Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 72

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 72

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After the death of John Claven his widow mar- ried his brother Thomas, in 1890. The latter was a native of the city of New York and was there reared and received a grammar school edu- cation. In 1871 he came with the family to Long Island City, and here, with his brother John, and George Petry, he established the hard- ware business above mentioned, but shortly afterward the brothers bought Mr. Petry's in- terest and became the sole owners. In connec- tion with their business they engaged in the man- ufacture of varnish and tacks and conducted a successful business in Jackson Avenue until the death of John Claven, when Thomas became the sole manager of the business. He continued suc- cessfully to discharge the responsibilities of his business, but unfortunately his earthly career was cut short at the comparatively early age of thirty- nine years, in January, 1893. John and Thomas Claven had a younger brother, Michael, who came to Long Island at the time they did and here he received his education, later engaging in business. He became prominent in commercial circles, and, like his brothers, bore an excellent reputation for honesty and upright dealing. He died early also, in June, 1895, when thirty-four

PETER LOTT.

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years old. At one time he was president of the board of aldermen, and at the time of his death was president of the Long Island improvement committee.

Mrs. Claven has entirely refuted the old notion that women are utterly lacking in business ca- pacity, for since the death of her husband, Thom- as Claven, she has taken her place at the helm and has continued to guide the business into safe and lucrative channels. She conducted both the store and the manufactory successfully until about September, 1895, when she closed out the former establishment and has since devoted her attention to the manufacture of varnish and tacks in Borden Avenue, near Jackson Avenue, and to doing a general jobbing business. She is shrewd, capable and intelligent and has lost none of her womanliness by so successfully continu- ing the business which was inaugurated by Claven Brothers. She is a Christian in all that the word implies and is a worthy member of St. Mary's Catholic Church.

P ETER LOTT, who is living on the Jamaica plank road in Woodhaven, was born on this place February 4, 1812. He was the young- est member of a family of ten children, two of whom died in infancy. Stephen, born February 28, 1788, married Phebe Sprang. He served as a soldier in the War of 1812 and became a man of great prominence in his community, holding several positions of honor and trust. During the greater part of his life he followed farming and died in 1859. Phebe, who was born July 24, 1790, never married and lived to be eighty-eight years of age. John was born July 24, 1792, and died September 13th of the following year. John S., who was born August 2, 1794, also fought in the War of 1812, and during the active years of his life served his town as highway commis- sioner, assessor and supervisor. By occupation he was a farmer. Hendrick was born April 8, 1797; he made farming his life vocation and died October 10, 1849. Dow S. was born July 28, 1800, and died September Ioth of that year. Anna was born July 6, 1801; she married Jacob Snediker and lived until August 22, 1867. Dow S., the second of that name, was born Decem- ber 25, 1803, and died May 27, 1868. Sarah was born May 23, 1806; she married F. L. Wyckoff and to them were born eight children-John,

Henry L., Jacob S., Ferdinand L. and William J., and two daughters and one son who died in infancy. William and John Lott, now promi- nent residents of Jamaica, are sons of Jacob S.

The father of the above family was Hendrick Lott, whose birth occurred March 24, 1761, on the old Lott homestead. He was a very prom- inent man in his day and was the incumbent of many offices of trust and responsibility. In the Reformed Church, of which he was one of the leading members, he served as elder for many years, and passed away September 13, 1832. His father, by name Stephen Lott, came to Long Island from Pennsylvania during the early set- tlement of this region. Of his children we men- tion the following facts: Hendrick was the eldest of the family. Johanas, born November 19, 1763, was a farmer by occupation and a captain of militia; Peter was born January 31, 1766, and died unmarried; Anna was born March 4, 1768; she married John Vandevere; Stephen was born April 26, 1770, and married Phebe Eldert; George was born May 22, 1772, and married Wilenpea Schenck; Maria, born March 21, 1774, married Benjamin Sammis; Catherine, born June 17, 1786, became the wife of Timothy Nostrand; and Nicholas, born August 7, 1778, married Addie Snediker. This branch of the Lott fam- ily is enabled to trace its ancestry on Long Island back to the year 1652. Among its members was one Johonas, who was elected to the New York Assembly, serving for twenty years from 1727 to 1747.

Peter Lott has spent his entire life on the place where he is at present residing. He followed farming for many years and also speculated quite extensively in land, meeting with very flattering success in this venture. He is to-day one of the wealthy and substantial citizens of the town of Jamaica, which result has been brought about through his own efforts. He has always taken an active interest in the welfare of his community and on several occasions has held office. He has never married, and, although now well advanced in years, is active in mind and body, and it is no uncommon occurrence for him to walk to Ja- maica to attend prayer-meeting, a distance of three or four miles. The Reformed Church re- gards him as one of its most consistent members, and during his younger days he served his con- gregation in the official capacity of deacon and elder. Mr. Lott has a very pleasant home and among its furnishings is a splendid library. He

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takes great delight in reading good books and papers, and is without doubt one of the best- posted men on current events in his locality.

P ROF. JOHN WAMBSGANSS. No pro- fession has a greater influence upon man- kind and none is loftier in its aims or more uplifting in its effects than that of music. Those who devote their lives to the mastery of its in- tricacies and who from its study evolve new beau- ties in the realms of harmonic symphonies well deserve the praise of their friends and the ap- plause of the world. Perhaps few have given more earnest or closer attention to the study of music than has Professor Wambsganss, and that the results have been satisfactory may be attested by the writer, who had the pleasure of personally hearing this well known pianist.

Though of American birth, the subject of this sketch traces his lineage to Germany, where were born his father and grandfather, both named George. The latter brought his family to Ameri- ca and settled in Kendallville, Ind., where he spent his remaining years. George, Jr., was a lad of eight years when the family came to this country, and he grew to manhood in Indiana, being edu- cated in Ft. Wayne for the profession of a school teacher. His first work in that occupation was in Van Wert County, Ohio, after which he was similarly employed in Crete, Ill., then in Chicago for fifteen years, and is now at Bremen, Ind., where he teaches in a Lutheran school. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Germann, was born in Vanwert, Ohio, being a daughter of Charles Philip Germann.

Among six children, our subject was third in respect to age. He was born in Chicago, Ill., August 12, 1869, and spent his childhood years in his native place, being educated in the pa- rochial schools. At the age of fourteen he en- tered the Addison Seminary, near Chicago, from which he graduated in 1889. Going to Decatur, Macon County, he accepted a position as teacher in German and English in the parochial school. In January, 1891, he came to Long Island City to take the position of instructor in Trinity pa- rochial school, which he has since held. He is also organist in the Trinity Lutheran Church and is an instructor in music, making a specialty of the piano. For the last three years he has been studying music with Prof. F. Q. Dulcken. On several occasions he has given concerts in

Long Island City, and of these functions he has made a decided success.

In Long Island City occurred the marriage of Professor Wambsganss to Miss Gussie Wingrove, a native of this place, and daughter of Benjamin Wingrove, of whom mention is elsewhere made. One child, Benjamin George, blesses this union. While the Professor has been prevented from the pressure of his professional duties from taking an active part in politics, he is nevertheless well in- formed regarding topics of current interest, and in national affairs gives his allegiance to the Dem- ocratic party.

P AUL A. GEIPEL, collector for George Ehret's brewery, was born in Saxony, Ger- many, in 1865, being a son of August and Wilhelmina (Koemer) Geipel, also natives of Sax- ony. His father was a baker by trade and his grandfather a manufacturer of vinegar, though both also engaged as dealers in horses. The for- mer first came to America in 1854, remaining about five years. He then returned to Germany, married, and for a time engaged in dealing in horses there, but in 1866 he brought his wife and child to the United States, settling in New York City, where he found employment as a bak- er. In 1873 he located in Woodside, Queens County, where he was in the employ of the Wood- side brewery until its failure. In 1874 he came to Long Island City and started a saloon on Newtown Road, which he continued for a few years. In 1888 he became a collector for Ehret's brewery, which position he has since filled. He still resides here, making his home at No. 38 Newtown Road.

The subject of this sketch is the eldest of four children, of whom three are now living. He was reared in Woodside and Long Island City, his education being carried on in the Fourth Ward school under Professor Gould. Later he attend- ed Thompson's Business College. In 1881 he entered a drug store in New York, where, in ad- dition to working as clerk, he studied pharmacy. After two years he became a student in the New York College of Pharmacy, where he continued until 1885, but was then obliged to relinquish the work, owing to the fact that the confinement injured his health. On leaving school he went West, where he spent five months in travel, thus regaining his strength. Returning to Long Island City, he became his father's assistant as

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collector. In 1890 he was appointed a collector for Ehret's brewery, which position he still holds, he and his father being the only two representa- tives of the brewery on Long Island.

Mr. Geipel's family residence is at No. 473 Grand Avenue. He was married in Long Island City to Miss Dora Nentwich, whose father is pro- prietor of the Sunnyside House, and who is a native of New York, though a resident of this city throughout the most of her life. . Three chil- dren comprise the family, Wilhelmina, Paul A., Jr., and Dora. Socially Mr. Geipel is a member of the Arion Society in New York, the Frohsinn, Turn Verein, Harmony Singing Association, As- toria Mannerchor, Eintracht Singing Associa- tion, Queens County Athletic Club, Long Island City Wheelmen, Dutch Kills Mannerchor and Steinway Gun Club, from which list it will be seen that he is fond of social pleasure and of athletic sports. He has a complete hunting outfit, and as a result of his efforts along the line of that sport, he has some fine natural history specimens. Politically he takes an active interest in public af- fairs and casts his vote with the Democratic party.

E ZRA WOODHULL CONKLIN. The family of which this representative citizen of Jamaica is a member originated in Eng- land, but has been represented in America about three centuries. The first of whom there is any record bore the name of John Conclin and was born in 1600; his son, John, Jr., a native of the same country, was born in 1630. In company with the illustrious "Pilgrim Fathers" he crossed the Atlantic from Nottinghamshire and settled in Salem, Mass. His wife's name was Mary.

As early as 1660 John Conclin, Sr., with his son, Timothy, removed from Southold to Huntington, L. I. The other sons, John, Jr., Jacob, Benja- min and Joseph, established their homes in Southold and some of their descendants still re- side at the east end of Suffolk County. One of the most prominent members of the family was Roscoe Conkling, said to be a descendant of the eastern branch. John, Sr., and Timothy owned land at West Neck, and their names appear in the records and rate bills as freeholders. Timothy was one of the purchasers from the Indians un- der Governor Fletcher's patent of 1694.

The four sons of Timothy were Timothy, Jr., Jacob, John and Cornelius, all of whom resided on West Neck during early life, but later Cornelius

went to Coldspring and John removed to Clay Pitts. Jacob in 171I purchased a large tract of land at Half Hollow Hills, where he died at an advanced age; he married Hannah Platt, daugh- ter of Epenetus Platt, and among their descend- ants was Jesse Conklin, formerly sheriff of Suf- folk County. Timothy remained on West Neck, and the Conklins of Huntington are mostly his posterity.

Ezra Conkling, the grandfather of our subject, was a descendant of Timothy, before named. He married Sarah, daughter of Isaac Platt, of Hunt- ington, and their nine children were: Platt, Eras- tus Harvey, Ezra, Nathaniel Woodhull, Eliza- beth, Experience, Letitia, Matilda and Maria. During the Revolutionary War he was stabbed by a Hessian soldier, receiving injuries which resulted fatally. His son Platt, who lived at Clam Point, Huntington Harbor, married Elizabeth Wood, daughter of Jeremiah Wood, and their children were named as follows: Ansel and Brewster (twins), Warren, Frank, Jeremiah, Will- iam, Mary, Matilda and Elizabeth. Erastus Har- vey, son of Ezra, married Ruth, sister of Eliza- beth, and daughter of Jeremiah Wood, and they had five children: Charles, Ezra, Maria, Sarah and Deborah. Ezra, Jr., son of Ezra, Sr., married" Jane A. Brown, of Huntington, and had three children: Seaman, Sarah Maria and Mary Eme- line.

The father of our subject, Nathaniel Woodhull Conklin, was born at Huntington, L. I., and was a harnessmaker by trade. Possessing large in- ventive ability, he had the experience similar to inventors-that of never realizing much from his inventions. When a young man he came to Ja- maica, where he followed his trade. For many years he was sexton of the Presbyterian Church and also served as superintendent of the Sunday- school. He married Phoebe, daughter of Platt Smith, of Jamaica, and they had two children, Sarah Rebecca and Ezra Woodhull. Their daughter is the wife of Benjamin E. Vandervoort, of Wallabout, by whom she had a son, Benjamin W. The latter married Dorcas Champlain, of Jamaica, and they have one child, named Ed- gar A.

The Platt family, from whom our subject is descended, was first represented on Long Island by two brothers, Isaac and Epenetus, and their father, Richard Platt, who came from Hertford- shire, England, and settled in New Haven, Conn., in 1638, but the following year they removed to

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Milford, Conn., where the father died in the fall of 1684. The sons were among the earliest set- tlers of Huntington, Suffolk County, and were patentees of the town. Isaac Platt died July 31, 1691, leaving the following children: Elizabeth, born September 15, 1665; Jonas, August 10, 1667; John, June 29, 1669; Mary, October 26, 1677, and Jacob, September 29, 1682.

Jonas, son of Isaac Platt, had four sons, Oba- diah, Timothy, Jesse and Isaac, of whom the two first-named settled in Fairfield, and the others re- mained in Huntington. Jesse, son of Jonas, had three children, Jesse, Isaac and Zophar. Isaac, son of Jesse, died in 1772 and left six children, Elizabeth, Mary, Sarah, Obadiah, Jesse and Isaac. Obadiah, son of Isaac, resided upon a farm at West Hills, now belonging to the McKay estate. His brother, Isaac, married Eunice Platt, of Con- necticut, who died in Huntington in 1862 at the age of ninety-seven years; she was a descendant of Obadiah Platt, of Fairfield, Conn. Obadiah, son of Isaac, left seven children: Elkanah, Phi- letus, Daniel, Esther, Rebecca, Phoebe and Sarah.

Elkanah, son of Obadiah Platt, of Huntington, married Dency, daughter of Jeremiah Wood, in 1795, and their children were: Elizabeth; George W., of New York City; David; Brewster W. and Daniel (twins); Nathan C., deceased, at one time chamberlain of New York City; Deborah W. and Hannah C. Isaac Platt, son of Jesse, married Sarah Mathews, of Huntington, and after her death was united with Elizabeth Doty, of Cold- spring Harbor; by his second wife he had sev- eral children, whose descendants reside in West- ern New York. Joel, son of Jesse, married Miss Suydam, of Centerport. Jesse, son of Jesse, set- tled in New Jersey; his brother, Ansel, married Miss Maria McChesney, of New York City; his sister, Sarah, was three times married, her hus- bands being Thomas Steele, John Scudder and Joshua B. Smith.

Philetus Platt, son of Obadiah, married Content Sammis, of Huntington, and their children were Obadiah, Zophar, Stephen, Oliver, Watts, Polly, Amelia, Sarah, Phoebe and Nancy. Daniel, son of Obadiah, married a Miss Smith, of New York City. Esther, a daughter of Obadiah, became the wife of Stephen Fleet and their children were Platt, Ruth and Mary Esther. Rebecca, daugh- ter of Obadiah, had by her first husband one son, John Duryee. Her second marriage was to Jonas Sammis, of West Neck, by whom she had four children, Nelson, Daniel P., Mary (de-

ceased), and Mrs. Sarah Denton, of Lloyds Neck. Phoebe, daughter of Obadiah, married Nathaniel Chichester, of West Hills, and their children were Nathaniel, Eliphalet, Platt and Mary Ann. Sarah, daughter of Obadiah, married Jesse Rogers, of Huntington, and they had one daughter, Eliza- beth.

In the village of Jamaica, where he still resides, the subject of this notice was born in May, 1831. He was educated in the district schools and Union Hall Academy, and after completing his studies went West, but not liking the country, returned home. Soon afterward he took up civil engi- neering, which he has since followed with marked success. His active business career covers a period of nearly forty-five years, and during that time he has surveyed almost every piece of land in the towns of Jamaica and Far Rockaway, made what was called the best assessment map ever made anywhere in the state outside of New York City, and while engaged at his profession he laid out Rockaway Beach, Ocean Point and a num- ber of other places on the island. In religious belief he is a member of the Presbyterian Church. His political views have led him to affiliate with the Democratic party, and in its prosperity he feels a keen interest.

By his marriage to Mary Bennett, of Jamaica, which took place November 17, 1860, Mr. Conk- lin had three sons, namely: Franklin Woodhull; Edgar P., who died in infancy, and Archibald E., who was born in Jamaica, June 27, 1867, was educated in the public schools, and is engaged as a civil engineer with his father, while socially he is connected with the Odd Fellows and the Twenty-third Regiment, New York National Guard, of Brooklyn. The oldest son, Franklin W., was born April 3, 1862, and in youth was a student in the public schools. From 1880 until 1886 he was employed as telegraph operator at different places, and later, until 1890, held the position of recording clerk in the office of the clerk of Queens County under John H. Sutphin. Since 1890 he has been engaged in civil engineer- ing with his father. His first wife, Annie B. Cramford, of Valley Stream, with whom he was united May 21, 1884, died December 30, 1889, after having become the mother of two children. His second marriage took place June 29, 1892, his wife being Ella L. Vincent, of Brooklyn, who passed away March 16, 1894. The only child of this union is Grace Adele, who was born Feb- ruary 15, 1894.

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S AMUEL T. SKIDMORE. One of the at- tractive homesteads of Queens County is occupied by the subject of this notice and is pleasantly situated on Great Neck. It com- mands one of the most magnificent views to be found on Long Island. To the right and left of the place stand Ft. Schuyler and the fort at Will- et's Point, while in the distance lie the waters of the sound. The owner is a successful farmer and has attained a degree of success which proves the possession of energy, prudence and sagacity.

Near where he now resides Mr. Skidmore was born, in 1839, to Gen. James H. and Mary A. (Hewlett) Skidmore, being a member of one of the old families of the county. His great-grand- father, Samuel Skidmore, married Abigail White- head in 1774 and their children spent most of their youthful days on the homestead near Flush- ing. Their son John had three sons, Samuel Tredwell, James Henderson and David William, all of whom were educated at Union Hall Acad- emy, Jamaica, and engaged in mercantile pur- suits. Of these James H., the father of Samuel T., was born near Flushing, and after retiring from business spent the remainder of his life at Great Neck, occupying a place situated only a stone's throw from where our subject now lives. He was born March 4, 1802, and died January 2, 1887, at the time of his demise being the oldest of the Skidmore family in Queens County. Inter- ested in military tactics, he was appointed general of the Fifteenth Infantry of Long Island. In religious belief he was an Episcopalian and served for many years as vestryman and warden of Christ Church, Manhasset. His children surviv- ing him are: Susannah, wife of John T. Willis: Samuel T., of this sketch; Mary Jane, widow of Frederick K. Edwards; Sarah M., widow of Dr. D. Rea Porter, and George W. The widow of the General still resides at the old homestead on Great Neck.

The boyhood days of our subject were spent in attendance at private schools in Great Neck and Coldspring, where he gained a useful fund of information. June 3, 1870, he was united in mar- riage with Miss Rosa A. Messenger, a native of Brooklyn, and daughter of Harry and Emma Messenger. Since their marriage they have re- sided in their present home, where they are sur- rounded by all that goes to make life comforta- ble and enjoyable. They are the parents of a daughter and son, the former of whom, Eliza- beth, was born in Brooklyn, and is the wife of

D. Edgar Smith, of New York City; the son, S. Tredwell, was born on Great Neck and is a youth of fifteen years (1896). Mr. Skidmore is highly esteemed in this community, as in every walk of life he has conducted himself in an honorable and upright manner. Since the election of Ab- raham Lincoln to the presidency, he has always supported Republican principles and voted the party ticket. For one year he was clerk in the custom house of New York. In religious belief he has been identified with the Episcopal Church for many years.

A LFRED C. BAYLES is one of the successful business men of Port Washing- ton, where he is proprietor of a general store, stocked with a complete assortment of goods adapted to meet the need of every custom- er. He is a native of Long Island, born in the village of Oyster Bay, January 6, 1846, and is a son of Samuel Y. and Mary A. (Weeks) Bayles. His father, who was a tailor by trade, followed the bay throughout the most of his life, but died when his son was quite small, after which the or- phan lad was given a home with his maternal grandfather at Locust Valley. His education was obtained in the country schools there, and while it was comparatively meager, yet by self- culture he has gained an excellent business edu- cation.

From the age of fifteen until seventeen he worked on a farm, after which he clerked in a store at Locust Valley, and later was similarly engaged at Roslyn and Old Westbury, remaining in the last-named place for three years. Going to Brooklyn, he purchased a milk route, which he conducted for a year, but as the venture did not prove a profitable one, he sold out and went to Little Neck, where he was employed in a drug store for a year. Thence he came to Port Wash- ington and for three years was engaged as a clerk in a drug store. Saving his earnings, he was able, in 1872, to open in business for himself, taking Mr. Baxter as a partner, and carrying on the trade under the firm name of Baxter & Bayles until 1880, since which time he has been alone. In addition to other lines he has a men's furnishing department, in which he carries a full and complete stock.

December 10, 1874. Mr. Bayles married Miss Priscilla L., daughter of Stephen P. and Emeline (Loweree) Wright, of Little Neck. Politically a

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Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 72

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