USA > New Jersey > Morris County > A history of Morris County, New Jersey : embracing upwards of two centuries, 1710-1913, Volume II > Part 18
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Eustice F. Rudine, son of John A. and Charlotte Rudine, was born at Tidaholm, Sweden, July 18, 1873, coming to this country with the family in 1880 when he was about seven years of age. The first three years of his residence in America were passed at Port Oram, after which he passed the rest of his youth at Dover, to which place the entire family removed. He attended the public schools of Dover with his brothers and sisters and obtained an excellent rudimentary education ; as the family was a large one, however, it was necessary for him to help in their support at an early age, and when twelve years old he left school to work on a farm. He remained on the farm for three years, working hard and contributing to the family funds; and when fifteen years old, changed his occupation for employment in the store of Pardee & Clark, corner of Morris and Blackwell streets, Dover. He continued in the store for three and a half years, at the end of which time he left Pardee & Clark and engaged with Jenkins, Buck & Company, in their Mine Hill store. Here he worked for two years, increas- ing his stock of commercial and worldly wisdom, and making himself valuable to his employers. His next position was with Hulse Brothers, whose store was at Kenville, where he continued for five years. This was his last employment before his return to Dover, when he engaged with the W. H. Baker Store Company for another five years. For the past eight years Mr. Rudine has been manager for the Park Union Lumber Company of Dover, and has become one of the most successful and influential busi- ness men in this line known here in many years.
Mr. Rudine is as well known in social and fraternal circles as he is among business men, and is a member of many institutions and organiza- tions. He belongs to the I. O. O. F., the I. O. R. M., the V. O. A., the I. O. H., and the G. F. In politics Mr. Rudine is a Republican, and has served two terms as president of the board of health. He is very active in any movement which concerns the public welfare, and is one of the most patriotic of American citizens notwithstanding the fact of his foreign birth; indeed he is a worthy example in this regard to all native born citizens of this country. When fourteen years of age Mr. Rudine was confirmed in the Lutheran church, and has been one of its staunchest upholders and most faithful attendants ever since.
Mr. Rudine's wife, whom he married at Dover, was Elin J. Danielson, daughter of Andrew G. Danielson, of this city. Mr. and Mrs. Rudine have
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had six children (five of whom are now living) they are: Addie May, Charlotte Caroline, Curtis Roy, deceased, Mary Gunhild, John Andrew, Elin Josephine.
WILLIAM V. SHOEMAKER
The members of this family are natives of Warren county, New Jersey, where Moses C. Shoemaker was born during the early part of the last century. He died some thirty-three or thirty-four years ago, at about fifty- four years of age. His wife was Caroline Van Campen before her marriage, and was also a native of Warren county; she has been deceased for the past twenty-three years. Mr. and Mrs. Shoemaker were the parents of an unusually large family, having had sixteen children; only five of these are now living, among whom is their son, William V., of further mention.
William V. Shoemaker, son of Moses C. and Caroline (Van Campen) Shoemaker, was born in Warren county, New Jersey, May 16, 1857. He has been for the past twenty-six years a resident of Dover, and is now a prominent dealer here in coal, wood, and builders' supplies. Mr. Shoemaker passed his youth and early manhood in Warren county where he resided until he was twenty-nine years of age, having received his education in the local schools of the county. He then became a carpenter by trade, and for eleven years worked in this capacity for the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad; for nine of these years he was employed in the shops of the company, and for two years worked on the road. He then entered his present business, dealing in coal, wood, and building supplies, and has con- tinued with a large measure of success until the present time, having been established for ten years. Upon first entering this trade, he was in associa- tion with a partner, who, however, continued with him for only two years ; for the remainder of the time Mr. Shoemaker has conducted the business entirely alone and with continual and growing prosperity. He now owns the building where he is established, and is beside in the possession of his own home where he is surrounded with every comfort and most happy in his domestic life. He also has a garage which he rents, and has his own auto.
His success in life is due to his own exertions and well developed busi- ness acumen, his close attention to his work and excellent judgment having been his best capital. His position in the community is a very influential and honorable one, and he has shown a most commendable interest in the public life of the city, doing much for its general welfare and prosperity. He is well known in social and fraternal circles, and is a member in high standing of the G. F .. and of the J. O. A. M. In his religious convictions he is a member of the Presbyterian church of which his family are all communi- cants.
In the year 1880, Mr. Shoemaker was married at Portland, Pennsyl- vania, to Mary M. Hoagland, daughter of John Hoagland, of Warren county, New Jersey. Mrs. Shoemaker lost her life in the year 1911, as the result of an automobile accident. She and Mr. Shoemaker were the par- ents of two children, a son and daughter. Claude Lester Shoemaker, the son, was born December 25, 1881, and is now engaged in business with his father. He is a graduate of the Dover High School, and was for three years a student at Syracuse University, New York, where he acquired an excellent education. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and of the B. P. O. E., and like his father, has attained a high status in fraternal and social matters, as well as in business circles. Miss Jessie Shoemaker, daughter
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of Mr. and Mrs. William V. Shoemaker, also received a fine education, being graduated at the Dover High School at the age of sixteen, as was also her brother. She subsequently took a special course in music in which she is very proficient. Miss Shoemaker resides with her father in Dover.
EDWARD S. HANCE
This family, the name of which was originally Hans, is of old Quaker stock, and was founded in America by three brothers who came over from the old world and settled in the middle States, locating primarily at Red Bank, New Jersey. One of these brothers remained at Red Bank, another removed to Norristown, Pennsylvania, and the third, the ancestor of the present branch, located in Warren county, New Jersey.
Isaac Hance, the first recorded progenitor of the Morris county family, was a son of John and Elizabeth (Miller) Hance, and was born April 28, 1779. He was a farmer and passed his life in this county. He married Margarett Mott, born April 11, 1785, daughter of Joshua and Mary Mott, They had children: Mary, Elizabeth, Lucy, Alexander, Harriett, John, Mary Ann, Margaret, Emily, Sarah, Sarah (2), Isaac, and an infant un- named.
John Hance, son of Isaac and Margarett (Mott) Hance, was born in Morris county, New Jersey, March 18, 1813, died October 11, 1886, aged about seventy-three years. He was a farmer like his father, and after- ward became superintendent of the old Irondale mines. He also entered mercantile life, and was for many years a member of the firm of Oram, Hance & Company, merchants of this place. Mr. Hance was twice mar- ried. His first wife was Mary Ann Hulse, daughter of Jonas and Cynthia Hulse, of Morris county ; by this marriage there were five children : George, a member of Company B, Twenty-seventh New Jersey Militia ; Isaac ; Wil- liam, who has served for two years in the United States Navy; Cynthia ; John, deceased. John Hance married (second) Sarah Hulse, who lived to be about seventy years old and died February 27, 1899. There were five children also by this marriage: Edward S., of further mention; Charles M., deceased ; Mary, deceased; Margaret ; Sarah.
Edward S. Hance, son of John and Sarah (Hulse) Hance, was born in Irondale, Morris county, July 16, 1851, and is now postmaster of Wharton and a member of the undertaking firm of Gillen-Hance Company, of this town. Mr. Hance received an interrupted education owing to the out- break of the Civil War. He first attended the public schools at Mine Hill, but was taken from school before the completion of his studies to fill the position of clerk in the store of Hance & Company, the regular clerk being among those young men who were required to leave their avoca- tion and serve the country in the field. At the conclusion of the war, he re- signed his position in the store and returned to his studies for another two years.
In the fall of 1868 he entered the Bryant and Stratton Business College in Newark, New Jersey, and returned home in the fall of 1870, after having completed the course. He then entered the employ of the firm of Oram, Hance & Company, occupying a position in their store until the early nineties. In the year 1878 he entered the undertaking business at Port Oram, now Wharton and Succasunna, the style of the firm being at first Jardine & Hance. In 1912 the Mr. Gillen became the senior partner, and under the firm name of Gillen & Hance establishments were conducted in
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the towns of Wharton and Dover, the business now being one of the oldest in the county.
Mr. Hance has become a man of strong influence in the community, and in politics is a Republican. He has served as a member of the board of freeholders of Morris county, and on December 16, 1898, was appointed to his present responsible office of postmaster of Wharton, which he has filled with great and acknowledged ability for the past fifteen years. This has been of exceptional satisfaction, as his father, John Hance, who was one of the founders of the town, occupied the same position before him, and with equal credit, Edward S. Hance being at that time his father's assistant. Mr. Hance has thus passed his entire life in Morris county.
He has been prominent in many ways in the town, having been con- nected at various times and in various capacities with a number of the institutions and business associations of the place. From 1878 until 1890, he acted as secretary and superintendent of the Port Oram Manufacturing Company, makers of iron for wire purposes and of boiler tubes. He is greatly interested in Masonic and fraternal matters, and for a number of years has been a member of the Masonic Club of New York. He was one of the first members of Paterson Lodge, No. 60, B. P. O. E .; and belongs to Acacia Lodge, No. 20, F. and A. M. of Dover, being next to the oldest past master of the lodge now living. He is also a member of the Hopocon Tribe, I. O. R. M., being past great sachem of the order for the State of New Jersey.
In the year 1875 Mr. Hance was married to Elizabeth Talmadge, daugh- ter of Job. A. and Alice Talmadge, of Morris county, where she was born and resided until three years of age. At that time her parents removed to Petersburg, Virginia, taking her with them; but owing to the hostilities be- tween the north and south and the strong sentiments then prevalent, and the battle of Reams Station, the family was compelled to return north, and again made their home in Morris county, New Jersey. Here Mr. Hance met Miss Talmadge and they were married. They became the parents of five children : Alice, now assistant postmaster, unmarried ; Fred, in the railway mail service, married Louise Champion; Edward R., un- married, a Congregational minister, now pastor of the Borough Park Con- gregational Church in Brooklyn, New York, after having passed four years of preparation at Hackettstown, four years in Wesleyan College, Middletown, Connecticut, and three years in Union Theological Seminary, New York; Harry, assistant chemist of the war department at Picatinna Arsenal, married Edith Farr; Nellie, wife of John Bennett, of Roseville, near Newark, having one son, James Bennett.
JOHN WALTERS, M. D.
This family is of Welsh ancestry, William Walters, the first member coming to this country, having been born at Cardiff, Wales. He came over, accompanied by his wife, Diana (Powell) Walters, and son William, and settled first in Port Oram, and entered the employ of the Thomas Iron Company ; soon after was transferred to Schooleys Mountain, thence to High Bridge, and later to Pennsylvania, becoming superintendent of mines and mining operations. Their first home was near South Bethlehem, Pennsyl- vania, but after remaining there for a few years, the family removed to Wharton, then known as Port Oram, Morris county, New Jersey, and he became superintendent of one of the mines. Mr. Walters died in Wharton in the year 1871, at the age of forty-two years; his wife, Diana Walters,
Albert B. Osman DO.S.
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died there also, in November, 1906, being sixty-nine years old. Mr. and Mrs. Walters were the parents of five sons (two of whom are now living) as follows: William, deceased; John, of further mention; James, residing at Wharton ; Daniel, a practicing physician of Wharton, who died there in 1905 at the age of thirty-six, having been educated at the public schools ot Wharton, the C. C. I. of Hackettstown, and Long Island Medical College, from which latter he was graduated in the class of 1897; Joseph, died in infancy.
John Walters, M. D., son of William and Diana (Powell) Walters, was born near South Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, December 27, 1864. His child- hood years were passed in Wharton, where he attended the public schools until the year 1877. He then took a special course in a private school at Dover, after which he entered the medical department of Columbia Uni- versity, in 1886. Pursuing the full four years' course at this institution, he was graduated in the class of 1890, receiving his degree of M. D. Since . that time he has been in the active practice of his profession; and with the exception of a very brief period in Rockaway, his entire professional life has been spent in Wharton, New Jersey, where he has become one of the most prominent and successful physicians of Morris county.
Dr. Walters is not only well known and esteemed in professional circles, but in social and public life has also attained a high degree of distinction. He is a member of the Morris County Medical Society, the New Jersey State Medical Society, and the American Medical Association, in all of which bodies he holds positions of prominence. He is also a member of the Tri-county Medical Society, covering Sussex, Warren, and Morris counties, whose members are the leading practitioners in this section of New Jersey. In public matters Dr. Walters takes the keenest interest, using his influence for the good of the community in every way, civic, political, and educational. In politics he is a Republican, and is liberal in his religious views. He has a beautiful home in Wharton and is most fortunate in his domestic environ- ments, and his wide circle of friends and acquaintances. In 1902 Dr. Walters undertook to have the borough name changed from Port Oram to its present name Wharton, and through his individual efforts he succeeded in having the matter brought before the legislature and enacted, the same bearing date March 27, 1902.
In the year 1896 he was married to Clara B. Richards, of this city, and they have two promising sons : Joseph, now fifteen years of age, a student in Morris Academy, and Willard, a child of five years.
ALBERT BROWN OSMUN
Albert B. Osmun, D. D. S., is one of the best known and successful dentists of Morristown, New Jersey, having practiced there for twenty years. He is the son of Sedgwick Rusling and Catherine (Trowbridge) Osmun, his father born in Hackettstown, New Jersey, died in 1900, at the age of sixty-one years, having also practiced dentistry for a number of years in Morristown. Catherine (Trowbridge) Osmun was born in Mor- ris county, and died just six months prior to her husband, she having reached the age of sixty-four years. They had four children, but of these, Kelsey Burr, died at the age of twenty-seven years. Besides Dr. Albert Brown Osmun, the eldest of those remaining, they are: Anna Christine, unmarried, living with her brother, Dr. Albert Brown Osmun ; Walter Lum, connected with the United States Express Company in Newark. Ziba
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Osmun, the paternal grandfather of Dr. Osmun, was also a native of Hackettstown, New Jersey.
Dr. Albert B. Osmun was born in Hackettstown, New Jersey, November 15, 1866. When he was two years old his parents moved to Morristown and there he was educated in the public schools of the town. He had early decided to follow his father's profession, and after leaving school he at- tended the course in the New York College of Dentistry, graduating from there in March, 1888. Since that time he has identified himself in every way with the town of his early youth and manhood. In his politics Dr. Osmun is a Republican. He is member of the Tri-county Dental Society and the New Jersey State Dental Society. Member of Y. M. C. A. and the Topkaow Club of Morristown.
He married, in Morristown, in 1900, Florence, daughter of Francis and Mary Adelaide (Van Buskirk) Tucker, the former a paper man of New York City, and now deceased, and the latter now living in Newark, New Jersey. Dr. and Mrs. Osmun have two children: Adelaide Christine and Tapkaow Club of Morristown.
WILLIAM F. BIRCH
Whether the elements of success in life are innate attributes of the indi- vidual, or whether they are quickened by a process of circumstantial develop- ment, it is impossible clearly to determine. Yet the study of a successful life is none the less profitable by reason of the existence of this uncertainty and in the majority of cases it is found that exceptional ability, was the real secret of the pre-eminence which many envied. So it appears to the student of human nature who seeks to trace the history of the rise of William F. Birch, a typical American of the best class. He has not yet reached the prime of life but has achieved a success that many an older resident of Morris county might envy. William F. Birch is owner of the Dover Boiler Works, is a member of the Birch & Bassett Company, dealers in coal, grain, wood and automobiles, and is a director in the New Jersey Manufacturing Casualty Insurance Company and director in National Union Bank, Dover, New Jersey. He has served his home city of Dover in the role of recorder and in 1910-12 was State assemblyman.
At Newark, New Jersey, August 30, 1870, occurred the birth of William F. Birch, who is a son of Foster Frank and Isabella B. (Morrison) Birch, the former of whom was born in the north of Ireland and the latter in Scotland. The father came to New Jersey in 1868 and in 1874 founded the Dover Boiler Works, one of the big and profitable business enterprises of Morris county. From a small beginning this business grew to extensive proportions and the company now employs a force of one hundred men and manufactures boilers, stacks, tanks and structural steel work. Foster Frank Birch retired from active participation in business in January, 19II, and since that time the subject of this review has been sole owner of the boiler works. To Mr. and Mrs. Foster Frank Birch were born the follow- ing children : Annabel, wife of George T. Bray ; William F. ; George Wash- ington, deceased; Jessie May, deceased; Flossie May, wife of Joseph P. Slensby.
In his youth William F. Birch attended the common schools of Dover and for a time he was a student in the Trenton Model School. He com- pleted a commercial course in the Cohen Business College at eighteen and then began to work under his father in the Dover Boiler Works. He re- ceived his business training in both the shops and the office of the above
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concern and with the passage of time thoroughly familiarized himself with every detail of the iron manufacturing business. In January, 19II, when the father wished to retire, he turned the entire responsibility of the bust- ness over to his son, who has since owned the same with most gratifying success. In addition to his interest in the Dover Boiler Works William F. Birch is a member of the Birch & Bassett Company, extensive dealers in coal, grain, wood and automobiles, and he is a member of the board of directors in the New Jersey Manufacturing Casualty Company of Trenton, and a director in the National Union Bank, Dover, New Jersey. In politics he is a Republican and in spite of his many business cares he has found time to take an active part in public affairs. For two terms he was recorder of Dover, serving as such from May 3, 1904, until June 1, 1909. In 1910 he was further honored by his fellow citizens, who elected him to represent the district in the State legislature : he was assemblyman in 1910 and 1912. Fraternally he is affiliated with the local lodge of the F. and A. M .; and with the B. P. O. E. and Heptasophs. He and his family are members of the Presbyterian church, in which he was president of the board of trustees for one year.
In 1898 Mr. Birch married Anna Pauline Dunham, born and reared in Dover, daughter of Horace L. and Anna (Baker) Dunham. Mr. Dun- ham was at one time mayor of Dover. Mrs. Birch has the following broth- ers and sisters : Horace G .; Helen, wife of George R. Buck ; Ralph. Mr. and Mrs. Birch have four children : Alice, William, Foster Frank, Horace G.
JOHN P. FORCE
About twenty-five years ago Mr. Force engaged in business at Dover, and from a start on a modest scale has developed perhaps the best establish- ment in the city, and a very profitable undertaking. He belongs to a family which for several generations has been substantially represented in New Jersey.
John P. Force was born in Warren county, New Jersey, in 1856, son of Nathan, born June 22, 1821, and Jane ( Pierson) Force, both natives of New Jersey, the father a carpenter by occupation. The grandfather, John Force, was born November 11, 1783, married Susan Hegerman. In the family of the parents were the following children: Elizabeth, wife of John Dalrymple; Emma, wife of Jacob Houser ; Sarah, wife of Jasper Snyder ; John P .; Nathan Jr.
John P. Force had a common school education only, and lived at home until he reached his majority. His early experiences were those of an industrious and hard working young man, and he had to create most of the opportunities for himself. When he became of age, he went out west and spent eight years in different sections of the United States. From boyhood up he has had a natural inclination for horses, and since coming of age has always dealt in these animals to a greater or less extent. In 1894 he estab- lished a livery barn at Dover, and now has a well equipped business, employ- ing about four hands regularly, and keeping fifteen horses besides a complete outfit of carriages, automobiles and other vehicles needed in the business.
In September, 1882, Mr. Force married Mary Castner, born in Hunter- don county, New Jersey, daughter of Theodore and Margaret (Slayton) Castner. In the Castner family were the following children : Curtis, John, Herman, Ollie, wife of Jacob Dunham; Carrie, wife of William Jennings, deceased; Marietta, wife of Theodore Hummer; Mary, wife of John P.
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Force. Mr. and Mrs. Force have one daughter, Estella, wife of Leo Totten. Mr. and Mrs. Totten have two children, John and Edna. In politics Mr. Force is a Democrat, has voted for many of the presidential candidates of that party, but in many matters is independent. He is affiliated with the R. A., and with his family attends the Presbyterian church.
JOHN PRICE
Price's Studio at Dover has a reputation for reliable and artistic photog- raphy second to none in Morris county. Mr. Price, the owner and proprietor, is a man who learned the business from the ground up, takes a great deal of enthusiasm in his work, and pursues it not only as a profitable vocation, but as the work for which he is best fitted and through which he can best serve society. Mr. Price has prospered in business and is the owner of considerable real estate property in Dover.
John Price was born at Paradise, Pennsylvania, July 27, 1865, son of Commodore and Amanda (Keller) Price. Both were born in Pennsyl- vania, and the father now lives near Wilkes Barre, while the mother is deceased. The father during his active career followed carpentering. The children in the family were: Alice, wife of John Williams, but her first husband was Charles Transen; John; Orvey ; Carrie, wife of Edwin Alex- andria.
The early training of John Price was much abbreviated, owing to the fact that he attended only the common schools, and left his books and studies when twelve years of age. As a boy he then started out to earn his own way. For three or four years he was employed in a glass factory, and then as clerk in a grocery store for six or seven years. In the meantime his attention had been attracted to photography, and after a thorough appren- ticeship at his trade he started in business in Dover in 1892. His first loca- tion was in a little shop on East Blackwell street, later he moved to North Sussex street and then to South Sussex street, and finally bought the ground on which he built his present studio, at 25 East Blackwell street, modeled after lines that afford the best of facilities and the entire shop is equipped after the manner of the best metropolitan studios.
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