has ever been interested in edu- cational matters. In 1886 he ran for district at- torney on the Republican ticket, but was de- feated. He is active in politics and for years at different times has been a member of the county committee. From July to the close of the Blaine campaign he was acting chairman of the com. mittee, and has been a delegate to the state con- ventions. He is interested in the Queens County Bar Association, of which he is one of the mana- gers. He has been counsel for the board of su- pervisors and is at present counsel for the sheriff and for the supervisors of the town of Flushing, as well as for the highway officers of the town.

H ERBERT ALONZO COBLEIGH, a prominent and wealthy business man of Woodhaven, was born in this village in the year 1855. His father, Daniel Cobleigh, was a native of Hydepark, Lamoille County, Vt., his birth occurring in 1820. Among his brothers were: Ira, James, John, Alonzo, and another who went West when a young man and was lost track of. James was engaged in the trucking business in New York for many years; John, who was one of the wealthiest residents of Hydepark, Vt., died in the fall of 1895; Alonzo, who was like- wise one of the substantial and well-to-do citizens of that place, departed this life many years ago; he was an active worker in the church and as a

strong advocate of temperance principles was known all over the state. The Cobleigh family was a very prominent one in the vicinity of Hyde- park, where those of the family who first came from Canada located.

The father of our subject, in company with several others of his neighbors and friends, came to Woodhaven about the year 1854, and a few months later opened a store in the then small vil- lage. He continued in business here until 1868, when he sold out his stock of goods 'and re- moved to Vineland, N. J. In 1874, however, he returned to Woodhaven and again engaged in the mercantile business, being the proprietor of one of the thriving establishments in the place until 1884, when, on account of failing health, he disposed of his store and went to Vermont, where his death occurred soon after. He had been very prominent in the affairs of Woodhaven and in 1856 was appointed postmaster of the village. This position he later resigned, but was called upon to fill it again in 1875 and was retained in charge of the office here until retiring from busi- ness and moving away in 1884. He was a true Christian gentleman and one of the organizers of the Congregational Church in this place, services at first being held in his home. Mr. Cobleigh was for many years deacon in this congregation and rendered material assistance by his liberal con- tributions.

The maiden name of our subject's mother was Mary Wiswell. She was also born at Hydepark, Vt., and was the daughter of Leonard Wiswell, a worthy representative of one of the old families of that portion of the Green Mountain State. Nathan Wiswell, a brother of Mrs. Cobleigh, came to Woodhaven about 1854 and was for a time interested with our subject's father in the mercantile business. Now, however, he makes his home in Vineland, N. J. Another brother, Rev. Alva Wiswell, was for twenty years rector of St. John's Chapel in New York City; he is now a resident of Boston, Mass. James M. is another representative of that family. Mrs. Mary Cob- leigh departed this life in March, 1886, while on a visit to her old home in Vermont.

The subject of this sketch was the only mem- ber of a family of seven children who grew to mature years. He was given every advantage for acquiring a good education and after leaving school entered his father's store, assisting him until he became interested in the business as a full partner. He finally succeeded his father in

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this enterprise and associated with him H. M. De Ronde. Four years later he disposed of his interest in the store and for some time thereafter was not engaged in business of any kind, but lived a retired life. In 1892, however, he em- barked in the lumber business, in which he is still successfully engaged. He is the proprietor of much valuable property in Woodhaven, having among his possessions the old store in which his father first engaged in business.

In 1879 Mr. Cobleigh was married to Miss Emma Wakefield of this place, the daughter of Thonias Wakefield, a prominent resident of Jamaica South. She died September 28, 1895. They became the parents of three children, one of whom is deceased. Gertrude Mary was born February 17, 1882, and Herbert N., July 12, 1894.

Mr. Cobleigh is a prominent member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, also of the order of American Mechanics. The family oc- cupy a fine home at Ozone Park, near the lumber yards, and are in every respect valued and highly esteemed citizens whom we are glad to represent in this volume.

C HARLES R. DE BEVOISE. In a re- view of the trade and commerce of Flush- ing it must be evident that every branch of industry, every line of trade and every channel into which human activity may be directed has its representatives here. Search the directories of the city from the first ones published to the last one issued and what a panorama the list will pre- sent! New names, new trades, new industries are added yearly, all contributing to make the Flushing of to-day. The H. & W. waists, made by the De Bevoise Waist Company, are becoming well known among dealers everywhere as salable stock and by the public generally as reliable goods.

As an evidence of their increasing popularity it may be stated that the sales of the sixty dif- ferent styles of the H. & W. waists were forty-five per cent greater in 1895 than in 1894, and it is expected that the output during 1896 will eclipse all previous records. At present they employ four traveling salesmen, who traverse all parts of the United States. By a very thorough sys- tem in force at the factory it is practically im- possible for an imperfect waist to leave the es- tablishment. Each waist is examined separately by six persons before it is boxed. About one

hundred and fifty people are employed by the firm. This vast concern has been organized as a stock company, with a capital of $25,000, all of which has been paid in. Charles R. De Be- voise is president; L. A. Pitcher, secretary and treasurer, the latter now residing in Flushing. He was formerly connected with the Goodyear India Rubber Glove Manufacturing Company, No. 503 Broadway, New York.

Charles R. De Bevoise is a native of Astoria, Long Island City, born June 21, 1862, and the son of Charles and Sarah J. (Pine) De Bevoise, both natives of Newtown. The father was in the wholesale oil and glass business in New York City and was a man of more than ordinary ability. Or the maternal side our subject is of Holland- Dutch extraction. He is fourth in order of birth of five children, as follows: George Pine; Mari- etta, Helen, Charles R. and Clara; the first and third now deceased.

Our subject was reared in Mt. Vernon, West- chester County, and there secured a thorough education in the public schools. He was but three years old when his father died, and at the age of eighteen he secured a position with the Hodgeman Rubber Company of New York City. After remaining with this firm six or seven years he became a city salesman in that city. Later he was with Warner Brothers (the largest corset manufacturers in the United States) as city sales- man, and continued with them six years. He then conceived the idea of making children's cor- sets and waists, and in 1891 began their manufac- ture. His energy and perseverance have con- quered, and he is doing an excellent business.

E UGENE W. GRAY. Among the many representatives of the fire department of Long Island City Eugene W. Gray de- serves prominent notice, and is at present hold- ing the responsible position of foreman of Truck Company No. I. The city has never known a more capable or trustworthy man for the posi- tion he is now holding than Mr. Gray, who is ever to the front when duty calls. He was born in New York City February II, 1858, and is the eldest of six children born to his parents (see sketch of Sylvester Gray). Since the year 1863 he has been a resident of Long Island City, and in the schools of this place he received his pri- mary education. Later he entered Irving Insti- tute, and soon after Flushing Institute, where he

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remained until eighteen years old. He then took a position in a large manufacturing establish- ment owned by his father, and remained as head bookkeeper and superintendent in the same until it was burned down.

On the 15th of September, 1894, Mr. Gray was appointed on the fire department as driver for No. I truck, and on the 15th of December of the same year he was made foreman of the same, which position he has held up to the present time. He has had a fortunate career in the fire department and is a pleasant and most agree- able young man to meet. In 1888 he joined en- gine No. 3, and one year later, when Columbia Hose Company No. 2 was organized, he joined that and remained with it until it was disbanded.

Mr. Gray was married in Long Island City to Miss Frances Hurst, a native of this city, and the daughter of William Hurst. Two children have blessed their union, Edith and Harry. Mrs. Gray is a member of the Baptist Church. In politics Mr. Gray is a Democrat.

W ILLIAM J. WAGNER. What hon- esty, hard work and steadfast deter- mination may accomplish cannot bet- ter be illustrated than by giving a brief sketch of the life of Mr. Wagner, now one of the promi- nent citizens and substantial business men of College Point. He is a builder and contractor by trade and has followed this business with sig- nal success for the past twenty-three years.

George Wagner, the father of our subject, was born in Germany and there lived and died, de- parting this life about two months ago, when seventy-six years of age. He was for many years yardmaster, and his upright and honorable life gained for him many warm friends and the best wishes of all who knew him. He was mar- ried to Catherine Feugel, whose demise occurred about eighteen years ago. Their family included three sons and one daughter, of whom William J. was the eldest. The others were Henry, whose home is still in the Fatherland; George, a resi- dent of Whitestone, L. I .; and Gretchen, living in Germany.

The subject of this sketch was born November 27, 1850. After completing a good common- school education he learned the carpenter's trade, working at this business continuously until he entered the army, serving during the progress of the Franco-Prussian War. When a young man

of twenty-one years Mr. Wagner determined to try his fortune in the New World, and coming to the United States made his home for two months in Brooklyn. At the expiration of that time he came to College Point and was first given work as carpenter and painter for the Rubber Comb Company, now known as the Enterprise Company. He remained with this company for a period of seven or eight years, when he became train messenger for the Long Island Railroad Company. A short time thereafter he launched out in business for himself, and it is due to his genius as a mechanic that many of the best resi- dences in College Point and surrounding coun- try have been erected.

Mr. Wagner was married to Miss Catherine Howieler, who is now deceased. The lady who afterward became his companion was Annie Stie- beck, who has borne him four children, Ottilie, Amanda, Ida and William, all of whom are living at home. The eldest daughter is a very accom- plished and businesslike young lady and at the present time is the efficient bookkeeper of the Kleinert Rubber Company.

In political matters Mr. Wagner is independ- ent, and in religious affairs is also very liberal. His wife is a devout Catholic. They occupy a very pleasant home in Thirteenth Street and are regarded with esteem as worthy members of the community.

F RANK J. SCHLEICHER. It is the men of broad and comprehensive views who give life to communities and build cities -- men who, in the darkness of adverse circun- stances, as well as in more favorable periods, look beyond the clouds and have the pluck and energy and foresight to push forward their en- terprises, extend speculation and fairly wrest suc- cess from calamity. Just such a man is Frank J. Schleicher, who is the able superintendent and a director in the Wilson Printing Ink Company, of Long Island City. He is a native of New York City, born in 1866, but is of German extraction, and bears in many traits of his character the impress of the sterling virtues of that race. His grandfather, Joseph M. Schleicher, was born in Germany in 1797, and was a government official in the Revolutionary service of Germany. He was an officer in the German army, but later came to America and died in Philadelphia when eighty- seven years old.

ISAAC B. REMSEN.

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Francis A. Schleicher, the father of our subject, who was also a native of Germany, was a grad- uate of the University of Heidelberg. He was a prominent chemist, was several times in the laboratory of that institution, and after receiving his diploma came to America, in 1854. Later he was in the employ of Powers & Wakeman, of Philadelphia, as chemist; was also with other companies engaged in the same line of business, and then started chemical works for himself in Brooklyn. Later he retired, and his death oc- curred in March, 1895, when sixty-one years old. His wife, formerly Johanna Frederick, was born in Hanover, Germany, and when a young lady came to this country. Her father, Dr. Frederick, was a native of Hanover, Germany, and was a very successful follower of the "healing art" until his death in 1886, when forty-eight years old. Of the three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Schleicher, two sons and a daughter, only the two sons survive. Rudolph is a traveling sales- man of New York City.

In the cities of Brooklyn, New York and Phil- adelphia, our subject attained his growth and secured a good education. Under the excellent training of his father young Schleicher became an expert and careful chemist, and later went to Booth Bay Harbor, where he became assistant chemist of the Cumberland Bone Company under his father. In 1886 he came to Long Island City to enter the employ of the Wilson Printing Ink Company as superintendent and chemist, and has filled that position ever since. During the time he has been with this company he has doubled the capacity of the works, and has been a constant student of chemistry. For some time he has been working with Dr. A. H. Elliott, of the New York College of Pharmacy.

Mr. Schleicher is a member of the Society of Chemical Industry of Great Britain. The works where he is employed are located in Tenth Street and cover ground 100x100 feet. This is one of the largest establishments of the kind in the United States, and the factory dates its origin back to 1790, in Canada. All kinds of printing ink, lithographing ink and varnish are sent out by this company to all countries. In 1888 Mr. Schleicher became a stockholder and director in the company. He was married in Long Island City to Miss Marion F. Grant, a native of Lam- bertville, N. J., and they have two children, Fran- cis Grant and Marion E.

In politics Mr. Schleicher is a Democrat, has

been a member of the general committee, and is now a member of Jefferson Club, whose sec- retary he has been for the past four years. He has been a delegate to county and state conven- tions, and was chairman of the last judicial and senatorial convention in 1893. He is vice-presi- dent of the Central Permanent Building and Loan Association, and is one of the foremost business men and citizens of Long Island City.

I SAAC B. REMSEN of Jamaica was born in Springfield, town of Jamaica, Queens County, February 1, 1826. His father, Rem Remsen, likewise a native of Springfield, was born August 16, 1793, and devoted his entire life to farm pur- suits, residing in the place of his birth until he passed from earth July 4, 1864. The family was founded in America by our subject's great-grand- father, one of three brothers who came from Hol- land and settled respectively in New Jersey and Kings and Dutchess Counties, N. Y. The family is now a large one, and its representatives have held the most honorable positions in the his- tory of their various communities. The paternal grandfather of our subject, Capt. Ora Remsen, earned his title by meritorious service in the Rev- clutionary War. While his birthplace is not defi- nitely known, there is ground for believing that he was born in Dutchess County. There he married Miss Ann Hackerman, and from there he removed to Springfield, purchasing a large tract of land, a portion of which is still in the family.

Of the three brothers of our subject's father, Ora was a captain in the War of 1812, during which conflict he was stationed at Fort Green. He married Sarah, the daughter of John Higbie, also a soldier in the War of 1812. Ten children, five sons and five daughters, were born unto them, and it is a noteworthy fact that, with the exception of one that died at twenty, all of these children lived to be at least sixty, and seven still survive. Ann, the eldest, married Foster Hen- drickson, a farmer; Dorothy became the wife of William Hendrickson, a farmer and miller, and brother of her sister's husband; John devoted his entire active life to agricultural pursuits: Charity married B. C. Douglas, a carpenter by trade and a resident of Jamaica; James, who was an agri- culturist, is deceased: Phoebe, the widow of Uriah J. Pearsall, resides with a daughter at Val- ley Stream: Daniel H:, who is a farmer, lives at Glencove: Abraham H. is a prominent resident of

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Jamacia; and Ora, the youngest son, married An- geline Bailis, by whom he had four children.

Abraham H., son of Captain Ora Remsen, was born January 6, 1830, and in 1850 married Miss Adeline, daughter of David Horton, a Revolu- tionary hero, who participated in the bloody bat- tle of Brandywine, where he was wounded. He was a man of more than three score years when she was born, and she has the distinction of being one of the very few surviving children of Revo- lutionary soldiers. In her family there are four children, namely: Francis C., who died at the age of twenty years; Wright H., who married Anna Rodman and is employed as station agent for the Long Island Railroad at Glencove; Hamilton H., who lives in Flushing; and Wil- liam E., assistant cashier of the Fall River line of steamers at Pier 28, North River, New York. For twenty-five years Abraham H. Remsen was engaged in the meat business at Jamaica, but for some years past he has been employed by E. W. Conklin, the civil engineer of Jamaica. Inter- ested in public affairs, he has filled several local offices, including those of tax collector and over- seer of the poor.

The subject of this article is one of five broth- ers and had four sisters. Of the others we note the following: Cornelius is in business with his son-in-law, John Bedell of Springfield, where he is a leading member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Hendrick E., a farmer by occupation, makes his home in Springfield. John, who was a farmer on the Rockaway road south of Jamaica, died on his home place in the fall of 1895; his son, I. S. Remsen (or Remson, as he spells the name), was for many years in business in Jamaica, but is now an extensive manufacturer and dealer in wagons and carriages in Brooklyn, where he resides. Philip H. lives in Jamaica; and Rem, the youngest of the brothers, died in boyhood. Ann married Isaac C. Hendrickson, and their son, Isaac C. Hendrickson, Jr., is engaged in the lum- ber business in Jamaica. Sarah Elizabeth is the wife of Thomas Carman of Jamaica. Harriet married Isaac Smith and both are now deceased; their son, Benjamin Smith, lives in Brooklyn. Elsie Jane, Mrs. Eldred Wood, died leaving two daughters, who now reside in Jamaica-one the wife of William Jarvis, and the other the wife of G. Yaton.

Of this large family, our subject has been the most successful financially. He is now numbered among the wealthy men of Jamaica, but while he

has achieved success, he has also met with his share of reverses, has had obstacles to surmount and hardships to endure. Early in life he began to assist in the cultivation of the home place, and when only eleven years of age might be seen plowing the land. His schooling was limited, and the broad knowledge he has gained came through self-culture and observation. When a young man he embarked in the butcher business, at first running a wagon from the farm, where the slaughtering was done. Later he established a market and continued the business, with in- creasing results, until 1865. At that time the ex- citement in the Pennsylvania oil fields was at its height, and fortunes were being made in a short time. "Catching the fever," he sold his business and went to the oil fields, but after two years there, he found the expected fortune further from him than it had been upon his arrival.

Disappointed, but not discouraged, Mr. Rem- sen went to New York City, where he engaged in the real estate business for two years, and then settled on his little farm on the Rockaway road. After twelve years there, he rented the place and returned to Far Rockaway. Prior to his removal he built a track to connect the Long Island Rail- road with Nassau Lake (of forty acres), which adjoined his farm. On coming to Far Rockaway he dug a small lake of three acres for the pur- pose of securing a supply of ice, and afterward dug a second lake of four acres. Transportation for the ice was secured by means of the branch to the railroad. Afterward other lakes were made, and in 1887 he dug what is known as Remsen's Lake, adjoining Jamaica, a beautiful body of water that is fed from springs and covers about six acres. Throughout Long Island the Remsen Lake ice has gained a reputation for its superior qualities. For the past few years he has carried on a wholesale business exclusively, his son and son-in-law conducting the retail busi- ness, buying from him. He has also engaged in the real estate business, having made some good investments.

The property interests of Mr. Remsen are large and important and include some valuable real estate in Jamaica. For more than fifty years he has been a member of the Methodist Church, in the work of which he takes a deep interest. He attends all the camp and revival meetings and takes an active part as an exhorter. When the Methodist Church was about to be built many years ago, he subscribed $1,500 toward its erec-

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tion, but before the time came to pay it, he had

now resides. In religion he and his wife are lost all his money and was unable to meet the . Roman Catholics. Mrs. Sluiter is a daughter of obligation. The church was built and many Henricus Middendorp, a jeweler, who was a sol- dier under Napoleon Bonaparte. The children of Theo. and Anna Sluiter were named as follows: Henricus, of Flushing, L. I .; Nicholas, a butcher of Brooklyn; A. C .; Maria, who died in Holland; Johann, wholesale cloak dealer in Holland; and Betsey, in Holland. years afterward, it may be said to his credit, he paid the full amount of his pledge to the society. At his own expense he established a mission in the outskirts of the village, and he has been a generous contributor to all religious projects. In politics he was formerly a Republican, but now casts his vote and influence with the Prohibition party.

August 3, 1848, Mr. Remsen married Miss Jane, daughter of George Creed, and member of one of the old families of the island. They have four children living and have lost five. The only son, Lorenzo H., was born November 12, 1851, received a good education in Union Hall Acad- emy, and has been engaged in the ice business in Jamaica since 1872. He married his second cousin, Anna A. Pearsall, who was born in Jamai- ca, being a daughter of Jeremiah and Phoebe (Remsen) Pearsall. Her grandfather, James Pearsall, was a Canadian by birth, but spent his life principally on Long Island. Mr. and Mrs. Remsen have one child, Warren, a young man of twenty-two, who is in business with his father. The daughters of our subject are named as fol- lows: Lenora, who married John B. Fosdick, youngest son of the late Judge Morris Fosdick; Jennie Estelle, wife of S. N. Decker, who is en- gaged in the ice business at Far Rockaway, hav- ing purchased the lakes from his father-in-law, also the Queens County Manufacturing Com- pany's ice plant; and Isadora F., who resides with her parents in their beautiful home in Bergen Avenue.

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Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 134

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