USA > New York > Bronx County > The Bronx and its people; a history, 1609-1927, Volume III > Part 67
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Robert Aloysius Dillon was born on October 2, 1893, on East Ninetieth Street, between First and Second avenues, Manhattan, son of James Edward and Mary Josephine (O'Connor) Dillon, both natives of New York City, where the former was born July 16, 1864, the son of Garrett and Mary Dillon. He was for many years identified with the Police De- partment of New York City, serving under Mayor Gaynor as police commissioner, the highest office in his department within the gift of the mayor, and chief inspector under Mayor Mitchel. His mother, Mary Josephine (O'Connor) Dillon, was a daughter of Edward J. O'Connor.
The son was educated in the public school near
his Manhattan home, at Fordham Preparatory School, and Fordham University, where he com- pleted the academic course. Determining then on a legal career, he pursued his professional studies at Fordham University Law School, graduating in 1917 with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. During the World War, he organized a Maritime insurance company interested in insuring imports and exports and met with such success that he gave all his time to it for a while. In order, therefore, to pursue the profession of his choice, he turned his business over to his brother, who continues successfully to operate it, and resumed the practice of law. He opened offices in The Bronx, where he has resided for many years and has a host of friends. His practice is State-wide, for he specializes in criminal law. One of the important criminal cases in which he served as defense counsel was that of Arthur O'Keefe, the Brooklyn murderer. Another was the Westchester Bank robbery. He spends much time in The Bronx courts where he is popular with both judges and lawyers because of his fairness, fearlessness, and poise in legal matters. An active participant in social and political organizations, he takes part in all movements tending toward the general advance- ment of The Bronx. He belongs to The Bronx Lodge, No. 871, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; The Celtic Council, No. 978, Royal Arcanum; The Catholic Club; The Bronx Bar Association; the Tackamuck Democratic Club; James W. Brown Association; the Foreign Commerce Club, of New York City; the Marine Insurance Club of America; and the International Maritime Brokers League.
On May 14, 1916, at the Holy Name Roman Cath- olic Church, Ninety-sixth Street and Broadway, Rob- ert Aloysius Dillon was married, by Rev. Father Tierney, to Mary Loretta Purdy, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Gilliland) Purdy, both natives of The Bronx. Children: Mary Grace Dillon, born Oc- tober 15, 1918; now attending Ursuline Academy, in The Bronx; Robert Dillon, Jr., born February 20, 1922; and Elizabeth Claire Dillon, born May 15, 1925.
ISAAC SACKMAN-The career of Isaac Sack- man, deputy sheriff of Bronx County, Bergen Build- ing, The Bronx, and resident of No. 550 East One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Street, has been charac- terized by numerous worth-while activities and occu- pations. Beginning as a news boy in Brooklyn at the Broadway and Twenty-third ferries when eight years old, then as cash boy for a commercial house in Manhattan at the age of thirteen years, he became an expert machinist, which trade he followed for many years, and finally was appointed keeper of The Bronx County jail, and then to the position he now holds. Throughout his struggles has existed a noble quality: the willingness to remain single while he toiled to assist his widowed mother in the support and education of eight children. He is prominent in civic and political affairs; as a Democrat holds a responsible organization position, and in every way meets the requirements of a good citizen.
Isaac Sackman was born January 1, 1883, at No. 5 Hester Street, the lower east side of Manhattan Borough, son of Joseph and Rachael (Rock) Sack- man. Joseph Sackman was born in Berlin, Ger-
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many, in 1853, and died in 1902; his mother, born at Berlin in 1856, died in 1923; useful citizens they were, and an inspiration to their ambitious son in his days of tribulation.
Mr. Sackman first attended public school in Lud- low Street, and later at the Christie Street Public School. His parents then removed to the old Four- teenth Ward District in Brooklyn, of which Patrick McCarren was the Democratic leader. He there attended the South Third and the South Fourth Street schools, but the family was so large that he was soon forced to go to work. The children in- cluded the following: 1. Isaac, of whom further. 2. Dora. 3. Hyman, born in February, 1885, mar- ried Mary Williams. 4. Edward, married, and has three children. 5. Harry, married Belle Isaacs and they have a daughter, Justine. 6. Julius, who entered the World War with the 306th Machine Gun com- mand, Company D, attained the rank of sergeant, and was severely wounded in France. 7. David, married. 8. Gussie, also married.
Mr. Sackman obtained a position as cash boy when thirteen for the Ludwig Brothers Company on Four- teenth Street near Sixth Avenue, Manhattan, where he applied himself vigorously for a year, after which he entered the employ of Dempsey & Carroll, sta- tioners, on University Place; he remained here six months, after which he obtained employment in the brass shop of A. Schrader & Sons, at No. 32 Rose Street, where he worked as a machinist three years. He then entered the employment of R. Hoe & Com- pany, well-known printing press manufacturers, at Sheriff and Grand streets, and continued there a year. Next he entered the service of the Standard Oil Company's Pratt Works on Kent Avenue, Long Island City, New York, with which concern he toiled faithfully eleven years. He then became connected with the Brooklyn Navy Yard as a civilian machin- ist, and continued this connection four years, at the conclusion of which he received an appointment as keeper of The Bronx County jail in 1920, and kept this place five years, when he was named deputy sheriff of The Bronx County.
In 1903 Mr. Sackman removed to The Bronx with his mother; since he was the oldest child, the duty of assisting in the care of seven brothers and sisters devolved upon him, and he responded with fine spirit, and to him' the others owe a debt of gratitude for placing in their way opportunities that would have been impossible for them otherwise.
Mr. Sackman has not only faithfully discharged the duties of his office but has also managed to retain his popularity in an era when police author- ities have all they can do to enforce the laws. He has also taken part in various movements for the advancement of The Bronx. Since removing to The Bronx he has become identified with political affairs, and has been made captain of the Fourth Election District of the First Assembly District of The Bronx under the leadership of James F. Gerrity, and is also a leading member of the Muskoota Democratic Club. In 1923 to 1926 Mr. Sackman was deputy relief commissioner of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. In secret order affairs he is a valued member of Bronx Lodge, No. 871, of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He makes his home with a brother.
PETER THOMAS DALY, M. D .- A personality and temperament admirably adapted to the exacting and humanitarian profession of alleviating human suf- fering, technical skill based on broad and thorough training, and wide experience have brought to Dr. Peter T. Daly, of The Bronx, recognition both from his medical confreres and from a large section of the public. Recognized as a leader in the practice of surgery and gynecology, he enjoys a large pri- vate practice and important hospital connections.
Peter Thomas Daly was born August 27, 1885, on East Seventy-ninth Street, New York City, son of Michael and Mary (Coyle) Daly. The father, born in Dalytown, County Meath, Ireland, in 1856, died in The Bronx in 1906. His wife, born likewise in County Meath, is in excellent health in her seventi- eth year. The son attended Public School No. 53, on East Seventy-ninth Street, between Second and Third avenues, and later, after the family moved to The Bronx, the public school on One Hundred and Sixty-third Street and Eagle Avenue, later passing on to Fordham College Preparatory School and en- tering Fordham Medical College in 1906. There he took a four-year course, graduating in 1910 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. His practical experience was gained as an interne in St. Joseph's Hospital at Yonkers, at St. John's Hospital, Long Island City, and later he was connected with Hills Maternity Hospital, also with the New York Nursery and Child's Hospital.
Thus admirably equipped for the practice of his profession, Dr. Daly opened his offices at One Hun- dred and Sixty-third Street and Teller Avenue, where his people had long resided, and where his own standing was high. Success came to him promptly, with appreciation of the high type of professional service he was rendering both to his private patients and to his hospital cases. He is associate attending surgeon at Bronx General Hospital and chief of the Gynecology Clinic at the Post-Graduate Hospital in New York City. He belongs to The Bronx County Medical Society, The Bronx Medical Association, the Chi Zeta Chi Fraternity, and The Bronx Council of the Knights of Columbus. His clubs are the Dunwoodie Golf and the West Morrisania.
On September 10, 1914, in the St. Angela Merici Roman Catholic Church, Dr. Peter Thomas Daly was married, by Rev. Charles McAuliffe, to Elizabeth Lorenz, daughter of Frank and Catherine (Dex- heimer) Lorenz, the former born in 1854 in Alsace- Lorraine, who died in 1904; and the latter born in New York City.
KENNETH MACKENZIE OSTERNDORFF- A native of Mount Vernon, Westchester County, New York, but a resident of The Bronx for almost three decades, ever since his parents moved there when he was a small child, Mr. Osterndorff was educated in the schools of The Bronx and has been connected with the soap manufacturing business for thirteen years. Entering this particular field imme- diately after leaving school, he purchased the con- cern, by which he had been employed, in 1920, and at that time removed its plant and offices from Man- hattan to The Bronx, where it has been located ever since at No. 339 Canal Place and where it has been conducted under the name of the Champion Soap
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Peter J. July huf
Kenneth M. Osterndorff
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Company, engaged in the manufacture of hand soaps and being the only establishment of its type in The Bronx. Under Mr. Osterndorff's very able and en- ergetic management the business of the firm has been greatly expanded from comparatively small begin- nings and in the face of very keen competition, an achievement the more remarkable considering that Mr. Osterndorff is still, comparatively speaking, at the beginning of his career. Of course, his thorough knowledge of all branches of the business has been a valuable asset to Mr. Osterndorff, but his success must be largely attributed to his notable executive ability, his progressiveness and his devotion to the interests of his company.
Kenneth Mackenzie Osterndorff was born in Mount Vernon, New York, June 29, 1897, a son of Henry Osterndorff, a native of Hackensack, New Jersey, where he was born, June 28, 1863. His father was engaged for many years with much success in the trucking business in the upper Bloomingdale section of Manhattan, but in recent years has been living in well-deserved retirement.
Kenneth M. Osterndorff was educated in the public schools of The Bronx, to which his parents moved, when he was about a year and a half old, settling in what was then known as the village of Van Nest, on White Plains Road. The family home at that time was located on Miana Street, which has since then been renamed Rhinelander Avenue. He attended Public School No. 34, of which William Storey was then principal, and from which he gradu- ated in 1911. From there he went to Morris High School, but left without completing the course at the end of his second year and went to work. He found employment with the firm of F. W. Gardiner & Company, soap manufacturers, located at No. 222 East Thirty-fourth Street, Manhattan. There he ac- quired a detailed knowledge of all branches of the soap manufacturing business and, in October, 1920, he purchased the business from his employers, moved his factory to The Bronx, and changed its name to its present style. Although the business has an hon- orable and successful history under its former own- ers, its real growth must be dated back to the time when the present owner came in control of it. On the sound foundations of its earlier success Mr. Osterndorff has built with untiring energy and has succeeded to a remarkable degree in developing the enterprise to its present prosperity. In spite of the heavy demands which his business interests have made upon his time and attention, he has been active in the fraternal, civic, and religious life of his com- munity. He is a member of Wyoming Lodge, No. 492, Free and Accepted Masons; the Young Men's Christian Association; St. Peter's Men's Club; Fel- lowcraft Club of Wyoming Lodge; Bronx Church- men's League; and The Bronx Board of Trade, and is now serving on the membership committee. His religious affiliations are with St. Peter's Church on Westchester Avenue, The Bronx.
Mr. Osterndorff is not married, and makes his home at No. 470 East One Hundred and Sixty-first Street, The Bronx.
ABE MICHAELSON-Success and position in the real estate and insurance lines have come to
Abe Michaelson as a result of his enterprise and energy, and since he first established himself in bus- iness in The Bronx he has conducted many important real estate transactions. He is a son of Louis Michael- son, a pipe manufacturer, who was born in Courland, Russia, in 1831, and died in New York City, in 1908, in his seventy-seventh year, and of Shiffre (Push- latter) Michaelson, who was born in Courland in 1833, and died in New York City in 1910, in her seventy-seventh year, and was buried with her hus- band in Mount Zion Cemetery, Long Island.
Abe Michaelson was born December 7, 1872, in Bauske, Courland, Russia, and attending a technical school in Moscow, he was graduated there in 1888. When he was sixteen years old, he began work in the employ of his father, manufacturer of smokers' articles, and he so continued to his twentieth year. He came to the United States in 1891, and settling on the lower east side of New York City, he entered the employ of Frank Brothers, manufacturers of pipes and smokers' articles, where he remained four years, when he started a business of his own in the same line. In 1910, Mr. Michaelson established him- self in general insurance matters in New York City, with a successful outcome of his plans. He removed to The Bronx and bought property at No. 112 One Hundred and Ninety-eighth Street, off Grand Con- course, in 1903, where he made his place of residence; and later on removed his business to No. 1147 Vyse Avenue, afterwards to East Tremont Avenue, corner of Lafontaine Avenue, and is at present at No. 611 East Tremont Avenue, where he maintains general insurance and real estate headquarters. His home address is at No. 60 West Tremont Avenue. He is a member of the Moscow Society of New York City.
Mr. Michaelson married, January 1, 1903, Bessie Salzburg, daughter of Moses and Miriam (Lavine) Salzburg, both of Berezy, Russia. The parents are both deceased, and Mrs. Michaelson passed away October 18, 1918. Their children: 1. Ruth Michael- son, born January 29, 1904. 2. Evelyn, born October 13, 1907. 3. Lawrence Isaac, born February 23, 1909. 4. Emanuel, born May 30, 1911. 5. Bertram, born Oc- tober 16, 1918.
FRANK PEASE Van RIPER-One of the old- est hardware merchants in this section of The Bronx is Frank Pease Van Riper, who has been in this line of activity all his business life. He was born May 24, 1878, in Mott Haven, No. 2715 Third Avenue, New York City, the son of Charles and Augusta (Banta) Van Riper.
Frank P. Van Riper received his early education at Public School No. 60, and at No. 85 on One Hun- dred and Thirty-eighth Street. His school days were soon over and at sixteen years of age he com- menced to work in the employ of Sargent & Com- pany, a leading hardware manufacturing firm. His strict integrity and eagerness to learn the business and to be generally useful soon led to promotions, and although he had started in as office boy, he was soon advanced to stock clerk, and in a short time advanced to city salesman, a position he continued to hold for eight years. At this time he was sent to Central Western territory to represent his firm, re-
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maining here for one year. He then sent in his resignation and for one year was associated with the firm of Gordon & Bishop, of Muncie, Indiana. He then returned to the East and purchased the James Hamill Hardware Store at No. 15 Westchester Square, The Bronx, New York City, next door to where his present store is located. He is now one of the oldest hardware merchants in The Bronx, and carries a full line of up-to-date hardware merchan- dise. Mr. Van Riper's fraternal obligations are with Wyoming Lodge, No. 492, Free and Accepted Ma- sons, and he is a member of the Franklin Athletic Club of The Bronx.
Frank P. Van Riper married, in her home on One Hundred and Forty-third Street, The Bronx, Annabelle Dodge Hall, daughter of James and Anna Louise (Howell) Hall. Mr. and Mrs. Van Riper are the parents of the following children: Edith; Louise; Emily; and Charles. The family home is at No. 26 Kilmer Road, Larchmont, New York.
JOHN JOSEPH RANSHTE-With a thorough practical knowledge of the undertaking profession, gained through long association with different in- stitutions in The Bronx engaged in this business, and possessing that tact and sympathetic perception so indispensable to his calling, John Joseph Ranshte has gained the confidence and esteem of Bronx resi- dents, where he conducts an undertaking establish- ment, at No. 3531 Third Avenue.
While himself a native of The Bronx, Mr. Ranshte's parents were born in Germany. His father, Paul Ranshte, died when his son was two years old, having been a brewery worker during his lifetime. His mother, Dora (Reberger) Ranshte, is also deceased.
John Joseph Ranshte was born on October 7, 1870, at No. 3535 Third Avenue, The Bronx, just a few doors removed from the place where he now conducts his business. He attended old Public School No. 61, whose principal at that time was a Miss Vanhn. Forced to go to work at the early age of fifteen, the boy entered the employ of a brass company located on Sixty-ninth Street, atending night school at the same time. He remained in this first position but a short time, however, and then entered the employ of Charles Mckeon, as foreman of the latter's livery stable, then located at No. 1307 Washington Avenue. He continued his duties with Mr. Mckeon for about twenty years, during which time he became interested in the undertaking business. By assisting various undertakers in the conduct of their work, Mr. Ranshte obtained a store of valuable practical knowl- edge along these lines. In 1889, he established a bus- iness at No. 3545 Third Avenue.
Through long experience with Bronx residents Mr. Ranshte had come to be known as a conscientious and capable man, and from the very beginning of his business career has proven himself thoroughly capable in every way for his profession. Especially in the conduct of burials from St. John's Church, of which his people were members, has he won the re- gard of members of that parish, who fully appreciate the kind and sympathetic care which he devotes to his work. From the original location, Mr. Ranshte moved his establishment, in 1912, to No. 3531 Third
Avenue, where he is still operating. He is ever ready to aid in development of The Bronx, lending his support to the borough in any way he finds it pos- sible, although in a quiet, unostentatious way. He is especially interested in an organization known as the Old Timers' of The Bronx, which requires resi- dence of fifty years in The Bronx from its members.
In 1890, in the German Lutheran Church, John J. Ranshte was married to Anna Witteborn, the cere- mony having been performed by Rev. Mr. Weiss. Mrs. Ranshte is the daughter of Henry and Minna Witteborn. To this marriage have been born three children: 1. John, born in 1891. 2. Frederick, born in 1893; he married Florence Hunt, and they have a son, Edward, born in 1916. 3. Anna, born in 1895, died in 1920.
THOMAS FLYNN, a man of wide and varied interests, conducts a successful real estate and insur- ance business at No. 500 Morris Park Avenue, in the Borough of The Bronx. He is the owner of several parcels of property in that Borough, and also the owner of some valuable property in the city of Miami and several acres in Broward County, Florida; a member of a syndicate owning several hundred acres at Hendersonville, North Carolina, and a mem- ber of a corporation that owns considerable property at Roselle, New Jersey; half owner of a factory in Miami, Florida, that manufactures a high grade automobile paint which will neither crack, peel nor pulverize.
Thomas Flynn was born in the parish of Turlough, County Mayo, Ireland, October 16, 1871, one of a family of twelve, six brothers and six sisters, the son of Henry and Mary Flynn. He spent his boyhood days on his father's farm, and was educated in the national schools. He went to England at the age of seventeen, where he remained for eleven years, the last five of which was spent in the life insurance business, coming to America in February, 1900, he again engaged in the life insurance business; having shown marked results he was appointed assis- tant superintendent in the latter part of 1902, a
position he held until 1909. He bought his first parcel of Bronx property in 1900 just five weeks after landing in New York, and has continued to buy and sell as well as build some houses up to the present time, always claiming that there is no other spot in the world like The Bronx. In 1909 he re- signed from the insurance business, affiliating himself with a company that was at that time doing con- siderable developing and selling on Long Island. His work was so satisfactory that on January 1, 1910, just nine months after entering the real estate busi- ness he was made crew manager and on January 1, 1911, was appointed general manager. He continued as general manager for the company he then rep- resented until October, 1913, when he resigned to be- come president of the Mutual Realty and Develop- ment Company, Inc., with a beautiful suite of offices in the Woolworth Building. He immediately was elected vice-president of the Roselle Heights Realty Company, Inc., and vice-president of the Roselle Estates Realty Company, Inc. In November, 1917, he resigned from active duty in the above companies, as the property owned by these companies was nearly
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all sold out, but still owns a considerable part of the stock of both last-mentioned companies. In April, 1918, he opened offices at No. 17 West Forty-second Street, confining his activities entirely to city real estate, and in 1920 opened offices at No. 500 Morris Park Avenue, The Bronx; the offices at No. 17 West Forty-second Street were closed in 1921 for repairs to the building, and he confined his entire activities to The Bronx office.
In March, 1904, he purchased a home in The Bronx and on June 8th, following, married a Miss Katie Boyle, a native of Milltown County, Galway, Ireland, the daughter of Thomas and Mary Boyle. They at once took up their residence in their newly purchased home in The Bronx and have lived in that Borough ever since. There were eight children born of the union: six girls and two boys, one of the girls, however, died at the age of five and one-half years.
In 1906 he organized the Van Nest Democratic Club and was its president for two years; this club became very prominent in the political affairs of the district but was disbanded about 1910, after it had accomplished its purpose, namely, the getting of im- provements for the district. Mr. Flynn has always taken a prominent part in the affairs of the district, being frequently chosen as chairman of committees selected to go before the authorities seeking im- provements. Last year he built a home in Florida. He is a member of The Bronx Realty Board and a member of the Mayo Men's Association of New York.
THOMAS JAMES CASEY-Son of William and Mary (Kelly) Casey, Thomas James Casey was born on Forty-second Street, New York City, No- vember 18, 1870. His parents were of Irish birth, his father being a native of County Westmeath and his mother of County Cavan.
Mr. Casey was educated at St. Joseph's Parochial School, and at eighteen years of age became self- supporting, as his father had died while he was still a child. His first wages were earned in the grocery store of Holland Brothers at Fordham, and he held this first position for ten years, leaving their employ to enter the Fordham and New Rochelle branches of the American Express Company. In this corpora- tion he advanced to the office of assistant manager of these branches during the six years of his con- nection with them, but he resigned this position to accept the managership of the Fordham branch of G. B. Raymond and Company, dealers in builder's materials, one of the leading firms in this line. The main office and building materials yard is at Long Island City, but at Fordham their business is located at No. 3060 Webster Avenue, and covers an area of twenty-one city lots, with a railroad siding in the yard that accommodates nine cars at one time. Mr. Casey is still in charge of all the business done at this important center.
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