Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 90

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

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The two sons of Mr. Volkmar, Ray and Leon (the former of whom was at one time a student in Steven's Institute in Hoboken) inherit his ar- tistic taste and are of great assistance to him in his work. It is his hope that in future years they may carry on, with an ever increasing success, the professional labors in which he is engaged. Politically our subject's father and grandfather were Jeffersonian Democrats, while he is inde- pendent in his ballot, with an inclination toward Republican principles. His grandfather fol- lowed the religion of his ancestors, who were de- vout Lutherans, but Mr. Volkmar himself is lib- eral in his views. Socially he is identified with the Salmagundi Art Club and the Architectural League of New York, and is also connected with the Masonic fraternity, as were his father and grandfather.

W ILLIAM L. JARVIS, the efficient train master of the Long Island Rail- road, has his office in Long Island City and his residence in Jamaica. He was born in the latter place May 8, 1858, and is a member of a family originating in England, but repre- sented among the pioneer settlers of Long Is- land. His father, William H., a native of Man- hasset, was a son of William Jarvis, who was born in Queens County and was engaged in farming

pursuits here throughout his entire life. The for- iner learned the trade of a carpenter and builder in Jamaica, which occupation he afterward fol- lowed in Brooklyn until his death there at the age of forty-three. His wife, Clara, who was born in Jamaica and still resides in that village, was a daughter of William Wood, a watch and clock maker by trade and a member of an English fam- ily that came to Long Island at a very early per- iod of its settlement.

The subject of this article and his sister, Mrs. Sarah E. Hurley, of Jamaica, are the only living children of their parents. The former spent the first five years of his life in Jamaica, from which place the family removed to Farmingdale, Suf- folk County, and thence three years afterward went to Brooklyn. His father dying when he was a lad of eleven years, he soon afterward re- turned with his widowed mother to Jamaica, where he has since made his home, though em- ployed elsewhere much of the time. In 1871, having completed his education in the Jamaica High School, he went to Brooklyn, where for three years he was engaged in the butcher busi- ness. Then, learning telegraphy, in 1876 he be- came telegraph operator and assistant agent at Jamaica for the Long Island Railroad, and con- tinued in that position for five years. In 1881 he was made train dispatcher in the Long Island City office, from which in 1887 he was promoted to be chief train dispatcher, and in September, 1891, became train master. This is a position of great responsibility, and the fact that he fills it satisfactorily and efficiently is a proof of his ability. On the entire system nearly twelve hun- dred trains are run daily, and they are handled from this office. The increase of business has been extraordinary, as when he secured a posi- tion as operator there were only fourteen trains per day. The rapid increase of business and great prosperity of the road he has witnessed and as- sisted in securing, and his faithful service has won for him the commendation of the officials of the road.

In Jamaica Mr. Jarvis married Miss Carrie C. Wood, who was born in that village. They are the parents of three children, William S., George Raymond and Ima Lyle. Socially our subject is past master of Jamaica Lodge No. 546, F. A. M., and is connected with the Royal Arcanum Council of Jamaica. He was a charter member of the Queens County Building and Loan Associa- tion, headquarters at Jamaica, and is still con-

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nected with that thriving institution. He is iden- tified with the Old Time Telegraphic and Histori- cal Association of the United States. In religious belief he holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church, while politically he is a Repub- lican.

W ILLIAMSON R. SELOVER. No man stands higher in the regard of his fellow-citizens than the subject of this sketch, who owns and occupies a neat place just within the corporate limits of the village of Ja- maica. In his carer as a farmer he has displayed an excellent capacity for business, forethought and wise calculation, and these qualities have brought him into prominence among the pros- perous residents of the town. He has been in- terested in public affairs and takes an intelligent interest in all that concerns the community, while his public spirit has helped forward many plans devised for its advancement.

In the town of Jamaica, about one mile east of his present home, our subject was born April 20, 1838, being a son of Cornelius J. and Mar- garet (Ryder) Selover. His paternal grandpar- ents were Daniel and Cozina Selover, the former of whom was a farmer. Cornelius J. Selover was born in the town of Jamaica in 1800, and in his native place grew to manhood and entered upon farm pursuits, becoming in the course of years one of the most successful and prominent agri- culturists of the community. His activity was cut short by his death in 1856, when the town lost one of its honest, efficient and popular citi- zens. Of his marriage twelve children were born, but of that number only five survive.

The common schools of the home neighbor- hood were the medium through which the sub- ject of this sketch laid the foundation of his edu- cation, and the knowledge there acquired has since been supplemented by self-culture and thoughtful reading. For his life work he chose the occupation in which his father had met with so much success, but not having at first the means for the purchase of a place, he operated rented land for seventeen years. He was saving and economical, and with his earnings he purchased land now within the city limits of Brooklyn, where for several years he carried on farming. On selling out there he purchased in 1891 the attractive homestead where he has since resided.

In 1872 Mr. Selover married Miss Martha J.,

daughter of Jacob V. and Mary A. Bergen, of Flatlands, N. Y. They became the parents of five children, of whom those living are named as follows: Minnie B., wife of Louis K. Bennett, of Brooklyn; Margaret J., who married L. J. Cosgrove; and Mabel, who is with her parents. Politically Mr. Selover is a Republican of the truest type and occupies a high position among the members of his party. His labors in behalf of all that will elevate the status of the people, either materially or morally, are ceaseless and have brought him the regard of his neighbors and acquaintances.

A LBERT J. HORTON, one of the most esteemed and worthy citizens of Queens County, was born in Jericho, January 5, 184.I. He is a son of Alfred and Mary E. (Val- entine) Horton, the former of whom was born at Coldspring, L. I., on the 18th of September, 1818. His father, Joseph Horton, was also a native of the island and for many years was a. resident of Coldspring. At one time Alfred Hor- ton was a contractor and builder in the city of Brooklyn, where he located soon after his mar- riage. About 1860 he was elected coroner of that city, holding the position for two terms of three years each. About ten years previous to this he was elected constable of the eleventh ward. In the year 1883 he left Brooklyn and moved to Jericho, where he has since made his home. In every respect he is well preserved.

Our subject was one of five children, but is the only one now living. He received his education in the schools of Brooklyn. His first venture for himself was in the carpenter business, when twenty-one years old, and after following this for two years in Brooklyn he engaged in the milk business on the corner of DeKalb and Hudson Avenues. A year and a half later he gave this up and opened a cigar store in Fulton Street, operating the same for some time. On the 2d of December, 1866, he bought the Jericho Hotel, conducting it successfully for twenty-one years, and during this time he also carried on a hotel at Seaford for one season. In the year 1873 he. was elected sealer of weights and measures and held the position for two years. He also became commissioner of highways, a position he held for. two successive terms of three years each. For some time he was town tax collector of Oyster Bay, and for five years deputy collector of in-

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ternal revenue for the first district, being em- ployed in the towns of Oyster Bay, North Hemp- stead, Flushing, and part of Long Island City. After that he was appointed inspector of the foundation planking of the Brooklyn water con- duits and had supervision of the construction of the conduits for about three years. Following this he was inspector of the construction of sew- ers of Brooklyn for one year and afterward filled the position of inspector of ponds and streams in connection with the Brooklyn water works. He was also appointed inspector of tracks for the Brooklyn Heights Railway Company,, holding that position for six months, and since 1894 he has not been actively engaged in business.

During his residence in Brooklyn Mr. Horton was married to Miss Emma Bennett, of that city, and the daughter of A. Bennett. Two children were the fruits of this union, Alfred, now in business in New York City, and Mary D., who died in infancy. Mrs. Horton died in August, 1885. In politics Mr. Horton has always been a loyal Democrat. Socially he is an Odd Fel- low, a member of Primrose Lodge No. 569, and he was formerly a member of Pembroke Lodge No. 73, Glencove. He has filled the chairs and is now past noble grand. He was also a member of Glencove Lodge No. 426, A. O. U. W., and of the Union League of the city of Brooklyn. Dur- ing his residence in that city he was one-third partner in the distillery on the corner of State and Bond Streets. Besides his property inter- ests he has twenty-five lots in the village of Hicksville and two houses. His home is now in Massapequa.

H ARVEY G. SPALDING. Honorable in- dustry always travels the same road with enjoyment and duty, and progress is al- together impossible without it. In the life of Mr. Spalding energy and honesty have always governed every transaction, and while he has not become wealthy, he has by his arduous ef- forts gained a comfortable amount of this world's goods. He especially merits praise from the fact that, although he began without money, he has worked his way up to a position of influence and independence. His standing in the town of Jamaica is that of a reliable citizen and a man of intelligence, who lives not for himself alone, but is interested in the welfare of his fellowmen.

The present home of Mr. Spalding is situated

three miles south of Jamaica on the Rockaway road. He was born in Norwich, Vt., January 20, 1824, and is one of six children, three of whom are now living. His father, Samuel, was a pros- perous farmer of Vermont, later of Connecticut. Twice married, his first wife, the mother of our subject, died in 1825. Four years later he mar- ried Miss Lucy Carter, of Canterbury, Conn., and they became the parents of four children. With the exception of a few years toward the end of his life, he continued to reside in Canterbury until his death at the age of ninety-six. Through- out his long life, even to its close, he was re- markable for robustness and sturdy physique, and was scarcely sick a day in all that time.

At the age of eighteen the subject of this no- tice began in life for himself, and for three years following served an apprenticeship to the wagon- maker's trade in Westminster, after which he did journeyman work for three years there and in Newark, N. J. With his wife, formerly Miss Di- ana Fowler, whom he married in July, 1845, he removed to the village of Jamaica, and there for eleven years he made his home. During nine years of that time he was employed as a journey- man, but two years prior to his removal he opened a shop for himself. In 1861 he came to his present home and established himself in busi- ness as a wagon maker, in which way he con- tinned until July, 1893. Since that time the business has been conducted by his son, Charles H., and he has retired from active labors.

The union of Mr. and Mrs. Spalding was blessed with six children, but only two are now living. The older son, Pulaski, who is married and has two children, is engaged in business as a wagon maker, his home and place of business being Springfield, this county. The younger son, Charles H., married Miss Emma Stothoff, who since the death of our subject's wife in August, 1889, has presided over the home, managing its household affairs and at the same time giving careful attention to the welfare of her three chil- dren, Charles Albert, Edna Amelia, and Arthur Wilbur. Politically our subject is a Republican. He is a friend of liberal education and for nine years served as trustee of the school in this dis- trict.

Charles H., our subject's successor in business, was born September 12, 1862, and was educated in the Jamaica South district. Under the in- struction of his father he learned the wagon maker's trade, which he has since followed with

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the exception of one year (1882) when he was employed by the Norwich Lock Manufacturing Company of Norwich, Conn. December 23, 1884, he married Emma, daughter of Cornelius Stothoff, of Springfield, and they have since re- sided at the old homestead. In religious belief he is a member of the Springfield Methodist Church and is a member of its board of trustees. As a Republican he is warmly interested in the progress of his party, but cannot be called a poli- tician, for he prefers to devote his attention to his business affairs.

G EORGE W. TERRY, well known as one of the successful business men of Hemp- stead, was born in Center Moriches, Suf- folk County, June 25, 1842. His father, Strong Terry, was born on the same place January 3, 1812, and died there February 27, 1890, having devoted his entire active life to farming pursuits. Of his three brothers, Nelson, who was born Sep- tember 19, 1807, in early life engaged in busi- ness as a hotel keeper at Moriches and also ran a stage line on Long Island, of which he was one of the owners. His closing years were spent on his farm, where he died in 1887. Three sons survive him, namely: Henry S., a coal merchant in Brooklyn; George Smith, who lives in the West and is the confidential man of Cornelius Vanderbilt, Jr., son of the old Commodore and brother of the late William H. Vanderbilt; and William C., who for many years carried on a hotel business in Toledo, Ohio, but now lives fur- ther West.

Another brother of our subject's father, Samuel by name, was born April 7, 1814, and was a farmer by occupation. At his death he left three sons, namely: Francis A., born February 15, 1837, a sailor in the United States Navy in the Civil War, who was lost at sea; Gideon H., born December 2, 1839, a soldier in the late war, who was killed in the battle of Cedar Mountain, Au- gust 9, 1862; and Charles C., who was born March 12, 1851, and is now captain of a coasting vessel. The third brother of our subject's father was William C., who for many years carried on mercantile pursuits; his only child, Mary Strong Terry, married Egbert Strong and lives in Baby- lon, L. I.

The paternal grandfather of our subject, Capt. Samuel Terry, was born September 17, 1773, and in early life was captain of a sailing vessel, but

later became a merchant and farmer at Center Moriches, where he died May 7, 1851. He was the son of William Terry, who died at Islip, L. I., March 25, 1824, at the age of seventy-four years; his wife died at the home of Capt. Samuel Terry February 15, 1838, aged ninety-one years. The Terry family was among the first to settle on the east end of Long Island, but the early records are incomplete, so that it is impossible to give a connected history of the ancestors.

Our subject's mother, who bore the maiden name of Harriet Topping, was born in Center Moriches April 2, 1816, and was married to Strong Terry April 14, 1840; she died June I, 1868. Her brothers were Elias, who spent his entire life on a farm; Sidney B., a merchant and market gardener; Jasper G., who also followed that business, and died leaving no children; Silas E., a farmer of Suffolk County; and Charles, who died young. Sidney B., a resident of West Hampton, was a butcher by trade; his son, Charles E., is general superintendent of the United States Express Company in New York City and is the "right-hand" man of ex-Senator Thomas C. Platt; another son, John M., is a prominent railroad man in New York City. Silas E., who made his home in Center Moriches, had three sons, namely: Capt. Frank Topping; Ed- win, a merchant at Stony Brook; and Thomas, a seafaring man and at one time steward of Jay Gould's yacht. Silas Topping, our subject's grandfather, was born at Southampton, L. I., and was a farmer by occupation; he married Charity M., daughter of John Bishop, of Mori- ches, and member of an old family of the island.

The subject of this sketch is the eldest of four children. His sister, Charity M., born April 14, 1845, is the wife of Ellsworth E. Wells, who was a soldier in the late war and is now an architect in New York; Jasper G., born July 18, 1848, was for some years on the police force in New York, where he received injuries that crippled him for life; Julia C., born October 22, 1854, is the wife of Edward Thomas and resides at Center Mori- ches.

After completing his education our subject was for seven years engaged in the mercantile busi- ness at Yaphank, L. I., later for five years at Moriches, then for a similar period in New York City, and in 1880 he came to Hempstead, where he has since carried on a boot and shoe business. A member of the Methodist Church. he is espe- cially interested in Sunday-school work and was

FRANKLIN H. CORWIN.

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superintendent for ten years during his residence in Moriches and Amityville. Fraternally a Ma- son and an Odd Fellow, he has been secretary of both lodges and has passed all the chairs. For three years he was commander of the American Legion of Honor. August 6, 1865, he married Miss Eliza J. Philips, who died December IO, 1889, leaving no children. She was a daughter of John M. Philips, of Harpersfield, Ohio, and a direct descendant, in the seventh generation, of John Rogers. The second marriage of Mr. Terry took place April 8, 1892, when Miss Kate West- lake, of Hempstead, became his wife. Political- ly Mr. Terry is a stanch Republican.

jean Agateware Works of Woodhaven, also vice-president of the Woodhaven Bank, one of the most reliable institutions of the kind in the county, was born in the village of Orient, in the extreme eastern end of Long Island, March 16, 1852. He is the son of Capt. William G. Cor- win, whose birth occurred in Mattituck, July 19, 1819, and who devoted his active years to coast- ing and fishing, in which he was very successful. He is now spending the declining years of his life in a pleasant home in Orient, making occas- ional visits to his son in Woodhaven and his other sons and daughters, in whom he has par- donable pride for the honorable and upright course of their lives.

The Corwin family trace their ancestry back to the earliest settlers of the eastern portion of the island, and their name is legion in Suffolk County. The grandfather of Franklin H. served as a soldier in the War of 1812 and his father held the rank of major in the Revolutionary War. To Capt. William G. Corwin and his wife there were born six children, of whom William G., Jr .. is a well-to-do business man in Southampton. Grace I. and Mary L. are married and reside in Orient. George D. and Charles L. are deceased. Franklin H. was not permitted to attend school but a short time, for when only twelve years of age he accompanied his father on his fishing ex- peditions, and as he grew to like this kind of life he followed it for five years. He then went to Brooklyn and secured a position in a grocery store and later was salesman in a wholesale boot and shoe house of New York.

In 1871, however, Mr. Corwin came to Wood-

haven and entered the employ of the large manu- facturing establishment with which he has since been connected, and in which he has worked his way up to his present responsible position of superintendent of the shipping department. He is a thorough-going business man and has won the entire confidence of his employers. He de- serves great credit, for he started out in life with no capital other than a clear record and a desire to make for himself a name and fortune, and dur- ing the quarter of a century in which lie has been in Woodhaven, by carefully attending to his duties in the factory and by hard work he has attained success and is now not only one of the most prosperous, but one of the most popular citizens of Woodhaven.

F RANKLIN H. CORWIN, superintendent After his hours at the factory were over Mr. of the shipping department of the Gros- . Corwin has given his attention to building up an insurance business, which has now grown to large proportions. He was one of the organizers of the Woodhaven Bank in 1891, and was chosen its vice-president, which position he still holds. He is also the partner of H. M. De Ronde, who gives most of his attention to carrying on their large grocery business in this place. In addition he is interested in many other enterprises in the place and is one of its most substantial and influential citizens. He is a member of the Con- gregational Church and is liberal in his contribu- tions to the same and is active in the work of the Sunday-school, having been for fifteen years its superintendent.

Mr. Corwin and Miss Almira, daughter of E. TJ. Jones of Woodhaven, were united in marriage in 1877. They have two sons and two daughters, namely : Franklin H., Jr., Chester Harrison, Jessie E. and Grace D. The family occupy one of the most pleasant homes in the best part of Wood- haven and number their friends among its best people. Our subject has always been interested in the cause of education, and as treasurer of the school board has exerted his influence in gaining for the people of this section model schools in every respect.

J OHN A. SCHMALL, carriage, wagon and sign painter, has his place of business at No. 104 Jackson Avenue, Long Island City. He is, however, living in Brooklyn, where he is the owner of a comfortable home and is well-to-do in this world's goods. He was born

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in that city in 1855. His father, John Schmall, a native of Holland, came to America when a young man and established the first butcher shop in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. There he was en- gaged in business for a period of thirty years, but later removed to Chicago and made that city his home until his demise. Mrs. Frances (Appleton) Schmall, mother of our subject, was of German birth. She became the mother of thirteen chil- dren, and died in Long Island City.

R OBERT SAPPELT. This worthy and pro- gressive farmer is one of the best types of the German-American element, whose constancy to the business in hand, and whose John A., the subject of this sketch, was reared in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, and edu- cated in the public schools. He spent his va- cations in assisting his father in the meat mar- ket and when his school days were over re- mained with him until seventeen or eighteen years of age, when he apprenticed himself to a thrift have added so greatly to the value of our agricultural regions. He was born in Prussia, Germany, March 20, 1838, to the marriage of Herman and Frances (Heuman) Sappelt, both natives of the Old Country. Herman Sappelt was born July 13, 1805, and early in life became an agriculturist. Afterwards he abandoned this painter, as he was desirous of learning carriage * pursuit and embarked as a dealer in yarns when and sign painting. He remained with Pete spinning by hand was at its height. After ma- chinery had been invented that made spinning by hand unprofitable, he engaged in the hotel busi- ness in Frankenstein, Germany, and continued this successfully until the year 1849, when he de- cided to seek his fortune in the New World. Birch of Brooklyn for three and a half years, . when he started in business for himself in Green- point. After remaining there for a time, in June, 1875, we find him plying his trade at Hunter's Point, where he has continued ever since. He occupied the same building for nearly twenty years, but the fire of 1893 compelled him to find new quarters and he is now doing business at No. 104 Jackson Avenue, between Sixth and Seventh Streets. The building, which is two stories in height, has two entrances and is fitted up with all the appliances for prosecuting the carriage and sign painting business in the best possible manner. He also manufactures ban- ners and transparencies. In his line he is an ex- pert and often receives large orders from Brook- lyn and New York, also from almost every town or village of any size on the island. He is the oldest painter in Long Island City and as such possesses the confidence of its citizens.

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Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 90

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