USA > New York > Bronx County > The Bronx and its people; a history, 1609-1927, Volume III > Part 72
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Irving Rae Swift was educated in The Bronx public schools, graduating from the Morris High School, class of 1910, and from New York University with the class of 1914. He has throughout his busi- ness career been associated with his present business. This was founded by John A. York, on March 1, 1854, who at the time was overseer of the poor of the town of Mott Haven and charged with the duty of looking after the burial of paupers. His fee was twenty dollars apiece for each ceremony. He had so many of such cases that he found himself well versed in all the details of the undertaking business and determined to capitalize his knowledge by start- ing out for himself. He opened his first office and funeral parlors on the corner of One Hundred and Forty-fifth Street and Third Avenue, where he re- mained until the erection of the elevated lines. His business was then moved to its present address, No. 352 East One Hundred and Forty-fifth Street. When John York died in April, 1889, he left the business to his son, John York, Jr., and his nephew, William H. Swift, who had been associated with the enterprise from 1871. The son and nephew in- corporated in 1881 as York and Swift. When John York, Jr., died in 1905, Mr. Swift continued to man- age the business under the old firm name, and at his own death in 1921, his son, Irving Rae Swift, assumed the ownership and management, also re- taining the old firm name. Mr. Swift is a member of the National, State and City Undertakers asso- ciations. The firm is well known throughout The Bronx and attends to most of the burial ceremonies of the congregations of the following churches: the Mott Avenue Methodist Episcopal; St. Mary's Epis- copal; Alexander Avenue Baptist; St. Margaret's Episcopal; Morrisania Presbyterian; the North New York Congregational; St. Ann's Episcopal; and the Willis Avenue Methodist.
On October 10, 1917, in Cranford, New Jersey, Irving Rae Swift married Florence Wardwell Mc- Clure, daughter of Arthur Gove and Harriet L. (Hill) McClure. Her father was born in New Hamp- shire, her mother in Massachusetts. To Mr. and Mrs. Swift a son was born: William Arthur Swift, February 19, 1921.
EDWARD J. McCANN-For a quarter of a cen- tury the undertaking establishment of Edward J. McCann has been one of the prosperous and stable concerns of The Bronx. Its head has maintained a broad-gauged and humanitarian point of view regard- ing his work for his fellow-men and has proved pop- ular through his tactful and considerate dealings with
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his clients. Mr. McCann was born July 6, 1879, in the house which stands at No. 735 East One Hun- dred and Thirty-fourth Street, The Bronx, son of Christopher Joseph McCann, a leading silk buyer of New York, and superintendent many years ago for the silk house of Conklin and Chevis and later buyer of all the silks for Adams and Company, a depart- mient store on Sixth Avenue. The father, born in Dublin, Ireland, December 23, 1848, who died March 15, 1912, in The Bronx, married Marcella Hare, born in New York City of an old family, July 9, 1854, and died in The Bronx, September 22, 1921. Seven children were born to Christopher Joseph and Mar- cella (Hare) McCann: 1. Edward J., of further mention. 2. Anna Teresa, born May 1, 1881, died April 23, 1913. 3. May, married Robert McTigue. 4. Marcella, died July 1, 1920. 5. Jennie. 6. Chris- topher J., now with the Mott Avenue Motor Sales Corporation. 7. William, who died at the age of two years.
Edward J. McCann received a well-rounded edu- cation which began in Public School No. 85, from which he graduated and passed to attendance at Ford- ham College, and later De La Salle Institute. He then took a medical course at New York Preparatory School, which is connected with Bellevue Hospital, where he continued his studies for a year and a half. Determining then to devote his business career to an undertaking enterprise of his own, he started out as funeral director at No. 527 East One Hundred and Thirty-eighth Street, where he has maintained his establishment and prospered for twenty-five years. In his younger days he was keenly interested in ath- letics and was a powerful swimmer. Mr. McCann participated in all water sports and used his strength and skill many times in the saving of lives endangered by swift tides and storms. He received a handsome medal for saving many lives at the time of the burn- ing of the "General Slocum."
He is a member of The Bronx Grand Jury; the Democratic County Committee; the St. Luke's Coun- cil; Knights of Columbus, and is a communicant of St. Luke's Roman Catholic Church.
On August 11, 1909, in the Roman Catholic Church of SS. Peter and Paul, in The Bronx, Edward J. McCann was married to Hannah Storch by Father Murphy. She is the daughter of Edward Storch, born in New York City, where he died June 25, 1923, and his wife, Lillian (Noelle) Storch, also a native of New York, who died April 24, 1922. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. McCann: Ed- ward J. McCann, Jr., born September 27, 1910; Frances Mary McCann, born August 28, 1922.
MICHAEL JOSEPH TULLY-In the construc- tion and general building improvement of The Bronx, for more than a quarter of a century Michael Joseph Tully has been rightly regarded as one of the most enterprising contractors, the field of activity that he has developed during that period covering every section of this great center of population, and his work as an apartment builder having no suc- cessful rivalry, Michael J. Tully, Incorporated, hold- ing a secure and leading place. The firm of Cotter and Tully, with which he also is associated as a
partner, in general contracting and building, though established within recent years, is already an ex- tensively productive concern, whose work is a sub- stantial feature of this section.
Michael Joseph Tully, a son of Patrick Tully, with whom he was associated in business, who died in 1917, and of Mary (Quinn) Tully, who survives her husband, was born October 21, 1880, in Wil- liamston, Ireland, where he attended the public schools. He came to the United States when he was nineteen years old, and his parents followed soon afterwards. Mr. Tully has engaged in both building and general real estate business since 1900, and he is widely known, particularly in the construction of apartment houses, the series of buildings that he has erected including the following-named: Nos. 1471-3 Longfellow Avenue; Nos. 1054-8 Simpson Street; No. 1098 Simpson Street; No. 1102 Simpson Street; one apartment on Home Street near Prospect; two apartments on Intervale Avenue; one at Beekman Avenue and Oak Terrace; five on Southern Boule- vard; between Brett and Tiffany streets, including the corner of One Hundred and Thirteenth Street; a five-story apartment at Nos. 943-945-947 Whitlock and Brett streets; the house at No. 3026 Bainbridge Avenue; and many other houses and apartments, inclusive of much contract work, as Cotter and Tully.
In his political views, Mr. Tully is a Democrat; his fraternal affiliations are with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; and he is a communicant of the Roman Catholic church.
Michael J. Tully married, December 29, 1907, Nellie M. Meehan, daughter of Michael and Jo- hanna (Skean) Meehan, both parents now deceased.
HENRY J. SALZMANN-The sturdy and thrifty Germans who came to America in search of personal liberty and freedom to better their financial status have been as eagerly welcomed in the growing sec- tion of New York known as The Bronx and else- where in the city, and of this excellent stock is Henry J. Salzmann, who has a plumbing establishment at No. 3480 Third Avenue. He was born in New York City, July 22, 1868, son of John and Martha Eliza- beth (Hammel1) Salzmann, both born in Germany. The father came to New York at the age of twenty- three, engaged in the leather and findings business on Chrystie Street, and died here at the age of seventy-three. The mother lived to be eighty-seven, and died in June, 1925. John and Martha Elizabeth (Hammel1) Salzmann were the parents of eleven chil- dren, of whom nine are now living: Dora, Louise, Justus W., Kate, Otto, Carrie, John, Lillian, and Henry J., the subject of this biography.
Henry J. Salzmann completed the grammar school on Chrystie Street, Public School No. 20, in 1881. He began work as errand boy in Lord & Taylor's store in New York. At the age of fourteen he went to work as a plumber's apprentice and learned the business so well that by 1894 he was able to open a business of his own. This he chose to do in The Bronx, where his establishment has successfully operated since that date. Besides being a master plumber, Mr. Salzmann is a good executive and a very shrewd judge of values. He is a member of
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the Master Plumbers' Association and of the Schnorer Club. His chief form of recreation is hunting and the activities connected with his lovely summer home in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. His religious affiliation is with the Episcopal church.
In The Bronx, on March 27, 1897, Henry J. Salz- mann married Louise Hartman, born in the old homestead purchased in 1866 by her father, Casper Hartman, now deceased. This old home was lo- cated at the corner of One Hundred and Sixty-ninth Street and Park Avenue. To Mr. and Mrs. Salz- mann a son was born, Arthur Henry Salzmann, De- cember 29, 1901, associated with the Arthur Henry Company, advertisers.
DAVID HOWARD PARKER-A resident of The Bronx for many years, a graduate of its public and high schools, and in recent years one of its sub- stantial business men, as manager of a large cigar factory, Mr. Parker undoubtedly is destined to play an even more important part in the industrial life of The Bronx in the future, considering that he is still in his early thirties. He was born in New York City, January 21, 1894, a son of Aaron and Esther (Friedenberg) Parker, both now residents of New York City, where his father is associated with the firm managed by his son, M. Sacks & Company. The father was born in South Norwalk, Connecticut, June 6, 1862, a son of Peter Parker who had come to the United States from Russian Poland previous to the Civil War. The mother was born in Newark, New Jersey, October 21, 1864. They are the parents of three children: 1. Anna. 2. Bertha, married William Holzer. 3. David Howard, of whom further.
David Howard Parker was educated in the public and high schools of The Bronx, graduating in 1908 from Public School No. 25 and in 1912 from Morris High School. He then entered the general export business in which he continued until May, 1918. At that time he enlisted in the United States Army, be- ing stationed at Camp Hancock, Georgia, and at- taining the rank of first sergeant. Soon after the end of the World War he was discharged in Feb- ruary, 1919, when he returned to New York City. Before long he became associated with M. Sacks & Company, manufacturers of cigars, located at No. 515 East One Hundred and Sixty-fourth Street, The Bronx, of which firm he has since then become manager. He is a member of the Dale Social Club of Brooklyn and of the Fraternal Brothers, the latter an organization of some fifty members of his class at Morris High School. His principal hobby is fishing in the waters along the New York and New Jersey coasts and he is one of the pioneers among amateur fishermen from City Island. His religious affiliations are with the Jewish faith.
Mr. Parker married, in The Bronx, March 22, 1921, Theresa Sacks, daughter of Morris and Fanny (Lion) Sacks, the former the founder of the firm of M. Sacks & Company and its directing head until his death in August, 1923, at the age of sixty-seven years. Mr. and Mrs. Parker are the parents of two children: one daughter, Muriel Sybil, born in The Bronx, July 18, 1924 and one son, Donald Paul, born
November 8, 1925. The family home is located at No. 65 West One Hundred and Ninety-second Street, The Bronx.
GUS. G. KINDERVATER-Though a native of Minnesota, and for the first thirty-five years of his life a resident of various Western cities, Mr. Kinder- vater has been an important figure in the business life of The Bronx since 1920 when he became man- ager of the Anheuser-Busch Ice and Cold Storage Company, Incorporated, with plant and offices at No. 979 Brook Avenue, The Bronx. He was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, November 17, 1885, a son of Alvin E. and Anna (Brosius) Kindervater. His father was born in Frankfort-on-Main, Ger- many, December 6, 1856, but as a boy of twelve years he came alone to the United States. Though unable at that time to speak a word of English, he quickly mastered the language of his adopted country and also succeeded in acquiring an education. For a number of years he has been supervisor of physical culture education in the public schools of St. Louis, Missouri, which office he continues to hold. Mr. and Mrs. Kindervater were the parents of five children, three of whom survive: 1. Gus. G., of whom further. 2. Erna, married Dr. Ward Bur- dick, of Denver, Colorado. 3. Ernest.
Gus. G. Kindervater came to Chicago, Illinois, with his parents as a child of three years. In 1894 the family settled in St. Louis, Missouri, and it was there that he received most of his education, first in a private school, the Toensfeldt Institute, and then in the public and high schools of St. Louis from both of which he graduated. In 1904 he entered the em- ploy of Anheuser-Busch, Incorporated, and has re- mained with this firm ever since, his ability and close application to his work bringing him full recognition in the form of various promotions. He remained in St. Louis, the headquarters of the corporation, until 1910 at which time he was made manager of the branch at Belleville, Illinois. After eight years of successful work there he became traveling auditor in 1918, and in May, 1920, was made manager of that part of the New York establishment of his firm known as Anheuser-Busch Ice and Cold Storage Company, Incorporated. In this position he has con- tinued since then, being now also secretary and treasurer of the company. He is a Mason and a member of the New York Athletic Club, the Dun- woodie Golf Club, the Westchester-Biltmore Club and The Bronx Rotary Club. His principal sources of recreation are golf and fishing, while his religious affiliations are with the Presbyterian church.
Mr. Kindervater married, in St. Louis, Missouri, August 23, 1909, Mayme Van Rice, a native of Madisonville, Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Kindervater have no children and make their home at One Hundred and Eighty-second Street and Pinehurst Avenue, New York.
JOSEPH OKTAVEC-One of the most promi- nent business and social leaders in New York City is Joseph Oktavec, president of The Laffargue Com- pany. Mr. Oktavec has allied himself enthusiasti- cally with every forward-looking activity in his com-
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munity and has lavished his time, energy and ability on supporting such. He was born in Bohemia, March 12, 1875, son of John and Anna Oktavec. His father, born in Bohemia, in 1823, came to New York in 1886, where he died three years later. His mother died also in the New World at the age of sixty-six. Seven of their nine children grew to maturity: 1.
John. 2. Anna. 3. Albert. 4. Elizabeth. 5. Bar- bara. 6. Frank. 7. Joseph, of whom further.
Joseph Oktavec received his primary education in the public schools of his native country, and attended public school in New York for a year after his ar- rival in this country at the age of thirteen. At four- teen, he found employment with the Estey Piano Company, remaining in that association for five years. In 1896, he entered into a partnership known as The Laffargue Company, of which he is now presi- dent. The business has steadily prospered, and its head is one of the highly respected citizens of New York City. In July, 1917, he enlisted as a private in the United States Army, being stationed for two months at Plattsburg.
Since Mr. Oktavec's hobby has always been gym- nastics, he finds opportunity for enjoying it by mem- bership in the New York Athletic Club, the Sokol Gymnastic Association, and the Wingfoot Golf Club. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Presbyterian church.
In New York City, February 25, 1897, Joseph Ok- tavec married Georgiana Lier, born in New York City, a daughter of Frank and Mary (Pulate) Lier, the former living in New York, the latter now de- ceased. Children: 1. Georgiana, wife of Lieutenant R. MacD. Graham. 2. Henry J. 3. Edward, died at the age of four. 4. Edytha A. 5. Jan L.
DOMINIC ANTHONY TROTTA was born in Muro Lucano, Province of Potenza, Italy, June 17, 1881, only child of Anthony and Marie F. Trotta. In the November following his birth, his father came to America to make a home for his wife and little son, and eight years after, his mother brought him across the wide stretch of water to join her hus- band. His father, Anthony Trotta, who died in March, 1911, became well established as a merchant of New York City.
Dominic A. Trotta was sent to Public School No. 19, from which he graduated in 1897, and then at- tended De Witt Clinton High School one year. For a time he studied art, specializing in pen and ink draw- ing, and then he went to work. He found his first position with a bank, Bolognese, Hartfield & Con- pany, at No. 29 Wall Street, where he remained for three years. He left their employ to enter the real es- tat office of J. Clarence Davies, and after five years of experience in handling real estate and mortgages, he set himself up in an office at No. 406 East One Hundred and Forty-ninth Street. Since that time he has devoted himself to this line of work, moving his office in 1912, to No. 391 East One Hundred and Forty-ninth Street. Mr. Trotta has become a very prominent realtor of this section of the Metropolis, and is connected with many real estate and banking institutions. He is a member of The Real Estate
Board of New York, The Real Estate Board of The Bronx, the National Association of Real Estate Boards, New York State Real Estate Association, Westchester County Realty Board, The Farm Brokers' Association, and The Bronx Board of Trade. He is also a director of the Italian Savings Bank, and a member of the Advisory Board of the Italian Discount and Trust Company.
Mr. Trotta supports the Republican party, and is a member of the Union Republican Club of The Bronx. He was a leader in The Bronx in putting through all the Liberty Loan drives. He is a Ma- son and a Shriner, holding membership in Mecca Temple; in Ivanhoe Commandery; Corinthian Chap- ter; Columbian Council, and Monitor Lodge. He also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is an honorary member of Caruso Lodge, Inde- pendent Order Sons of Italy. He is a director of Italian Hospital, the Italian American Business Men's Association of Bronx County, and is a member of Italian Chamber of Commerce, Briarcliff Lodge Tennis and Sports Club, Bronx Union Branch of Young Men's Christian Association, Local School Board of District No. 23.
On April 28, 1912, Dominic Anthony Trotta mar- ried Gemma D. Giannitrapani. To them were born three children: Anthony Peter, on February 2, 1913; Marie F., on August 25, 1914; and Theodore Nobel, on October 10, 1916. Mr. Trotta was bereaved by the death of his wife, and on April 23, 1922, he married Elisa L. Gramaglia.
JAMES DORIS-In Killoe County, Ireland, in the sixties, was born James Doris, and in the same dccade, in England, his parents gave birth to James Reynolds. Fate, or providence, if one prefers, brought these two men together .. . . as partners in what has proven to be a most successful business. Pat- rick Doris, father of James Doris, was born in Kel- lether Parish of Killoe County, Longford, Ireland, and was a farmer. He married Bridget Hughes, a native of the county of Eskar, Longford.
James Doris, son of Patrick and Bridget (Hughes) Doris, was born December 25, 1866, in Kellether Par- ish of Killoe County, Longford, Ireland. He attended, first the National school in the town of his birth and later was a student in the National school of Killoe. He came to the United States in April, 1886, and located in Manhattan, New York City, at the corner of Twenty-sixth Street and Third Avenue. He then applied for and was given employment in the Jack- son Architectural Iron Works, situated between Twenty-eighth and Twenty-ninth streets and First and Second avenues, where he began to serve an apprenticeship with the view of learning the trade. After being engaged for the period of apprenticeship, he accepted a position to tend bar for Patrick Craig at his placc located on the west corner of Thirty- second Street and Second Avenue, where he remained but a brief time, and then became employed by a Mr. Stephenson. He then opened his own business at No. 560 Second Avenue, and therc continued for one year, when he bought the lease and removed to the premises of the northeast corner of Thirty- second Street and Second Avenue, where he re-
lamen Daris
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mained until he purchased the property in 1922. He then built another house on a vacant lot adjoining, and generally improved the property, and prior to this purchase he had also obtained ownership at No. 577 East One Hundred and Eightieth Street, which he has owned for the past twenty-six years, and next door to which, he built the house at No. 579 East One Hundred and Eightieth Street. He then built on Lafontaine Avenue, houses Nos. 2108, 2110, 2112, and then bought No. 583 East One Hun- dred and Eightieth Street, and is owner of his home, and ten lots surrounding the premises at No. 1419 Doris Street, off Westchester Avenue, East Bronx. Mr. Doris is a member of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, the Ancient Order of Hibernians of Manhattan County (treasurer), the Foresters of America, the County Longford Association, the In- nesvail Club, the Tammany Hall Central political or- ganization, and the Chippewa Democratic Club.
On February 8, 1892, in St. Agnes' Roman Cath- olic Church, Forty-sixth Street, New York City, James Doris was united in the holy bonds of matri- mony to Catherine Gormely, born in Eskar, County Longford, Ireland, daughter of James, born in the same town and county, and Catherine (Whitney) Gormely, a native of Drumbrah, County Longford, Ireland. To this union have been born the follow- ing children: 1. Catherine. 2. Jane. 3. James A. 4. William, J. 5. Anna B. Doris.
GERALD JOSEPH DEMPSEY-Co-partner in a large and important lumber business of The Bronx, Gerald Joseph Dempsey has attained success by dili- gent effort and ability to embrace the opportunity which was offered to him. He was born April 11, 1877, at No. 470 (now 246) East One Hundred and Forty-sixth Street, and lived at the one address for forty-seven years. His father, Gerald Dempsey, was born in Ireland, and came to New York City in 1865, following his trade of gardener. He died in The Bronx in 1910, at the age of seventy-six years. His mother, Catherine (Kearney) Dempsey, was born in Ireland in 1846, and died in The Bronx, at No. 1962 University Avenue, on October 9, 1925, at the age of seventy-nine years. They were the parents of seven children: 1. Margaret. 2. Patrick, deceased. 3. Mary, the wife of Edward Giles, living in Hackensack, New Jersey. 4. Catherine, a nun of the Ursuline Order of St. Jerome's Convent. 5. Gerald Joseph, of whom further. 6. John F., a resident of The Bronx. 7. Rose.
Gerald Joseph Dempsey was graduated from St. Jerome's School at One Hundred and Thirty-seventh Street and Alexander Avenue. He began active life as tally boy with the Wilson Adams & Company, lumber dealers, continuing with the concern for a year. He then entered the employ of Church E. Gates & Company, first as tally boy, and continued with this concern for twenty-five years until he held a position of responsibility, becoming familiar with every branch of the lumber business. He trans- ferred his interests to the Driscoll, Dempsey & Dris- coll firm as a co-partner in 1920. Mr. Dempsey finds his recreation in baseball. He attends the Roman Catholic Church of the Holy Spirit, and is not mar-
ried. The business address of Driscoll, Dempsey & Driscoll is No. 103 East One Hundred and Thirty- eighth Street, Bronx Borough, New York City.
ISIDOR TEITELBAUM-One man's mastery of business created the large furniture and house fur- nishing establishment of Isidor Teitelbaum in The Bronx Borough in the short span of a few years. Mr. Teitelbaum was born in Vienna, Austria, No- vember 15, 1883. His father, Jacob Louis Teitel- baum, died in 1903, and his mother, Fannie Teitel- baum, is living.
The family migrated to the United States when Isidor Teitelbaum was in his seventh year. He was educated at Public School No. 34, in New York City. In 1903 he engaged in the second hand furniture business at No. 452 Westchester Avenue, The Bronx, and as his business grew several changes of base were necessary before he found the present con- venient site which he has occupied since 1909. Among other gradual changes has been the change in char- acter of his business. The second hand furniture business has given way to the highest grade of house and hotel furnishings. The high character of Mr. Teitelbaum both among his business and social associates is disclosed by the interests outside of his business which share his attention. He is vice-president and a director of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, and a director in The Bronx Hospital. He is a trustee and Past Grand Lodge officer of the Grand Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, State of New York; a Past Mas- ter of his lodge, and a director of the Jewish philan- thropic societies. He is a member of the Fennemore Country Club, the Rutgers Club of Manhattan, and the Progress Club. He is a director in the No. 340 West Fifty-seventh Street Corporation; the Hotel de France; the Glenmore Apartment Hotel Company, Incorporated; the I & S Company, Incorporated; the Congress Hotel, Incorporated; the Tego Realty Com- pany, Incorporated; the Jador Realty Company, In- corporated; and the Capitol Apartment Hotel Com- pany, Incorporated.
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