USA > New Jersey > Morris County > A history of Morris County, New Jersey : embracing upwards of two centuries, 1710-1913, Volume II > Part 13
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He married, in Morristown, October 2, 1889, Emma L. Cobbett, daughter of Edward Cobbett, now retired from business, who is a veteran of the Civil War, having seen much active service as a member of the First New York Engineering Corps. Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Karn. One died in infancy, the eldest is married and the other eight are at home with their parents. This interesting family consists of : Albert E., married Hazel Hanfield in 1913; Elizabeth C., Raymond D., Norman K., Samuel G., Emily M., Harold G., Dorothy N., Ernest H.
JACOB OGDEN ARNOLD
Jacob O. Arnold, a well-known business man of Morristown, was born in Morris county, New Jersey, June 14, 1840. He is the son of Silas H. Arnold, a farmer of that county, who was born as was his father in turn at the old homestead of the family in Morris township. Silas H. Arnold was
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born in April, 1812, and was buried March 4, 1887. His wife was Martha Louisa (Pierson) Arnold, born in Morristown, New Jersey. They had nine children, of whom only four are now living: Hannah Isabel, who lives on the old homestead in Washington Valley, Morris county ; Willis G., who lives with his sister just mentioned; Emma Elizabeth, who also lives at the old home with her brother and sister; Jacob Ogden, with whom the present biographical sketch is concerned. His paternal grandfather was Colonel Jacob Arnold, who was born in this county and served as a colonel in the Revolutionary War and died at the age of seventy-seven years when his son was twelve years old. He was the proprietor of the famous old Arnold Tavern in Morristown during the Revolutionary War. Its site was that of the present Hoffman Clothing Store on Park Place.
As a young boy and man Mr. Arnold lived in the country, his education having been acquired at the district schools of his native region. He was a man of enterprise and great business sagacity, and he determined to engage in the meat business in connection with his farming. He therefore estab- lished a meat store, June 1, 1863, in Morristown, but still continued to live on his farm until 1872, when he took up his residence in Morristown. He has been at his present location for fourteen years and his establishment is one of the leading houses of the county. He is a member of the Masonic order, and belongs to the First Presbyterian Church of Morristown.
He married, August II, 1870, Ellen Huckman, born in England, she having been a native of Lympsham, Somersetshire. Both of her parents lived and died in England. Mr. and Mrs. Arnold had three children, all of whom are dead: Walter Locke, Martha Cecilia, Robert. Mrs. Arnold died March 10, 1913.
HERMAN VIEDT
This well known resident of Morristown is a man whom to know is to honor, as he is a man of business integrity and high character, advance- ment being his watchword, and during the years he has resided in this city the progress of his business has been marked and steady, thus indicating that he is a man of progressive ideas and methods. He is a native of Brunswick, Germany, born June 15, 1866, son of Christian F. and Marie (Wilkie) Viedt, both of whom were born and died in Germany.
Herman Viedt was reared and educated in Germany, and served in the German army, as is the custom, under the present Emperor ; was mustered out as corporal. His grandfather also served in the army. After com- pleting his studies in the public schools, he accepted a clerkship in one of the business houses in the vicinity of his home, performing his tasks with alacrity and precision. In 1888 he emigrated to this country, locating in Paterson, New Jersey, where after a time he engaged in the confectionery and ice cream business, but did not achieve the success which his well directed efforts deserved, and in May, 1900, removed to Morristown, New Jersey, and during the intervening years has firmly established himself in business, becoming one of the substantial men of the place, one to be relied upon for aid if the occasion demanded it. He at once set up an establish- ment for the sale of confectionery and ice cream at No. 20 Park Place, which is well patronized by the better element of the city, it being conducted in a man- ner to suit the most fastidious, everything pertaining to it being of the best and modern construction, cool and comfortable during the summer months and warm and well lighted during the winter months, thus insuring a com- fortable place for all seasons of the year. He manufactures his own candy
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and ice cream, disposing of the latter commodity by wholesale, thus con- siderably increasing the proceeds from his business. In 1908 he installed a complete plant for the manufacture of ice cream by machinery, using his own patent, the Iceless Method, and at the present time (1913) has a ca- pacity of two thousand quarts daily. His plant is modern in every respect, cleanliness being the main feature, this being absolutely essential to the manufacture of anything for man's consumption. The plant is a five ton outfit, and in its operation requires the services of several people; fifteen are required to operate the plant and store combined, it being a veritable bee hive for activity. The business proved successful from the beginning, owing to the purity of the products and the efficiency of the service, and has steadily increased from year to year, and in 1912 he disposed of two hundred thousand quarts of ice cream, this amount being largely increased during the present year, which fact clearly demonstrates that he has kept up the high standard of his products, increasing rather than diminishing the quality. His business is one of the largest of its kind in that section of the State, as the public, recognizing his ability and skill in the manufacture of sweet things to eat, have therefore given him a liberal patronage. Mr. Viedt is a director in the American Trust Company, and holds membership in the B. P. O. E., K. P., R. A. and M. W. A., also the Topkaow Club.
Mr. Viedt married, February 1, 1891, in Paterson, New Jersey, Frances Isenhardt, a native of Germany, born December 29, 1870, daughter of Gotlieb and Mina Isenhardt. Children: Herman Jr., assistant to his father ; Harold B., a student at Cornell University, engineering department ; Fay R. A., serving as bookkeeper in his father's store; Stewart, and one son who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Viedt are members of the South Street Presbyterian Church, active in the work of its various societies, and take a keen interest in community affairs, winning and retaining the regard of all.
FRANK L. DENOBRIGA
One of the thoroughgoing business men of Morristown, who has climbed the ladder of success solely by his unaided efforts, is Frank L. DeNobriga, whose name is prominently connected with the commercial interests of the town. The salient points in his business career are resolute purpose, un- flagging industry and unabating zeal, and to these are attributable the pros- perity which crowns his work.
Louis DeNobriga, father of Frank L. DeNobriga, was a native of the Madeira Islands, which are located in the North Atlantic Ocean, off the northwest coast of Africa, and form a province of Portugal, and here the famous "Madeira" wine is produced. He remained there until he attained young manhood, when he came to the United States, locating in New York City, where he spent the remainder of his days. He was a cabinet maker by trade, and being a first-class mechanic secured employment in piano factories as finisher, this being an important part of the work, much of the beauty of the instrument depending upon this branch of the work. He was a communicant of the Roman Catholic church, as was also his wife, Henrietta (Landgrebe) DeNobriga, who bore him five children, two of whom are living at the present time (1913), namely: Carrie Louise, un- married, and Frank L., of whom further.
Frank L. DeNobriga was born in New York City, January 31, 1871. He was educated in the public schools in the neighborhood of his home, and in New York College, which he attended one year. Possessing the taste and inclination for commercial life, he secured employment in a tea store,
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giving his services without remuneration, so anxious was he to gain an in- sight into business methods, especially along that line, and he remained with that employer for about three months. He then entered the employ of Mr. W. W. Edwards, who conducted a store at the corner of One Hundred and Forty-third street and Third avenue, New York City, and remained with him for fourteen years, the greater part of this time being spent in opening up new stores in different sections of the city and placing them on a paying basis, a task for which he was particularly qualified, he being considered a thorough master in that line of business. His next employment was as manager of a grocery department in a large department store in Danbury, Connecticut, in which capacity he served for one year, and he then con- nected himself with the Union Pacific Tea Company, well known through- out the entire country, assuming the managership of their store at Morris- town, New Jersey, and remained as such for ten years, during which time the business of the store increased greatly in volume and importance. He then engaged in business on his own account, succeeding George C. Smith in the grocery business at No. 33 Washington street, Morristown, which is now known as "The Quality Tea Store," and carries a full line of fine fancy and staple groceries, making a specialty of teas and coffees, which he is fully capable of doing, owing to his long and varied experience in those indis- pensable commodities. During the passing years he has succeeded in obtain- ing a liberal patronage, and the business is bringing to him excellent financial returns. His store is equipped with all modern appliances for the transaction of business, goods are delivered promptly, care being taken to insure his patrons against inferior goods of any kind, and courteous treatment is ex- tended to all who enter the store, these being the causes which have made of his enterprise a success from the beginning.
Mr. DeNobriga married, in June, 1901, Mary Ella Richards, born Octo- ber, 1870, daughter of Samuel and Mary Richards, of Danbury, Con- necticut. They have two living children: Loraine and Amelia. Mr. and Mrs. DeNobriga are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and are active in the social life of the community.
FRANK C. PIPER
Frank C. Piper, whose business and private career well entitle him to representation among the foremost business men of the city of Morristown, New Jersey, is descended from a family which has been identified with the business and other interests of the county for some generations.
The Piper coat-of-arms, borne by an ancestor, John Piper, of Cornord Magna, Suffolk, England, and later used by many generations of descendants of Nathaniel Piper, of Boston, 1630, whose forebears migrated from Suffolk to Essex county, England. They were men of strong democratic tendencies. The family spread from Boston to divers parts of Maine and New Hamp- shire during the days of the colonies. Coat-of-arms: "A shield of an embattled chevron between two falcons and a gauntlet holding a sword. A crest of the demi-griffin supporting an antique shield, charged with the sword and gauntlet."
John R. Piper, his great-grandfather, was of New Hampshire, and served gallantly in the Continental army during the War of the Revolution. He died in his native State.
Paul W. Piper, son of John R. Piper, was born in the State of New Hampshire, and was one of a large family of children. He left his home while he was a very young lad and went to sea. Later he drifted into New
ARRBakan
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Jersey, and for a time acted in the capacity of a driver of a stage coach. For some time he conducted a hotel on the present site of the Mansion House of Morristown, then worked on the railroad. He married Eliza De Hart, a member of one of the oldest families of the State of New Jersey.
John R. (2) Piper, son of Paul W. and Eliza (De Hart) Piper, was born in Morris county, New Jersey, and spent his entire life there, for the greater part of the time being located in Morristown. About the year 1859 or 1860 he established himself in business in Morristown, at first in the produce business and later in wines and liquors. In this latter line of busi- ness he commenced with a retail trade which he gradually abandoned, con- fining himself to wholesale trade exclusively. Almost from the outset he was located on the site of the present business, which is still conducted by his sons, altogether a period of almost fifty years. For a large part of this time he conducted a hotel in connection with his other business. He was an active man of business until his death in 1905, when he had attained the age of seventy years. Before he entered upon his commercial career he had worked for a time on the railroad as an engineer. He married Cornelia Doyle, also deceased, and they had children: Harry Paul, who married Sadie Tynan, and resides in Morristown ; Frank C., see forward; John R., unmarried, also of Morristown ; Frederick, unmarried, of Morristown ; Bertram F., who died in 1912, leaving a widow; two who died at an early age.
Frank C. Piper, son of John R. (2) and Cornelia (Doyle) Piper, was born in Morristown, Morris county, New Jersey, September 25, 1863, and was reared in that town. He was educated in the public schools of his native town and in Freehold, New Jersey, and when his education had been com- pleted he became associated with his father in business. This association continued in the greatest harmony until it was cut short by the death of the elder Mr. Piper. In January, 1908, Frank C. Piper located at his present place of business, Nos. 13-15 Speedwell avenue, and is held in high esteem in the business world. He has also established a bottling plant, which he superintends himself. Mr. Piper is one of the charter members of Camp No. 603, F. O. E., of Hoboken, and was a member of the Humane Fire Company of Morristown for a period of twelve years, and is now a mem- ber of the Exempt Firemen. He is very generally liked in both business and social circles in Morristown, and his sympathetic heart and open hand have often relieved the sick and suffering.
Mr. Piper married, October, 1901, Gretchen, daughter of John and Charlotte (Tobeck) Meyer. They were natives of Germany, and came to this country with their children, all of whom were born in Germany. At the time of the death of Mr. Meyer, the family was living in Hoboken, New Jersey.
AUGUSTUS L. L. BAKER, M. D.
There are two traditions as to the progenitor of the Baker family, rep- resented in the present generation by Dr. Augustus L. L. Baker, of Dover. One supposition is that Captain John Baker is the ancestor ; he came from England previous to 1660, and in 1664 served as interpreter for the English when they took New Amsterdam from the Dutch. He was chief military officer appointed by Governor Nichols, after which he founded Elizabeth, New Jersey, under grant by Governor Nichols. He was the owner of 1,200 acres of land there, and served as justice of the commonwealth and as overseer. The other supposition is that Thomas Baker, the London tan- ner, who came to America in 1658 on the Ann and Little James and landed
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on the Massachusetts coast about ten miles south of Plymouth and drifted to Connecticut, was the father of Henry Baker, of whom further.
Henry Baker, evidently a resident of Sag Harbor, Long Island, died there and his remains were interred in a cemetery in that place. He married and has a son Henry, of whom further.
Henry (2) Baker, son of Henry (1) Baker, removed to Westfield, New Jersey, with his father, coming from Elizabeth, New Jersey, about the year 1726-27. He served as sergeant of the volunteer militia of Elizabeth which took the ship Blue Mountain Valley, January 22, 1776. His re- mains were buried in Westfield and his tombstone bears this inscription : "Here lies the body of Henry Baker, who died May 13 A. D. 1780 in the 84th year of his age." His wife's tombstone bears this inscription: "In memory of Phoebe, widow of William Peterson formerly called wife of Henry Baker, who died August 5th, 1813, in the 84th year of her age." Among their children was Jeremiah, of whom further.
Jeremiah Baker, fourth son of Henry (2) Baker, was born August 28, 1770. He was a resident of Westfield, New Jersey. He married and among his children was Andrew King, of whom further.
Andrew King Baker, oldest son of Jeremiah Baker, was born April 5, 1799, died in Dover, Morris county, New Jersey, June II, 1854. He mar- ried, October 16, 1823, Nancy Hurd, born January 10, 1802, died December 2, 1885, and among his children was Andrew Adolphus, of whom further.
Andrew Adolphus Baker, son of Andrew King Baker, was one of twins born April 24, 1832, at Dover, New Jersey, where he lived and died sud- denly while on a hunting trip at Newberne, North Carolina, January 24, 1895. He was a contractor and builder by occupation, and was a man of excellent standing in his native city. He married Mary Amanda Kanouse, born February 2, 1836, died May II, 1876. Among their children was Augustus Dickerson, of whom further.
Augustus Dickerson Baker, oldest son of Andrew Adolphus Baker, was born in Dover, New Jersey, September 15, 1858, and died there September 24, 1885. He was educated at Columbia University, graduating in the class of 1883 and receiving the degrees of Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy. He married, June 6, 1883, Cornelia Roberts, born May 24, 1858, of Dover, daughter of J. Allen and Mary Elizabeth (Peter- son) Roberts, the former named born in Warren county, New Jersey, Feb- ruary 14, 1829, and the latter named born December 4, 1831, died in 1908, aged seventy-seven years. Mrs. Baker married (second) P. G. Hilts.
Dr. Augustus Lynn Landon Baker, son of Augustus Dickerson and Cornelia (Roberts) Baker, was born near Dover, Morris county, New Jersey, April 9, 1885. His early education was acquired in the local schools and he was graduated from the Dover High School in 1904. He then at- tended Cornell University, and later was a student in the Long Island Medical College, graduating in the class of 1909, since which time he has been a practicing physician of Dover. He served as interne at the J. Hood Wright Memorial Hospital, New York City; at the New York Lying-in- Hospital ; at the General Hospital in Elizabeth, New Jersey. After establish- ing himself in practice in Dover, he was appointed police surgeon, surgeon for the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad, surgeon for the Ulster Iron Works and the McKiernan Drill Works, and medical inspector of the Randolph township schools, and examiner for Department Commerce and Labor, United States Government.
Dr. Baker is a member of the leading medical associations in the State, belonging to the Morris County Medical Society, the New Jersey State
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Medical Society, the American Medical Association, and the Clinical Society of the Elizabeth General Hospital. He is also a member of the New York and New England Association of Railway Surgeons. and he retains his membership in the College Greek Letter fraternity, Alpha Kappa Kappa. He is an enthusiastic member of many fraternal associations, among which are : Acacia Lodge, No. 20, F. and A. M .; Zetland Chapter, No. 141, R. A. M .; Columbian Commandery, No. I, K. T .; Mecca Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S .; F. O. E. ; L. O. M., past dictator and at present deputy supreme dictator for this district ; R. A .; I. O. R. M .; G. F. ; Succasunna Council, No. 228, J. O. U. A. M. He is Assistant Surgeon General of the First Brigade, Uniform Rank, J. O. U. A. M., and a member of the National Rifle Associa- tion and the National Geographic Society. He is a member and trustee of the First Baptist Church of Dover.
Dr. Baker married, November 8, 1911, Ellene Dodge Baker, who was graduated from the Dover High School in 1904, in the same class as her husband, and from the Normal College of the city of New York, class 1907, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. She is a daughter of Andrew K. and Carrie L. (Dodge) Baker, the former named born August 13, 1858, a grand- son of Jeremiah, fourth son of Henry (2) Baker before mentioned, a resi- dent of Dover, though spending considerable of his time in Florida, greatly interested in mining properties and stone quarries, and the latter named was born November 25, 1859, died August 17, 1897. Mr. and Mrs. Andrew K. Baker were the parents of three other children, namely: Robert Carlton, born January 9, 1884, resides at Dover, married Edna Dwyer Sellers, by whom he has one son, Carlton Sellers, born December 13, 1911 ; Harold William, born January 16, 1893 ; Marion, born February 23, 1897.
ORION NELSON HUGHSON
Orion Nelson Hughson, the owner and manager of a large undertaking business in Morristown, was born near Dover, Morris county, New Jersey, September 6, 1864. He is the son of William F. Hughson, born in Morris county, New Jersey, 1836, and was a carpenter and builder in Morristown and the surrounding country all his life. His brother, Albert Hughson, en- listed in the service of his country at the outbreak of the Civil War and was killed. The mother of Orion N. Hughson was Sarah (Trowbridge) Hugh- son, also a member of an old Morris county family. She died at the age of thirty-eight years when her son, Orion N., was a lad of ten years of age. They had three children, but one, Frederick C., died at the age of forty- eight years, February 28, 1910. Orion N. Hughson has a sister remaining, Mary, wife of Theodore Vail, of Morris county. After the death of his first wife, William F. Hughson married the widow of David T. Jarrard. There were three children born to this marriage: Archie, of Morris county ; Etta, who now lives in Washington, D. C .; Solon C., who for seven years up to the time of his death, November 14, 1905, was associated with his half-brother, Orion N. Hughson, in the undertaking business. Mr. Hugh- son's grandfather on his father's side was Jacob Hughson, a farmer who lived at Mount Freedom, Morris county, New Jersey, and died there. His maternal grandparents were David and Anna (Young) Trowbridge, natives of Morris county, the former being a carpenter and farmer by occupation.
Orion N. Hughson received his early education in the public schools of his native county, and showed while still a young boy good business ability and undoubted initiative, promise that his later career has amply confirmed. His undertaking establishment is on the most modern lines and is equipped
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with all that the most fastidious taste would require. A handsome chapel is one of the features of the place, and a large number of fine horses are also on hand. Thousands of dollars have been invested in the hearses, caskets, livery, and equipages of the establishment. Mr. Hughson is a man who would have made a success of anything he undertook, and the thorough- ness with which he conducts his present business is its proof. He knows it in its every detail, having entered the firm of Coe & Hughson, of Morris- town, in June, 1885, and continued in this under his father's direction for two years when he left it to take advantage of an opening in the grocery business. In this he was interested for seven years, the firm name being Powelson & Hughson. After this time he came back to the undertaking business, it being conducted under the name of O. N. Hughson, as at the present. Mr. Hughson is a liberal in his politics, voting for the man in his opinion best qualified for the office. He is an Odd Fellow, and a Heptasoph. He is also a member of the K. of P. In his religious views he is a Presby- terian and is affiliated with the First Presbyterian Church.
He married, June 28, 1910, at Boonton, Morris county, New Jersey, Mary, daughter of Lemuel and Mary (Wright) Kayhart, both living at Boonton. Mr. and Mrs. Hughson have two children (twins) : Marion and Marjorie, born June 24, 19II.
LEONARD ELLIOTT
The family of which Leonard Elliott, a representative citizen of Dover, is an honored member, is of Scotch-Irish origin. The founder of the family, Alexander Elliott, settled in this country between the years 1820 and 1830, and located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He married Ann Leonard; she is buried in Locust Hill Cemetery, he in Philadelphia. She was English.
Alexander Elliott, son of the preceding, was a native of Ireland, from whence he accompanied his parents to this country when nine years of age. He obtained a practical education in the public schools of Philadelphia, then learned the iron foundry business where he familiarized himself with all its branches, founding the business of S. & A. Elliott Iron Foundry. Later went to Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania, later to Easton and thence to Boonton, New Jersey, and in about 1852 came to Dover, New Jersey, and established an iron foundry. Also engaged extensively in mining and other branches of the iron business, his death occurring November, 1902. He was survived by his wife, Louisa (Wallace) Elliott, a native of Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania, now a resident of Jersey City. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Elliott. Anna, wife of Dr. R. B. Watson, of Lock Haven, Pennsylvania ; Joseph W., of Midvale, New Jersey; Alexander, who served in the capacity of judge of Paterson, New Jersey, and for a number of years was attorney for Thomas A. Edison, the famous electrician, now deceased ; Robert W., deceased ; Elizabeth W., residence, Jersey City ; Leonard, of whom further ; William W., of Jersey City; James N., of Jersey City; Louisa W., of Jersey City ; Charles F., deceased.
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