Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 80

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

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In Monroe, Orange County, N. Y., where he was born in 1837, the subject of this notice passed the years of boyhood, having but limited educa- tional advantages. At the age of thirteen he be- gan life for himself, going to New York City, where he secured employment. Later he was employed in other places, following any occupa- tion that would furnish him an honest livelihood. The struggle was not an easy one; he had neither the prestige of wealth or friends to aid him, but whatever the hardships might have been, what- ever the obstacles that stood in his pathway, he never grew discouraged, but steadfastly persisted in his determination to attain success and attain it honestly.

After having spent some years in New Jersey, Mr. Archer went to Greenpoint, L. I., and from there to Middle Village, where he conducted a general store, meeting with fair success in this enterprise. On selling out he went to Long Island City, where he became a builder and real estate speculator. For a time fortune smiled on his efforts. He accumulated a fortune, but the great panic of 1873. coming so unexpectedly. found him unprepared and swept away the sav- ings of years. He settled all his obligations, and when this was done, found himself again a poor man. Failure, however, instead of discouraging him, only proved the mettle of which he was made. He spent a short time on a farm near Sy- osset, in the town of Oyster Bay, but finally re- turned to Jamaica, where he remained until his death.

In this village Mr. Archer established a sash and blind factory, and about the same time re- sumed his real estate speculations, becoming one of the most extensive dealers and auctioneers of land on Long Island. Great credit is due him for the active part he took in bringing about the substantial boom in Jamaica and other villages of Queens County. His enterprise resulted in the increasing prosperity of the village and also enabled him to recuperate his fallen fortunes, in which respect he succeeded so well that at his

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death he was classed among the wealthy men of Jamaica. His personal characteristics were such as to command the respect and confidence of oth- ers, and among his warmest friends he num- bered such men as Governor McCormick, John H. Sutphin, Theodore Rogers and John M. Crane. His business interests engrossed his attention to such an extent that he never participated active- ly in political matters, and had no social connec- tions other than his membership in the Jamaica Club. For a time he served as chief of the Ja- maica fire department.

The marriage of Mr. Archer took place in Sep- tember, 1861, and united him with Miss Caroline Cornish, of Newtown, L. I., who, with three chil- dren, survives him. The oldest child, James C., born in 1862, began to assist his father in business at the age of twelve and soon developed an apti- tude for the work, becoming his father's "right- hand" man in all his important business transac- tions. Some years before the death of the lat- ter he and his brother, T. F., became members of the firm of T. F. Archer & Sons, the name of which was afterward changed to T. F. Archer's Sons.

The traits of character which were noticeable in our subject are also bringing success to his sons, J. C. and T. F., who are classed among the rising young business men of Jamaica. So- cially they are connected with the Jamaica Club and are popular in the best circles of society. By his marriage to Miss Isabella Young, of Flushing, James C. has four children, Margaret, Mary, Elmer and James. Theodore F., who is engaged in business with his brother, was mar- ried February 12, 1890, to Jennie W., daughter of Capt. Albert J. Wilkinson, of Jamaica. Three children bless this union, viz .: Alberta W., Gene- vieve, and Theodore F. Margaret A., the only daughter of our subject, married Thomas F. Mur- ray and resides in Brooklyn, where her husband is engaged in the boot and shoe business.

H DeWITT SMITH, who is proprietor of a well-improved farm and also of a pop- ular boarding house at Whitestone, was born in this place September 23, 1854, being a son of G. L. and Susanna (Stansbury) Smith, na- tives of Queens County. On the paternal side he is descended from one of the pioneer residents of this section, who about 1795 settled on the homestead now occupied by our subject. Here

he spent the years of boyhood, and after com- pleting the studies of the home schools he en- tered Flushing Institute, where he remained un- til graduating at the age of seventeen.

On choosing an occupation for life Mr. Smith selected that to which he had been reared and with which he was most familiar. As an agricul- turist he is energetic and industrious, and is main- taining the improvements of the old home place. December II, 1878, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary L. Westervelt, daughter of Peter and Anne E. (Barclay) Westervelt, of Whitestone, and they are the parents of one son, DeWitt, Jr., now a student in the high school at Flushing.

While Mr. Smith has never cared to actively identify himself with public affairs, preferring to give his attention to his personal matters, yet he is well informed in political questions and gives the weight of his influence to the Democratic party. His first presidential ballot was cast for Samuel Tilden in 1876, and he has never failed since then to vote for the candidates of his chosen party. In religious belief he is connected with the Episcopal Church, in which he fills the posi- tion of vestryman.

T HOMAS C. WEEKS is one of the worthy old residents and respected citizens of Hempstead, and has assisted the prosperi- ty and development of this region. He is a self- made man, and seven years after starting out to learn the trade of a blacksmith was in business for himself. July 9, 1829, his birth occurred in this village, his parents being John and Mary Ann (Fleet) Weeks, also natives of this county. After securing his education the father entered a shop and learned harness and carriage trimming, which combined occupations he followed for many years, having at one time the principal busi- ness of this kind on Long Island and receiving patronage from far and near. He was a man who gave his attention entirely to his own affairs, and his death, which occurred in 1853, was the occasion of universal mourning. His estimable wife survived him for many years, dying in 1884.

The subject of this sketch passed the first six years of his life in the pleasant home of his par- ents in Hempstead. The latter then taking up farming in another locality, young Thomas ac- companied them, and from that time until fifteen years of age attended school and worked on the farm. He then returned to the village in order

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that he might learn the blacksmith's trade, and, as we have stated above, seven years thereafter was engaged in this business on his own account. He seems to have a natural gift for the calling, and is so handy in the use of blacksmith's tools that he can make anything which can be manufactured out of iron. For fifty years he has followed this business and his reputation as an expert at his trade is known all over the island.

In 1853 Thomas C. Weeks married Miss Caro- line Edwards, the daughter of Thomas Edwards, for many years a prominent resident of Green- wich Point, this county. Their union was blessed by the birth of six children, of whom only three are living, namely: Alice, the wife of C. E. Cornell, of Hempstead; Chauncy Elmer, who assists his father in the shop, and Miss Jennie, still under the parental roof. . Both our subject and his estimable wife are members in excellent standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which they have been connected for many years. Socially the former is a prominent Mason, being associated with Morton Lodge No. 63. In poli- tics he is a stanch Republican, having an abiding faith in the purity of that party's teachings. He has never aspired to office himself, but has helped to put many a worthy and competent man in the public service. As a business man he has shown good ability and is very justly classed among the well-to-do and highly esteemed citizens of Queens County.

C APT. DANIEL W. TAULMAN, the ef- ficient superintendent of the New York and College Point Ferry Company, was born in Rockland County, N. Y., near Nyack, in 1848. His father, John D. Taulman, and his grandfather, Daniel Taulman, were both born in the same place. The great-grandfather, Dowe H. Taulman, was an officer in the Revolutionary War. He was of Holland-Dutch extraction, and his father, Oblenius Taulman, settled on Man- hattan Island and became the owner of a large tract of land which is now in dispute in the courts. Dowe H. Taulman settled in Rockland County about 1800 and purchased one hundred and eighty acres of land, on which he erected his residence and farm buildings. Our subject's grandfather, Daniel Taulman, was a farmer by occupation, and was a soldier in the War of 1812.

John D. Taulman was a steamboat captain on different North River boats between Newburg

and New York City, and later embarked in the real estate business in Park Row, New York City. There his death occurred in 1886. Fraternally he was a Master Mason. His wife, whose maiden name was Salome Lake, was a native of New Jersey and the daughter of Jacob and Charity Lake. She died in 1870. Of their six living children our subject is 'the eldest. He received excellent educational advantages in the graded and public schools of Nyack, and when fourteen years old began on the North River steamboats in the engineer department, working his way up, and when eighteen years old was made chief en- gineer of the steamboat "Champion," plying be- tween Nyack and New York. This business he followed for about twenty-five years on different boats, and the last one, "Riverdale," exploded in 1883, Mr. Taulman escaping without injury. For some time after this he continued with the com- pany as chief engineer and then went on Myers' excursion boats as chief engineer. At the end of one year he went on the "Daniel Drew," an Albany day boat, and after one year began to work for the North River Steamboat Company, plying between Poughkeepsie and New York City. He remained in their employ as chief en- gineer for nine years.

In 1893 Mr. Taulman resigned to accept the position of superintendent and chief engineer of the New York and College Point Ferry Company, which position he has held up to the present time to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. He has charge of four boats, which will accom- modate eighteen thousand people, and during the busy season he has about fifty men under him. In summer the boats run from College Point to Ninety-ninth Street, New York City, stopping at North Beach.

Mr. Taulman was married in New York to Miss Celie Sutherland, a native of Hastings, N. Y. They have three children: Bertram, with the McCreery Dry Goods Company; Blanche and Florence. The family home is at No. 342 Sixth Avenue, New York. Mr. Taulman attends the Presbyterian Church, and in politics is a Re- publican.

W ILLIS H. YOUNG, who is one of the leading business men of Brooklyn, makes his home in a beautiful resi- dence in Hempstead. His birth occurred May 7. 1844, in Riverhead, Suffolk County, he being the

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only son of J. Franklin Young, whose birth oc- curred at Aquebogue, April 19, 1821. The lat- ter bore the distinction in the locality of his home of being the first man to drive a team through the Brooklyn tunnel. He afterward became conduc- tor on the Long Island Railroad, which position he continued to hold until his death, March II, 1852.

The Young family is one of the oldest and most highly respected in the eastern portion of Long Island. J. Franklin Young married Miss Mary Emma Terry, the daughter of Howell Ter- ry, formerly a leading citizen of Riverhead, and one of the original owners of the woolen mills located in that place. He was also at one time engaged quite extensively in handling real es- tate, thus accumulating considerable money. One of his sisters married Nathan Young, of Brook- lyn, who, during the years in which he was en- gaged as contractor, built the original Plymouth Church, where Mr. Beecher preached.

Daniel Terry, the maternal great-grandfather of our subject, was a commissioned officer in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. He was born and spent his entire life on Long Island, and by his neighbors and friends was regarded as a man of considerable importance and influence. He was a true Christian and for many years served as deacon in the Congrega- tional Church.

The maternal grandmother of our subject, Hannah Albertson, was born at a place known as the Upper Mill, a mile from Riverhead, and was the daughter of Richard Albertson, a miller by occupation. Mrs. Mary Emma Young, mother of Willis H., was one in a family of four children. Her eldest brother, John P. Terry, of Riverhead, was born in the year 1818, and was for more than forty years proprietor of the old Long Island Ho- tel of that place; he is now retired from business of any kind and is the only survivor of the char- ter members of the Congregational Church of Riverhead. Phebe Jane Terry married A. M. Young, who, during his lifetime was a school teacher; Mrs. Young died in December, 1895, at the residence of her daughter at Aquebogue. Oliver A. Terry, who married Charlotte Conklin, was a tanner by trade, and departed this life some twenty years ago; his widow is now living in Jamaica, which is the home of her daughter, El- la. The latter married Lewis Fosdick, a wealthy attorney, and the son of the late Judge Fosdick.

The mother of our subject was born July 26,

1821, and departed this life January 2, 1876. Wil- lis H. was seven years old at the time of his fath- er's deatlı. The family were left in limited cir- cumstances, and when he was only fifteen years of age he started out to make his own way in the world, desirous also of aiding in the support of his mother. He first began as clerk for David Vail, of Riverhead, who paid him the munificent salary of $75 per year. As he was obliged to board and clothe himself there was not much left to turn over to his mother, and as soon as an opportunity presented itself he resigned his po- sition with Mr. Vail and began working in the store of H. D. Foster. He remained here a few years, but being ambitious to make more rapid progress in life, and finding that he could not do so in Riverhead, he left and in 1867 we find him located in New York City. He found em- ployment as bookkeeper in one of the numerous iron foundries of Brooklyn and three or four years later he obtained a similar position in a sash and blind factory in the same city. He remained with this company for three or four years, during which time he saved quite a snug little sum of money.

About this time the business being for sale, Mr. Young concluded to purchase the factory, paying what cash he had and giving his notes for $16,- 000, to be paid in installments of $1,000 per month. This was running a great risk, but suc- cess attended his efforts and he is now one of the most prosperous business men in Brooklyn. Upon first starting out he did not have the where- withal to purchase material, and going to many of the wholesale lumber merchants in both Brook- lyn and New York, he explained to them the sit- uation, telling them that if his plans succeeded they would receive their pay, but if he did not they would be the losers. This frankness on his part succeeded, and without an exception he was told that he could have whatever materials he wanted. The result was that in a few months he had $40,000 worth of lumber bought in this way, and as his notes came due he met every one of them. He now has a large sash and blind fac- tory, which is one of the largest in either Brook- lyn or New York, giving employment to some three hundred men.

Some twelve years ago, desirous of getting away from the noise and bustle of city life, Mr. Young came to Hempstead and erected his pres- ent beautiful residence, which is without doubt one of the finest on Long Island. It is surround-

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ed by large and beautiful grounds, which are in turn adorned with handsome shrubs and a variety of choice flowers during the summer. Since com- ing to Hempstead Mr. Young has taken an active interest in local affairs and for three consecutive years has been a member of the village board of trustees. He was one of the founders of the Hempstead Bank and is at present serving as a member of its board of trustees. October 19, 1869, our subject married Miss Mary W. Conklin, the daughter of Nathaniel Conklin, a prominent citizen of Brooklyn. They have a daughter, Edith, who is now the wife of Frank S. Harlow. In politics Mr. Young gives his support to the Republican party.

F RED WIDMAYER, the leading plumber and gas fitter of Schuetzen Park, has been very successful in his line of work and is now classed among the representative and sub- stantial residents of the place. He is a native of Germany, having been born in Wurtemberg, near Stuttgart, in the year 1854. His father was Jacob Widmayer, for many years an extensive wine grower in the Fatherland. Later he en- gaged in quarrying stone, following this branch of business until the time of his death, which oc- curred when he was forty-three years of age. He married Henrietta Doll, who survived him until 1894, being in her eightieth year at the time of her demise. Both parents were devoted church members and were connected with the Lutheran denomination.

The parental family included seven children, of whom our subject was the youngest but one. He has two sisters who make their home in Ameri- ca, but with that exception the family still live in Germany. According to the custom in his na- tive land, our subject attended school until a lad of fourteen years, when he was apprenticed to a plumber and gas fitter in Ludwigsburg. He spent three years in becoming fully acquainted with the business, after which he was hired by his instructor for one year. Young Widmayer then went to Bavena, Baden, Switzerland, where he was engaged in work until twenty years of age, when he became a soldier in the German army. For two years he served in the One Hundred and Twenty-first Regiment, after which he was honorably discharged.

Our subject continued at work in his native land until about the year 1880, when he carried

out his long cherished plan of coming to Ameri- ca. On landing in the metropolis he secured work at his trade, and also was employed for a time in Brooklyn. In 1885, however, he came to Schuetzen Park, and purchasing the old store of a Mr. Rivholt, embarked in business for himself and has continued to make his home here ever since. Although he has been very successful in putting hot water apparatus and furnaces in dwellings he makes a specialty of plumbing and gas fitting. Mr. Rivholt was a tin and sheet iron roofer, and Mr. Widmayer has not neglected this . department of work and has been given plenty to do in this line.

The marriage of our subject with Miss Annie Burk occurred in New York City in 1882. Mrs. Widmayer, who was also born in Germany, is the mother of two sons, Fred, Jr., and Albert. Mr. Widmayer is a member of the Arion Society and has been connected with the Frohsinn. He belongs to the Long Island City Plumbers' As- sociation, of which he is treasurer. In politics he is independent, preferring to reserve his right to vote for the man whom he thinks will best fill the office, regardless of party lines.

H ENRY KIESEL. Among the attractive estates of the town of Jamaica is that belonging to Mr. Kiesel, who is one of the well-to-do and progressive farmers of the county. His place is located on the Flushing and Jamaica road, about a mile and a half from the county seat. He was born in Brooklyn, Febru- ary 27, 1849, and is the son of John and Barbara (Kahl) Kiesel. The parental family included five children, all of whom were given fair advantages for obtaining an education.

In the year 1821 the father of this family was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, where he was reared. When ready to learn a business he was apprenticed to a harnessmaker, and in the course of two or three years was pronounced an expert workman. A year after reaching his ma- jority he embarked on a vessel which landed him in due time on American shores. He very soon thereafter found employment with Ascan Back- us, of Newtown, a prominent resident of that place, and after leaving his employ was hired by a Mr. England, working for him faithfully and well for three years. The next account we have of our subject's father was when he engaged in farming in Ravenswood, and with the exception

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of four years spent in Wisconsin he followed that calling until his death, in 1892. He was an eco- nomical and hard working man and when called from this life left his family a handsome property. His good wife is still living on the home place in Newtown and has one of the finest properties in the county. She too is of German birth and is now in the seventy-third year of her age. She re- mained in the Fatherland until a young lady, when she crossed the Atlantic and very soon thereafter met and was married to John Kiesel.

The subject of this sketch obtained a very lim- ited education in the parish schools of Winfield and continued to reside with his parents, assist- ing in operating the farm, until his marriage, February 22, 1876, with Miss Mary Mulford. The young couple then took possession of the farm adjoining that of Mr. Kiesel's parents, and which was owned by the latter, making this place their home until about seven years ago, when they removed to the estate which they now oc- cupy. Everything about their home has an air of neatness and order, while a good set of build- ings and excellent fences add to the pleasing prospect.

To our subject and his excellent wife there have been born eleven children: John, Annie, Henry, Frank, Theresa, Martin, Joseph, Bar- bara, Alex, Charlie and Mary. In political af- fairs Mr. Kiesel is a stanch Democrat and on this ticket has served for seven consecutive years as roadmaster. He is a devout Catholic, attending service in Jamaica.

G EORGE S. JERVIS. It is a pleasure to chronicle the history of a man whose life has been one of honor and success, as is the case with Mr. Jervis, who, as a real estate and insurance agent, has accumulated a com- fortable competency and is classed among the substantial residents of Maspeth. He is a native of Amityville, Suffolk County, and is a worthy representative of one of the oldest and most re- spected families of the island.

Grandfather Joel Jervis was a descendant of Sir Francis Jervis, or Jervais, as the name was originally spelled, who came to America in the good ship "Primrose," which set sail from the coast of Scotland in the year 1639. On being landed at Salem, Mass., he immediately made his way to Long Island and made settlement at Huntington, where in after years the grandfath-

er was born. The latter on attaining mature years removed to Amityville, with whose inter- ests, of both a public and private nature, he was prominently identified for the remainder of his long and active life. Among the responsible po- sitions which he held satisfactorily was that of justice of the peace, and so impartially did he render decisions that he endeared himself to the peace-loving residents of the community.

The lady whom Joel Jervis married was known in her maidenhood as Elizabeth Smith, a native of Bluepoint, born July 20, 1794. She was the daughter of Henry Clark and Jemima (Terry) Smith, of Sayville. Her great-grandfather was Col. William Smith, English governor of Tan- giers, who in 1690 purchased Setauket, L. I., then a strip of land fifty miles long extending from the sound to the bay. The grandmother of our sub- ject was a most remarkable woman in many re- spects and on her one hundredth birthday, which she lived to celebrate, there were present seven of her sons and daughters, the eldest of whom was seventy-six years of age, twenty-three grand- children, fifty-four great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

In the year 1823 the father of our subject, Scudder C. Jervis, was born in Amityville, where he was reared to a life of usefulness. As soon as he completed a very limited education in the schools of the district he engaged in farming, which industry he followed during the active years of his life. He is still living in this com- munity, but is retired from work of any kind. The mother of our subject, formerly Mary Pur- dey, was the daughter of Joshua and Elizabeth (Smith) Purdey, of Amityville, Suffolk County.

The subject of this history, who was born March 21, 1851, attended the common schools until seventeen years of age, when we find him in New York City, where for one year he was employed in the Fulton market. At the end of that time he left his employer in order to accept a position as comparison boy in Wall Street. He had a very bright career before him, and during the ten years spent here gave every promise of attaining a position of prominence. His health failing, however, he was obliged to give up his work, and in 1873 came to Maspeth, where he established a grocery, which he conducted with success for five years. Sell- ing his stock of goods at a good profit, he then in- vested his money in the florist's business and for some three years was in command of a very re-

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Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 80

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