Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 19

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 19

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Irving C. Sniffen was placed in the public schools as soon as he had attained a suitable age, and his literary education was finished in the Friends' Academy at Locust Valley, N. Y. He immediately returned home and entered the gro- cery which his mother had conducted, and in 1893 he took the entire charge of the establishment in- to his own hands, having bought out his mother. Mr. Sniffen has shown that he possesses unusual business talent and is endowed with those attri- butes of character which compel success in trade, and he can point with pardonable pride to an ex- tensive patronage and excellent business credit.

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Mr. Sniffen was married May 17, 1893, to Miss Josie C. Worth, of Seacliff, but a native of Brook- lyn, and daughter of Reuben and Lucinda (An- drovette) Worth, the former of whom was a coal dealer of Seacliff. Mr. Sniffen has always sup- ported the measures of the Republican party, and in 1892 voted for Benjamin Harrison for the presi- dency. Although he was nominated for a mem- ber of the school board, he declined to fill the office, for his business completely occupies his time and attention. Socially he is a member of the American Legion of Honor at Seacliff, and in the social and business circles of the place occupies a prominent position. He and his wife have a little daughter, Addie C., born in Sea- cliff February 15, 1895.

W ESLEY B. SMITH. Prominent among the successful, thrifty and energetic men of Baldwin is Wesley B. Smith, who is actively engaged in the oyster business in this locality. He is a native of the island, hav- ing been born in Milburn in 1855, to Treadwell and Abigail (Brower) Smith, both of whom were natives of the town of Hempstead, where they passed their entire lives.

During the greater part of his life the father of our subject was engaged in agricultural pur- suits. At the time of his death, however, he was living in Glenwood, where he was the proprietor of a paper manufactory. The reputation which he enjoyed was not only that of an intelligent and progressive citizen of the county, but of a man thoroughly posted on all public affairs. He de- parted this life in 1863, respected by all who knew him. His estimable wife, although advanced in years, is still living and in the enjoyment of ex- cellent health.

Wesley B. Smith was orphaned by the death of his father when a lad of eight years. The fam- ily were left in somewhat straitened circum- stances, and as his mother and three younger brothers and sisters depended upon him for sup- port, he was not permitted to spend much time in gaining an education, only attending the district school for a few terms, when he started out in the world to gain a living. He at once engaged in the oyster business, which was developing into quite an industry, and ere he was twenty-one years old was conducting a business of this kind for himself. His beds are finely located, and being thoroughly acquainted with the business,

Mr. Smith has been successful and now ships to the local markets, also to Newark, N. J., some seven thousand bushels of oysters per year.

In 1885 Mr. Smith and Miss Lora, daughter of John Lott, were united in marriage. The fath- er of Mrs. Smith is one of the old and respected residents of Baldwin and is well known to all its citizens. Their union has been blessed by the birth of three children, namely: Ethel, Winifred and Wesley L. In religious matters our subject is a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and is very active in the work of his con- gregation, of which he has been steward for many years, and which for thirteen years he served as trustee. In his political relations he is a true- blue Republican, and, although not aspiring to office himself, never loses an opportunity to sup- port the candidates of this particular organization. He was one of the incorporators of the Rockville Center Bank, of which he is now a director. He has made many warm friends among the residents of his community and is highly regarded wherever known.

C ARMAN SMITH. While it is of rare oc- currence for the man who is by natural bent and training a farmer to adopt any other calling, when he does so he usually rises to success in it, because his whole life has been based upon the principle of integrity, with the firm con- viction that in all the avenues of trade honesty should be the ruling spur. This quality has marked the career of Carman Smith, who is one of the old and prominent citizens of Freeport. He was born at Merrick, L. I., in 1819, to Joseph and Harriet (Raynor) Smith, who were also born on Long Island and there spent their lives in a useful and commendable manner. The father was identified with farming interests, but gave consid- erable attention to merchandising also and was the owner of some fisheries. Being a public- spirited citizen, he held a number of town offices and was at one time captain of a company of state militia. His earthly career closed in 1870, and his widow's death occurred in 1887.

Carman Smith obtained only the advantages of the district schools in his youth, and they were very inferior in those days. While growing up he assisted his father in the duties of the farm and store and under his wise and kindly guidance he learned lessons of energy, push and honesty which were the stepping stones to his success of later years. He remained with and aided his

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father until he was thirty years of age, when he embarked in the mercantile business on his own account, and this occupation received his atten- tion in the village of Merrick for more than thirty years. During this time he also carried on farm- ing to some extent. From about 1850 to 1877 he held the responsible position of postmaster of Merrick. In 1880 he removed to Freeport and in this pleasant village has lived in retirement ever since, in the enjoyment of the fruits of his early industry and in the society of his many friends, whom his honorable and upright career in the business arena and his genial and kindly disposition have gathered about him.

Mr. Smith has always been a very progressive citizen and his business undertakings always pros- pered. In commercial circles he holds an hon- orable position and in the social life of the village in which he lives he is also highly regarded. In 1853 he was united in marriage with Miss Ruth- ella Smith, daughter of James Smith, and their marriage resulted in the birth of four children: Emily, wife of Charles L. Wallace, a successful attorney-at-law and the able editor of the "South Side Observer"; Samuel R., president of the Rockaway Bank at Far Rockaway; Joseph Nel- son, who died at the age of seventeen years, and one who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are prominent members of the Methodist Episco- pal Church, with which they have been identified for more than half a century. Although he has always taken a deep interest in political matters, he has never aspired to political perferment, much preferring to devote his time and energies to the successful conduct of his business affairs, and in this he showed his wisdom.

C HARLES A. SCHILLING is well known as the proprietor of Schilling's Atlas Ho- tel, at Rockaway Beach, which, with its seventy-five rooms for the accommodation of boarders by the day or week, with its elegant dancing pavilion, bowling alleys and two hundred and fifty bathing houses, is recognized as one of the most complete and popular resorts for sum- mer visitors on the island. It is easily accessible either by railroad to the seaside station, or by steamboat to the seaside landing.

Prior to coming to Rockaway Beach in 1893 Mr. Schilling resided in Far Rockaway, where he still owns twenty valuable lots and some fine property well improved. He is a native of Ger-

many, born March 30, 1842, and received an ex- cellent education in his native land, learning the trade of a baker in youthful years. At the age of twenty-five he came to this country and followed his trade in Brooklyn until 1885, when he removed to Far Rockaway and entered the hotel business, being proprietor of the well-known Mansion House for seven years. While a resident of Brooklyn he was candidate on the Democratic ticket for the position of alderman-at-large. For fifteen years he has been a notary public and for more than two years has served as treasurer of the school board. He is a director in the gas company and has other important and valuable local interests.

During his residence in Brooklyn Mr. Schilling married Miss Maria Lindhorn, a native of Ger- many, who has spent her life principally in this country. Fourteen children were born of their union, of whom nine are living. Emma, the old- est living daughter, is the wife of Charles Pretz, a butcher of Far Rockaway. The others are with their parents and are named as follows: Louisa, Matilda, Martha, Bertie, Charles, Ida, Edwin and Henry. Mr. Schilling is among the German- Americans who appreciate the free institutions of this country and heartily gives his support to every measure calculated to benefit the town and county, state and nation.

J' I OHN H. SCHLEPEGRELL, a prosperous and enterprising young business man of Woodside, is the proprietor of a first-class grocery and also retails flour, feed and hay in large quantities. He is a native of New York City and was born November 1I, 1863, to Joseph and Catherine (Marah) Schlepegrell. Of their five children our subject and his sister Anna, now the wife of William Lewis, of Brooklyn, are the only survivors.

In 1837 Joseph Schlepegrell was born in Ger- many, where he was reared to mature years, ob- taining a fair education in the model schools of his native land. He emigrated to America when a young man and for the first four or five years was employed in a large grocery house in New York City. He laid by a large portion of his earnings and at the end of this time was enabled to start in business for himself, opening a general mercantile establishment, which for many years he conducted very successfully. Several of his employes whom he had entrusted with very im-

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portant matters were untrue to the confidence reposed in them and caused his failure late in life.

The subject of this sketch attended school both in New York and Brooklyn, and when only a lad of thirteen years accepted his first position and for four years was employed in bundling cigar light- ers in a Brooklyn factory. He made good wages during this time, but in 1880 left and secured em- ployment in the Astor House in New York City, where he remained for five years. With the money which he had thus earned he came to Woodside and embarked in the grocery business, to the carrying on of which he has given his per- sonal attention since. Woodside was little more than a hamlet at that time, but as the years passed by and the population increased the business of Mr. Schlepegrell grew also and he now stands at the head in this line in the place. In 1890 he purchased his present residence property and five years later bought a desirable lot on the corner of Woodside and Kelly Avenues, on which he erect- ed a new store building.

The lady to whom our subject was united in marriage in the year 1889 was Miss Matilda Schafer, a most estimable young lady, whose home was in Woodside. To them have been born two daughters, Tillie and Henrietta. In politics Mr. Schlepegrell is a stanch Democrat and in religious matters is a devout Catholic. He has been a member of the Woodside Hook and Lad- der Company for seven years and at the present time is connected with the lodge of the Royal Arcanum at Newtown.

T HOMAS THOMAS, proprietor of the Flower Hill Bottling Works, is a native of New York and was born June 6, 1866, to William and Elizabeth (Durant) Thomas. (For a complete history of the parents we refer the read- er to their sketch, which will appear on another page in this book.) Thomas was quite regular in his attendance at the common school from the age of six to fourteen years, and the first posi- tion which he held upon starting out for himself was as an apprentice in a gold pen manufactory. Later he was employed by A. W. Faber, whose pencils are used all over the country, but did not remain in his shop but a twelvemonth when he returned home and continued with his father for a few years.

Mr. Thomas was married in May, 1888, to Miss Margaret Happ, a native of New York City.

Soon after establishing a home of his own he was employed as a bartender and finally located at Corona, where he became the proprietor of a hotel and also kept a saloon. A year thereafter we find him located in Brooklyn, where he was also engaged as a saloonkeeper, remaining there until some time in May, 1892, when he took up his abode at Flower Hill. Here he erected his own buildings, put in modern machinery, and from the good business which his enterprise and energy have built takes in $1,000 per day when running at full capacity. He is also proprietor of the famous Wahacapaha Springs, the water of which is noted for its curative properties and is shipped by him to various points in the Union.

To Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have been born two sons, George and Barney. Mr. Thomas has been financially prosperous in his business and is ranked among the well-to-do and respected citi- zens of the community. In politics he is inde- pendent.

J I OHN W. SOUTHARD is one of the worthy residents and enterprising farmers of the town of Hempstead, making his home in the pleasant village of Seaford. He was born at Massapequa, this county, in 1837, and is the son of Richard and Susan (Bennett) Southard, also natives of this portion of Long Island, where they were content to pass their entire lives.

Richard Southard in early life learned the trade of a wheelwright and was thus employed for a number of years. Later, however, he took up farming, in which occupation he was very success- ful, and four years prior to his death lived a re- tired life. He was a quiet and unassuming citizen and devoted his entire life to looking after his own affairs. At his death, which occurred in 1888, when four score and four years of age. the town of Hempstead lost one of its old and worthy residents. His good wife survived him until 1892, when she passed away at the same age.

The subject of this sketch acquired his educa- tion in the district schools, and when ready to begin life for himself learned the trade of a wheel- wright under the instruction of his father, and. like him, followed it for many years. From time to time he invested his surplus capital in land and it was not long before he had more property than he could look after profitably and attend to work at his trade. He therefore discontinued the

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business of a wheelwright and about 1875 began to give his entire time and attention to his farm. He now has some eighty-five acres of excellently tilled land, on which are a full set of neat and commodious buildings, and withal the place pre- sents a very inviting and attractive appearance.

In addition to carrying on the work of his farm, Mr. Southard is engaged in the undertaking busi- ness and has an establishment containing a full assortment of burial goods. He also keeps a hearse and splendid team and supplies everything necessary for a funeral, from the laying out of the body to the final disposition in the ground.

Mr. Southard was married in 1859 to Miss Catherine A., daughter of Alfred Seaman, a repre- sentative of an old and respected family of the town of Hempstead. Mr. Seaman is still living at the advanced age of eighty-six years. Three children have been born to our subject and his wife: Wilbur F., Mary E. and John W., Jr. Mrs. Southard is a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. While never aspiring to of- ficial honors, our subject always votes for Repub- lican candidates and takes great interest in the success of his party.

C HARLES W. THOMAS, whose post- office address is Roslyn, is the proprietor of a hotel at Flower Hill. He was born in Saxony, Germany, July 4, 1847, and is the son of Lawrence and Barbara (Sieter) Thomas, also born in the Fatherland. During the fifteen years of his life spent in his native land our subject was given a good education and for a short time at- tended college. May 28, 1862, after spending some time in crossing the Atlantic, he was landed in New York City.

The Civil War being in progress when Mr. Thomas came to America he soon enlisted and was mustered into the regiment known as the "Lost Children," with which he served for five months. He then became a member of Battery M, Fifth United States Light Artillery, which he joined at Yorktown, Va., and took part in some of the most important. battles of the war, among them being the Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court- house, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Woodstock (in the Shenandoah Valley), Winchester and Cedar Creek, in which latter conflict the Union soldiers were obliged to retreat. During this period Mr. Thomas served under the name of Karl Wilhelm. He remained in the service until the close of the

war and on being ordered to report at Washing- ton, D. C., was honorably discharged June 3, 1865. Although he did not participate in the grand review, he remained at the capital and was a witness of this thrilling sight. During over three years of service our subject was never seri- ously wounded, although at one time he was kicked in the eye by a horse and disabled for some time.

Having saved $300 or $400 out of the small wages paid him while in the army, Mr. Thomas started in the trucking business in New York and was thus engaged for a period of twelve years. When eighteen years of age he was mar- ried in the metropolis to Miss Elizabeth Turant, the ceremony which made them one being per- formed August 26, 1865. Miss Turant was also of German birth, having been born in Hanover. She remained the loving companion of Mr. Thomas for seven years, and in 1872 departed this life, leaving two children. For his second wife our subject chose Louisa Wenner, by whom he has become the father of four children.

After abandoning the trucking business our subject was bookkeeper and collector for a firm in the city for two years. He was then engaged for the same length of time in the manufacture of furniture, and after closing out his business in this line secured a position as conductor with one of the street railway companies. The next account we have of him was three years later, when he embarked in the saloon business, con- tinuing to be thus engaged in New York City for five years. In 1886 he removed to College Point, and after five years spent in business there · took up his residence in Flower Hill.

In his political relations Mr. Thomas is inde- pendent. Socially he is a Mason and Odd Fel- low of good standing, and also belongs to the Knights of Honor and the Order of Foresters. He is a Grand Army man and often meets his old comrades at the various reunions, which he never fails to attend. He formerly belonged to William T. Kennedy Post, No. 42, of New York City, but he is now allied with Elijah Wort Post, No. 654.

J OHN E. TATOR, owner and proprietor of the grocery store on Central Avenue, Far Rockaway, and a resident of Jamaica, was born at Long Branch, N. J., November 25, 1851, and is the sole survivor of eleven children com-

COL. WILLIAM A. JONES.

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prising the family of George A. and Catharine (Webb) Tator. His father, who was born in Co- lumbia County, N. Y., was engaged in the hotel business during much of his life and for some time held the position of manager of the Man- sion House at Long Branch. After returning to New York City in 1859, where he accepted a po- sition in the custom house, he still kept his sum- mer home at Long Branch, where his family spent a few months each year. His death occurred at the age of fifty-three years and his wife passed away when seventy-five. He was a man who held the respect of his associates through the course of his long and active career, and was favorably known by the visitors to Long Branch, who rec- ognized his sterling worth of character.

When the family removed to New York City in 1859, our subject was a child of eight years, and there he remained until 1876, meantime attend- ing the public schools. His first employment was in a hardware store, where he remained for two years, and later he spent nine years in the establishment of Lord & Taylor. After leaving that position he was variously employed in New York and Brooklyn until 1877, when he came to Rockaway Beach and opened the first dairy here. In 1883 he went to Jamaica and for one year car- ried on a restaurant, after which he was for four years in partnership with E. T. Nostrand in the grocery business, since which time he has been sole proprietor of the store. He is married, his wife having been Miss Sarah A. Remsen, of Rock- away Beach. Politically he advocates the princi- ples set forth by the Democratic party, but has never sought offices or public responsibilities, pre- ferring to give his attention to business matters. He attends the Episcopal Church and is a mem- ber. His experiences in business have been varied; for a time he was with the Aldine Print- ing Company and also held a clerical position in a bank, but these were not congenial to him, as his inclination was in the line of his present business.

C OL. WILLIAM A. JONES, a resident of the beautiful village of Richmond Hill, is well known as one of the most extensive hop growers in the state. He was born Septem- ber 25, 1834, in Canada, where his parents were temporarily located, their home being in St. Law- rence County, N. Y. His father, Thomas H., a native of Montreal, Canada, and of Welsh de-

scent, was a prominent business man of St. Law- rence County and those who had dealings with him had the utmost confidence in his integrity and good judgment. By his marriage to Annie Gunn, who was of Scotch lineage, he had three sons, William A., Thomas H. and Robert F. Thomas H. is a resident of North Dakota and Robert F. is engaged in business in Minneapolis, Minn.

In 1856 Colonel Jones graduated as a student from the old Franklin Academy in Malone, this state, and immediately thereafter he engaged in mercantile pursuits, and continued therein until the breaking out of the Civil War. He assisted in raising and organizing the Ninety-eighth Reg- iment of New York Volunteers in the autumn of 1861, but owing to the serious illness of his wife, he was unable at that time to go to the field. The following year, however, he enlisted for the war and at once recruited a company for the One Hundred and Forty-second Regiment, then or- ganizing at Ogdensburgh, St. Lawrence County. Colonel Jones was elected captain, and in Sep- tember, 1862, he went with his comrades to the front, serving with the Army of the Potomac at the battle of Suffolk, in Virginia, and in the Pe- ninsular campaign until September, 1863, when he was ordered to the Tenth Army Corps, at this time in the department of the South, and operat- ing in front of Charleston. He joined in the hot- test of the fight at the battle of John's Island, and in that of Ft. Wagner, after which he was returned to the Army of the Potomac, putting in his best shots at Cold Harbor, Bermuda Hundred, Peters- burgh Mine Explosion, and at Ft. Harrison on the 29th of September, 1864, when the regiment lost in killed and wounded eleven out of twenty- two officers. Captain Jones was promoted at this time to the office of major for his gallantry in action, and then was granted twenty days' leave of absence, having now been in the field two ycars without an hour's leave from his command.

The Major was soon after brevetted lieuten- ant-colonel for personal bravery and splendid service shown at the assault on Ft. Fisher. Al- most immediately following, Lieutenant-Colonel Jones was placed in full command of his regiment, and was also placed in command of the garri- son at Smithville, N. C. Here he remained until the following March, 1865, when the Tenth Corps marchcd across the state to Goldsboro, when Ter- ry, forming a junction with Sherman's army, they together moved upon Ralcigh. There Colonel Jones, with his command, remained until the sur-

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render of Johnston's army and the close of the war. Colonel Jones did not go to the front as a hireling, but as a ready volunteer, all aglow with that love of country which could be satisfied with nothing less than the Union saved from its enemies. The war to him meant no holiday out of school or from business. He went to the front to help crush out the most gigantic rebellion of this or any other age. He fought to win, and never did he turn his back upon the foe. A man of impulsive and daring pluck, his command was never ordered to go where he did not lead it. In the assault upon Ft. Fisher he got three bullets through his cloth- ing, and finally fell senseless by a spent shell, but fortunately he came out of it all and was brevetted Colonel by President Lincoln.

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Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 19

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