USA > New York > Bronx County > The Bronx and its people; a history, 1609-1927, Volume III > Part 11
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Dr. Harry Pike married, February 24, 1924, in New York City, Ida Weiss, daughter of Harry Weiss. They are the parents of a daughter, Elaine G. Dr. Pike has his offices at No. 1269 Grand Con- course, The Bronx.
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JAMES EDMUND BARKLEY-A native of Manhattan, though for many years a resident of The Bronx and since 1919, secretary to the Commissioner of Jurors for Bronx County, Mr. Barkley is con- sidered one of the leading figures of the younger generation in the political, fraternal and religious circles of The Bronx. He was born in the house at No. 1212 First Avenue, between Sixty-fifth and Sixty-sixth streets, Manhattan, February 14, 1886, a son of James and Bridget (O'Connel) Barkley. His father was born in Charleville, County Cork, Ire- land, and came to this country as a young man, where he worked as an artisan, taking part in many important building operations, including the erection of Flower Hospital, at East Sixty-fourth Street and the East River.
James Edmund Barkley was educated in the public schools of New York City, being a pupil of Public School No. 86, on Ninety-sixth Street and Lexing- ton Avenue. He graduated from school at the age of fourteen years and started work as an office boy, but continued his education in his leisure time and especially at night for many years after he had left school. At one time he took a business course at Eastman's Business College, and also attended the New York Preparatory School in the evening. In later years, after he had been connected for some time with the metal industry, he took a special course in chemistry at New York University, with the thought of acquiring additional knowledge of the type particularly useful in the work which he was then doing. Still later, after he had withdrawn from the field of business, and having accepted appoint- ment to public office, had entered that of politics and law, he became a student at New York Law School, where he still pursues his legal studies with the object of being admitted to the bar.
His first position, after leaving school as a lad, was as office boy in the New York office of the Plume & Atwood Manufacturing Company, with which con- cern he remained for eleven years, receiving many and frequent promotions and spending the last four years as its Philadelphia representative. He then resigned and accepted a position as manager of the Buffalo Brass & Copper Company, with which firm he remained for some two and a half years. At the end of that time he decided to engage in business on his own account, entering into a partnership with Albert E. Snow. They established a factory in East New York, Brooklyn, for the manufacture of brass and copper products, and also maintained sample rooms at No. 15 Murray Street, New York City. This partnership continued successfully for five years, until June 1, 1919, when Mr. Barkley accepted his appointment as secretary to the Commissioner of Jurors for Bronx County, in which position he has continued since.
Fraternal activities of various kinds have always received much attention from Mr. Barkley. He is a member of Bronx Lodge, No. 871, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; Bronx Council, No. 266, Knights of Columbus, in which order he is also a member of the committee on education of the New York Chapter; Branch No. 90, Holy Name Society; James Monroe Branch, Friends of Irish Freedom. He is also a member of the National Geographic
Society, the Bunker Hill Club, the P. J. Kane Demo- cratic Club and the Pondiac Democratic Club. In politics he is a supporter of the Democratic party, in the affairs of which he takes a very active and useful part, especially in his capacity as executive secretary of the Democratic party in the Third As- sembly District. He is also interested in athletics and sports, and this interest finds expression in his membership in the Loring Athletic and Social Club. His religious affiliations are with the Roman Catho- lic Church, and particularly with St. Roch's Church, on East One Hundred and Fiftieth Street, of which he has been a delegate for some twenty years, and treasurer of its St. Vincent de Paul Society.
Mr. Barkley married, in SS. Peter and Paul's Church, One Hundred and Fifty-seventh Street and St. Ann's Avenue, The Bronx, June 12, 1912, Anna Roland, daughter of Louis and Elizabeth (Roland) Roland. Mr. and Mrs. Barkley are the parents of five children: 1. Anna Mary, born May 18, 1913. 2. James E., Jr., born May 8, 1916. 3. Edward, born May 26, 1919. 4. Raymond, born May 24, 1923. 5. Charles, born November 26, 1924. The family home is located at No. 636 Eagle Avenue, The Bronx.
THE REV. RALPH JARVIS WALKER-One of the most prominent figures in the life of The Bronx is a man who has the unique virtue of having been quite thoroughly trained for a vocation almost wholly dissimilar to the one in which he has since carved out his life's career. He was a lawyer, and he became a clergyman. As a lawyer, he specialized in the legal difficulties of railroads. As a minister, he built and organized churches, and missions. This is a most remarkable change-but then, Rev. Mr. Walker is a most remarkable man.
Born on January 14, 1866, in Dublin, Ireland, during a visit of his parents to that country, Rev. Walker is still an American, for he returned to this country while he was still a wee baby. He is a son of Ralph and Frances (Wilson) Walker; a grandson, on the paternal side, of Ralph Walker, on the mater- nal side, of Harry Wilson who was a member of the staff of the Duke of Wellington. Harry Wilson's sword now hangs in the museum at Washington, in the District of Columbia. The father of Rev. Mr. Walker was the first man to ship a cargo of petroleum to Liverpool; he was also a pioneer business man of St. Louis, Missouri, being the man who was respon- sible for the building of most of the railroads that now run through southwestern Missouri. Frances (Wilson) Walker, the mother, was born during the year 1837, on the Isle of Man; and she died during the year 1920. Ralph Walker, the father, was born during the year 1836, at Roscommon, Ireland; he died during the year 1907.
Their son, Ralph Jarvis Walker, returned to this country with his parents shortly after his birth, go- ing directly to their home in Springfield, Missouri, where he was reared, and where he later attended the public schools of that community. He then studied at the Highland Falls Preparatory School overlook- ing the Hudson River, in New York State. Upon his graduation, he next enrolled as a student at the Drury College, in Springfield, Missouri, and from there he entered Trinity College, at Hartford, Con-
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necticut, graduating from there with the class of 1888, when he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Returning from there to St. Louis, he entered the law office of one John O'Day, under whose com- petent preceptorship he studied law until the year 1890, when he was admitted to the bar of that State. During that same year he entered the legal depart- ment of the St. Louis & San Francisco Railroad, as that company's local attorney, and he remained in that capacity until the year 1893, when he resigned to go to New York where he was also admitted to the bar. He then practiced in New York City for a period of approximately three years, after which he made that complete change in his life which ap- pears to the average person as so extraordinary. He entered the General Seminary of the Episcopal Church and studied there until his graduation in 1898. After this he became the curate of St. Peter's Church, on West Twentieth Street, in New York City, where he remained until the year 1901 when he removed to The Bronx to take charge of the St. George's Mission at Williamsbridge. There he met with such marked success that he purchased the ground and built the church which now stands upon this site. During the period of this same work, and practically in conjunction with it, he took full charge of St. Simeon's Episcopal Church. Off-hand, this does not seem like such a large amount of extra duty, but when it is realized that there was at that time no gorgeous edifice for St. Simeon, and that services were then being held in a stable (which, in- cidentally) was not wholly fitting, the task that was his will be more readily understood. This stable, is worthy of mention, as it was formerly owned by the famous Robert Bonner, and it stood on the corner of College Avenue and One Hundred and Sixty- third Street in The Bronx. Here, again, Rev. Walker met with a tremendous success, and after a short period of time he was able to secure gifts from Wal- dorf Astor and A. Newbold Morris for the present site of St. Simeon's Church on West One Hundred and Sixty-fifth Street, running all the way through to Sheridan Avenue, between One Hundred and Six- ty-fourth and One Hundred and Sixty-fifth streets. Because of such aid given, Rev. Walker was able to construct the present very beautiful stone church and rectory, which he then organized and, in the year 1905, incorporated. Both of these foregoing tasks were accomplished in a remarkably short time, and after he once got St. Simeon's thoroughly upon its feet, he gave an increasing amount of his own thoughts and time to the religious welfare of his growing community.
Despite the many varied and exacting duties which this truly great work involves, Rev. Walker has still found time in which to take a keen and active inter- est in the local civic affairs of The Bronx. Indeed, it was largely through his untiring effort that the Ninth Avenue Elevated and, later, the subway, were extended up there bi-secting his parish. During the turbulent period of the World War, Rev. Walker was especially active, for he not only held the rank of captain in his Home Defense League when it was first started, but he also performed meritorious work for the United States Department of Justice. In his memberships in various organizations he has always
taken a particularly active part. He is now the presi- dent of the West Morrisania Property Owners' As- sociation; and he is fraternally affiliated with the Kane Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons.
Rev. Ralph Jarvis Walker married, November 8, 1899, at the St. James Episcopal Church, Madison Avenue at Seventy-first Street, in New York City, the Rev. E. Walpool Warren officiating, Evelyn Luebbers, a daughter of Ernest and Clara (Wolff) Luebbers. Her mother, Clara (Wolff) Luebbers, was a cousin of Joel Wolff, of Louisville, Kentucky; while Ernest Luebbers, her father, was born in Germany but came to this country at such an age that at the time of his death he was the oldest in- surance broker in his point of business in New York City. Rev. and Mrs. Walker became the parents of two children, both of whom are sons: 1. Ralph Ernest, who was born on August 20, 1902, and who is a graduate of St. Paul's Academy at Garden City, Long Island, New York. 2. Malcolm Luebbers, who was born November 6, 1905. Ralph Ernest, the first son, is now a successful real estate broker in The Bronx. Rev. Walker and his family maintain their residence at the St. Simeon's Rectory, One Hundred and Sixty-fifth Street and Sheridan Avenue, in The Bronx.
WILLIAM T. KEOGH-Popularity and pros- perity have been secured by William T. Keogh in two fields of activity in the course of a successful career, during which he has engaged in the amuse- ment and real estate business, to the benefit of the public whom he has extensively served, both in part- nership, and on his own account. He is very widely known, both as a former promoter of the interests of playwrights, and of plays that in their day were leaders and most popular. Today, as a realtor, he has built many theaters, public buildings, residences and apartment houses, and the firms he represents as chief executive have an unrivaled place in the in- creasing interests of The Bronx. Mr. Keogh is a son of James W. Keogh, who was born in St. Aug- ustine, Florida, and Sarah A. Keogh, a native of Montgomery, Alabama.
William T. Keogh was born December 19, 1865, in Mobile, Alabama. With the removal of his parents to South Carolina, he attended school there, and was also employed as box-office boy at the Academy of Music. Removing from Charleston when he was fifteen years old, he engaged in the circus business, and in 1899 located in New York, in what was the popular-priced melodramatic field, in partnership with Thomas H. Davis, with offices at Broadway and Thirty-third Street. The well-known firm of Davis & Keogh presented the popular plays "Sidewalks of New York," "Steve Brodie," "On the Bowery," and similar productions of their period, leasing the old Wallack, or Star Theatre, on Broadway and Thirteenth Street. When that building was demol- ished, in April, 1900, the New Star Theatre was built. The new structure was opened at One Hun- dred and Seventh Street and Lexington Avenue, in January, 1901, and Mr. Keogh directed its interests through his firm for five years. He still owns the property, but has leased it to the Fox interests.
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Coming to The Bronx in 1904, Mr. Keogh built the National Theatre, now Loew's National Theatre, which was opened October 20, 1910. Mr. Keogh is extensively engaged in real estate and building in The Bronx; and he also owns the Academy of Music, in Charleston, South Carolina, where he was at one time employed. He is president of the Keogh Realty Corporation, president of the William T. Keogh Amusement Company, and president of the Melrose National Bank, in the organization of which he was one of the prime movers.
Prominent in the political field, Mr. Keogh's political views are those of the Democratic party, and he is a member of the Buckley Democratic Club. He was active in civic affairs in the days of Croker and Murphy, in New York. He applied for enlist- ment in the Spanish-American War, but was re- jected because of defective hearing.
Fraternally, Mr. Keogh is an honorary member of Solomon Lodge, No. 1, Free and Accepted Masons, at Charleston, South Carolina, the oldest of the Free Masonry lodges in the United States; he is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, at Charleston, and the North End Democratic Club.
William T. Keogh married, June 19, 1906, in New York City, Charlotte A. Kemper, daughter of Frank and Charlotte A. Kemper, the nuptial benediction being pronounced by Rev. Father Joseph Murray. They are the parents of one son, William T. Keogh, Jr., who was born in February, 1918.
BURT HENRY GREINER-Among the more enterprising lawyers of The Bronx is Burt Henry Greiner, member of the firm of Greiner, Peecook & Buck. He was born in Dayton, Cattaraugus County, New York, on May 31, 1882. His father was Wil- liam Greiner. His mother was Euretta (Button) Greiner, of a very old American family. William Greiner was a farmer in Dayton, where he lived all his life.
Burt Henry Greiner attended public school in his native village, and followed with a course in the high school at Gowanda, New York, from which he was graduated in 1901. He afterwards entered the Cornell University Law School, where he took a four-year course in law and arts. He was graduated in the class of 1905. He received the degree of Bachelor of Laws and was admitted to practice the same year. He began as attorney for the Title Guarantee and Trust Company in New York, forth- with, and continued until 1924, when he formed the present firm of Greiner, Peecook & Buck (q. v.), each of the members having had thorough experience with the Title Guarantee and Trust Company. Mr. Greiner is a member of the University Club of White Plains; and other organizations.
Mr. Greiner was married September 2, 1908, in Cuba, New York, to Zora A. Grady, of Cuba, New York, daughter of Royal Grady, a native of Cuba, and of Augusta (Smith) Grady. They are the parents of the following children: 1. Carlton Burt, born De- cember 10, 1910. 2. Edward William, born March 9, 1913. 3. Marjorie Louise, born April 17, 1920. The business address of Greiner, Peecook & Buck is No.
364 East One Hundred and Forty-ninth Street, Bronx Borough. The house address of Mr. Greiner is White Plains.
BERNARD THOMAS O'NEIL, D. D. S .- One of the leading dentists of The Bronx is Dr. Bernard Thomas O'Neil, who has lived here all his life, and has watched the phenomenal growth of this section of New York City. He was born March 15, 1897, in a house that stood in the center of Westchester Square, directly opposite where today he has his dental office, this Square one of the most important business centers of The Bronx. He is a son of Thomas O'Neil, who was born in Rye Neck, West- chester County, and of Margaret (McMahon) O'- Neil. For a good many years his father has served Bronx County as under sheriff.
Bernard T. O'Neil received his preliminary educa- tion in the public schools and St. Raymond's Paro- chial School, from which latter institution he was graduated in 1912. After graduation he entered Clas- son Point Military Academy, from which he was graduated in 1916. He then entered The University of Pennsylvania, where he took a course in dentistry, graduating from here in the class of 1919, with the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery. He immediate- ly began the practice of his profession, opening an office at No. 80 Westchester Square, since which time he has built up a large practice, being one of the leading dentists of this section of The Bronx. He is a member of the First District Dental Society, American Dental Association, and the Chippewa Democratic Club of The Bronx. His fraternal affilia- tion is with the Knights of Columbus, St. Raymond's Council, No. 811; and he is a member of the college fraternity Psi Xi Phi, of the dental profession of the Pennsylvania University. In politics, he is a mem- ber of the Democratic party, and he is a faithful communicant of St. Raymond's Roman Catholic Church.
Dr. Bernard Thomas O'Neil married, October 31, 1922, in St. Malachy's Roman Catholic Church, of New York City, Rev. Father James Madden offici- ating, Lillian V. Kaiser, daughter of William Kaiser, who was born in New York City, and of Lyzette (Davis) Kaiser, who was born in Sayville, Long Island. Dr. and Mrs. O'Neil are the parents of a daughter, Patricia Joan, born June 1, 1925. The family home is at No. 1082 Pierce Avenue, The Bronx.
JOHN STAHL, president of the corporation of John Stahl & Sons, and one of the prominent and influential business men of the Metropolitan area, is one of the oldest settlers in his particular section of The Bronx. Mr. Stahl was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on October 25, 1867, in the family home on Ridge Road, a son of John and Mary (Ruhland) Stahl, both of whom are now deceased, the mother having been a native of Huntshausen, Germany. The father, John Stahl, Sr., was born in Hesse-Darm- stadt, Germany, and served with distinction as a first lieutenant in the German wars, afterwards coming to America and settling in Philadelphia. Later the family moved to New York State when the son was
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still a child, and located in the town of Wakefield, now a part of the Borough of The Bronx, the family home being on Richardson Avenue, near Two Hun- dred and Fortieth Street, known at that time as Westchester Avenue and Fulton Street.
John Stahl, Jr., received his education in the local schools, attending Washingtonville Public School in South Mt. Vernon, the Wakefield Public School, and the Mt. Vernon Grammar School on Fourth Avenue of that town. At the early age of fifteen years he embarked upon his business career by apprenticing himself to the plasterer's and bricklayer's trade, which he learned under the expert tutelage of his uncle, John Koedding, who was a pioneer builder and a leading contractor of that section of The Bronx. He continued with his uncle until the lat- ter retired from active business, and then engaged ex- tensively in the general contracting business until the year 1916. At that time he established the John Stahl Warehouse, which formerly had been conducted by Charles J. Reinhardt, and in a short time had built the business up to great proportions. Recently he has added a fire-proof extension, covering ground space measuring eighty-seven by one hundred and thirty-five feet, which gives him two modern stor- age warehouses in addition to a large store front, in which he conducts a flourishing agency for the Chrysler Automobile Company. He has lately in- corporated his business. under the laws of the State of New York and taken his sons into the firm, operat- ing under the name of John Stahl & Sons Corpora- tion, of which he is president and treasurer. Mr. Stahl is one of the oldest settlers in this section of The Bronx, and only recently proved his public- spiritedness by selling for the benefit of The Bronx Parkway an acre of ground and a tract at North Two Hundred and Thirteenth Street and Bronx Boulevard, southwest, measuring three hundred by three hundred feet for park purposes, as well as the same size tract at Two Hundred and Sixteenth Street, southwest corner, along The Bronx River Parkway, and both concerns at Two Hundred and Twenty-fourth Street and The Bronx Boulevard- all for park purposes.
Mr. Stahl fraternizes with Hopewell Lodge, No. 192, Free and Accepted Masons, and also holds mem- bership in The Bronx Republican Club, and the Warehousemen's Association.
John Stahl was married (first), in the family home in Mount Vernon, New York, on May 1, 1888, to Annie Torbeck, who died on August 19, 1901, a daughter of John A. and Mary K. Torbeck. The following five children (all of whom are now, 1926, living) were born of this union: 1. May K., born February 26, 1889; married George Hill, a general contractor of White Plains, and they have two chil- dren, Emma and Leila Hill. 2. John C., born June 3, 1891; married Mary Hannan, who died in April, 1922, leaving one child, Loraine Stahl. 3. Frederick A., born December 3, 1892: married Florence Skrivan, and they are the parents of one child, John F. Stahl. 4. Harry J., born March 3, 1895; married Rose Vitaseck, and they have two children, Harry J., Jr., and a younger child. 5. Lorain, who married Edwin W. Klein. John Stahl was married (second), in the parsonage of the Methodist Episcopal Church at One
Hundred and Fifty-eighth Street, by the Rev. Dietrich Pape, of Paterson, New Jersey, to Paulene Pape, a daughter by adoption of John D. and Johannah (Tinken) Pape. By this second marriage Mr. Stahl is the father of five children, as follows: 6. William Harris, born December 20, 1908. 7. Robert Wesley, born August 14, 1911. 8. Ruth Evelyn, born Feb- ruary 3, 1914. 9. Marjorie Paulene, born March 17, 1917. 10. Paulene Doris, born July 6, 1920. Mr. and Mrs. Stahl, who are prominent in the social circles of their community, maintain their residence at No. 4761 White Plains Avenue, The Bronx; while Mr. Stahl's business address is No. 4755 White Plains Avenue.
ALFRED JAMES TAYLOR-With a new out- look upon The Bronx real estate field, and one of a very substantial character, Alfred James Taylor has established himself in the Williamsbridge section, in whose further development he participates upon the basis both of his practical experience in the real es- tate and insurance interests, and his personal investi- gation of realty locations and values. Well-deserved success comes to Mr. Taylor, who has thus risen through many difficulties and by slow degrees to the attainment of his place in the business world. He is a son of Alfred Taylor, who was born in 1859 in New York City, and died in 1901, and of Mary Elizabeth (Kavanaugh) Taylor, who was born in 1862 on One Hundred and Fifty-ninth Street, The Bronx, daughter of Patrick and Bridget Kavanaugh, natives of Dublin, Ireland.
Alfred James Taylor was born June 11, 1895, in the Yorkville section of New York City; and with the removal of his- parents to The Bronx, he attended. Public School No. 36 on Castle Hill, in the Union- port section. He then went to work, as the death of his father left his mother dependent upon what- ever he might be able to earn; yet he was able to take the commercial law course at the night session of Morris High School. Mr. Taylor began to work at four dollars a week for the New York Title In- surance Company, of No. 203 Montague Street, Brooklyn, and with his car-fare amounting to one dollar and twenty cents, he was able to give his mother but two dollars and eighty cents a week. Nevertheless, he continued in that employ from 1909 to 1914, and with his pay raised, and while he was doing work that had been performed by three men, he lost his position, and for three months was out of a job. He then went to work in the law of- fice of Kadel, Van Kirk & Kennedy, No. 370 East One Hundred and Forty-ninth Street, and by serv- ing summonses evenings for the firm, and doing such extra work, he was able to increase his earn-' ings to ten dollars weekly. He so continued until 1917, when he secured a position with Nehring Brothers, one of the leading realtors of Washing- ton Heights, New York, at the corner of One Hun- dred and Eighty-second Street and St. Nicholas Avenue, with whom he served his apprenticeship in the real estate business; and it was but a short time before he was given charge as a section manager, of many apartment buildings operated by this firm. He so continued up to December 31, 1925, when he decid- ed to establish himself in real estate activities, select-
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