Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 50

Author: Chapman, firm, publishers
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: New York ; Chicago : Chapman Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1220

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held a position as "boss" plasterer. He soon en- tered into business for himself and is now located at No. 158 East Forty-second Street. Among the contracts which he has had may be mentioned the Union League Club, postoffice building, Ex- change Place, Tribune building, Fourteenth Street Lyceum Theater, Carnegie's Music Hall and all the public school buildings. In addition to this he has done considerable important work in Long Island City.

In 1878 Mr. Brace purchased the property at No. 212 Ninth Avenue, where he has since resid- ed. He also owns two adjoining residences and is interested in the Woodlawn addition to New York. Prior to coming to Long Island City he married Miss Catherine Knauer, sister of Edward J. Knauer, an attorney of New York City and former president of the board of aldermen of Long Island City. They are the parents of five children, of whom the eldest, Benjamin F., is in business with his father. The others are Juliet E., Virginia, Louisa and Harvey B. The family is highly respected socially, and Mrs. Brace is a member of the Church of the Redeemer, whichi the others attend.

Socially Mr. Brace is connected with Advance Lodge No. 635, F. & A. M .; John Allen Lodge No. 330, A. O. U. W .; the Boss Plasterers' Union of New York City, and Lincoln Club, of which he was a charter member and the first vice-president. He is interested in public affairs and gives his support to Republican principles. For years he has served his party on the general committee of which he is now the treasurer.

G EORGE D. SMITH, a wealthy business man of Hempstead, was born in this vil- lage May 9, 1853, and is a son of Latton Smith, of whom and of whose ancestry mention is made in the biographical sketch of William H. S. Smith, the present postmaster at Hempstead. In the public schools of this place and in a private school George D. gained a practical education that fitted him for contact with and success in the business world. Under his father, who was a wholesale liquor dealer, he gained a thorough knowledge of the business, and in 1874, when the former retired, the son succeeded to the man- agement of the concern, which he has since con- ducted:

No citizen of Hempstead takes greater interest in its progress than does Mr. Smith, who is a large

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property-holder here and has in various ways contributed to the growth of the place. In poli- tics he has been a prominent factor in shaping the local destinies of the Democratic party. For six years he was deputy sheriff of Queens County, and for the same length of time he has served as a member of the Democratic central committee of Queens County, of which body he is now a prominent member. He is also rendering effi- cient service on the village board of trustees.

All local enterprises, if calculated to promote the welfare of the people, have the sympathy and co-operation of Mr. Smith. He is at present vice- president of the Hempstead Gas Company. In the organization of the First National Bank he was a prime mover, and has since been a stock- holder in the institution. He is also a member of the Mutual Benefit Association. Socially he is identified with the Shield of Honor. In June, 1879, he married Georgetta, oldest daughter of George A. Mott of Brooklyn, a large property- holder in Hempstead. They are the parents of three children, namely: George D., a boy of six- teen, who is a clerk in the postoffice under his uncle; Robert, who is thirteen, and Hilda, a bright child of five years.

D AVID J. FELIO. The old saying that "The child is father of the man" has been verified on numerous occasions time out of mind, and it is eminently true in the case of David J. Felio, for in his youth he was an ener- getic, ambitious and pushing lad, and these most worthy traits have not deserted him in his man- hood. On the other hand, they have rather been intensified, and as an illustration of the success which is but the sequence of these qualities it is but necessary to glance over the facts con- nected with his business life. He is a native of Port Douglas, Essex County, and there first saw the light of day, March 4, 1854. He and his brothers, Moses of Rockaway Beach, and Peter of Salt Lake City, are the only survivors of the nine children of Joseph and Flora (Labear) Felio, who died at the ages of sixty-nine and thirty- three respectively. His home continued to be in Essex County until April 12, 1870, when his ambi- tion and enterprise led him to start out to fight life's battles for himself.

Securing employment on a steamboat running on Lake Champlain (which Essex County bor- dered), after a time Mr. Felio was appointed

steward, in which capacity he continued until 1875. He then went to New York City and se- cured work in one of the old and popular sport- ing houses there, located at the corner of Broad- way and Twenty-eighth Street. Remaining in that place until 1878, he then became an employe in a hotel at Rockaway Beach, where he remained until 1889.

By that time Mr. Felio had secured sufficient means to purchase several lots, and on that prop- erty he erected a commodious hotel, which had a depth of one hundred feet and a frontage of eighty-six feet in Seaside Avenue. Unfortu- nately, this building was wiped out by fire in 1892, entailing a loss of $17,000 upon him. Un- daunted by this catastrophe, he plunged at once into the work of re-building, and his present fine house, known as the New York Hotel, is the result. It contains fifty-seven rooms, all com- fortable and commodious, and a competent corps of servants contribute to the comfort of the guests. Mr. Felio is a model landlord, attentive, courteous and accommodating, and has an effi- cient assistant in his wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Maher, and whom he married in 1877.

Mr. Felio has been interested in the progress and improvement of Rockaway Beach. Since it was organized he has served in the fire depart- ment, of which at one time he was assistant chief, and in the fall of 1895 was elected chief, the office he now holds. In 1894 he organized the Seaside Engine Company. He is also a member of the board of representatives and treasurer of the en- gine and hose company. Politically a Democrat, he is chairman of the Democratic Association of the Twenty-first District, town of Hempstead. By a unanimous vote he was elected president of the Seaside Protective Business Men's Asso- ciation of Rockaway Beach, and socially he is commander of Oceanic Council No. 1256, Ameri- can Legion of Honor.

G USTAVUS ODHOLM, foreman of the machine shop of the India Rubber Comb Company at College Point, was born in Osterjotland, Sweden, in 1824, and is next to the eldest among the five children of Nathaniel and Maria (Lorson) Odholm. His parents were na- tives of the same place as himself, where his father followed the trade of a carriage manufacturer until his death. From boyhood he assisted in

J. LAWRENCE WOOD.

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the factory, his educational advantages being very limited. At the age of eighteen he was appren- ticed to learn the manufacture of surgical instru- ments in Stockholm, where he remained until twenty-three years of age. One year was then spent in Gottenburg, after which, in 1850, he took passage on the sailing vessel "Dorothea" for America, reaching New York after a voyage of nine weeks.

The first employment secured by Mr. Odholm was in the manufacture of surgical instruments, after which he worked at the machinist's trade in Bridgeport, Conn. On three different occasions he was sent to Central America with the Panama Railroad Company as machinist, spending about two years altogether in that country. He spent one year in Waterbury, Conn., where he was em. ployed at the machinist's trade, and later went to Hartford, where he was foreman in the machine department of the National Screw Company from 1867 to 1880. During May of the last-named ycar he came to College Point, and has since been foreman of the machine shop of the India Rub- ber Comb Company. The shop is a large one, fif- teen men being under his direction, and the effi- cient manner in which he has discharged every duty has brought him the commendation of the company.

' The first marriage of Mr. Odholm took place in Bridgeport, Conn., his wife being Jane E. Bron- son, who died in Hartford. Of the five children born to this union none are now living. His sec- ond wife bore the name of Mrs. Henrietta Par- melee and was born in Massachusetts. They and their daughter, May Belle, reside on the corner of First Avenue and Tenth Street. Socially Mr. Od- holm is connected with Anchor Lodge of the Masonic order, and in politics he is a Republican. He is connected with the Reformed Church, in which he has served as deacon.

J ACOB LAWRENCE WOOD enjoys the distinction of being the oldest surviving settler of the village of Lawrence, where he has resided since April 2, 1835, and where he still follows the carpenter's trade. He is a descendant in the fourth generation from James Wood, a na- tive of England, who emigrated to this country and settled at Christian Hook, L. I. In those days life on the island was radically different from the present day. Indians were numerous and savage, and to protect himself from an unexpert-

ed and sudden assault, this pioneer was in the habit of carrying his flint lock gun on his shoul der wherever he went, the weapon being his com- panion even when he went to church. From him the Wood family of America is descended.

Next in line of descent was Elijah Wood, our subject's great-grandfather, who was born No- vember 29, 1736. Following him was Grandiath- er James Wood, a native of Long Island, and a farmer by occupation. The father, Samuel Wood, was born at the Hook, and remained there throughout his entire life, following the occupa- tions of farmer and bayman; he married Anna, daughter of Jacob Lawrence, who was born on the old Lawrence estate in Flushing, moved to the Hook in early manhood and afterward be- came the founder of the village of Lawrence. In descent he traces his lineage to England.

Six children comprised the family of Samuel and Anna Wood, namely: James, Jacob L., El- dred, Abram, Elijah and Martha Jane, of whom the only survivor is the subject of this notice. He was born at Baldwin, Queens County, April 2, 1822, and on the thirteenth anniversary of his birth moved thence to Lawrence, where he has since resided. His educational advantages were exceedingly limited, as the schools of that day were very inferior in quality, but through read- ing and observation he has become well informed. At the age of eighteen he was apprenticed to the carpenter's trade at Brooklyn, and after three years returned to Lawrence, where he has since engaged in business. He erected the Episcopal and Presbyterian churches at Far Rockaway, as well as many of the business houses and private residences of Lawrence. For some years he has had his son as a partner, the firm name being Wood & Son.

By his marriage to Margaret Scott, who was born in New York City, Mr. Wood has seven children. The eldest, Mary IL., is the wife of Fred Wormsor, of Inwood, and has four children, Lawrence, Isaac, Minnie and Monroe. Hannalı, who is the wife of Maurice Rhinchart, of Inwood, has five children, Benjamin, George Milton, John, William Scott, and Cora. John Jacob, who is his father's partner in business, married Henrietta Bishop, of Moriches, and they have a daughter, Mattie. Margaret Emma is the wife of Frank W. Salover and their family con ists of three children, Mena, I'rank and Margaret Scont. Will- iam married Lila Corqui, of Philadelphia: Alma B. is with her parents; and Benjamin Hatfield

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

chose as his wife Miss Gertrude Lockhart, by whom he has a son, Lawrence.

It has always been the aim of Mr. Wood to lead a consistent Christian life, carrying out the prin- ciples of his faith in the practical matters of every- day existence. He is a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which he has contributed of his time and means as opportunity presented. Socially he is a Mason. In the ear- lier days he adhered to Democratic principles, but the outbreak of the rebellion caused a revolution in his opinions and since the administration of President Lincoln he has been a stanch Repub- lican.

M RS. EMMA PLATTE, proprietor of the largest dyeing establishment in College Point, was born in Gorlitz, Silesia, to Louis and Maria (Wende) Zeidler, also natives of that place. Her father, who was a forester of the royal forests and an army officer, died in Ger- many at the age of forty-two, in 1877. Her grand- father, Heinrich Zeidler, was also a forester, while her maternal grandfather, Christian Wende, was a carpenter and builder and took part in the Pol- ish Revolution of 1830. His wife was Elenora Hohne, both being members of influential Pro- testant families. Mrs. Maria Zeidler makes her home with Mrs. Platte, having resided here since 1890. Her three children are: Emma; Paul, a forester in the royal forests and an acquaintance of the Emperor; and Tillie, who died in College Point.

After her first marriage, which united her with August Gerlach, our subject started a dyeing es- tablishment near Gorlitz, which she continued until a flood in 1879 ruined the business. Her husband, who was born in Germany in 1850, learned the dyer's trade in youth and was a man of great industry and excellent judgment. For a time he served in the German army. His par- ents, Frederick and Susanna (Laroche) Gerlach, were natives respectively of Germany and France. In 1878 he married Miss Zeidler, and in 1880 they came to America, settling in Jersey City Heights, but after six months, in the fall of 1880, they set- tled in College Point, where he worked at his trade. In 1886 he started a dyeing establishment in a small way, and the following year put in a steam boiler, later adding an engine. He built the trade up until at the time of his death, in January, 1890, the business had assumed large propor-

tions. Socially he was identified with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and a number of sing- ing societies.

After the death of Mr. Gerlach our subject con- tinued the business, and since 1893 the firm has been known as A. Gerlach & Co. In November of that year Mrs. Gerlach married August Platte, a practical dyer. Mr. Platte's brother, Adolph Platte, is also a member of the firm and is super- intendent of the works.

The building is 60x100 feet in dimensions, and a portion of it is two stories in height. The es- tablishment is the largest of the kind in the vil- lage, and all kinds of woolen and cotton yarns are dyed the various colors. Mrs. Platte is a woman of excellent business capacity and has made a success of the enterprise in which she is engaged. Her four children by her first husband are named Arthur, Elsie, Paul Z. and Lillie Ger- lach. Her second husband, to whom she was united in College Point, was born in Germany, and in 1883 came to America. After spending a short time in Detroit, New York City and Al- bany, he came to this village, where he has since resided. He is a practical chemist and dyer and is now connected with a New York house in that capacity.

T HOMAS W. ALBERTSON was born Au- gust 14, 1857, in the house where he now resides. This place, which has been his only home throughout life, contains one hun- dred and ten acres and is situated in Mineola, town of North Hempstead. The property for- merly belonged to his father, Thomas W., Sr., who was born at Roslyn, March 26, 1813, and became an agriculturist upon choosing a life oc- cupation. May 30, 1846, he married Harriet, daughter of Hewlett Townsend, who owned and occupied the farm on which now stands the Glen- head depot, in the town of Oyster Bay. The place owned by our subject was purchased by his grandfather, Benjamin Albertson, and has since been in possession of the family.

The boyhood days of our subject were passed on the home place and in attendance at the dis- trict school, after which he attended a private school in New Jersey. When he was sixteen his father died and he took charge of the home place, which he purchased as soon as he arrived at his majority. His attention has been devoted prin- cipally to farming and market gardening.

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

At Jamaica, September 28, 1878, Mr. Albert- son married Anna, daughter of Martin J. and Elizabeth (Van Alst) Duryea. She was born in Jamaica, where her father was a prominent citi- zen and supervisor for many years. With Mr. and Mrs. Albertson resides his mother, who was born September 28, 1820, and who, in spite of ad- vanced years, retains full possession of her mental faculties. She is the mother of four children: Townsend, a farmer at Albertson Station; Alice, wife of Benjamin D. Hicks of Old Westbury; Ethelena, who married Dr. Joseph H. Bogart of Roslyn; and Thomas W., our subject.

In the organization of the Hook and Ladder Company No. 1, Mr. Albertson took a leading part and was one of its charter members; he was at one time its foreman and for the last seven years has been treasurer. Politically he is a Re- publican. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church of Hempstead, in which he has been a trustee for several years. Prior to that he was for some time a trustee of the Union Church of Mineola. Socially he is identified with Protection Lodge No. 151, I. O. O. F., at Roslyn, and the encampment at Mineola, of which he was a charter member. In the order he has filled all the chairs and now holds the office of treas- urer. In Morton Lodge No. 63, F. & A. M., at Hempstead, he is is now senior warden, and has filled all the minor offices. For several years he has been a director of the Roslyn Savings Bank. Interested in educational affairs, he has since 1893 held the office of trustee of School District No. 10, North Hempstead, and has aided the interests of the public school in every way possible.

T HOMAS D. SMITH, one of the repre- sentative citizens of Bellmore, is a man of enterprise and influence in his com- munity. He was born here July 24, 1845, and is the son of Thomas S. and Esther (Baldwin) Smith, natives of East Meadow, where they were content to pass their entire lives.

The father of our subject when quite young learned the trade of a wheelwright, which occu- pation he followed for many years. On account of ill-health, however, he was obliged to aban- don this industry and engaged in the free and outdoor life of a farmer. He devoted his time mostly to raising garden stuffs and was thus oc- cupied until retiring from business of any kind, which he did several years prior to his decease,

which occurred in 1892. He in turn was the son of Moses Smith, the son of Zebulon Smith. The latter was the son of one Ben- jamin Smith, who it is thought established this branch of the family in America, coming hither from England. Esther Smith, the mother of our subject, preceded her husband to the land beyond by several years. She was a most worthy and estimable lady and greatly assisted her hus- band in acquiring a competence, which support- ed them in comfort during their last years.

After attending the district schools, Mr. Smith entered the Hempstead Academy, which was then conducted by James J. Matthews, for whom he retains the greatest respect. Our sub- ject was a great student, and in the Hempstead school was awarded the first premium on a full course. Professor Matthews was a civil engi- neer, and after studying with him for a time, our subject completed his education in this science under J. D. Cornelius, who was among the lead- ing scientists of the state.

For eight or ten years following Mr. Smith was engaged in teaching, during his vacations, how- ever, taking up surveying. At the expiration of that time he turned his attention wholly to civil engineering, which profession he has been en- gaged in ever since. He deserves great credit for his zealous and disinterested efforts in sustain- ing many enterprises of importance in his con- munity and he commands the entire confidence and respect of its citizens. In 1879 he was elected justice of the peace and so ably did he discharge the duties of the office that he was retained in charge for a period of twelve years. In 1891 he was elected supervisor of his town and under his administration the first macadam road of the town was built, which was six miles in length.

July 16, 1868, occurred the marriage of Mr. Smith with Miss Susan C. Green. the daughter of John T. and Melinda Green of Washington Square, town of Hempstead. Their union has been blessed by the birth of three children, of whom those living are Townsend Green and Grace W. Fraternally our subject is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the order of Odd Fel- lows. In politics he is a stanch supporter of Re- publican principles and candidates.

Mr. Smith stands very high among the pro- fessional men of the county, and in 1885 was ap- pointed engineer with Isaac Coles to establish the town line between the towns of Hempstead and Oyster Bay. He was also assistant engineer dur-

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ing the construction of the Long Island Rail- road from Patchogue to Moriches. He was town engineer for the building of the macadam roads, also the steel and iron draw bridge over Nor- ton's Creek at Far Rockaway, which is conceded by all to be one of the finest structures of the kind in the county. Mr. Smith is a director in the Freeport Bank and is likewise stockholder in the Freeport Land Company. He has acquired a competence and influence in the community by his native characteristics of industry and perse- verance in whatever he undertakes.

L OUIS T. WALTER, SR. Far Rockaway ranks deservedly high as a commercial cen- ter, and prominent among its resources is the trade carried on in coal, wood, hay, straw, feed, brick and all kinds of building material. Identified with this, and deserving more than or- dinary notice, is Louis T. Walter, Sr., who repre- sents the business interests of this portion of the island in a very able and efficient manner, and who for six years has conducted his flourishing business. In a social as well as a business point of view few men have attained the prominence in Queens County that is enjoyed by Mr. Walter, who is courteous and pleasant in all his relations with the public.

Born in Hungary, February 27, 1840, Mr. Wal- ter came to this country when about twenty-three years old and landed in Hoboken, N. J. The first two years of his residence here he did not en- gage in business, but after that he opened a cigar store at Hoboken, which he continued to operate for a year and a half. From there he went to the city of New York, and after continuing the same business there for about twenty years sold out and came to Far Rockaway, where he has made his home for the most part since. When he came to this section he had considerable money, which he invested in real estate. He bought what is known as the Plum estate, which comprised thirty-four and a half acres, and paid for it $50,000. Soon afterward he thought there would not be so much advance as his judgment had indicated and he sold this valuable tract to S. B. Allhouse, Jr., for $65,000. One year later the latter sold the same for $175,000.

Our subject has speculated some in real estate. His present home place in Central Avenue cost him originally $1,800, but after making some im- provements it is now worth about $20,000. Our

subject is a natural lover of horseflesh and for some time was engaged in the livery business, buying and selling horses, which he had pur- chased in Canada and elsewhere. He is also en- gaged in the coal and wood business and has met with a fair share of success in this line.

Mr. Walter is a man of more than ordinary in- telligence, having obtained, in addition to a thor- ough education in his native country, a complete knowledge of men and affairs in his contact with the world. When he came to this country he was a fluent speaker in five different languages and was well informed on all subjects. In the year 1867 he married Miss Emma Smith, a native of New York, and of the seven children born to this union four are now living: Louis, with his father, is commissioner of public works; Jennie is the next in order; Alfred is a salesman in a carriage factory in Chicago; and Ella is at home. In his po- litical views Mr. Walter is a stanch advocate of Re- publican principles, and in religion is a Protestant. He is a successful and farseeing man of business, and in the accumulation of worldly goods has been successful.

J OHN D. MacPHERSON, M. D. To those who wish to make a success in any busi- ness calling or profession, the most thorough preparation is absolutely necessary. Especially is this true of the medical pro- fession. The day has gone by when a "quack" of great pretensions but no learning or theoretical knowledge can successfully cope with the grow- ing demands of the science, which call for the most careful study and training on the part of its followers. It may with justice be said of Dr. Mac- Pherson that he has prepared himself conscien- tiously and earnestly for his professional work, having spared neither time nor pains in the ac- quirement of knowledge.

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Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 50

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