USA > New York > Bronx County > The Bronx and its people; a history, 1609-1927, Volume III > Part 66
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Scottish Rite Masonry; Mecca Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; Bronx Lodge, No. 871, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; and the National League of Masonic Clubs. He was the founder and is a past president of The Bronx Rotary Club; past president of The Bronx Grid Iron Club; member of the Metropolis, Oak- ridge Golf, and Piano clubs of New York, and The Bronx Fellowship Club (Jewish). He is a trustee of the Concourse Center of Israel and a member of the Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun.
Among the great number of congratulatory letters, news articles, etc., received by Commissioner Gold- man on his appointment to his present office, it might be well to mention that the Electrical Board of Trade of New York forwarded to its thousands of members a special letter, known as a "letter for future reference," as follows:
Three cheers for our (Electrical) Al!
On Friday, January 1, our good, tried and true friend, Albert Goldman, was sworn in as Commissioner of the De- partment of Plant and Structures of the City of New York. No better man could have been selected for this important city office. To attempt to tell even in a brief way what Goldman has done for the electrical industry would prevent anything else going into a number of Service Letters to come. Those of us who have the privilege of knowing lıim intimately realize that recognition of his great ability was bound to come, and we are as pleased over it; yes, per- haps more so than he is himself. From the day that the Electrical Board of Trade was first thought of, Albert Gold- man was right on his toes for it. He has served on the Board of Governors since its inception, and for the past year as chairman of our Finance Committee, has earned the thanks and laid the foundation for its success. Always ready to of all. It was Goldman who proposed the membership drive work, always ready to help, always encouraging others with his genial manner, he inspires implicit confidence. If he nods his head, you can bank on it. He's a big man just started on his way. We are all proud of him, and there is not a man in the industry who is better fitted to tackle this job. The industry is back of him to a man. The citizens of this city are to be congratulated upon securing the services of Albert Goldman.
Commissioner Goldman is unmarried. He has his residence at No. 900 Grand Concourse, The Bronx.
JOHN WILLIAM MARSELL-One of the sub- stantial business firms of The Bronx, Gilberti and Marsell, undertakers, enjoys the fine reputation and wide public esteem of the section, which comes not only from its excellent spirit and quality of service, but also as a heritage from the business in the same line conducted by the father of John William Marsell. Trained by his able father, Mr. Marsell is thoroughly conversant with every department of his enterprise and with all the conditions prevailing in The Bronx, for he has been active in both since he was fourteen years old.
John William Marsell was born September 15, 1891, in the Harlem, section of New York City, son of Peter Anthony and Elizabeth Grime Marsell. The father, born in Moliterno, province of Basilicata, Italy, came to the United States at the age of seven, touring the world with his violin as his means of making a livelihood. As a young man, he worked in the mines of Pennsylvania by day and played his violin by night in order to acquire enough money to make a real start in life. His wife was born in Ashton, England. The father finally established a prosperous undertaking business in The Bronx, which he operated until his death, July 15, 1914.
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John William Marsell was educated at Public School No. 39, under Principal Theodore Barringer, and at Public School No. 24. At fourteen, he began to work for his father in the funeral parlors at No. 601 Morris Avenue, the first location of the business. Two years later came the move to No. 2454 Arthur Avenue, where the enterprise prospered for seven years under the older m'an, and for twelve years under his son, who succeeded him. Until 1926, then, John William Marsell operated alone the business established by his father, and then took as partner Frank Gilberti. Under the firm name of Gilberti and Marsell, undertakers, the concern has since been conducted, their funeral parlors being located at No. 603 Crescent Avenue, in a modern building. The best of service and the highest busi- ness standards characterize the conduct of the com- pany, which reflects Mr. Marsell's own high ideals. He is a member of the Foresters of America and an independent order, the Sons of Italy.
In October, 1914, in the Church of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, John William Marsell was married, by Rev. Joseph A. Coffuzzi, to Minnie Gallo, daughter of Joseph and Claire (Gerland) Gallo, the former born in Italy, the latter in the Yorkville section of New York City. Children: Peter Joseph; Eliza- beth; and Rita Claire Marsell.
WILLIAM PHILLIPS-One of the broad-gauged and constructive business men of The Bronx, New York City, is William Phillips, president of William Phillips, Inc. This firm can be relied on for a fine quality of interior woodwork, hand-carving and panelling, interior decorating, and high-grade store fixtures, and is located at No. 705 Whitlock Avenue, The Bronx.
Mr. Phillips was born in New York City, Novem- ber 26, 1893, son of David B. and Yetta Phillips, both residing in The Bronx, where the father has retired after sixteen years in the grocery business. He came from Russia in 1885.
The son completed the New York public school course in 1909, graduated from the Hebrew Tech- nical Institute in 1912, and attended the Harlem Evening High School. His whole working life has been devoted to the line of business he is now engaged in. From 1912 to 1921 he was employed by others, but in the latter year he established a business of his own at No. 292 East Thirteenth Street, where he remained until May, 1925, when he moved to his present location. He is well qualified both as an executive and as a practical cabinetmaker, and his plant is largely concerned with working for high class residences, where hand-carving and pan- elling are required, and with supplying a good quality of cabinet work and fixtures for stores and offices. The business was incorporated in 1921, the officers besides Mr. Phillips being: vice-president, Alex Rokitzky; treasurer, Louis Biancheri; secretary, John Anthony; and assistant secretary, John Pastore. Mr. Phillips is a member of The Bronx Board of Trade and of the Cabinetmakers' Employment Association.
In New York City, on March 8, 1915, William Phillips married Rose Govern, daughter of the late Abraham and Guta Govern. Children: Justin, born January 19, 1916; and Howard, born in May, 1921.
ALBERT H. LIEBENAU-One of the estab- lished business men of The Bronx who has improved the opportunity created for him by his father, is Albert H. Liebenau, wholesale butcher, public official and important factor in the life of the community. He was born December 23, 1873, the son of Albert and Mary (Burns) Liebenau.
Mr. Liebenau was educated in the public and high schools of The Bronx and followed this with a course in business college. As soon as he left school, he became associated with his father, already the head of an established wholesale butchering and slaughtering business in New York City. He took over the management of this business at the time of his father's death and has conducted it ever since. His interest in politics and public affairs ever has been active, and he has served as superintendent of public buildings and offices; as deputy sheriff of The Bronx; and has been deputy water commissioner since 1907. He is a veteran of the Seventh Regi- ment, National Guard; a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Fraternal Or- der of Eagles. He is also a member of The Bronx Board of Trade, and the Old Timers' Club, He never married. The business address of Mr. Liebenau is No. 1932 Arthur Avenue, The Bronx; his house address is No. 3492 Park Avenue, The Bronx.
JAMES BERNARD MCGRATH, M. D .- Dr. James Bernard McGrath, general practitioner at No. 315 East Two Hundred and Fourth Street, The Bronx, since 1922, has built up a most satisfactory practice and justified a considerable investment in his scientific education, which was obtained mostly at the University of Maine, at Orono, and Fordham University, New York City.
Dr. McGrath was born March 5, 1896, in North- ampton, Massachusetts, son of Robert McGrath, Northampton farmer, born in Ireland, and Margaret (Moran) McGrath, a native of Leeds, Massachu- setts. He attended the Northampton public schools, where he made a very creditable record, and in the class of 1914 graduated from the Northampton High School. He then matriculated at the University of Maine, taking the two-year pre-medical course, at the end of which he entered Fordham University Medical College. He became very much attached to medical studies and laboratory work, and gradu- ated in 1920 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He then served his interneship at Fordham Hospital, where he received valuable further training during eighteen months. In 1922 he began the practice of his profession in the same house where he is located today, which is as indicated above. His neighbor- hood and outside practice is large and his handling of it fully justifies the confidence placed in him by the ailing.
Dr. McGrath is a valued member of The Bronx County Medical Society and the Fordham University Alumni Association.
He married, September 17, 1924, in the Fordham University Chapel, the Rev. Father Francis O'Lough- lin officiating, Estella Agnes Sweeney, daughter of William and Estella (Wallace) Sweeney. Her father, a native of the west side of Manhattan, moved to The Bronx in 1907, and resides at No. 394 East
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May Hause
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One Hundred and Ninety-third Street; her mother was a native of Manhattan as well.
JUDGE WILLIAM EPHRAIM MORRIS-For more than forty-one years Judge William Ephraim Morris has been engaged in legal practice in New York City, where he is now (1927) a judge of the Municipal Court. Judge Morris was admitted to the New York State bar September, 23, 1886, and has been continuously engaged in practice since that time.
William' E. Morris, father of Judge Morris, was born in Rochester, New York, in 1831, and died in Boston, Massachusetts, October 11, 1878, son of Halstead, who was born in Morristown, New Jer- sey, and Hannah (Tooley) Morris; and grandson of Stephen Morris, a native of Morristown, New Jersey. He married Lovina Tibbetts, who was born in Brooksville, Maine, daughter of Noah and Elvina T. (Bolton) Tibbetts, and granddaughter of David and Katie (Condon) Bolton, of Brooksville, Maine.
Judge William Ephraim Morris, son of William E. and Lovina (Tibbetts) Morris, was born in Bos- ton, Massachusetts, May 1, 1861, and received his education in the public schools of Boston and in the English High School there. After leaving school he entered the United States Army, as a member of the Seventh United States Cavalry, where he served for two years and three months, during which time he was a participant in the battle of Little Big Horn (the Custer massacre), and received dur- ing that engagement, a gunshot wound in the left breast. After the completion of two years and three months of service he returned to New York City and entered the University of the City of New York, now New York University, and began the study of law. He continued his studies until he was ad- mitted to the bar, September 23, 1886. The following day, September 24, he opened his office for practice, and it is interesting to note that his first case was a case in the Federal Court, a case which is still pending (1927). Judge Morris is the only survivor of those who participated in that case. During the forty-one years which have passed since Judge Morris was admitted to the bar he has been con- tinuously and successfully engaged in legal work. He continued his private practice until he was elected a judge of the Municipal Court of New York City, in which capacity he is still serving.
For the past twenty-five years, Judge Morris has been a member of Bronx Council, Royal Arcanum. He is also a member of Bronx Lodge, No. 871, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; and of the Order of Indian Wars, composed of ex-service officers and medal men. He is a member of The Bronx Bar Association, a member and one of the organizers of the North End Democratic Club, of which he was the first president; and an executive member of Tammany Hall, 35th District, from 1906 to 1912.
Judge William Ephraim . Morris was married, in Calvary Baptist Church on Twenty-third Street, New York City, by Rev. Dr. Robert S. McArthur, Decem- ber 7, 1879, to Sarah Abbie Kench, daughter of Captain John Edward Kench, a native of Brooks- ville, Maine, who was a deep sea sailor and captain of the brig "Mary Means," and of Abbie (Cousins)
Kench, who was born in Brooksville, Maine, daugh- ter of Jacob Cousins, who was in Captain Emer- son's company, Massachusetts Militia, during the War of 1812, and was a pensioner of that war. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Morris was Sar- gent Thomas Kench, who scaled the wall of Quebec with General Wolfe and afterwards became color bearer for Benedict Arnold. He later settled on Swans Island, Maine, where he was the only in- habitant, and his last years were spent in Brooks- ville, Maine. In the State House at Boston there is commemoration of his heroic deeds. Mr. and Mrs. Morris are the parents of one son, William Ephraim, Jr., born August 22, 1880, who married Edith Coombs. They have three children: Edna May, who is a student in Barnard College, class of 1927; William Ephraim (4); and George Elwell. The family home is at No. 2780 Pond Place, The Bronx.
MAX HAUSLE-To the architect who has the public confidence, is entrusted the task and privilege of expressing in brick and stone the civic aspirations of a community. These find expression in both public and private structures which also serve to educate the artistic sensibilities of the people. This function has long been given by the citizens of The Bronx, New York, to Max Hausle, architect. He devotes his time and uncommon ability to that borough and to Westchester. For thirty years he has been an important factor in the improvement of that section, long as an assistant to Michael J. Gar- vin, and for the past decade as his successor.
Max Hausle was born April 19, 1879, in Schaff- hausen, Switzerland, son of Peter and Carolina (Os- pel) Hausle. The father, born in Switzerland in 1829, died there in 1905, and through his success as a builder inspired his son to the study of architecture. The mother, born in the principality of Lichtenberg in 1832, died in 1900. The son attended the public school in his native city and later entered college, where he pursued the study of architecture. He then took up the study of all types of building and all the various related trades in order to understand his subject from every angle.
His career as an architect began when he entered the studio of Jacob Stamm, architect, where he gained wide experience in planning, designing, and draw- ing. After four years there, Mr. Hausle went to Zurich, Switzerland, where he worked at his pro- fession for a few months. He then determined to seek opportunity in the United States. In 1897 he settled in The Bronx, New York, and became asso- ciated with a leading architect there, Michael J. Garvin, of No. 3307 Third Avenue, who designed miany of the public buildings for the city, churches, and commercial structures. In 1918, on the death of Mr. Garvin, Mr. Hausle continued the conduct of the business they had so long operated together. Mr. Hausle has had his offices at the same address for thirty years. Many beautiful public buildings in The Bronx were constructed from his designs: the Municipal Court House in Westchester, the Magistrates' Court House in The Bronx, The Bronx Borough Asphalt plant with its immense docks, the borough garage, Highbridge Monument, and all the well-planned comfort stations throughout The Bronx.
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Many private and commercial buildings were also designed by Mr. Hausle: the Consumers' Ice Plant in West Farms; the Stump Memorial Chapel on Westchester Avenue; and many private residences in The Bronx and in Westchester County. Mr. Hausle is a member of Harmony Lodge, No. 199, Free and Accepted Masons, and three clubs, includ- ing the Schnorer, of The Bronx, the Chippewa Demo- cratic, of the East Bronx, and the Regular High- bridge Democratic. His professional affiliation is with the New York Society of Architects.
GEORGE DONNELLY-A man of tremendous energy and great versatility, George Donnelly, of No. 2710 Creston Avenue, The Bronx, real estate expert of the law and real estate department of the Board of Transportation, has accomplished notable things for the citizens of New York and of his resi- dence neighborhood. Mr. Donnelly has been in the service of the city for some twenty years, in various capacities, having attained his present position after a succession of steps, the first of which found him acting as errand boy in a printing establishment. His greatest triumph came seven years ago when he organized the Fair Play Rent Association, the first local grouping of tenants to withstand the onslaughts
of grasping landlords. On February 22, 1920, he formed the body and as its president was sent the next month to Albany to appeal to the Legislature for remedial laws. By appealing to Governor Smith he obtained a special session and a gratifying re- vision of laws, to the end that the tenants received many benefits the landlords had previously withheld from them. He had conducted such a vigorous cam- paign that at the time of the greatest interest the membership totaled 2,500. His work of late con- sists of handling the real estate for the Board of Transportation, at No. 49 Lafayette Street.
George Donnelly was born October 20, 1871, on Second Avenue, between Twenty-second and Twenty- third streets, New York City. His father, John Don- nelly, native of County Tyrone, Ireland, and con- nected with the Franklin Bank Note Company, died in 1904, thus closing a career of much usefulness, and his mother, Rebecca (Megahey) Donnelly, was a native of County Cavan, Ireland.
Mr. Donnelly attended Public School No. 40, on Twenty-third Street, Public School No. 57, on East One Hundred and Fifteenth Street, and the Harlem Evening High School, between Second and Third avenues, on One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Street. He then obtained a position with the printing shop. after which, in 1888, he went with the realty firm of Scott & Myers at No. 146 Broadway, where he worked faithfully four years, until 1892. He then entered the building business and remained therein four years. In 1896 the "bicycle fad" struck the American people, and for seven years, until 1903, when the automobile began to make its appearance and the bicycle dropped out of favor, he sold bicycles. From 1903 to 1906 he served as city marshal on a fee basis and from 1907 to 1910 acted as inspector with the Transit Bureau of the Public Service Com- mission. In January, 1910, he was appointed secre- tary to Borough President Cyrus C. Miller, a posi- tion he filled with great credit to himself and his associates for four years. In December, 1914, he
was reinstated with the Public Service Commission (which later became the Board of Transportation), and has since been in charge of real estate condemned for the purposes of transit. This is a position re- quiring considerable resourcefulness and native abil- ity, which Mr. Donnelly has demonstrated he pos- sesses in large measure. It was while he was engaged in this activity that he crusaded for the tenants in their fight with the landlords, as stated above.
Mr. Donnelly is a consistent Democrat, and belongs to The Bronx Real Estate Board. He is a member of the St. James' Protestant Episcopal Church. For thirty-five years he has been a loyal resident of The Bronx, having removed here April 27, 1892.
Mr. Donnelly married, in The Bronx, Grace E. R. Backes, daughter of Adam and Catherine Backes, residents for many years of Fordham, and they were the parents of a son, George Cyrus Donnelly, born April 6, 1910, deceased December 28, 1922, and in whose memory a memorial was placed in the "chil- dren's transept" of the St. James' Protestant Epis- copal Church.
HENRY BRACKEN-The late Henry Bracken, who for a very considerable number of years held the profession of architect and construction engineer, was a man whose name was closely associated with the political and civic welfare of The Bronx and its broad development. He was born on April 28, 1835, in Magherfelt, near Londonderry, County Derry, Ire- land. Mr. Bracken was a son of Robert and Bessie (Cavanaugh) Bracken, both of whom, now deceased, were natives of Magherfelt, Ireland. Henry Brack- en died on June 27, 1894.
Henry Bracken received his education at the Na- tional school in Londonderry, graduating from there when he was eighteen years of age. Immediately after the completion of these courses of study he came to this country in company with one William Simpson who later became very well known on the Bowery, and with Robert Steele, both of whom came from the same part of Ireland. He settled, first, in Manhattan where he began work, and while thus engaged he attended night school at the Cooper Union Institute, taking the three-year course in ar- chitecture and engineering. Upon the completion of this course he entered the employ of John Kerby, an architect and builder in the old Tremont section of The Bronx. He remained with Mr. Kerby for quite some time, rising steadily until he had become superintendent of construction. Mr. Bracken by this time, removed with his family to a home they estab- lished at Bathgate Avenue just below One Hundred and Seventy-fourth Street. He later removed to a house he had built at Third Avenue and One Hun- dred and Seventy-eighth Street, and there he re- mained until the elevated railroad was built. He then purchased the old house on Park Avenue and One Hundred and Seventy-eighth Street, and it was there that he remained until he purchased the old Stoney Mansion on Elsmere Place and Marmion Avenue.
The life of Henry Bracken was filled with activity and interest, and he was one of the leaders in all local, civic and political affairs in this part of the city. He was one of the first to advocate that The Bronx be made into a separate borough, and he
Lakeret abillow
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was invited to accept the nomination for the office of first Borough President. He declined, however. He was a man of great poise and sound reasoning, whose counsel and advice were frequently sought by leaders such as Henry D. Purroy who was at that time one of the outstanding men on the political horizon, a staunch Democrat and an able officer. Mr. Bracken was, indeed, closely identified with all the important Democratic campaigns of that era; but in spite of the keenness of his interest he kept in close touch with his own work and profession, taking great interest in mapping out hitherto uncharted sections which have since been consolidated within the borough line. He was an active member of the Tammany Hall General Committee and of the Tam- many Society. He was the first deputy tax com- missioner of The Bronx, and he filled this office with honor to himself and satisfaction to the people over a period of twenty-five consecutive years, right up until the time of his death.
Henry Bracken had married, January 9, 1862, in St. Augustine's Roman Catholic Church, the Rev. Father Stephen Ward officiating, Mary Kerby, a sister of John Kerby, with whom Mr. Bracken was so long associated, and a daughter of John and Molly (McGrath) Kerby, of Ireland. John Kerby, her father, was born during the year 1785 in the town of Nana, Tipperary, Ireland; upon an estate then known as Kerby's Rock, near Newport; and he was a son of John Kerby, 1st. He died in the year 1869. His wife, Molly (McGrath) Kerby, was also born in Nana, Tipperary. Mr. and Mrs. Bracken became the parents of six children: 1. Henry Ed- mund, who died during the year 1905. 2. Mary Agnes. 3. Elizabeth Lorretta, who married John J. Fox, a leading citizen of The Bronx. 4. Matilda Monica. 5. Sarah Cecelia, who married James A. Swallow, an able young engineer of The Bronx. Mr. Swallow died very suddenly in the twenty-ninth year of his age, just eleven months after his mar- riage, and his wife, Sarah Cecelia, died five years later. 6. Frances Veronica, who died in the nine- teenth year of her age.
ROBERT ALOYSIUS DILLON-The person- ality and high professional ideals of Robert Aloy- sius Dillon, attorney-at-law, of The Bronx, have brought him great success and popularity, not only among his fellow-citizens, but among his confreres as well. Besides serving as the defense counsel in important and well-known cases and attaining suc- cess in his general practice, he has proved prosperous in his business undertakings as well.
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