USA > New York > Bronx County > The Bronx and its people; a history, 1609-1927, Volume III > Part 26
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Habersack is a son of Nivard Habersack, through whom a family name of an Abbott of a cloister is traced to 1621, and Regina (Mastney) Habersack, both of Bavaria, Germany.
Dr. Charles Alexander Habersack was born No- vember 28, 1868, at Frammersbach, in Bavaria, Ger- many. He attended private schools in Wuertzburg and Stuttgart, and upon coming to the United States, he attended the New York City public schools, and was graduated at the Medical School of New York University in the class of 1891. Establishing him- self in the general practice of medicine in 1892 in The Bronx and now at No. 840 Trinity Avenue, Dr. Habersack has continued at the same residence throughout all the years of his practice, and he has witnessed many changes that have taken place in this section of the city.
Fraternally, Dr. Habersack is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Catholic Be- nevolent Legion; The Bronx Medical Society; and the Medical Society, Borough of The Bronx; the Bronx Medical Association; and he is a communicant of St. Anselm's Roman Catholic Church.
Dr. Charles Alexander Habersack married, Oc- tober 25, 1894, in New York City, Jeanette Kauert, who was born in 1874 in Cologne, Germany, and died March 10, 1909. Their children: Alexander John, born in 1896, is a graduate of New York University Medical School with his medical degree; Nivard Hubertus, born in 1896, is a commercial de- signer; Earnest Rudolph, born in 1899, is an artist.
ISAAC BUTLER-For more than half a century, and with a faithfulness and zeal that were beautiful to behold, Isaac Butler held the position of sexton of St. Peter's Protestant Episcopal Church, West- chester Avenue, now in The Bronx, and acted as the undertaker for the district, having been the founder of the oldest-established business of the kind in all that section. The church in which he officiated in his serviceable and sympathetic capacity, and of which in the latter years of his life he was a vestryman, was destroyed by fire in 1877, and in its place there was erected another edifice, in whose tower there was installed at the expense of his daugh- ter a chime of ten bells in the memory of her parents and their descendants. The bells are most appro- priately inscribed with texts from Holy Writ. Mr. Butler was a prominent man of the community of his day, and was held in genuine affection by the people, particularly by the members of the parish which he served in such an ideal manner for so long a period.
Isaac Butler, the founder of the business which bore his name, was born in Evercreech, Somerset- shire, England, May 30, 1825, died January 19, 1913, at his home in The Bronx, New York City, the eldest son of William and Ann (Hill) Butler. His father operated a silk factory, giving employment to about one hundred persons. The son Isaac at- tended the local schools, and at the age of fourteen was apprenticed in the carpenter's trade, serving a term of seven years, and becoming a full-fledged journeyman. For three years he worked at his trade. On April 9, 1849, he married Anne Cox, and on the same day he and his bride set sail for America, ar-
riving in New York eight weeks later. They settled at West Farms, then a considerable distance from New York but now within the city limits, and after four years spent by Mr. Butler at his trade there and a few years in Unionport, he and his wife re- moved to the old village of Westchester. In that year, 1856, he was appointed sexton of St. Peter's Church, one of the oldest churches in the entire section, having a history dating back into the seven- teenth century. In connection with his duties as sexton he became the recognized undertaker of the church and village and served in that capacity until his death. He was a man of great public spirit who took a keen interest in the church, which, in addition to sexton and vestryman, he served as treasurer many years.
He was a charter member, and the first to be initiated, of Wyoming Lodge, No. 492, Free and Accepted Masons, of Westchester, having been raised in November, 1859. He was a member of the Board of School Trustees for fifteen years, during which period he gave invaluable service to the cause of education locally. On the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of his appointment as sexton of St. Peter's, the church presented him with a set of table silver and an engraved appreciation of his services; and on the fiftieth anniversary of his becoming a Mason, his lodge, of which he was Master in 1866 and 1873, presented him with a Past Master's Jewel in token of their appreciation.
Anne (Cox) Butler died October 1, 1889. She and her husband were survived by two children: William Richard and Martha Annie. Martha Annie Butler was born September 25, 1851. She married Henry V. Arnow on June 20, 1875, in St. Paul's Church. To them was born, August 1, 1876, a son, Isaac Reid Butler Arnow, whose death occurred February 22, 1918, five years after that of his grandfather, whose name he bore. The fine chime of bells installed in the steeple of St. Peter's in memory of Isaac Butler, his wife and I. Reid Butler Arnow, and other members and descendants of the founder of this family in old Westchester and The Bronx, con- tains ten units which are numbered and inscribed as follows:
No. 1 A. D. 1923. This Bell made to replace one inscribed "Episcopal Church of Saint Peter's, Westchester," A. D. 1878, recast from Bells presented by Parishioners of Church, 1857, and destroyed by fire, A. D. January, 1877.
This Chime of Bells given by M. Annie Butler Arnow in Loving Memory of her Father and Mother, Isaac and Anne Butler, and of her son, I. Reid Butler Arnow, and also as an expression of Esteem and affection for all descendants of her parents.
Dedicated and first rung on May 30, 1923, the Anniversary of the birth of Isaac Butler.
No. 2 To the Greater Glory of God and in Loving Memory of Isaac Butler, Sexton of Saint Peter's Church, West- chester, New York City, 1856 to 1912. Born May 30, 1825. Died January 19, 1913. (Opposite this part of the inscription there is engraved the Masonic square and com- pass, in recognition of Mr. Butler's identification with that order.)
No. 3
To the Greater Glory of God and in Loving Memory of Anne Cox, wife of Isaac Butler, Died October, 1889.
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No. 4
"For God so loved the World that He gave His only begotten Son, that Whosoever Believeth in Him should not Perish but have Everlasting Life."
No. 5
To the Greater Glory of God and in Loving Memory of I. Reid Butler Arnow, Son of M. Annie Butler Arnow. Born August 1, 1876. Died February 22, 1918.
No. 6
"Praise God from Whom all Blessings flow, Praise Him All Creatures here below,
Praise Him above ye Heavenly Host,
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost."
No. 7
A Tribute of Esteem and Affection for William R. Butler, Son of Isaac and Anne Butler.
"I was glad when they said unto me let us go into the House of the Lord."
No. 8
A Tribute of Esteem and Affection for Frank R. Butler, Roy E. Butler, and Florence Butler Crooker, grandchildren of Isaac and Anne Butler, also Muriel C. Crooker and Robert K. Crooker, great-grandchildren of Isaac and Anne Butler.
No. 9
A Tribute of Esteem and Affection for Annie Mildred Arnow Becher and I. Butler Arnow, grandchildren and God- children, and also Ruth Arnow Sullivan and Marie Julia Arnow. grandchildren of M. Annie Butler Arnow.
No. 10 "'Glory to God in the Highest and on Earth Peace, Good Will toward Men." "My Faith Looks up to Thee, Thou Lamb of Calvary.
Saviour Divine."
Martha A. Butler Arnow. Died August 21, 1926
William Richard Butler, son of Isaac and Anne (Cox) Butler, was born in what was then the vil- lage of Unionport, now a part of The Bronx, May 16, 1854. He attended the old public school in West- chester Village, and for a time the public school in West Farms. At the age of sixteen he went to work for his father in his undertaking establishment, opposite St. Peter's Protestant Episcopal Church on Westchester Avenue, and was associated with him until the latter's death. He afterward continued in the business on Tremont Avenue until his own death, April 27, 1925, and the establishment is now being carried on by his sons, Frank R. and Roy Elward Butler. Mr. Butler, like his father, was a devout and loyal member of St. Peter's Church, and was affiliated with Marian Lodge, No. 278, Free and Accepted Masons, serving as trustee for many years. He was also a member of Clairmont Council, No. 1655, Royal Arcanum.
William Richard Butler married, October 12, 1881, in St. Peter's Church, Florence Twaites, daughter of James and Anna Eliza (Hitchcock) Twaites, her father a native of England, and her mother of Bronx- dale, Westchester County. The marriage ceremony was performed by Rev. Joseph Johnson, now bishop of Los Angeles, California. Mr. and Mrs. Butler were the parents of three children: 1. Florence Taylor, born March 5, 1883; married Robert W. Crooker, and they have two children: Muriel, born November 24, 1904, and Robert Kenneth, born in January, 1906. 2. Frank Richard, born September 13, 1886; now associated with his brother in the undertaking business as successors of their father. He is a member of: Clairmont Council, No. 1655, Royal Arcanum; member and Past Master of Marian
Lodge, No. 278, Free and Accepted Masons; Masters and Past Masters Association of The Bronx Masonic District; William C. Jaegle Post, No. 763, American Legion. He is vice-president of the New York City Undertakers' Association and a member of the West Farms Square Club and the Van Ness Square Club. 3. Roy Elward, born October 1, 1890; associated with his brother in business.
LOUIS MOSER-A pioneer resident of his com- munity, Louis Moser has given a life-time of earnest application to the service of a single industry.
Martin George Moser, born in Darmstadt, Ger- many, in 1826, died in 1897. His wife, Annie (Hep- enheimer) Moser, born in Auerbach, Hessen-Darm- stadt, Germany, in 1828, died in 1884. Martin George Moser devoted a long and useful career to the paint contracting business.
Louis Moser, son of Martin George and Annie (Hepenheimer) Moser, was born February 29, 1860, upon Fortieth Street between Fourth and Madison avenues, Manhattan. He was first a student in the public school between Second and Third avenues on Seventy-fifth Street. He removed with his parents to The Bronx in 1867, and began the building of a new home on One Hundred and Forty-third Street, adjoining the present elevated structure at that point; the home continues to stand at that location. Louis Moser then entered The Bronx schools, first becom- ing a pupil of the old school at College Avenue and One Hundred and Forty-sixth Street. The pupils of this school were later transferred from the old building to the old Courtlandt Avenue School on the Hill, where old Mott Street intersected Courtlandt Avenue. Louis Moser later attended the Melrose School when Mrs. Raines was principal thereof. He then returned to the school at College Avenue and One Hundred and Forty-sixth Street, when Mr. Hyatt was principal. He was graduated from this school at the age of thirteen years, and entered the old White School House on Courtlandt Avenue, where the German language was taught, and studied a well- known master of the times, John Hipp. His educa- tion completed, Louis Moser went to work, at the age of fifteen years, in the Carr & Studman Brass & Iron Foundry as an employee in the finishing department, where he remained for two years. He then entered the employ of the Arion Piano Com- pany, which was at that time owned by J. B. Simp- son, the well-known pawn-broker. Having joined the latter company in 1875, he remained there until 1883, learning his apprenticeship in the making of pianos. He then became employed by the Hale Piano' Company, Thirty-fourth Street and Tenth Avenue, Manhattan, where he remained for one and a half years. Next he went to the Wheelock Piano Com- pany, on West Twenty-third Street between Ninth and Tenth avenues, where he remained for four years. He then joined the Behning Piano Company, One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Street and First Avenue, where he remained for eight years. For the follow- ing three years he was with the Weber Piano Company on Seventeenth Street and Seventh Avenue, Manhattan, and from there he went to the Linde- man Piano Company as foreman in charge of the varnish department, at the plant on One Hundred
Qualfred Enickson
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and Forty-seventh Street, near Brook Avenue, The Bronx. After working for the Lindeman Company for seven years, he entered the employ of Winter & Company, manufacturers of pianos, at One Hun- dred and Forty-first Street and Walnut Avenue, where he has remained to the present time, and is rounding out twenty-three years of continuous service with the company. Twenty-seven years ago he pur- chased his present home at No. 2086 Tiebout Avenue near One Hundred and Eightieth Street, The Bronx, when but few houses then stood in what is now a thickly populated section.
Mr. Moser is a member of the Old Timers' As- sociation of The Bronx. He is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, and when he received his first degree in that order it was presented to him in the old Mott Mansion.
Mr. Moser married, October 22, 1881, Mary Ec- kenfelder, daughter of John and Mary (Mindel) Eckenfelder. John Eckenfelder was born in Balingen, Würtemberg, Germany, in 1837, and died in 1886, coming to America in 1850, and settling in New York. He was engaged in furniture manufacturing in The Bronx, in 1864, at One Hundred and Fiftieth Street and Third Avenue, and he built the first three-story house on Third Avenue and Boston Road in 1867. The mother, was born in Alsace, Bavaria, and came to the United States in 1849, dying in 1884. John and Mary (Mindel) Eckenfelder were the parents of six children, of whom two died in infancy, the other four still living: John; Mary, who married Louis Moser, of this biography; William and Caroline. The children of Louis and Mary (Eckenfelder) Moser are: 1. George Louis, born Oc- tober 13, 1882; he married Emily Eckenfelder, and they have three children, George Moser, Walter, and Harold. 2. William Emil, born July 19, 1884; mar- ried Ella Eckenfelder, sister of the before mentioned Emily. 3. Walter Louis Moser, born July 16, 1898, was a member of the 242nd Division during the World War, and a member of the Tank Unit when at Camp Polk and Camp Green.
JAMES REYNOLDS-As a youth in his native country, England, James Reynolds, prominent resi- dent and business man of The Bronx, learned a skilled trade before coming to America, and followed that trade for many years in New York City, acquired thereby a competence, and proceeded to engage for himself in another line of business in which he has been most successful, while at the same time making many good friends and acquaintances in the com- munity. James Reynolds is the son of John and Jane (McGuire) Reynolds, the former born in County Lietrim, Ireland, in 1820, and died in the city of Philadelphia, in 1885. His wife, a native of County Cavan, Ireland, where she was born in 1824, died in Paterson, New Jersey, in 1884.
James Reynolds, son of John and Jane (McGuire) Reynolds, was born on February 13, 1860, in the town of Carlisle, County Cumberland, 'North England. He received his education in the schools of the town of his birth, having attended a parochial institution. His studies completed, he early began to serve an apprenticeship for the purpose of learning the lithographing trade, his early experience in this work
having been acquired in the plant of the Harrison Lithographing Company, of Bradford, England. His trade completed, the youth embarked for the United States in 1881, and upon arrival, chose as his future abiding place, the city of New York. When he had attained his twenty-first year, Mr. Reynolds secured employment at his trade with the American Bank Note Company, New York, and continued his association with that company until 1919, in which year he tendered his resignation after having rounded out thirty years as an employee of the concern. Also, in 1918, Mr. Reynolds entered into a partnership with James Doris, and established the real estate business known as Doris & Reynolds, located at No. 2231 East One Hundred and Seventy-seventh Street, The Bronx, where they continue to engage in ex- tensive realty operations, maintaining both sales and building departments, and the firm has built many properties in different sections of East Bronx, a number of which they continue to direct.
Mr. Reynolds is a Democrat in political belief. He organized the James Reynolds Democratic Club in 1925, and in the same year was a candidate for alderman on an Independent ticket and polled an unusually large vote in spite of the opposition of the Tammany organization. Mr. Reynolds was for- merly vice-president of the Chippewa Democratic Club, and continues to maintain his membership in that organization. He is a member of the Holy Family Roman Catholic Church, and the Holy Name Society of that church, and also a member of the Catholic Big Brothers, and the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick.
On March 6, 1881, in the year that he attained his majority, James Reynolds was married, in St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church in Bradford, York- shire, England, to Honora O'Sullivan, daughter of Timothy and Norah (Donovan) O'Sullivan. Timothy O'Sullivan and his wife were both born in the city of Cork, County Cork, Ireland. To James and Honora (O'Sullivan) Reynolds have been born the following children: 1. John Benedict; married Hattie Van Ellen, and they have two children, Jane and John. 2. James Francis; married Grace Barry, and they have one child, Grace. 3. Mary Jane; married Francis Frey, and they have children: Francis F., Jr., Edwin, and Urban Frey. 4. Austin Lewis Reynolds. 5. Magdelene Honora Reynolds; married Albert Sanford and they have one child, Patricia Sanford.
WALFRED ERICKSON, one of the leading arch- itects in the Borough of The Bronx was born at Ryd, Sweden, in October, 1887. He came to this country in the year 1903 where he worked in North Dakota for a period of four years, and later went to Mon- tana. Mr. Erickson learned carpentry and worked as superintendent, also drew plans and erected build- ings, and later attended Chicago Technical College from which he was graduated as an architectural en- gineer. Upon completion of this course of study he went to Montana where he opened an office for the practice of architecture, and continued until the year 1917.
Mr. Erickson enlisted in the World War on Octo- ber 26, 1917, with the 316th Engineers, attached to the 91st Division, stationed at Camp Louis,
I06
THE BRONX AND ITS PEOPLE
Washington. He served Uncle Sam about two years, one year in America, and one year in France. In France he was in the three major of- fensives, St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne, where he was gassed and sent to the hospital and on returning to his company was in the last offensive in Belgium when the Armistice was signed.
Before returning to this country, Mr. Erickson was one of a few who was studying with the Fine and Applied Arts Department of the American Expedi- tionary Forces, and were permitted to visit the best part of France under the leadership of Mr. Cox, who was employed by the Young Men's Christian Asso- ciation. On his return to this country he was hon- orably discharged from the military service, July 18, 1919, at Camp Merritt, New Jersey.
Mr. Erickson then returned to Sweden for a visit to his parents and then went to Montana, but after a short time came to New York, where he established the architectural business.
Mr. Erickson has been very successful in New York in a general practice of architecture, and altera- tions of residences, tenement houses, commercial buildings, and has to his credit three churches which he designed and supervised during the construction and is now completing plans for a fourth church to be erected in The Bronx which are a credit to the community.
ALBERT WILLIAM RIEDINGER-A man who has achieved prominence in real estate, handling many important deals in Westchester County and The Bronx, is Albert William Riedinger. Born in 1880 in that section of Bronx County which was then open country but is now thriving city, thickly popu- lated, Mr. Riedinger has grown up with The Bronx. As he has become successful in business he has also achieved local prominence in a political way. He is a prominent member of The Bronx Republican Club and for a number of years has been district captain of his own election district; since 1918 he has been superintendent of records.
Albert William Riedinger was born May 4, 1880, in the little hamlet of Williamsbridge which is now a part of The Bronx but which thirty-five years ago was quite isolated, open country. He was the son of August and Amilia (Adelmann) Riedinger. The father was born in Alsace-Lorraine; his mother in Heilbrun, Germany. Both emigrated to America and were married in the United States. August Ried- inger was an expert fresco painter, whose work, done principally in churches, had carried him widely over Germany and France. Their son, Albert, was edu- cated in the public schools of Williamsbridge and continued his education by private tutoring in the evenings after he started to work at the age of sev- enteen. Albert W. Riedinger's first job was as ap- prentice to a carpenter, H. H. Voght and Company, where he remained ten years, attaining high skill in this trade. He then entered the building business for himself and worked at this independently for over five years. When in 1907 he decided to enter the real estate field, he opened offices at No. 3469 White Plains Avenue and has continued here ever since. He has put over many important deals in real estate in The Bronx and in Westchester Coun-
ty. In 1901 Mr. Riedinger was appointed captain of the old Thirty-second Assembly District of the Wil- liamsbridge section of The Bronx, a section which under later reapportionment became the Forty-fourth Election District of the Sixth Assembly District. He still holds the position of captain of this district. In 1918 he was appointed superintendent of records by County Judge Louis D. Gibbs and Surrogate George Schultz. He is an influential member of The Bronx Republican Club.
Albert W. Riedinger married, in New York City, June 21, 1911, Emma C. Dux, daughter of August and Barbara (Kay) Dux. They became the parents of one son and two daughters: Alberta Laura, Emma Margaret, and Herbert Harold Riedinger.
DANIEL NICHOLAS SMITH-With a valued training in mercantile and general business lines, Daniel Nicholas Smith, a member of the National Surety Company force, is a trusted associate in that company's activities. He is a son of Daniel Nicholas Smith, proprietor of a poultry business in the Tomp- kins Market, formerly the 69th Regiment headquar- ters, for many years, was born in 1839, on Twenty- seventh Street, and died in 1897 in New York City, and Annie (Housman) Smith, who was born in New . York City.
Daniel N. Smith was born February 27, 1873, at No. 410 West Fortieth Street, Manhattan, New York City, and he attended the Thirteenth Street Public School. With the removal of his parents to Har- lem, he attended the school on One Hundred and Fifteenth Street, and later Grammar School No. 68, on One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Street, where he was graduated. He then became associated with his father, Daniel N. Smith, in his Tompkins Market poultry business, and after so continuing for some time, he removed to Brooklyn, his father also later moving to Brooklyn. Returning to Manhattan, Mr. Smith then entered the employ of the Third Avenue Railroad, continuing therein for several years. Re- signing, he then entered the employ of the National Surety Company, with whom he continues.
Daniel Nicholas Smith married, October 4, 1905, Mary Agnes Barry, daughter of Martin and Eliza (Wright) Barry. They are the parents of one daugh- ter, Anna Elizabeth Smith.
CHARLES ARCHIBALD WELLS-The unusu- al record of having spent his entire business life, covering a period of more than twenty-five years, in the employ of one banking institution, has brought to Mr. Wells appreciation of his loyalty and ef- ficiency in the form of steady advancement, until to- day he is manager of one of this bank's most im- portant branches. He was born in the eastern dis- trict of Brooklyn, August 20, 1881, a son of William J. and Mary C. Wells, his father being the first member of his family to become a resident of Brook- lyn where he died in 1913, having been predeceased by Mrs. Wells in 1905.
Charles Archibald Wells was educated in the pub- lic schools of Brooklyn, graduating from Public School No. 16. After attending Brooklyn High School for one year, he entered Wright's Long Is- land Business College from which he graduated in
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