Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 32

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 32

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In former years Mr. O'Donnell was connected with the State Grange and was master of the local board of Patrons of Husbandry. He aided in founding the Jamaica Farmers' Club, of which he is now president. While he carried on an inde- pendent newspaper, he has personally supported Democratic candidates when they were the best men. He is regarded as one of the party leaders, and though refusing office for himself, has been active in aiding his friends. In local politics he has always struck out for himself, entirely un- hampered by the rules or demands of party lead- ers. He has supported Republicans without hesi- tation when he believed they would prove more

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faithful as public officers than their Democratic opponents, and the force of his arguments and ac- tive work have, on a number of elections in the county, determined the result.

During all these years of his stanch advocacy of Democratic principles he has always been a firm friend and admirer of Grover Cleveland. Since his retirement from the paper he has spent his time at his quiet bachelor home near Jamaica, devoting his attention to the management of his farm, but when any matter of public importance is presented he is as ready as ever to give it his time, thought and financial support, when con- vinced that the result will be beneficial to the peo- ple and advantageous to the place.

It may be easily inferred from the foregoing resume of a part of Mr. O'Donnell's fighting life that he is a man who has many strong friends and some bitter enemies.

C ARMAN PEASELL. Characteristic of the American is the ability to change his line of business and achieve success in what he undertakes. Of the old adage, "a rolling stone gathers no moss," the reverse may often be said to be true if accompanied by true spirit. For- tunate is he who can-when times are troublous and circumstances hard-keep his eye fixed on the goal and forge ahead to grasp success as a reward for his striving. A gentleman who pos- sesses this business talent to an eminent degree is Carman Peasell, who is engaged in the furni- ture, undertaking and house-furnishing business in Freeport. Like many of the most successful business men of this place, Mr. Peasell is a na- tive of Long Island, born at Pearsall's, now Lynbrook, in 1827, and he is the son of Will- iam and Betsy (Carman) Peasell.

The parents were natives of Long Island and here spent the most of their lives. During his lifetime the father was a boatman and was thus occupied at the time of his death in 1852. He was a man of most excellent principles and was highly regarded by all who made his acquaint- ance. His wife was born in 1803 and is still liv- ing (1896), in the enjoyment of comparative good health. Their son, Carman Peasell, had very lim- ited educational advantages during his youth, receiving his training in what was known as the pay school, which was in session about three months of the year. Only the wealthy could edu- cate their children in these.

When thirteen years old young Peasell left the parental roof and came to Raynortown, now Freeport, and made his home with Willet Ray- nor, who was a farmer and fisherman, remaining with him for three years. . After that he went to New York City and served an apprenticeship with a cabinetmaker and later learned ship-joining. For some time afterward he was engaged in mak- ing architectural patterns for houses, but in 1861 he was in the navy yard in Brooklyn, where for some time he was engaged in making gun car- riages. In 1864 he began the manufacture of ex- tension tables on his own account at Brooklyn, N. Y., but ten years later suffered a heavy loss by fire. Afterward he began manufacturing stereoscopes and graphoscopes and was thus oc- cupied until 1876, when he established a furniture business in Brooklyn. He again suffered consid- erable loss by fire and in the month of February, 1886, came to Freeport, where he has ever since been engaged in the furniture, undertaking and house-furnishing business. His stock is complete and his business lucrative.

Mr. Peasell was married July 3, 1848, to Miss Harriet A. Earle, a native of New Jersey and daughter of Thomas Earle. Of the seven children born of this union only one survives, George W., who is engaged in business with his father, and who has passed his days thus far in Brooklyn and Freeport. In 1879 George Peasell married Min- nie F. Watson, daughter of William Watson, for- merly of Brooklyn, but now of Freeport. Three children bless this union: William Carman, Hat- tie and Mildred. For about fifty years Mr. and Mrs. Peasell have been worthy members of the Methodist Church and take a deep interest in its progress. Mr. Peasell is a Mason and in politics is a stanch Republican, his first vote being cast for Zachary Taylor. He has never aspired to political positions and is a citizen who stands high in church and social circles.

A DOLPH G. RAVE, M. D., of New Hyde- park, was born in Guttenberg, N. J., June 20, 1870, and at the age of seven years ac- companied his father to Hicksville, L. I., where he attended the public schools and Professor Bussman's Academy. At the age of eleven he entered St. Paul's School at Garden City, Queens County, where he remained two years, meantime taking a course in grammar, English and Latin. When thirteen he was confirmed in the German

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Lutheran Church, of which denomination he has since been a member.

For seven years our subject assisted his father in the drug business, meantime studying phar- macy. At the age of nineteen he entered the New York College of Pharmacy, where he was a stu- dent for two years. In 1890 he took up the study of medicine in the medical department of the New York University, where the two succeeding years were spent. It had been his intention to pursue his studies uninterruptedly until graduation, but in 1892 his uncle, Herman Rave, of Cleveland, Ohio, urged him to take charge of his large drug business in that city, as he was obliged to make a trip to Europe. This he did, and while his stu- dies were temporarily interrupted, the experience was a profitable one to him. In April, 1893, he entered the Academy of Medicine at Louisville, Ky., from which he graduated June 20, 1893, on the anniversary of his birth.

Returning to his native place, the young Doc- tor soon afterward passed the New York state regents' examination at Albany and received a license to practice in the state. He then com- menced professional work with his father, remain- ing with him until the fall of the same year, when he moved to the village of New Hydepark. Here he has since engaged in practice, having a large clientage among the people of the village and sur- rounding country. In November, 1894, he mar- ried Elizabeth, daughter of Christopher Kiefer, of New Hydepark, where she was born. One child, Lili, blesses the union.

Politically Dr. Rave is independent. Socially he belongs to Glencove Lodge No. 580, F. & A. M .; U. S. Grant Council No. 1325, Legion of Honor, in New Hydepark, in which he has passed all the chairs and is now commander and med- ical examiner, and New Hydepark Lodge No. 3, Shield of Honor, in which he is now junior mas- ter. He is medical examiner for the Prudential Insurance Company, of Newark, N. J., and is also connected with the Queens County Medical As- sociation.

J JOHN STERNBERG has had a very success- ful career since locating in Schuetzen Park in 1872, and now is the owner of one of the most comfortable homes in the place. He has followed contracting and building during the greater part of his life and is well known all over the island, for his work has often called him long

distances from home. In 1836 his birth occurred in Mecklenburg, Germany, which was also the birthplace of his father, John Sternberg. After starting out in life the latter became a builder, which occupation he followed until his decease, which occurred when he was fifty-five years of age. His wife, Christine Meske, also passed her entire life in the Fatherland.

The parental family included nine children, of whom only four are now living. According to the custom in Germany, our subject attended school until a lad of fourteen years, when, his father being in limited circumstances, he began work as a carpenter's apprentice. After master- ing the trade in all its details he traveled as a journeyman throughout Germany and Denmark. In 1866 he took advantage of an opportunity to come to America, and after remaining in Bos- ton for a short time, came to New York. There he worked at his trade for a year, then removed to Highland Falls, where he was engaged by a large contractor. Later he was in the employ of the government at West Point, and in 1872 we find him located in Long Island City, purchasing a place on Broadway, in Schuetzen Park, which was just beginning to be built up. Being one of the first contractors and builders to make perinanent residence here, he had all that he could do to erect dwellings for those who were moving in. Mr. Sternberg is also well known all over the island, having erected many public and private buildings at Bayridge, Rockville Center and Jamaica. He has also done considerable work in New York City, and wherever employed, never fails to give satisfaction. Although now nearly sixty years of age, Mr. Sternberg is still actively engaged in business. In addition to doing work by contract, he has erected many dwellings of his own which he has never failed to sell at a good profit when- ever he desired to dispose of them. He has asso- ciated with him his son William, an architect of no mean skill, and who gives his attention almost entirely to this branch of the work. In 1887 Mr. Sternberg remodeled his residence, so that it is now one of the most modern and handsomest in the park.

The subject of this sketch was married in Ger- many to Miss Dorothy Lyhr, a native of Hanover. Of the five children granted them three are now living: William, whom we have spoken of as en- gaged in business with his father; Mary, at home, and Gustav, who is carrying on a splendid trade as a jeweler in Brooklyn.

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Socially Mr. Sternberg belongs to Astoria Lodge No. 186, K. of P., the Hara Gara Society, the Turners Society and the Frohsinn Singing So- ciety. Almost all the members of the Sternberg family for many generations back have adhered to the faith of the Lutheran Church. In politics our subject is a straightforward Republican. He is always ready to assist in any worthy movement for the general good and as one of the old-time residents of Schuetzen Park, he commands the respect and confidence of its best citizens.

J OHN H. SMITH, of Corona, was born in Eighth Avenue, Harlem Lane, New York City, September 29, 1836, being a son of John H. and Eliza Ann (Shearwood) Smith. His father, who was born in New York, near the Con- necticut line, was a son of Shadrack and Mary (Lockwood) Smith. Grandfather Smith was a Revolutionary soldier, and his home, which was in the line of march, was so raided that there was not anything left to be cooked nor any utensil in which to cook. After the raiders had gone by the grandmother went out to look for something that might be utilized for cooking vessels and finally was obliged to use an old plow share.

Of the seven children of John H. Smith, Sr., we note the following: Sarah died unmarried in 1894; Isaac S. is a resident of Flushing, L. I .; Mary died at the age of nine years; Daniel E. is deceased; John H. is next in order of birth; Thomas G., who lives in Corona, married Anna P., daughter of Col. John Bradshaw, of Salisbury, N. C., and they have one child, Grace B .; Edwin A., a resident of Westchester County, married Emma, daughter of John Striker, late of Locust Grove. Of these children, all older than our subject were born in New York, and those younger were born near Corona.

The father, who was a farmer by occupation, came to Corona in 1837, when this was an entirely new country. What is now known as Corona Heights was once a part of his farm, which our subject helped to clear, later laying it out into vil- lage lots. The senior Mr. Smith was a Democrat in politics, but never sought nor held public of- fice. He attended the Dutch Reformed Church at Newtown and was buried there when he died, in 1852. Our subject attended school in Corona, and the old building in which he conducted his primary studies is still standing, being used as a

stable by Mr. Cunningham. For a time he was also a pupil in a subscription school.

The death of his father, when he was about sixteen, caused our subject to turn his attention to the cultivation of the home farm. Later he began to take contracts for building streets and laying out new towns, being thus engaged in Co- rona, Newtown, Laurelhill, Blissville, Flushing, Flushing Park, Palisades Park (N. J.), Union Race Course, Ozone Park and throughout the central part of Georgia. Politically he is an in- dependent Democrat and voted for Breckenridge in 1860. Of those men in Queens County who were drafted at the time of the Rebellion, he was the only one who reported for duty, but he was not sent out, the town filling the required quota ; while his brother, Thomas, who was drafted, paid twelve hundred dollars for a substitute. He is a man of business ability, honest in every transac- tion, faithful in carrying out his contracts and energetic in the performance of every duty.

G EORGE P. SCHNURR, who is engaged in the mercantile business in New Hyde- park, was born in the city of Brooklyn in 1863. His father, Philip, spent his entire life in his native country, Germany, where he died prior to the birth of his only child, our subject. Very soon after his demise his widow came to America and settled in Brooklyn. Three years later she removed to Jamaica and there resided for some time. George P. was educated in the public schools of Jamaica and under the careful training of his mother grew to manhood, fitted for the responsible duties of life.

The first enterprise in which Mr. Schnurr en- gaged was the milk business, which he followed for five years in Brooklyn, making his home in that city in the meantime. In 1890 he established a grocery business in Queens, which he conducted until his removal to New Hydepark, in March, 1895. Purchasing the stock and business of J. V. Bayless, he at once took a leading place among the business men of the village, and by his upright dealings with all has risen to a position of promi- nence among the people. He carries in stock a full assortment of dry goods and groceries, as well as all articles to be found in a first-class country store.

While Mr. Schnurr is identified with the Repub- lican party, he is liberal in sentiment and concedes to others the right of freedom of opinion which

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he demands for himself. Socially he is a mem- ber of the Shield of Honor, belonging to Lodge No. 3. at New Hydepark. In the U. S. Grant Council No. 1325, Legion of Honor, at Queens, he has served as chaplain. He was a charter and is now an honorary member of Queens Hook and Ladder Company No. I, and for a number of years held the position of trustee. June 12, 1886, he married Miss Matilda Hudson. an estimable lady, who passed away February 2, 1887. Since that time his aged mother has resided with him. He is an enterprising business man, and in addi- tion to the sales in his store also has two wagons on the road disposing of goods among the people of the community.

J OHN A. TURNER, the well-known real es- tate dealer of Corona, was born in Flushing, L. I., April 29, 1856, and is a son of William and Mary (Wheeler) Turner, natives of New York and of Irish ancestry. The father, who learned the trade of a painter, later became a contractor and builder and made large investments in real estate. In 1849 he removed from the city to Flushing, where he remained until his death in 1876, at the age of fifty-four. In 1857, during the administra- tion of President Buchanan, he was appointed master painter of the navy yard at Brooklyn, which responsible position he held until there was a change in the administration. Afterward he was elected justice of the peace in the town of Flushing and served one term in that capacity. During the period of the Civil War he was engaged in filling the quota of soldiers for Queens County until 1864, when he was chosen by his fellow-citizens to represent them in the Assem- bly, and he served one term in that office, giving satisfaction to his constituents and proving his own superior ability. On retiring from politics he entered the hotel business, building the Hoffman House at Flushing Bay, and naming it in honor of his particular friend, Governor Hoffman. He continued in that business until his death. Throughout his entire active life he maintained a deep interest in local affairs and the welfare of the people. Politically he was an old line Whig, and upon the disintegration of that party became a Democrat. In fraternal relations he was iden- tified with the Masonic fraternity.

Of the twelve children who comprised the parental family only four attained years of maturi- ty. They are as follows: Mrs. Jane A. Welden,

of Corona, who has one child; John A .; William, a single man living in New York, and Stephen Augustine, also unmarried and living in New York. Our subject attended the public schools of Flushing and at the age of twelve entered St. Boniface Academy, from which he graduated at the age of seventeen. On leaving school he be- came a messenger and check clerk in the Flushing and Queens County Bank at Flushing, where he remained about fifteen months. For two years afterward he was employed in the county clerk's office at Jamaica, and in 1877 began to work for the American News Company in New York, con- tinuing with them for ten years. In 1887 he took charge of the shipping rooms of Stremsky, Rei- man & Co., of New York, and held that position for two years, after which, in December, 1889, he took a similar position with Jones Brothers, wholesale dealers in tea and coffee, remaining with that firm until September, 1891.

April 10, 1887, at Winfield, L. I., Mr. Turner was united in marriage with Miss Mary A. Nolan, of Newtown, and they are the parents of two chil- dren living, Mary and James Nolan. Politically our subject is a Democrat and cast his first presi- dential ballot for General Hancock in 1880, since which time he has never lost an opportunity to vote for the candidates of his chosen party. At this writing he is serving as clerk of the board of assessors. He was reared in the faith of the Cath- olic Church, into which he was confirmed at the age of fourteen years, and to the support of which he has since contributed.

P HILIP P. SCOTT. In modern times the necessity of sanitary plumbing has come to be understood by the majority of the peo- ple, who realize that many of the fever scourges and epidemics of previous years might have been prevented had proper sanitary precautions been taken. To this occupation Mr. Scott has devoted himself from an early age and in it he has attained a proficiency that renders his opinion and work valuable. Since 1886 he has made his home in Far Rockaway, where he has a place of business in Central Avenue.

The parents of our subject, Peter M. and Cath- erine (Conine) Scott, were born in County Clare, Ireland, and near Albany, N. Y., respectively, and died at the ages of fifty-eight and forty-eight years. The father, who was a plumber by trade, engaged in business at Utica, N. Y., for some years. Of

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his seven children Philip P. and Mrs. Mary E. Perry, of Utica, N. Y., are the only survivors. Our subject was born in the city of New York, May 15, 1858, and was quite young when the family removed to Utica, where he attended the public schools. Under his father's instruction he learned the plumber's trade, and at the age of nineteen, going to New York City, he worked at his chosen occupation wherever he had an oppor- tunity. Being a good workman, he commanded fair wages, but did not succeed in saving much money until he began in business for himself. While New York City was his place of abode, he called Utica his home, and there he cast his first presidential vote for James A. Garfield. After about four years in New York he came to Far Rockaway, where, without any assistance finan- cially, he has built up a good business in the line of sanitary plumbing.

The marriage of Mr. Scott united him with Miss Josephine H. Mott, who was born in Far Rockaway, and is a member of the Episcopal Church here. They are the parents of a son, Peter McGregor. A stanch Republican, our sub- ject can give a good reason for the faith that is in him. From the fact that he has proved a good business man, his fellow-citizens judged that he would be equally efficient in public affairs, and they therefore elected him president of the village and a member of the village board. His adminis- tration is spoken of as one of the best the place has ever had, and he was instrumental in effecting many needed improvements. In his fraternal re- lations he is connected with the Masons and the Foresters.

J AMES B. VAN OSTEN. The love of beauty of surroundings was a prominent character- istic of Greeks and Romans, but no less is it a quality of this latter civilization. James B. Van Osten, art decorator and house and sign painter, of Hunter's Point, Long Island City, is one whose thorough knowledge and practical ex- perience in his line of business have placed him among the foremost business men of the place. He was born in Chicago, Ill., March 6, 1860, to the marriage of F. W. and Tillie (Wilson) Van Osten, the former a native of Philadelphia, Pa., and the latter of Chicago, Ill. The Van Osten family came originally from Holland to this coun- try and settled in the Keystone State. Great- great-grandfather Van Osten was a commis-

sioned officer in the Revolutionary War and died for independence. James B. Van Osten, grand- father of our subject, was a native of Chester County, Pa., and for many years followed the trade of carpenter and builder. Later, in part- nership with his son, F. W., he embarked as a commission merchant, and continued this until his death.

F. W. Van Osten is a graduate of Philadelphia College, and when a young man he went to Chi- cago, Ill., where for a few years he was engaged in the commission business. There he married, but subsequently returned to Philadelphia, where with his father he was engaged in the commission business under the firm name of J. B. Van Osten & Co. The business was carried on until the death of James B. Van Osten, when F. W. con- ducted it for some time without a partner. After that he was engaged in carriage-bolt manufac- turing in Philadelphia, and is following that at the present time. Mrs. Van Osten was the daugh- ter of William Wilson, who was an old settler in Chicago. She died in early life, leaving three children, a son and two daughters, all now living.

The son, who is the subject of this notice, and the youngest of the family, is the only Van Osten in the Empire State. He secured a good educa- tion in the Philadelphia public and high schools and finished at Andelusia College of that city in 1874. Having a decided taste for art and deco- rating, he started in the business, and subse- quently learned painting, paper-hanging, etc., continuing the same for many years. In 1882 he became traveling salesman for Janeway & Co., of New Brunswick, and represented this firm for six years. He met with an unusual degree of success, being well posted and enterprising, but later left this company and worked in the same capacity for A. L. Diament & Co., of Philadel- phia, representing them in Pennsylvania and New York until 1890. In that year he left the road and embarked in business in partnership with William F. Morton, under the title of Morton & Van Osten, and opened a store at No. 46 Jack- son Avenue, Long Island City.

In 1892 Mr. Van Osten bought out his partner and has continued alone ever since. He carries a select assortment of wall paper, paints, oils, etc .. and does wholesale and retail mixing and color grinding. He does work all over the island and in Brooklyn and New York City, many of the finest buildings in these cities having been deco- rated and finished by him. He is considered

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authority in the matter of art decorating, and his wide, extensive trade corroborates this fact. Sign work is also one of his specialties.

Mr. Van Osten was married in Long Island City to Miss Emma Laws, a native of that place and daughter of J. Robert Laws, who is assistant postmaster here. They have two children, Emma and Adell. In politics Mr. Van Osten is an active Republican, and socially is a member of the Lin- coln Club. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, but as there is no church of that denom- ination in Hunter's Point, he attends the Baptist Church, in which his wife holds membership. He is leader of the choir and a fine tenor singer.

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Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 32

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