USA > New York > Bronx County > The Bronx and its people; a history, 1609-1927, Volume III > Part 70
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DR. PERCY MORTON RUBINSTEIN-Among the well-trained and conscientious young physicians of The Bronx who are ministering to a large clientele and winning praise from professional men and the laity, is Dr. Percy Morton Rubinstein, who conducts
a general practice, with offices at No. 2337 Grand Concourse, New York City.
Dr. Rubinstein was born in Athens, Georgia, son of Isaac Aaron and Matilda Rubinstein. His academic education was acquired in the public schools of Athens and the University of Georgia, in the same town, from which he received the degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy. He studied medicine at New York University and Bellevue Hos- pital Medical College, graduating in 1919. After interning at Harlem Hospital, he began to practice in The Bronx, in 1922, and continues to maintain a general practice. He is assistant physician in the Fordham Hospital Out-patient Department. During the World War, Dr. Rubinstein enlisted in the Medical Reserve Corps, United States Army, from which he was honorably discharged at Fort Jay, Gov- ernor's Island. He is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Fraternity, of the T. E. P., and of The Bronx County and New York State Medical associations.
In New York City, Dr. Rubinstein married Mary Maidoff, daughter of Julius Maidoff.
WILLIAM EDWARD GRIFFIN-Engaged for many years in diversified activities, Mr. Griffin has been established for the last decade in an undertaking and funeral parlor establishment in which he has been recognized as a leading member of that field of en- deavor. He has designed his business so that it meets with the approval of all who use his facilities, and all his accoutrements are befitting of the occasion of their use. A lifelong resident of The Bronx, Mr. Griffin is well known in his neighborhood, and is actively interested in his community and the fraternal organi- zations which foster civic welfare.
William Edward Griffin was born April 9, 1876, a son of John Bradley and Cecelia (Hawkins) Grif- fin. His father, born in Rutherford, County Tyrone, Ireland, came over to the United States where he soon became a railroad contractor doing much im- portant work for the Third Avenue Elevated Railway Company; his mother was born in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. Living on One Hundred and Sixty- ninth Street and Railroad Avenue which is now Park Avenue in The Bronx, Mr. Griffin went to the public school in the Fordham section at One Hundred and Eighty-eighth Street and Webster Avenue for a few years and then later transferred to the public school at Tremont Avenue and One Hundred and Seventy- fourth Street. He completed his education by at- tending the St. John's College, which is now Ford- ham College at Fordham Heights. At the end of his schooling period and at the age of nineteen, he began his business career by working for the Third Avenue Elevated Railway Company with which he continued for two years, when he entered the employ of the Metropolitan Street Railway Company for a year. Mr. Griffin then went to work for a steamship com- pany and remained in that work for seven years during which time he was advanced to the position of assistant steward, the duties of which he dis- charged efficiently. However, he was soon given the opportunity to join the Fuller Construction Com- pany, in which he became a structural iron worker and for three years he was so engaged, at the end of which time, he was employed by the National Cas-
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ket Company for three years. For the next sixteen years, Mr. Griffin was in the service of New York City in the Department of Bridges, and toward the end of this period he established his undertaking par- lor at No. 789 East One Hundred and Forty-ninth Street in The Bronx, which he opened in 1910, and in which he has been engaged since. Mr. Griffin is a member of The Bronx Council of the Knights of Columbus in which order he holds the fourth de- gree. He is likewise affiliated with the Holy Name Society, Branch No. 90, of St. Roch's Roman Catholic Church, and also the P. J. Kane Association of The Bronx. He is a member of the Municipal Business Men's Association.
Mr. Griffin married Frances Graser, November 30, 1912, at the St. Rita's Roman Catholic Church at One Hundred and Forty-fifth Street and College Avenue where the ceremony was performed by the Rev. Father Thomas McGrath. Mrs. Griffin was the daughter of Florance and Bertha (Wurtemberger) Graser, both of whom were born in Germany and are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Griffin have a daughter, Muriel Frances, born September 21, 1913. They make their home at No. 558 Wales Avenue.
DOMINICK JOE NAPOLI-One of the most active and successful builders of The Bronx and, though still in his thirties, the head of four corpor- ations, Mr. Napoli is considered an important factor in the more recent development of that part of The Bronx in which his operations have been or are being carried on. He was born in New York City, December 20, 1888, a son of Joe and Conchetta Napoli. His father came to the United States from his native country, Italy, as a boy of fifteen years, and after an active and successful life is now retired and resides in The Bronx, where Mrs. Napoli also lived to the time of her death in 1924.
Dominick Joe Napoli was educated in the public schools of The Bronx and eventually entered the real estate and building business. In this field he has met with unusual success, and he is now president of the Naples Holding Corporation, the Topping Holding Corporation, the Astor Building Corpora- tion, and D. J. Napoli & Company, Inc., all of which maintain offices at No. 157 East One Hundred and Forty-ninth Street, The Bronx. The first three of these corporations are engaged in the building of apartment houses, while through the last-named firm Mr. Napoli conducts a general real estate business. The Naples Holding Corporation has carried through successfully the following operations: Four six-story buildings at One Hundred and Ninety-third Street and St. Nicholas Avenue; six apartment houses, ad- joining each other, at Cypress and St. Mary's ave- nues; two adjoining six-story apartment houses at St. Mary's, Cypress and Powers avenues; one apart- ment house in One Hundred and Ninety-eighth Street between Grand Concourse and Creston Avenue. In 1926 it was also engaged in putting up fifteen apartment houses on a plot five hundred by five hundred feet, at Two Hundred and Thirty- first Street and Broadway, running through to Kings- bridge Avenue, and two six-story elevator apartment houses at Riverside Drive and Dyckman Street. The Astor Building Corporation has built large six-story
apartment houses at One Hundred and Eighty-fourth Street, north of Creston Avenue, while the Topping Holding Corporation has erected two large six-story apartment houses at One Hundred and Seventy- fourth Street and Topping Avenue, running west to Monroe Avenue. In spite of these extensive opera- tions, which naturally make a heavy demand on Mr. Napoli's time and energy, he has been very active in many other directions as well. He is a director of the Italian Discount and Trust Company, on East One Hundred and Forty-ninth Street, The Bronx, and a member of the North End Democratic Club; Bronx Lodge, No. 871, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; Italian-American Business Men's Association of The Bronx; and The Bronx Board of Trade. In politics, he is a supporter of the Dem- ocratic party, while his religious affiliations are with the Roman Catholic church, and more particularly with the Church of the Holy Spirit at University and Burnside avenues, Morris Heights, The Bronx, of which he and his family are devout attendants.
Mr. Napoli married, in New York City, in 1905, Rosa Sario, daughter of Frank and Rita Sario, the former now dead. Mr. and Mrs. Napoli are the parents of eight children: Joseph, James, Rita, Lena, Dorothy, Frances, Irene, and Antoinette.
ROBERT A. COOLS was born in New York City, January 14, 1880, son of John and Catherine Cools, both parents deceased. His father came to the United States from Holland just after the close of the Civil War.
Robert A. Cools received his education in the public schools of New York City and The Bronx, graduating from the school on the corner of East One Hundred and Fifty-seventh Street and Court- landt Avenue in 1894, his family having moved to The Bronx, in 1892. Soon after leaving school he secured a position with the Hammond Typewriter Company and remained with them until 1901. He then went with the Kiesling Company, printers, as secretary, remaining in their employ until 1917. Having become acquainted with the various details of the printing business, he decided to go into business independ- ently, and in 1917 opened a stationery and printing store at No. 2807 Third Avenue. He was so very successful in this initial venture, that, in 1922, he purchased the building at No. 2778 Third Avenue, and went into the same line of activity on a much larger scale, using the first floor of the building for a stationery and office supply store, and having the second floor equipped as a printing plant. He has the most modern machinery and printing devices, and is very successful.
Mr. Cools is very much interested in his home community and always ready to help any cause for the betterment of The Bronx. He is an active mem- ber of the Rotary Club, The Bronx Board of Trade, and the Schnorer Club. His fraternal affiliation is with Guiding Star Lodge, No. 565, Free and Ac- cepted Masons.
Robert A. Cools, married, March 25, 1900, in The Bronx, Minnie Greithe, daughter of William and Christine Greithe, her mother deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Cools are the parents of two children: 1. Cath- erine, married Arthur W. Lipfert, and they are the
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parents of a son, Robert A. Lipfert. 2. Edna, mar- ried Charles White, and they have one daughter, Vira White. The family residence is at No. 2309 Yates Avenue, The Bronx.
JOSEPH LAWRENCE QUINN-One of the well-known citizens and business men of The Bronx is Joseph Lawrence Quinn, who for the past several years has been successfully engaged in the under- taking business there. Mr. Quinn is an active mem- ber of St. Rita's Roman Catholic Church and a leader in some of its organizations. He is also ac- tive in local political activities.
Michael Quinn, father of Mr. Quinn, was born in County Westmeath, Ireland, in 1841, and died in The Bronx, New York, in 1906. He was engaged to assist in the making of the surveys for the first railroads which entered New York City, and spent all of the later years of his life in The Bronx. He married Mary Malone, who was born in County Galway, Ireland, and among their children was Joseph Lawrence, of further mention.
Joseph Lawrence Quinn, son of Michael and Mary (Malone) Quinn, was born in the house which stands on the corner of Washington Avenue and One Hundred and Seventy-first Street, The Bronx, New York, October 19, 1874, and received his earliest school training in the local public school. After a time he attended the Erskine Parochial School, locat- ed on the corner of Fordham Road and Southern Boulevard and while still attending school he estab- lished an extensive newspaper route in the Fordham section of The Bronx. When he was fifteen years of age he left school and began his independent business career, by securing employment with various con- cerns and individuals engaged in the building trades. After a short time he made a change and secured a position in the employ of the old Huckleberry Railroad during the period which preceded the taking over of the Huckleberry Road by the Union Railway Company. That connection he maintained until 1902, when he entered city employ in the contagious diseases division of the department of the Board of Health. This connection opened up to him a new field entirely, and brought him in contact with phases of community life and business activity which aroused his interest in the undertaking business. His brother, Thomas M. Quinn, who was engaged in the undertaking business for thirty-two years in As- toria, Long Island, became his instructor in the bus- iness, while he was holding his position in the Health Department. Finally he began to occasionally take charge of a funeral, in addition to attending to his duties in the health department. His first independ- ent ventures in this direction were made about 1910, and during the months which followed he gradually increased the number of funerals which supplemented his regular work until by the end of 1914, it seemed advisable to give up the board of health work and devote his whole attention to the undertaking business. This he did, on January 1, 1915, and from that time on his office at No. 432 College Avenue, just opposite St. Rita's Roman Catholic Church, has recorded an increasing amount of patronage. Careful, conscientious, and accommo- dating, he has given eminently satisfactory service,
and his many satisfied patrons all have a word of praise for his skillful service. He is sexton and un- dertaker for St. Rita's Roman Catholic Church, and in the work of this church he is active in several lines, serving as president of its Holy Name Society, as a member of Saint Vincent de Paul Society, Knights of Columbus, and as a Past Grand Knight of St. Luke Council. He was the organizer and is now the standard bearer of the Aristuim Association of the community in which he lives, and most of the membership of the society Mr. Quinn secured from among his neighbors in this section of the community. Politically he gives his support to the principles and the candidates of the Democratic party, in the affairs of which he takes an active part, serving as a member of the Democratic Committee since its organization, and as secretary of the An- thony J. Griffin Congressional Committee.
Joseph Lawrence Quinn was married, in St. Rita's Roman Catholic Church, College Avenue and One Hundred and Forty-fifth Street, The Bronx, Oc- tober 30, 1916, to Florence E. Tehan, daughter of John Tehan, a native of Ireland, and of Elizabeth (O'Connor) Tehan, the last-mentioned of whom was reared on the lower east side of Manhattan, and was formerly a member of St. Patrick's Cathedral Parish. Mr. and Mrs. Quinn reside at No. 432 Col- lege Avenue, at the corner of One Hundred and Forty-fifth Street, The Bronx.
ARIODANTE FRANCISCO FALCONI-Born in Sunny Italy, Ariodante F. Falconi eventually came to America, the Land of Opportunity, con- fident that where others had achieved success, he was qualified to do likewise. For some time follow- ing his arrival on these shores he sold his labor to various employers in his trade, and finally, realized what had been his dream for many years, a business of his own, which is located in The Bronx, where Mr. Falconi is widely and favorably known. The father of our present-day Bronx business man was Francisco Falconi, a native of Spezia, in the province of Genoa, Italy, who followed the trade of cabinet- maker, and as such gained wide recognition, he being truly an artist in his calling. Francisco Falconi mar- ried Rosa Cipollni, who was born and reared in the province of Massa, town of Carrara, Italy.
A. F. Falconi, as he is known to his friends and associates, son of Francisco and Rosa (Cipollni) Fal- coni, was born on February 9, 1868, in the province of Italy of which his mother was a native. He secured his primary education in local schools of the town in which he was born, later was a student in the technical school attended by all young men of ambition in the community, and finally completed his studies in the academy. At the age of sixteen years, he entered upon an apprenticeship to the end that he might become a master stone-cutter and carver, in due time completed his obligation to his preceptor, and thereafter pursued his trade in various Italian communities, thus continuing until 1893, in which year he bade the land of his fathers farewell, and undertook the long journey to America where, he was convinced, success awaited his coming. Ar- riving at his destination, he worked at his trade in various shops, to the end of familiarizing himself with
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the methods of procedure in his calling as practiced in our land, and finally, he completed the organiza- tion of a monument works on Jerome Avenue at Two Hundred and Twelfth Street, in the Woodlawn section of The Bronx, and there his establishment has continued to function until the present time (1926). In various parts of his works, Mr. Falconi has arranged an artistic display of beautifully de- signed and executed monuments, all of which give fullest evidence of the fact that their originator is an artist in his own particular profession.
Mr. Falconi enjoys the companionship of his fellow-men, and during his leisure time is frequently to be found at the lodge rooms of The Bronx County Council, No. 1739, of the Royal Arcanum, with which order he has been affiliated since 1905. He is a devout member of the Roman Catholic church.
On December 22, 1890, in the town of Carrara, province of Massa, Italy, Mr. Falconi was united in marriage to Marietta Pisanelli, daughter of An- tonio and Dominica (Cocchi) Pisanelli, all of whom reside in the last-named province. Mrs. Falconi accompanied her husband to America and their present abiding place is in The Bronx, she naturally rejoicing with him over the fact that the people of his adopted country, recognizing his very evident ability, have sought him when occasion arose. The Falconi family now consists of five members, there being three children: 1. Lina, born September 3, 1892. 2. Caesar, whose birth occurred on August 17, 1895. 3. Marietta, born January 21, 1899. The residence of Mr. Falconi and family is maintained at No. 4350 Vireo Avenue, The Bronx.
JAMES MARTINELLI-A native of Italy, and possessed of the rugged and sturdy characteristics of his place of birth, James Martinelli has lived in the United States for over thirty years and has dis- played loyal and faithful interest in the upbuilding and general welfare of the community in which he settled. He mastered the mason trade in Italy and upon migrating to this country continued in the trade with substantial and distinguished success until he has been accorded a foremost position among his fellow-members, and is recognized for his skillful dispatch of his tasks and his high grade workman- ship and craftsmanship. Mr. Martinelli is the son of Angelo and Margaret (Mecca) Martinelli, both of whom are now deceased. The father was an architect by trade in Forenza. He was born in 1833, in Avigliano, province of Potenza, and died in 1896, in Forenza. The mother was born in Avigliano in 1835, and died in Forenza in 1891.
James Martinelli was born September 15, 1865, in Forenza, province of Potenza, Italy, where he attended the primary schools and duly completed his elementary education. As was customary for boys of his age and his period, he was apprenticed to learn a trade. Since he had been reared to architecture he chose the mason trade, and after he had served his term in mastering the details and intricacies of it, he followed the mason trade until he reached the age of thirty in his native town. In 1895, he saw vast opportunities awaiting him in the New World, and with ambition and self-confidence came to the United States, landing in New York City. He first
settled in the lower west side on Thompson Street, where he engaged in the mason trade with which he was so familiar for a number of years. At the end of that period he removed to The Bronx in 1900 and for the next eight years followed his trade as an independent worker. In 1908, he established his own business as a building contractor and has con- tinued in that enterprise until the present time. Hard work, long hours meant nothing to him in the be- ginning, and as a result, soon began to impress the leaders of his community with the spirit with which he was imbued. He has contributed in no small measure to the building up of this section of The Bronx, and at the same time has become quite an extensive landowner, acquiring the property on which his home is built and holding other property at No. 787 East Two Hundred and Eleventh Street. He has an inviting personality, and a confidence- inspiring manner, which has placed him among the leaders of the masons and builders of The Bronx. At the same time, he has entered with zest into the social affairs of The Bronx, and gives equal energy and efforts to these interests that he devotes to his personal and business endeavors. He is a member of the Sons of Italy. He is a member of the board of directors of the Holy Name Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and president of the Society of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. In politics, he is an ardent Dem- ocrat and is affiliated with the Annex District Democratic Club, a subsidiary of the Chippewa Club.
Mr. Martinelli married (first), in Forenza, Italy, in 1892, Lucille Altieri, a daughter of Ralph and Josephine (Anzano) Altieri. He married (second), in 1897, Rose Altieri, a sister of his first wife. One child was born of his first marriage: Ralph A., who was born January 8, 1896, and married Rose Patti, a daughter of Rosaiano and Nancy (Di Stephano) Patti, and their children are: James Martinelli (2), and Ralph, Jr., born, April 4, 1926. The children of the second marriage: 2. Lucille Anne, who was born December 13, 1900. 3. Frank Paul, who was born January 28, 1902. 4. Margaret Rita, who was born September 4, 1910. 5. Isabelle, who was born May 30, 1915.
WILLIAM C. VOELKER was born at Lynden- hurst, Long Island, on October 4, 1884, son of Henry and Louisa (Wild) Voelker. His father was born in Breslau, Germany, and came to America when six years of age, obtaining his education in its public schools. When William C. Voelker was seven years of age, his father moved to Yorkville, New York City, where for fourteen years he was a; cigar manufacturer. At the time of the father's death in 1917, the family lived in The Bronx, where his widow still resides. Of their seven children, William C. was the eldest.
He graduated froin Public School No. 70, corner of Seventy-fifth Street and Third Avenue, in 1903, and took his first position as an office boy with Joseph Doelger and Son, where he worked for two years. For the five years following he was employed by the Colgate Company, and then went on the road for N. K. Fairbanks. After two years with this firm, he spent twelve years also as a traveling sales- man, for a wholesale grocery concern.
Emil & Schnitzler
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In December, 1923, Mr. and Mrs. Voelker formed the copartnership of William C. Voelker & Company, for the conducting of a real estate and insurance business, with offices at No. 410 East Tremont Ave- nue, The Bronx. Mr. Voelker is now secretary of The Real Estate Board of The Bronx, an organization which is doing big things for The Bronx Borough. He and Mrs. Voelker are also members of The Am- persans, Inc., a dramatic and social organization of The Bronx.
On September 23, 1926, William C. Voelker mar- ried Frieda M. Buehrle, daughter of Henry C. and Katherine (Pfundt) Buehrle, of The Bronx, where her father conducted a pharmacy for over thirty years. Mrs. Voelker was for sixteen years a legal stenographer, experienced in insurance, real estate and law.
EMIL FRANCIS SCHNITZLER-Though born and raised in Manhattan and making that part of New York City the headquarters of his lithograph- ing business, The Bronx has been for many years the place of Mr. Schnitzler's residence. There he takes an active part in the social and civic life of the community and enjoys the respect and friendship of a very large circle of social and business associates. He has always shown himself a sincere and helpful supporter of all movements, tending to promote the development, welfare and prosperity of The Bronx and its inhabitants.
Emil Francis Schnitzler was born October 28, 1871, on East Sixth Street, near Avenue D, Manhattan, a son of Paul Charles and Katherine (Gramer) Schnitz- ler. His father was born at Stuttgart, Germany, in 1834, and, having come to this country as a young man, settled in New York City, where he was for several years secretary to Ferdinand Eidman, then Internal Revenue Collector at New York City, and where he died in August, 1915, in his eighty-first year. Mr. Schnitzler's mother was born in Rothen- burg, Germany, and died in New York in 1905.
He was educated in the public schools of Man- hattan, attending the old primary school on East Twelfth Street, between Avenues A and B, and the school on Fourteenth Street, known as No. 14, be- tween First and Second avenues. At the age of six- teen years he began work, entering the office of Fredrick Howe, a well-known architect of that per- iod, located at No. 7 Warren Street, Manhattan, and there studied architecture for two years. He then became interested in lithography and decided to ac- quire a thorough knowledge of this art. For this purpose he entered the employ of Sacket, Wilhelms & Betzig, one of the largest and most widely known lithographing establishments in New York. Begin- ning with this firm as an apprentice in 1888, he continued with it for eighteen years, gaining fre- quent promotions to positions of ever-increasing re- sponsibility and gradually securing an unusually varied experience of all branches of the business. In 1906 he established himself in the lithographing and printing business for his own account and under his own name, with offices at No. 150 Nassau Street, Manhattan, where he has continued ever since, with the exception of two years, from 1910 to 1912. These two years he spent on the stage, in which he had
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