Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 89

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 89

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N ICHOLAS HALLOCK, a member of one of the oldest and most respected families of the island, is a descendant of Peter Hallock, who was one of the first settlers of Southold, L. I. Nicholas was born in the village of Milton, Ulster County, May 11, 1827, to the marriage of Edward and Anna (Sherman) Hal- lock, and was one of five children, only one of whom besides our subject, Valentine H., is now living. Edward Hallock was the son of James Hallock, who was a Quaker preacher in Ulster County and a man highly esteemed. James mar- ried Miss Elizabeth Townsend, a niece of Peter Townsend, who made the chain stretched across the Hudson at West Point during the Revolution.

The father of our subject was born and reared in Milton, Ulster County, and there received a good education. Farming was his principal oc-

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cupation through life and he followed this until his death in 1851, when about fifty-five years old. His son, our subject, remained with his parents, attending the common schools and assisting on the home place until he had reached mature years. In 1851 he united his fortune with that of Miss Peggy Ann Doughty, who died one year later, leaving one son, Lendal V. The latter, who mar- ried Miss Kate Patterson, of Beverly, Mass., is engaged in the picture-frame and moulding bus- iness in Brooklyn and is a pushing, progressive young man.

Nicholas Hallock selected his second wife in the person of Miss Mary E. Doughty (a sister of his first wife), and they were married in 1856. After his removal to Queens Mr. Hallock took charge of his father-in-law's farm, which he man- aged up to the time of Mr. Doughty's death, when he took charge of it altogether and conducted it most successfully until about three years ago. The farm was then sold and Mr. Hallock built his present handsome residence in Queens, where he is enjoying the fruits of his well-spent life. Po- litically a Republican, Mr. Hallock has been for the past three years inspector of elections, and he has always been an active worker for his party. In religion he is a believer in the Quaker doc- trine.

P · H. BUMSTER, M. D. This young but promising physician and surgeon of Long Island City, although still in the dawn of the success which has attended his efforts in a professional way, has already given abund- ant evidence of the ability which qualifies him for a high place in the medical profession. Truly ambitious, and with an ambition whose aim is pure and unsullied, there seems no reason why his unquestioned ability should not find full scope in relieving the pains which a suffering world is heir to.

Dr. Bumster is a native of Allentown, Mon- mouth County, N. J., and was born March 16, 1860. His father, Matthew Bumster, was born at Waterford, Ireland, and after his marriage came with his family to America and settled at Allentown, N. J., where he followed the calling of a miller the remainder of his life, dying in Jan- uary, 1895. His wife, Hannah Broderick, was also born on the Isle of Erin. She died in 1890, having become the mother of four children, two sons and two daughters, of which family the sub-

ject of this sketch is the youngest and the only professional member of the family. His fore- fathers came from Yorkshire, England, and the name of Bumster is of Saxon origin.

Dr. Bumster was educated in the public schools of Allentown, N. J., and after graduating from the high school spent two years as a teacher, after which he secured a position as bookkeeper in a New York City house. He had long had a desire to study medicine and he finally saw his way clear to pursue his researches. In 1890 he entered the medical department of the Univer- sity of New York City and was graduated from that institution with the degree of M. D. in 1893, after an honorable collegiate career. That same year he was appointed from that institution to the position of house surgeon in St. John's Hos- pital, Long Island City, in which capacity he served for eighteen months. At the expiration of that time he decided to locate here for the practice of his profession, and established an of- fice at No. 143 Fifth Street, where he has ever since had his office. He conducts a general prac- tice and his clientele, which is among the best class of citizens, is continually increasing. He possesses all the attributes of a successful medical practitioner, for he not only has a thorough knowledge of his calling and keeps in touch with every advance made in medical science, but is sympathetic in the sick room and takes a personal interest in each one of his patients.

Dr. Bumster is still visiting physician to St. John's Hospital and was for some time assistant physician at De Milt Hospital, New York. He is a charter member of the Long Island City Medical Society, the Queens County Medical So- ciety and is examining physician for the Pruden- tial Insurance Company. Religiously he is iden- tified with St. Mary's Catholic Church.

H ENRY PETERSON, junior member of the firm of Charles Peterson & Son, was born in Maasholm, Sleswick-Holstein, Germany, October 2, 1863. This was also the birthplace of his father, Charles Peterson, who, during the greater part of his life followed his trade of cabinetmaker and carpenter. He came of an old Danish family and was a soldier in that army during the war with Sleswick-Holstein in 1849.

In the year 1867 Charles Peterson came with his family to America, locating in New York

JOHN W. PETRY.

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City, where he was engaged as a piano maker in the factory of Diehlman & Co. He was a fine mechanic, and his work never failed to give sat- isfaction to his employers. In 1871 he located in Long Island City, where he has resided ever since, with the exception of a short time when he returned to the metropolis. Mr. Peterson has erected many of the fine residences in Schuetzen Park, and continued to work at the carpenter's trade after coming here until embarking in the hardware business. He is one of the oldest resi- dents of the place, and as one of its substantial and enterprising citizens he commands the respect and confidence of its best people.

Mrs. Margaret (Rieck) Peterson, was also a native of Sleswick and was the daughter of Fred- erick Rieck, whose birth also occurred there. The latter was a shoemaker by trade and for many years fulfilled the duties of sexton in a church of Sleswick. By her union with Charles Peterson, Margaret Rieck became the mother of one child. He was educated in the schools of New York and Long Island City, receiving a diploma from the evening high school of the former city on com- pleting the three years' course. He then learned the trade which his father followed and when the latter started in business at No. 847 Second Ave- nue was his asssistant, attending to the bookkeep- ing, etc. In 1885 they erected a comfortable residence here and later built a store adjoining, so that they now run two establishments, the one being stocked with hardware and the other with crockery. They are located at Nos. 538 and 540 Broadway, and theirs is the only hardware store in Schuetzen Park. Father and son also take contracts for doing the carpenter work on public and private buildings and are well known in this capacity all over the island.

The subject of this sketch was married in Long Island City in 1890 to Miss Hulda, daughter of George Gemunder, who is perhaps the most re- nowned manufacturer of violins in the world, and the only one who understands the Cremona system of making these instruments. One of his violins, known as the "Kaiser" or "Emper- or," valued at $10,000, took the prize when ex- hibited at Vienna, Paris, the Centennial at Phil- adelphia and the exposition at New Orleans.

Mr. and Mrs. Peterson have a family of three children, Alma, Otto and Edith. Socially he is a member of Enterprise Lodge No. 228, K. of P., and is chancellor commander of Steinway Schuetzen Company No. 14, D. A. S. B. He

also belongs to the Plattdeutscher Verein of Long Island City and the Frohsinn Singing Society of the same place. He is one of the original mem- bers of the Long Island City Athletic Society, in which organization he has held most of the of- fices. The family are all members in excellent standing of the Lutheran Church. In politics Mr. Peterson is a true-blue Republican. He is a man of strong convictions, and as an earnest and public-spirited citizen commands the regard of all his friends and neighbors.

J OHN W. PETRY. There is perhaps no other line of business which is so rapidly developing into vast proportions as that of the hardware merchant. Prominent among those in Long Island City is John W. Petry, who is proprietor of the well known hardware busi- ness at No. 63 Vernon Avenue. Mr. Petry is a native of Paterson, N. J., and a typical Eastern business man, frank, energetic and self-reliant. He was born in 1860, to the marriage of John H. and Sarah (Tibby) Petry, both natives of Pater- son. The grandfather, Daniel Petry, was born in Paterson, and was a tanner and currier by trade. This he followed very successfully until 1860, when he became interested with his two sons, who conducted the hardware business under the firm title of Petry Brothers. He died in his na- tive city. The great-grandfather was a French Canadian.

The father of our subject was reared in Pater- son and clerked in a shoe store there for some time. In 1859, in partnership with his brother George, ex-mayor of Long Island City, he em- barked in the hardware business and plumbing in New York City and continued there until 1863, when he sold out to Kedian Brothers. After that he manufactured tinware in New York City until 1867, when he came to Long Island City, and lo- cated in East Avenue and Seventh Street, where he began the manufacture of tinware and church and hotel reflectors. He soon had a large busi- ness and there continued the manufacture of tin- ware as Petry Brothers & Co. until 1871. After the death of the father of our subject, the busi- ness was continued as McCann & Petry until 1874, when George Petry sold out to McCann, and in 1875 engaged in the hardware business under the firm name of Ketcham & Co., and thus continued until our subject began work there in 1876. Then George Petry became sole proprietor

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and continued as such until 1885, when he sold to William Brodie.

The mother of our subject was the daughter of John Tibby, who was of Holland-Dutch origin. By her marriage to Mr. Petry she had six chil- dren, four of whom survive: Frank is foreman of the Sicilian Asphalt Paving Company of New York; George, a plumber with our subject; Mar- tha, who is at home; and John W. The latter was taken from Paterson to New York City in 1861, and in 1868 came with his parents to Long Island City. Later he returned to Paterson and attended the public schools in the different places until fifteen years old. Returning to Long Island City, lie was in the employ of his uncle for some time. He spent two years learning the plumber's trade and then clerked until George Petry was elected mayor of Long Island City, when he became manager of the store. After his uncle sold to Mr. Brodie he continued as mana- ger until 1894, when he embarked in business for himself at Long Island City under the firm name of John W. Petry & Co., but this connec- tion was dissolved March 1, 1896, Mr. Petry pur- chasing his partner's interest. He put in a new stock of goods and has a flourishing business at No. 63 Vernon Avenue. He has furnaces and steam and hot water heating appliances, and is doing a general plumbing business. He has heated the Long Island City Savings Bank, the First Precinct police station, Astoria Astor Ho- tel, Scheurer's Hotel, Astoria General Hospital and R. U. Clark's residence, Great Neck, L. I.

Mr. Petry was married in Long Island City to Miss Jennie Appleton, a native of New York and daughter of John Appleton, who was a man- ufacturer of overalls and shirts here until 1884, when he retired. To Mr. and Mrs. Petry have been born four children: John A., Raymond, Curtis W. and Joseph K. Mr. Petry was clerk of the excise board for three years, and is a member of the Royal Arcanum. Politically he is a Demo- crat and a member of Jefferson Club.

R OBERT A. DAVISON, a prominent at- torney and dealer in real estate in Brook- lyn, is a Long Islander by birth, as well as by inheritance, for not only was he born here, but his father and grandfather were before him. He was born in Rockville Center, October 10, 1843, the son of Tredwell and Phebe (De Mott) Davison, who passed their entire lives in this

locality. The grandfathers of our subject on both sides served as soldiers in the Revolution- ary War, in which conflict they acquitted them- selves bravely.

Robert A., of this history, first attended Hemp- stead Seminary, but after a time became a student in Union Hall Academy of Jamaica. In 1861 he entered the sophomore class of the New York University and soon became known among the students as a fine Latin scholar, receiving the first prize upon examination in this language. He was graduated from the university in 1864 with high honors and was selected on that occasion to deliver the Latin salutatory.

Having determined to follow a professional life, Mr. Davison next entered Columbia Law School and was graduated from the same two years later. Opening an office in New York, he began the practice of his profession and remained there un- til 1872, when he located in the city of Brook- lyn, where he is now in command of a large and paying clientage. On first coming there he formed a partnership with a Mr. Hagner, and for five years operated under the firm name of Hag- ner & Davison. That year, however, our sub- ject withdrew from the firm and has since car- ried on his business alone. His office, which is finely appointed, is located at No. 26 Court Street.

In 1870 our subject was married to Miss Eme- line Sealy, the daughter of Robert Sealy, now de- ceased. Their union has resulted in the birth of two sons, George W. and Alfred T., and a daugh- ter, Mabel E. George W. was graduated from Wesleyan University in 1892 and is at present in partnership with A. N. Weller, surrogate of Queens County. The daughter completed her studies in Wellesley College in 1895, and Alfred T. is now in the sophomore class of Wesleyan University of Middletown, Conn.

During his earlier years Mr. Davison was a member of St. Mark's Methodist Episcopal Church and served as a member of its first board of trustees in Rockville Center. He took a great interest in the work of the Sunday-school, and for eleven years made a most popular and ef- ficient superintendent. At the present time, however, he is connected with the New York Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church and is also a member of the Brooklyn Church Extension So- ciety, which is doing a noble work in establish- ing churches in the city. The cause of educa- tion finds in him an able supporter, and while at

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Rockville Center he was elected a member of the board of education, which position he held con- tinuously until 1894. He is now one of the trus- tees of the Wesleyan Academy of . Wilbraham, Mass., being elected a member of this body in 1887.

Politically Mr. Davison is a stanch Repub- lican and has taken some interest in local poli- tics. Had he cared to turn his attention in that direction he would have been a leading politician. On the organization of the Bank of Rockville Center he was chosen its president, and re-elected the following year, but when petitioned by the directors and stockholders to still continue its management he refused to do so, as his practice occupied nearly his entire time and attention. Mr. Davison is a member of Brooklyn Union League Club, Aurora Grata Lodge of Perfec- tion, Aurora Grata Consistory and is past master of Morton Lodge No. 63, F. & A. M., of Hemp- stead, which claims him as one of its most valued members. He stands very high in this order, being past district deputy of the first Masonic district, which includes Queens and Suffolk Counties.

I SAAC W. VALENTINE. Long Island boasts of a large number of hotels, scattered throughout its entire extent, and among the best of these we find the Jericho Hotel, of which Mr. Valentine is owner and proprietor. The traveling public is familiar with this house, and commercial men as well as pleasure seekers are accustomed to make it their headquarters when passing through this part of the county. Since purchased by the present manager in 1891 the character of the service has been improved and the popularity thereby increased.

In the town of Oyster Bay the subject of this notice was born October 13, 1843, being a son of Daniel and Maria (Walden) Valentine, also na- tives of this town. The paternal grandfather, Absalom Valentine, spent his life principally here, being engaged in farm pursuits. Daniel, who was also an agriculturist, owned a farm near Jericho and there it was that our subject was born. He was the youngest of seven chil- dren, who are as follows: Mary E., deceased wife of Alfred Horton, of Hicksville; Susan, wife of Webley Horton, of East Norwich; John, a black- smith in Roslyn, Queens County; Amanda, who married Daniel P. Titus, a farmer of Jericho;

Daniel, who is a merchant in Glenwood, this county; Emily, wife of George Horton, of Syos- set, and Isaac W.

The first sixteen years of our subject's life were passed on the homestead and in attendance at the common schools, but at that age he entered upon an apprenticeship to the wagonmaker's trade. After serving his time he followed the trade at different places in the county, and in 1864 opened a wagonmaker's shop at Mineola, where he re- mained a year. Receiving an offer of a position that promised to be more remunerative, he sold out and went to New York, where he was em- ployed for two years. His next enterprise was in the hotel business in company with his broth- er John, the two buying the Mechanic's Hotel at Roslyn, which he carried on for two years.

June 6, 1867, Mr. Valentine married Miss Jen- nie, daughter of Emmet Wooden, and a native of this county. They became the parents of one daughter, Jennie W., the wife of Jesse Smith of Brooklyn. Soon after his marriage Mr. Val- entine closed out his hotel business and went to Brooklyn, where for a year he was employed on the Fulton Street ferry. He then returned to Roslyn and secured work at house painting, re- maining in the village until 1880, after which he was proprietor of the Osceola Hotel at East Nor- wich for five years. December 11, 1878, he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah E. Peasel, daughter of William R. Peasel, of Roslyn, and they are the parents of two children, Harry W. and Elsie.

With the progressive element of the town of Oyster Bay, Mr. Valentine is doing all he can to elevate its social and moral status, and to con- tribute to its general welfare. Politically he has always been a firm believer in the advocacy and utility of Democratic principles. Socially he has been connected with Pembroke Lodge No. 73, I. O. O. F., at Glencove. During his resi- dence in Roslyn, in 1880, lie was elected consta- ble and filled that position until removing from the village. In 1882 he was chosen commis- sioner of highways of the town and served with efficiency in that office for four years.

C HARLES PENCHARD, who has made his home in Long Island City since 1860 and now resides at No. 12 Ely Avenue, has witnessed much of the growth of this place. and through his labors as an honest, industrious

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business man has contributed his quota to the development of its material interests. Always prudent and conservative, he has established a reputation as a safe, reliable man, whose integ- rity is beyond question. The progress of this section of the state has been his pride through all the years of his residence here. He has seen manufactories introduced and a network of rail- roads, penetrating every corner of Long Island, while the telephone and telegraph wires could scarcely be numbered. To be an eye witness of these improvements is an honor, but a greater privilege is to be an active participant in the various changes that have taken place, and such has been his fortune.

The Penchard family is of English descent. George, the father of our subject, brought his family to America in 1834 and settled in Albany, N. Y., where he followed his chosen calling, that of an architect and superintendent of construction. Later he removed to New York, where he con- tinued his work until his death, in 1884. His father, Dr. George Penchard, was a physician in England, and was a descendant, remotely, of French ancestry. Our subject's mother, who bore the maiden name of Sarah Waters, was born in England and died in New York City. Of her three sons and two daughters, one son and one daughter are still living.

Charles, who was the eldest of the family, was born in Cambridgeshire, England, in 1829; he has, however, very meager recollections of his native land, as at the age of five he crossed the ocean in a sailing vessel and settled with his par- ents in Albany. There he was a student in the grammar school, gaining by diligent study a fair education that fitted him for practical business life. When sixteen years old he went to New York, where he was apprenticed to learn the trade of a fancy wood carver, and this he followed until about 1875, when he engaged as a designer of fancy wood work. Much of his time is given to the construction of furniture, and indirectly he is engaged in its manufacture. His designs in wood have brought a wide recognition of his talents and have been universally admired.

The marriage of Mr. Penchard, which took place in New York, united him with Miss Cath- erine Ann Combes, a native of that place and a member of one of the old Long Island families. They are the parents of six living children, name- ly: Charles, who is connected with the Standard Oil Company, of Baltimore, Md .; Benjamin, who

is with his parents; James, a painter by trade and the possessor of excellent artistic taste; Mrs. Mary Clench, of Long Island City; Mrs. Car- rie Fletcher, also of this place, and Evelyn, at home. During the administration of Mayor Petry, Mr. Penchard was appointed a member of the first civil service board of Long Island City. He has held a number of other local positions, but in the main is too engrossed with his personal matters to give much thought to public or politi- cal affairs.

C HARLES VOLKMAR. "Every man to his calling" is a maxiin no less forcible at the present time than when it was first uttered, and no better illustration of it can be found than in the subject of this record. Mr. Volkmar is an artist whose fame is not merely local, but has also brought him favorable notice from connoisseurs in other parts of the country. Wherever his works have been exhibited they have won merited praise by their intrinsic worth. He is recognized as one of the masters of his profession in this part of the state, his success being due, to some extent, to inherited talent, but largely to the diligent, self-sacrificing, tireless cul- tivation of his artistic powers. In addition to his professional work he is proprietor of a pottery at Corona, where he resides.

The first twenty years of the life of Mr. Volk- mar were passed in Baltimore, Md., where he was born August 21, 1841, and where his edu- cation was obtained. His father, Charles, who was a successful portrait painter, was born in Germany, whence the paternal grandfather, also named Charles, followed the occupation of an engraver. The latter emigrated to America and settled in Baltimore about 1835, where our sub- ject's father died in 1893 at the age of eighty- three. His specialty was portrait painting, and many of the eminent men of the country sat to him for portraits. His profession proved remun- erative and enabled him to rear in comfort his family of thirteen children.

Of this large family five attained years of ma- turity, but our subject is the only one who in- herited the artistic talent of his father and grand- father. At an early age he began to study in his father's studio with the intention of doing land- scape painting. When twenty years old, in 1861, he was sent abroad to study and was in Europe for fourteen years, the most of this time being

WILLIAM L. JARVIS.

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spent in Paris. While there he made the ac- quaintance of the proprietor of a pottery and thus became interested in decorative pottery. During his long sojourn on the continent he made only one visit home, and was then married, December 22, 1870, to Miss Nettie Welch, of Lawrence, Mass., a descendant of one of the old families of Maine, and granddaughter of General Moore, who won fame at the battle of Bunker Hill.

After Mr. Volkmar returned permanently to America he settled at Tremont, New York Coun- ty, and from there went to Menlo Park, N. J., later coming to Corona, where he now makes his home. In the pottery business he has had a number of partners, but as he has worked more for a reputation than for financial profit the part- nerships have been dissolved, and he now gives his attention to the business personally. At the Atlanta Exposition he was awarded the gold med- al for the best exhibit of historical placques, and also received a medal at the Centennial Expo- sition and a silver medal at the Mechanic's Insti- tute in Boston.

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Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 89

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