Richard M. Walters

Richard M. Walters (September 29, 1851 – January 14, 1902) was an American piano and organ manufacturer. In 1890 he purchased Conrad Narvesen's piano manufacturing company, and continued to make pianos using the Narvesen name. He was also active in local New York City politics. He died in 1902 at the age of 50.

Life and career

The son of Richard and Ellen Walters,[1] Richard M. Walters was born in New York City on September 29, 1851[2] in an area of Lower Manhattan that was then known as the Seventh Ward.[3] In the 1870s he began working in his native city as a maker of actions for the piano.[4] In 1890 he purchased Conrad Narvesen's piano manufacturing firm which was then known as Narvesen, Hangaard & Bergmann.[5] He continued to manufacture pianos using the Narvesen name.[4] One of his contracts was with the New York Board of Education; supplying the pianos to New York City Public Schools.[4] His company also made organs.[4]

Walters was a Roman Catholic, he lived on the premises of the Catholic Club of New York of which he was a member.[3] He never married.[6] He was an active member of the Irish National Land League and was well known in New York political circles.[3] In 1878 he ran for the New York City Board of Aldermen and was on the Republican Party's ticket in the fourth ward.[7][8][9] He ran against Tammany Hall politician John F. Galvin;[10] ultimately losing to him.[11] In 1885 he was elected secretary of the Irish Parliamentary Fund Association.[12] In 1900 he was vice president of the Merchants and Manufacturers Board of Trade.[13]

Walters died on January 14, 1902.[6] He died in the home of his brother, Charles Walters, at 83 West 119th st in South Harlem.[3] His funeral was held at St. Thomas the Apostle Church.[3]

References

  1. ^ Richard Walters in the 1860 United States Federal Census, New York City, New York Ward 7, District 1, page 177
  2. ^ Richard M Walters in the U.S., Passport Applications, 1795–1925, passport issue date May 31, 1887
  3. ^ a b c d e "Obituary Notes". New York Herald. January 16, 1902. p. 2. Archived from the original on January 22, 2026. Retrieved January 21, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b c d Groce, Nancy (1991). "Walters, Richard M.". Musical Instrument Makers of New York: A Directory of Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century Urban Craftsmen. Pendragon Press. pp. 167–168. ISBN 9780918728975.
  5. ^ Spillane, Daniel (1890). History of the American Pianoforte; Its Technical Development, and the Trade. New York: D. Spillane. p. 251. Retrieved January 21, 2026 – via Internet Archive.
  6. ^ a b "Richard M. Walters". Brooklyn Times Union. January 15, 1902. p. 4. Archived from the original on January 22, 2026. Retrieved January 21, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Yesterday's Nominations". New York Herald. October 30, 1878. p. 1. Archived from the original on January 22, 2026. Retrieved January 21, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Congressional Districts". New York Daily Herald. October 6, 1878. p. 9. Archived from the original on January 22, 2026. Retrieved January 21, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Anti-Tammany Nominations". The New York Times. October 27, 1878. p. 2A. Archived from the original on January 22, 2026. Retrieved January 21, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "All Confident". New York Daily Herald. November 5, 1878. p. 2. Archived from the original on January 22, 2026. Retrieved January 21, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Fourth Assembly District". New-York Tribune. December 20, 1878. p. 14. Archived from the original on January 22, 2026. Retrieved January 21, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "New York Awake". Catholic Union and Times. November 26, 1885. p. 4. Archived from the original on January 22, 2026. Retrieved January 21, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Merchants and Manufacturers Board". The New York Times. Paterson, New Jersey (published April 5, 1900). April 4, 1900. p. 2. Retrieved January 21, 2026.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.