Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 67

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

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

daughter of James Hewlett, was born March 19, 1819, on the farm now owned by her son, Rich- ard H. In religious faith she was a Quaker, which belief she honored by her consistent Chris- tian life. The farm where she was born and died is one of the historic places of the locality and was subject to raids by the Hessians during the Revolutionary War.

The paternal grandfather of our subject, John Robbins, was born in Roslyn May 28, 1780, and his wife, Sarah (Carhart) Robbins, was born in White Plains, Westchester County, July 19, 1788. In the family of William B. Robbins there were seven children, but only three attained years of maturity and of these the only survivor is Rich- ard H. He lived at Westbury until nearly grown, when with his parents he moved to the Hewlett homestead, near East Williston. He was educated in the public and private schools, completing his studies in the Union Hall Acad- emy of Jamaica. When he was twenty-three years of age his father died, after which he took control of the place, and here he has engaged in general farming, dairying and market garden- ing. To the original one hundred acres com- prising the homestead he has added until he now owns one hundred and eighty acres, and besides this he owns a one-half interest in one hundred and twenty-six acres adjoining, so that his landed possessions aggregate two hundred and fifty acres. During the summer months he sends his wagon daily to the city with a load of market gardening produce, and usually makes three similar trips each week during the winter. He keeps about forty cows and in the winter devotes his attention largely to the dairy business.

Since 1884 Mr. Robbins has held the office of collector of School District No. 2. Politically his sympathies are with the Republican party, though he is inclined to be independent in his vote. His instrumentality and the efforts of other public-spirited citizens of the community were successful in securing the macadam roads in the town and in promoting other measures for the benefit of the community. He is a life mem- ber of the Queens County Agricultural Society and is usually an exhibitor of live stock and vegetables. He is a member of the Long Island Farmers' Club and a director of the Long Island Home at Amityville. He also holds membership in Roslyn Lodge, Shield of Honor. In the East Williston Hook and Ladder Company, of which he was a charter member, he held the position of

its first president, and is also a charter member of the Westbury Protective Association, in which he has held the position of president since it was organized in 1890.

January 27, 1885, occurred the marriage of Mr. Robbins to Miss Margaret Ketcham, who was born and reared at Manhasset, L. I., being a daughter of George W. and Gulielma Ketcham. The name which her mother bore, that of Guli- elma, is one seldom found except among the Quakers, who have used it as far back as the rec- ords can be traced; it was the Christian name of the second wife of William Penn, and was given a number of times to the daughters of preceding generations of this family. The grandfather of Mrs. Robbins was George D. Ketcham, a promi- nent citizen of this county and for many years clerk of the town of North Hempstead. Mr. and Mrs. Robbins are the parents of two daugh- ters, Mary H. and Gulielma.

C HARLES L. WALLACE, editor of the "South Side Observer," of Rockville Cen- ter, was born in Ponsonby, Ontario, De- cember 13, 1855, and is a son of Donald and Har- 1850 riet (Lasby) Wallace, DIED MAY 31.10 n his father's side he

traces his lineage to Scotland, while his mother was of English birth and ancestry, and in the combination of the honest thrift of one race with the will power and determination of the other nation may be found the impelling force that has led to his success. His paternal grandparents, George and Margaret Wallace, died at the re- spective ages of seventy-four and sixty-six, and his maternal grandparents, Charles and Mary Lasby, died when eighty-nine and sixty-eight, re- spectively.

The father of our subject was born in Ross- shire, Scotland, February 14, 1816, emigrated from his native land to Caracas, South America, thence to Ontario, and later removed to Pasa- dena, Cal., where he now resides. His occupa- tion through his active years was that of a farmer, and he also engaged for a time in business as a manufacturing chemist, but at this writing he is living retired. In 1838 he married Miss Harriet Lasby, who was born in London, England, in 1822, and they became the parents of the follow- ing-named children, all of whom are living: John D., Lavinia M., George, Charles L., Albert J., Francis S., Matilda H., Alexander H., and Mary A.

The Late Charles L. Wallace.

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

In the public schools and Rockwood Academy, Charles L. Wallace acquired a practical educa- tion. Coming to Rockville Center, he began to learn the printer's trade in 1873, and soon had a thorough knowledge of the typographical art. In 1875 he became editor of the "South Side Ob- server," and is still the editor and half-owner of the newspaper property at Rockville Center. Be- sides this work, he has established an extensive real estate business here and in Freeport and vicinity, having sold over $3,000,000 worth of property since 1885, and having been instru- mental in locating hundreds of families in the South Side villages, between Rockaway and Babylon.

At Merrick, L. I., October 1, 1879, Mr. Wal- lace was united in marriage to Miss Emily E. Smith, a member of one of the oldest families of that locality, whose first representatives in this country came from England to Stamford, Conn., and thence to Merrick, in 1654. Her father, Carman Smith, was born on the ancestral home- stead settled by the "Rock" Smith family, and at this writing resides with his daughter in Freeport. Mr. and Mrs. Wallace are the parents of two sons, Roy Smith and Clyde Carman Wallace, who are being educated in Miss Field's Academy and Freeport Union School. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal Church. Fraternally, Mr. Wallace is connected with the Freeport Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Le- gion of Honor, Foresters, fire department, Union League Club, and the Lincoln Club. Politically a Republican, he has never sought recognition in an official capacity, the only positions he has ever held being those of treasurer of the school board and examiner of state regents school.

J OHN T. ROBINSON, who was town clerk of Newtown, from 1891 to 1896, is one of the rising young men of the county. He was born in this place March 11, 1868, and here grew to mature years. While attending the pub- lic schools of Newtown he also devoted a part of his time to mastering the "art preservative" in the office of the "Newtown Register." At the age of fourteen he was pronounced an expert compositor, and on leaving school worked for two years in the office of the "Register." From there he went to New York City, where he was employed as a journeyman in various large offices. He then took up reportorial work, for

which he had evinced a decided talent, and for four years was engaged upon several metropoli- tan and Brooklyn papers.

In the year 1890 Mr. Robinson was the Repub- lican candidate for the office of overseer of the poor and made an unprecedented canvass, being defeated by a very small majority. The year fol- lowing he was unanimously nominated by his party for the office of town clerk and at the polls defeated his opponent, who was considered a very strong candidate. On the expiration of his first term, as well as the second and third, he was retained in office, each time with an increasing majority, until in 1894 he received six hundred votes more than his opponent, which fully shows the esteem in which he is held, the public taking this opportunity of showing their appreciation of his services.

Socially Mr. Robinson is a member of Mizpah Lodge No. 738, F. & A. M., in which he has filled the offices of secretary and warden. He is very prominent in the councils of his party and at the present time is chairman of the Republican Town Committee. He belongs to Newtown Council No. 717, Royal Arcanum, and is a reg- ular communicant of St. James Protestant Epis- copal Church. He is an energetic, wide-awake young man, and possesses the confidence of the people and the good-will of all who know him.

J I UDGE GUSTAV SCHUMACHER, justice of the peace of East Williamsburg, is one of the substantial and influential men of the county. Like many of its best residents he was born in Würtemberg, Germany, the date thereof being May 11, 1856. His parents were Michael and Caroline (Wiedmann) Schumacher, also born in the Fatherland. The only other member of their household besides our subject was Albert, who is now deceased.

Michael Schumacher was born in the year 1825 and was therefore in the fortieth year of his age when, in 1865, he emigrated to America. In New York City he engaged in the saloon busi- ness until 1874, and in September of that year he came to Middle Village and embarked in the hotel business, conducting a neat and well-or- dered hotel until his decease, which occurred in 1881.

The subject of this sketch attended school for a time in the Fatherland and after coming to New York continued to give his attention to his

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studies until a lad of fourteen years, when he was apprenticed to learn the piano-maker's trade, working at the same for four years. Next he was engaged in working at the lithographer's trade with his brother, and later he came to Middle Village with his father. Becoming inter- ested in the hotel business he assisted in running the place for three years, or until 1877, when he established the Metropolitan Park, which was devoted to recreation and amusement, managing the same until 1892.

In 1894 our subject was elected to the office of justice of the peace on the Republican ticket and the following January entered upon the duties of this position. He has the favor of the people of the community to a remarkable degree, and his services have been highly appreciated. In New York City, November 22, 1877, he was married to Miss Minnie Sillinger, a native of New York City. She is a most estimable and well-educated lady and their union has been blessed by the birth of a son, Albert G., now a lad of eight years. Mr. Schumacher is a member of the Har- vest Home Society, and being a talented musician and a great lover of music, belongs to the Arion Singing Society of Brooklyn.

W YCKOFF STOOTHOFF. Within the limits of Queens County there can be found no family whose members enjoy to a larger degree the confidence and regard of the people, than that of which the gentleman named is a representative. He is a well-to-do farmer of this section and makes his home in Crocheron Avenue, in the town of Flushing. He was born at Flatbush, February 26, 1824, and is the son of William and Sarah (Wyckoff) Stoot- hoff. Of their family of four children, our sub- ject and William are the only survivors.

The father, who was a veteran of the War of 1812, was of Holland-Dutch descent. His an- cestors came to America early in the sixteenth century and made settlement at Flatlands, where they became numerous and prominent. It was there that the father of our subject was born, Feb- ruary 8, 1793. He was tlie son of Cornelius Stoothoff, who in turn was the son of one Wil- liam Stoothoff, also born in Flatlands. William Stoothoff, our subject's father, was married May 20, 1820, his wife being the daughter of Barent Wyckoff. The latter was also a resident of

Flatlands, and bore the distinction of having served in the Revolutionary War.

Shortly after his marriage the father gave his entire attention to the carpenter's trade, which he had mastered in his young manhood, and fol- lowed this business until he was about fifty years of age. Desirous of spending his remaining years amid the comforts of farm life, he retired to a beautiful place in the town of Jamaica, where he lived to the good old age of eighty-six years, dying January 26, 1880. His wife survived him some seven years, being in her eighty-seventh year at the time of her decease, November 1, 1887.

Wyckoff, of this history, acquired a fine edu- cation in Erasmus Hall Academy. When about eighteen years of age he accompanied his father to Jamaica and assisted in the cultivation of the farm until his marriage. That event, which was celebrated January 25, 1853, united him with Miss Maria B., daughter of Henry Story, a native of Hempstead. The young couple then took possession of the farm on which they now reside and for forty-three years have given their atten- tion to cultivating the soil. Their efforts in this line have been crowned with success, for they are numbered among the substantial residents of the town.

To Mr. and Mrs. Stoothoff there were born four children, three of whom are living. William is at home and assists in conducting the farm; Cornelius W. is married and makes his home at East Williston, where he is engaged in farming. Eliza S. is also at home with her parents. In his political relations Mr. Stoothoff is a true-blue Re- publican, and on this ticket was elected a mem- ber of the school board, meeting with that body and rendering his district efficient and satisfac- tory service for three years. For forty-three years he has worshiped with the Reformed Church at Flushing.

W ILLIAM H. SEAMAN. The firm of S. J. & W. H. Seaman, of Glencove, is one of the most successful in their line in Queens County, their large establishment being stocked with a full line of house furnishing goods. Besides this, the brothers derive a hand- some income from their plumbing and roofing business. They manufacture their own tinware, and, having a full knowledge of every department of work in which they are engaged, are meeting with success.

CHARLES A. WILLETS.

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

The subject of this sketch was born at Jericho, February 12, 1868, being a son of Elias H. and Phebe (Underhill) Seaman, who reside in a com- fortable residence in Jericho. When a lad of about twelve years our subject entered the Friends Academy at Glencove, and after com- pleting a four-years' course there entered the Freshman class of Swarthmore College, at Swarthmore, Pa., graduating from this institution with the class of '88. While there he made a study of civil engineering, and upon leaving col- lege was given a position with the Reading Rail- road Company in Pennsylvania, remaining with that corporation just one year. He then engaged in the manufacture of furnaces, and after carry- ing on this business for a twelvemonth became associated with his brother, S. J., in business, the partnership being formed in the spring of 1890. By well directed efforts and business enterprise they are in command of a very remunerative trade and have a well equipped establishment in Glen- cove.

Politically Mr. Seaman deposits his ballot in favor of Republican candidates. He has never been an officeseeker in any sense of the word, but at various times has served as inspector of elections. He was reared in the faith of the Friends Church, as were his ancestors for many generations.

The marriage of W. H. Seaman and Miss Mar- garet J. Laurie, of Jericho, a daughter of William W. and Frances (Seaman) Laurie, was celebrated June 7, 1893. She was born and reared in the above place, and, like our subject, is a graduate of Swarthmore College, completing her studies in that institution in 1889. Mr. and Mrs. Seaman have one son, William Laurie, born July 27, 1894.

C HARLES A. WILLETS. Business con- nections lasting a period of forty years are very rare in the village of Flushing, and when a firm is found with that many years attached to its record it is surely deserving of mention in the pages of commercial and financial history of this section. Charles A. Willets is a prominent business man of the flourishing vil- lage above mentioned and for forty years was in partnership with Mr. Roe, only the latter's death causing a separation. After that Mr. Willets closed out the business. He is one of the owners of the Red Star Towing and Transportation Company of New York City, which is doing a

large and successful business. Liberal and pub- lic spirited to an unusual degree, he has many warm friends.

Mr. Willets is a native of Flushing, born July 20, 1826, and was next to the youngest of three children born to Charles and Ann W. (Lowerre) Willets, both natives of Flushing and prominent citizens of that place. The Willetses came origin- ally from England, Suffolk County, about the year 1660, and settled on Long Island, where most of their descendants have remained sincc. The father of our subject was the first nursery- man in the vicinity of Flushing. About the year 1823 he bought about one hundred and seventy acres near Flushing, and this was called Willet's Point. He died in 1832. His wife, who was the daughter of John Lowerre, reached the advanced age of eighty-six years. Of her three children, one besides our subject is now living, Mrs. A. A. De Grauw of Jamaica. .

After the death of his father our subject was sent to boarding school at Hempstead, and later attended school in New Jersey, where he fin- ished his education. Returning to Queens Coun- ty he sold the farm at Willet's Point and entered upon a successful business career in Flushing. He organized the gas company and erected the gas works, and in 1856 started out in business in partnership with George B. Roe, under the name of George B. Roe & Co. Besides carrying on a lumber business they handled building material of all kinds. They began in the docks, but later bought the large dock in Lawrence Avenue, and about 1870 located their office there. Most of the lumber was brought by boat. They bought a tug which they ran to Albany and Troy, and later engaged in the towing business quite extensive- ly, this being the origin of the Red Star Towing and Transportation Company, which has offices in New York City and Brooklyn. Mr. Willets is still interested in this individually and is a wide-awake, stirring business man.

On the Ist of March, 1895, when about sey- enty-five years old, Mr. Roe dicd, and Mr. Wil- lets then closed out the business. Hc owns con- siderable real estate here and has a fine residence at No. 201 Sanford Avenue which is presided over by his estimable wife, formerly Miss Adel- aide Hicks, whom lie married in Jamaica. She was born on the old Hicks farm in North Hemp- stead. Her father, Gilbert Hicks, was a promi- nent hotel man of Flushing. In the year 1854 Mr. Willets started the Flushing Gas Light Com-

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pany and has been treasurer of it ever since. Fraternally he is a member of Cornucopia Lodge No. 563, F. & A. M., and was at one time an Odd Fellow. In politics he is a stanch Republican. His children, two in number, are as follows: Charles A., Jr., manager and superintendent of Flushing Gas Light Company; and Mary E., at home.

C HRISTIAN STOEHR has made a suc- cess of life and is now living retired from business of any kind at Bayside. A native of Germany, he was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, November 28, 1839, a son of John Conrad and Caroline (Mahring) Stoehr. The parental family included four children, those now surviving being our subject and his brother Carl, who still makes his home in the Fatherland.

John C. Stoehr, who was born in Germany in the year 1800, was reared to the life of a farmer and followed this occupation on the home place until his death, which occurred in 1849. Our subject was given a good common-school educa- tion, and as he grew to mature years learned the trade of a blacksmith, which he followed in Ger- many until reaching his twenty-sixth year. He then determined to try his fortunes in the New World, and accordingly took passage for Amer- ica, landing in New York August 29, 1865. He had little difficulty in securing employment at his trade, and after eighteen months he was in a position to engage in business for himself, open- ing a shop in Fifth Street. Later he removed to Fortieth Street, where he was successfully en- gaged in business for a number of years. In 1876, however, he abandoned work at his trade and began butchering, which business proved to be a success from the start, and during the twenty years in which he was thus engaged he amassed a handsome competence.

In 1892 our subject purchased his present com- fortable home in Bayside and removed hither with his family, leaving his market to the man- agement of his son Christian and his son-in-law, George Willy. He makes two trips each week to the city and assists in buying the meat, giving to his successors much valuable aid and advice.

The marriage of Mr. Stoehr and Miss Eliza Koch was celebrated November 7, 1865. This lady was born April 16, 1840, in Hesse-Darm- stadt, and came to America about the same year in which Mr. Stoehr took passage. Their union

has been blessed by the birth of six children. Caroline, the wife of John Volz, has two children, Louise and Gertrude; Louise, Mrs. George Willy, has two children, Christian and George; Chris- tian and Gertrude complete the list of those living. William and Tilly are deceased. Mr. Stoehr is a member of the Independent Schuetzen Asso- ciation and for many years has been identified prominently with the Butchers' Guard, of which, in 1895, he was made captain, and recently sub- scribed a handsome sum which was used in giv- ing the boys a vacation. He is a true Christian gentleman and an active member of the Luth- eran Church. Although he is a member of the Democratic Club of this place he votes independ- ently. Personally he bears a high reputation for honesty and upright dealings with his fellow-men, and is always to be found in the front ranks in works of improvement and public benefit.

J JOHN STEWART, the proprietor of one of the neatest and most attractive farms at Bay- side, is a native of the Emerald Isle, his birth occurring near Belfast. The parents, John and Mary (Borden) Stewart, had two daughters and one son besides our subject. Margaret is the wife of John Richey, a resident of Monterey, N. Y .; Jane married Charles Clark and also lives in Monterey; and James, who is a farmer by occu- pation, is cultivating a nice tract of land at Bay- side.

John Stewart, Sr., was also born and reared in Ireland, and when ready to embark in life for himself chose farming as his vocation. About the year 1845 he decided to emigrate to America, and after landing on the shores of the New World came immediately to Bayside and spent the re- mainder of his life in this charming locality. In 1889 he passed away, firm in the faith of the German Reformed Church, of which he was a member. He was a highly esteemed citizen of Bayside and by hard work and economy attained a competency as regards this world's goods.

The subject of this sketch was a lad of about fifteen years when he accompanied his father to America. He then commenced the battles of life on his own account, hiring out as a farm hand, and for twenty-five years worked for other peo- ple. He then purchased the home farm from his father and in 1870 he took possession of the property and cared for his parents during their old age. He is now one of the solid and substan-

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tial residents of the town of Flushing and is an example of what may be accomplished by push and energy.

The lady to whom Mr. Stewart was married, September 12, 1868, was Miss Bridget Agnew, then residing in Bayside, but who was also born in Ireland. She is a devout Catholic, while Mr. Stewart belongs to the Reformed Church, in the faith of which he was reared by his worthy par- ents. He supports the candidates of the Repub- lican party whenever an opportunity presents itself and is a citizen of public spirit and progres- siveness who has done much for the upbuilding and devolopment of his community.

D BADENHOP, who is proprietor of the Monument House, one of the most popular hotels of Flushing, was born in Hanover, Germany, December 24, 1840. Deid- rick Badenhop, his father, was born in the same place and was a wealthy and influential farmer. He spent his entire life in his native land, dying when about seventy years old. His marriage united him with Miss Anna Sophia Kruse, a na- tive of Germany, and the daughter of John Kruse, who was an extensive land owner and a very wealthy man. Both were members of the Old Lutheran Church, and she died when a compara- tively young woman. Of the nine children born to them, six grew to mature years, but all are now deceased with the exception of our subject.

The youngest of the family, he was reared in his native country, on his father's farm, and was educated in the public schools. In 1855 he came to America and located in New York City. At first he clerked in a grocery, at the same time attending night school, and later he was on an American steamship as foreman, running between New York City and Aspinwall, and was on the "Illinois" when she broke her shaft. Later he again became clerk in a grocery in New York, but about 1863 he embarked in business with his brother and continued with him about six months. About 1865 he ventured out in the coal business for himself in New York City, but subsequently sold out and visited his native land, where he re- mained one summer. Returning to New York, he opened a grocery and liquor house and was actively engaged in this for about seven years.

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Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 67

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