USA > New York > Bronx County > The Bronx and its people; a history, 1609-1927, Volume III > Part 61
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Gottlob H. Stuber received his educational train- ing in the Wakefield Public School, and at the early age of eleven years started out to make his own way in the world. Single-handed, he established a florist business, and in the years which have fol- lowed, he has built this business up from a small beginning to one of large proportions. He founded the business in the year 1888, at No. 245 East Two Hundred and Thirty-third Street, and later opened showrooms at No. 3644 Jerome Avenue, and for twenty-two consecutive years has remained success- fully at this location. His retail store was at first located at No. 245 East Two Hundred and Thirty- third Street, where his hothouses are now located, and when he shortly after removed to Jerome Ave- nue, his was the first shop of its kind ever to open its doors on that avenue. Mr. Stuber also has large hothouses located at No. 97 Huntsbridge Road, Yonkers, and here, for more than two decades, he has carried on a flourishing wholesale, retail, and large cemetery trade. Mr. Stuber has been successful in the florist trade solely through his own merits and by reason of his own great ability, efficiency, perse- verance, and tireless industry. He is deeply patri- otic and public spirited, but was rejected for physical reasons when he attempted to enlist for service in the Spanish-American War. Fraternally, he has been an active member of Lily Lodge, No. 345, Free and Accepted Masons, for twenty-one years, and is also a member in good standing of Metropolitan Chapter, No. 140, Royal Arch Masons. He also holds active membership in the Schuetzen Verein, the Steuben Society, the Harlem Schuetzen Verein, the Municipal Business Men's Association, and the New York City Florists' Club. His religious affiliation is given to the Lutheran Church of Woodlawn, of which he is a regular attendant and a liberal supporter. He also contributes generously of his means to several local charities and benevolences, and is always ready and willing to cooperate in any worthy movement which has as its design the advancement or improvement of The Bronx, its environs, its conditions, or its insti- tutions.
Gottlob H. Stuber was married in The Bronx, on June 9, 1903, to Sophie Richter, a daughter of John and Margaret Richter, both of whom, erstwhile citi- zens of The Bronx, are long since deceased. Gottlob H. and Sophie (Richter) Stuber are the parents of two sons: 1. Frederick B. Stuber, born on July 5, 1904. 2. Jack H. Stuber, born on March 15, 1906. Both of these sons are at present (1926) assisting their father in the carrying on of his large florist trade under whose expert tutelage they are familiar- izing themselves with all of the many intricate de- tails, phases and countless ramifications of the busi- ness. Mr. Stuber and his sons maintain their busi- ness headquarters at No. 245 East Two Hundred and Thirty-third Street, The Bronx.
CHARLES J. ANDERSON-Coming alone as an immigrant from Sweden at the age of thirteen, Charles J. Anderson, unaided by anyone, has estab- lished himself as an expert stone cutter, whose work is recognized and valued by the company that em- ploys him. As one of the best workers in the Williams Stone Company in The Bronx, Mr. Anderson is now engaged in furnishing the cut stone for the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, at One Hundred and Tenth Street, New York City.
Charles J. Anderson was born in Sweden, September 12, 1873, as were his parents, Andrus and Marie Louise Anderson. He attended the schools of his na- tive town and outside of school hours worked on the farms in the vicinity. Realizing, however, that greater opportunity lay in the land beyond the seas, he left home at the age of thirteen and came alone to Amer- ica. He joined his brother who had a farm in Green- wich, Rhode Island and for two years worked with him. He left this farm to enter the employ of the New York, Providence & Boston Railroad for a short period when he decided to come to New York City and cast in his lot with the Metropolis. Here. he worked on the first power house built in South Brooklyn at Fifty-Second Street and First Avenue, helping to build the foundation. He held similar jobs on other power houses in Brooklyn and Staten Island and eventually drifted to Astoria where he worked for some time erecting boilers for Babcock & Wilcox on the Steinway Power House. He was also for a time motorman on the Steinway Railroad. His next work was erecting trolley lines in New Jersey but he re- turned to New York City to take up the trade of stone cutting and which he has followed ever since. For a number of years he has been in the employ of the Williams Stone Company, one of the largest con- cerns of its kind in The Bronx. Mr. Anderson has made himself prominent among the Swedish-Ameri- cans of The Bronx. He is one of the leading members of the Swedish Society.
Mr. Anderson married in New York, June 27, 1897, Sarah Quinn, daughter of Thomas Quinn, who was born in Corafen, County Galway, Ireland, in 1832, and died in April, 1901, and Sarah (Ronan) Quinn, born in Glenmaddo, County Galway, Ireland, in 1837, and died in her eighty-fifth year. They became the parents of the following children: 1. Andrew Joseph, born in the year 1898; married Ellen Mor- tenson Christenson and they are the parents of one child, Charles Andrew, born January 10, 1925.
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2. Theresa Marie, born September 27, 1900; married Thomas Coleman and they have one child, Sarah Ann, born December 30, 1925. 3. Charles Patrick, born January 27, 1902; married Ethel Patrovich. 4. Thomas Francis, born April 27, 1904. 5. William Aaron, born November 12, 1914.
MAX HELLER, who is engaged in the hardwood floor business in The Bronx, is a son of Abraham and Mollie Heller, the father, a tailor, having died De- cember 5, 1925, in New York City, the mother still living. Abraham and Mollie Heller had three sons, Louis, Isadore and Jacob, and a daughter Minnie, wife of Harry Fried, in addition to Max.
Max Heller was born in Minsk, Russia, and came to the United States at the age of eleven. He attended Public Schools Nos. 65 and 62 in New York City, and in 1912 started to work in the hardwood floor busi- ness in the factory of James McBride, later becom- ing associated with Harry Fried (q. v.) in the same line of business. In 1918 he left Mr. Fried, and af- ter trying to enlist and being rejected, went to work as a builder in various cantonments. After the war he started out in the hardwood floor business for him- self, then for a time rejoined Mr. Fried, but at pres- ent he is again in the businees for himself. Mr. Hel- ler is a member of Mount Moriah Lodge, No. 27, Free and Accepted Masons; of the Knights of Pythias, and of the Hebrew Institute of University Heights.
Max Heller married in The Bronx, on April 9, 1922, Pauline Sheff, daughter of Leon and Bessie Sheff, the father a jeweler and they have one son, Robert, born June 29, 1923.
SIEBRAND H. NIEWENHOUS - From his father, Siebrand H. Niewenhous inherited a love of construction and skill in execution; and from him also he learned to use both most advantageously. As a re- sult he has played a conspicuous part in building up The Bronx, and many of its finest and most impres- sive structures are the handiwork of companies with which he is connected in an executive capacity. Sie- brand H. Niewenhous was born in New York City on January 30, 1888. He was the son of Siebrand and Elizabeth (Haffen) Niewenhous, and brother of Mathias Niewenhous (q. v.). His father was a suc- cessful builder, who died on February 28, 1914, and his mother was the sister of Louis F., John, Martin, and Henry Haffen.
Like his brother, Siebrand H. Niewenhous was ed- ucated in his native city, at Fordham Preparatory School, and he attended Fordham University for one year. His whole business career has been connected with the building industry. He is president and di- rector of Melrose Courts, Inc .; vice-president and chairman of the board of directors of Niewenhous Company, Inc .; vice-president and director of the No. 900 Concourse Company, owners of the Concourse Plaza Apartment Hotel; president and director of Niewenhous Brothers, Inc. The companies under his management have erected some fine and dignified buildings in The Bronx, including two banks, many school buildings for use as colleges, and one for the New York City Board of Education; the huge new wholesale terminal market of The Bronx, and some five million dollars worth of apartment houses. A
list of these by name is available in the accompanying sketch of Mathias Niewenhous. It would be difficult to find other builders who have so largely contributed to the modernizing and populating of a new section of a city.
Siebrand H. Niewenhous married, in New York City, June 11, 1912, Helen A. Roux. Mr. and Mrs. Niewenhous are the parents of three children: Eliza- beth, born in 1914; Siebrand, Jr., born in 1916; and Isabel Roux, born in 1920.
MATHIAS NIEWENHOUS-One of the most constructive and farsighted business men of The Bronx, to whose rapid growth he has materially con- tributed, is Mathias Niewenhous, builder and real es- tate operator. Many of the large and impressive buildings of that district are the results of his efforts. Mathias Niewenhous was born in New York City, on September 12, 1891. His father, Siebrand Niewen- hous, also a builder, died February 28, 1914. His mother, Elizabeth (Haffen) Niewenhous, was the sis- ter of Louis F., John, Martin and Henry Haffen.
Mathias Niewenhous grew up in his native city and was educated at Fordham Preparatory School. He began his business career in the building industry, where he has remained, widening his activities to in- clude a number of prominent organizations. Mr. Niew- enhous is president and director of the Niewenhous Company, Inc .; director of the No. 900 Concourse Company, Inc .; vice-president of the Bullitt Realty Corporation; vice-president and secretary of the Mel- rose Courts, Inc .; vice-president of the Niewenhous Brothers, Inc. His companies have been connected with the erection of the $7,500,000 Bronx Whole- sale Terminal Market, a new departure in arch- itecture. They have also built the following: Con- course Plaza Hotel; Public School No. 80; Yorkville Bank; The Bronx County Trust Company; and some five million dollars' worth of apartment houses in The Bronx. Outside their own neighborhood his com- panies have built St. Clement's College at Saratoga, New York, Mt. St. Alphonsus Seminary, St. Clare's Settlement, Chapel Boulevard College at New Ro- chelle. The Empire City Savings Bank is another handsome structure to their credit, as is that of the Hill-Ware Company, a bakery. In spite of so ac- tive a business life, Mr. Niewenhous is a popular member of the New York Athletic Club, the Rotary Club, and the Wingfoot Golf Club. He is a member of the Roman Catholic church.
Mr. Niewenhous married, in New York City, on February 22, 1916, Edith Hyatt, daughter of Lorenzo Dow and Clara (Aue) Hyatt. Mr. and Mrs. Niewen- hous are the parents of four children: 1. Dorothy, born October 17, 1917. 3. Mathias, Jr., born April 13, 1920. 3. Margery, born November 4, 1921. 4. Theodore, born February 14, 1923.
DANIEL J. HICKEY-Twenty-two years of ex- perience in the trucking business has given Daniel J. Hickey a well deserved place in Bronx County as one of the successful business men in his community. Since 1920 he has had his own trucking and rigging business on Canal Place. Prior to that he was for six- teen years engaged in various phases of the business he now pursues. Mr. Hickey entered the trucking
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business when he was only fourteen years old. Born in The Bronx August 10, 1890, the son of a contrac- tor, Mr. Hickey has made this community his life- long home.
Daniel J. Hickey is the son of William and Cather- ine Hickey, both of whom were natives of Ireland. They came to America while very young and settled in The Bronx where the father became a successful contractor. Daniel J. Hickey was one of five children born to this couple. His first job-was as a truck driver in 1904 while the young man was only fourteen years old. He rose to the position of superintendent for Callan Brothers, truckers, in 1911, and held that position until 1920. Since then he has had his own trucking and rigging business. Daniel J. Hickey was educated in the public school that stands at the cor- ner of College Avenue and One Hundred and Forty- fifth Street. He is a member of the James Brown As- sociation, and fraternizes with Marion Lodge, No. 278, Free and Accepted Masons.
Daniel J. Hickey married in The Bronx, May 6, 1912, Edna Weinz, daughter of Charles Weinz. They are the parents of one daughter, Geraldine.
ARTHUR BAUMANN-Organizer and prime mover in building up the largest furniture store in The Bronx, New York City, Arthur Baumann, presi- dent of Baumann & Company, No. 2939 Third Ave- nue, New York City, has played in general a signifi- cant part in the development of that section. Mr. Baumann was born in Arad, Austria-Hungary, Janu- ary 10, 1876, son of Benedict and Elise (Belgrader) Baumann. The father was born in Prague, Bohemia. in 1830, and died in 1893 in Arad, in which town the mother was born in 1841. She died in 1914, in her seventy-third year, after rearing ten children to ma- turity before a death occurred in the family; and all her children married well and live prosperous and useful lives, thus forming a very real monument to the wisdom, love and patience of their mother.
Arthur Baumann attended public school in his na- tive town, and began to work at the age of eleven as apprentice, without pay, to cabinetmakers in order to learn the trade. After three years he mastered all the fine points of the industry. At sixteen and a half years of age, he migrated to the United States, where he entered the employ of his cousin, a mem- ber of the firm of furniture dealers in New York City entitled S. Baumann & Brother. For twelve years he remained with that firm, learning all the organization and executive details of the furniture business in New York City. In 1904, thoroughly experienced, there- fore, and with the additional asset of a working knowledge of cabinetmaking, he established the fur- niture business of Baumann & Company in The Bronx, in association with Abraham Pachner (q. v.). It is not surprising that the business expanded rapidly and wholesomely. The details of the changes and additions to its housing facilities best illustrate the growth of the business. The small frame building, twenty-five by sixty feet, in which the enterprise was first housed, was enlarged by taking over the ad- joining building, also a frame structure, fronting on Third Avenue, twenty-five by seventy feet. Then the lot to the rear was purchased, the frame building occupying it and later razed, and a new structure
erected, measuring forty-five by one hundred feet, two stories in height, Annex No. 1. The next step was a building, twenty-five by one hundred feet, two stories and basement, Annex No. 2. The business grew so rapidly that even this space became con- stricted. Soon a third addition in the shape of a modern five-story building was erected, with a front- age on Third Avenue measuring one hundred by one hundred feet. These buildings, with the basement of the last named, give to Baumann & Company 72,000 square feet of floor space, and they have a reserve warehouse, four stories and basement of fifty by one hundred feet, at One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Street, seventy feet east of Melrose Avenue. It is now one of the largest furniture stores in New York. Mr. Baumann is, moreover, a man of great kindliness, with broad human interests, and this atmosphere pervades the establishment. He was one of the or- ganizers and is a vice-president and director of the Melrose National Bank of The Bronx, which he with his associates started to organize in the fall of 1925, a beautiful bank building being built and completed in 1926 at No. 560 Melrose Avenue, corner of One Hundred and Fiftieth Street. During the World War he was active in all the Liberty Loan drives and all World War activities.
Mr. Baumann is a member of Arcana Lodge, No. 246, New York City, Free and Accepted Masons, and New Rochelle Lodge, No. 756, Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks. His clubs are the Lions of The Bronx and the Piano Club of New York City.
On November 10, 1903, in New York City, Arthur Baumann married Sophie Pachner, daughter of Isaac and Tina (Schilling) Pachner. Her father, born in Gnesen, Germany, February 10, 1852, migrated to this country at the age of fourteen and became a successful manufacturer before his death, April 23, 1920; and her mother, born in Posen, Germany, April 17, 1854, died February 26, 1908. To Mr. and Mrs. Baumann were born the following children: Gertrude Beatrice, July 14, 1904; Ruth Mildred, August 21, 1907; and Elizabeth Helen, November 6, 1916.
ABRAHAM PACHNER-A leading citizen and business man of The Bronx, New York City, Abra- ham Pachner is associated with Baumann & Com- pany, furniture dealers, as secretary and treasurer. His ability and energy have done much to further that business. A son of Isaac and Tina (Schilling) Pachner, he was born in New York City, November 7, 1879. His father, a native of Gnesen, Germany, came to this country at the age of fourteen and built up a successful manufacturing business in New York City, which he conducted until his death in 1920. His mother, born in Posen, Germany, came to America at a very early age, and passed away in 1908.
Abraham Pachner attended Public School No. 77, at Eighty-sixth Street and First Avenue, also George White School, Seventy-fifth Street and Third Avenue, from which he was graduated. He later entered the College of the City of New York, and supple- mented his schooling with a business course at Packard's Business College. His business career began in association with his father in 1897, in which connection he remained for several years.
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In 1904, Arthur Baumann and Mr. Pachner opened a furniture store at the corner of Third Avenue and One Hundred and Fifty-second Street. In the be- ginning the venture was modest and the stock was housed in a small frame building containing about 3,000 square feet. Prosperity accompanied the enter- prise, and as the business has grown, the quarters have been enlarged to care for increase in stock and activity, and now the store occupies a building five stories high, with a floor space of 60,000 square feet. It is modern in structure and conveniences and well appointed throughout. Mr. Pachner and Mr. Baumann have made a point of personal ac- quaintance with all their customers, with whose desires and circumstances they have familiarized themselves and whom they serve accordingly. Since both are naturally courteous and sympathetic, as well as good business men, they have built up a large and satis- fied clientele. The enterprise plays an important part in the business life of The Bronx. Mr. Pachner is a m'ember of the Broadmoor Country Club.
In May, 1912, Mr. Pachner married Adah Her- mann, daughter of the late Lemuel Hermann, of San Francisco, California. Two children have blessed this union: Marianne Grace and Edmond Abe.
HARRY IRVING SMITH-One of the veteran business men and politicians of The Bronx is Harry Irving Smith, one of the most expert authorities, and one of the foremost dealers in manure fertilizers in the United States. He was born June 4, 1848, in Naugatuck, Connecticut. His father was Hubbard Smith, a painting and decorating contractor for many years. His mother was Ann (Potter) Smith. His parents moved to West Haven, Connecticut, when he was six years old, and there he began his education in the public school. He afterwards at- tended R. Quincy Brown's private school in West Haven, and followed with a course in Wells' Busi- ness College, New Haven. At sixteen years he be- gan work with his father who was a leader in his calling. While yet serving an apprenticeship with his father, the call to engage in the thrilling life of a railroad employee overcame him, and he entered the employ of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad as a brakeman. This was in 1871. After a period of breaking on freight trains, he became a passenger train brakeman. After a few years he was promoted conductor, and had the satisfaction of taking charge of the trains of the New York, New Haven & Hartford, running between New York and Boston. He came to The Bronx, and while engaged in the railroad service he began to form the nucleus of the business to which he was to devote the latter years of his life. He had already devoted thirty years to the service of the railroad when he estab- lished the business in which he has become a leader for the United States. He specializes in manure fertilizers of which he is an extensive shipper, and gatherer. Mr. Smith has been a member of the general committee of Tammany Hall for ten years.
Harry I. Smith married, March 4, 1871, in New Haven, Connecticut, Ellen Carroll, of New Haven. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of Rheta Irving Smith; Emma Carroll Smith, who married G. Kel- logg, of New York; and Clarence Smith, who married
Leone Wheeler, of Bridgeport, Connecticut. They reside in North Pelham, Westchester County, where he takes an active interest in local civic affairs. The address of Mr. Smith is No. 164 Lincoln Avenue, The Bronx, and his home address is No. 874 East One Hundred and Fifty-sixth Street, The Bronx.
ABRAHAM WOUK-As vice-president and gen- eral manager of the Fox Square Laundry Company of The Bronx, Abraham Wouk is associated with one of the most modern laundries of New York City and one that has had a steady and substantial growth since its organization in 1911. Mr. Wouk is a member of a number of local organizations and is well known for his interest in civic and philanthropic projects. He is a son of Wolf and Esther Wouk, his father a rabbi who died in Russia in 1917, his mother now living in New York City.
Abraham Wouk was born in Minsk, Russia, July 18, 1888, and was educated in Russia, learning French, German and Latin through private study and being especially well versed in the Talmud. His linguistic studies in his native country greatly sim- plified the problem of learning English when he came to the United States in 1905 at the age of eighteen. Ever since that date Mr. Wouk has associated withı the laundry business, and since the organization of the Fox Square Laundry Company, which was first opened in 1911 on West Farms Road, he has been ac- tively connected with its development. The laundry has had a rapid growth; in 1917 on capital borrowed from Henry Morganthau, ex-Ambassador to Turkey for the United States, the business was expanded, and not only has this debt been paid off, but in Jan- uary, 1926, the laundry was moved into a fine new building of two stories, so planned that it may be en- larged into a four-story structure as soon as such a step is justified. The building is forty by one hun- dred and sixty feet and provided with equipment of the most up-to-date variety. It was dedicated on Jan- uary 29, the ceremony being conducted by Rabbi Shai. Mr. Wouk holds the offices of vice-president and gen- eral manager of the concern and has been largely re- sponsible for the increasing business that has resulted from the high standards of service consistently main- tained. He is a member of the Public Laundry Own- ers' Association, the State Laundrymen's Association and the Laundry National Association. As a son of a rabbi and an ardent student of the Talmud, Mr. Wouk has always taken an active interest in relig- ious affairs, and not only is he among the leading members of the Minsker Congregation, but was the moving spirit behind the building of the synagogue and was chairman and treasurer supervising its af- fairs for a number of years. Through his efforts a Talmud Torah was formed with a hundred children receiving instruction. Mr. Wouk is active also in the affairs of the Harlem Home of the Aged and the Home Daughters of Jacob, and is a member of the Minsker Independent Society. A staunch Democrat in politics, he holds membership in the Star Demo- cratic Club and the Poconto Democratic Club.
Abraham Wouk married, in New York City, Janu- ary 1, 1911, Esther Levine, daughter of Rabbi Mendel Levine, a leading rabbi in Minsk. Mr. and Mrs. Wouk have three children: Irene, Herman A., and Israel V.
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SAMUEL WORMSER-After spending his early youth in his native country, Germany, Samuel Worinser concluded that he would cross the seas to America, the land of promise, and did so. After en- gaging in another business for many years he entered the real estate field and as a realtor has become an important factor in the affairs of The Bronx.
Samuel Wormser, son of Israel Wormser, a native of Baden, Germany, and Matilda (Epstein) Worm- ser, is himself a native of the village of Rust, Baden, Germany, where he was born on June 9, 1868. Sam- uel Wormser studied in the public and high schools in the town of his birth, where he lived until he came to America. At the age of fifteen, young Wormser became employed as an apprentice in the garment tailoring trade, and after two years' work as a tailor decided, in 1885, when he had attained his seventeenth year to set sail for the United States, which he did, and upon arrival at New York City he there remained for a brief period, and then removed to the town of Rochester, New Hampshire, where he was for the following three years engaged most successfully in the tailoring business. At the expiration of that time, however, he decided to locate elsewhere, and journeyed to Balti- more, Maryland, where he remained for another three years in the tailoring business. As is the case with many who have once resided in New York City, this community appeared so attractive to Mr. Worm- ser that he subsequently returned to the American metropolis and established a tailoring business on Thirtieth Street between Second and Third avenues, where he remained for seven years. He then removed his establishment to Seventy-ninth Street and Lex- ington Avenue, where he continued as a tailor for eight more years. In 1906, Mr. Wormser sold his business and become engaged in the real estate busi- ness, having been first located in the downtown sec- tion of New York, but when the amazing realty de- velopments began in The Bronx, he romved his offi- ces to this section and has since that time been most successful. Mr. Wormser frequently buys property on his own account for investment and building. He is the owner and operator of the properties at One Hundred and Sixty-fourth Street and Cauldwell Ave- nue and also the premises at One Hundred and Sixty- fourth Street and Washington Avenue, The Bronx, and is much interested in numerous other develop- ments in various sections of The Bronx. Associated with him in the real estate business is his son, Milton, at the office of the firm which are located at No. 513 East One Hundred and Sixty-first Street, The Bronx.
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