Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 37

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 37

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His education, commenced in the public schools, our subject completed in the University of the City of New York, where he took a course of three years. The death of his father, in 1876, caused him to leave the university and prevented him from completing a course in civil engineer- ing, for pressing farm duties kept him at home. In 1880 he was united in marriage with Miss Alice A., daughter of Cornelius Amberman, of Spring- field. They are the parents of two daughters, namely: Mabel F., a bright girl of thirteen, and Alice Cecilia, who is one year old.

In the Methodist Church, of which he is an ac- tive member, Mr. Higbie holds the offices of treas- urer and trustee and he is also leader of the choir. He is active in the work of the Epworth League and is the second vice-president of the Brooklyn district. Associated with the Good Templars in their great work, he holds the office of past grand marshal and is a member of the board of state managers and county deputy of Queens County lodges. Politically he always supports Repub- lican principles. He is serving his fourth term of three years each as a member of the board of school trustees and for four years has been presi- dent of the board of education. In this conncc- tion, while his work has required considerable thought, yet it has been amply repaid, for the

school is well graded and now ranks among the best in the county. In 1891 he was chosen to occupy the position of commissioner of highways, and notwithstanding the fact that he is a strong Republican, while the town at that time was Dem- ocratic by a decided majority, he was elected to fill the office-and that, too, without special ef- fort on his part-which shows that he is popular among his fellow citizens. He is generous and obliging in his intercourse with others and is al- ways interested in whatever will advance the pros- perity of Springfield and the town of Jamaica.

G EORGE ILCH. Geologists acquaint us with the fact that our great coal beds are but the remains of primeval forests which the action of the elements through innumerable ages has changed into its present state. What- ever its radical condition was, the provision of wise nature for the comfort of man is apparent, for fuel is necessary for life on three-quarters of the globe. The well-known firm of George Ilch & Sons do a very extensive retail business in coal and wood, and their facilities are corresponding- ly large, being such as to enable them to furnish all kinds of family and steam coal, charcoal, hard wood, etc., and to execute large and small com- missions with exceptional promptness. The yards are located in Tenth Street, between Sixth and Seventh Avenues, College Point, and are sufficiently spacious to accommodate a very large stock. Steam power is used in hoisting and un- loading coal, also for sawing wood, so that it can be furnished, cut to any desired dimensions, with- out delay. Employment is given to eleven men, and the teaming facilities are proportionally ex- tensive, four and five teams being in use for de- livery purposes. The firm is composed of George Ilch and his two sons, H. and A. F. Ilch.

One of the oldest and most highly respected men in College Point, Mr. Ilch is a native of Baden Baden, Germany, born April 1, 1830. His parents, Michael and Elizabeth (Eberhart) Ilch, were natives of the old country and there spent their entire lives. The father was a manufac- turer and distiller and also followed the cooper's trade. The children born to this estimable couple were seven in number, and two of these, Michacl and David, besides our subject, came to Amcrica. George Ilch grew to, mature years in Germany, where he attended school, and when fourteen years old was apprenticed to learn litho-

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graphing. Not liking this, however, he gave it up at the end of a year and then began learning the baker's trade, which he followed at Strasburg, Alsace, for three years. In 1851 he came to America, taking passage on the sailer "Ava- lanche," at Havre, and reaching New York City after six weeks' voyage. In Brooklyn he worked at his trade for four years, and in September, 1855, came to College Point when there were very few houses here. At first he rented a bak- ery shop in Seventh Avenue and in 1856 he built and remodeled it, carrying on the business for thirty-three years. In 1857 he started in his pres- ent business, dealing principally in wood then, and about twelve years later began handling coal also. For a number of years he also carried on farming. He built two residences and owns oth- ers in the city, and has ever been wideawake, stirring and industrious.

In the month of September, 1855, Mr. Ilch was married in Brooklyn to Miss Elizabeth Stark, a native of Bavaria, and they came immediately to College Point, where Mrs. Ilch died January 28, 1888. Five children were born to them: Eliza, Mrs. Kraemer; Emma, Mrs. Muell; and Freda. Mrs. Barth, all of College Point; and Herman and Alfred, both in the coal business with their father. Mr. Ilch has been trustee of College Point six years, chairman of the water works com- mittee and also street commissioner. Socially he is a member of the Harmony Society, of which he was treasurer. For eight years he was in the Eagle Hook and Ladder Company, No. I, and is a charter member of the first company here. For many years he has been an Odd Fellow, be- ing a charter member of the lodge here. In re- ligion he is a Lutheran, and in politics was for- merly a Lincoln man, but is now independent.

B ENJAMIN W. SCHENCK, who operates a farm situated six miles southeast of Flushing, in the town of the same name, was born in this locality in February, 1846, being a son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Remson) Schenck. On his father's side he is a member of a family long identified with the history of Queens Coun- ty. His paternal grandfather, Abraham Schenck, was a native of Great Neck, where he engaged in farm pursuits until his death. Daniel, who was also a native of Great Neck and a farmer by occu- pation, was a prominent member and official of the Reformed Church of Manhasset; he died at

the old homestead in 1892, having survived his wife many years. In his family there were five children: Maria, widow of Peter Walters; Wil- liam, deceased; Benjamin W .; Susan, who mar- ried John Haviland, a farmer of Little Neck; and Daniel R., who resides on the old home- stead at Great Neck.

The first independent business enterprise made by our subject was when he was twenty-seven years of age. Then, forming a partnership with Peter Walters, a brother-in-law, he embarked in the mercantile business at Little Neck, carrying on a general store under the firm title of Walters & Schenck. After fifteen years Mr. Walters died and C. A. Van Nostrand was taken into partner- ship, the firm of Schenck & Van Nostrand con- ducting business for three years, when they sold to the present proprietors, Sutphen Brothers. At the same time our subject settled at the old home of John Hicks, his father-in-law, where he has since engaged in farming. Politically he is lib- eral in his views and independent in his vote.

. In May, 1879, Mr. Schenck married Emma L. Hicks, whose father, John Hicks, was a well- known farmer of Little Neck. They are the par- ents of a daughter, Maude. In religious belief they are identified with the Episcopal Church of Little Neck, in which our subject has been a vestryman since 1886. By all who know them they are respected as upright, genial and cul- tured people.

E PENETUS SMITH, a retired carpenter living at Little Neck, was born in Garrick Street, New York, November 1I, 1829, be- ing a son of Epenetus and Jane (Nelson) Smith. Through his maternal ancestors he is a descen- cant of one of the signers of the Declaration, and on his father's side he is of direct English descent, his grandfather, Thomas Smith, having been a native of England. Epenetus, Sr., was born at Whitestone, Queens County, in 1776, and in boyhood left home and with a brother served an apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade. Later he opened a mercantile establishment in Front Street, New York, and continued in business un- til middle life, when he removed to Whitestone and bought a farm of one hundred acres. The re- mainder of his life was devoted to agricultural pursuits, and he died at his home farm in 1846. His first wife died leaving an only child, our sub- ject, who was then an infant of one year. By his

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second wife, Phoebe Starkins, he had five chil- dren, four of whom are living: Phoebe A., widow of Samuel Berrian of Flushing, where she resides; John, a retired policeman of Brooklyn, who for twenty-five years was connected with the New York and Brooklyn police force; Mrs. Han- nah E. Petty of Brooklyn, whose first husband was the late Sidney Pearsall of Hempstead; and Emily, wife of Henry L'Hommedieu of Brook- lyn.

The subject of this sketch was educated in the public schools of Whitestone. At the age of nineteen he began an apprenticeship to the wheel- wright's trade at Whitestone, but after three years ill-health obliged him to seek another occupa- tion. He took a three months' voyage on a fish- ing expedition along the coast, after which, his health being restored, he began to learn the car- penter's trade under a master mechanic of Flush- ing. This occupation he afterward followed un- til increasing years induced him to give up active labors. In 1877 he bought four acres on the East Alley road, one mile south of the Douglas- ton depot, and rebuilt the house, making of it a neat and commodious residence.

The first presidential ballot cast by our subject was in support of Fillmore, and he has been a stanch Republican since the organization of the party. For forty-five years he has been a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Bay- side, in which he was a trustee for some time. August 3, 1854, he married Susan Jane Carpen- ter, who was born January 13, 1836, and died August 10, 1866. The children born of their union were as follows: William H., Charles .A., Henry C., Mary E., Lewis E., Mary E., wife of Julius Doncourt of Flushing, and the only sur- vivor of the first family; and Jane Louisa. The second marriage of our subject took place April 7, 1867, when Eunice Starkins became his wife. To them were born three children: Sarah L., de- ceased; Walter J., and Ida L., who is bookkeeper for Sutphen Brothers of Little Neck.

J OHN NIEDERSTEIN, JR., proprietor of the Grand Hotel at Middle Village, was born in New York City, March 21, 1871, to John and Apolina (Bauer) Niederstein. He was one of six children, of whom three now survive, those besides himself being Louis, who is con- nected with the Equitable Insurance Company of New York City; and Richard, who is attend-

ing school. John Niederstein, Sr., was born in Bonn, on the Rhine, April 2, 1838, and learned the trade of a cook in the kitchen of Frederick William, afterward Emperor Frederick of Ger- many. For a time he was chief cook in Hotel Masquardt, Stuttgart, Wurtemberg, and later held a similar position in the Duval restaurant. He came to this country April 22, 1866, and Sep- tember 13 following, married Apolina Bauer. Aft- er serving as chief cook in the Metropolitan Hotel in Broadway, New York, he opened a first-class boarding house at No. 1I First Street. and later opened the Five-Mile House in New York City, and the Yorkville assembly rooms, No. 1393 Second Avenue, where he made his fortune. His next venture was the purchase of Mrs. Catherine Sutter's hotel in Middle Village. This place, which he calls the Grand Hotel, he has greatly improved and to it he is constantly making valuable additions. The building is three hundred and forty-six feet in length and has about thirty-two rooms for the accommodation of tran- sient visitors and summer, guests.

In 1880, when our subject was about nine years of age, he took passage on the steamer "Elba," for Bremen, Germany, from which place he went to Bonn and took a four years' course in the gymnasium. In 1884 he returned on the steamer "Westernland," and at once began to assist his father, whose principal business man he soon be- came. When the father came to Middle Village and opened Grand Hotel, the son was his confi- dential assistant. April 1, 1896, the business was formally turned over to him, the father retiring from active life.

October 18, 1890, Mr. Niederstein married Miss Minnie Siebs, daughter of Christian Siebs of this place. Two children were born to them, of whom Henrietta is the only survivor. The wife and mother passed from earth March IO, 1805. The second marriage of our subject took place March 25, 1896, and united him with Miss Louisa, daughter of John Reimers of Ridgewood. In 1895 our subject was the candidate of the Re- publican party for the position of assessor, and although the district is strongly Democratic, he was defeated by only fifteen votes, a fact which at- tests his popularity. Previous to this, he had served as town auditor. In 1890 he was one of the organizers of the Fearless Hook and Ladder Company No. 7 and the same year was elected second assistant foreman of the company. A year later he became first assistant foreman and

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in 1893 was chosen foreman, in which office he served a year. During the two following years he was district chief of the company, and at the expiration of his term of service he was presented with a handsome silver trumpet as a testimonial from his friends. Though pressed to continue in the office, he withdrew in favor of a friend. He is a member of the Lincoln Lodge No. 748, F. & A. M., of New York City, the Arion Singing So- ciety of New York and the Williamsburg Volun- teer Fire Association. For four years he was trustee of the fire department. In addition to the organizations named, he is identified with various minor societies and lodges.

UDGE FRANCIS McKENNA, president of Jthe Newtown Light & Power Company, at- torney-at-law and real estate dealer at Mas- peth, and formerly justice of the peace, is one of the well-known residents of Queens County and one who, though of foreign birth and ancestry, is loyally devoted to our government and its in- stitutions. Since first coming to Maspeth in 1852, he has been intimately associated with the progress of the village and has contributed large- ly to the development of its interests, both through his labors as a private citizen and his official connection with municipal affairs.

In County Tyrone, Ireland, the subject of this article was born June 15, 1828, being the young- est child of Francis and Jane (Hagen) McKenna. In the family there were six children, four sons and two daughters, of whom the only survivors are Francis and Ann, widow of Felix McCusker, The father, grandfather, great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather, were natives of County Tyrone, and the estate of the first named, who was a wealthy farmer there, is now in the pos- session of our subject's nephews.

While the family were well-to-do, it was impos- sible in those days and amid those surroundings, to give children the excellent educational advan- tages which even the poorest may now enjoy. Our subject, however, attended the common and private schools, also was a pupil in a night school for a time, and in this way he laid the founda- tion of knowledge on which he afterward built the superstructure of self-culture and experience. In the early part of 1849 he came to America and began life in this country by securing employ- ment in the construction of the Hudson River Railroad. After some six months' work at Fish-

kill Landing, he went to Brooklyn, where he was variously employed for a year. In 1851 he em- barked in business for himself as a contractor, and the following year had a contract which brought him to Maspeth. Here he established his home and has since remained. He continued as a contractor until 1880, and meantime was also engaged in the grocery and feed business for fif- teen years, but gave up these interests on being elected to the office of police justice, which posi- tion he filled for two terms. It is worthy of note that at the second election, he was the accepted candidate both of the Republican and Democratic parties.

Some years prior to this, in the early '60s, Judge McKenna was elected to the office of jus- tice of the peace and served in that capacity for two successive terms, discharging the many du- ties attached to the office in a manner satisfac- tory to all. Since the expiration of his last term of office he has concentrated his attention upon the practice of law and the real estate business, also the supervision of the Newtown Light & Power Company, of which he has been presi- dent since its incorporation in 1895. The other officers of the company are Jacob C. Smith, vice- president; George S. Jervis, secretary, and George B. Gallagher, treasurer, the office being in Grand Street, Maspeth.

In 1854 Judge McKenna married Miss Mary Cunningham, and nine children were born of their union. Their surviving children are as fol- lows: Margaret J., wife of Michael Loughran and mother of three children; James E., an em- ploye in the Brooklyn postoffice; and Eugene, who is with his parents. Politically our subject is an active supporter of the Democratic party, and never fails to cast his ballot for its candi- dates when an opportunity is presented. In re- ligious belief he is a Catholic.

A UGUSTUS T. O'DONNELL, proprietor of a grocery at Bayside, was born in this village, April 25, 1868, and is a son of James and Olivia (Dermody) O'Donnell. His father was born at Yonkers, N. Y., in 1818, and at the age of nine years accompanied his parents from his birthplace to Jamaica, where he re- mained about twenty years. Then going west, he settled at Prairie du Chien, Wis., where he en- gaged in the lumber business, residing there for four years. Returning to Newtown, L. I., he rented

CAPT. A. P. BLANCHARD.

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a farm for four years and then purchased the Platt Carll place at Bayside, where he spent the re- mainder of his life engaged in farming. On that place he passed away August 2, 1874. The prop- erty still remains in the family and is the home of his widow, who controls its management. He was a man of keen intellectual faculties and took an active part in the Bayside Literary Society of which he was a member. In religious belief he was a Catholic, belonging to the church at Flush- ing.

There were four sons and four daughters in the family of James O'Donnell, as follows: La- vinia; John, who is engaged in business in New York City; William, a resident of Brooklyn; Au- gustus T .; Mary, wife of James Estegard of Brooklyn; Frank, who is engaged in cultivating the home farm; Olivia and S. Emma. Our sub- ject commenced his education in the common schools and completed it in the LaSalle Institute of New York City. In April, 1891, under the administration of President Harrison, he was ap- pointed postmaster at Bayside and served until the election of President Cleveland. In April, 1893, his mother bought out the grocery busi- ness of Millang Brothers of Bayside, and he took charge of the store, which he has since con- ducted. In January, 1896, he moved to his pres- ent stand, where he keeps a full line of fancy and staple groceries. He also has a position as traveling salesman for Conor Brothers, whole- sale grocers of New York, whom he represents in Queens County, a portion of his time being given to this work. In politics a Republican, he is active in party matters and is vice-president of the Republican Club. He is a member of the Bayside Hook and Ladder Company No. I, and a charter member of the Improved Order of Red Men.

C APT. ALVAH P. BLANCHARD, of Manhasset, was born at Prospect (now Stockton Springs), Me., April 12, 1835, being a son of Thomas S. Jr., and Harriet T. (Treat) Blanchard. The father, who was a mer- chant by occupation, spent his entire life in his native village of Prospect, where he died in 1840, leaving his wife and seven children, of whom Al- vah P. was the fifth. As he died suddenly the property was sacrificed to pay off a few debts which he had incurred, hoping to settle them in the near future. This left the family with lim-

ited means, but the mother succeeded, with the help of the children, in keeping the family to- --- gether.

When our subject was only about ten years old he began to work in a ship-yard, and at the age of thirteen, in 1848, he made his first voyage, going as far south as Georgia. On the return trip a heavy storm was encountered, and the ves- sel was in great danger of being wrecked. In the midst of the storm our subject was ordered to duty at the wheel, where he remained until all was once more still and the danger past. His work was varied during his youthful years, some of the time being spent on a farm and some in the ship-yard. When sixteen years old he became a clerk in a store, into which he was later taken as partner. While there, and before he was yet twenty-one, he became a candidate for clerk of the House of Representatives at Augusta, Me., at the time James G. Blaine was a member of the House, and lacked only six votes of election.

Concluding to follow the sea for his life calling, our subject entered the foreign trade with the West Indies and Europe. October 9, 1859, he married Miss Elizabeth Dickey Griffin, who was born in Stockton Springs, Me., July 3, 1836, being a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Dickey) Grif- fin. As long as he followed the sea, his wife ac- companied him on his voyages, one of the first being on the bark "Topeka." Three children were born to them. James A., the eldest, was born at Stockton Springs, Me., graduated from the Brooklyn public schools and a business college in that city, and is now in the wholesale drug busi- ness in New York; he married Mary E., daughter of Capt. Melville Smith, of Brooklyn, and they have two children. Mildred, the only daughter, was born in Stockton Springs, September 13, 1866, and was educated in the public and art schools of Brooklyn as an artist and musician. Thomas, who was born at sea, near the coast of England, latitude 48 degrees, longitude 24.30 de- grees, June 24, 1870, died in Brooklyn in 1878.

In 1875 Captain Blanchard settled in Brooklyn, his home having been on shipboard most of the time until then. In 1858 he was made captain of the brig "Orella," which was burned soon after- ward in the great fire at East Boston. Later he was in command of various vessels and finally took charge of the bark "Grand Turk," which, when near San Domingo, was wrecked on the Silver Key Bank and in about thirty minutes the ship went to the bottom. It was in the night

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time, and the Captain's wife and child were on board. When the boats were launched he tossed his child to a sailor, who caught him, and Mrs. Blanchard jumped into the boat. On account of the great danger of remaining alongside of the ship, the sailors were about to put off without the Captain, who had gone to save the compass and chart in order to enable them to reach land, but at Mrs. Blanchard's request they waited until his return. Out of everything on the ship noth- ing was saved except what they wore.

When their vessel was in danger of being. wrecked the sailors discerned a sail ahead, but it proved to be a vessel that had been wrecked, and when our subject's ship was wrecked on the rocks and deserted by the crew, the two were bow to bow, and there they remained for all time. The other vessel had previously been deserted. When wrecked they were one hundred miles from the Island of San Domingo and had saved nothing but a teakettleful of water and a scant supply of provisions. The two boats lay by a short time, but finally the Captain concluded to steer for the north coast of San Domingo, as there was little chance of being rescued where they then were. Many times the frail crafts were almost wrecked. After being out two days and two nights they came near the coast, but as the breakers were very high, it was perilous to attempt to land, so they continued along the coast, hoping to reach a port. In the distance they saw a steamer and signalled with a small scarf that Mrs. Blanchard had brought along for her boy. The signal was seen and they were taken on board the vessel, which was a Spanish war ship. After fourteen days they landed at Havana, whence they returned to New York. While aboard the Spanish warship they were treated with great kindness and attention. The Captain told our subject it was wise they did not land on the coast of San Domingo, as the na- tives are savages and would most likely have killed them for what plunder they could get.

In 1868, while returning from a trip to Cronstadt, Russia, in the bark "Topeka," the Cap- tain was again wrecked in the Gulf of Finland and was obliged to abandon his ship. His wife was ill with smallpox and they had both children with them. In navigating down the gulf, in the midst of a snow storm, the ship struck a reef of rocks and was wrecked. When the storm cleared, after two days of peril, they were rescued by a tug from the city of Helsingfors, Finland, twenty miles away, where they remained until June, 1869,

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Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 37

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