Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 94

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 94

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A native of the Emerald Isle, Mr. Crawford was born in Limerick, to the marriage of Henry and Isabelle (Morrow) Crawford, both natives of that country. The father was in the government employ, in the Irish constabulary, but left that country to come to America to seek home and fortune. Here both he and his wife passed away. John W. Crawford, the youngest of seven chil- dren, of whom four sons are now living, was reared and educated in Limerick, and in 1872, when seventeen years old, came to America. He first engaged with Harper Brothers in the press room, but six months later left them and was in the dry-goods business one year. Following that he was employed in label cutting and gumming with William Shepherd, who was the first en- gaged in this line in New York City. Five years later he assumed the management of the business

and after conducting it for five years bought out Mr. Shepherd. This was in 1886 and soon after- ward he moved the business to No. 59 Beekman Street. This enterprise was the first of the kind in New York City.

Mr. Crawford has original improvements and appliances possessed by no other firm, and he is the only one with gumming machinery. His real estate interests in Flushing are quite exten- sive. He has built over twenty houses in differ- ents parts of the place and owns property in North Parsons Avenue, State Street and San- ford Avenue. For a number of years he resided in Brooklyn and while there built about ten resi- dences. His commodious residence is at No. 34 North Parsons Avenue. His marriage united him with Miss Annie Eames, a native of England. In 1895 he was elected a member of the board of village trustees to fill a vacancy, and in the fall of the same year was elected trustee of the village for two years. In politics he is a Repub- lican and an active worker for his party. He was one of the originators of the Young Men's Chris- tian Association, and is now a director in the same. For some time he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is a trustee, and is on the finance committee of the same. Socially he is a Royal Arch Mason and belongs to Cornucopia Lodge No. 563. He is president of the Epworth League, and is serving his seventh consecutive term in that office.

C OLES WORTMAN WHITE. For many years this gentleman occupied a conspicu- ous position among the business men of Flushing, and his death, which occurred in May, 1885, was mourned as a loss to the entire com- munity. Mr. White was born in the town of Oys- ter Bay and traced his ancestry to one Edward White, a native of England, who emigrated to America in 1660 and settled in Oyster Bay, be- coming a large land-owner in that town. Mary White left a plat of land upon which was estab- lished the White cemetery, in which many of her descendants lie buried.

The grandfather of our subject, Joseph, was a son of Simon White, and took part in the Revolu- tionary War, during the progress of which he was captured by British troops and confined in a prison ship in Wallabout. By his marriage to Ann Alsop, he became the father of a son, Al- sop White, our subject's father, who in turn mar-

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ried Rhoda, daughter of Col. Coles Wortman, who gained his title through service in the Na- tional Guard of New York.

The eldest of six children, our subject grew to manhood on Long Island, and for some time was a merchant in Brooklyn, but in 1854, a few years after his marriage, he came to Flushing and founded the insurance business that has been in successful operation ever since. Here he con- tinued to reside until his death at the age of sixty years. Politically he was an active Democrat, and for seven terms, a period of twenty-one suc- cessive years, he served as assessor of the town of Flushing. He was a man of strong character, great energy and recognized ability, and in busi- ness circles held the esteem of all with whom he had transactions.

In Oyster Bay, May 21, 1851, Mr. White mar- ried Miss Fannie Syler, who was born in New York City, being a daughter of Jacob and Annie (Valentine) Syler, natives respectively of Frank- fort-on-the-Main, Germany, and Westchester County, N. Y. Her father, who acquired a splen- did education in Germany and gained a knowl- edge of various languages, came to America and engaged in business in New York City for years, but finally retired to Oyster Bay, and thence re- moved to New Brunswick, N. J., where he died. In religious belief he was a Lutheran. His wife, who was a daughter of Frederick Valentine, a native and farmer of Westchester County, died at seventy-five years, having had four children, of whom three are living. Mrs. White, who is the youngest of the number, attended a ladies' seminary in Berkshire County, Mass., where she obtained an excellent education. She is a woman of force of character, broad knowledge and in- tellectual acumen. After the death of her hus- band she took up the business, assisted by her younger son, and is the only lady in the county who holds a commission from the state head- quarters to act as agent for the Royal. In fact, she is one of the very few women throughout the United States who are able and competent to carry on a business of this kind, and her success proves that she possesses more than ordinary tal- ents. The office of White & Son is situated at No. 58 Broadway, corner of Prince Street, and is probably the oldest office of the kind in the coun- ty, having been established in 1854. Insurance is placed in reliable companies, such as the West- chester, Royal and Glens Falls.

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. White was

blessed by the birth of three children. The eld- est, W. Frank, was educated in Flushing, and at the age of seventeen became a partner with his father in the business, with which he was active- ly identified until his death, on Christmas Day of 1894. He was a member of Pacific Lodge No. 85, I. O. O. F., and was for one term assistant chief and for two years was foreman of Empire Hose Company No. I. Coles Wortman, the sec- ond son, is connected with the firm of White & Son, and socially belongs to the orders of Red Men and American Firemen, and he is also a member of Empire Hose Company No. I, of which he was foreman for two years. The only daughter, Miss Fannie, resides with her mother. Mr. White was one of the organizers of the fire department of Flushing and at one time was as- sistant chief.

M ATTHEW H. GREGORY, who has re- sided in Great Neck since 1882, was born in Devonshire, England, June 2, 1834, to Simon and Mary (Annaford) Gregory. At the age of twelve years he accompanied his parents to America and settled with them in New Lon- don, Conn., where for several years he attended the common schools, thus gaining a good edu- cation. For some time prior to the age of twen- ty-one, he worked with his father, who was a tanner and currier by trade. Later he came to Long Island, and settling at Sag Harbor was en- gaged at his trade with A. C. Buckley for five years.

While residing in Sag Harbor, Mr. Gregory married Miss Mary J. Talmage, daughter of Na- than and Phoebe (Hildreth) Talmage, of that place. For a few years he engaged in the paper stock business for himself, and at the same time began to save vessels from the beach and bay and dismantle them. In addition, he put in a stock of groceries, and for eighteen years he carried on these three separate enterprises with success at Sag Harbor. On leaving there he moved to Redbank, N. J., where he opened a grocery. He also established a similar enterprise at Sea- bright, placing a son in charge of each, while he gave his attention to the dismantling of vessels and the saving of their cargoes.

After having spent more than four years in Redbank, Mr. Gregory in 1882 came to Great Neck and began to buy condemned vessels. which he brought to this village to be dismantled

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and broken up. About 1888 he purchased the place where he now resides. He is one of the well-known men of Great Neck and is respected for his industry and persevering habits. As a stanch Republican, he takes pride in the fact that he voted for J. C. Fremont, the first candi- date of that party. At various times he has served as a delegate to conventions. With his family he attends the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which his son, Charles H., is a trus- tee. Of his nine children, one son, John H., is engaged in the same line of business at Perth- Amboy and carries on submarine diving. Two sons, Charles H. and Herbert, are partners with their father. Mamie married George Schenck of Great Neck, and they have three children. The others are George, William, Louis, Ada and Lil- lian.

G EORGE F. SPAETH, proprietor of one of the finest drug stores in Schuetzen Park, was born in New York City, May 30, 1867. He is the son of John Spaeth, who, until he retired from active life, was a piano mak- er and music teacher. The father, who is now liv- ing in New York City, is eighty-four years of age. Prior to the outbreak of the late war his business called him some distance from home, and while en route his train was wrecked and the accident resulted in his losing an arm.

John Spaeth was born in Bavaria, Germany. There he was given a fine classical and musical education, being able to speak fluently four lan- guages and play upon nine different instruments. He also became noted as a composer. He was a prominent member of the Protestant Lutheran Church and aided in the organization of the First Lutheran Church in New York's annexed district. His wife, formerly Anna Roth, was also born in Germany. They were not married, however, un- til after coming to America. To them have been granted four children, three of whom are now living; those besides our subject, who was the eldest, are: Otto C., also a pharmacist, located in Long Island City, and Annie, now the wife of John Frazer, of New York.

The subject of this sketch was graduated from Grammar School No. 61, in New York, with the class of '82. He then became a student of New York College, which was located in Twenty- third Street, and a year later, when deciding to study pharmacy, left school and began clerking

in different stores until he had acquired a good understanding of the business. In 1887 he en- tered the New York College of Pharmacy, from which he was graduated in 1889 with the degree of Ph. G. Mr. Spaeth then came to Long Island City and began clerking in the establishment of Ralph Paul, of Steinway. Mr. Paul wishing to dispose of his business, a few months later our subject purchased the stock and continued to do a thriving business at that stand alone for about eighteen months, when he took his brother in as partner, they operating together under the style of Spaeth Brothers for some time. Subsequently our subject opened a drug store in Flushing Avenue and later engaged in the same business in Hunter's Point, his establishment being lo- cated on the corner of Fifth Street and Jackson Avenue, and was familiarly known to the resi- dents of that village as the Fifth Street Phar- macy. The next venture of the brothers was in opening a drug store at No. 385 Jackson Avenue, Dutch Kills, which they operated in connection with the other three stores for a period of two years. At the expiration of that time they dis- posed of their Flushing Avenue house and dis- solved partnership, our subject taking the Dutch Kills store, also the one located in Schuetzen Park. Later, in 1895, he sold out the business at Dutch Kills and has since given his undivided attention to his business at this place. He has had the building raised and made improvements so that now it is one of the best business houses in the city. Mr. Spaeth thoroughly understands his profession, which fact the people of the park realize, for he has a very large and paying trade. He has his store stocked with every known med- icine and makes a specialty of prescription trade. He also compounds many liniments and syrups of various kinds and manufactures tinctures from drugs by means of percolation.

The marriage of Mr. Spaeth and Miss Maude E. Lawrence occurred in Long Island City in 1890. This lady was born at Hunter's Point and was the daughter of Charles W. Lawrence, a rep- resentative of an old and honored family of this county. To them has been granted a daughter, Maude B. Our subject has always been actively interested in the welfare of his community and is ready at all times to do what he can to further its improvement. He was secretary of the Citi- zens' Municipal League, which overthrew Glea- son's administration, and after accomplishing this result they disbanded. In politics he is a strong

EDWARD H. LAUFER.

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Democrat. He was appointed commissioner on the board of education by Mayor Sanford in 1895 and was elected president of the board when en- tering upon his duties. He served some time with Protection Engine Company No. 2 and is now a member of the Exempt Firemen's Association. He is a Knight of the Golden Eagle and is past officer of Steinway Castle. Mr. Spaeth is like- wise a member of the Alumni Association of the New York College of Pharmacy. He was a prime mover in the organization of the large Democratic Club in the fourth ward, which was perfected in December, 1895. Of this he is a member of the by-laws and constitutional com- mittee, also serves on the house committee, whose duty it is to procure suitable quarters for the club.

E DWARD H. LAUFER, a prosperous flor- ist of Queens, was born in Springfield May 13, 1857, and is the only survivor of the two children of Michael and Rosetta Laufer. His father, who was a native of Germany, emi- grated to America at an early age and settled upon a farm at Foster's Meadow, remaining in that neighborhood until his death, which occurred in 1880. Our subject grew to manhood upon a farnı and for a short time attended the district schools. At the age of seventeen he began to work for John Taylor, one of the leading horti- culturists of his day, and there, during his ap- prenticeship of three and one-half years, he stud- ied the art of plant culture. It had been the orig- inal plan that he should serve a term of five years to the trade, but he applied himself to the work so assiduously and continued engaged in it so faithfully that in much less time he had fitted himself to undertake the business.

Being called home on account of his father's continued ill health, Mr. Laufer took charge of the place and superintended its management. At the death of his father one year later, the estate passed to him and has since been his prop- erty. The way was thus open for him to begin the business of a florist, which he did without delay. From year to year, by continued application, he lias advanced himself, until finally he was able to build the five greenhouses which he now ntil- izes for business purposes.

In 1881 Mr. Laufer was married to Miss Cath- erine Keuneth of Astoria, but whose birth oc- curred in Germany. She came here with her

parents in 1859, when three years old. The mar- riage of our subject and his wife has been blessed by three children, Henry Edward Laufer, Charlie A. Laufer and John Henry Laufer. As every citi- zen should, our subject takes deep interest in po- litical affairs and is a Republican. In religion he and his wife are members of the Dutch Re- formed Church and he is a contributor to its en- terprises. He takes an interest in everything pertaining to floral work and is a member of the Florists' Association in Thirty-fourth Street, New York City.

T HOMAS H. THORNTON is the proprie- tor of a store at No. 50 Main Street, Flush- ing, where he carries a full line of wall paper, paints and oils. As a painter and decora- tor he has few superiors, and he has had the con- tract for some of the finest work of that kind ever done in Flushing, Whitestone, Bayside, Corona, College Point and Little Neck. In addition to this he has had a number of contracts in New York, where he has two brothers who learned the trade under him, engaged in business in Sixth Avenue, near Fifty-ninth Street.

The grandfather of our subject, Peter Thorn- ton, was a shoemaker and tax collector in Eng- land, and was accidentally killed by falling in a coal pit. The father, Peter. Jr., was born in Pres- ton, Lancashire, England, where he learned the trades of painter and plumber. In 1855 he brought his family to America and worked at his trades in New York City until 1857, when he settled in Corona. At the same time he started in the painting business in Broadway, Flushing, but later removed to Jackson Avenue, Long Island City, where he remained until he was accidentally killed by falling from a swinging scaffold. He was then fifty years old.

The mother of our subject, Belle Capps, was born in England, and was a member of a family whose name was originally Carps, of the house of Holstein. Her father, Robert Capps, who was in the Queen's Life Guard, was a large, well-pro- portioned man, six feet two inches in height. His death was the result of an accident; while he was leaning against a balustrade it gave way and he fell over and was killed. He had an only son. for some years steward to an English lord. but who was killed by falling off a load of hay. Mrs. Belle Thornton resides in New York. Of her

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nine children six are living: Thomas H., the eldest, being the only one in Flushing.

Born in Preston, England, in June, 1849, our subject was a child of six years when the family came to America, and he remembers the six weeks' voyage in the sailing vessel, "North America," commanded by Captain Clark. His education was limited to a short attendance at the schools of Corona. At the age of ten he be- gan to learn his trade under the instruction of his father, and of evenings attended Cooper's Insti- tute, where he graduated. In 1870 he was mar- ried in Flushing to Miss Emma Mucklow, daugh- ter of William and Elizabeth (Griffin) Mucklow, her father being a native of England; she was born in Flushing and died here, leaving a daugh- ter, Eliza.

On coming to Flushing Mr. Thornton began in business in Washington Street. In 1865 he responded to a draft for service in the Union Army, but was not called out, owing to the close of the Rebellion. In 1889 he removed his store to 50 Main Street, where he carries a full line of wall paper and paints. He is interested in the United States Building and Loan Association, of which he is appraiser. His second marriage, which took place in Flushing, united him with Elizabeth Townsend, who was born in Williams- burg, Brooklyn, being a daughter of Richard and Mary J. (Fowler) Townsend, members of old Flushing families. Mrs. Thornton was reared and educated in Flushing and Jamaica, and by her marriage is the mother of three children, Mabel, Robert and Edna F. Socially Mr. Thorn- ton was at one time identified with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and was a char- ter member of the Order of Foresters, but is not at present connected with either of these organi- zations. He is, however, a member of the Mac- cabees. For years he has been deacon and treas- urer of the Baptist Church, and a teacher in the Sunday-school, and his wife is also interested in the work of this denomination. Politically he is a pronounced Republican.

W ILLIAM H. HULTS. Among the many contractors and builders of Queens County Mr. Hults holds a prominent place, as he has followed this particu- lar line of business for many years and is well and favorably known to the residents of Port Washington, where he makes his home. He was

born at Bayside, this county, December 23, 1842, and is the son of George and Jane Ann (Smith) Hults. The former was also a native of this por- tion of the island, passing the greater part of his life at Port Washington and Manhasset, where he was engaged in the fish and oyster business, marketing these products in New York. His death occurred when William H. was a lad of six years.

After the death of her husband Mrs. Jane Ann Hults removed with her family of five children to Greenpoint, where our subject began working when only ten years of age. He worked in the employ of others by the month until reaching his eighteenth year, when he went on an oyster boat in the sound a few months. We next hear of him as clerk at Greenpoint, but he resigned his position in a few months and began serving as an apprentice in the ship-building trade, working for the man who had the contract for furnishing the woodwork on the "Monitor," "Catskill" and "Montauk." Being quick to learn the use of tools he assisted in constructing these boats, but soon found that he was physically unable to make a business of ship-carpentering, and on abandon- ing it took up house-carpentering, which is not such heavy work. He aided in building the Van- derbilt mansion in Fifth Avenue, besides num- erous other large residences in both New York and Brooklyn.

Mr. Hults was married June 21, 1864, to Miss Willetta Van Tassel, of New York, where she was reared and educated. She was born, how- ever, at Unionville, Westchester County, and was the daughter of Clark and Margaret (Angevine) Van Tassel. The young couple continued to make their home in the city for three years after their marriage, when they reinoved to Manhasset and two years later came to Port Washington, settling here in 1870. Being an expert at his trade, Mr. Hults has been given the contract for building many of the public and private struc- tures here, among them being Liberty Hall and the Baptist Church. He also erected the pa- vilion at Sands' Point and rebuilt the hotel there, making an addition to the edifice one hundred feet in length. At North River, Warren County, he has erected a summer residence which is beau- tifully located in the Adirondack region.

In 1893 Mr. Hults went to Arkansas City with the expectation of locating there, but being dis- satisfied with the country and climate, returned to the island. His union with Miss Van Tassel

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has resulted in the birth of four children: Wil- liam E., whose birth occurred in New York City November 2, 1866, married Catherine Whaley, of Port Washington, and they have a daughter, Virgie Estelle, who was born here January 9, 1888; Florence Estelle, who was born in 1870, is a highly accomplished young lady and is a graduate of the training school for nurses. Jen- nie P., who was born in this place in 1875, is a member of the executive committee of the Wom- an's Club, and the Port Washington Cyclers' Club; Louis A. was born September 2, 1878, and is at present learning the business in which his father is engaged.

Politically Mr. Hults is a Republican, having voted that ticket since 1864. Socially he is an Odd Fellow of excellent standing, belonging to Seawanhaka Lodge No. 670. His wife is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

D ANIEL H. SIMONSON. The town of Jamaica is well known for its pleasant homes and hospitable people, and in his home and character Mr. Simonson fully sustains the reputation of the town. He resides upon a farm one mile south of the village of Springland, to which place he came in 1859, and where he hopes to spend his remaining days. The farm was formerly the property of Abraham Higbie, a soldier in the War of 1812, who began the im- provements that have since been continued by the present owner. His father, Daniel, was also born and reared in this locality.

In Queens (then called Brushville) the subject of these lines was born October 18, 1822, and he is now the sole survivor of the four children of John and Hannah (Skidmore) Simonson. His father was born December 14, 1794, in Spring- field, where he spent his boyhood days, but later removed to Jamaica and there remained about twenty years, employed as a boss carpenter. Thence he went up the Hudson to Coldspring, Putnam County, where he remained about fif- teen years, carrying on a lumber business. His next place of residence was Raritan, N. J., where he opened a general mercantile store and a lum- ber and coal yard. After several years he re- moved to Brooklyn, where he died four years later. Twice married, his first wife was our sub- ject's mother. His second union was to Miss Susannah R. Areson, who bore him seven chil- dren, the only survivors being Susan J. and Enos.

Grandfather Aury Simonson was a native of Springfield and through his entire life carried on farm pursuits.

Our subject's mother dying when he was six years of age, he found a home with an uncle and aunt, under whose training he grew to man- hood, meantime attending the common schools and Union Hall Academy in Jamaica. Learning carpentering under his father, he followed this trade for a year in Brooklyn, from which place he went to Fosters Meadow and bought mill property. About six years later he sold this to the Brooklyn water works at a large advance on the original cost. Then going to Hempstead, he bought a farm, which, however, he sold two years afterward. His next venture was the opening of a grocery and feed store in the village of Hemp- stead, which he conducted for a short time. Later, with two other men, he built the steam and wind grist mill in Hempstead, but soon sold his interest in the enterprise. He then bought the property where he has since resided.

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Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 94

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