Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 25

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 25

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In 1881 Mr. Ankener was one of the men in charge of the draughtsmen when the work on the bridge across East River was begun, superin- tending this department under Assistant Engineer George W. McNulty. On the completion of this structure our subject, in company with Messrs. McNulty and Buck, was engaged in designing bridge work in general, and in this branch was remarkably successful. Mr. Ankener spent one winter as teacher in mechanical drawing for the board of public instruction, after which, passing the civil service examination, he was appointed topographical draughtsman in the park depart- ment of New York in the annexed district. After a service of some eighteen months he obtained a leave of absence and took charge of the improve- ment of Bowery Bay Beach for Steinway, plan- ning the work himself and giving his personal at- tention to its execution. This occupied about a year, and when Mr. Ankener returned to the park department it was to offer his resignation. This being accepted he then became assistant engineer on the board of electrical control of New York, holding this position for about five years.

This brings us to 1893, when the improvement in Long Island City first began. Mr. Ankener was then appointed chief engineer of the Im- provement Commission, which position he con- tinued to hold until January 1, 1896. He prose- cuted the work of the company in a very thorough

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manner and under his able management three large sewers were built; Broadway, Prospect, Hopkins, Henry, and Harmon Streets were paved; the vicinity around the city hall greatly improved by the laying of asphalt pavement, and the value of property throughout the city greatly enhanced. Mr. Ankener is a man of fine execu- tive and business ability, as has been manifested in the work which he has accomplished since coming to America, and those who are most in- terested in the work of improving this section know that they may uniformly rely upon his in- tegrity and good judgment.

The marriage of our subject with Miss Fred- ricka Reuter occurred in New York City in 1870. This lady was born in Ostfriesland, Germany, in 1844. She became the mother of eight chil- dren, and remained the loving companion and helpmate of her husband until 1894, when she was called to the land beyond. The children are all living and at home with their father.

Mr. Ankener is a stanch supporter of Demo- cratic principles, and during the administration of Mayor Petry was civil service examiner. He belongs to the Austrian Society of Civil Engin- eers and Architects of Vienna and is also a mem- ber of the Technical Society of New York. He is a talented musician and takes great pleasure in meeting with the Frohsinn Singing Society, also the Eichenkranz Singing Society of New York. In religious matters he still clings to the faith of his ancestors and is a member of the Society of Friends. He is a Mason of good stand- ing and meets with Advance Lodge No. 635, of Astoria, with which he is connected.

B EN BLEIER. The student of human progress, and the youth who seeks, in the struggle for success, an example worthy of his emulation, will find in the career of Ben Bleier one more proof that the road to prosperity is a plain and narrow path, which lies open to almost every ambitious man. Inheriting from his ancestors an indomitable will and untiring en- ergy, with his active brain and the ambition of youth he has gained a fortune and an enviable reputation in business circles. Though his resi- dence is in New York, much of his time is spent in Long Island City, where he is manager of the Eastern Distilling Company.

The birth of Mr. Bleier took place in Canajo- harie, N. Y., October 8, 1860. He is the son of

Leopold Bleier, a native of Vienna, Austria, who, under the instruction of his father, gained a thor- ough knowledge of the manufacture of yeast, and followed that occupation in his native land. After his marriage to Josephine Fleischmann he came to New York some time during the '50s, arriving in the city without a dollar in his possession. Poverty, however, had no terrors for him, as he was young, energetic and ambitious. His ability in his chosen occupation soon became apparent and he was recognized as an expert in yeast mak- ing and distilling. Instituting headquarters in New York, he traveled throughout the North and West giving necessary pointers and instructions to agents. As soon as he had the business started his brothers-in-law, Messrs. Fleischmann, joined him, and together they laid the foundation of the concern now known all over the country.

After establishing works at Cincinnati the firm soon opened a factory in Blissville, Long Island City, on Newtown Creek, and since that time 1870, they have built up a very large trade. They occupy about four acres, on which are located the necessary buildings for the proper management of the business. The firm was first known as Bleier, Fleischmann & Co., later was incorpo- rated under the name of Fleischmann & Co. About the time of the incorporation Mr. Bleier, owing to ill health, retired from active connec- tion with the firm, although he is still a silent partner. The first president of the company, Maximilian Fleischmann, died on the steamer "Columbia" in Ocean Bay, and the president at this writing is Charles F., brother of Maximilian. The senior Mr. Bleier makes his home at No. 40 East Twenty-second Street, where he is sur- rounded by all the comforts that can enhance the happiness of life, and while he is not now actively engaged in business, yet it requires a con- siderable portion of his time to look after his large property and monetary interests. Socially he is a Master Mason, prominent in the order.

The mother of our subject was born in Austria, where her father, A. N. Fleischmann, was a yeast manufacturer. During his residence in that coun- try he served in the Austrian army. When ad- vanced in years he came to the United States, where he remained until his death. In the family of Leopold and Josephine Bleier there are three children, namely: Herman, who is the manager of Fleischmann & Co.'s works in Cincinnati; Ben; and Helen, wife of T. G. Stein, of New York. The subject of this notice was educated in the gram-

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mar schools of New York and Hoboken Acad- emy. About 1875 he commenced to learn the business under his father, and soon became a practical yeast maker and distiller. He had charge of different departments until 1891, when he was made manager of the works at Long Island City. This is the company's largest factory, having a capacity of two thousand bushels per day and furnishing employment to about two hundred and thirty hands. Grain is brought direct from the West, and to assist in the work they have a large grain elevator, also a coal elevator and a switch from the Long Island Railroad. The busi- ness has been so systematized that the yeast is delivered fresh every day in every city and village of the United States and Canada; and in addition to the factory here, there are works in Buffalo, N. Y., East Millstone, N. J., and Cincinnati, Ohio.

In New York Mr. Bleier married Miss Johanna, daughter of Mrs. L. W. Stecker, of Hamburg, where she was born. They and their children, Maude J., Francis H. and Leopold W., make their home at No. 141 West Eighty-first Street, New York. In business Mr. Bleier is progressive, wide-awake and thoroughgoing. His tact is pro- nounced and the success of the works at Long Island City is largely due to his instrumentality. He is one of the most genial and affable of men and deserves every measure of the good fortune to which he has attained.

F REDERICK BOWLEY. Enterprising measures and progressive methods are business requirements of the nineteenth century, and few of the younger men engaged in active enterprises have shown these qualifica- tions in a more marked degree than Mr. Bowley, wholesale and retail butcher at Nos. 200, 202 and 204 Main Street, Long Island City. He is the owner of the largest, finest and most complete meat market in Queens County, and his refrig- erators, one of which is always kept below zero, are filled with ice of his own manufacturing, he being the owner of an ice plant.

Mr. Bowley is a native of New York City, born in the year 1853, and is the son of Jacob F. and Rosanna (Drexzel) Bowley, the former a native of Stuttgart, Germany, and the latter of Austria. The grandfather was a prominent farmer of Ger- many and our subject was named after him. Jacob F. Bowley was with Kossuth in the war in. Germany in 1849, and the same year came

here as an exile with him. For many years he resided in New York City, but spent the closing scenes of his life with our subject, dying March, 1891. Mrs. Bowley now makes her home in Poughkeepsie. Of the four children born to this estimable couple our subject is the eldest in order of birth. The others are: George, who conducts a meat market in Astoria; Edward, a barber in New York City, and Mrs. J. Schleth.

Frederick Bowley received good educational advantages up to the age of twelve years, attend- ing the grammar schools of New York City, but at that age was bound out for five years to learn the butcher's trade and soon became familiar with every detail of the business. He then went West for one year and worked at his trade in Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Kansas and Nebraska, but sub- sequently returned to New York City, where he continued his business for a year, being in the employ of a Mr. Korb. After that he started out in business for himself, but owing to too much credit succumbed to the panic of 1873.

Following this Mr. Bowley entered the employ of Richard Webber, of the Harlem Packing House, the largest industry of the kind in the world, and continued with him for seven years. He first received $10 per week, but subsequently, becoming buyer and manager, received $50 per week and expenses. Having saved up consid- erable means, by 1882 he branched out in busi- ness for himself again in One Hundred and Thir- teenth Street, New York City, and carried on a retail meat market there until 1887. Then pur- chasing a lot in Astoria, Long Island City, he started a branch store and conducted both the New York City market as well as the one in Astoria until 1888, when he sold out the former. He is now the owner of five lots in Astoria and four good business houses. His market is 75x109 feet, with an L 50x75 feet. Two of his three stores are for retail business and No. 204 for wholesale purposes. Mr. Bowley also has two branch stores, one at Jamaica Avenue and Win- ans Street, and the other at the corner of Free- man Avenue and Radde Street. Besides these he has a branch at Flushing, where he does a wholesale and retail business.

Mr. Bowley's refrigerators, five in number, are of these dimensions: First, 25x65 feet; second, 15x17 feet ; third, 13x16, for smoked meat; fourth, 5×12, order box, and fifth, 4x12, for pickled meat and poultry. He receives his water supply from three artesian wells and a large cistern, supplies

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his own electric light and manufactures his own ice. He has twenty wagons out in the city, em- ploys fifty hands, and is doing an astonishing amount of business. Orders are called for and delivered promptly, and to every order the most careful attention is given by courteous and ex- perienced assistants, while the most moderate prices prevail. Mr. Bowley is a great lover of horseflesh and is the owner of "Dandy," whose record is 2:37, and "May H." 2:15.

Mr. Bowley resides above his store, and his home is kept in admirable condition by his esti- mable wife, formerly Miss Annie Poies, who was born in New York City, and who is of Holland- Dutch extraction. They have no children living, but adopted and reared three children. Mr. and Mrs. Bowley are both very liberal and generous. In 1893 the former used every endeavor to se- cure the assistance of two or three leading busi- ness men, with himself, in renting a place of the city, and he agreed to stock the place with meat for the poor of the city. He could not get them interested, however, and he and Mrs. Bowley donated $1,000 to the poor and distributed tick- ets to clergymen of all denominations to give to all deserving people five hundred loaves of bread every other day and two pounds of meat to each, this good work to be carried on from the Ist of November to the Ist of April.

Mr. Bowley was recently elected alderman at large of the second district on the Jefferson Democrat ticket, and is also a member of the General Improvement Commission. He has never affiliated with any particular party and is independent in his political views. Socially he is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and also an honorary member of the Queens County Ath- letic Club.

F REDERICK BOGEN belongs to a class familiar to us as self-made men. He is not indebted to fortuitous circumstances for the success which has come to him, no legacies have descended to him and no accidents have be- friended him. His watchword, work, has been the secret of his success and it stands for a long road and one hard to travel, but he traversed it boldly and perseveringly in his youth and early manhood with good results. Mr. Bogen was born in Rheinpfalz, Germany, May 22, 1842, a son of Ludwig and Eleanora (Hess) Bogen, also natives of Rheinpfalz, the former a baker by trade.

He died at the age of forty-two years, after which his widow and four children (two of whom lived to grow up) came to America. Mrs. Bogen, who has passed her eighty-third milestone, but is yet hale and hearty, makes her home in Brooklyn with her son Fred.

In his native land Fred Bogen attended the public schools until fourteen, when he was ap- prenticed to learn the barber's trade. After com- pleting the trade he worked at it until he entered the German army in 1864, being a member of Company 9, Third Battalion. He was in the Austro-Prussian War in 1866 and was in the battles of Kissingen and Carlten Nordtheim, after which he worked at his trade for one year. May 18, 1867, he landed in New York from the steamer "Atlanta" and at once opened a barber shop there, but continued it but a short time when he went to Freehold, N. J., where nine months were spent. The following year was spent in New York and Brooklyn, and in the former city he was married on the 23d of February, 1869, to Miss Margareta Gerhart, also a native of Ger- many. Soon after this Mr. Bogen took up his abode on Franklin Street, Greenpoint, Brooklyn, and worked at his trade for five years, the follow- ing six years being spent as a liquor dealer. Au- gust 20, 1880, he came to Blissville, Long Island City, and became the proprietor of a grocery, hay and feed store, at the corner of Greenpoint and Star Avenues, and was very successfully engaged in business at that place up to 1890, when he sold out his stock, leased his houses and retired to his beautiful residence, No. 138 Newell Street, Brook- lyn. He still owns valuable property in Long Island City: the residence at No. 108 Star Ave- nue, a three story double house, each with a twenty-five foot frontage, the residence at No. IOI Pearsall Street, and three large store build- ings.

Mr. Bogen's family consists of three children : Fred, Jr., who is in business in Greenpoint, Brook- lyn; Eliza, Mrs. Klabaur, of Greenpoint; and Henry, who is attending Bryant & Stratton's Business College. Mr. Bogen has always been a Republican, and is usually a delegate to that party's conventions. He is past conductor of Herder Lodge, F. & A. M., of Greenpoint, and for twenty-three years has been a member of Mt. Ararat Lodge, I. O. O. F., of the same place. He also belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen of Greenpoint, and has been its treas- urer ever since he joined it, five years ago. He

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is a member of the Beethoven Leiderkranz Mu- sical Society and the Germania Benevolent So- ciety. He is treasurer of the Lincoln Club, of Long Island City, purchased the house for the club and is one of its charter members. He and his family are attendants of the German Lutheran Church of Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

C HRISTIAN ANDERSEN, proprietor of Ft. Andersen, North Beach, and deputy sheriff of Queens County, was born in Flensburg, Denmark, October 19, 1842, and was a member of a family consisting of eight children, of whom four are living. His parents were An- drew J. and Marie (Johansen) Andersen, the for- mer a Dane by birth, and for twenty-five years the incumbent of an office the equivalent of that of constable in the United States. He spent his entire life in his native land, where he died about I863.

The first fourteen years of our subject's life were passed beneath the parental roof and in at- tendance at the Danish schools. In 1856 he took passage on a sailing vessel for New York City, where he arrived after a voyage of sixty-eight days. Though he had but $3 in his pocket, he paid all liabilities the Saturday following his ar- rival. Without any loss of time he secured em- ployment at the trade of a cigarmaker, at which he had served a short apprenticeship prior to coming to America. At this trade he worked about eleven years, and in 1867 he embarked in the cigar business for himself, opening a store on Third Avenue. Three years later he removed to the corner of Fifty-ninth Street and Third Ave- nue, and after two years in that location, in 1872 he moved his store to Astoria, where he was successfully engaged until 1876. He then opened a public house, which he conducted until 1879, and during that year he removed to the White House, which was later named Andersen Square by the board of aldermen, through the courtesy of Patrick J. Gleason, mayor of Long Island City.

Disposing of his interests there in 1889, Mr. Andersen came to North Beach and established his present business. During the intervening years Ft. Andersen has become one of the popu- lar resorts for picnic parties and those seeking a pleasant day of recreation during the summer months. In 1867 our subject married Miss Julia S. Müeller, of New York City, and thirteen chil- dren were born of their union, of whom the fol-

lowing survive: Andrew J., who is married, has one child, and is a practicing physician of Long Island City ; Christian J., who is married and has one child, and is at this writing a student in a law school in New York City; Amiel J., who is married, and assists his father in the manage- ment of his business; Marie, wife of Carl Klein, a machinist of Brooklyn; Sophia and Lottie, who are with their parents.

In 1872 Mr. Andersen was the nominee, on the Republican ticket, for the office of alderman of the nineteenth ward, but was defeated by Christian Schwartz. In 1878 he was appointed deputy sheriff under Alonzo B. Wright and has served in that capacity continuously since that time. Socially he has been a Mason since 1872, and in 1876 built the Advance Lodge, No. 635, building of Long Island City, of which his son Andrew is the present master. He has always supported public enterprises and takes a warm interest in all municipal affairs.

A. CONROY HAYNES. Probably no bus- iness man in Far Rockaway is more shrewd, careful and persistent in his un- dertakings than Mr. Haynes, who is a member of the firm of Haynes Brothers, and the sole man- ager of the business since the death of his brother. In this village he is known and honored as a capable and efficient young man, and the success which so early in life has crowned his efforts proves the possession on his part of superior intelligence and ability. The business was estab- lished here by L. W. Gullager in 1892, and was purchased in June, 1893, by William P. Haynes, our subject being taken in as partner in February, 1894. The senior member of the firm died Sep- tember 21, 1895, since which time his brother, our subject, has controlled the business, which is still carried on under the name of Haynes Brothers.

The father of our subject, Edgar J. Haynes, formerly of Brooklyn, but now connected with the United States sub-treasury in New York, mar- ried Julia F. Cooney, of Albany, and they became the parents of five sons and four daughters, of whom six are now living. They are named as fol- lows: George P., clerk in the Continental Bank of New York; Edgar J., Jr., a special agent of the Springfield Fire Insurance Company of Massa- chusetts; A. Conroy; Mary E., wife of Gilbert

JOHN J. RANDALL.

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C. Bedau, of Brooklyn; Agnes and Grace Fran- ces, who are at home.

The birth of our subject took place in Jersey City, August 12, 1870. In 1873 the family re- moved to Washington, D. C., where the father was connected with the United States Treasury Department from 1872 until 1876. Returning to Brooklyn in the latter year, the son was given a public school education in that city, attending School No. 35. His first position was in the post- office at Far Rockaway, where he was employed by Mr. Jennings about two years. Later for three years he was with Andrew McTigue, one of the prominent real-estate men here. Meanwhile he had formed a large acquaintance and had also become familiar with the business, two things which were helpful to him afterward when start- ing out for himself. Two years were spent as coupon clerk in the Continental National Bank of New York, where he gained a reputation as an excellent clerk. However, the illness of his broth- er, who was engaged in the real-estate business at Far Rockaway, changed his plans and caused him to return here, where he has since remained. He seems to have a natural adaptability for the real estate business, and being familiar with values, he is frequently called upon for the appraisal of prop- erty, as his judgment is considered sound. In addition to his regular work, he has the agency for several properties here and carries on a good insurance business, also has been of much assist- ance to those needing clerical work, which they a were unable to do themselves. In his political opinions he was reared in a stanch faith of Re- publican doctrines and supports that party with loyalty.

J JOHN J. RANDALL. Classed among the prominent and highly honored citizens of Freeport, L. I., stands the name of John J. Randall, whose record for honesty and upright- ness stands second to none. He was born in Suf- folk County in 1845, a son of Jehial W. and Marietta (Morehouse) Randall. The father was also a native of Suffolk County, and spent his entire life there. A public spirited and thorough- going citizen, he gave his hearty support to all worthy enterprises. He held a number of local positions, discharged the duties most efficiently, and was highly respected by all who knew him. His wife, who was born in Fairfield, Conn., is

still living, although she has reached the vener- able age of four score and two years.

John J. Randall had the advantages of the dis- trict schools during his youth and subsequently attended school for a time at Port Jefferson, L. I. He grew up on the farm of his father and when sixteen years old went to sea, making several trips. Not liking the "life on the ocean wave" he returned home and began learning the car- penter's trade, and after completing it engaged in business with his brother in Brooklyn. They followed building for ten years and then, on ac- count of failing health, John J. sold his interest in the business and purchased a farm in Suffolk County. After tilling the soil for about four years he returned to Brooklyn and embarked in building and selling, meeting with unusual suc- cess. Later he took in as partner W. G. Miller and the firm, which became Randall & Miller, is still doing business in Brooklyn.

In 1885 Mr. Randall came to Freeport, and came and went daily from Brooklyn for eight years. For the past two years he has been quite busy with affairs at Freeport. He has bought and built some of the handsomest buildings in this section and is a popular and influential business man. He is president of and a large owner in the Freeport Land Company, and he and his part- ner have about five hundred acres here and much other land besides. Mr. Randall is now com- pleting a very fine residence for himself in Ran- dall Park and this, when completed, will contain all the modern improvements up to date.

Mr. Randall selected his life companion in the person of Miss Sarah J. Davis of Port Jefferson, L. I. She died about ten years after their mar- riage, leaving one son, Ernest S., who is a grad- uate of Columbia College and now a successful architect. In 1880 Mr. Randall was again mar- ried, his second wife being Miss Mary F. Over- ton, daughter of Hampton Overton of Suffolk County. The; have two children, Lena F. and J. J., Jr. The parents are members of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church and Mr. Randall was very instrumental in the founding of the church at Freeport. It now has three hundred members and a Sabbath-school of five hundred. In poli- tics Mr. Randall is a stanch supporter of Repub- lican principles and has abiding faith in his party.

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Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 25

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