Pioneer American Carnationists 



CHARLES ZELLER 



Charles Zeller, one of the earliest beginners in the growing of seedling carnations 

 in America, was born seventy-five years ago at Lanzer, Department Haut-Rhin, Alsace, 



France, near Basle, Switzerland. In 1841 he 

 went to his uncle, located at Basle, to learn 

 the florist's business, but in a short time dis- 

 covered that he could not there acquire 

 everything according to his wishes. He 

 then resolved to engage for a term of three 

 years with Mr. Henry Fisher in Freidbourg, 

 Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany, where he 

 had an opportunity of learning florist, nur- 

 sery, landscape and vegetable work. In 1844 

 he returned to Basle, and for some time was 

 employed by Mr. Hammerlin, superinten- 

 dent of the Botanic Garden. In 1847 Mr. 

 Zeller went to Paris, France, to get better 

 acquainted with his mother tongue before 

 he should be drafted as a soldier. Fortu- 

 nately, he was exempted from military ser- 

 vice by drawing the second highest number. 

 He remained in Paris for some time, work- 

 ing as a florist, landscape and vegetable 

 gardener. Becoming disgusted with Paris- 

 ian life, through the Revolution, he emi- 

 grated to America, landing in New York on 



CHARLES ZELLER October 28, 1851, "full of inspiration" as he 



says, when he "got the first glimpse of the noble flag, the emblem of Liberty and 

 Prosperity." He was then twenty-one years of age. It was a great disappointment 

 to him that he could get no work in his own line of business, and for the winter sea- 

 son he secured employment on the Hudson River Railroad, where, to use his own 

 words, he "labored with a squad of twenty-two Irishmen, working with my spade ; 

 and when they found out I could use a shovel, crowbar and pickaxe as well as the rest 

 of them, they became my friends." 



With no regrets Mr. Zeller quitted this occupation in the spring of 1852, and 

 obtained a situation with Mateo Donati, florist, at Bloomingdale, N. Y. He later 

 went to work for Mr. Mantell, of the same place, and subsequently for Mr. Rinney, of 

 Lodi, N. J., where in doing some landscaping he became acquainted with Mr. 

 John Dailledouze, with whom he formed a lasting friendship. Together they concluded 

 to rent a place and go into business at Flatbush, N. Y. After a period of three 

 years another partner was added, and the firm became Dailledouze, Zeller & Gard. 

 It continued for fifteen years, when it was dissolved, each of the partners remaining 

 in business for himself in separate establishments. 



Mr. Zeller, who throughout all his career has been a hard-working member of 

 the craft, lost his father and mother when he was very young, and received a schooling 

 of only two years ; but he never missed an opportunity of obtaining knowledge. He 



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