Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 96

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 96

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This was in 1873. For one year Mr. Marvin and his brother cultivated the place, and when the final settlement of the estate was made he erected his present handsome residence on his portion of the property. Since then he has made an improvement in the shape of an L, designed for kitchen, pantry, bathroom and additional bed- rooms. After the estate was settled, he began farming in partnership with his brother, Richard, and for several years the firm of Marvin Broth- ers continued together, but finally severed their connection, and have since operated their farming industries alone.

Early in the year 1874 Mr. Marvin married Miss Mellie, daughter of John Hendrickson, of Creedmoor. Mrs. Marvin was born February 21, 1852, and is the mother of six children, name- ly: George Buell, born Sunday, October 25, 1874; Mary Anna, Friday, July 28, 1876; Es- ther Williams, Sunday, January 19, 1879; Grace Elizabeth, Sunday, March 4, 1883; Harry Peters, Tuesday, November 16, 1886, and Fannie Smith, Sunday, March 31, 1889. Politically Mr. Marvin is independent. A Methodist in religion, he is acting as steward of the church, and received a certificate to attend the annual conference at Hartford, Conn., April 3, 1896, held for the pur- pose of choosing lay delegates to the general con- ference. He is a friend of education and for twenty years has been connected with the school board.

J® JAMES L. NEW, M. D. Although young in years, Dr. New has obtained a more than local reputation, which fact may be, in a measure, attributed to his love for his profession. To him the arduous duties of his calling are a "labor of love." Whatever the social or financial condition of his patient who seeks his service, no effort is spared in the treatment of his case,

for he believes it is the highest duty of the physi- cian to cure the ills to which mankind is heir, if it lies within his power to do so. He devotes himself to his work with conscientious zeal, and gives little regard to the rewards or emoluments that are to follow. He believes in a progressive system of medicine, and notes with eager interest every forward step taken by his profession.

Dr. New was born in Long Island City De- cember 29, 1870, and is a son of James N. New, who was born in Newtown, L. I. His grandfath- er, James L. New, was a native of England, born in Willshire, and there grew to manhood. He married in his native country and came to this land on his wedding tour, locating at Greenpoint, L. I., and running a stage line from that point to Fulton Ferry, L. I., until 1853. Then selling out to the Brooklyn City Railroad Company he was engaged in various undertakings until 1857, when he went to California by way of the Isthmus and was engaged in prospecting and mining until 1876. From there he went to Mon- tana, where he is now a prominent ranchman. While residing in California he was captain of an independent company during the time of the vigilant committee. He is now seventy-seven years old and in the enjoyment of fair health.

James N. New became familiar with the gro- cery business while but a lad and has continued in this ever since. He left Newtown and went to Greenpoint when a young man, and was first in the employ of old John Smith. In 1855 he bought the business and has carried it on ever since, in partnership with his brother, Alfred L. New (see sketch). He married Miss Eliza M. Gibson, a native of Wards Island and daughter of Alexander Gibson (better known as "Sandy" Gibson), an old fisherman on Wards Island, who was of Scotch descent and took part in the War of 1812.

To Mr. and Mrs. New were born six children, four now living. Our subject, the eldest of these children, attended the public schools of Green- point and those of Brooklyn, graduating from the high school of the latter place in 1886. He then entered Ft. Edward Institute at Ft. Edward. N. Y., and graduated from that institution in 1887. For some time after this he was associated with his father in business, but in 1889 he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Co- lumbia and graduated from the same with the degree of M. D. in June, 1892. In July, 1891, he took a trip to Montana, extending over a period

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of six weeks. By competitive examination he was appointed assistant physician at Charity Hos- pital on Blackwells Island for one year and later was for seven months assistant at New York Lying-in Hospital.

The following year Dr. New spent in a visit to Montana, partly for business and partly for pleasure, and practiced while there. Returning in November, 1894, he located in Tioga County, Pa., and was employed by the Fallbrook Coal Company until 1895, when he resigned and lo- cated in Hunter's Point, Long Island City, where he has since been actively engaged in general practice. He had the best of advantages while studying his profession and was assistant physi- cian in the outdoor department of Bellevue Hos- pital, New York City. In religious belief he is a member of Grace Methodist Church, in which he is steward. Politically he is a Republican. He is a member of Montana State Medical Association and is examining physician of John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company and Hartford Life Insurance Company of Hartford, Conn.

W ILLIAM PLYER. Since he took charge of, or rather succeeded to his father's business, Mr. Plyer has been one of the successful business men of Hemp- stead. He was born in this village July 21, 1857, and is a son of Charles Plyer, who was born in Hertfordshire, England, in 1831, and when a young man of twenty years of age came to Amer- ica.

On making his home in the New World, Mr. Plyer located at Fordham, in Westchester Coun- ty, where he entered a sash and blind factory and became thoroughly acquainted with the business in all its details. In 1854 he came to Hempstead and embarked in business for himself, manufac- turing sash of all kinds, also blinds of every de- scription. He continued to be thus engaged un- til his decease, in 1884, when his son, our sub- ject, succeeded to the business. The latter had been taken into partnership with his father in 1881 and was therefore thoroughly competent to assume the management of the factory. Mr. Ply- er met with success after coming to America and left his family comfortably provided for.

The mother of our subject was Mary Ackerly, a representative of one of the old families of the island. She reared a family of three sons, of whom William, of this sketch, was the eldest.

The others are Charles and George. The edu- cation of our subject was completed in the high school of Hempstead, after which he became as- sociated with his father in business. The pros- perity which has come to him is not the result of accident or luck, but rather as the result of in- domitable perseverance and sound judgment. In political belief he is independent. In 1889 he was elected village trustee, serving two years, and was re-elected to this position in 1895 and 1896 for two years longer. He is treasurer of the build- ing and loan association of this place and is at present serving as a member of the volunteer fire department, of which he was the secretary for several years. He is very fond of sailing and is the owner of a beautiful yacht, which is one of the best boats in the Hempstead Bay Yacht Club, of which Mr. Plyer is a prominent mem- ber. Socially he is an Odd Fellow of excellent standing, belonging to Hempstead Lodge No. 14I. He is likewise connected with the Mutual Benefit Association, of which he was at one time president and director for many years.

The marriage of our subject with Miss Ange- lece Smith occurred January 19, 1881. This lady was the daughter of Raynor Smith, of Freeport, and the granddaughter of the noted Raynor Rock Smith, who saved part of the crew of the wrecked vessel, "City of Mexico." Mr. and Mrs. Plyer have a daughter, Addie.

M ONROE PACKARD, chief engineer of the India Rubber Comb Company at College Point, was born in Providence, R. I., February 20, 1849. The family of which he is a member originated in England and has been represented in this country since the time of the "Mayflower," Samuel Packard, the first of the name to come hither, having settled in Windham, Conn. The grandfather, Mark Packard, a na- tive of New Hampshire, and a machinist by trade, removed to Pennsylvania, where he married Mary Williamson.

The father of our subject, Monroe Packard, Sr., was born in Ashton, Pa., learned the ma- chinist's trade in Bridesburg, and later settled in Providence, R. I., where he was first with Thurs- ton & Gardner, and afterward served as foreman for the Corliss Engine Company many years. He died in that city in 1869, aged forty-five. His wife, Amelia T., was born in Providence, and was a daughter of Capt. Daniel and Mary (Ar-

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nold) Sweetland, natives of Pawtucket and New- port respectively. Her father, after having fol- lowed the machinist's trade for a time, later be- came captain of a vessel engaged in the coasting trade and was lost at sea in a shipwreck. His father-in-law, Caleb Arnold, was a merchant of Newport. Mrs. Amelia T. Packard is a Baptist in religious belief. She makes her home with her only surviving child, our subject, her other son, Charles A., having died in Rhode Island at the age of twenty-one.

In the public and private schools of Providence and in Schofield's Commercial College, the sub- ject of this sketch received his education. He was apprenticed to the moulder's trade in the foundry of the Corliss Engine Company, re- maining there for ten years. Later he was em- ployed in the machinist's department, and while thus engaged took up engineering, running the engine for three years. In 1880 he came to Col- lege Point as the assistant engineer of the India Rubber Comb Company, which he held for six years, until the death of his father-in-law, when he was made chief engineer. Under his supervi- sion are five Corliss engines of eight hundred horse-power, these being the largest in the town of Flushing.

Mr. Packard married Miss Mary A. Sander- son, who was born in Providence, and is promi- nent in society here and in the work of the Dutch Reformed Church. She is one of two living chil- dren, having a brother, Henry J., who is a watch- maker and jeweler by trade. By her marriage she has a son, John, and a daughter, Mabel. Her father, John Sanderson, was born in Pen- rith, Cumberlandshire, England, became a ma- chinist, and after emigrating to America in 1851, settled in Providence, where he was employed as engineer in the erecting department of the Cor- liss Engine Company. In 1857 he came to Col- lege Point to erect the first Corliss engine here, and upon its completion was employed as chief engineer until his death, November 19, .1892. While residing in England he was chorister of an Episcopal Church. For some years he was a trus- tee of the College Point Savings Bank.

Thomas Sanderson, the paternal grandfather of Mrs. Packard, was born in Cumberland and was an engine builder, which occupation he fol- lowed for a year in Brooklyn. After that, how- ever, he returned to England, where he died March 20, 1868, aged eighty years. His wife, Mary Alcock, died at the age of seventy-one.

John Sanderson married, in 1850, Miss Elizabeth Nicholson, daughter of Thomas Nicholson, a con- tractor and builder, who died at the age of sixty- nine. Benjamin, father of Thomas Nicholson, was a mason and builder, and Ann Fleming, the mother, died at the age of fifty-seven. Mr. and Mrs. Packard occupy the old Sanderson home- stead at No. 191 Third Avenue, on Flushing Bay, a substantial residence which was erected by Mr. Sanderson in 1860.

P ATRICK F. SHARKEY, general super- intendent of the two varnish factories of Pratt & Lambert, which are located in Long Island City, has held this responsible po- sition for the past three years, although he has been connected with the business in various other capacities for a much longer period.

Mr. Sharkey was born in this city, at No. 46 Fifth Street, where he still resides, October 28. 1864. His father, Henry Sharkey, was one of the old residents of the city and for the greater part of his life was a millwright. His history is given at greater length in the biography of H. W. Sharkey, on another page.

The subject of this sketch was the eldest but one of a family of seven children, four of whom are now living. He was reared in this city and completed his education in the old Sixth Street school house when a lad of fifteen years. At that age he went to work in the James McGinnis var- nish works, and after four years spent there was given a position with Pratt & Lambert, who were engaged in the same business. Our subject's brother, Samuel, was foreman of the factory, and Patrick was instructed by him in the mysteries of making varnish, in due time becoming a practical workman.

In 1891 Samuel Sharkey was sent to Chicago to assume charge of the varnish works there and our subject was then promoted to be foremail, holding this responsible position until Mr. Pratt, who was then acting as superintendent, retired, when he became general superintendent of the business. Besides the two factories in Long Island City and the one in Chicago, which we have already mentioned, the company own one in Montreal. Those over which Mr. Sharkey has control are the main plants and for the most part furnish goods to the other works. They manu- facture a very fine grade of varnish and do the

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largest business of any similar company on the island.

Socially Mr. Sharkey belongs to John J. Mitch- ell Lodge No. 338, A. O. U. W. He is a very fine oarsman and a prominent member of the Ravenswood Boat Club. He was a member of the crew which took part in races held at Har- lem, Washington, Chicago, Philadelphia and points on the Hudson, and in almost every case the Ravenswood Club was victorious. This club had the champion four-oared gig of the world and when it was used our subject was the bow oarsman. He also holds membership with the Ravenswood Bowling Club, of which he is the captain.

T HOMAS THURSTON, the enterprising blacksmith at Great Neck, was born at Glencove, L. I., December 31, 1845, to Nicholas and Sarah A. (Miller) Thurston. His father, who was born at Glencove, there learned and carried on the trade of a shoemaker, also for a time was proprietor of a shoe store. Thomas received his education in the public school and at the age of fifteen years began to learn his trade at Locust Valley. While still an apprentice, in September, 1864, he enlisted in Company C, Sixth New York Heavy Artillery. and took an active part in service in the Shenan- doah Valley and at Bermuda Hundred, also in front of Petersburg. At the close of the war, he was honorably discharged in July, 1865, after having for a few months been on provost duty in Virginia. Throughout the entire period of his service he was never wounded nor captured.

Returning to Locust Valley, Mr. Thurston completed his apprenticeship and then went to Port Washington, where he worked as a jour- neyman for two months. Opening a store of his own, he carried it on industriously for ten years. While there he married, June 25, 1868, Miss Mary Crookel, of that place, and they became the parents of two children, the wife and mother dying November 10, 1886. The son, Fred W .. who learned the trade of blacksmith under his father, is now in business with him; he married Miss Mabel Scott, of Great Neck. Sarah E., the daughter, married James Hayden and they have four children.

After a residence of ten years in Port Washing- ton, Mr. Thurston, on account of his father's death, went to Glencove and carried on the busi-

ness for a few months, then went back to Port Washington. Afterward he worked at his trade in Stamford, Conn., for two and one-half years, going from there to Port Washington. After a short time spent in Brooklyn, in 1881 he came to Great Neck and started his present business. His second marriage, which occurred January 30, 1889, united him with Miss Josephine Lennox, who was born in Rochelle. Westchester County, N. Y. In 1868 he voted for General Grant and has since sustained Republican principles. Since the organization of the Republican Club of Great Neck, he has been its only president. Frequently he has represented his party in conventions, but has never sought office for himself. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and superintendent of the Union Sunday-school in the village of Great Neck. Socially he is con- nected with Adam Goss Post No. 330, G. A. R., in New York. Always interested in school af- fairs, he has served with credit as a member of the board of education.

J JOHN BOLL, a prominent resident of Ja- maica, is carrying on a good business as florist. He was born in the canton of Frey- burg, Switzerland, in September. 1837, and was the son of John Boll, a wine manufacturer and nurseryman of his native land. Our subject, after acquiring his education, assisted his father in this business until about twenty years of age, when he left home, and, going to France, spent several years in that country. He then traveled extensively through Italy and Germany, and in 1861 determined to see something of the New World, of which he had heard such glowing ac- counts.

Landing on the shores of America, Mr. Boll began to seek employment, and was given the po- sition of private gardener for a New York banker who made his home in Newtown. After remain- ing in his employ for a period of seven years he went to Rhinebeck, on the Hudson, where he was given charge of the grounds surrounding the fine residence of Congressman Miller.

His father dying soon after the Civil War, our subject returned to Switzerland, as his services were needed in settling up the estate. As soon as this was accomplished he took passage for America and very soon thereafter purchased the ten-acre tract of land in the village of Jamaica where his fine gardens and greenhouses are lo-

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cated. He has been successful from the very first and is now one of the best-known gardeners and florists in the county. He has, however, met with two serious losses when his greenhouses were burned to the ground, the last time in 1894. He was not discouraged in the least, but set to work to repair the damage, each time enlarging his hot houses and placing therein many conven- iences which he did not have before.

The marriage of John Boll and Miss Eliza- beth J., daughter of John Sellmenn, occurred in Jamaica in 1876. The Sellmenns are among the oldest families of this section and are highly re- spected and prominent people. Our subject uses his right of franchise in favor of the Democratic party, and is devoted to the welfare of the gen- eral public. At one time he was foreman of the Jamaica fire department. He is a member of the Odd Fellows fraternity and by the members of Jamaica Lodge No. 247 is highly regarded. He is genial and pleasant in manners, useful and ac- tive as a citizen and expects to round out his life on his beautiful place, which is located on the eastern border of the village of Jamaica.

D AVID T. AVENIUS, superintendent of the Lutheran Cemetery, near Middle Vil- lage, was born in Bavaria, Germany, No- vember 4, 1842, and is one of a family of eight children, of whom two sons and two daughters are now living. His parents were Jacob H. and Maria (Moock) Avenius, the former of whom was born in Bavaria in 1804, emigrated to the United States, and in 1852 settled in East Wil- liamsburg (Metropolitan), where he died one year later. By trade he was a brick and stone mason, which occupation he followed until death.

The education of our subject was begun in the schools of Germany and continued in the United States, whither he came with his father at the age of ten years. Four years later he was bound out to the trade of ropemaking, and at the expira- tion of his term of apprenticeship, when he was nineteen years old, he enlisted August 13, 1862, in Company B, One Hundred and Thirty-ninth New York Infantry. From Brooklyn, where he enlisted, he marched with his company to the southern battle fields, where he participated in every engagement at which his regiment was present, among the most important being the battle of Cold Harbor, the assault on Petersburg. the battles of Chaffin's Farm and Fair Oaks, fall of Petersburg and evacuation of Richmond. At

the expiration of the war he was mustered out of the service, July 30, 1865, at Richmond, Va., and returned home with a record as a gallant soldier boy, of which his relatives and friends might well be proud.

Soon after his return from the war Mr. Avenins began to work at rope making, at which he was employed until 1872, and during the two follow- ing years he held the position of constable. In the meantime he took a position as foreman of the Lutheran Cemetery and in 1888 was made its superintendent, which position he has since filled with efficiency. In 1867 he married Miss Catherine Lehman, and they became the parents of seven children, four of whom are living. Jacob, who is married and has two sons, is book- keeper and assistant to his father; Elizabeth married John R. Gude, by whom she has one child, a daughter; David is foreman of the Luth- eran Cemetery; and Henry is connected with the Williamsburg Gas Company. The sons are graduates of Wright's Business College of Brooklyn, and are well-educated, intelligent young men.

While not an active partisan, Mr. Avenius has always been a stanch Republican since the time when he shouldered his gun and marched forth in defense of the Union. Socially he is con- nected with the Royal Arcanum, Knights of Honor and Schiller Lodge No. 304, F. & A. M. For many years he was a member of S. F. Dupont Post No. 187, G. A. R., but in 1885, when the Robert J. Marks Post No. 560, G. A. R., was organized at Newtown, he took a transfer and became one of the active workers of the new or- ganization, in which he has filled the various offices, including that of commander. Among the citizens of the county he is not only well known, but highly honored for the probity of his life and the nobility of his character. In him the poor have a friend and the distressed a sympa- thizing helper. As a citizen he is interested in all measures for the benefit of the people and the advancement of the interests of the community.

A BRAM C. HAGEMAN, inspector of tow- ermen for the Long Island Railroad, and one of the rising young business men of Flushing, was born in North Branch, Somerset County, N. J .; January 27, 1866. He is a mem- ber of a family long identified with the history of Long Island. The first of the name to come to America was Adrian Hageman, who crossed

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the Atlantic in 1650, and eight years later settled in Flatbush, Kings County. The traits of in- dustry and honor which characterized this en- terprising Hollander have been inherited by his descendants through succeeding generations.

Our subject's grandfather, James Hageman, was born in Somerset County, N. J., November 9, 1780, and died January 23, 1854. His son, Richard F., our subject's father, was born in the same county September 6, 1817, learned the har- nessmaker's trade in North Branch, where he has been engaged in business since 1851. In re- ligion he is identified with the Dutch Reformed Church. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Ellen Cortelyou, was born in Peapack, N. J., December 17, 1823, and died August 29, 1882; her father, Abram, was born in New Jersey and engaged in farm pursuits until his death in Som- erville, that state.

The parental family consisted of five daughters and three sons, of whom our subject is the young- est and the only surviving son. He was reared in North Branch until sixteen and is a graduate of the Somerville grammar school. At the age of sixteen he secured a clerkship in a store in Eliza- beth, where he remained three months. Later he was employed in a store in North Branch until 1883, after which he entered a school of teleg- raphy in New York, remaining until his gradua- tion in 1885. In August of that year he entered the employ of the Long Island Railroad as agent and operator at Water Mills. Afterward he was transferred to Bedford Station, Brooklyn, later became agent at Hicksville, then was transferred to Bay Shore, and finally was made station master at Patchogue. In August, 1891, he became chief clerk in the office of the superintendent of express at Long Island City. December 6, of the same year, he was appointed inspector of towermen for the Long Island Railroad, in which responsi- ble position he has rendered efficient service. Un- der him are about four hundred men, including not only the towermen, but also the flagmen. Every day he inspects the entire road, with its seventy towers. Careful in the selection of men, and kind in his intercourse with them, he has their respect as well as the confidence of the su- perior officials.

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Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 96

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