USA > New York > Bronx County > The Bronx and its people; a history, 1609-1927, Volume III > Part 60
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Mr. Ancowitz is fraternally affiliated with the Otik Molewer Young Men's Society; and is one of the prominent members of The Bronx Chamber of Com- merce.
Adolph Ancowitz married, in March, 1897, in Kolo- mea, Austria, Katie Moldower, daughter of David and Frieda Moldower. Mr. and Mrs. Ancowitz are the parents of six children, four boys and two girls: David, who was born in April, 1900; Jacob, who was born in December 31, 1901; Clara, born November 23, 1908; Abraham, born August 25, 1911; Louis, born in September, 1914; Dora, who was born January 31, 1916.
FRANK MAX GARTNER-During his fourteen years as an independent builder and carpenter, with his admirably equipped shop at No. 349 East One Hundred and Forty-fourth Street, The Bronx, Frank Max Gartner has done a great deal of constructive work which has been a factor in the attractive devel- opment of that populous section of New York City. Mr. Gartner was born in the town of Barmen, in the Rhineland, Germany, September 11, 1878, son of John William and Ida Gartner.
The son was educated in his own country in the Barmen public school. He served his apprenticeship in that town to the trade of carpenter and cabinet- maker, and learned the best methods of workmanship and the most delicate details of his trade. Mr. Gart- ner arrived in the New World in search of wider opportunity on Christmas morning, 1899. For ten years he lived on Staten Island and pursued his trade. Moving then to The Bronx, he worked for other builders from 1909 until 1912, learning the needs and facilities of the section. Mr. Gartner's shop at No. 349 East One Hundred and Forty-fourth Street has prospered since its establishment, for it is equipped with the most up-to-date machinery and turns out work of the highest grade, in accordance with the honest and thoroughgoing German training
Mr. Gartner had enjoyed. His three sons are asso- ciated with him in the business, to which they were apprenticed under his watchful supervision. His wife takes care of the office. Thus the quickest and most accurate of service is assured to clients. Mr. Gartner takes an active part likewise in the advance- ment of general community interests, holding mem- bership in the Monroe Democratic Club and St. Pius' Roman Catholic Church.
On September 24, 1907, in Stapleton, Staten Is- land, Frank Max Gartner married Bertha Weise, the ceremony occurring in St. John's Roman Catholic Church. She is the daughter of Otto Weise, born in Hirschberg, Silesia, October 17, 1853, and his wife, Sophie (Herber) Weise, born April 15, 1864, in Alfter Rhineland, Germany. Children: John William Gart- ner, born July 12, 1908; Frank Max, born July 11, 1909; and Berthold Otto, born September 25, 1910.
MORRIS J. GROSSMANN-A leading and very prominent instance of a Bronx citizen who has found and developed remarkable opportunities in the real estate field of The Bronx, is that of Morris J. Gross- mann, who is in fact a pioneer in real estate activi- ties in this section of the city, and has made his name and repute known and honored both in his pro- fession, social, and to the general public whom he has satisfactorily served throughout the best years of Bronx history.
Morris J. Grossmann, a son of Joseph and Betty Grossmann, was born in Hungary, and he came to the United States when he was twelve years old, where he worked his own way along in his chosen field, that of realty dealings. He attended both pub- lic and private schools in New York City, and then, starting in with the first of the successful real estate booms of The Bronx he worked his way to a leading position, and because of his honorable dealings he has for years enjoyed the confidence of the com- munity. Since 1892 engaged in real estate activities, Mr. Grossmann, since 1915, has established himself at Third Avenue and One Hundred and Forty-ninth Street for the management of estates, in brokerage, and in the purchase and sale of property.
A self-made man in the best sense of the phrase, Mr. Grossmann is well known in the social, chari- table, and political circles; and he is an esteemed member of the Monroe and Tackamuck Democratic clubs, a member and one of the directors of the James W. Brown Association. During the World War, he was foremost in matters of generous giving and doing in behalf of Liberty Loans and Red Cross work. Fraternally, he is affiliated with Cache Lodge, No. 416, Free and Accepted Masons; and with the Young Men's Christian Association, also a member of The Bronx Chamber of Commerce Asso- ciation. Mr. Grossmann owns one of the finest es- tates, with a summer home, and equipped with the finest facilities for outdoor sports in Mohegan Park and Colonial Heights, on The Bronx River Parkway.
WILLIAM LUSCHER-As active manager and treasurer of Luscher's Music Shop, located at No. 2712 Third Avenue, which has for nearly three dec- ades been an integral part of the business life of the
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section, William Luscher occupies a substantial and leading position in The Bronx. Various fields of occupation have held his attention during his busi- ness years, including public service and participation in his country's military activities during the World War. His thorough-going knowledge of the mu- sic business, however, gained from the assistance he gave the founder, his father, from the start, his energy, and his business ability, have continued the prosperity and growth the music shop has enjoyed throughout its history.
William Luscher was born in New York City, at No. 765 Third Avenue, on August 3, 1893, son of Maximilian and Marie Luscher, both natives of Swit- zerland, but residents of this country throughout the greater part of their lives. His father organized Luscher's Music Shop, Incorporated, in 1898, at No. 2722 Third Avenue, The Bronx, not far from its present location, and operated it until his death, on January 1, 1922 at the age of seventy-six. While rounding out his education in the New York City public schools, including attendance successively at Public School No. 10 in The Bronx and the High School of Commerce, from which he graduated in 1910, the son, William Luscher, was assisting his father in the shop. His first position, in 1911, was in connection with the Psychopathic Bureau of the Board of Health of New York City, where he con- tinued until 1915. Soon afterward he became as- sociated with Police Commissioner Woods, acting as assistant secretary, a position which he filled most ably until 1917. In that year he enlisted in the In- telligence Division of the United States Army. In 1922 he became actively interested in Wall Street. Since that date, which marked his father's death and Mr. Luscher's management of Luscher's Music Shop, Incorporated, he has been treasurer and has been a potent factor in the expansion of the business. This deals chiefly in victrolas and radio equipment and transacts a large amount of business.
His broad and varied interests have brought Mr. Luscher into affiliation with many local groups. He is a member of The Bronx Board of Trade, the Mott Haven Business Men's Association, of which he is secretary, the Rotary Club, the Young Men's Chris- tian Association, and various fraternal organizations. Unmarried, he makes his home with his mother at No. 590 Fort Washington Avenue, New York City.
PHILIP STIVELBAND-As head of a prosper- ous real estate and building concern, Philip Stivel- band is known extensively in his own line of work throughout The Bronx. Born in Russia he came to the United States in 1902 and almost immediately went to South America for three years. For the past ten years, however, he has been living in The Bronx. The apartments he has constructed include two six- story apartments on the Southern Boulevard which accommodate one hundred and fifteen families, as well as a number of forty-five family apartment houses; one on the northeast corner of Vyse Avenue and One Hundred and Eighty-first Street, and another on the northwest corner of Clinton Place and Grand Avenue. A theatre, seating 2,500, has been constructed by him on Jerome Avenue, south of One Hundred and Eighty-third Street.
Mr. Stivelband was born in Odessa, Russia, April 14, 1883, the son of Jacob and Chinka Stivelband, both of whom are now living in New York. The father while in Russia learned the leather trade and pursued it after his arrival in New York. The son received his education in the public schools at Odessa and continued this by attending night schools in New York, after his arrival in this country at the age of nineteen. Soon after coming to the "Land of the Free," he set sail for South America but returned three years later and settled in The Bronx. Here he worked gradually into the real estate business at which during recent years he has been extremely suc- cessful.
Philip Stivelband married, in The Bronx, in 1905, Rose Crausman, daughter of Esau and Sophie Craus- man, the former, well known in The Bronx as a builder. Mr. and Mrs. Stivelband are the parents of five children: Sylvia, born in 1907; Clara, born in 1908; Pauline, born in 1912; Harry, born in 1914; and Sophie, born in 1920.
ARTHUR E. DEMPSEY-Starting in as an of- fice boy less than ten years ago Arthur E. Dempsey is now head of the large trucking and warehouse concern that bears his name. This firm, A. E. Dempsey, In- corporated, established in 1922, marks a steady up- hill climb from an unpretentious concern which op- erated only one truck to one which now uses twenty, serving a large storage warehouse and yards.
Arthur E. Dempsey was born in Brooklyn, January 12, 1891, the son of Edward C. and Margaret Demp- sey. The father was an accountant and the mother died in her son's infancy. While Arthur Dempsey was still very young, his father moved to The Bronx where the boy attended the Manhattan public school. He started work as office boy for a firm on Twenty- eighth Street and First Avenue and after working here seven years as junior clerk and clerk, became bookkeeper with another trucking concern. It was while in the employ of this concern that he obtained that knowledge and business facility which enabled him to start his own business in trucking and ware- housing in 1922. His establishment is at No. 225 East One Hundred and Forty-first Street. Mr. Demp- sey is a member of the Board of Trade and the Building Industry League. He is one of the char- ter members of this organization. He is also a direc- tor of the Lions Club. He is also a member of the North Side Democratic Club and of the James W. Brown Association.
Arthur E. Dempsey married, in The Bronx, Novem- ber 26, 1913, Gertrude Monahan, daughter of Thomas and Jane Monahan. They are the parents of two sons, Arthur E., Jr., and Edward Dempsey, and a daughter, Rita.
PHILIP F. YOCKEL-For twenty-five years much of the steam-heating equipment in impor- tant Bronx buildings has been installed by Philip F. Yockel, now head of Philip F. Yockel and Sons, Incorporated, No. 1074 Franklin Avenue, The Bronx, New York City. He was born in New York City, September 20. 1869, son of Henry and Caroline Yockel. His father, a heating contractor who came
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from Germany to this country as a young man, died in 1905; his mother in 1910.
When he was a boy of ten, Philip F. Yockel lived in The Bronx, then moved away, receiving his educa- tion in the New York public schools, including that on One Hundred and Fifty-eighth Street and Third Avenue. In 1905 he established his steam-heating and contracting business, his first location on Wales Street being followed by a more desirable one on Fox Street. Finally he moved to his present address, erecting his own building about 1914. Until his sons grew up, he managed the business alone, but it is now Incorporated, and his sons are partners, this new or- ganization having been effected about 1920. Mr. Yockel is a member of St. Augustine's Church.
In New York City, Philip F. Yockel married Eliza- beth Carney, daughter of Thomas and Honora Carney. Children: 1. Thomas, born September 7, 1891, now married. 2. Frank, born in 1893, served in the United States Army in the World War; married. 3. Howard, born in 1895, served in the United States Navy during the war. 4. Charles, born in 1897, served in the Aviation Department, United States Army, during the war.
GEORGE LODES-On a farm in Bavaria, where his father and mother are still living, George Lodes was born on Christmas Day, 1874, son of Johann and Margaret (Gemelch) Lodes. Regenthal was the town where he spent the first fifteen years of his life, help- ing on the place and attending the parish school. His mother's · brother, Conrad Gemelch, had emigrated some years before to America and in New York City had established a bakery shop at One Hundred and Forty-eighth Street and Eighth Avenue. This formed the connecting link for the lad between the old home- stead on a farm in Germany and the great city on the Atlantic shore of the new land. Bidding his parents farewell, he set sail for New York City, which has since becn his home.
The education which he had received in the Bavar- ian school served him in obtaining a position as clerk and bookkeeper in a grocery store. By thrifty habits, he began to accumulate an account in the bank, which continued to grow during the year that he worked for his uncle in the bakery. He had been keeping his eyes open since landing in this country, and now he was ready to make his own start, which he did by opening a real estate office at the corner of Willis Avenue and One Hundred and Forty-third Street. Af- ter three years, he became associated with the realty firm of Schwitzer and Levis, at No. 66 Manhattan Street, with whom he continued for three years, sev- ering his connection with them to form a partnership with August Lauter. He remained a member of this firm for five years but in 1917, he was again in his own independent office at No. 449 East One Hun- drcd and Forty-ninth Street. Three years ago, in 1924, he moved to his present quarters at No. 321 East One Hundred and Forty-ninth Street. As may be easily un- derstood, Mr. Lodes is considered an expert realtor, and is an authority on property values, for he has made an exhaustive study of the realty market, es- pecially in the upper section of New York City and Westchester County, where he knows the ground thoroughly. He has been a business success, and by
the use of the cardinal virtues of thrift, hard work, and honest dealing has acquired wealth. He owns his beautiful home in White Plains, Westchester County, and other properties, including a part of the old Gedney Farm. He also has realty holdings in The Bronx.
Mr. Lodes is a member of The Bronx Real Estate Board, the Steuben Society of The Bronx, and is fra- ternally identified with Wieland Lodge, No. 714, Free and Accepted Masons.
George Lodes married (first), June 15, 1914, in New York City, May Hughes, daughter of Joseph Hughes; (second), in June, 1920, Dorothy Reichardt. To this union a daughter was born on March 22, 1921, whom they named Dorothy.
VINCENZO MARCHESE-A native of Italy, but a resident of the United States for more than twenty years, ever since he came to this country in 1905 as a young man of twenty-five years, Mr. Marchese has been engaged in business in The Bronx for a number of years, and since 1923, has conducted an establish- ment for the manufacture of Castrellina Water, a time and labor-saving, very economical cleansing fluid. His plant and offices are located at No. 285 Rider Avenue, and there he has built up, as a result of his energy and ability, a large and profitable business. He is also one of the executive officers of the Rider Truck Corpora- tion, The Bronx, and is considered one of the success- ful and progressive business men of the borough.
Vincenzo Marchese was born at Platici, Italy, March 23, 1881, a son of Salvatore and Lucia Mar- chese, both natives and to the time of their deaths, residents of Italy, where the former was engaged for many years in the meat business. He was educated in the public schools of his native country and came to the United States in 1905. There he engaged in various pursuits and eventually, for about a year, was in the trimming business. In 1923 he established his own business under his own name at No. 285 Rider Avenue, The Bronx, where he has continued ever since, manufacturing a cleansing fluid, known as Cas- trellina Water. This trade name has been registered in the United States Patent Office since February, 1916. Castrellina Water is a preparation, com- pounded from pure Italian chemicals, and is used for washing and cleaning clothes and similar articles. Its use eliminates the necessity of boiling, saves time and labor and at the same time, without any danger of spoiling the materials on which it is used, cleans, dis- infects and delicately perfumes. The fact that it re- quires a considerable amount of plain water for dilu- tion makes it very inexpensive, and the directions for its use are so simple that it has become very popular with a very large number of housekeepers.
Mr. Marchese is also secretary of the Rider Truck Corporation, One Hundred and Forty-fourth Street, between Morris and Rider avenues, The Bronx. He is a member of The Bronx Board of Trade and of Le- onardo Da Vinci Lodge, No. 937, Free and Accepted Masons, also the Sons of Italy, The Lodgia Domenico Cirillo Acca Diesi, No. 279. His religious affiliations are with the Roman Catholic church. Mr. Marchese also belongs to the Monroe Democratic Club. Mr. Marchese is unmarried and makes his home in The Bronx.
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EDGAR HIRSCHBERG is today one of the out- standing members of the legal fraternity of The Bronx, and he has achieved a definite success in his chosen profession by specializing in tax law in addi- tion to an extensive general practice. Mr. Hirsch- berg was born at Portsmouth, Ohio, February 1, 1882, a son of Nestor and Minnie (Ury) Hirschberg, the latter of whom is still living (1926). The father, Nestor Hirschberg, was born in Berlin, Germany, and came to this country in the year 1863, settling first in New York City, then removing to Ohio, and finally returning to New York State, where he died on April 1, 1900, having achieved success during his active business career as a manufacturer.
Edgar Hirschberg was brought to New York City in 1884, when he was but two years old, and in that Metropolis grew to young manhood, receiving his early education in the Manhattan Public School, No. 134, on Lenox Avenue. His professional training was received later at the New York Law School, from which he was graduated with the class of 1903, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Laws. He was admitted to the bar of the State of New York in that same year, and at once embarked upon his pro- fessional career by establishing himself in general practice at No. 76 William Street, and on January 1, 1914, when Bronx County was created, at No. 3210 Third Avenue, where he has remained ever since, building up a large, lucrative and distinguished cli- entage. During the twenty-three years of his prac- tice, Mr. Hirschberg has specialized in real estate law and inheritance tax law. He was appointed by the governor as attorney for the New York State Tax Commission for Bronx County, in July, 1923, and has held this important office since, and of late years his real estate and inheritance tax business has almost superseded his general practice. Mr. Hirsch- berg is a staunch Democrat by political affiliation, and has served both as vice-president and director of the Samoset Democratic Club. Fraternally, he is an active member and Past Exalted Ruler of Bronx Lodge, No. 871, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and also holds membership in the West Mor- risania Club (of which he is a past president), and The Bronx Friends of Erin.
Edgar Hirschberg was married in The Bronx, on September 19, 1923, to Helen Fitzpatrick, a daughter of Thomas F. Fitzpatrick, who is now retired from business, and his wife, Susan (Coyle) Fitzpatrick, who is also living. Mr. and Mrs. Hirschberg are the parents of one son: Thomas V. Hirschberg, born August 31, 1924.
JACOB BERNARD SILVERSTEIN, president and sole owner of the well-known realty firm of Sil- verstein & Company, an expert judge of real estate values, and one of the most prominent and successful business men of The Bronx, is a particularly fine example of the self-made man, in the finest sense of that often misused and misapplied term. Mr. Silver- stein has attained an important place in the business world and has achieved a definite success solely through his own initiative, perseverance, and innate abilities. Mr. Silverstein was born on February 2, 1891, in Brestlitovsk, Russia, a son of Max and Lena Silverstein, and when only three years old was brought to America by his parents, who settled on the lower
east side of New York City. Here for many years the father, Max Silverstein, successfully conducted an antique brass and bronze business.
Jacob Bernard Silverstein received his education in Public School No. 160, and later in Public School No. 109, from which he was graduated in 1906. At
the early age of fifteen years he embarked upon his business career by doing odd jobs in the neighbor- hood, and then entering the employ of the White Swan Laundry in 1912 he made himself so valuable to the concern that he was advanced to the important position of office manager, and continued with this company until 1922. He then accepted the position of manager of the Continental Laundry Company, and remained in full charge of the business of this con- cern from 1922 to 1924. In that year he decided to enter into the real estate business in The Bronx on his own account, and to this end he opened offices on East Tremont Avenue and from the very first met with great success. As a side line Mr. Silverstein is an insurance broker, in which field of endeavor he has also been correspondingly successful. Mr. Sil- verstein is now known as one of the most prominent and successful realtors in The Bronx, and is shortly moving his office to larger quarters from No. 601 Tre- mont Avenue to No. 645 East Tremont Avenue, where he will occupy more up-to-date offices. He operates under the name of Silverstein & Company, of which he is the executive head and sole owner.
Fraternally, Mr Silverstein has confined his activi- ties to the Ancient Masonic Order, and is a member in good standing of Pacific Lodge, No. 233, Free and Accepted Masons, of New York City; the Scottish Rite; Mecca Temple; the Level Club; and is also a thirty-second degree Mason. He also holds mem- bership in the Arthur H. Murphy Association of The Bronx, and the Sons of Israel of The Bronx.
HARRY ROSEN-Kiev, "mother of Russian Cities," was the birthplace of Harry Rosen. Situated on the banks of the Dneiper, prominent in the politi- cal and ecclesiastical history of the nation, this city is one of the most important of the country. Its history is both picturesque and thrilling for because of its location, its industries, its religious importance and its educational preëminence it has been the object of repeated attacks by neighboring tribes and has been the possession of different nations. Lithuania, Poland, and Russia have successively been its master. Today it is the most important center of the Uk- raine. Here on March 15, 1879, Harry Rosen was born, the son of Meyer Rosen, but when he was five years old he came to America. ..
In the public schools of New York City, he received his education and in the same city he began his busi- ness career. All his life he has been connected with the clothing trade, holding two positions as a sales- man before he began his own establishment. In 1899, on the same block where he is at present located, he opened a general clothing store, which he carried for- ward to success. When the business had increased, Mr. Rosen incorporated it under his own name, and he held the office of president of the firm. This firm car- ries a large and diversified stock of garments for young men and men, in the building which they oc- cupy at No. 2912 Third Avenue.
On January 7, 1903, Harry Rosen married Lena
Edgar Hirschling.
Gottlob #. Stuber
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Levy, of New York City, and to Mr. and Mrs. Rosen five daughters have been born: 1. Jeanette, in 1903. 2. Miriam, in 1905. 3. Pearl, in 1907. 4. Florence, in 1911. 5. Henrietta, in 1918.
GOTTLOB H. STUBER is well and widely known throughout The Bronx and its environs as one of the most reputable and efficient florists of that section. Mr. Stuber has been identified with the business of growing and selling flowers ever since he was eleven years old, and that he has been in busi- ness continuously for twenty-two years at the same location proves him to be a business man of ability, as well as successful in his chosen field of endeavor. Gottlob H. Stuber was born in Friedthal, Germany, on June 24, 1871, a son of Henry and Mary Stuber, both of whom were natives of Germany. When their son was ten years old he was brought to the United States by his parents, the family settling in The Bronx, New York City, where the father engaged in the florist business with his son. The father died in 1898, aged sixty-five years, and the mother passed away in 1919, during her seventy-second year.
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