Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-05

Charles, died in infancy. In 1902 two
brothers, Frederick c. Havemeyer and
William F. Havemeyer, came to this
country in an emigrant ship from Buckle
burg, in the province Schaumburg- Lirpe.
Germany. When they arrived In New
York the brothers set out, with the lit
tie money they had and a knowledge Of
the trade Of a sugar refiner, to make
better living for themselves. in the new
world than they could make in the old.
After looking about a little the brothers
opened the first sugar refinery in this
country in a little Dutch house. built of
brick and trimmed with white tiles, in
Vandam street. The refinery was also
the home of the young Germans. Below
stairs an oven was built. and in this the
sugar was baked, from which fact the
house was known as the bakery" The
living apartments were on the second
floor. Soon after the Havemeyers started
their refinery Frederick G. Havemeyer,
the elder of the brothers. met and mar
ried Miss Catherine Billiger. a native of
Little Britain. Orange county, N. Y. In
1907 a son was born to Mr.. and Mrs.
Havemeyer and in due time he was
christened by a Lutheran minister, Fred
erck c. Havemeyer. jr
William F. Havemeyer married after a
time and his son was named William F.
Havemeyer. jr. These two cousins sue
ceeded to the business which their fathers
had founded and continued it until 1912.
when both retired. each being succeeded
d
into politics and became mayor of New
York. Frederick C. Havemeyer and his
wife, who was Miss Susan S. Henderson
of this city. went abroad. This Frederick
&c. Havemeyer was the father of Theo-
dore. Frederick, Charles, George and
Henry O.
Hayemeyers & Elder.
When the eldest of these boys was old
enough to do something for himself, the
~.
engage in the business. of the Havemeyer
family for two generations. He bought the
property on the East river front in Will
liamsburg between South 3D. and South
4th streets The property was known as
the Hdsse warehouse. After this pur-
chase had been made, Mr.. Havemeyer
formed the firm of Havemeyer. Townsend
& Co So it continued until 1861, the
company being Mr. Havemeyer's eldest
son. George. In that year George Ha-
vemeyer was killed In. the refinery and
Mr.. Townsend withdrew. J. Lawrence
Elder Mr.. Havemeyer's brother-in-law,
and Theodore A. Havemeyer, his eldest
living son. were taken into the firm. which
became Havemeyers & Elder. Mr.. Elder
died in 1868.
While these changes in the firm were
taking place the two other sons of Fred
erick c. Havemeyer, Thomas and Henry
O., were passing through the same ex-
perience through which their brothers.
George and Theodore, had passed, that of
the sugar refner's apprentice. There
was no part of the business of refining
sugar that the sons of Frederick C. Ha-
vemeyer did not learn. Therefore when
Mr. Elder died the two remaining sons
were taken into the firm. whose style
remained as it was before Mr.. Elders
death. AT the same time that Thomas
and Henry o. Havemeyer were taken in
F. G. Havemeyers nephew. C. y. Senff,
was made a partner.
The makeup of the firm remained as
above until the so-called sugar trust was
formed in 1851. This was made up of f1f-
teen of the largest refineries in the coun-
try. The legality of the trust was ques-
toned and the courts finally dissolved it..
In its stead the present trust was formed
under the laws of the state of New Jer-
sey. The charter was granted in 1891,
the year In which F. c. Havemeyer died.