BIOGRAPHY: Charles H. Zundel; Haverstraw, Rockland co., New York

transcribed by W. David Samuelsen for USGenWeb Archives

***********************************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.org/copyright.htm

http://www.usgwarchives.org/ny/nyfiles.htm
***********************************************************************

Portrait and Biographical Record of Rockland and Orange Counties New York
Containing Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens of the Counties.
Together with Biographies and Portraits of all the Presidents of the United
States.
New York and Chicago; Chapman Publishing Co., 1895

CHARLES H. ZUNDEL, President of the village of Haverstraw and a well known
business man of this place, was born of German parentage in St. Petersburgh,
Russia, March 30, 1845. His father, John, was the son of a poor country
schoolmaster, and was born and reared in Wurtemberg, Germany. Possessing a
natural talent for music, he early became distinguished in that science, and
was the author of many musical works, especially for pipe organs. Going to
Russia, he was for several years leader of the Imperial Band under Nicholas,
and also served as organist at St. Ann's Cathedral in St. Petersburgh.

In 1848 John Zundel came from Russia to the United States and settled in
Brooklyn, where the continued as organist in Henry Ward Beecher's church for
about thirty years. At the same time he was a professional teacher, his forte
being organ music. He had the advantage of study under the best masters of
Europe, and was considered one of the most talented musicians in the United
States. Occasionally he held institutes in places in New York. For over
fifteen years he made his home in Garnerville, where he built a comfortable
residence. When advanced in years,however, he returned to Germany, and resided
near Stuttgart until his death, at the age of sixty-three. He retained his
connection with Beecher's church until his return to Germany. By the older
residents of Brooklyn, and also to some ex-tent in Haverstraw, he is
remembered as a man of rare musical genius, gifted far in excess of most men.

The mother of our subject was Theresa Abt, of Hamburgh, who became the wife of
John Zundel in St. Petersburgh. She, too, belonged to a musical family and was
herself a superior pianist; while her brother, Prof. Hermann Abt, was noted in
musical circles. She died of consumption in Stuttgart in 1856, leaving two
sons and two daughters, our subject's brother being Robert H., a resident of
Newcastle, Pa. The second wife of John Zundel was Marie Sapper, of Stuttgart,
Germany.

The boyhood years of our subject were spent partly in Brooklyn and partly in
Germany, which enabled him to obtain an excellent education both in the German
and English languages. He was a student in the advanced schools in Stuttgart
and also attended the Polytechnique School in Brooklyn. When a youth of
fifteen years, he went, in the fall of 1859, with Dr. C. W. Grant, an
extensive grape-grower, to Iona Island, which is situated in the Hudson, two
miles above Peekskill and belongs to Rockland County. Under the supervision of
Dr. Grant he learned the grape-culture business. Henry Ward Beecher's son
Henry, and other sons of prominent men, were students of vine culture there at
the same time.

After having spent three years on the island, Mr. Zundel was employed for two
years in Sing Sing, being with Dr. Grant's old foreman. In 1865 he began grape
culture at Hempstead, L. I. , but after one year he sold the vineyard, a
favor-able opportunity presenting itself. Next, going to Garnerville, he
formed a partnership with R. W. Holton and erected hothouses, carrying on an
extensive business in grape-vine culture for two years, but the business was
overdone and the profits were not as large as expected. After two years the
partnership was dissolved, our subject having lost all he had invested in the
enterprise.

For three years afterward he worked at the carpenter's trade, then engaged iii
raising flowers and vegetables at Garnerville. In 1885 he came to Haverstraw,
where he erected greenhouses and carried on an extensive business in
floriculture, having a large local trade, and making a specialty of cut roses
and carnations. The surplus flowers were disposed of in New York City. In 1894
he retired from the business, since which time he has carried on a real-estate
agency business, and for the past seven years he has also been an insurance
agent.

Taking an active part in politics as a Democrat, Mr. Zundel served as Town
Assessor for six years, and in 1889 was elected President of the village,
which office he has since filled. During his administration the water works
have been built, gas and electric-light companies established, miles of
sidewalk, both flagging and brick, have been laid, also miles of macadam
paving, and many other improvements introduced. The village now also has an
excellent and well equipped fire department, with twenty-seven hundred feet of
hose. There are five hose companies, one hook and ladder, and about two
hundred men connected with the department, George Mardorf being the present
Chief. The water works were opened in 1887, with wells and pumps, and enlarged
two years later, with gravity system extending through the main streets. The
source of the water supply is the springs four miles west, from which there is
an ample fall, producing a pressure of from ninety to one hundred pounds in
the mains. This is sufficient to afford excellent fire protection. The police
force consists of one well equipped man, an old resident of the place, who has
served in this capacity since 1880.

Socially Mr. Zundel is connected with Stony Point Lodge No. 313 F. & A. M.,
and Sequel Lodge No. 542, I.O.O.F., of which he has been Secretary for years.
He has also for years been Secretary of Iona Lodge No. 128, K. of P., in which
he has passed all the chairs, including that of District Deputy. On the
twenty-second anniversary of his birth, March 30, 1867, he was united in
marriage with Miss Emily Wittich, of Garnerville. They are the parents of two
living children, both sons, namely: Eugene, who is traveling salesman for a
manufacturing establishment at Sheboygan, Wis.; and John, who resides near his
father's home on Hudson Avenue, Haver-straw, and is employed as ticket agent
on the West Shore Railroad, Weehawken, N. J. The two daughters, Mary and
Clara, both died in August, 1889, within three weeks of each other, Mary being
twenty and Clara nineteen years of age. They were cultured, accomplished young
ladies, popular in society and especially gifted in music; the elder had taken
a course in Brooklyn and was especially proficient in the science. Mr. Zundel
is also a talented musician, though he has never devoted special attention to
the art. For three years he served as organist in the Methodist Episcopal
Church at Thiells. He is a man whom travel and culture have broadened, and
whose genial, companionable disposition has made him popular among the people
of Haverstraw.