Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 136

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 136

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In College Point Mr. Roszel married Miss Catherine Tubbs, a native of Connecticut, and daughter of William Tubbs, who came from Eng- land and was employed as a mason in College Point until his death. The family residence is pleasantly situated at No. 67 Eleventh Street. Socially Mr. Roszel belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, holding membership in Miriam Lodge No. 152, in which he has passed

FREDERICK RING.

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all the chairs. He was a member of the encamp- ment at Elizabeth. Prior to the war he belonged to the National Guard of New Jersey. He finds his religious home in the Methodist Church, to the support of which he contributes as his means permit.

F REDERICK RING, JR., was born in New York City on Christmas day of 1835, and was the eldest of the eight children of Frederick, Sr., and Rosina (Williams) Ring. For some years the former kept a grocery store in New York City, but about 1847 removed to Woodward Avenue, Newtown, Queens County, and there engaged in farming. Frederick, Jr., at the age of twelve accompanied the family to Long Island, where he grew to manhood. When twenty years of age he embarked in the grocery business in Grand Street, Brooklyn, but after his marriage, which occurred at this time, he gave up the business and began farming on the old homestead, then known as the Vandervoert farm. For about fifteen years he engaged in the cultivation of the sixty acres comprising this place, and so successful was he that on leaving he was able to purchase the property where his widow now resides, paying $12,000 for twenty acres and building a handsome residence there- on. This is especially noteworthy in view of the fact that he began without capital.

During the war Mr. Ring was fortunate and made considerable money. After about three years he established himself in the flour-milling business in Broadway, Brooklyn, where, through his superior business ability and sagacity, he ac- cumulated a fortune. His products were shipped largely to the West Indies. After undergoing a number of changes of name, the firm of which he was a member was finally incorporated as the Kings County Milling Company, the business being carried on under that title until one year after his death, which occurred August 24, 1892. Mr. Ring was interested in the American Sugar Refining Company, the Manufacturers' Bank, the Nassau Trust Company, and the New York and Brooklyn Brewing Company. His large success was due to the possession of keen insight, shrewd discriminative powers and determination of character that knew no diminution in the face of obstacles.

O HARLES E. RING, eldest son of Fred- erick and Dorothea (Bultmann) Ring, was born in Brooklyn November 26, 1863. After carrying on the studies of the public schools of Brooklyn he entered Packard's Busi- ness College, where he graduated. For one year after completing his education he was en- gaged in farming, two years following was em- ployed in a grocery store, and subsequently he established a hardware store at North Third and Kent Avenue, Brooklyn. Three years later his increasing business caused him to remove to more commodious quarters and still later he bought his present place, at Nos. 423-427 Kent Avenue, corner of South Eighth Street, where he carries on a business aggregating $200,000 per annum. He is one of the representative mer- chants of Brooklyn, and his success, which has been gained since 1885, indicates his ability and financial skill.

In 1887 Mr. Ring married Miss Anna Ehlers, of New York City, and they are the parents of a daughter, Louise. In religious belief they are identified with the English Lutheran Church of Brooklyn. By all who know him Mr. Ring is regarded as one of the rising young business men of the city. He is a member of the Man- ufacturers' Association of that place and is con- nected with many of the important measures originated to benefit the interests of the people. While not unmindful of public affairs, he does not take an active part in them and is not a partisan. He is connected with the Hanover Club of Brooklyn. It may be said of him that, in striving to advance his own interests, he has not overlooked the welfare of others or achieved his personal success at the expense of his fellow- men, but in his intercourse with all; whether in business or society, has proved himself an hon- orable man and generous friend.

J' JOHN W. GOODWIN, who superintends the sand digging for the large contracting firm of M. Goodwin & Co., of New York City, is one of the highly esteemed residents of Port Washington. He was born in the metro- polis, September 4, 1858, to Thomas E. and Pene- lope (Boulds) Goodwin. There lie lived until at- taining mature years, gaining a good education in the grammar schools of both New York and Brooklyn.

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When a lad of fourteen years our subject be- came bookkeeper for the same company by whom he is employed at the present time. He remained in that position for four years and then turned his attention to athletic sports, winning many a contest as a walker in various parts of the country. On one occasion he and Samuel Col- yer engaged in a three days' contest at Brooklyn, Mr. Goodwin winning seventeen miles over his opponent. At another time he came in fifteen miles ahead of Robert Campbell in a walk of seventy-five hours. IIe visited many of the larger cities of the Union and for three years followed this kind of life, but not being able to save much money, he returned to the business which now occupies his attention.

By his first marriage, which occurred in New York, when he was twenty-four years old, he be- came the father of three children, John W., Jr., Penelope and Sarah. After the death of his first wife Mr. Goodwin married Miss Lenora Smith, of Port Washington, and to them have been granted two daughters, Delphine and Nina.

The business in which our subject is now en- gaged has occupied his attention for the past twelve years. For one year he had charge of filling in a large area at Greenpoint, at which time he had three hundred men under him. In 1895, however, the firm put in a steam shovel and a number of cars, so that the work is now comparatively easy and only a few men are need- ed to carry on the business. Mr. Goodwin is not tied to any particular party or belief in politics. but at the polls supports the best man for the po- sition. Although not a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Mr. Goodwin attends its ser- vices and contributes towards its support. He is very plain-spoken, honorable and upright in all that he does, and as such deserves the respect and esteem which is accorded him, for he is one of the substantial citizens of the county.

P ROF. ALFRED E. IVES. While the life of an educator is generally barren of in- cidents for popular biography, it is still true that the work of a protracted life in this sphere must have many points of interest to prac- tical thinkers, to philosophical speculators of ed- ucation, and to the work of educational progress. Years industriously employed in any department of human labor cannot be without its fruits and its lessons. Alfred E. Ives, a prominent educator

of Rockville Center, L. I., was born in Connec- ticut in 1846 to Alfred E. and Harriet (Platt Stone) Ives, who were also natives of the Nutmeg State and there spent their early days.

Unusually fine educational advantages were afforded Alfred E. Ives, Sr., and in 1837 he was graduated from Yale College. He afterwards became a minister of the Congregational Church, and this noble calling he continued to follow the greater part of his life. In the latter part of his useful life he moved to the state of Maine, and there he afterwards represented Hancock County two terms in the state legislature, during which time he was chairman of the educational com- mittee both sessions. He lived to a ripe old age and died in 1892, his wife's death having occurred three years prior to his own. They were aged eighty-three and eighty years respectively.

Alfred E. Ives, the immediate subject of this biography, was attending the high school at Cas- tine, Me., when the great Civil War opened. Although a mere lad, sixteen years of age, his patriotism was unbounded, and as soon as cir- cumstances permitted he became a member of Company E, Twenty-sixth Maine Volunteer In- fantry, and was in active service for one year, the expiration of his term of enlistment finding him at Port Hudson, La. He then returned home, and for a year following this he was in extremely poor health. In the fall of 1864 he entered Am- herst (Mass.) College, and from this institution was graduated with honors, with the degrees of A. B. and A. M. Soon after finishing his liter- ary course he took up the calling of a pedagogue at Meriden, Conn., where he continued for seven years. In the fall of 1875 he came to Brooklyn, where he became principal of one of the largest grammar schools in the city, No. 35, the pupils in which number nearly four thousand and the teachers seventy-five, all of whom are under Pro- fessor Ives' care.

Professor Ives made his home in Brooklyn un- til 1887 when, owing to failing health, he moved his place of residence to Rockville Center, L. I. When the Professor first came to this place it was, in the strictest sense of the term, a country village, but he at once took an interest in the movement to build up the place, and co-operated with F. F. Wilson in his efforts to improve and build up the schools of this village. Through the persistent efforts of these gentlemen, and a few others, Rockville Center can to-day boast of the best schools in Southern Long Island. The

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Professor was also one of the organizers of the Knights of Pythias Lodge; in fact, every enter- prise that has come up in the village has found in him a hearty supporter, provided the enterprise was of a worthy nature.

In 1871 Professor Ives was united in marriage with Miss Isadore C. Ives, a daughter of Eli Ives, of Meriden, Conn., but was called upon to mourn her death in 1884. Four children were born of this union: Lina C., Alfred E., Eloise S. and Harry Williams. The Professor's second mar- riage was celebrated in 1885, Maria Barber, of Brooklyn, N. Y., becoming his wife. They are members of the Congregational Church. Frater- nally he is connected with the Free and Accepted Masons, the Knights of Pythias and the Grand Army of the Republic. Professor Ives is presi- dent of the Rockville Center Savings and Loan Association, a member of the board of education. and in his political views is a Republican, but not active.

I DUS J. SMYTH, junior member of the firm of Thomas Smyth & Son, real estate dealers and insurance agents at College Point, was born in this village April 20, 1870. His father, Thomas, who was born in Ireland November 26, 1833, came to the United States in early man- hood, and for a time was employed as a book- keeper in New York City, his ability as an expert accountant rendering his services valuable. The year 1854 witnessed his arrival in College Point, to which place he came with Mr. Poppenhusen, who established the Enterprise Rubber Works here. For a time he was foreman in the factory and took an active part in promoting the impor- tance of the business. For a period of nine years he held the position of assessor, and for four years he was justice of the peace.

In the village where for so many years he has made his home Thomas Smyth is recognized as a man of ability and influence. Politically he is a Democrat. In every way possible he has con- tributed to the welfare of the people, and his co- operation is always given to progressive projects. For the last thirty years he has been tax collector of the village of College Point. Prior to leaving Ireland he married Monica Madden, who died January 4, 1890, after having become the mother of twelve children. Of this large family only David P. and Idus J. are living.

Availing himself of the excellent advantages

afforded him, our subject attended a private school for three years, spent two years preparing for college at the Fuerst Institute, afterward for two years attended St. Michael's parochial school at Flushing, and later was a student in the Col- lege Point Academy until seventeen years of age. His first position was with the German American Insurance Company of New York City, with whom he remained until twenty-two. So thor- oughly did he learn the business that he is now recognized as one of the best insurance men on Long Island. Meanwhile, under the instruction of teachers at home, during the evening hours, he perfected his education.

From a business point of view Mr. Smyth had bright prospects in the city, but his father having extensive business interests here and his eyesight failing from constant application, the son came to College Point to assist him. The business was established in 1870 and had assumed considerable proportions. He soon found it necessary for him to remain and the present firm of Thomas Smyth & Son was founded, since which time their real estate and insurance business has largely in- creased.

Regarding free trade as a necessity in securing prosperity for the nation, Mr. Smyth has iden- tified himself with the Democratic party and votes that ticket. In religious belief he is a Roman Catholic. His marriage, which took place in New York City, united him with Mary I. Gute, daugh- ter of Col. Joseph Gute, a prominent military man, who is connected with the First Battery State Guard. They are the parents of two chil- dren, Raymond J. and Monica.

A E. SUNDLING, the well-known mer- chant tailor of Flushing, was born in 1840 in Westeras, capital of the laen of Westmanland, and fourteen miles from Stock- holm, Sweden. He was the youngest of nine children, all of whom arrived at years of maturity and four are now living, though he is the only one of the number in America. His parents were Israel and Mary Sundling. the former of whom was born in Bestlagen, Sweden, but spent much of his life in Westeras, where he was employed as a tailor. He died in that village at the age of seventy-six years. In religious belief he was a Lutheran, cherishing a great affection for that faithı.

After receiving his education in the schools of

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Sweden, our subject at the age of fifteen began to learn his trade in Stockholm, at which he served an apprenticeship of seven years, gaining a thor- ough practical knowledge of the tailor's occupa- tion. Seeking another place for active business pursuits, he went to England, and for two and one-half years was employed in Liverpool. In 1873 he came to America and settled in New York City, where he worked at his trade a num- ber of years, coming thence to Flushing about 1876, to take a position in the tailoring depart- ment of D. Master's clothing store. He was thus engaged for ten years, after which he resigned his position.

In 1888 Mr. Sundling started in business for himself, and at his store, No. 100 Amity Street, he carries on a general merchant tailoring trade, having built up a large patronage among the people of this community. Among those who have been his customers, the highest opinion is held of his ability and neatness as a tailor, and those who have once sought his services are almost sure to return again and give him their permanent trade. In Sweden he married Miss Mary Erickson, a native of that country, and they have two daughters, Hilda and Alma. In 1876 he went to Corona, and resided there until he came to Flushing. For four years he was a mem- ber of the board of school trustees at Corona. Politically he is a Republican and socially belongs to the Foresters lodge in Flushing. He holds membership in the Union Evangelical Church, in which he is an active worker.

L OUIS T. STEVENSON. This gentleman, who has for several years been engaged in heavy hauling and trucking for the va- rious granite works of Blissville, is well known among the residents of this place and is highly esteemed for his honorable and upright life. He was born in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, in 1860. His father, Joseph Stevenson, a native of County Armagh, Ireland, passed the first sixteen years of his life in the Emerald Isle and then came to America. He found no difficulty in obtaining employment, and for several years was engaged as a milkman in New York City.

In 1868 Joseph Stevenson located in Long Island City, establishing a milk route in Bliss- ville. He soon had a large list of customers and carried on a very successful wholesale and retail business. The place on which he located enabled

him to have a dairy of his own, and the milk which he sold through portions of New York and this city was obtained from the forty cows which he owned. Mr. Stevenson departed this life in August, 1882, when forty-nine years of age. He was greatly interested in the affairs of his neighborhood and besides being a fire and water commissioner was assistant engineer in the fire department for three years. During the progress of the Civil War he enlisted in 1864, becoming a member of Company A, Ninety-third New York Infantry, which he served as corporal until the establishment of peace. He participated in many spirited conflicts with the enemy, but escaped serious injury. Politically he was a Republican and was always ready and anxious to do what he could to aid in his party's success. He was a de- voted member of the Presbyterian Church and came of a good Christian family. He had a brother, a minister of that faith in Ireland, and a cousin, Dr. Gregg, for many years pastor of a church in New York City.

Mrs. Mary (Thomas) Stevenson, mother of our subject, was born in New York, and was the daughter of Louis Thomas, a native of Wales. Mr. Thomas came to America in 1837 and for a number of years thereafter was engaged in the milk business in New York. Later he located in Jersey City, where he established a feed store and was engaged in the successful carrying on of this business until his death. He was a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Stevenson is still living, a resident of Blissville. Of the six children born of her union with Joseph Steven- son, only two are living, Louis T. and Mrs. Anna Kehoe, who also makes her home in Blissville.

After attending the public schools of this city the subject of this sketch went to New York and carried on his studies there for a time. From the age of nine years he aided his father on the farm, and when attaining his thirteenth year drove a milk wagon in New York City. He continued to work for his father until twenty-one years of age, when he established a route of his own, run- ning wagons both in New York and Brooklyn. He had his own dairy and supplied his custom- ers with fresh, pure, unadulterated milk. After continuing in this business for eight years he sold out and began trucking. He makes a specialty of hauling heavy loads and is engaged to do most of the work for the different granite works here. During the busy season he gives employment to five men and at such times runs five teams, and

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it is no unusual sight to see the entire force of men and horses engaged in moving one monu- ment. Being the only man who gives his atten- tion to this business here he is kept very busy. In addition to this industry he deals quite exten- sively in horses, and his thorough knowledge of these animals enables him to do so profitably.

The marriage of Mr. Stevenson and Miss Ma- tilda Swain occurred in New York City in 1881. This lady was born in County Antrim, Ireland, and is a daughter of Samuel Swain, also a native of the Emerald Isle. The latter was a farmer in his native land and also clerked for some time in a store. On coming to America he made his home in New York City, where he worked as a journeyman plumber after he had acquired a good knowledge of this business. He died there in 1880. The Swain family traces its ancestry back to the royalty of Denmark, in which coun- try they originated. Grandfather Thomas Swain lived in Ireland and ran a stage route there in connection with farming. The mother of Mrs. Stevenson accompanied her husband to the United States and died in New York City sev- eral years ago. Of the ten sons and daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Stevenson, four are now living: William J., Anne E., Louis T. and Francis I.

Our subject has served in the Rambler Hose Company No. 3 of this place. He is a stanchi supporter of Republican principles and has helped forward many measures which have been set on foot, having for their object the good of this community. Religiously he belongs to the Church of the Ascension.

F REDERICK SUTTER. Special adapta- bility to any particular calling in life is the one necessary adjunct to success of a permanent kind. It has often been said that a man will make a success of any occupation if he gives his entire time and attention to it, and this has proved true in the case of Frederick Sutter, steward and caterer of the Niantic Club, Flush- ing, L. I. Mr. Sutter is a native of Germany, born in Badenweiler in 1860, and the son of Maj. Frederick Sutter, also a native of that place and a large hotel keeper at the famous watering place. The elder Mr. Sutter was in the Revolu- tion of 1848 and held the rank of major in the German army. His death occurred in Baden- weiler. His father, Nicholas Sutter, was a bur- gomaster for years in Badenweiler, and was also

a prominent hotel man. In religion both were Lutherans. Major Sutter married Miss Fred- rika Motch, who was born in Alsace, France, and who now resides on the old home place.

Frederick Sutter, the eldest of the children born to his parents, received a thorough educa- tion in his native country, and after leaving school engaged in the dry-goods business in Manheim. In 1880 he came to the United States, settled in the Empire City, and was engaged in the dry goods and cigar manufacturing business on a large scale. Later he opened a restaurant in Stone Street, and still later became assistant steward in the Marine and Field Club, which position he held one summer. In 1891 he was elected steward of the Niantic Club, a position he has since held, and he is the leading caterer of Long Island, outside of Brooklyn. He does a large business in that line and has his headquar- ters at the club, corner of Sanford and Parsons Avenues. This club has large and pleasant rooms, a bowling alley, stables, etc., and is com- posed of eighty-seven members. It was organ- ized in 1863.

Mr. Sutter has a large stock of silver for fine spreads, superintends everything himself, and is noted all over the island. Socially he is a mem- ber of the Knights of Pythias and Knights of the Golden Stars. In religion he is a Lutheran, and in politics a Democrat, but not radical.

R EV. MICHAEL J. DENNISON, rector of St. Monica's Catholic Church of Jamaica, was born at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., Novem- ber 26, 1852. He is a son of Nicholas and Ann Dennison, members of well known Catholic fam- ilies who gave many priests to the ministry of the church. Among the most noted of the fam- ily is Archbishop Ireland, of St. Paul, an own cousin of our subject and a frequent visitor to his home. Nicholas Dennison was born in Coun- ty Kilkenny, Ireland, and thence emigrated to the United States, where he followed the occupation of a contractor and builder until his death at Sag Harbor, L. I.

From a very early age the hopes and aspira- tions of Father Dennison turned toward the min- istry. When eleven years old he entered the Niagara University, at Niagara Falls, N. Y., where he graduated in 1874. At the same time he was ordained to the priesthood and was as- signed as second assistant to Father Eugene Cas-

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saday, of St. Mary's Star of the Seas, Brooklyn. When St. Agnes' Church was established in Brooklyn he was made first assistant to Rev. James A. Duffy. In 1885 he was made rector of St. Andrew's Church at Sag Harbor, and re- mained in that position until 1891, when he was called to the church at Jamaica to fill the place of the late Father Farley, who had been its pas- tor for forty years.

Since coming to this pastorate Father Denni- son has made many improvements in the church property, the total valuation of which additions would probably aggregate $8,000 or $9,000. St. Monica's is recognized as one of the most im- portant charges in the state, outside of the large cities. Connected with it there are some seven- teen hundred people, old and young, and the work is so large and responsible as to require the services of an assistant, a position now held by Rev. James H. McMahon. In connection with the church there is a large parochial school, in charge of the Sisters of Charity from Mt. St. Vincent, under the immediate charge of Sister Agnes.

Possessing great strength of will and force of character, with brilliant mind and self-reliant spirit, Father Dennison is fitted for the high position to which he has been called. He is a man of decided ability, unblemished reputation and personal worth, commanding the respect, not alone of his parishioners and people of belief similar to his own, but of others as well. Over the development and destiny of those in his par- ish his character and teachings will exert great influence for good.

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Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 136

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