Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 64

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 64

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Being orphaned by the death of his mother when he was young, the subject of this notice was reared in the family of Col.Aaron A.Degrauw, of Jamaica, whose wife was his aunt. His educa- tion, which was gained principally in Union Hall Academy, was a practical one, and fitted him for the responsibilities of a business career. His first employment was as office boy in a coffee im- porting house in New York, his salary being $3 per week. In 1871 he secured a position in the office of the county clerk at Jamaica, where he continued some years, gaining a thorough knowl- edge of the work. In 1880 he received the ap- pointment of under sheriff of Queens County, the duties of which he discharged in a very satisfac- tory manner for six years. In 1886 he became connected with the surrogate's office, and during the same year was made one of the trustees of the Jamaica Savings Bank, of which in 1892 he was chosen secretary, succeeding Lewis L. Fos- dick, who had resigned the responsible position.

Honored by his fellow-citizens, Mr. Warnock was by them elected president of the village in 1891 and served with efficiency in that position. until 1893. In every position to which he has been called he has made it his aim to discharge his duties carefully, honestly and energetically, and his public service has been of such a nature as to reflect credit upon himself. In 1871 he was united in marriage with Miss Harriet E., daugh- ter of Smith B. Crossman, one of the old citizens of Jamaica. Five children blessed their union, Martha S., Anna W., Leonora B., Aaron A. De-

grauw and William A., Jr., who died June 17, 1895.

Mr. Warnock is a worker in the ranks of the Democratic party in this section and has repre- sented that political organization in several con- ventions. He and his family reside in the old Judd mansion, now the property of his uncle, Colonel Degrauw. Socially he is connected with the Masons and holds membership in the Royal Arcanum. In a career honorable alike to himself and to the community, he has shown those traits of character without which success is unattain- able. Well informed in financial matters, he is admirably adapted for the responsible position he now fills.

F RITZ STARKE. Among the many busi- ness establishments of Long Island City. is the one conducted by Mr. Starke, the well-known florist, at No. 815 Vernon Avenue, Ravenswood. Here may be found a stock of goods sufficient to supply the wants of all classes at the most reasonable figure. He was born in Lybecke, Westphalia, Germany, in 1852, and his father, C. Starke, who was also a florist, there passed his entire life. He married Miss Wilhel- mina Barlock, a native of Westphalia, Germany, and daughter of Frederick Barlock, who was with Napoleon in the march to Moscow. The Barlock family was a prominent one in Germany and the old home place with its many acres of land had been in the family for four hundred years. One of Mrs. Starke's brothers was in the Franco-Prussian War in 1866.

Our subject attained his growth and received his education in his native country and learned the florist's trade of his father. He was the only one of the family to cross the ocean to America, coming in September, 1881. In Octo- ber of the same year he came to Long Island City and was employed with a florist in Main Street, Astoria, for fifteen months. After that he started out in business for himself, leased his present property, erected greenhouses and has been en- gaged as a florist and landscape gardener ever since. He has four greenhouses, seventy feet long, and hasall the latest varieties and thechoicest plants. The water used for the plants is rain- water, caught in a concrete cistern from the greenhouse, the cistern holding about fifty thou- sand gallons and heated by flues. He does not depend altogether on the cistern, but is also sup-

515

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

plied with water by the city water works. He imports bulbs, etc., from Holland and supplies cut flowers wholesale to the market in New York City, as well as plants of all kinds.

Mr. Starke is admirably situated for business and has been unusually successful. He was mar- . three months in the old country he returned to ried in Berlin, Germany to Miss Anna Noak, a New York, and soon afterward located at Astoria, where he established a grocery business in Stev- ens Street and Fulton Avenue. From the first he was prospered in the business, and succeeded in building up a large and lucrative trade, which he carried on until 1887 and then sold out. Mean- time, in the fall of 1874, he opened a grocery in Steinway, where he bought a building and car- ried on a profitable trade. In 1884 he erected a brick block in Wolcott Avenue, and has since resided in Steinway, being the oldest grocer in this suburb of Long Island City. He owns two brick blocks and occupies one store, renting the other. Across the street from his store he has a feed and grain department, in which line he has built up a large trade. native of Hoyerswerda, Silesia, Germany, and to them have been born five interesting children, William, Helena, Fritz, Harry and Charlotta. In politics Mr. Starke is an ardent supporter of Re- publican principles and is a member of Ravens- wood Republican Club. He is very public spir- ited and in carrying on his various business enter- prises does not lose sight of his duties as a citi- zen. His wife is a most estimable lady and a thorough business woman. Her father, Herman Noak, was a native of Germany and a bookbinder by trade, and her grandfather, Frederick Noak, was an agriculturist and a manufacturer of knives. Her mother's maiden name was Paulina Grund. Mrs. Starke was one of two children and the only one in this country.

J URGEN RATHJEN. Not alone as a busi- ness man, but in the discharge of his duties as a public official, Mr. Rathjen has gained prominence among the people of Long Island City, of which place he is an influential resident. With the exception of New Brothers, he has been engaged in the grocery business for a longer per- iod than any firm in the city, and during the time of his residence here has witnessed the commer- cial development of the place and the progress of its manufacturing interests, to which he has been a contributor.

Born in 1845 in Hanover, Germany, Mr. Rath- jen is a son of John Rathjen, a farmer of that province. There he was reared to manhood, at- tending the common schools until about fifteen years of age. In 1860 he went via Hamburg to London, where for nearly two years he was em- ployed in a manufacturing establishment. In 1862 he took passage on the sailing vessel "Daniel Webster" which, after a voyage of seven weeks, cast anchor in the harbor of New York, the pas- sengers landing at old Castle Garden. At once he secured employment with the wholesale gro- cery firm of Papger, Thurber, Reeder & Co., in New York, and later held a clerkship in a retail grocery.

In 1866 Mr. Rathjen started a restaurant in

Hunter's Point in Seventh Street, but after a short time returned to New York, and for four years was engaged in the grocery business in Water Street. Selling out in 1872 he returned to Germany, where he visited his parents. After

The marriage of Mr. Rathjen occurred in New York in 1868, his wife being Emma R. Seebeck, a native of that city and daughter of Henry See- beck, who for many years carried on a grocery business there and who served as lieutenant in the Fifth New York National Guard, being also one of the veterans of the late war. The six chil- dren of Mr. and Mrs. Rathjen are John, Annie, Emma, Tillie, Jurgen Edward and Justin Jerome.

A firm supporter of Democratic principles, Mr. Rathjen has been a power in local politics. In 1886 he was elected supervisor, and during his term of service was connected with the following committees: court-house and jail, justice and constable, county treasurer, of all of which he was chairman; bridge and bridge building, bills on penitentiary and other state institutions, and legal, miscellaneous and printers' bills. In 1889 he was appointed a member of the board of police commissioners, but after seven months resigned, owing to difference of opinion with Mayor Glea- son. In 1893 he was again appointed to this position by Mayor Sanford and was elected presi- dent of the board, in which capacity he is now serving. At present he is also chairman of the Fifth Ward Jeffersonian Democratic Association and has been a member of the general committee since its organization. At different times he has served on grand and petit juries.

In his relation to fraternal societies, Mr. Rath- jen is identified with John Allen Lodge, A. O.

516

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

U. W., at Astoria, and the Knights of the Golden Eagle in Steinway. In the organization of the Jefferson Club he took an active part, and served as its first vice president. A Lutheran in relig- ious belief, he has adhered to the faith of his fore- fathers, in which he was reared. His connection ; with public affairs has brought him into promi- nence, and his influence is apparent in many progressive enterprises.

C. F. THEODORE STEINWAY, whose history is indissolubly connected with that of the house of Steinway & Sons, was born in Seesen, Germany, November 6, 1825, being the eldest son of Henry E. Steinway. In his native village he received an excellent educa- tion in the Jacobsohn Institute, which he at- tended until 1839. From an early age he dis- played great ability as a musician, and his skill in playing the pianoforte, together with his acute ear, which enabled him to tune the instruments perfectly, rendered him a valuable assistant to his father.

In May, 1850, when the other members of the family came to America, Theodore remained in Seesen to close out the business of the firm. In 1852 he married a young lady of Herzberg, near Seesen, and his home interests, together with the general improvement of political conditions in Germany, caused him to decide to remain in the old country. Removing, in 1859, to the city of Brunswick, he built up a large and lucrative business. In May, 1864, with his wife he made a trip to New York, where the whole family, father, mother, five sons and two daughters, were for the first and last time reunited.

The death of his brothers, Charles and Henry, in March, 1865, caused the subject of this sketch to come to New York, which he did in October of that year, becoming a partner in the firm of Steinway & Sons. He possessed large inventive genius, which he turned to the construction of upright pianos, a line that he had become thor- oughly familiar with while in Germany. On com- ing to New York, he brought with him a set of workmen skilled in making such instruments, and though he met with many obstacles, he worked determinedly until success crowned his efforts. Of the thirty-four patents granted to him from 1866 to 1889, no less than sixty-two claims in these patents relate to upright pianos. This make has become so popular that ninety-

five per cent. of the eighty thousand pianofortes annually manufactured in the United States are of this style.

Shortly after having gained conspicuous suc- cess with upright pianos, Mr. Steinway turned his attention to the grand piano. Vast improve- ments in tone and durability had already been gained by the patent granted to Henry Stein- way, Jr., December 20, 1859, for his overstrung system, which far surpassed the old parallel- string system. While the total tension of the strings in a European grand never exceeded twenty thousand pounds, the grand pianos man- ufactured by this house averaged forty-five thou- sand pounds of strain. Piano strings of steel had been greatly improved, and Mr. Steinway's scientific tests on his own constructed testing machine had convinced him that the tension of the strings in a grand piano might be doubled, and beauty and power of tone greatly augmented, provided the power of resistance to this increased pull of the strings could be secured in the archi- tecture and construction of the piano. The ob- stacles were exceedingly difficult to overcome. The cast-iron frames produced for all piano manufacturers in ordinary foundries were not firm enough to withstand such an increased strain. In the spring of 1869 Theodore Stein- way went to Europe and studied the latest achievements of the steel and iron industry there. While abroad, he also went to Egypt and wit- nessed the ceremonies accompanying the open- ing of the Suez Canal.

Returning to New York in the fall of 1870, Mr. Steinway succeeded, after a time, in produc- ing a steel casting that would withstand a strain of five thousand pounds per square centimetre, while ordinary cast-iron will break under one- half of such a pull. In 1872 he invented and patented his duplex scale, which was followed three years later by the present grand piano repetition action, and new steel frame construc- tion in grand pianos. In 1877-78 he invented and patented an entirely new system in the wood- en architecture of grand pianos. The old way of building up the interior and exterior grand piano cases of short pieces, joined together like brick, was abandoned, and a new system was created, by which a series of layers of wood in one length were glued together, and bent into the required form by means of immense steel presses. In that way the problem was solved according to the law of science, by which the

517

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

tone vibrations invariably follow the longitudi- nal fibre of the wood, while cross-fibres interrupt the vibrations. A parlor grand only six feet long was manufactured embodying the new construc- tion of the steel cupola frame and construction of exterior and interior cases, of comparative light- ness, yet having fully fifty thousand pounds ten- sion of strings, and far surpassing, in tone and power, the large concert grand, which, at the Paris Exposition in 1867, had been awarded the first of the gold medals of merit. This system was at once utilized in the manufacture of all the parlor and concert grands produced by the firm, and in order to saw logs of twenty-three feet length into the veneers required, the establish- ment and sawmill at Steinway was founded.

Though a very busy man, Theodore Steinway traveled extensively, visiting points of interest in America, Europe and Africa, and while his trips were partly for recreation, yet he always had in mind the study of the achievements of the differ- ent races in the science of music. His collection of musical instruments was the most complete to be found in this country, and included not only the instruments of the present century, but those of former ages. Under his careful oversight, his nephews were trained in the business, so that they acquired familiarity with every detail. While in Brunswick, Germany, his life was ended, March 26, 1889, at the age of sixty-three years.

W ILLIAM STEINWAY. To rise to a position of world-wide fame, unaided by extraneous circumstances and in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles, indicates the possession of talents of a high order. He who promotes the advancement of any line of activity, commercial or professional; or into important spheres of labor, brings new theories and improvements that revolutionize old and cruder plans, such a one is a benefactor to the race, for he enlarges its field of labor and its possibilities for good. Of inestimable value are the services rendered by Mr. Steinway, not alone to the musical world, but to all who cherish a sound or symphony of beauty "as a joy forever." In the truest sense he is a benefactor of mankind, a philanthropist, with the world as his field of ac- tion and the human race as the object of his bene- factions. He is the only survivor of the original members of the firm of Steinway & Sons, estab- lished in New York City in March, 1853, the his-

tory of which house, during the years that have since intervened, illustrates to a remarkable de- gree the fact that toil and talent, when combined, invariably bring success.

In view, therefore, of the prominence he has gained a sketch of his life history will be of value, not alone to the people of Queens County, in whose welfare he has ever taken the deepest in- tcrest, but to all who respect principles of great- ness and goodness. From a career like his, the young who are starting out in business life with small capital but large ambitions may learn les- sons worthy of emulation.

The Steinway family originated in Germany and its members were honorably known in various walks of life. The subject of this skech was born in Seesen, near the city of Brunswick, March 5, 1836, being a son of Henry Engelhard Steinway. His education was obtained in the common schools of his native place and in the Jacobson High School and was exceptionally thorough, for at the age of fourteen he was pro- ficient in German, English and French. At that age he could also play the most difficult con- positions upon the piano, and his unerring ear enabled him to tune the instrument perfectly, even for concert use.

In 1849 Henry E. Steinway, foreseeing with his usual shrewd discernment that the United States presented a vast and inviting field for his busi- ness, sent his second son, Charles, aged twenty years, to this country for the purpose of investi- gating the prospects here. So favorable was the report that he at once decided to bring his family to America. Leaving his eldest son, C. F. Thco- dore, to succeed him in the business at Seesen, he crossed the Atlantic and arrived in New York June 9, 1850. To his son, William. he gave the choice of a trade or education as a musician: the boy chose the former, and was apprenticed to William Nunns & Co., No. 88 Walker Street, but, after remaining there for three years, he joined his father and brothers, Charles and Henry, in founding the house of Steinway & Sons, March 5, 1853 (William Steinway's seven- teenth birthday).

The original home of the firmi was in a rear building in Varick Street, where, with the assist- ance of four or five workmen, they built one squarc piano a week, father and sons also labor- ing, as artisans, in their production. The part assigned William was the making of the sounding boards. At once their pianos leaped into popu-

518

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

larity, a result their merits fully justified, and it was widely conceded that in beauty of tone and in power they were unexcelled. Larger quarters were rendered necessary by the increasing trade, and in 1854 they removed to 88 Walker Street, which the failure of Mr. Nunns made vacant.

The magnitude of the business obliged themen- bers of the firm give up their labors in the work- room and concentrate their attention upon the management of affairs, William being given the supervision of the mercantile and financial mat- ters. In 1859 they built their present factory in Fourth Avenue, from Fifty-second to Fifty- third Street, of which they took posses- sion in April, 1860, and three years later, by an addition, brought the structure to its present colossal proportions. In March, 1865, the sons, Charles and Henry, died, the for- mer on the 3Ist while in Brunswick, Germany, and the latter on the IIth, after having been an in- valid for several years. Soon afterward the eldest son, C. F. Theodore, retired from his interests in Germany and became a partner in the New York house, to which also Albert, the youngest son, was then admitted. In 1864 the firm began the construction of the marble building, known as Steinway Hall, in Fourteenth Street, which was used for the office of the firm and contained a music hall with twenty-four hundred seats.

In competition with other music houses the firm of Steinway & Sons has always stood fore- most. After having been awarded thirty-five American medals, from 1854 to 1862, they won a first prize medal at the World's Fair in London in 1862. At the Paris International Exposition, five years later, they won the grand gold medal and unanimous indorsement of their new system of construction by the international jury for their square, upright and grand pianos, after a close contest with the best makers of Europe. This victory instantly brought them world-wide re- nown, and their system of construction became the standard among piano makers throughout Europe. They gained another signal victory at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia in 1876 and in 1885 at the International Inventions Exhi- bition in London they were awarded the grand gold medal for excellence of pianofortes; and a grand gold medal was awarded them by the Lon- don Society of Arts, of which the Prince of Wales was president.

Attracting the attention of royalty by their superior productions, Steinway & Sons became

successively court piano manufacturers to the Queen of England, the Queen of Spain, the Em- peror of Germany, the Prince and Princess of Wales and the Queen of Italy. While abroad in 1892, William Steinway was invited to meet the Emperor and Empress of Germany in the marble palace at Potsdam, and the former presented him with his portrait and autograph, "Wilhelm, Ger- man Emperor and King of Prussia, Marble Pal- ace, Sept. 11, 1892," written in the presence of his guest. The Empress also wrote him an autograph letter thanking him for his gifts to the Emperor William I. Memorial Church Building at Berlin. June 12, 1893, the Emperor bestowed upon him the Order of the Red Eagle, third class, which was the highest distinction ever bestowed upon a manufacturer.

The most renowned composers have expressed their appreciation of the Steinway pianos and have adopted them for their exclusive use. Among them Richard Wagner wrote as follows: "Our great tone masters, when writing the grand- est of their creations for the pianoforte, seem to have had a presentiment of the ideal grand piano, as now attained by yourselves. A Beethoven sonata, a Bach chromatic fantasie can only be ap- preciated when rendered upon one of your piano- fortes. In a word, I find your grand piano of wondrous beauty. It is a noble work of art." Dr. Franz Liszt said: "The new Steinway Grand is a glorious masterpiece in power, sonority, singing quality and perfect harmonic effects, affording delight even to my old piano-weary fingers." H. Helmholtz, of the chair of acoustics in the Uni- versity of Berlin, recognized as the highest authority in the science of acoustics and sound, said, "With such a perfect instrument as yours placed before me, I must modify many of my for- mer expressed views regarding pianos."

In 1867, after the close of the Paris Expo- sition, William and C. F. Theodore Steinway were unanimously elected members of the Royal Academy of Arts at Stockholm, and the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, at Berlin, Prussia. April 15, 1894, William Steinway was elected honorary member of the Royal Italian Academy of St. Cecilia of Rome, the oldest and most famous academy on the continent, having been founded by the illustrious composer, Palestrina, in 1584. Upon petition of the Stuttgart Chamber of Con- merce, the government of Wurtemberg pur- chased one Steinway Grand and one upright to serve as models in this branch of industry. In

519

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1886 the Sultan of Turkey purchased four richly ornamented upright cabinet grands, and the fol- lowing year two more were manufactured for him at his request, presented by him through the Turkish ambassador at Washington. In 1887 the Emperor of China purchased a parlor concert grand for his palace, and the Queen of England has a Steinway upright grand for her own use in Balmoral Castle, Scotland. The Empress of Russia has a concert grand in the music room of the royal palace, and an upright cabinet grand for her boudoir.

The completion of piano No. 25,000, made for the Czarowitz of Russia, was celebrated, May 4, 1872, by the firm and its one thousand work- men. Their No. 50,000, said to be the finest grand produced by the house up to that time, was bought by Baron Nathaniel de Rothschild, of Vienna, and forwarded by the Hamburg steamer "Bohemia," September 15, 1883. At this writing, in the winter of 1895-96, over eighty-five thousand have been manufactured. Death has, meantime, brought many changes to the firm, and William now alone remains of the original founders of the house. The grandsons of Henry E. Steinway have been admitted into partnership, and the honored name of Steinway & Sons is perpetuated.

In 1872 the firm established additional works at Steinway, Long Island City, for the constant open-air and kiln drying of seven million feet of the finest lumber for the cases of their pianos, and for making each grand piano case of bent wood of onc continuous length, as also the vibrating parts of each. The village of Stcin- way has grown up in the vicinity of the factory, Here a large number of substantial houses and stores, principally of brick, have been erected, and as the location of the buildings is on high, dry ground, the residents have the enjoyment of healthful country life, pure air, beauty of scen- ery, as well as facilities for bathing, boating and fishing.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 64

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