History of the Municipalities of Hudson County, New Jersey, 1630-1923/Volume 3/Gabriel, Krikor

Krikor Gabriel. Progressive Citizen. Among the many worthy citizens and reliable business men who have come to this country from other lands is Krikor Gabriel, of Woodcliff, New Jersey, owner and manager of a prosperous mercantile business located at Nos. 229 and 330-332 Bergenline avenue, Town of Union, New Jersey. Mr. Gabriel was born in Egin, Armenia, where his father died in 1880, at age of forty-seven years, survived by the wife and mother who died in Union Hill, New Jersey, August 13, 1922, aged seventy-five years. There were seven sons and one daughter in the family, all of whom came to this country and settled in Union Hill. Krikor Gabriel attended the public schools of his native town Egin, in Armenia, and then became a student in Central Turkey College, an American institution in Aintab, Turkey, where he remained three years, taking a special course. He then taught for two years in the Protestant Church School. At the end of that time he returned to Egin and established a dry goods store, which he continued to successfully conduct for ten years. In 1897, however, he decided to leave his native land and go to the great land to the westward where he had learned that opportunities were great. With his wife and two children he landed in New York City that same year and at once went to Union Hill, New Jersey, where he established, about three months later, in June 1897, the business which he is still conducting. His first store was opened at what is now No. 193 Bergenline avenue, which he still conducts, in addition to the larger quarters at Nos. 330-332 Bergenline avenue. At the beginning of his mercantile career in Union Hill Mr. Gabriel was associated with his brother in business and that connection, a partnership, was continued until the death of his brother in 1912. Since that time Mr. Gabriel has continued the business alone. He has built up a splendid trad and his already large patronage is steadily growing. He carries a general line of furniture and has so thoroughly learned the needs of his especial patronage that most of his customers find his stock always adequate to meet their demands. Along his activities as a successful merchant Mr. Gabriel is deeply interested in gardening. Each year he has a splendid garden of his own, to which he devotes much time and energy. He is also deeply interested in the work of his church. He is a member of the Armenian Presbyterian Church, which for the past fourteen years he has served as a member of the board of trustees, which responsible official position he still holds. He has given time and also taken an active part in most of the general church activities, and has been an important factor in the development of many of its lines of activity. He has been much interested in Armenian national affairs and has given much of his time and financial help to different organization, that were endeavoring to help Armenians in Turkey. In Egin Armenia, October 10, 1890, Krikor Gabriel married Perlan Haskalian, who was born in Egin, Armenia, daughter of Kevork Haskalian, who died in Constantinople, and Herepsima (Chilingirian) Haskalian, who died in Egin, Armenia. Mr. and Mrs. Gabriel are the parents of three children, the first two of whom were born in Egin, Armenia, and the youngest of whom was born in Union Hill: Arshaluyce, who was born December 29, 1892;  Ervant, who was born December 23, 1893;  Zephyr, who was born June 17, 1897.