Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 98

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

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The education of our subject was acquired in the schools of his district and although his op- portunities were meager he made the most of 'them and became well informed in the branches taught. His vacations were passed in helping in the farm work and in this manner he gained a good knowledge of this industry, so that when he became the proprietor of an estate of his own, he was capable of managing it in a profitable manner. Mr. DeMott's farm includes forty acres, improved with substantial buildings, and

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is in fact one of the neatest and best cultivated places in this portion of Queens County.

The marriage ceremony which united Mr. De- Mott with Miss Ann Eliza Smith was performed June 29, 1845. This lady was the daughter of Benjamin and Phebe Smith, old and highly es- teemed citizens of Freeport. Her marriage with our subject resulted in the birth of eight children, two of whom are deceased. Those living are as follows: Julia, the widow of Charles A. Hew- lett; Benjamin F., a resident of Wantagh, L. I .; Sarah S., Mrs. William M. Bedell, of Hempstead; Cornelia, who married Henry Davison, a resi- dent of the town of Hempstead; Charles W., who makes his home in Brooklyn; and Mildred A. Mrs. DeMott departed this life in 1893.

In religious affairs the subject of this sketch is an Episcopalian and belongs to St. George's Church, of Hempstead. He has never aspired to hold office, but during elections casts a straight Democratic ticket.

E DWARD H. WEBER. There is in the business world only one kind of man who can successfully combat the many trials of life, and that is the man of superior intelligence and force of character, one who possesses en- ergy, industry, intelligence and perseverance. To this class belongs Edward H. Weber, who has been established in the real estate and fire insur- ance business at Winfield Junction since 1866. Among the companies which he represents are the Royal Insurance, Niagara Fire, German American, Lancashire and Continental Insur- ance, all first-class standard companies. In ad- dition to his other enterprises, he has for many years been a notary public.

The subject of this sketch was born in New York City February 5, 1841, and is a son of Christian and Rosina (Suter) Weber, of whose thirteen children six are now living. The father, who was born in Frankfort-on-the-Main, Ger- many, emigrated to America when about sixteen years old and settled in New York, securing. work at cabinet making, at which he had served an apprenticeship prior to leaving his native land. Later he drifted into piano making, which he followed about thirty years and then retired from business. He was an accomplished, tal- ented musician and served as organist in St. Mark's Lutheran Church for thirty years. His death occurred in Wooster, Ohio, in 1879, he hav-

ing gone to that city to visit his sons, who were in the piano business there. While in that place he was thrown from a buggy, receiving injuries which terminated fatally.

Our subject's maternal grandfather, John Su- ter, was a native of Berne, Switzerland, and was the first Swiss watchmaker to establish himself in New York City, where for years he carried on a lucrative business. Our subject grew to man- hood beneath the parental roof and acquired his education in the common schools. At an early age he secured a clerkship in a Wall Street bank- ing house, where he remained for ten years. In 1866 he came to Winfield Junction and estab- lished himself in the real estate and insur- ance business, which he has since continued. In 1880 he was appointed notary public under Governor Cleveland and has held the office con- tinuously since. For three years he was a trus- tee of Public School District No. I, of Newtown, and when District No. 11 (the Winfield district) was organized, he was chosen as one of the first trustees, continuing to fill the position for ten years. At present he is trustee of the Newtown fire department, in which capacity he has served for two terms.

The family of which Mr. Weber is a member has always been known for its patriotic spirit. He was one of three brothers who served through the Rebellion, winning recognition as valiant soldiers. In 1863, at New York City, he enlist- ed under Colonel Rome in Company G, Thirty- seventh New York Infantry, and accompanied his regiment in its various marches. As would be expected of an old soldier, he associates him- self with Grand Army affairs, his membership being in the Robert J. Marks Post No. 560, of which he is commander.

In 1863 Mr. Weber was united in marriage with Miss Amelia Herbeck, of New York City. Twelve children were born of their union, but six of the number are deceased. Those surviv- ing are Charles, who is connected with the Edi- son Electric Works at Schenectady; William and George, who are married, but have no children; Louise, who is married and the mother of three children; Louis and Amelia. Our subject was a charter member of the Lutheran Church in the village of Winfield and for many years served as one of its trustees. As a Republican, he has taken an active part in politics and has been nominated for various offices, including those of town clerk and county superintendent of the

HENRY C. SMITH.

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poor, but the town being overwhelmingly Dem- ocratic, he was defeated. In 1876 he was ap- pointed United States inspector of elections and served one term. The same year, 1876, he as- sisted in the organization of the Savings Bank of Newtown and was secretary while it existed. He ranks high in business circles, and is regard- ed by all who know him as an honorable, up- right man.

H ENRY C. SMITH. The village of Seacliff is particularly fortunate in her business men, who are among her most pros- perous, energetic and enterprising citizens. A successful pharmacist, real estate and insurance agent is H. C. Smith, who is a native of Bedford, Westchester County, born April 1, 1840, a son of Noah and Grace (Miller) Smith. The father was a general merchant and kept a drug depart- ment in his store, and in this our subject con- ceived his first idea of studying pharmacy. He received his primary education in the small vil- lage of Bedford, and when about seventeen years old entered Claverack Institute in Columbia County, N. Y., from which he was graduated when twenty years old. Following this he began clerking for his father and continued with him for a few years, after which he and a friend bouglit a mill at Glencove, but he was only con- nected with this one year.

Selling his interest in the mill, our subject returned to Westchester County, and embarked in the drug business at Katonah. Previous to this, during the year he had resided in Glencove, he became acquainted with and married Miss Almira T. Sniffen, a native of Pleasantville, West- chester County, and the daughter of Lyman and Hulda (Totman) Sniffen. Mr. Smith continued in the drug business at Katonah for a number of years, after which he sold out and moved to Stonington, Conn., where the law required a pharmacist to be licensed. He took the ex- amination, was licensed, but in 1885 came to Seacliff, where he was obliged to take an exam- ination before the State Board of Pharmacy of New York. He passed this rigid examination very creditably and was the first druggist in Seacliff.

Mr. Smith's marriage resulted in the birth of one son, William G., whose birth occurred at Katonah, N. Y., September 5, 1870. This son received the principal part of his education in

Seacliff, but subsequently took a course in phar- macy at the National Institute of Pharmacy. He was married September 20, 1893, to Miss Mamie Estelle Fisher of Seacliff, and is now a partner with his father. In politics our subject is a Re- publican and cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1864, although he had evinced an interest in politics from the time he was a small boy. He was president of the vil- lage of Seacliff in 1890 and he has served as treasurer of the village for three years. For a number of years he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

D ANIEL TILLEY, whose name is familiar to the residents of the town of North Hempstead as that of a general mer- chant at Manhasset, is a native of the county where he still resides, and was born at Matine- cock, town of Oyster Bay, June 5, 1838, being a son of Oliver and Mehitable (Schenck) Tilley, also natives of Long Island. His father, who was a weaver by trade and an industrious, perse- vering man, was a lifelong resident of Oyster Bay Town, his last days being spent at Locust Valley.

The youngest of six children, the subject of this record was fifteen years of age when his father died and, as his mother had died previous- ly, he was early thrown upon his own resources. He obtained a fair common school education in his boyhood and when not attending school as- sisted in cultivating a farm. At the age of seven- teen, he entered upon an apprenticeship to the carriage-maker's trade at Locust Valley, and on the expiration of his term of service, began active work at his chosen occupation, which he followed for fourteen years, carrying on a shop for himself at Manhasset. It was in 1858 that he settled in this village, and some ten years later he entered upon general merchandising, which he has since followed with success. During the long period of his residence here, he has won the respect and confidence of the people by his honest, upright dealings with all, as well as by his genial, com- panionable nature.

In Manhasset, in December, 1867, Mr. Til- ley was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Place, daughter of William and Hannah (Lewis) Place, of this village. They are the parents of an only daughter, Minnie, an accomplished young lady who graduated from the Friends'

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Academy at Locust Valley. While not a poli- tician, as that word is usually understood, our subject is always firm in his allegiance to Demo- cratic principles and measures. He is a member of an old family of Long Island and one of the oldest in America, his grandfather, George Til- ley, having been a descendant of one of three brothers who crossed the Atlantic in the "May- flower."

G EORGE PETRY, deceased. A close ob- server, in studying the history of the ad- vancement and development of Long Is- land City, will find golden threads running through the web and woof of events of past years. These are indicative of the lives of those men whose public spirit and energy have made her first among the cities, and give her a conspicuous place among the commercial marts of the world. A true representative of such men is found in one whose career inspires this brief notice, George Petry, ex-mayor of Long Island City. He was a native of Paterson, N. J., and the son of Daniel Petry. (See sketch of John W. Petry.) The district schools of his native place furnished our subject with a fair education, but for the most part he is self-educated and self-made.

During his youth Mr. Petry learned the tin- smith business and after reaching mature years embarked in the manufacture of hardware, also opening a hardware store at the corner of Ver- non Avenue and Fourth Street. Later he sold his store to a Mr. Brodie, but continued manu- facturing until his death, which occurred Decem- ber 15, 1890. He was a member of Island City Lodge, F. & A. M., and religiously was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. For a num- ber of years before and up to the time of his death he was trustee in the Long Island City Savings Bank.

Mr. Petry was first married to Miss Martha Worden, a native of Paterson, N. J., who died in Long Island City in 1884. Two children were the fruits of this union, Emma G. and Minnie I., the latter of whom is now Mrs. Lephart, of Long Island City. In the year 1885 Mr. Petry mar- ried Mrs. Agnes A. (Gill) Wilson, who was born in the city of New York and who was the daugh- ter of William Gill, also a native of that city. Her grandfather, John Gill, was a native of England, but came to this country and was engaged in the manufacture of hardware, in which line he was

unusually successful. His death occurred in New York City when eighty-four years old. His son, William Gill, was connected with him in business for many years but later opened a groc- ery which he carried on with fair success for some time. He is now retired and makes his home in the Empire City. His wife, whose maiden name was Helen Flemming Young, was born in Scotland and was the only one of the family who came to America. She died in New York. Of the five children born to this worthy couple, three are now living, viz .: Harry D. Gill, who is professor in the New York Veteri- nary College; Wallace M. Gill, who is professor and secretary in the New York Veterinary Col- lege, New York City, and Mrs. Petry.

The latter was reared in New York City, re- ceiving her education in its public schools, and was there married to John D. Wilson. The lat- ter was born in Canada and was shipping clerk and manager for a large manufacturing estab- lishment for ten years prior to his death, which occurred when he was but twenty-seven years old. One son, John D. Wilson, was born to them. By her union with Mr. Petry, she became the mother of one son, George. After the death of her husband Mrs. Petry sold out the business and started anew under the title of A. A. Petry & Co., in the same line of business at Seventh Street and Jackson Avenue. This she carried on until 1895, when she again sold out. She has recently built three fine residences in Mott Ave- nue, and is the owner of considerable property elsewhere in the city.

H ERMAN ILCH, of the firm of George Ilch & Sons, College Point, is one of the well known business men of this village, where he was born November 19, 1859. He is a son of George and Elizabeth (Stark) Ilch, na- tives of Germany, the latter of whom came from her native land at the age of only ten years, while the former emigrated to America when twenty-three years of age, spending two years in Brooklyn and working in a bakery at $5 per week. From that city he came to College Point and began in the bakery business, he and his wife first delivering the bread in a clothes basket. After a time prosperity came to them, as it al- most invariably does come to the patient, indus- trious toiler. The wife and mother, after years of faithful co-operation in her husband's work,

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passed away January 28, 1888, aged fifty-four years and two days. The father, who observed the sixty-eighth anniversary of his birth April 1, 1896, still lives in this locality. For further infor- mation regarding his life, the reader is referred to his sketch, which appears on another page of this volume.

Of the family of ten children, five are living, namely: Herman, of this sketch; Lizzie, who married William Kraemer, of College Point; Alfred, who is in partnership with his father and brother; Fredericka, wife of John Barth, of this place, and Emma, wife of John Muell. Our subject received a fair education in youth, attend- ing an academy held in the building where he now resides and carries on business. Three years ago, in 1893, he bought this place for $6,000 and made the improvements necessary for transforming it into a residence, spending $5,000 in this way. His first work was done in his fath- er's bakery and it was expected that he would continue, but the occupation did not prove con- genial. His father had some wood business among other things he was doing, and our sub- ject taking hold of that has from it built up his present large business. Under his skillful man- agement he has established a good trade, this season witnessing the unloading here for him of eighteen boat loads of coal alone, and he handles thousands of tons per year.

The yards of the company are located in Tenth Street, between Sixth and Seventh Ave- nues, where they carry on an extensive business in coal and wood. Their large facilities enable them to execute commissions with exceptional promptness and to furnish, for the lowest mar- ket rates, all kinds of coal, charcoal, hard and soft wood for kindling and for use in open fire- places. The yards are sufficiently capacious to accommodate a very large stock, covering an area of twenty-five thousand square feet. Steam power is used for hoisting and unloading coal and sawing wood, so that it can be furnished, cut to any desired dimensions, without delay. Employment is given to a number of men and four or five teams are used for delivery purposes.

February 4, 1896, Mr. Ilch married Miss Wil- helmina Dono, of College Point, an attractive young lady and an expert bookkeeper, fitted to be her husband's helpmate in all his enterprises. Socially our subject is connected with the Im- proved Order of Red Men. While his father is still the senior member and head of the firm, he

has practically retired from the business, thus throwing upon the son the responsibility of its management. For this, however, he is abun- dantly fitted, as it has been principally through his efforts that it has been brought to the present high standing.

C HARLES H. SCHWARZ. The firm of Schwarz & Son is one of the best known in Long Island City, having, through excellent judgment on the part of its members, gained a wide reputation for reliability of deal- ings and superior quality of products. Their man- ufactory is two stories in height and 25x105 feet in dimensions. On the first floor are located the wood, repairing and smith shops, while the sec- ond contains the trimming and painting depart- ments. The work is the finest of its kind and includes every style of vehicle-tandem carts, vic- torias, phaetons, barouches, coupes, etc.

As the name indicates, the Schwarz family is of German origin. Our subject's father, Fred- erick William, was born in Westphalia and was an officer in the German army, being connected with the infantry for twenty-two years. Much of the time he was in the government service and was detailed to the court department. His death occurred when he was seventy-seven years of age. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Hausmann, was, like himself, a native of West- phalia, and a member of the Lutheran Church. Of their five children, two sons and two daugh- ters came to America, but the youngest of the family, Charles H., is now the sole survivor. He was born in Minden, Westphalia, January 27, 1834, and was educated in his native place. At the age of fourteen he was apprenticed to learn the trades of harness-maker, cab-maker and dec- orator, at which he was engaged for four years.

In 1852 Mr. Schwarz took passage at Bremen, on the schooner "Kunindo," which reached New York after a voyage of twenty-one days. Arriv- ing at his destination, he at once secured employ- ment in the trimming department of a carriage shop, where he remained until 1860, the year of his removal to Astoria. Here he started in busi- ness on Broadway and Boulevard with his father- in-law, Thomas Taylor, the firm name being Tay- lor & Schwarz. In 1889 he sold out and started in business alone, since which time he has built the block he now occupies. During the busy season he gives employment to as many as fifteen

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or twenty hands, and many of his fine vehicles are sold in New York as well as in Long Island City.

The family residence is situated near the car- riage factory and was built by Mr. Schwarz. He was married in Astoria in 1860, his wife being Miss Helen Taylor, a native of London, England, who died January 5, 1895. Seven children were born unto them, namely: Mary Charlotte, wife of Samuel Grant, of Astoria; Frederick, who has been in partnership with his father since 1890; Ann Louise; Charles Henry, a carpenter in Long Island City; Ernest P. W., who is a carriage- maker by trade; Florence, and Ethel. Politically Mr. Schwarz is affiliated with the Democratic party and uniformly votes for its candidates. He was one of the originators of the Long Island City Building and Loan Association, aided in compiling its by-laws, was at one time its vice- president, and is still connected with it as a di- rector.

J OHN WOOD. December 12, 1895, marked the close of this gentleman's life, at which time he was over eighty-three years old. He was an honored resident of Oyster Bay and was numbered among its oldest settlers. He had practically retired from the active business of life, having been very successful in his enterprises, and was therefore very justly ranked among the substantial citizens of the community. He started in business for himself in Oyster Bay over fifty years ago as a shoemaker, and with the excep- tion of three years when he was engaged in farm- ing, gave his undivided attention to this business. It was not long before he established a large trade which he followed very successfully.

Mr. Wood, who was born in Sweet Hollow, now Melville, Suffolk County, June 9, 1812, was a son of Jarvis and Rhoda Wood of New York. In 1829 he became a resident of Oyster Bay, and the same year was apprenticed to learn the shoe- maker's trade under George Remsen at the Cliffs, near this village, and after mastering his trade he opened a shop in Oyster Bay, where, as stated above, he followed his trade for half a century.

The lady to whom Mr. Wood was married February 20, 1840, was Miss Mary Esther Den- nis, a native of Old Fields, Suffolk County, the ceremony being performed by Rev. Marmaduke Earle. Of their union was born a son, Jarvis A. Wood, whose birth occurred in Oyster Bay, Feb-

ruary 12, 1854; he is now a resident of Philadel- phia, Pa. Mrs. Wood departed this life in Feb- ruary, 1868, and May 2 of the following year our subject chose as his second wife Miss Jemima, sister of Daniel C. Silleck. Mr. Wood regularly attended services at the Baptist Church, of which he was elected deacon in 1856 and held this office up to the time of his death.

J JOHN J. SHEEHAN. The vehicles of the present day and those of "auld lang syne" differ very materially in many respects, and a comparison of them is immeasurably in favor of those of modern make. One of the most skill- ful and painstaking wagon and carriage makers is John J. Sheehan, who in connection with this business also carries on blacksmithing and keeps an excellent line of agricultural implements, at Dutch Kills, Long Island City. Mr. Sheehan was born in the city of New York in 1859, a son of Tim and Bridget (Shields) Sheehan, the for- mer of whom was a shoe merchant in New York City for some time, but from 1870 until his death, which occurred when he was about fifty years of age, he followed the same business in Dutch Kills, where his widow still lives.

John J. Sheehan was the third of six children, five of whom are living, and was educated in the city of New York and in the second ward public schools of Long Island City. When quite young, however, he was put to work at farming and two years later began learning the tinsmith's business, which he soon mastered. He then worked suc- cessively for Messrs. Crispin, McKee and Beggs, after which he entered the employ of the East River Gas Light Company, and had charge of the lamp department of Long Island City. In 1879 he started in business for himself as a tinner, but finally undertook roofing, and this later merged into the hardware and crockery business. Sub- sequently he kept a general line of house furnish- ing goods and wagons and carriages. In addi- tion to this business he has traded in horses to a considerable extent and has conducted a success- ful livery and coach business. In the fall of 1895 he sold his hardware business, in order to devote more time to his other interests, and is doing well in the wagon and carriage business and with his sale and exchange stable in Long Island City, where he has become known as an excellent judge of horseflesh. He has also dealt to some extent in real estate, having handled some valuable prop-

PHILIP M. WOOD, M. D.

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erty, and has erected five buildings in Jackson Avenue.

Mr. Sheehan was married in Winfield, L. I., to Miss Rachel Schrier, by whom he has five chil- dren: Josephine, Maud, Katie, Lottie and Net- tie. Johnny and Lillie are deceased. Mr. Shee- han has been the contractor for the supplies for the city for the past six years. He is a member of the Order of Red Men, St. Patrick's Alliance, was a member of the Exempt Firemen's Associa- tion for eight years, and is a member of the Vol- unteer Firemen's Association. He is connected with St. Patrick's Catholic Church, and politically has always been a Democrat.

P HILIP M. WOOD, M. D., is one of the younger members of the medical frater- nity of Jamaica, where he has been en- gaged in practice for a number of years. Upon his chosen work he brings to bear much research and private study, in addition to the excellent training he has had under the best of teachers. Commanding an increasing practice, which has come to him as the result of acknowledged skill, he has the well deserved confidence and esteem of the people among whom he resides.

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Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 98

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