USA > New York > Bronx County > The Bronx and its people; a history, 1609-1927, Volume III > Part 78
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had been established on Morris Park Avenue, The Bronx, and he conducted this place with much suc- cess for many years. However, his attention before long was attracted to real estate in the Morris Park section of The Bronx, and, together with his wife, he commenced in a small way to buy and sell. Their . success proved very encouraging and when an advan- tageous opportunity offered itself to sell out his bar- ber shop, he availed himself of it. Since then Mr. Schano has concentrated his energies on his real estate business, in which his wife still takes an active part, and they have become widely known and highly respected as successful, enterprising and reliable real estate dealers in the Morris Park section of The Bronx.
Mr. Schano is a member of Bronx Lodge, No. 1416, Royal Arcanum; Bronx Aurora, No. 14, Woodmen of the World; the Chippewa Democratic Club of The Bronx; The Bronx Board of Trade; the Van Nest Citizens' Patriotic League; and The Real Estate Board of The Bronx.
Mr. Schano married, January 18, 1891, in New York City, Agnes Kunkel, a daughter of John and Susanna Kunkel. Mr. and Mrs. Schano are the par- ents of one daughter, Frances Agnes, born October 4, 1897; married, September 3, 1919, at the Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady of Solace, by Rev. Father Curley, now Bishop of Syracuse, Matthew Peterson. Of this union two children were born1: Frances Peterson, born July 16, 1920, and Matthew Peterson, Jr., born June 26, 1922. Mr. and Mrs. Schano make their home at No. 702 Morris Park Avenue, The Bronx.
JOHN VINCENT McEVILY-The plumbing as well as the general business interests of The Bronx, have a very thoroughgoing and able advo- cate in John Vincent McEvily, master plumber, a popular leader in his vocation and a reliable citi- zen who has proved himself in readiness upon all occasions for championship of The Bronx progress, whether in business or civic matters. He is a son of Thomas James McEvily, who was born in County Mayo, Ireland, a brother of the Archbishop of Tomb, and Margaret (Quinn) McEvily, daughter of Coroner John Quinn, a native of Longford, Ireland.
John Vincent McEvily was born June 6, 1871, at the residence on Thirty-seventh Street and Second Avenue, in New York City, and he attended the parochial schools in this city. Mr. McEvily began work when he was fifteen years old, and served his apprenticeship in the plumbing trade with James Fay, plumber, on Third Avenue and Fiftieth Street. After two years he became a journeyman plumber, and for a time he was employed for the Richard- son Estate. When Mr. McEvily was twenty-one years old, in 1891, he began business in his own ac- count, and as a master plumber he engages in a lucrative business, with his headquarters at No. 3146 East Tremont Avenue, The Bronx.
From 1913 to 1917, Mr. McEvily served as secre- tary to The Bronx County Clerk. His fraternal af- filiations are with St. Raymond's Council, No. 811, ยท Knights of Columbus; and he is a past vice-president of the Arthur H. Murphy Association; and a member
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Vincent Me Emily
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of the James W. Brown Association, Chippewa Democratic Club, New York Society for the City of New York County Committee of the Sixth Assembly District, and Throggs Neck Democratic Club; and he is president of the Westchester Business Men's Association.
John Vincent McEvily married, May 7, 1893, Catherine Fox, daughter of Patrick and Bridget (Tierney) Fox, both natives of County Cavan, Ire- land, the nuptial benediction being pronounced by Rev. Father Christopher O'Reilly, in St. Cecelia's Roman Catholic Church, at One Hundred and Sixth Street and Lexington Avenue. Their children: 1. Thomas Francis, born January 31, 1894; married El- len McDonald, and they have a son, Thomas Francis, Jr., born in September, 1925. 2. Adele, born March 13, 1896; married Richard Littlefield, and they have two sons, Richard, Jr., born December 23, 1920, and John, born December 15, 1924. 3. Margarite Regina, born February 15, 1898. 4. Vincent, a biography of whom follows. 5. Arthur Joseph, born March 16, 1902; married Anna L. Lehman, and they have a son, Arthur Joseph, Jr., born in November, 1924. 6. Gertrude Agnes, born August 5, 1904. 7. Robert Emmett, born in February, 1906, attends Manhattan College, and will prepare for the medical profes- sion. 8. Charles Augustus, born July 15, 1910, a student in Cathedral College, and will prepare for the priesthood. 9. Dorothy, born February 2, 1912.
VINCENT McEVILY-One of the youngest realtors in this section of The Bronx, who has es- tablished a record of which many an older man would be proud, is Vincent McEvily, born July 15, 1900, in Tremont Village, now a part of The Bronx, a son of John Vincent and Catherine (Fox) McEvily, both born in the Yorkville section of New York City.
He received his early education in the public schools of Westchester, but soon after school days were over he entered the real estate business, al- though in a very modest way. His father, who has been a master plumber all his life with a store at No. 2901 East Tremont Avenue, shared his office with his son. He remained with his father three years and then opened his own office at No. 134 Westchester Square, on July 1, 1925. He has al- ways specialized in East Bronx properties, but since July 1, 1925, he has handled properties that aggre- gate over several million dollars. This is indeed an enviable record for a young man to possess in view of the keen competition in this section with older established realty firms, an achievement for a young man to be justly proud of. During 1920 to 1922 he was engaged as a traveling auditor by the United States Shipping Board. In political faith he is a Democrat, a member of the Chippewa Democratic Club of The Bronx, his fraternal affiliation being with Lodge No. 709, Benevolent and Protective Or- der of Elks.
Vincent McEvily married, January 12, 1926, in St. Benedict's Roman Catholic Church, Rev. Father Louis officiating, Gloria V. Baxter, daughter of Charles and Mary (Barrett) Baxter, her parents both born in the Yorkville section of New York City. The family home is at No. 984 Bronx Park, South.
NATHAN COHEN-For fifteen years, during the most active period of expansion and development that The Bronx has ever known, Nathan Cohen, president of the Great Northern Apartment Corpora- tion, has been a constructive and stimulating factor in shaping progress. He was born in Minsk, Rus -. sia, April 15, 1877, son of Herman and Anna Cohen. His father died in New York in 1914, his mother in Russia in 1910.
Nathan Cohen was educated in the Minsk public and high schools and came to the United States in August, 1896, at the age of nineteen years. His first occupation was in the shoe business, in which he busied himself in The Bronx for fifteen years. He then associated himself with real estate and property development, and is now president of the Great Northern Apartment Corporation, as well as of the Kelvale Realty and the Neho Realty corporations, all owning apartment houses in various parts of The Bronx.
Mr. Cohen's philanthropies and civic activities are many. He is ex-president of the Montefiore Con- gregation, the Independent Order of B'rith Abraham, the Chevra Anshe Borisoff, and the Hyman Joseph Family Circle. He is a member of the following: The Rabbi Jacob Joseph School, the Hebrew In- stitute of University Heights, The Bronx Hospital Association, the Keren Hayesod, the National Home for Incurables, the Hebrew Home for Incurables, the P. J. Kane Association, and the Grand Street Boys' Association. Democratic in political inclina- tions, he is enrolled in the Pondiac Democratic Club. As a member he cooperates actively with The Bronx Board of Trade.
In New York City, on October 9, 1904, Nathan Cohen married Mollie Rubenstein, daughter of Jo- seph and Sadie Rubenstein. Her father died in 1922. To Mr. and Mrs. Cohen were born: George, June 22, 1905; William, December 28, 1907; Anna, October 12, 1910; Leah, October 24, 1913; and Herman, December 6, 1914.
NICHOLAS PATRICK DOOLEY, is one of those citizens of The Bronx whose long years of service in the civic routine of hs community has done much to make that section one of the outstanding boroughs of Greater New York. Born May 5, 1874, in the Woodlawn section of The Bronx on the ground now taken up by the Woodlawn Cemetery, Mr. Dooley is the son of Michael and Catherine (Shan- non) Dooley. Michael Dooley, his father, was born in Queenstown, Ireland. His mother, Catherine (Shannon) Dooley, was born in Bronxdale, near The Bronx River, the present site of the bleachery. The elder Mr. and Mrs. Dooley were the parents of four- teen children, nine of whom are still living: 1. The Rev. John H. Dooley, who is now pastor of the Corpus Christi Church, at No. 535 West One Hundred and Twenty-first Street, and who is the author of a book of poems. 2. Joseph A. Dooley, who is a retired battalion fire chief. 3. Nicholas Patrick Dooley, of whom more later. 4. Mary Dooley, who married Patrick Cash; they are the parents of three children, May, Mathew and Catherine. 5. Elizabeth Dooley, who married Mi- chael Downs, who is now retired from the Police
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Department of the City of New York and is now a special officer in the National City Bank; they are the parents of John Downs, and an adopted daugh- ter, Reita Downs. 6. Catherine Dooley. 7. Annie Dooley, who married John Meadows, and who is now living in Yonkers. 8. Tessie Dooley. 9. Addie Dooley, who married James Renahan, and who is now living in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
Nicholas Patrick Dooley began his education in the school known as the Mosholu School. Later he attended the Fordham Grammar School. When he was eighteen years of age he received his first real contact with the world of commerce in the trucking business which his father conducted in Woodlawn in addition to his duties as keeper of the Woodlawn Cemetery, a position which he held from the time the cemetery was opened, in 1861, until his decease, at the age of fifty-one, in the year 1896. After his father's death, Mr. Dooley, the younger, carried on the trucking business until 1898, when he gave it up to enter the department of street cleaning as an asistant dock inspector. In the year 1904, he was promoted to the position of assistant stable foreman, and three years later, in 1907, he was advanced to the position of section foreman. For several years he was acting district superintendent, and in 1921 he re- ceived his appointment to that position, with head- quarters at No. 365 East One Hundred and Fifty- second Street, The Bronx, which office he still holds. In the early days of his political associations, Mr. Dooley was dubbed "the Boy Boss" of Mosholu, as the result of his being elected captain of the Forty- third Election District when he first entered the political arena at the age of twenty-one. There was only one Assembly District then-the Thirty-fifth.
Mr. Dooley is a charter member of the Guiding Star Council, No. 212, Knights of Columbus, having been connected with that organization for a period of time somewhat in excess of twenty-nine years. He is also a member of the Samoset Democratic Club, and of the Himalayas of The Bronx.
Nicholas Patrick Dooley married, June 18, 1903, Elizabeth Dommermuth, the daughter of Peter and Charlotte (Maidt) Dommermuth. Mrs. Dooley's father, Peter Dommermuth, was born in Belgium. Her mother was born in New York City. Mr. and Mrs. Dooley are the parents of Elizabeth Dooley, who was born September 27, 1904.
PHILIP WATTENBERG, builder and business man of The Bronx, was born in Stanislaus, Austria, in 1869, the son of Israel Wattenberg, a merchant and Theda Wattenberg. He came to the United States in May, 1898, at twenty-nine. He had attended a Rabbinical School in his native land, completing his studies at twenty-two years, had served in the militia army of Austria as a private, and was engaged in the leather business. After he arrived in America, he worked as a cutter of leather goods from 1898 to 1902, then engaging in the leather business independ- ently at One Hundred and Sixty-seventh Street, The Bronx, continuing from 1902 to 1906.
He turned his attention to real estate and building in 1906, and he has built homes in The Bronx of a character and quality which elicited the editorial commendation of Arthur Brisbane in the New York
"Journal." He also specializes in garages in various parts of Manhattan. He built the first sanitary bakery in The Bronx having been a pioneer in this type of construction. He is associated with Harry Cohn and Morris Miller. Mr. Wattenberg is also the builder of the Einstein Building in Palestine, which is named in his honor. He is an executive member of the Zionist Organization of America; executive member of The Bronx Fellowship Club, and presi- dent of the Galician Jewish Association of America. Mr. Wattenberg is a director of The Bronx Hospital, The Bronx Young Men's Hebrew Association; and chairman of the Jewish National Fund of Greater New York. He is a member of the B'rith Abraham, the I. O. C., and The Bronx Board of Trade.
Mr. Wattenberg married in Stanislaus, Austria, in August, 1892, Frieda Kiesler, daughter of Jonah Kiesler, a well-known banking family. Mr. and Mrs. Wattenberg are the parents of: 1. John, born Aug- ust 28, 1893, architect and engineer, who served as a volunteer in the World War. 2. Gizella, born No- vember 18, 1899.
DOMENICK DE PROSPO-One of the most re- cent firms established in The Bronx is that of De Prospo & Benjamin, real estate brokers, with their office at No. 616 Melrose Avenue. Mr. De Prospo has been connected with real estate work for the past five years, but this firm of realtors came into existence in March, 1926.
Avellino, Italy, is the town where Domenick De Prospo was born on March 7, 1898, son of Nicholas and Angelina De Prospo, both parents now living in America. When he was but two years old his par- ents came to America, bringing him with them, and at Public School No. 3, in The Bronx, he received his education. He then went to work, and as he came to manhood, he demonstrated himself to have business ability above the ordinary. For seven years he was proprietor of a market, before he made this new venture in the handling of property in this upper section of New York City. He is one of the stock- holders of the Melrose National Bank, but is not actively connected with any business other than his own, devoting his entire time and attention to build- ing this up into a strong firm. Politically, Mr. De Prospo supports the Republican party, and he is a member of the band of the 53rd Pioneer Regiment (old 47th) of the New York National Guard. He is enrolled in the Real Estate Board of The Bronx, and belongs to the Holy Name Society.
On July 16, 1922, Domenick De Prospo and Lucy Riccio, daughter of Frank and Anna Riccio, of The Bronx, were united in marriage. To this union a son was born on July 16, 1923, who was christened Nicholas. Mr. and Mrs. De Prospo are communi- cants of the St. Roch's Roman Catholic Church.
PHILIP JULIAN BENJAMIN, second mem- ber of the new firm of De Prospo & Benjamin, was born in New York City, on September 2, 1893, son of the late Samuel and Hilda Benjamin. His father, who died at Sea Gate, New York, in 1920, was born and passed his childhood in Russia, but came to America as a young man, and here married, and established himself as a merchant tailor, but later
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became a real estate broker. His mother he never knew, as she died at his birth.
Philip Julian Benjamin attended public school and graduated from the Morris High School. Then he had to go out into the world as a bread winner, but realizing the great advantage of a splendid education, he enrolled as a student in the evening classes of Columbia University. When the firm of De Prospo & Benjamin was formed in March, 1926, Mr. Ben- jamin brought to the affairs of the new venture fifteen years of varied experience in the business world. He began with the importing house of J. Sternfeld, on West Thirty-seventh Street, and after two years entered the employ of a fur manufacturing concern, representing them as a traveling salesman for nine years. His next experience was in retail business, where he managed his own "Ready To Wear" busi- ness for three years. Then he went into real estate work, and had been a realtor three years when he threw in his fortunes with Mr. De Prospo.
Mr. Benjamin's military career was with the Eighty-seventh Division (later transferred to Thirty- first Battalion) at Fort Ethan Allen, Vermont. In the Green Mountain State he also joined the Masons, and he still holds his membership with Ethan Allen Lodge, No. 79, Essex Junction, Vermont. In politics Mr. Benjamin and his partner are in opposite camps, for he is a Democrat, while Mr. De Prospo is a Re- publican.
On March 30, 1920, Philip Julian Benjamin mar- ried Bessie Kopperman, daughter of Abraham and Dora Kopperman, of Manhattan. To Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin a daughter, Doris, was born on August 15, 1921.
SAMUEL J. THOMPSON-Connected with the Street Cleaning Department of the city of New York for a quarter of a century, Mr. Thompson, as a re- sult of his ability, efficiency and devotion to the in- terests of this department of the municipal adminis- tration, has gained various promotions to different positions of ever-increasing responsibility and impor- tance. Since the beginning of 1926 he has been stable manager, with headquarters at the corner of Willow Avenue and One Hundred and Thirty-third Street, The Bronx. His efficient management of this department has contributed greatly to the com- fort and welfare of the inhabitants of The Bronx, while his long connection with the Street Cleaning Department has made him one of the most widely known and most popular members of it.
Samuel J. Thompson was born July 18, 1874, on East One Hundred and Forty-second Street, Bronx, a son of James and Catherine (O'Connor) Thomp -. son. His father was born in Newtownards, County Down, Ireland, in 1843, and came to the United States in 1860. Though only seventeen years old, he was eager to take an active part in the Civil War, but on account of his youth was barred. During the later stages of the conflict, however, he saw active service and greatly distinguished himself. He mar- ried Catherine O'Connor, who was born in Ross- kreen, County Sligo, Ireland, in 1845, and died in February, 1915, having been pre-deceased by her hus- band, who died in September, 1908. They were the parents of five children: Samuel J., of whom fur-
ther; Jane, now deceased; James, who married Sophie Weiss; John, now deceased; and Agnes, now de- ceased.
Samuel J. Thompson was the eldest son and child and was educated in the parochial and public schools of The Bronx, attending St. Jerome's Parochial School and later Public School No. 60, then located on College Avenue between One Hundred and Forty- fifth and One Hundred and Forty-sixth streets. At the age of fifteen years he began work in the employ of Boettger & Hinze, silk finishers, with which con- cern he continued for seven years. In 1896, he be- came connected with the Central Union Gas Com- pany, remaining in this line of work until 1901. In the latter year he began his connection with the New York City Street Cleaning Department, of which he is still an employee. His first position was as a driver, but before long he was promoted to assistant inspector, later assistant stable foreman, and finally stable manager, which latter position he has held since January 1, 1926. In politics he is a supporter of the Pondiac Democratic Club.
Mr. Thompson married in St. Anselm's Roman Catholic Church, June 26, 1902, Elizabeth Whalen, who was born on One Hundred and Forty-ninth Street and Union Avenue, The Bronx, a daughter of Patrick and Bridget (Fallon) Whalen. Mrs. Thomp- son's father, Patrick Whalen, was born in Queen's County, Ireland, but came to the United States in his early youth, settling in The Bronx, where he was for many years a member of the old Monitor No. 2 Fire Department. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are the parents of four children: 1. James William, born April 28, 1903. 2. May, born March 24, 1906, wife of John Elflien and mother of one daughter, Eliza- beth, born February 5, 1925. 3. William Francis, born February 10, 1909. 4. Joseph Patrick, born September 12, 1911. The family residence is located at No. 933 East One Hundred and Fifty-sixth Street, The Bronx.
JOSEPH ALBERT URGO-After a long career as a machinist, Joseph Albert Urgo is meeting with remarkable success in the real estate business. Since February, 1926, he has been devoting his entire time to this work, with offices at No. 641 Morris Park Avenue, The Bronx. Mr. Urgo came to America from Italy.
He was born in Laurenzana, province of Basilicata, Italy, November 20, 1876. When he was fifteen years old he came to America and settled on the lower east side of New York City. Here, on Eliza- beth Street, he began work in a machine shop, and in this way learned the trade which he followed for more than thirty years. After two years of appren- ticeship he entered the employ of the Singer Sewing Machine Company at Elizabethport, New Jersey. He remained here as a machinist for three and one- half years, then worked in various shops in New Jer- sey and The Bronx until he was able to establish his own shop at the corner of Third Avenue and One Hundred and Forty-fourth Street, later moving to Third Avenue and One Hundred and Eighty-eighth Street. This he retained for many years, but in the meanwhile he began dabbling in real estate in associa- tion with J. J. Goebel, real estate broker, of No. 619
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Morris Park Avenue. Encouraged by the success with which he met in these early ventures, Mr. Urgo decided to dispose of his machine shop and enter real estate altogether, and on February 1, 1926, he opened his own real estate office at No. 641 Morris Park Avenue. He is continuing here at the present time. Mr. Urgo is a member of Garabaldi Lodge, No. 542, Free and Accepted Masons.
Mr. Urgo married, June 26, 1898, in New York City, Jennie Torre, a native of Pollico, province of Salerno, Italy, in the Naples district. She is the daughter of Paul Torre, a native of Salerno, born there in 1833, died in 1913. To this marriage were born seven children, one son and six daughters: 1. Charles Rocco, born May 5, 1899. 2. Tessie Maria, born February 6, 1901. 3. Jessie Olympia, born August 23, 1903. 4. Lillian Eva, born April 3, 1908. 5. Georgianna Ida, born February 22, 1910. 6. Viola Mabel, born March 9, 1915. 7. Sylvia Florence, born May 7, 1917.
Joseph A. Urgo's parents were Rocco Vito and Therese (Nigro) Urgo, both of whom are deceased. The father was an importer of fine oils and cheeses from Italy, and for many years had headquarters at Jersey City.
MATTHEW DUFFY was born on August 10, 1875, in Rathmolyon, County Meath, Ireland. His par- ents, Joseph and Catherine (Brady) Duffy, had their home here on a farm, and when their son had finished the course at the National School at Kill, County Meath, he returned to the homestead and helped his father about the place for four years. He was then nineteen and ready to go out into the great world for himself. In May of 1895 he landed in New York and settled in The Bronx, where he soon found work as a laborer. In a short time he had made an agree- ment with the Interborough Rapid Transit Company. This was at the time when they were making the change from steam to electricity on their metro- politan lines. His ability and trustworthiness carried him to the position of a member of the train crew. In 1905, he made another change, this time joining the forces of the street cleaning department, as a driver. From this work he advanced to section fore- man, and is next in line of promotion to the position of district superintendent. He is familiar with the duties of this office, for he frequently acts as assis- tant to the district manager of the northwestern sec- tion of The Bronx, carrying on his work when he is obliged to be absent.
Mr. Duffy is identified with the Ancient Order of Hibernians, being a member of Division No. 6, of Fordham. Politically he supports the Democratic party, and the county organization of same. He also hold's membership in the North Side Democratic Club of The Bronx.
On April 22, 1902, in the Church of St. John Chry- sostom, Mary Ann Bradley became the wife of Matthew Duffy. Her parents were Christopher Bradley, who was born in Caltrim, County Meath, Ireland, in 1833, and Margaret (Duffy) Bradley, born in Derrypatrick, County Meath, in the same year. Mr. and Mrs. Duffy are the parents of the following children: 1. Margaret Rose, born August 30, 1904, now Sister Mary Bridget, of the Dominican Order.
2. Catherine, born in 1906, died in 1924. 3. Mary, born in 1907, died in 1924. 4. Joseph Matthew, born July 27, 1909, a student at Fordham Preparatory School. 5. Marcella Ann, born September 5, 1911. 6. Elizabeth Rita, born in April, 1913.
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