Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 49

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 49

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Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wright were born three children, of whom two are living. James Frank- lin, who is engaged in cultivating the home farm in partnership with his father, was married to Miss Maggie Foster Smith, October 15, 1889; this lady died December 14, 1892, leaving an only child, Maude E. Jesse Higbie, our subject's younger son, is also a farmer by occupation and a highly respected, industrious young man; he married Miss Sadie Hoggland, October 16, 1890, and they live in Jamaica. While Mr. Wright has never taken an active interest in politics, he is a man of firm convictions and has the greatest faith in the policy pursued by the Republican party, to which he adheres. In religious matters he finds his home in the Methodist Church.

P ETER JOHNSON. Long Island City may well be proud of her stores and markets, and especially of the establishment con- ducted by Peter Johnson, it having the distinction of being standard and up to the times. Mr. John- son is actively engaged in the grocery business and also deals in hay, feed, etc. He has been a resident of this city since 1871 and his fine stock of goods is very material evidence that his trade must be in advance of his fellow-tradesmen.

Mr. Johnson is a native of Denmark, born in Langeland in 1843, and possesses the general qualities of those of that nativity in an eminent degree. His father, Hans Johnson, was also a native of Langeland, Denmark, and studied to become a lawyer. However, after the death of his father, Hans Johnson, Sr., who was a farmer, he partly gave up his law practice and turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. He was a member of the Lutheran Church and lived to be eighty-six years old. In his native village he had married Miss Martha Madsen, a native of Den- mark, and daughter of Matthew Madsen, who was a farmer of that country. Mrs. Johnson died when seventy-six years old, leaving four of the seven children born to her marriage. Of these children we mention the following: Peter is our

subject; Matthew is in Long Island City; . Carl resides on the old home place in Denmark, where Nils is a large farmer.

The boyhood and youth of our subject were spent in his native country and he there received his education. In 1857 he went to sea, shipping on a sloop which a few months later went ashore and was lost. Young Johnson then hired out on another schooner and went to Scotland, but the same spring he began his duties on still another schooner which went to Bergen, Norway, and brought back lumber. After that he was on dif- ferent schooners and brigs for some time. He began as cabin boy, but was soon made seaman. At one time he shipped on a schooner going to Italy to trade in fruit, but when he arrived there he was taken sick and was kept in a hospital for some time. After recovering he hired to an American bark, bound for Boston, Mass., and landed there in the spring of 1859.

While in that city Mr. Johnson worked for some time for the Warren Ice Company and later was sent by that company to Calcutta, India, where he remained two years. Returning by way of Good Hope to Boston, in the spring of 1864, he was there taken sick and for several months was a sufferer. After recovering he went to Key West, then to New Orleans, and from there to Galveston, Tex., where he remained for three months. From that city he came to New York City in the spring of 1865 and began learning sash and blind making, continuing at that for six months. As he did not care for the business he gave it up and for some time afterward was employed in the oil works'in Blissville, L. I., making his home with an uncle there.

Box making next attracted his attention and he was employed in Smith's box factory until 1867, when he embarked in the grocery business on his own responsibility in Greenpoint. A few months later he made a trip to Denmark and also visited Scotland, Italy, Sweden, Norway and Germany, and was absent over four months. Upon his re- turn to this country, in 1868, he continued the grocery business, and in 1871 started a branch store in Jackson Avenue, Long Island City. He continued in business with a partner until 1872, when the partnership was dissolved and our sub- ject has been in business here ever since. In 1880 he made many improvements in the store and put in a fresh stock of goods. Possessed of unusual business talent and endowed with those attributes of character which compel success in trade, Mr.

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Johnson can point with pardonable pride to an extensive patronage and unlimited business credit.

Mr. Johnson was married in Long Island City to Miss Maria Jensen, a native of New York City, and daughter of Henry Jensen. Their seven liv- ing children, who are all at home, are named as follows: May, Sadie, Eddie, Emma, Frank, Peter, Jr., and Grace. Mr. Johnson has never been interested in politics, but inclines to the Democratic party, and socially is a member of Mitchell Lodge No. 338, A. O. U. W.

C OL. ANTHONY S. WOODS, who has been a resident of Long Island City for many years, has served the city as chief of police since May, 1871. He obtained his title of colonel during the late war, when he rendered his country brave and efficient service. He was born in New York City, October 3, 1827. His father, Bernard Woods, was a native of County Armagh, Ireland, where he was reared to mature years. On his emigration to America he located in New York City, where he was employed by his broth- er-in-law, Owen McAnnally, who was a brewer. Mr. Woods was agent for him for a number of years and afterwards represented other breweries in the same capacity. His death, which occurred in 1838, was the result of an accident. He was at that time in his thirty-seventh year, although his brothers lived to be nearly one hundred years old.

Mrs. Catherine (McAnnally) Woods, mother of our subject, was also born in County Armagh, Ireland, and at the time of her demise, in 1854, was fifty-six years old. She became the mother of four children, of whom two are now living, our subject and his brother, Bernard, a resident of Astoria. The latter served as a member of the same regiment as the colonel during the Civil War.

As soon as old enough our subject was placed in St. Mary's parochial school, New York City, and afterward attended St. Patrick's, in which in- stitution he was one of the pupils of Rev. Thomas C. Levins. He started out for himself at the early age of twelve years and for six months was in the employ of Mr. Armstrong, a furrier of New York. At the end of that time he became a compositor on the "Morning Star," and shortly after severing his connection with that paper began learning the

harnessmaker's trade, working in the Wilson Saddlery Company. He became a practical work- man at this business and later was employed in the same line by George V. Ryerson, the pro- prietor of a fine establishment. Mr. Woods had up to this time not found an occupation which exactly suited him, and on leaving the employ of Mr. Ryerson became associated with James L. Freeman, manufacturer of iron railings, remain- ing with him for two years. For the following seven years he worked in the mechanical depart- ment for Day, Newell & Day, manufacturers of the most reliable bank and house locks in the state.

Mr. Woods severed his connection with tlie company in order that he might superintend the erection of several residences which his mother was building in East Eleventh Street. In 1853 he was appointed inspector of customs in New York, and such was the satisfaction he gave to his superior officers that he was the incumbent of this position until the outbreak of the late war, when he resigned in order to offer his services in defense of the Stars and Stripes. For fifteen years previous to this time he had been a member of the National Guard, and with many of his comrades joined Company A, Eighth New York Regiment, of which he was commissioned first lieutenant. At the first tap of the drum they were placed under marching orders and went South to the field of battle. Lieutenant Woods was pro- moted to be captain of his regiment in 1862 and was transferred to Company G, which he con- manded until some time the following year, when he veteranized and returned to Company A, tak- ing his old position as first lieutenant. Soon thereafter there occurred a spirited fight at Ship- pensburg, when the captain of the company be- came frightened and deserted his command. Lieutenant Woods, who was present, was imme- diately made captain and served in this capacity until the expiration of his term of enlistment, when he was mustered out.

In the fall of 1863 Captain Woods joined the Tenth Regiment, New York National Zouaves, of which he was commissioned major by Gover- nor Seymour. On taking his command South they became part of the Third Brigade, Second Division, Second Army Corps, under General Hancock, with which our subject fought until the close of the war. In January, 1865, while still in the field, he was commissioned lieutenant-colonel by the governor of New York. During his four

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years of service he took part in all of the cam- paigns in which the Army of the Potomac was engaged, among them being the conflict at Oys- ter Point, Gettysburg, the defense of Harrisburg, after which the regiment marched twenty-one days to a point where they met and skirmished with Forrest. Colonel Woods, although on the field during many hard-fought engagements, was wounded only once, when he was struck in the back of the neck by a ball when in front of Pet- ersburg.

On his return home after the war the Colonel engaged in the wholesale paper business in New York City in company with a Mr. Godwin, the firm being Godwin & Woods. This venture proved a losing one and the connection was soon dissolved. In 1870 Mr. Woods came to Long Island City and later was appointed city marshal by Mayor Ditmars. A twelvemonth later he was made chief of police, which office he has held ever since with the exception of three years and eleven months, when he was suspended by Mayor George Petry, who was on the other side, politi- cally. He remained suspended for the time above mentioned, during which period he was fighting the matter in the courts. The case was decided in his favor and he was reinstated in office. He has gained the confidence and good will of the people by his faithful years of service and is re- garded by his large circle of friends and acquaint- ances with the utmost respect. When he took charge of the department there were but ten of- ficers employed. Now, however, he has under his control fifty patrolmen, two sergeants and one captain. It is the intention of the board of police commissioners at the beginning of the new year (1896) to enlarge the force to seventy-five police- men, four sergeants and three captains. Since 1887 he has used the Gamewell police telegraph and telephone system combined and has police boxes in different parts of the city. The Colonel is one of the oldest residents of the city and has made his home in Pomeroy Street since 1875.

The subject of this sketch was married Novem- ber 25, 1852, to Miss Sarah M. Reynolds, a native of Dublin, but who at the time of her marriage was a resident of New York City. She was reared to womanhood in her native land and came to America in 1849. Her union with our subject has been blessed by the birth of eight children, six of whom are now living. Anthony is an em- ploye in the Long Island Railroad Express Com- pany; Robert is also working for that company;

Arthur is at home; Mary, Mrs. O'Reiley, is en- gaged in teaching school in this city; Lillian and Agnes are at home. All of the children, with the exception of Mary, were educated in the Fourth Ward School of this place.

The Colonel is a member of Grand Army Post No. 283, of which he was one of the original mem- bers. For many years he was associated with the society of the Army of the Potomac, but since assuming his arduous duties of chief of police he has had but little time to give to the affairs of the order, and hence severed his connection with the same. He is a Catholic in religion and a member of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Astoria. In politics he is a stanch Democrat.

H ON. TOWNSEND D. COCK, who is one of the most influential and prominent resi- dents of Queens County, makes his home at the present time in Oyster Bay. He was ap- pointed deputy county treasurer by a special act of the legislature in consequence of the ill-health of County Treasurer Hageman, which necessi- tated his taking a trip to the Bermudas. He served until the expiration of Mr. Hageman's term, giving to the people the utmost satisfac- tion. In the meantime he assisted in the organi- zation of the Oyster Bay Bank and was chosen by its directors as president, which office he has continued to hold ever since.

On a beautiful farm at Locust Valley Town- send D. Cock was born, December 3, 1838. His parents were Alfred and Phebe Ann (Townsend) Cock. The author of the "Townsend Memo- rial," in speaking of the subject of this sketch, says: "This gentleman is most appropriately named, being descended, in ten different ways, from the three Townsend brothers."

The foundation of Mr. Cock's education was laid in the district school, but later he was a student in the private school which was origin- ated and maintained so many years by Lot Cor- nelius, a most successful educator of this region. In 1867 he was chosen supervisor of the town of Oyster Bay, serving acceptably until April, 1872. In the fall of 1871 the Democratic party of his district selected him as its candidate for state senator, to which position he was elected, after an active and exciting canvass, by a majority of eight hundred and sixty-eight.

PROF. HERBERT SMITH.

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The sessions of the senate of which Mr. Cock was a member were memorable ones. The down- fall of the Tweed ring in New York and the devel- opments that led up to the dethronement of this remarkable combination suggested the necessity of measures looking to the purification of the judiciary of the state. The bar association of the city of New York preferred charges against some of the judges then on the bench and the senate was called upon to examine into the truth of these charges. John H. McCunn, a judge of the superior court of New York City, was the first one against whose official conduct charges were preferred. The governor transmitted these charges to the senate, with a recommendation to that body to inquire into the truth. The result was that the senate after an exhaustive ex- amination found them sustained, and Judge Mc- Cunn was removed.

George G. Barnard, a judge of the supreme court, was also impeached at this time by the assembly, and the senate, associated with the court of appeals, was called upon to try the charges. The hearing was had at Saratoga; by a unanimous vote of the court Judge Barnard was found guilty, and by an almost unanimous vote he was debarred from ever after holding any position of honor or trust in the state. This was the first and only court of impeachment ever held in the state. H. G. Prindle, judge of Che- nango County, and George M. Curtis, judge of the marine court of New York, were afterward tried by the senate, but a majority of that body voted against their removal.

On the expiration of his senatorial term Mr. Cock remained in private life until the fall of 1875, when, at the earnest solicitation of the leaders of the political party of which he is a member, he accepted the nomination for the as- sembly and was elected. In 1881, however, when again urged to fill this office, he very reluctantly accepted the nomination, and, being the second time honored with the public confidence, took his seat in the body that secured for itself historic prominence in consequence of the senatorial dead- lock occasioned by the feud in the Republican party, growing out of the course pursued by Senators Conkling and Platt in their disagreement of the action of President Garfield in the appoint- ment of W. H. Robertson as collector of the port of New York. Mr. Cock was also elected to the assembly in 1882 and served during the session as chairman of the committee on com-

merce and navigation, and also as a member of the ways and means committee.

In 1863 our subject was chosen vice-president of the Queens County Agricultural Society, and was re-elected in 1864 and 1878. The year fol- lowing he was made president of the society, holding that honored office for three years. Mr. Cock has been an industrious contributor to the leading journals of the day and occasionally delivers addresses upon topics pertinent to the times.

The marriage of Mr. Cock with Miss Jane D. . Latting occurred October 20, 1857. This lady was born June 9, 1839, in Lattingtown, and was the daughter of Joseph and Sarah Latting. They have a family of six children, named respectively: Jane D. Cock, Mary F. Price, Annie T. Green, Josephine Coles, Ella P. Nicoll and Edward T. Latting.

P ROF. HERBERT SMITH. There are many who claim, and not without excellent reason, that the public school system of the United States surpasses that of any other country in the world. Certainly it is true that in no other land are there so many efficient, edu- cated, scholarly young men devoting their atten- tion to the instructing of youth as may be found in our own country. One of this class is the subject of our sketch, who holds the responsible position of principal of the Port Washington pub- lic schools, and who, since coming to this place, has evinced talent of more than ordinary ability and the possession of those qualities without which a teacher cannot hope to gain success.

The son of John H. and Mary E. (Smith) Smith, our subject was born at West Taghkanick, Col- umbia County, N. Y., July 19, 1866. His boyhood years were spent on the home farm in Columbia County and he attended the winter terms of the district schools until seventeen years of age. In 1883 he made up his mind to secure a better edu- cation than the immediate locality afforded, his object being to fit himself for a professional ca- reer. It was his intention to enter the Normal School at Albany, and in September of 1884 his ambition was realized by his admission to that institution. After eighteen months of study there he began to teach in Columbia County, and sub- sequently was similarly engaged in Queens Coun- ty, by which means he secured the funds necessary to the completion of his normal education.

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Meantime, while engaged in teaching, he was united in marriage, September 26, 1888, with Miss Frances E. Smith, who was born in New Hyde- park, where she also received her education.

Returning to Albany, Professor Smith resumed his studies and graduated February 3, 1891. From that time until the following July he was employed in a large seed store in Floral Park. In September of the same year he accepted the principalship of the Port Washington schools, and his efficiency is proved by the fact that he . has since been retained in that position. He and his wife are the parents of a son and daughter, namely: Martin I., who was born at New Hyde- park, July 2, 1889, and Florence, who was born in Port Washington, May 24, 1892.

Though brought up in the belief that the Dem- ocratic party contained all that was best and pur- est in politics, Professor Smith has been led to change his views through a close observation of the tremendous evils wrought by the liquor pow- er, and he has therefore become a Prohibitionist. Fraternally he is identified with Seawanhaka Lodge No. 670, I. O. O. F. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he holds the office of trustee. At this writing he is also serving as president of the Epworth League, assistant superintendent of the Sunday-school, and town secretary of the Sunday-school Union, a position which requires him to visit, once a year, every Sunday-school in North Hempstead and deliver an address, later reporting the con- dition of the Sunday-school to the union.

E LI E. NELSON. Considerable romance is attached to the career of this worthy gentleman, for he has journeyed in many climes, has seen the ups and downs of life and was an actor in the stirring times of the gold excitement of California. He was born in Greene County, N. Y., February 2, 1828, to Thomas and Catherine (Bedell) Nelson, and was eight years of age at the time of his parents' removal to New York City. His father had been a steamboat captain on the Hudson River. He was placed in the public schools of New York, but when he had reached the age of fourteen years he became a clerk in a grocery, and thus continued for six years. Following this he embarked in business for himself in Brooklyn, near Plymouth Church, so long presided over by that famous divine, Henry Ward Beecher. There he continued for

one year, and in February, 1849, sold his stock of goods. The gold excitement was then at fever heat and on the 5th of February of that year he started for the Golden Gate, via the Isthmus of Panama. He crossed the isthmus with little difficulty, but was compelled to wait there for about six weeks for a vessel to convey him the rest of his journey. One hundred days after leaving Panama he landed in California, and at once made for the niines, where he was engaged in digging gold from June to November. He met with better success than many and in that time had accumulated about $5,000 worth of gold dust. With it he returned East, but after re- maining here six weeks he returned to California, taking with him a stock of goods, and opened a store in Sacramento City, which he conducted for about one year. He then removed to Stock- ton and began ranching, and this business occu- pied his attention up to 1865, when he once more came East and engaged in contracting and build- ing, in which business he has been more than or- dinarily successful.

Mr. Nelson left valuable property in California, and this has necessitated his making various trips to that state, seven in all, since he came East. His last journey thither was made in 1895 and took only four days, a marked contrast to the toilsome overland and water journeys of early days. On the 23d of June, 1869, Mr. Nelson was united in marriage with Miss Harriet C. Crandall, at New Baltimore, N. Y., where she was born and reared, her parents being Lewis and Dorothy (Brown) Crandall. This union resulted in the birth of a son and daughter. Henry E., who was born in New Baltimore, September 10, 1871, is in the real estate business in New York; he was educated in the public schools of Brooklyn and at the Polytechnic. Charlotte V. was also born at New Baltimore, May 12, 1875; she was edu- cated in Brooklyn and at the Adelphi Academy, and October 2, 1895, was married from her fath- er's residence in Glencove to William H. Way of Brooklyn, in which city Mr. Nelson owns con- siderable valuable property, and where he still conducts his business.

In 1867 Mr. Nelson attended the Paris Expo- sition, after which he made a six months' tour through Italy, Austria and other countries. He was in Rome at the time Garibaldi was there and came very near being arrested as one of his fol- lowers. In 1891 he, his wife, daughter and sister took another trip to Europe and visited nearly all

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the principal countries. In 1876 he and his son attended the Philadelphia Exposition, and in 1893 he and all his family spent ten days in Chicago attending the World's Fair. Being a close ob- server and a man of much practical intelligence, he has made the most of his opportunities, and was an intelligent observer of all he saw. Mr. Nelson was reared a Democrat and cast his first presidential vote for Buchanan in 1856, but since the Civil War he has been a Republican. He was reared a member of the Society of Friends, but his wife was reared in the faith of the Dutch Re- formed Church. He is a Mason and belongs to the Society of California Pioneers.

C HARLES W. BRACE, who resides at No. 212 Ninth Avenue, Schuetzen Park, Long Island City, was born in New York City, March 29, 1850, being a son of Thomas and Mary (Warren) Brace, natives respectively of England and Connecticut. His father, who spent the years of boyhood and youth in London, belonged to a well-to-do family and was given excellent educa- tional advantages. When a young man he came to America, intending to return home shortly, but suffered so much from seasickness on the voyage that he resolved to remain in the United States. He secured employment as a baker, but later em- barked in the provision business with a brother- in-law, S. Warren, continuing until 1857, when his partner died, and he sold out. His death oc- curred in New York in 1859. A few years after- ward, in 1867, his wife also passed away.

The maternal grandfather of our subject was Capt. Henry Warren, who belonged to one of the oldest families of Connecticut and was himself a loyal and patriotic defender of our national lib- erty. He was a seafaring man and for some years was engaged in the coasting trade, owning a number of ships at different times. Our sub- ject was the youngest of four children, of whom two are deceased. Being the only son, he was carefully trained for a business career, though the death of his father, when he was about nine years of age, deprived him of the wise and affec- tionate counsel he would otherwise have received. He completed his education in the grammar school at No. 49 Thirty-seventh Street, and in 1864 entered the employ of Crosby, Ostrander & Jones. One year later he was apprenticed to the trade of an ornamental plasterer, in which he soon became an expert, and before he was twenty-one

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Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 49

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