USA > New York > Bronx County > The Bronx and its people; a history, 1609-1927, Volume III > Part 12
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ing the Williamsbridge section of The Bronx as of- fering the best opportunities for real estate develop- ment. With its location on the subway, it appeared to Mr. Taylor that this section has many advantages over others in The Bronx, as there is much vacant land to be filled and built up. There he has opened his offices at No. 4214 White Plains Avenue.
Fraternally, Mr. Taylor is affiliated with Aquinas Council, No. 857, Knights of Columbus, and with the Holy Name Society of The Bronx; and he is a member of the Chippewa Democratic Club, the James Reynolds Club, and the Senator Athletic Club, all of The Bronx.
NICHOLAS W. RYAN-Having the advantage of long years of experience in the building trade, Nicholas W. Ryan, Chief Inspector of Buildings in The Bronx, under the borough government, is thor- oughly equipped for the intricate duties he is called upon to perform in connection with his important office. He served his apprenticeship with his brother, a leading construction engineer, remaining with him for nearly fourteen years. For many years he was in the construction business on his own account, and the knowledge he had gained with his brother made him a factor in the trade of the city. He is a man of real ability and fitness for the position he now holds, his long experience in the construction line making him especially valuable to the borough of The Bronx, where, with the remarkable progress and growth of this locality, building operations are going on apace.
Nicholas W. Ryan was born in Mercer County, New Jersey, September 11, 1868, son of Edward and Catherine (Snow) Ryan. His father was born in Kilmathomatown, County Tipperary, and his mother in Waterford County, both in Ireland. He received his early education in the grammar and parochial schools of his locality, and later attended the State Normal School of New Jersey at Princeton. All through his school years he helped his father with the farm duties, but at the age of sixteen came to New York City and associated himself with his brother, who was one of the leading construction en- gineers of that time. He served his period of ap- prenticeship in the trade, and when he emerged a full-fledged journeyman, still remained with his brother. This association lasted for fourteen years, and during this time Mr. Ryan was being finely equipped for the responsible position he was later to fill, and also for entrance into business on his own account. He severed his connection with his brother, and until 1924 was engaged in the construction trade independently, achieving much success in his line, and was esteemed for his personal contribution to the modernized methods of applying the trade. In 1924 Mr. Ryan was offered the position of Chief Building Inspector of The Bronx, by Patrick J. Reville, superintendent of Bureau of Buildings of The Bronx, who considered him the best man to fill the position in view of his long experience in this work and his wide knowledge of men and affairs. He accepted Mr. Reville's offer and entered upon his new duties January 1, 1925.
Mr. Ryan's fraternal affiliation is with Bronx Lodge, No. 871, Benevolent and Protective Order of
Elks, the Clan Na Gael Society, and Friends of Erin. He is a Democrat in politics, a member of the Jack- son Democratic Club of The Bronx.
Nicholas W. Ryan married, in 1895, in the Roman Catholic Church, Our Lady of Good Counsel, New York City, Rev. Father William John O. Kelly of- ficiating, Mary Leo, daughter of Patrick and Eliza (Humphrey) Leo, her father born in Limerick Coun- ty, and her mother in Belfast, Ireland.
Mr. Ryan's business address is Borough Hall, One Hundred and Seventy-seventh Street and Third Ave- nue, and his residence is No. 1440 Boston Road, The Bronx, New York City.
EDWARD LOUIS HARTMANN-On June 1, 1892, Edward Louis Hartmann was appointed an assistant engineer under Louis J. Heintz, commis- sioner of street improvements in The Bronx, and in this capacity has served continuously, in charge of construction on public improvements, for more than thirty-four years; was promoted to the position of engineer of sewers on November 1, 1926; he there- fore, has had much to do with the upbuilding of that borough. Mr. Hartmann is a son of Francis Eugene and Pauline (Hoenninger) Hartmann, both of Ger- man birth. His father was born in Boxberg, in Baden, Germany, March 1, 1838, died in Cochecton, Sullivan County, New York, February 26, 1884. He came to the United States in 1857 after graduating from college (Gymnasium), and settled on the lower east side of New York City, where for a time he conducted a stationery store, but later on account of ill health moved to Cochecton and became a farmer, lumberman, school teacher, and justice of the peace. His wife was born in Bishoffsheim on the Tauber, Baden, Germany, May 22 1837, died in February, 1922, in Cochecton, Sullivan County, New York.
Edward Louis Hartmann was born July 19, 1861, on the lower east side of Manhattan near Avenue A, but when he was six years old his parents moved to Sullivan County, New York, where he attended the old district school and did considerable home study under the guidance of his father. When he was six- teen he took the examination for teacher of the third grade and upon passing the examination, began teaching, dividing his time between schoolroom du- ties and work on his father's farm. After two years spent in this fashion, he went to New York City and entered the employ of a wholesale house for two years, after which he became connected with the Trunk Line Railroad Association, under Commis- sioner Albert Fink, remaining there for a number of years in the capacity of clerk. Meantime, he at- tended night school at Cooper Union Institute, tak- ing the five-year evening course in general science and graduating in 1888 with the degree of Bachelor of Science. Upon finishing this course, Mr. Hart- mann entered the profession of civil engineering and in 1895, after years of persistent work, received the post-graduate degree of Civil Engineer also. Mean- time he had made steady progress in the business world; for a time he was in the employ of Keuffel and Esser, manufacturers and dealers in measuring rule and surveyors' instruments, and then with the Erie Railroad, under E. P. Campbell, general freight auditor. In 1888, the year that saw the completion
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of his general science course at Cooper Institute, he went to Bayonne, New Jersey, and became associated with the engineering firm of Smith and Weston, with whom he remained until June, 1892, when he received the appointment as assistant engineer under Louis J. Heintz, commissioner of street improve- ments in The Bronx. Since that time Mr. Hartmann has been associated with street improvement projects in The Bronx for a period of thirty-four years and has had a large part to do with plans for the growth and development of that section, which has seen many extraordinary changes during his term of serv- ice. Mr. Hartmann is a member of the Municipal Engineers of the City of New York, of the Associa- tion of Engineers of New York, of the Schnorer Club of The Bronx, New York Council, No. 348, Royal Arcanum, and Loyal Association Metropolitan Coun- cil, No. 12. He is a member of the Roman Catholic church.
Mr. Hartmann married, on September 3, 1890, in the Church of St. John the Baptist, New York City, Eva Magdalene Merkel, daughter of John and Mag- dalene (Schmidt) Merkel, the ceremony being per- formed by Rev. Francis May. Mr. and Mrs. Hart- mann have four children: 1. Ruth Magdalene Hart- mann, born September 26, 1892; married William Rex Charles, and they have one child, Eva Charles, born in January, 1915. 2. Winfield S. S. Hartmann, born August 3, 1898; married Alice Slayton, who died March 1, 1926. 3. Irene Anna Hartmann, born April 30, 1900. 4. Edna Marie Hartmann, born Novem- ber 21, 1901; married to Kenneth T. Thompson, of Baldwin Park, California, on September 29, 1926.
Mr. Hartmann has two brothers and three sisters living, all younger than himself: Prof. Francis M. Hartmann, dean of the Day School of Science, Cooper Union; Paul L. Hartmann, farmer and dairy- man, Cochecton, New York; Mrs. Frances C. Curtis; Mrs. Anna M. Pommer, and Mrs. Emma M. Armand.
LOUIS ASTOR SCHOFFEL-In the interests of the legal and civic enterprises of New York City, Mr. Schoffel has devoted his career with marked dili- gence and application to the promotion of the wel- fare of his community in his chosen fields of ac- tivity. Wide awake, enterprising and energetic, he has filled the various capacities of civic significance to which he has been elected with a capable and loyal standard of service, and as registrar of Bronx Coun- ty, he has introduced reforms and reorganizations in his department which have increased the efficiency and scope of the work. Mr. Schoffel is still one of the younger generation of his profession and in poli- tics, but it is doubtful if any other young man in New York City has enjoyed such a rapid rise against such formidable opposition as he has met in the polit- ical field. He is the son of Moses and Kate (Astor) Schoffel, both of whom were born in Austria, and came to this country when the former was twenty- eight years old, at which time they settled on the lower east side of New York City, where the father engaged for many years in the real estate business.
Louis Astor Schoffel was born July 27, 1894, on Orchard Street, New York City. He attended the local public schools of the city, going at first to the old school at the corner of Houston and Bleecker
streets, from which he later transferred to Public School No. 122, at Ninth Street and First Avenue, and finally to Public School No. 64 on Tenth Street between Avenues B and C. He then entered the De Witt Clinton High School from which he was duly graduated in 1912. During his undergraduate days, Mr. Schoffel took an active part in the dramatic and public-speaking societies of the school. From high school, he went to the College of the City of New York for a short period, at the end of which time he went to the Long Island Medical College where he likewise remained but a short time. He decided then to study law, and matriculated at the New York Law School in the fall of 1913. He completed his courses and received his degree of Bachelor of Laws with the class of 1916. At that time, Mr. Schoffel entered the law offices of A. A. Silberberg at No. 256 Broadway, New York City, where he served for a year as clerk until he was admitted to the bar of the State in 1917 by the First Judicial Department of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court. Hav- ing qualified to practice, Mr. Schoffel became associa- ted with Leon Kronfeld with offices at No. 135 Broad- way, and after a year joined the legal firm of Dech- sler, Orenstein and Leff at No. 225 Fifth Avenue, with which he remained for two years. In April, 1920, Mr. Schoffel established his own offices at No. 20 West Twentieth Street and a short time later re- moved to No. 291 Broadway. Within recently he established his law offices at No. 578 East One Hun- dred and Sixty-first Street, in The Bronx.
He entered his political career in September, 1921, by engaging as a Democrat, and also receiving the Republican indorsement in the race for the State Assembly in the old Thirty-fourth District now the Fourth Assembly District, which at that time was a hot-bed for socialism. He carried on a whirlwind and stirring campaign, and was sent to the Assem- bly by the voters of his district by a substantial plu- rality over his socialist opponent, and at the same time reclaimed this district for the Democrats. He was reëlected in the succeeding years of 1922, 1923 and 1924. In 1925, Mr. Schoffel was given the nomina- tion by the regular Democratic party for the office of registrar of Bronx County, and won the right to stand for election over his Hylan-opponent in the primaries. On November 4, 1925, he was voted into office by an overwhelming plurality over his Repub- lican rival, and he was inducted into office on Janu- ary 1, 1926. As soon as he was placed in authority, Mr. Schoffel inaugurated an entirely new system in his office. These reforms and improvements have served to facilitate and expedite the recording and return of instruments within ten days and conse- quently have speeded and improved the machinery of title searching and filing materially. He has in- creased the number of folio writers, installed a· new index and recording system of lot number, and has installed a steel vault for the safe-keeping of all in- struments which simple but effective innovation has revolutionized the system heretofore in use. As a result of his able performance of his duties, his con- scientious devotion to the principles to which he is dedicated and his marked integrity and probity, Mr. Schoffel has won the admiration and good will of his host of friends, supporters and associates who
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recognize in him a public-spirited citizen and a capable representative upon whose shoulders the re- sponsibilities of administration fall naturally.
Mr. Schoffel is a member of The Bronx County Bar Association; Stanley Lodge, No. 1051, Free and Accepted Masons; Stanley Council, No. 1232, Royal Arcanum, and Lodge No. 871, of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is likewise enrolled as a member of the Louis Fleischmann Benevolent Soci- ety and the First Kozower Benevolent Society. Active in commercial affairs of the community, he is affili- ated with The Bronx Board of Trade and he is also a vice-president of the Jackson Democratic Club. With his family he attends the Temple Adath Israel of The Bronx, and is counsel of the First Ladies' Day Nursery of The Bronx.
Mr. Schoffel married, January 15, 1921, Lena Zahn, a daughter of Louis and Bertha (Kalmus) Zahn, both of whom were natives of Austria. They are the par- ents of two daughters: 1. Gloria Rita, born March 4, 1924. 2. Marjorie Jean, born January 21, 1927.
GEORGE NINER-Entering the real estate business as a boy of sixteen years, immediately after leaving high school, Mr. Niner has continued in this field since then, and for more than a decade has been one of the leading real estate brokers of East Bronx, with offices at No. 2711 East Tremont Avenue. He was born, March 26, 1882, in Manhattan, in the house then occupying the corner of Fortieth Street and Eighth Avenue, a son of Isaac and Sarah Rebecca (Edelman) Niner. His father was born in London, England, in 1855, came to this country as a young man, dying in 1901 in his forty-sixth year, while his mother was born in 1854 in Mythetidville, Wales, and survived her husband until 1914.
George Niner was educated in the public schools of New York City, graduating from School No. 69, and then attending De Witt Clinton High School. At the age of sixteen years he left school and entered the offices of Jefferson Monroe and Louis Napoleon Levy, realty brokers, at No. 20 Broad Street, New York City. Remaining with this firm for some six- teen years, he acquired a most thorough knowledge of the real estate business in all its branches and finally decided to establish himself independently in the real estate business in Brooklyn. Shortly after- wards he came to the conclusion that greater op- portunities were to be found in this field in The Bronx and especially in the eastern part of that borough, formerly known as the town of West- chester, and in 1914 he opened his offices at No. 2711 East Tremont Avenue, where he has continued since then. He met with marked success from the beginning and now conducts an extensive general real estate business, including the handling of in- surance. Since coming to The Bronx he has taken a keen and active interest in the development of this rapidly growing community and in its civic advance- ment. He is a member of William Mckinley Lodge, No. 840, Free and Accepted Masons; Brook- lyn Lodge, No. 22, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; Freewill Council, No. 1487, Royal Arcanum; Adelphi Chapter, No. 79, Order of the Eastern Star; Franklin Athletic Club; Masonic Club of New York
City; and Chippewa Democratic Club. In politics he is a supporter of the Democratic party.
Mr. Niner married at the New York City Hall, May 4, 1901, Hattie Bloomfield, a daughter of Meyer and Sarah (Niner) Bloomfield. Mr. and Mrs. Niner are the parents of two children: 1. Janice, married to Martin Bloomfield, and mother of one son, David, and a daughter, Jane, born in 1922. 2. Ina Florette, married Louis Bolnik, and mother of one daughter, Sylvia. They make their home at No. 1615 Ben- son Street, The Bronx.
JAMES CUNNION is favorably known through- out The Bronx and its environs by reason of his long and efficient public service to the borough and county and of his former connection with the old firm of James Cunnion & Son, who were engaged in the roofing-contracting business in the Metro- politan area many years.
Born in New York City, July 20, 1868, James Cunnion is a son of James and Julia (Byrne) Cun- nion, both now deceased, the mother born in Ire- land in 1844. The father, born in New York City in 1827, engaged in the business of roofing con- tractor, and in 1857 established the firm of James Cunnion & Son, which, at the time of the founder's death, was the oldest roofing contracting firm in Greater New York and its immediate vicinity. Until the elder Cunnion's death the firm was extensively en- gaged in business throughout The Bronx, and had been in continuous operation for nearly seventy years.
The son, James Cunnion, was graduated from De La Salle Institute, New York City, in the class of 1881, finishing at the Bureau of Commerce, Man- hattan College, New York City, in the class of 1885. His alma mater later conferred upon him the degree of Master of Arts. At the conclusion of his col- lege career, he associated himself with his father in the roofing business, with which he was actively identified until the latter's death in 1908, having done much to build the business up to the high status it enjoyed for many years. In business matters Mr. Cunnion gave ample proof of his ability and pro- gressive ideas.
A staunch Democrat in his politics, Mr. Cunnion has served his party with loyalty and an efficiency that speak for themselves. From 1909 to 1917 he was chief inspector and acting superintendent of the Tenement House Department of the Borough of The Bronx, and afterward occupied the position of United States deputy marshal. In 1918 he was appointed to his present post, as equity-law clerk and chief clerk, office of the County Clerk, Bronx County. He is also a director and vice-president of the Pub- lic Security Bond and Mortgage Corporation, and of The Claremont National Bank of New York, New York City. During the World War, Mr. Cunnion gave much time and thought to war work, and served, under the Knights of Columbus, as super- visor of camps of the Northeastern District. He is an organizer and a Past Grand Knight of the Mys- tic Rose Council, Knights of Columbus; a Past Dis- trict Deputy of the Sixteenth New York District, Knights of Columbus; a member of Fourth Degree, Knights of Columbus, and a former member of its
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degree corps; and a member of the Holy Name Society. He was chairman of the Eighth Assembly District (Democratic) Club, of The Bronx, and was captain of the district more than twenty-five years. He is a communicant of the Roman Catholic Church of St. Philip Neri, of The Bronx, and a liberal sup- porter of its activities. He also maintains a keen and generous interest in local civic and charitable enterprises.
James Cunnion married, June 8, 1898, in the Church of the Holy Rosary, New York City, De- light Cecelia Warner, of Springfield, Massachusetts, daughter . of Henry and Sarah (Kane) Warner, her father a native of Bernardston, Vermont, and her mother of Springfield. To Mr. and Mrs. Cunnion have been born eight children: 1. Julia. in 1900. 2. James, in 1902. 3. Robert, in 1906. 4. Regina, in 1908. 5. John, in 1910. 6. Genevieve, in 1912. 7. Theodore, in 1914. 8. Eleanor, in 1916. Mr. Cun- nion has his business headquarters in the County Clerk's office, One Hundred and Sixty-first Street and Third Avenue, The Bronx, and his residence at No. 2850 Valentine Avenue, in that borough.
ARTHUR JAMES O'LEARY, M. D .- Executive ability of the highest order, combined with an in- vincible determination to guard at all costs the health of the thousands of his fellow-citizens, are two of the outstanding characteristics of Arthur J. O'Leary, M. D., who was for a number of years engaged in the private practice of medicine prior to his acceptance of an important official position in Bronx Borough, which he continues to retain, while at the same time rendering professional services of inestimable value as a member of the staff of visiting physicians entrusted with the care of numerous pa- tients in one of the largest hospitals in the district.
Dr. Arthur J. O'Leary is the son of the late Cor- nelius and Margaret (Corrigan) O'Leary. Cor- nelius O'Leary, born in Kenturk, County Cork, Ire- land, in 1842, died in New York City in 1905. He was the son of Dennis and Afra (Collins) O'Leary; his father having been the first professor to occupy a chair at the Old Rose Hill College, now known as Fordham University. Cornelius O'Leary was him- self engaged as a professor, and also as a physician, having occupied the chair of classics and acted as physician at Manhattan College for many years. Margaret (Corrigan) O'Leary, wife of Cornelius O'Leary was the daughter of the late Patrick and Bridget (Brennan) Corrigan; her father, Patrick Corrigan, died in New York City at the age of one hundred and seven years.
Arthur J. O'Leary, of The Bronx, son of Cornelius and Margaret (Corrigan) O'Leary, was born on No- vember 23, 1868, on old Tenth Avenue, near One Hundred and Thirtieth Street, New York City. He was a student in the Manhattan College, in the vicini- ty of his home, from which he was graduated in 1886, and subsequently matriculated in the medical department of the old University of the City of New York, which institution conferred upon him, as a member of the class of 1889, the degree of Doctor of Medicine. For one year following his gradua- tion from medical college, he was associated with the Harlem Hospital in the capacity of interne. Sub-
sequently, he engaged in the practice of his profes- sion in The Bronx, with offices located at the junc- tion of Washington Avenue and One Hundred and Sixty-sixth Street, where he continued to be most actively engaged until his retention, in 1898, as as- sistant sanitary superintendent for the health depart- ment, responsible for The Bronx Borough. Dr. O'Leary is also visiting physician and president of the medical board of the House of Calvary, the lead- ing cancer hospital in The Bronx. He is a mem- ber and former president of The Bronx Medical So- ciety, member of the New York State Medical So- ciety, the Jackson Democratic Club, Democratic County Committee, a charter member of Bronx Council, No. 466, Knights of Columbus, Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, and a member of St. Augustine's Roman Catholic Church.
On October 28, 1891, in All Saints Roman Cath- olic Church, Dr. Arthur James O'Leary was united in marriage to Anna O'Rourke, daughter of Thomas O'Rourke, a native of New York City, and Anna (Trainor) O'Rourke, also born in New York City. The marriage ceremony at All Saints Church was performed by the Rev. Father John J. Lennon. To this union were born three children: 1. Anna Madeline, whose birth occurred on November 28, 1892; was married to John J. Lyons, and they are the parents of: i. John J., Jr., born May 29, 1917. ii. Anna, born May 18, 1919. iii. James, born January 26, 1921. iv. Arthur, born June 7, 1923. v. Mary, born on April 27, 1925. 2. Arthur Thomas, born in The Bronx, February 5, 1895; married Teresa Smythe, and they have: i. Arthur, born June 10, 1920. ii. Donald, born December 10, 1922. 3. Isa- belle, born July 4, 1899.
HARRY WALTERS KORNDORFER-Of those Bronx men who for years had been engaged in brewery and real estate business, Harry Walters Korndorfer has an established repute, owing to his courteous manner and fair dealing. His entire life has been spent in New York, and in long association with telegraphy, brewery and general business, as well as with the purchase and sale of real estate, he has secured that very practical training that is productive of no small portion of his success.
Harry Walters Korndorfer, a son of Jacob Korn- dorfer, a custom shoemaker, who died in his early years, and of Louisa (Hunsiker)) Korndorfer, was born September 1, 1865, in New York City, and he attended Public School No. 4, in The Bronx, now The Bronx Continuation School, Third Avenue at One Hundred and Fifty-seventh Street. He began his business career when he was only twelve years old, at the time of his father's death, when he was employed as a messenger for the Western Union Telegraph Company at its Washington Market office, No. 100 Vesey Street, New York City. When he relinquished his position with the Telegraph Company, he was as- sistant manager of that office. On June 11, 1888, Mr. Korndorfer became associated with J. and M. Haffen, brewers, which firm was afterwards incorporated on December 27, 1899, as The J. and M. Haffen Brew- ing Company. The corporation sold its plant and trade to Colonel Jacob Ruppert on December 31, 1913, retaining all its other realty holdings with the
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