Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 93

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

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PROF. FERDINAND Q. DULCKEN.

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in 1878. She is a daughter of John W. Bedell and has borne her husband four children: Mil- lard W., Earle V., Russell V. and Hazel C. Mr. and Mrs. Golder are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which Mr. Golder has been a trustee for thirteen years and has twice served as superintendent of the Sabbath-school. So- cially he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Although formerly a Demo- crat in his political views, he now affiliates with the Prohibition party, and looks anxiously to the early stamping out of all the evils attendant upon intemperance. As a citizen he is all that could be desired, for he is active, enterprising, public-spirited and his influence is ever on the side of justice and right. He and his family move in the best social circles of the place and have a very comfortable and hospitable home. Mr. Gol- der is a director of the Freeport Bank, of which when it was organized he was elected cashier, but declined, preferring to follow his trade as a pharmacist. He is now serving his third term as treasurer of the village.

P ROF. FERDINAND Q. DULCKEN. There is probably no citizen of Long Is- land City who has achieved in music a success more remarkable than that which has brought a national reputation to the subject of this sketch. Inheriting a talent for the art, he has cultivated this to the fullest extent and, both as a piano soloist and as a composer of music, de- serves the high position he holds in the estima- tion of the people. He has been musical director for the concert tours of some of the greatest musi- cal artists of the day, which fact alone is suffi- cient to prove his ability.

Both from his paternal and his maternal an- cestors, Professor Dulcken inherits a love for music. His father's grandmother, who was born in France, was a gifted pianist, and her fondness for the art was also cherished by her husband. During the German Revolution they were obliged to flee from their home and, disguised as peasants, went to Munich, Bavaria, where he founded a pianoforte factory under the patron- age of the Prince of Bavaria. The latter became a warm friend of this talented couple, in whose welfare he showed a deep interest. Recognizing the superior ability of Mrs. Dulcken, he gave into her charge the musical training of his daugh- ters, one of whom afterward became the wife of

Nicholas, Czar of Russia; another became the wife of William, King of Prussia, and the third became Queen of Saxony. A correspondence was maintained by the three with Mrs. Dulcken until her death, when, in accordance with her will, the letters were returned to the writers. The Dulcken family originated in Holland, and its members have been prominent in the various countries whither they have gone.

From his inother, too, Professor Dulcken in- herits no small degree of his musical ability. She was born in Hamburg, Germany, and early in life displayed the talent for music which was a family characteristic. Her education was thor- ough, and she became so proficient in the profes- sion that she was chosen pianist to Queen Vic- toria, which honored position she filled until her death. Her brother, Ferdinand David, was also a noted musician, his specialty being the violin. The only one of her children who inherited her artistic tastes was Ferdinand Quentin, our sub- ject. A portion of his childhood years were passed in London, England, where he was born, but from there he went to Leipsic, Germany, in order that he might have the advantages of a musical training. He became a pupil of Mendels- sohn and also studied under Moscheles, under whose supervision his technique was perfected and his knowledge of music broadened.

In 1876 Professor Dulcken came to America and has since starred the country with a number of the most famous artists of the world, including Essipoff, many great singers, and Ole Bull among violinists. He has his headquarters in Steinway Hall, New York, where he has given instruction to some who are now famous in the musical world. His ability as musical director, accompanist and piano soloist is universally rec- ognized, and his services are in constant demand. His compositions include both vocal and instru- mental numbers, some of which are widely known and admired. He has given many charity con- certs and has for years been conspicuously be- fore the musical public, not only in New York, but elsewhere, having gained many triumphs in large assemblies and critical gatherings. Some years ago he spent several seasons at Warsaw, where he was professor in a con- servatory, but the bigotry and oppression of Russian nobility became unbearable, and he sought a more congenial abode.

For a number of years Professor Dulcken lias made his home in Astoria, Long Island City.

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January 24, 1884, at Bowery Bay, he married Miss Mary C. Totten, daughter of Jacob S. and Eliza (Rapelye) Totten. Her maternal grand- parents, Isaac and Margaret (Polhemus) Rapelye, were old settlers at Bowery Bay, and the for- mer was a descendant of French Huguenot an- cestors, the later of Holland-Dutch forefathers. The Rapelyes were about the first settlers on Long Island, and the first white child born here was Sarah Rapelye. The Tottens, who were of English descent, were early settlers of Ravens- wood, Long Island City. Jacob S. Totten, who was the youngest son of his parents, died at an early age, but his wife survived him many years, dying at Bowery Bay when eighty-one years old. She was a woman of kind heart and many noble attributes of character, and among her relatives numbered some of the prominent people of the East. Her children are Gertrude R., of Long Is- land City; Mary C .; Abraham R., who resides in Woodside, L. I .; and William N., of New York City.

Mrs. Dulcken was educated in Astoria and the New York Normal School, and for years engaged in teaching, being principal of the Bowery Bay school and assistant principal of the Long Island City schools. Her talents are versatile and in- clude a large poetic faculty. A number of her poems have been set to music by her hus- band and they are now widely known in musical circles. Their home at No. 406 Second Avenue is a musical center, where lelight to gather many whose names are known beyond the limits of this city. A visitor to the pleasant home notices, among other souvenirs, the photographs and autographs of some of the leaders in the musical world, also the autographs of Wilkie Collins and Longfellow, and a collec- tion of articles, useful and ornamental, that have been presented to the Professor by his pupils in different places.

JOHN K. GITTENS, well known as the first to introduce the use and sale of cork soles in America, was born in Lancashire, Eng- land, October 9, 1808. He was given a good op- portunity for obtaining an education in his boy- hood days and it was the intention of his parents to make of him a professional man. During his younger days, however, his health was not good and it was not deemed best to force him to give his attention entirely to study.

When a lad of thirteen years our subject went to sea, and during the two years in which he was on the water visited many of the most important ports of the Old World. His father, William Gittens, was a manufacturer of wigs, but after his return home from his extended sea voyage John did not adopt that business, but learned the shoemaker's trade and became master of this oc- cupation in all its various branches. Thinking he could better his financial condition in the New World, he set sail for America in 1841, land- ing on American shores with but little means, but with a strong determination to make for him- self a name and fortune.

On first coming to this country our subject settled in Williamsburg, now included in the city of Brooklyn, and began the manufacture of shoes in a small way. This was at a time when the shoemaker took the raw material and, after put- ting it through various processes, made the shoe or boot complete. Now, however, at least eight workmen are employed in preparing the different parts of a shoe, which greatly reduces the ex- pense. When Mr. Gittens first began business in this country he put an inner sole of cork in all the articles of footwear which he made and this rapidly grew in favor and popularity until now many people do not think they are prepared for passing the winter months without cork soles on their shoes and boots. Several years after coming hither Mr. Gittens invented a machine for splitting the cork as thin as an ordinary sheet of wrapping paper. This was the means of revolu- tionizing the use of cork to a great extent, for it had hitherto been supposed that when it was re- duced to this thickness it would not be durable. It was shown, however, by this method that it could be cut very thin and yet be as tough as a piece of rubber. On the outbreak of the late war our subject manufactured a hat for the use of army officers, which was made entirely of cork, having the advantage over all others of being light and at the same time proof against water. Before proceeding to manufacture them in quan- tities he went to Washington and gained an audi- ence with General Scott, in order that he might get a recommendation from him, and an expres- sion as to their value for the use of the officers. The General, after looking at it thoroughly, was satisfied in his own mind that it would not stand hard usage. Being called away for the moment he laid the hat down in a chair and on his return sat down on it, as if by accident, and then in-

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quired where the hat was, and said that he would like to see it again. When informed that he was sitting on it he jumped up as if greatly surprised and said he was sure he had ruined the article in question. Mr. Gittens, however, took the hat, gave it a shake and presented it to the General with not a break in it. The General affected sur- prise, for it was no doubt a scheme of his to sit down on the hat and so prove that it would not stand hardship. He promptly gave our subject a letter of unconditional indorsement, but as it was thought that the war would only last a short time he did not think it would pay to begin their manufacture. He had the satisfaction, however, of convincing General Scott that he was right about the wearing qualities of the hat. During the early part of the war Mr. Gittens had an office in Washington in charge of his son, J. K., for the display of his hats, and also manufactured shoes for General Scott.

Mr. Gittens had not been located in Williams- burg very long before his business grew to great proportions and goods were shipped from his shop all over the world. As soon as the patents which he had taken out on his invention of us- ing cork had expired, a great competition arose among the different manufacturers, but our sub- ject refused to compete with them, abiding by his motto, "Good goods and good prices," and while he has accumulated a handsome fortune by his honest methods of doing business, he might have been far richer had he been willing to palm off cheap goods on the public, as did others who were engaged in the shoe business. He was very progressive and gave a great deal of attention to making his store attractive, and therefore bears the distinction of being the first merchant in Brooklyn to light his show window, using camphine.

Our subject was a warm friend of Horace Greeley and often consulted with that noted per- sonage on matters of importance. He was like- wise a personal friend of A. T. Stewart and was acquainted with many of the wealthy residents of New York and Brooklyn. When Mr. Stewart began booming Garden City, Mr. Gittens went there to live. Soon after, however, he removed his factory to Hempstead and has made his home here for the past eighteen years. He continued the active management of his business until Jan- uary I, 1895, when he resigned in favor of his son William, who is now the proprietor of the business which has been made famous through-

out the United States, and the product of their factory is well known in other countries as well. On each pleasant day Mr. Gittens may be seen going to the office, where he spends a few hours. He has been a member of the Episcopal Church all his life and while living in Brooklyn was ves- tryman and warden.

The marriage of our subject with Miss Jane Potter occurred in 1831. After a married life of over forty years Mrs. Gittens departed this life. To them were granted ten children, of whom five are now living, four sons and one daughter: John K., Jr., makes his home in Philadelphia; Charles F. is a resident of Hempstead; George W. is engaged in business in Paterson, N. J .; William is carrying on the business which his father es- tablished, and Martha B. is also living in Hemp- stead. The present wife of our subject is Carrie (Hinsdale) Gittens, a native of Vermont and a cousin of ex-Secretary of the United States Treasury, John W. Foster, of Ohio. January 8, 1896, Mr. Gittens met with an accident, falling down a stairway in his house and fracturing his right hip. Even at his advanced age he has re- covered so that he now frequently is seen walking on the street.

J OSEPH H. BOGART, M. D., who is one of Queens County's most skillful and success- ful physicians, was born in this county No- vember II, 1846. The first member of this family in America was Tunis Bogart, who came from Holland in 1652. From him have descended in regular order the following: Gysbert Bogart, Tunis Bogart, Isaac Bogart, Sr., Isaac Bogart, Jr., Daniel Bogart, Sr., and Daniel Bogart, the father of our subject. The latter was born in the old home of his father and grandfather and secured a good practical education in the schools of Ros- lyn, his native village. When sixteen years old he entered Flushing Institute, where he remained from 1862 to 1865, and then attended Amherst College, from which he was graduated with the class of '69.

At an early age our subject displayed a de- cided taste for the study of medicine, and in 1872 entered Bellevue Hospital Medical College, where for two years he was a private pupil of Dr. Alex B. Mott, of New York City. Previous to this, in 1872, he began practicing in Roslyn, and in 1880 was appointed attendant physician of Queens County Lunatic Asylum, a position

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he held for some time. In the arduous duties of his profession he does not lose sight of his duties as a citizen and takes much interest in all affairs of moment, particularly educational matters. For a number of years he was president of the board of education and has held other positions. He is interested in the Queens County Medical So- ciety, of which in 1887 he was president. Politi- cally he is a Republican and is president of the district committee. For ten or more years he was a trustee of the Bryant Library Association. Socially he is a Mason, a member of Morton Lodge No. 63, and is also a member of the Hol- land Society of New York.

The Doctor was married in February, 1884, to Miss Ethelena T. Albertson, daughter of Thomas W. and Harriet Albertson, and the fruits of their union are two children, Jennie and Ethel- ena. Dr. Bogart has an extensive general prac- tice and has been medical examiner for a number of different insurance companies. He is progres- sive and intelligent and keeps thoroughly apace with the times. Though not a member the Doc- tor is a regular attendant at the Presbyterian Church.

V ILLIAM L. HUNT, deceased, was for many years a resident of the town of Hempstead and made a success of ag- ricultural pursuits. He was enterprising and progressive in his ideas and kept in touch with new discoveries and well accredited modern plans of work. A native of New York, his birth oc- curred in Westchester County in 1815. His father, Lott, and grandfather, Stepanus Hunt, were also natives of that county, where they were well-to- do farmers and where they spent their entire lives.

The subject of this sketch was well educated, attending the schools of his district until some time in his teens, when he became useful in as- sisting his father manage his estate. He was trained to a thorough knowledge of farming, and when launching out in life for himself followed it in his native county until fifty years of age, when he came to Long Island and became the pro- prietor of a nice farm, on which he resided until his decease, October 5, 1890.

Mr. Hunt was married October 7, 1844, to Miss Elizabeth Powell, daughter of Cornelius Powell, a native of Long Island, which was also the birthplace of Mrs. Hunt. Ten children were

the result of this union, only three of whom now survive. The eldest of the household, Joseph G., was a brilliant young man and a prominent mer- chant of Bellmore at the time of his death in No- vember, 1895. Those who now survive are Rich- ard L., a farmer of Jerusalem; Christopher, who is in a grocery at Bellmore, and Moses, a farmer, residing in Bellmore. Mrs. Hunt is still living, and although seventy-one years of age is in the enjoyment of excellent health. The members of the family in this county are worthy and public- spirited and a great addition to its social and busi- ness element. In religious and benevolent enter- prises they are always doing what they can to relieve the poor and needy and thus exemplify the precepts of Christianity. Religiously, they are Quakers.

P HILIP LEBKUECHER, who is engaged in the ice and wood business, and also does considerable work in general transfer and trucking, was born in Bavaria, Germany, March 28, 1838, being a son of Adam and Barbara Leb- kuecher. His father, who was a farmer in Ba- varia, brought his family to America in 1851 and settled in Brooklyn, where he was employed in a sugar house. In 1855 he came to College Point and became an employe of the Enterprise Works. He died here in 1885, and his wife had passed away the preceding year. They were the parents of five children, of whom four are liv- ing, Philip being next to the oldest of the family.

At the time of his father's emigration to the United States our subject accompanied him, making the voyage in a sailing vessel, forty-three days from Havre to New York City. At once after reaching Brooklyn he began to work in a glass factory, later worked in a soap factory and then became an employe in a rubber shop. May 15, 1855, he came to College Point with Mr. Pop- penhusen, and has since made this village his home. After remaining in the shop for eight years, in 1863 he started a bakery in Second Avenue and Fourth Street, forming a partnership with a brother-in-law, C. Fight, as Lebkuecher & Fight. Eight years later he bought out his partner's in- terest and continued alone until he sold out, about 1874. He then built in Sixteenth Street and Fourth Avenue, and started in the wood and ice business, which he has since conducted, besides doing general contracting and trucking. He runs one wagon, and delivery is limited to the people

Bila Tunis Gp 14/901

COUNCILMAN JOSEPH CASSIDY

WILLIAM I. COCKE, M. D.

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of College Point. He has an engine and boiler of twenty horse-power and manufactures kindling wood by steam power.

In this village Mr. Lebkuecher married Miss Barbara Grauss, a native of Bavaria, who ac- companied her parents to America at the age of eight years. They are the parents of five sons, namely: Philip, Jr., a printer of New York, but residing here; John, who is with his father; An- drew, a silk weaver at College Point; Christ, who is similarly engaged here, and Peter, who is em- ployed as a printer in New York, but makes his home here.

For four successive years Mr. Lebkuecher has held the office of street commissioner. His mem- bership is in St. Fidelis' Catholic Church, and he is an active worker on the board of trustees. . For eight years he was president of the Trackelia Singing Society, also has held office in the Steube Kosse, and is a charter member of the Fidelis Society. Politically he is a Democrat and has served on the general committee. For thirty- five years he has been actively connected with the fire department, and was a charter member of Union Hose Company No. 1; he has been fore- man ten years, second assistant chief four years and first assistant chief six years. The Volunteer Firemen's Association also numbers him among its members. He has the distinction of being the oldest member of the fire department who is in active service. All projects for the benefit of the people commend themselves to his favorable notice, and his co-operation may be relied upon in matters relating to the public good.

W ILLIAM I. COCKE, M. D. The fam. ily of which this well-known physician and surgeon of Port Washington is a member has been represented in America since a very early period in its settlement and has num- bered, in the various branches, some men of prominence in their day. Col. Lemuel Cocke, the great-grandfather of the Doctor, was a resi- dent of Virginia and in 1780 held the position of high sheriff in Surry County, where he died in 1799. Our subject has a book of receipts for- merly belonging to him, and containing account of the receipt and disposal of property entrusted to him as well as property upon which he had is- sued executions.

One of the sons of Lemuel Cocke was William Irby, the Doctor's great-uncle, who was in the

midst of his medical studies at the time the War of 1812 broke out. Laying aside his books, he enlisted in the army and went to the front, re -- maining until the close of the war, when he re- turned and completed his medical education. He then opened an office at Portsmouth, Va., where he achieved success in his chosen profession. Among our subject's valued souvenirs is a watcli, carried by his great-uncle, and in it are pieces of cloth cut from wedding apparel that have been handed down with the watch.

Richard Cocke, the Doctor's grandfather, was born in Surry County, Va., in 1785, and migrated to Alabama in 1832, dying there March 28, 1835. His son, William I., was born in Virginia De- cember 29, 1829, grew to manhood in Marengo County, Ala., received a fine education at Jef- ferson College, Philadelphia, and graduated in medicine in 1853. Four years later he went to Texas, where January 19, 1859, he married Mary, daughter of Ezra Cleveland, who springs from the old Cleveland stock of Connecticut. Throughout the entire Civil War our subject's father served as assistant surgeon in Walker's Texas Division, and at the close of the conflict he engaged in practice in Austin County, remain- ing there until his death in 1873. One of his sons, Richard, is brigadier-general on the staff of Governor Culbertson of Texas.

Born in Austin County, Tex., April 28, 1862. the subject of this record was eleven years of age at the time of his father's death. When sixteen lie secured a position as an axeman in the sur- veying department of the Gulf, Colorado & San- ta Fe Railroad. The second year he was pro- moted to the position of rodman, and the third year became transit or first instrument for the Texas Western Railroad, which was Fred Grant's road and was never finished. His next position was in a wholesale grocery, owned by William D. Cleveland, at Houston, Tex., in 1882, wiiere he remained for four years and later was engaged in the fuel business for himself in the same city.

From childhood our subject displayed a predi- lection for the medical profession, and was ac- customed to experiment on cats and other do- mestic animals, probably more to his edification than theirs. His father's death throwing him upon his own resources and obliging him to pro- vide for the younger members of the family, he had to postpone his studies, but he never aban- doned the hope of becoming a physician. When the children were grown and the way was open

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for him he went to Bellevue Medical College in New York, entering in 1888 and graduating in 1891. During the summer of 1891 he had a po- sition with the board of health in New York, and in the fall of the same year he came to Port Washington, where he has since conducted a general practice. September 19, 1888, in New York, he married Miss Isabel Burton, daughter of William and Caroline (Maurice) Burton. He is a member of the Queens County Medical So- ciety and socially is a Chapter Mason, having taken his degrees in Houston. In national poli- tics lie is a Democrat, but has never sought pub- lic office, his attention having been given whoily. to his professional duties. .

J I OHN W. CRAWFORD. The flourishing village of Flushing has among her citizens many excellent and progressive business men, among whom is John W. Crawford, manu- facturer of gummed paper. He also does steam power label gumming and is general finisher to the lithographic and printing trades. This is the largest and most successful concern of the kind in the United States, and its trade extends not only throughout this country but to other parts of the globe as well. Mr. Crawford has been un- usually successful in all enterprises he has un- dertaken, and aside from the above mentioned industry has been deeply interested in real estate and building operations. He owns much valu- able property in Flushing, and as a business man and citizen enjoys the confidence of all having dealings with him.

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Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 93

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