Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 79

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 79

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).

The youngest child born to his parents, his birth occurring in Brooklyn, N. Y., in 1858, Francis McNena, Jr., was reared and educated in Blissville, Long Island City, coming to this place with his parents when two years old. When about fifteen years old he entered his father's store, and under the direction of that admirable business man laid the foundation for his subsequent suc- cessful career. Since the death of his father Francis has carried on the business with prompt- ness and dispatch. He has three delivery wag- ons on the road, and in connection with general merchandising has an excellent stock of hard- ware, this being the only hardware store in Blissville. Politically Mr. McNena is a Demo- crat, and in religion a Catholic, a member of St. Raphael's Church.

F RAHM BROTHERS. Energy and indus- try, which will almost invariably bring suc- cess in any calling, have contributed to the high business standing of the firm of Frahm Brothers of Astoria, Long Island City. While they have not been engaged in business many years, yet they have already gained noticeable success and have established a trade so large as to necessitate the constant use of three delivery wagons. In their store, which is situated at No. 286 Flushing Avenue, they carry a full line of groceries, staple and fancy ; also hay, feed, grain and flour, keeping, in fact, a full equipment of everything in their line.

The father of our subjects, Paul Frahm, was born in Germany, and is a painter and decorator

by trade. For some time he carried on business at Eightieth Street and Second Avenue, New York City, but in 1888 came to Long Island City, where he has since been retired. By his mar- riage to Catherine Hahr, a native of Germany, he was the father of five sons and one daughter, namely: Mrs. Sophia Snyder of Astoria; Ru- dolph, Fred, Gustav, William and August.

The senior member of the firm is Fred, who was born in New York City, October 3, 1872, re- ceived a good grammar school education, and at the age of fourteen began to work as newsboy for the "New York News." Two years were spent in that way, after which he clerked in a retail grocery business, thus gaining a thorough knowl- edge of the occupation to which he afterward de- voted himself. He also learned the painter's trade, which he followed four years, and then, in 1894, formed a partnership with his brother. Po- litically he is a Republican, and supports the party ticket with enthusiasm and fidelity. He is fond of sport and is identified with the Queens County Athletic Club.

Gustav Frahm, junior member of the firm, was born in New York City, September 19, 1874, and was educated in that place and in the grammar school of Long Island City. His first position was that of clerk in a wholesale grocery store of New York, but in April, 1894, he resigned in or- der to enter business for himself. Forming a partnership with his brother, they bought out the store of Charles Jurgenson, who had carried on the concern for five years. Since purchasing the business, they have carried it on with success and have gained a name as reliable, efficient busi- ness men. Like his brother, Gustav Frahm is a Republican in politics and a member of the Queens County Athletic Club, and is a wel- comed guest in the best homes of the city, his so- cial qualities fitting him for association with the cultured and refined people of the community.

R ICHARD E. KANE. The name of the Kane Hotel in Blissville, Long Island City, is synonymous with first-class enter- tainment. In this hotel everything is as clean, comfortable and convenient as it is possible for hands to make it, and a home-like air pervades the whole house, which adds materially to its at- tractions. Richard E. Kane is the beau ideal of a hospitable landlord, and attends to the wants of his guests efficiently though without ostenta-

623

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

tion. He was born in the city of New York in 1856. His father, John Kane, was with the Twenty-third Street Ferry Company for many years, but later embarked in the hotel business and started the Kane House, which he conducted in a successful manner until his death in 1863. The maiden name of his wife was Margaret Leavy. She was a native of Ireland and died in Long Island City in 1893. Two children be- sides our subject were born to this union. Ed- ward died in infancy; Pierce, who was in the gen- . eral postoffice department of New York City for ten years, and for a similar period was in the railway mail service, later was on the improve- ment committee in the city. His death occurred in 1892.

Our subject, the only child now living, grew to manhood in Long Island City and received his education in the Second Ward school. Later he entered the employ of Charles Pratt's Manufac- turing Company of Brooklyn, where he remained about fifteen years, and then resigned to engage in business in Long Island City. He started the hotel business on his father's old place, at the corner of Gale and Young Streets, and in 1890 moved the old place back, building a large frame hotel there. In 1893 he was nominated for alder- man on the Democratic ticket, but was defeated by twenty-three votes. In the fall of 1895 he was nominated and elected alderman of the second ward on the regular Democratic ticket and took his seat in January, 1896.

Mr. Kane is vice-president of the Catholic Benevolent Legion, is also a member of the An- cient Order of Hibernians, the American Fire- men of Long Island City, Council No. 17, and served his time with Rambler Hose Company No. 3, of which he was foreman two years, and was secretary and treasurer at different times. He is a member of the Exempt Firemen's Associa- tion and the Liquor Dealers' Association. In pol- itics he has always supported the principles of the Democratic party and was on the general committee for two years.

B ENJAMIN A. ASHMEAD. There is no vocation calling for qualities of so pecu- liar an order as that of detective. To achieve success in this vocation it is necessary that a man must be exceedingly keen in discrim- ination, accurate in judgment, and a wise judge of human nature, able to look beneath the actions

to the motives impelling them. That Mr. Ash- mead has been successful in the calling proves that he possesses these qualities, and it is largely due to their exercise that he has gained promi- nence among others of the same occupation.

In Jamaica, where he still resides, the subject of this article was born April 22, 1852, being the youngest of the four sons who comprised the fam- ily of Alfred and Amelia (Wilkerson) Ashmead, natives respectively of Gloucestershire and Bris- tol, Somersetshire, England. He was educated in the public schools, and on starting out for him- self was first engaged in railroading, but after- ward carried on a liquor business. Politically espousing the cause of the Republican party, he has been prominent in local affairs. In 1888 he was elected constable of the town of Jamaica, which office he has since filled. It is said that the detective work done by him ranks among the best on the island, and his name has come to be a terror to evil doers. His popularity is proved by the fact that he was elected constable in the spring of 1895 without any opposition, his name appearing on all the tickets in the field.

In 1871, when nineteen years of age, Mr. Ash- mead married Miss Louisa Lispenard, of Jamaica, and they reside in this village, where they have a large circle of acquaintances. Their family consists of seven children, of whom the eldest, Hester, is married to Peter Walster. The oth- ers, who are at home, are named Warren, Frank B., Arthur, Nelson, Elmer and Bertha.

J OHN CLEARY, a mason and contractor, was formerly connected with the fire depart- ment of Long Island City. He joined the vol- unteer fire department in 1878, becoming a mem- ber of Hunter's Engine Company No. 4. which had the only steam engine in Long Island City until the paid department was established. In 1884 he was made foreman of this company, hold- ing it until 1886, and in 1890 was elected assist- ant chief of the fire department for three years, continuing to hold this position until the com- pany was disbanded. He was one of the prime movers in the organization of the Volunteer Fire- men's Association, June 17, 1891, the headquar- ters of which are in the Grand Army of the Re- public Hall in Jackson Avenue, and he was elect- ed its first president, holding the office three years. He was also a member of the Exempt Firemen's Association, but finally resigned. July

624

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

18, 1894, having passed the required examination, he was appointed by the fire brigade and mayor foreman of Hook and Ladder Company No. 2, which had just been organized, but on the Ist of February, 1895, he was transferred to engine No. I. At the time of the fire in the terra cotta works, July 18, 1890, Mr. Cleary was the one to rescue the man buried under a pile of brick.

Mr. Cleary is a native of New York City and was born October 23, 1860, to Patrick and Sarah (Maher) Cleary, the former of whom was for some time a merchant of New York. The fam- ily moved to Long Island City about 1865, and here the father eventually passed from life. His widow survives him and has a comfortable home in this city. John Cleary is their only surviving child and has resided in this city since he was five years of age. Here his initiatory educational training was secured and later he attended a grammar school in New York City. He was then apprenticed to learn the mason's trade under C. Curtis Woodruff, after which he became fore- man under him and continued in this capacity for some time.

In the city of New York, in November, 1894, Mr. Cleary was married to Miss Kate Foley, who was born and educated in that city. They have one child, Florence. In 1892 Mr. Cleary was nominated by the Republican convention for as- semblyman, and though not elected, he made an excellent race and received the largest num- ber of votes ever given a Republican candidate for the legislature in Queens County. He is treasurer of the Bricklayers' Union No. 40.

W ILLIAM H. VAN NOSTRAND, a farmer of the town of Flushing, occu- pying a place adjoining the Little Neck road, is a member of one of the old estab- lished families of Long Island and was born Jan- uary 31, 1855, upon the old homestead, where he still resides. Of his parental history mention will be found in the sketch of his brother, D. L., which appears elsewhere in this volume. He acquired his education in the common schools of this dis- trict and continued to assist in the management of the home farm until his marriage, which event, occurring February 14, 1883, united him with Miss Mary Ketcham, daughter of Washington Ketcham, of Manhasset.

After his marriage Mr. Van Nostrand settled upon a portion of the old homestead belonging

to his father and here he has since resided, de- voting his attention to the labors incident to agri- culture. During the years that have intervened since he settled here in 1883, he has given his at- tention principally to the cultivation of market produce, in which line of work he has been more than ordinarily successful. Five children were born to his marriage, of whom four are living, named as follows: George K., Clarence E., Les- lie and Elmira.

Though agricultural pursuits have engaged the close attention of Mr. Van Nostrand, they have not done so to the exclusion of public matters. He is well informed upon all the great problems of the present age and possesses firm convictions concerning matters of common interest. Politi- cally he adheres to the platform laid down by Thomas Jefferson, and as a Democrat gives his influence to party men and measures, though never displaying any partisanship in his prefer- ences. In religion he is a member of the Dutch Reformed Church.

P ETER LUYSTER. The name of Luyster is known and honored throughout the island, as its members have been quite numerous here for many generations. Peter was engaged in farming for many years, but is now living retired from the active duties of life, having accumulated a sufficient sum of mon- ey to provide himself and family with all the com- forts which they may desire. Our subject was born at Bowery Bay, January 4, 1822, his parents being Peter and Anna (Moore) Luyster. Their household included seven children, of whom Cath- erine is the wife of William Fairweather, of Flush- ing: Peter of this sketch, was the next born; and Cornelia L. completes the list of those living.

Peter Luyster, Sr., who was of Holland descent, was born at Bowery Bay, about the year 1787. Here he grew to mature years and became a prominent farmer. By his fellow-citizens he was held in high esteem, and although of a very retir- ing disposition and in no wise a politician seeking honors, was elected to the office of assessor, which he held for one term. Later he was made supervisor and was a much esteemed member of the board.

On the death of his first wife the father of our subject married Miss Sarah Moore, a sister of his former companion, who survived him some twelve years. Peter gained a good education in

SAMUEL B. PARSONS.

627

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

the common schools and shortly after his mar- riage to Miss Caroline J. Eldert, which occurred in 1845, he purchased the place on which he still lives. A year later he moved onto this farm and gave his whole attention to cultivating the soil, with the result that he is now enabled to retire and live comfortably for the remainder of his life. During the long years of his residence here he has become thoroughly identified with the place, not only as a farmer, but as a progressive citizen.

To Mr. and Mrs. Luyster there were born five children, only two of whom survive, Henry M., who has been employed in the freight department of the New York Central Railroad Company for a period of eighteen years, and Harriet D., still at home with her parents. The wife and mother departed this life on the 27th of March, 1896. Mr. Luyster is very liberal in his political views, although at heart he is a Republican. Religious- ly he is a devoted member of the Episcopal Church.

S AMUEL B. PARSONS, one of the. promi- nent horticulturists of the East, was born in Flushing in 1819 and comes of good old English Quaker stock. The father, Samuel Par- sons, and the grandfather, James Parsons, were both natives of the Empire State, and for many years were prominent merchants of New York City. When a comparatively young man the father left that city and settled at Flushing, where he lived retired until his death in 1841, when six- ty-eight or seventy years of age. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Bowne, was born in the Empire State and was one of an old and influential family. The old Bowne house, built in 1661, is still standing and is occupied. Mrs. Parsons died in 1839. Of the children born to this worthy couple two are living at the present time, our subject being the older. One son, James, died in 1895, when eighty-five years old; and William died in 1856.

Our subject was educated in a private school, and in 1834 engaged in business in New York City. In 1835 he began clerking, following this for some time, and in 1839 embarked in the nur- sery business. In 1845 he went to Europe to study the horticulture of the Old World, and the following year added to his experiences by start- ing a plantation in Florida. In 1859 he again crossed the Atlantic, having been commissioned by the United States Government to investigate

the agriculture and horticulture of Sicily and the Ionian Islands, and to obtain the Italian bee, which as yet had never existed in this country. He has been very successful in his efforts to in- troduce rare trees and shrubs, and has taken a very prominent part in the progress of grape cul- ture in our country. He and his brother started in business together and kept up a thriving trade until 1871, when they dissolved partnership. The Kissena Nursery is well known, and Mr. Parsons has done much to raise horticulture in America to a high pinnacle of culture, refinement and dig- nity.

In early days Mr. Parsons supplied the whole western country, importing from foreign lands, and was the largest and first importer and grower of Japanese plants. He and his brother were the only propagators of rhododendrons in the United States, and also introduced Japanese maples and other Japanese plants. Mr. Parsons enjoys the distinction of being the first to introduce the Brazilian navel orange into Florida, where he propagated it. In 1893 he and his brother made an exhibit at the World's Fair.

Mr. Parsons was president of the Flushing Bank for about ten years, or until it was reor- ganized, when he retired. Previous to the war he was a Whig, but later he espoused the prin- ciples of the Republican party. He was a stanch Abolitionist, assisting the colored people when- ever he could, and was one of the first to declare for emancipation. His son, George H., is in Col- orado, in charge of the lands of The Colorado Improvement Company. Another son, Samuel, Jr., is superintendent of all the parks of New York City; and the youngest son, Herbert, is in New York City

S AMUEL BLACKWELL SMALLWOOD. M. D. In the noble army of workers in the great field of medicine may be found the name of Dr. Smallwood, of Long Island City, who, while pursuing a general practice mainly, has devoted much attention to diseases of the cye, ear and skin. The Smallwoods are of Eng- lish lineage and are descended from the F. F. V's. The maternal grandparents of our subject were Samuel and Mary (Field) Blackwell, the former of whom was proprietor of the port of Astoria many years ago. He was first married to Sally Moore, by whom he had one child, and was next married to Mrs. Mary (Whitehead) Field, who

628

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

bore him eight sons and eight daughters. He was the brother of Thomas Blackwell, the pro- prietor of Blackwell's Island.

Dr. Smallwood was born in Brooklyn in 1841 to Eli and Anna E. (Blackwell) Smallwood, who were born in Virginia and Astoria, N. Y., respec- tively. The father was reared in Virginia, but finally located in North Carolina, becoming a prominent man and a successful merchant at Newbern. He died in 1860, at the age of seventy-eight years. His father, John Small- wood, was a successful physician of Virginia, and during the American Revolution was surgeon on one of the vessels of marque. He was related to Colonel Smallwood, who commanded a regi- ment on Long Island and who was instrumental in preventing the capture of General Washington at New York.

The wife of Eli Smallwood was born in this section in 1802 and was educated in what was known as Middletown, Long Island City. After spending her entire life here she died in 1893, an earnest member of the Episcopal Church. She bore her husband seven children, five of whom grew to maturity, and three of whom are living at the present time: Eliza B., Annie M. Hughes, a widow, who resides in Newbern, N. C., and Dr. S. B. Until 1855 the latter's home was in New- bern, where he attended a private boarding school, the Newbern Academy, then spent one year in Elizabeth City, N. C., pursuing his studies, after which he came North to complete his edu- cation in a private school of Westchester County, N. Y., preparatory to entering college. In 1859 he entered Trinity College, Hartford, Conn., and . was there pursuing his studies when the Civil War opened, which necessitated his leaving that institution.

In 1861 our subject began the study of medi- cine under Dr. James D. Trask, after which he entered the medical department of the University of New York, from which he graduated in 1864 with the degree of M. D. He then was appointed to the position of assistant physician to the luna- tic asylum on Blackwell's Island, a position he held one year, after which he opened an office at Fortieth and Chestnut Streets, Philadelphia, and there practiced his profession one year. Subse- quently he came to Huntington, L. I., and in 1878 located in Astoria, where he has since been lo- cated. For two years he was Dr. Agnew's as- sistant in the Manhattan Ear and Eye Hospital, and while there his inventive genius asserted

itself and some very useful surgical instruments were perfected by him.

In 1889 Dr. Smallwood purchased the pickle factory at Long Island City and put in one of his inventions, a machine for sorting cucumbers, with a capacity of four hundred barrels per day, and this invention he patented in April, 1890. He then found it necessary to devise some means for the rapid bottling of his goods, and invented his present patent rotary bottling and corking machine, which has a capacity for handling from sixty to one hundred bottles a minute. He will eventually perfect this machine so that it will seal and label the bottles and pack them in boxes ready for shipment, in fact he has this improve- ment almost completed, and it will doubtless bring him a fortune. The work is all done auto- matically and the device is the wonder and ad- miration of all who see it. He organized a cor- poration known as the Rotary Bottling & Cork- ing Company, with a capital of $500,000, of which he is president and the principal stockholder. The company are to manufacture and lease these machines, but they will not be for sale.

Dr. Smallwood was married in 1864 to Miss Annie Mulligan, who was born in New York, a daughter of William Mulligan, who was for- merly president of the Humboldt Fire Insurance Company, and who is now living in retirement in Astoria. Mrs. Smallwood died in 1868, leav- ing two children, William M., who is associated with his father in the bottling business, and An- nie M., now the wife of Henry S. Oakley, of Englewood, N. J. The Doctor is a member of St. George's Episcopal Church, is a member and an ex-official of the Queens County Medical So- ciety, and has been medical examiner for different insurance companies and pension boards. He is of a very genial disposition, is a good companion, and a whole-souled, generous fellow. He is quite a nimrod, and nearly every fall goes on hunting expeditions to Canada, Upper Michigan or to North Carolina.

M ARTIN MAGER, JR., who is one of the progressive citizens of Middle Village, was appointed postmaster under the ad- ministration of President Cleveland. He is also interested in real estate in this section, owning and handling much valuable property. His birth occurred in Essex Street, New York City, De- cember 16, 1859, his parents being Martin and

629

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Elizabeth (Wannemacher) Mager, to whom there were granted four children.

The father of this family, who was born in Bavaria, Germany, in the year 1824, acquired a splendid education in his native land and when a young man of twenty-three years set sail for America. Landing on the shores of the New World, he took up his abode in New York City, and after a stay there of some two years removed to Baltimore and later to Philadelphia. By trade he was a tinsmith, which business he followed continuously until about thirty-five years ago, when he opened a hotel. Coming to Middle Vil- lage in 1875, he opened the Germania Hotel, which he has conducted ever since. He makes a typical "mine host," and his house being orderly and neat, he is well patronized by the traveling public.

Martin was given every opportunity to acquire a good education, and after leaving school assist- ed his father in the management of his hotel en- terprise until about eight years ago, when he be- gan for himself as a dealer in real estate. He has met with success in this undertaking, and, having lived in this community nearly all his life, is a good judge of property in this particular lo- cality and has about all he can do in this line. In 1893 he was appointed postmaster of the vil- lage, and now has as his assistant his brother- in-law, John E. Broddicker.

The lady to whom our subject was married in August, 1882, was Miss Theresa Bradhring, a most estimable young lady, whose home is in Ridgewood. To them have been born four chil- dren: Louisa, whose birth occurred May 6, 1883 ; Maggie, September 26, 1884; Martin, November 7, 1887, and Lizzie, March 4, 1891. In politics Mr. Mager is a Democrat, and on this ticket was elected collector of school taxes, and so well did he discharge the duties of this office that he has been his own successor at each succeeding elec- tion for the past ten years. Socially he belongs to Goethe Lodge No. 629, F. & A. M., and is also connected with the Knights of Pythias and Robert Burns Lodge, I. O. O. F.

T HEODORE F. ARCHER. In the death of this gentleman, September 21, 1893, Jamaica lost one of its high-minded and public-spirited citizens, while from the bereaved family a loving husband and father was removed, leaving a void in their lives that not even his hon-

ored memory can fill. Possessing business acu- men and executive ability in a rare degree, he made his influence felt in various directions, but especially in promoting the welfare of the vil- lage where he made his home. With the single exception of F. W. Dunton, it will be generally conceded that no one accomplished more than he in securing the valuable improvements in Ja- maica and promoting its progress.

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 79

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