USA > New Jersey > Morris County > A history of Morris County, New Jersey : embracing upwards of two centuries, 1710-1913, Volume II > Part 10
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Mr. Hopkins married, 1900, Lillian G., daughter of Captain D. S. Allen, a prominent business man of Dover, and formerly postmaster of that city. They have had children : Earl M. and Marjorie E., and the family resides at No. 37 Gold street, Dover, New Jersey. In political matters Mr. Hopkins will not allow himself to be bound by the ties of partisanship, but takes his stand as an independent voter. His reputation as an expert teacher in his particular branches has extended far beyond the community in which he lives, and his pupils do not come alone from the neighboring counties, but also from the adjoining States. He has achieved that success which is the logical result of enterprise, systematic effort, resolute purpose and straight- forward dealing.
CLAUDIUS FRANKLIN WILSON
A prominent member of the legal fraternity of Morris county, New Jersey, C. Franklin Wilson, is a partner in the well-known law firm of Vree- land & Wilson, of Morristown. He is the son of Lewis H. and Anna Caroline (Smith) Wilson, and was born in Pitt county, North Carolina, January 21, 1868, his parents having been natives of the same locality.
Mr. Wilson first went to the schools of the neighborhood in Pitt county, later being sent to the Male Academy of Greenville, North Carolina, and graduating from that institution in June, 1884. His father cherished the old world belief in the necessity of a trade being a component part of the educa-
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tion of every boy and so his son was set to learn that of the printer. Upon this young Mr. Wilson spent four years and mastered all its details. The value of this as an acquisition was proved in after years. The ambition of the youth was set upon being a lawyer, but after reading law for six months his eyes gave out, and he was obliged to find something that would tax them less. An opportunity opened for him to become the managing editor of a newspaper in Wilson, North Carolina, and in this his knowledge of the printing business was of excellent service. In November, 1892, he came to Morristown, New Jersey, and for four years worked as reporter on the True Democratic Banner, and during that time was the local correspondent for the Sun and the Evening Post, of New York City. He then resumed the study of law, first in the office of Edward A. Quayle, and on February 7, 1898, entered the office of Judge John B. Vreeland.
In October, 1898, Mr. Wilson began a two years' course of work in the New York Law School, and he was admitted to the New Jersey bar as an attorney at the February term, 1900, of the Supreme Court, and as a counsellor at the June term, 1904. Upon his admission to the bar he at once engaged in practice, and April 1, 1903, he became a member of the firm of Vreeland, King, Wilson & Lindabury, and continued in this connection until April 1, 1912, when the firm was dissolved, and he became a member of the firm of Vreeland & Wilson.
In his political beliefs Mr. Wilson is a Democrat. He is a member of the First Baptist Church of Morristown, and he is also the president of its board of trustees. He is also a member of the North Carolina Society of New York City, of the Reform Club of New York City, of Cincinnati Lodge, No. 3, F. and A. M., of Morristown ; of Madison Lodge, No. 27, R. A. M. ; of Morristown Lodge, No. 121, K. of P .; of Mohuscowungie Tribe, I. O. R. M., and of Independent Hose Company, No. I.
Mr. Wilson married, June 9, 1902, Dr. Grace Flanders, of Morristown, daughter of A. Hilliard Flanders, M. D. They have three children: Ruth Irene, Margaret Howe, Janet Hilliard.
LOUIS R. FRITTS, D. D. S.
Prominent among the professional men of Dover, New Jersey, is Dr. Louis Ramsey Fritts, who for the past six years has been numbered among the dental practitioners of this city. The progenitor of the Fritts family in America was born in Holland and immigrated to the new world in 1740, landing at the port of Philadelphia. Subsequently he settled in Hunterdon county, New Jersey, and there numerous of his descendants were born and reared. Dr. Fritts is a grandson of Frederick Fritts and is the son of Frederick and Ebby (Lamerson) Fritts, the latter of whom died in 1905. Frederick Fritts Jr. was born and grew to manhood in Hunterdon county, New Jersey. For a number of years he was a resident of Dover and he is now living in Newark, this State. He is a mechanic by trade. His wife was a daughter of Joseph Lamerson, formerly a prominent citizen of Hunterdon county. There were four children born to Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Fritts as follows: Louis R., the immediate subject of this review ; Fletcher, a sales- man; and Anna and Ella, both of whom are living with their father in Newark.
Dr. Louis R. Fritts was born in Hunterdon county, New Jersey, January 5, 1884, and he lived in that section of the State until 1896 when he came to Dover, this city having since represented his home. As a youth he at- tended the public schools of Dover and in 1904 was matriculated as a 5
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student in the Baltimore School of Dental Surgery, in which excellent in- stitution he was graduated as a member of the class of 1907, duly receiving his degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery. He initiated the active practice of his profession in Dover and here he now controls a large and lucrative patronage. In 1913 he pursued a post-graduate course of study in Philadel- phia. He is a valued and appreciative member of the New Jersey State Dental Society, of the Tri County Dental Society and of the National Dental Association. In a fraternal way he is affiliated with Morris Council, No. 541, R. A., at Dover ; with Dover Lodge, No. 782, B. P. O. E .; with Xi Psi Phi fraternity. His finely equipped office is located in the Harris Building on East Blackwell street.
In the year 1907 Dr. Fritts was united in marriage to Athalia Malders, a native of Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. and Mrs. Fritts have no children.
WILLIAM F. COSTELLO, M. D.
The world instinctively pays deference to the man whose success has been worthily achieved and whose prominence is not the less the result of an irreproachable life than of natural talents and acquired ability in the line of his chosen labor. Dr. Costello occupies a position of distinction as a repre- sentative of the medical profession at Dover and the best evidence of this capability in the line of his chosen work is the large patronage which is accorded him. It is a well known fact that a great percentage of those who enter business life meet with failure or only a limited measure of success. This is usually due to one or more of several causes-superficial preparation, lack of close application or an unwise choice in selecting a voca- tion for which one is not fitted. The reverse of all this has entered into the success and prominence which Dr. Costello has gained. His equipment for the profession has been unusually good and he has continually extended the scope of his labors through the added efficiency that comes from keeping in touch with the marked advancement that has been made by the members of the medical fraternity in the last decade.
A native of the old Empire State of the Union, Dr. William F. Costello was born in the city of Binghamton, New York, January 22, 1884. He is a son of Frank P. Costello, born in Philadelphia. Pennsylvania, 1853. He located in Binghamton. New York, as a young man and there eventually gained prominence as a prosperous merchant. He was summoned to the life eternal in 1896, at the comparatively early age of forty-three years. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth McGowan, was born in Bing- hamton, and resides at the present time ( 1913) in Buffalo ; she is a daughter of John McGowan. Five children were born to Frank P. and Elizabeth (Mc- Gowan) Costello, namely: Dr. William F., immediate subject of this re- view ; James, a resident of Buffalo, New York, and there in the employ of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Company; Loretta, wife of E. D. McNulty, of Utica, New York ; Genevieve, wife of William Crehan, of Buffalo ; Gertrude, wife of Silas Jacobs, of Utica, New York.
After completing the curriculum of the public and high schools of Bing- hamton, New York, Dr. William F. Costello entered the medical department of the University of Buffalo. This was in 1903 and in 1907 he was grad- uated in that institution with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. There- after he worked as an interne in St. John's Hospital in New York City for three years and at the expiration of that period located at Corona, Long Island, there initiating the active practice of his profession. In the fall of 1909 he came to Morris county, New Jersey, and established his professional
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headquarters at Dover, where he has since maintained his home and where he now controls a large and lucrative patronage. He has made a fine reputa- tion for himself as a skilled physician and surgeon and is called upon to attend cases throughout all sections of Morris county. In connection with his life work he is a member of the Morris County Medical Society, the New Jersey State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. In a fraternal way he is affiliated with the B. P. O. E., at Dover, and with the K. C. In religious faith he is a devout communicant of the Catholic church and his political convictions coincide with the principles upheld by the Independent party. Dr. Costello's professional offices are at No. 59 West Blackwell street. He is unmarried and is popular in connection with the best social affairs of his home city.
JOSEPH WALLACE OGDEN
This family is of English descent and of great antiquity, it being claimed that the name was first written "de Hoghton." There is unmistakable evi- dence that families of this surname, variously spelled, were located in dif- ferent parts of England so far back as the time of William the Conqueror. One of the earliest forms of the name was borne by Peter de Hoton, who in 1150 A. D. founded Erden or Arden Priory, a Benedictine nunnery. John de Hoton, in 1200 A. D., made certain grants to the parish of Hoton, and was the father of Sir John de Oketon, Knight of Rowcandura. Other variations in the spelling of the name have been Oketone, Okton, Ock- tone, Okedon, Okeden, Oakden, Okden and finally Ogden; this last form having first come into use about the year 1500 A. D. The derivation of the name seems to be from the Saxon "ock," oak tree, and "den" or "dean," a wooded valley ; the name is thus freely rendered "oak dale" or "oak valley," and on all of the escutcheons of the arms-bearing Ogden families of England the oak branches or leaves, and acorns are always found. The arms of this branch of the family are: Sable, on a fesse argent, between three acorns or, as many oak leaves vert. The crest also displays the oak leaves and acorns. The motto is, Tan que je puis.
(I) Robert Ogden, the earliest discoverable English ancestor of the American family, is first found upon record in the year 1453 when he ap- pears as a witness to a land grant in Nutley, Hampshire. He again appears in 1457 in connection with a post-mortem search concerning lands in Nutley belonging to one Joan Ogden, of Ellingham, county Southampton, who was presumably his wife. He had two children: Richard, mentioned below ; William, married Agnes Hamlyn, and died in 1517.
(II) Richard Ogden, son of Robert and Joan Ogden, married Mabel, daughter of Johannes de Hoogan, of Lyndhurst, Hants, prior to March 8, 1503. Children: John, married Margaret Wharton; William, mentioned below ; Robert, whose line became extinct in 1613.
(III) William Ogden, son of Richard and Mabel (de Hoogan) Ogden, married, May 9, 1539, Abigail, daughter of Henry Goodsall, of Bradley Plain. He died before July 19, 1569, on which date his widow confirmed to her oldest son Edward and his wife all her lands and tenements in Bradley Plain and Minstead. Children: Edward, mentioned below ; Abigail, mar- ried Philip Bennet ; Charles.
(IV) Edward Ogden, son of William and Abigail (Goodsall) Ogden, was born at Bradley Plain, September 6, 1540. He married there, December 16, 1563, Margaret, daughter of Richard and Margaret Wilson, her parents confirming to herself and her husband land in Bradley Plain and Minstead.
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Children: Thomas, born 1565, married Elizabeth Sanford; Margaret, born 1566, married Isaac Sanford; Richard, mentioned below; Edward, born 1570, died in infancy; John, born 1571, married Margaret Huntington, daughter of Samuel and Margaret (Crane) Huntington.
(V) Richard (2) Ogden, son of Edward and Margaret (Wilson) Ogden, was born at Bradley Plain, May 15, 1568. He appears to have lived in Wiltshire and had lands in New Sarum and Plaitford. He married, May 2, 1592, Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel and Margaret (Crane) Huntington, and sister of his brother John's wife. Children: Richard, born 1596, died in infancy; Richard, born 1597, died 1599; Edward, married Elizabeth Knight ; Elizabeth, born 1603, died in infancy ; Elizabeth, born 1607, married Martin ; John, mentioned below ; Richard, born 1610, married Mary, daughter of David Hall, of Gloucester, England, and died at Fairfield, Con- necticut, leaving numerous descendants; David, born 1611, died without issue.
(VI) John Ogden, the Pilgrim, son of Richard (2) and Elizabeth (Huntington) Ogden, was born at Bradley Plain, Hampshire, England, September 19, 1609, where he married, May 8, 1637, Jane, daughter of Jonathan Bond. He prospered and acquired property ; and three children, two of whom were twins, were born to him in England. The name of the vessel in which he sailed for America is not known, but it probably landed at Southampton, on the southern shore of Long Island, early in 1640, as he is first mentioned as residing here, where on April 17, 1640, he received a grant of land known as Shinnecock Hill, adjoining Southampton on the west. He was a leader among the settlers in founding the town. He later sold his "housing and home lot, etc.," in Southampton, to a cousin of the same name in Rye, now Westchester county, New York, and in 1642 was of Stamford, Connecticut. In this year he entered into a contract in connection with his brother Richard, with Governor Kieft, to build a stone church in the fort at New Amsterdam; the cost was to be 2,500 Dutch guilders, to be paid in cash, beaver skins, or merchandise. Harassing warfare with the Indians retarded the work on the structure, but it was completed in 1645. This was the first church erected in what is now New York City, and stood for nearly a century, having been destroyed by fire in 1741.
In 1644 the Dutch governor of the New Netherlands granted to John Ogden and five others a tract of land then known as the Great Plains, extending from the sound to the south shore and embracing a large portion of what is now the borough of Queens, New York. But the misgovernment of the Dutch and their cruelty toward the Indians repelled John Ogden, who was noted for his justice and humanity, and he returned to eastern Long Island to dwell again among his own countrymen. In 1647 he obtained per- mission of the Southampton authorities to plant a colony of six families at North Sea, on the great Peconic bay, which was afterwards called North- ampton. Here he established the whaling industry of Long Island, which remained until the discovery of petroleum in 1859, perhaps the most im- portant source of wealth and employment to the inhabitants. On March 31, 1650, he was made freeman of Southampton by the general council, and in the same year became a magistrate and town treasurer. His written treaty with Wyandanch, sachem of Paumanicke, Long Island, and chief of the Shinnecock Indians, is still preserved.
After residing upon Long Island for a period of twenty-four years the earliest settlers upon the eastern side of the island saw greater possibilities of material advancement by transferring their interests to New Jersey. It is possible that they were strongly influenced by home affiliations and blood
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relationships, the Ogdens, Cranes and Bonds being all Hampshire people, as was Sir Philip Carteret to whom extensive grants in New Jersey were made by the king. In the summer of 1664, therefore, John Ogden and his fellow colonists visited what is now Elizabeth, New Jersey, purchasing from the Indians their title to the land, October 25 of the same year. A month afterward a patent was granted them by the Duke of York for "the parcell of Land Bounded on the South by a River commonly called the Raritans River, on the East by ye Sea wch partes Staten Island and the Main, to Run Northwards up after cull Bay till you come to the first River wch sets Westwards, etc."
John Ogden appears to have taken the leading position among the New Jersey settlers, and in 1665 took the oath of supremacy upon the restoration of Charles II. According to family tradition he named the town in honor of his mother, Elizabeth Huntington; another tradition is that it was named in honor of Lady Elizabeth, wife of Sir George Carteret. Governor Car- teret constituted the Ogden settlement the seat of his colonial government, and in October, 1665, appointed John Ogden a justice of the peace; a month later he was appointed member of the governor's council and deputy gov- ernor, other honors following. He was one of the commissioners who nego- tiated with the Massachusetts Bay Colony in regard to purchasing part of the Elizabeth town patent, and was also one of the commissioners who ad- justed the boundary line between Elizabeth and Newark. When New York was retaken by the Dutch in 1673, the official position of John Ogden was not disturbed although Carteret was overthrown. By commission dated September 1, 1673, the Dutch generals and council of war appointed him schout, or burgomaster, of Elizabeth, Newark, Shrewsbury, and other set- tlements in New Jersey, and this constituted hiin virtually governor of New Jersey. He was a man of more than ordinary mark, a true patriot and a genuine Christian. He died at Elizabeth in May, 1682.
Little is known concerning his wife, Jane (Bond) Ogden, except that she was the daughter of Jonathan Bond, of England; she was very probably a sister of Robert Bond, her husband's intimate associate both at Southampton and Elizabeth. In his will by which she was made administratrix of his estate. John Ogden refers to her as his "Deare and beloved wife and soe hath been for above fowerty yeares." Children: I. John, born in England, March 3, 1638, died November 24, 1702; married Elizabeth Plum. 2. David, born in England, January II, 1639; will proved February 27, 1692; married Elizabeth (Swaine) Ward. 3. Jonathan, twin of David, mentioned below. 4. Joseph, born in America, November 9, 1642, died before Jan- uary 15, 1690; married Sarah Whitehead. 5. Benjamin, born in America about 1654, died November 20, 1722, in his sixty-ninth year; married Hannah Woodruff. 6. Mary, born in America ; married John Woodruft the second.
(VII) Jonathan Ogden, son of John and Jane (Bond) Ogden, and twin brother of David, was born in England, January 11, 1639, died January 3, 1732, aged ninety-three years. The only mention of his name in the South- ampton records bears date October 21, 1664, when he was witness to a deed. The following year he removed with his family to New Jersey, set- tling at Elizabethtown, and was one of the original associates. On February 19, 1665, he took the oath of allegiance to Charles II., and was then called one of the "5 full grown boys" of good old John Ogden. Probably in December, 1667, he joined with others in petitioning the governor and council to have their lands laid out to them according to agreement made with the inhabitants ; in 1673 he took the oath of allegiance to the Dutch
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government of New York ; in 1676 he applied to the surveyor-general or his deputy, asking that one hundred and twenty acres of land be laid out to him ; and on November 10, 1678, a considerable amount of land was granted him by Philip Carteret, governor, in the name of Sir George Carteret, all of which, as well as his house lot, receives clear and minute description. He was appointed overseer of his father's will on November 21, 1681. In 1692 he was receiver of taxes for Essex county, New Jersey. In 1693 he was one of the petitioners to the English King concerning grievances under the gov- ernment in the colonies. He was a zealous churchman, contributing in 1678 and later, in connection with his brother John, to the minister's support ; and in 1691 he is called Deacon Jonathan Ogden, being named as one of the largest contributors to the support of the church. On December 26, 1699, he assisted John Harriman, who had been chosen surveyor, in assigning their respective shares to the property holders of Elizabethtown, and on several occasions joined with others in the forcible administration of the too fre- quently delayed justice on the colonies. His will was probated January 9, 1732, six days after his death, and he was buried at Elizabeth.
His wife, Rebekah, whose maiden name was probably Wood, was born in November, 1648, died September 1I, 1723. Children : I. Jonathan, mentioned below. 2. Samuel, born 1678, died 1715; married (first) Rachel Gardiner, (second) Johannah Schellinx. 3. Robert, born 1687, died No- vember 20, 1733; married (first) Hannah Crane, (second) Phebe (Roberts) Baldwin. 4. Hannah, married John Meeker. 5. Rebecca, married James Ralph.
(VIII) Jonathan (2) Ogden, son of Jonathan (1) and Rebekah (Wood) Ogden, was born about 1676, died before June 10, 1731. He was a resident of Elizabethtown, occupying a house which had been owned by his father. When he had about attained his majority, probably in 1696, he is named as one of the many who petitioned the King for greater protection from the East Jersey proprietors. In 1701, also, he was one of the peti- tioners to the King asking to be taken under his direct government, should the proprietors not appoint a suitable person as governor, and like his father was personally active in the attempt to remedy the feeble administration of justice by the authorities. Of the parentage of his wife, Elizabeth, nothing is known. Children: I. Jonathan, of whom all that is known is that he married and had children, among whom was a son of the same name. 2. John, mentioned below.
(IX) John (2) Ogden, son of Jonathan (2) and Elizabeth Ogden, was born November 22, 1700, died November 15, 1780. It is stated in "Hat- field's History of Elizabeth" that he resided in a neighborhood about two miles from Elizabethtown, New Jersey, called Sodom. and because of his singular piety was familiarly called "Righteous Lot." In his will he left a considerable amount of silver and other heirlooms to his children, and in- sured to the wife of his son John a home in the family as long as she should remain a widow. He and his wife were buried in the First Presbyterian churchyard at Elizabeth, New Jersey. He married, October 8, 1722, Mary Osborn, born 1705, died April 15, 1758. The marriage is recorded at Easthampton, Long Island, and agrees with the record in the old family Bible which probably belonged to John Ogden. the Pilgrim, and which is now in the possession of Mrs. Cortland Drake, of Mendham, New Jersey. Chil- dren : I. Abigail, born March 30, 1725, died March 18, 1782: married
Pierson, and had a daughter, Mary. 2. Mary, born June 16, 1728, died October 10, 1757; married Michael Meeker, born 1720. died 1755, son of Daniel Meeker, and had Phebe and Charity. 3. John, born
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June 23, 1733, died February 5, 1777 ; married (first) Elizabeth Pierson, (second) Joanna Quigley. 4. Phebe, born August 25, 1734, died July 10, 1798; married John Magie. 5. Jonathan, born August 26, 1736. 6. Ezekiel, mentioned below.
(X) Ezekiel Ogden, son of John (2) and Mary (Osborn) Ogden, was born June 23, 1741, died January 5, 1766. He married -, and had one child, Ezekiel, mentioned below.
(XI) Ezekiel (2) Ogden, son of Ezekiel (I) Ogden, was born No- vember 26, 1765, died December 10, 1822. He married, March, 1787, Abigail, daughter of Matthias and Margaret (Magie) Ogden ; she was born October 3, 1765, died May 14, 1820. Ezekiel Ogden and his wife are buried side by side in the First Presbyterian churchyard in Elizabeth. Children : I. Abraham, born December 30, 1787, at Union, New Jersey, died in New York City, July 8, 1812. 2. Ichabod, born July 18, 1789, died September 30, 1861 ; married Rebecca Townley. 3. Ezekiel, born January 12, 1791, died 1823 ; married Jane Lewes Cochran. 4. James Kilborn, born July 30, 1793, died 1869 ; married Margaret Hall. 5. Abigail, born March 30, 1795, died September 25, 1871 ; married Jonathan Magie. 6. Phebe, born De- cember 5, 1796, died young. 7. Hatfield, born June 10, 1798, died October 7. 1817. 8. Phebe, born July 8, 1799, died November 20, 1878; married, October II, 1827, Hon. Elias Darby, born 1797, died 1879, one time mayor of Elizabeth, and had one child, Ogden Darby. born 1828, died 1857. 9. John, born February 18, 1803, died February 9, 1881 ; married Mary Barr Campbell. 11. Joseph Meeker, mentioned below. 12. Theodore Hamilton, born January 17, 1806; married, October 26, 1830, Mary Jane Magie, having one child, Theodore; removed to Michigan. 13. Jonathan, born June 12, 1807, died June 4, 1888; married Elizabeth Gorham.
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