Abram D. Ditmars (1822-1899), was an Astoria native who served as the first mayor of Long Island City. Ditmars was born in Newtown, New York (now the area of Elmhurst, Queens) on February 14, 1822 and attended local public schools. He later studied law under the auspices of John L. Riker and was admitted to the bar in 1844. In addition to beginning a career in law, Ditmars pursued a lucrative business as a real-estate dealer and was an active member of the Holland Society