USA > New Jersey > Morris County > A history of Morris County, New Jersey : embracing upwards of two centuries, 1710-1913, Volume II > Part 33
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After completing the prescribed course of the common schools of Dover, Herman D. Moller entered Coleman's Business College, at Newark, New Jersey, and there pursued a thorough commercial course. Subsequently he learned the trade of blacksmith and he was engaged in that line of work for a period of three years. In 1894 he engaged in the wholesale liquor business, his spacious headquarters being located in Dover, and he continued with ever increasing success in the same until June, 1912, a period of eighteen years. On that date he sold out his concern and as yer he has not engaged in any other business. Fraternally, Mr. Moller is connected with the B. P. O. E., the F. O. E., and the I. O. R. M., all of Dover. In church matters he and his wife are devout Presbyterians. His political convictions are in accord with the principles and policies for which the Republican party stands sponsor. While undoubtedly he has not been without that honorable ambition which is so powerful and useful as an incentive to activity in public affairs, he regards the pursuits of private life as being in themselves abundantly worthy of his best efforts, although he is now serving Dover as a member of the city council, in which he is on the street committee. His support is readily and generously given to many measures for the general progress and improvement. His life history is certainly worthy of commendation and of emulation, for along honorable and straightforward lines he has won the success which crowns his efforts and which makes him one of the substantial residents of Dover.
Mr. Moller married (first) May 26, 1895, Elvena Bastedo, a native of Morris county, New Jersey, daughter of Charles and Amelia (Dunn) Bastedo. She died April 22, 1906. Mr. Moller married (second) Helen Barb, a native of Long Island, daughter of George and Mary E. (Felton) Barb. They have no children.
FREDERICK TAYLOR
For the past thirty years Frederick Taylor has been numbered among the useful citizenship of the town of Dover, where he has spent much of his
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time in mechanical trades and industries, and for the past twelve years has been one of the city's force of mail carriers. He has always been a hard worker, has done more than pull his own weight, and by his industry has provided well for his immediate family.
Frederick Taylor was born at Dover, March 22, 1865, a son of Alfred and Susan (Edwards) Taylor. The paternal grandfather was named John Taylor. Both parents were natives of England, where they were married, and about 1856 emigrated to New York. After a few months they located in Dover, where the father was for many years a harness manufacturer. The children in their family were: Theophilus; Edward A .; Elizabeth ; James W .; Martha, wife of John Spargo; William, deceased; Frederick ; John G. ; Hattie, wife of Oscar Peer.
Frederick Taylor, who has spent all his years in Dover, attended the common schools while growing up, but was still a boy when he entered his father's harness shop, and learned the trade in all its details. He spent about ten years in work with his father, and then joined his three brothers in the clothing business. The store was conducted with a fair degree of prosperity and he remained in that line for about eight years. However, he had never been completely satisfied with merchandising, and finally withdrew and started a harness shop of his own. After two and a half years in that occupation, he accepted a place with the local staff of mail carriers, and has given faithful and intelligent service in that position ever since.
Mr. Taylor on January 1, 1890, married Miss Mary Felver, a native of Port Colden, New Jersey, in Warren county. Her parents, Joseph C. and Margaret (Petty) Felver, were both natives of New Jersey, and her father a blacksmith by trade, and also a building contractor. There were three children in the Felver family, the two sons being Mark and Hiram. To Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have been born the following children: Edna Marguerite, Maud, Clarence, Helen, and Joseph A. In politics Mr. Taylor is Republican, and he gives his allegiance to Republican principles. He is affiliated with the R. A., and with his family attends the First Methodist Episcopal Church at Dover.
HARRY R. WATSON
Harry R. Watson is unusually well equipped for his position as a director and superintendent of the Liondale Works, one of the largest bleaching and dyeing concerns in Morris county, he having learned the rudiments of that business in his father's bleaching works at Passaic, New Jersey. Mr. Wat- son is a director in the First National Bank of Rockaway, and is an active participant in local politics. He was born at Passaic, this State, November 16, 1868, son of Benjamin S. and Louise (Vreeland) Watson. The father was born and reared in the State of Rhode Island and as a young man established his home in New Jersey. For many years he conducted a factory for the bleaching, dyeing and printing of cotton goods at Passaic, where his demise occurred. His wife, whose maiden name was Louise Vreeland, was born in Passaic and she survives her honored husband, her present home being in Cleveland, Ohio. She is a member of the First Reformed Church of Passaic, of which her husband was likewise a mem- ber during his lifetime. To Mr. and Mrs. Watson were born three children : Harry R., of this notice; Etta, wife of Warren E. Clarke ; Jean.
After a thorough public-school training, which included a course in the high school at Passaic, Harry R. Watson attended business college for a time and then became a student in the Cooper Institute, of New York City,
Charles a. Miller
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in the chemistry department. His first real work was with his father and uncle in the bleaching business at Passaic. Subsequently he entered the employ of the Reid & Barry Company, likewise bleachers at Passaic, and in 1898 he accepted the position of superintendent of the Liondale Works, bleachers and dyers at Rockaway. Here Mr. Watson is a stockholder and a director in the First National Bank and he also has property holdings of considerable value in and adjacent to Rockaway. In his political con- victions he is a Republican and he served as chairman of the local school board for several years, in addition to which he was at one time a member of the Morris county Republican committee. He fraternizes with the Dover Lodge of the F. and A. M., and with his family attends the Rockaway Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Watson married Eleanor King, the ceremony having been per- formed in April, 1897. She is a native of Passaic, New Jersey, and a daughter of Alpheus Livingston and Jane Eliza (Ellison) King, both of Passaic. Mr. King was a cheese exporter by occupation and to him and his wife were born five children: Florence, wife of William S. Anderson ; John Ellison ; Eleanor, now Mrs. Watson, as already noted; Alpheus Allen ; Lillian, wife of George B. Martin. Mr. and Mrs. Watson have one son, John, now attending school in Rockaway.
CHARLES A. MILLER
Charles A. Miller, assessor of the town of Chatham, Morris county, New Jersey, and assistant chief of the volunteer fire department of the town, is a descendant of one of the oldest families of the State. His great- great-grandfather, who was of Scotch descent, traced his ancestry to those of his name who left Aberdeen, Scotland, to come to the new world, and made their home among the Puritan settlers of New England. He was born in Connecticut, from whence he migrated to New Jersey during the first half of the eighteenth century, and established a home at Connecticut Farms, Essex county, New Jersey. His son, Smith M. Miller, was born there, was an active participant in the Revolutionary struggle, and married Rachel Miller, descended from one of the most prominent families of the State.
Smith Maxwell Miller, their son, was born in 1799, died in 1881. The chief occupation of his life was farming, although he had learned the black- smith's trade in his youth, and was skillful at any mechanical employment. He filled a number of offices of trust and responsibility, among these being that of justice of the peace. He married Catherine, a daughter of Benjamin and Hannah (Coon) Coddington. Benjamin Coddington served seven years in the War of the Revolution, and was captain of the Light Horse for a period of eight years. He suffered as one of the prisoners in the old Sugar House in New York City, and later became the owner of Mount Horeb and an influential member of the public life of the community. Among the eleven children of Mr. Miller were: Minard Farley, who was a member of the One Hundred and Eighth New York Infantry, and died from effects of disabilities contracted in the service ; William, of Tarrytown, New York, was also in the Union army, lost an arm at the battle of Gettysburg, and is a member of the Sons of the Revolution ; Edward P.
Edward P. Miller was born in Chatham, May 3, 1842. A farmer during the earlier years of his life he later engaged in contracting at Springfield, New Jersey, and when he disposed of his interests there returned to Chatham. The coal business engaged his attention in 1882, after some time spent in other enterprises, and he has now followed it successfully for many years.
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He was trustee of the public schools for a long period of time, and has been an earnest worker in the cause of temperance. He served as assessor for upwards of twenty-eight years, in Chatham township, retiring from that office in 1909; was fish warden for a number of years. He is a member of Cincinnati Lodge, No. 3, Madison Chapter, No. 27, and Ode de St. Amande Commandery, Masonic order; was a member of the Chatham volunteer firemen, now an exempt, also Wheelmen's Club and Chatham Fish and Game Club. He married Mary L. Brant, of Madison, New Jersey, and they have had eight children, five of whom are living: Lewis A., William H., Jeremiah F., Charles A .; Hannah M., wife of John J. Hunt.
Charles A. Miller, a son of the preceding, was born in Chatham, Morris county, New Jersey, August 5, 1881. The public schools of his native town were the scene of his educational training, which was a sound and practical one, and at a suitable age he entered the business of his father, with whom he has been associated continuously since he was eighteen years of age. His progressive ideas have been largely instrumental in placing this concern upon its present prominent footing, and he is recognized as a business man of integrity and sterling qualities. He has been active in the civic affairs of Chatham in the interests of the Republican party, and has taken a prom- inent place in its councils. Elected to the office of assessor of Chatham, he is now serving his second two-year term. He is also serving in his second year as a sewer commissioner of Chatham. His connection with the volunteer fire department is of nine years' standing, and in 19II he represented that organization at the State firemen's convention in Atlantic City. He is treasurer of the Fire Relief Association; secretary of Chatham Hose Com- pany No. 2; and a member of Madison Lodge, No. 93, F. and A. M .; member of the Wheelmen's Club, and of the Exempt Fireman's Association.
Mr. Miller married (first) October 16, 1907, Rose M., daughter of Mil- ton G. Carley ; she died in 1909. He married (second) November 15, 1911, Carrie, daughter of William Fleming, of Brooklyn, New York. He and his wife are members of the Chatham Methodist Episcopal Church, and in this institution he is one of the trustees and a leader in its affairs. He is a man of great energy and determination, and the devotion he displays in further- ing all projects that tend to the public benefit, deserves especial mention.
HARRY COMLY
Harry Comly, of Lincoln Park, Morris county, New Jersey, who with his brother is at the head of one of the important industries of the county, is noted for his energy, enterprise and general progressiveness. By close ap- plication he has worked his way upward to a position of affluence and im- portance in the community.
John Comly, his father, was born in Philadelphia, and was connected with the engraving business throughout the active years of his life. He removed to Lincoln Park in the spring of 1873, and in that town established the plant which has since become so widely and favorably known, and which is now operated by his sons. Engraving of all kinds, and on all materials- silks, cotton goods, paper, etc .- is undertaken in this establishment, and executed with accuracy and an almost incredible amount of celerity. The death of Mr. Comly occurred at the age of eighty years. He married Christina Horn, a native of Germany, and they had children: James; Charles, deceased ; Harry, whose name is at the head of this sketch ; Wil- liam ; Elizabeth, deceased.
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Harry Comly was born in the city of Brooklyn, New York, now a part of Greater New York, in 1862. He was there educated in the public schools. At a suitable age he became associated with his father in the engraving business, mastering the difficulties of this calling thoroughly in all its details. After the death of his father the business was operated under the firm name of Comly Brothers Engraving Works, but after the death of one brother, and the prolonged illness of another, the plant shut down for a time, although it had been giving employment to a large number of people. Now, however, Mr. Comly has reopened the establishment, which is again in complete working order and in a flourishing condition. He is a strong supporter of the Re- publican party, was a valuable member of the school board, and is now a member of the town committee. He is serving as an elder in the Reformed church at Pompton Plains, and is now superintendent of the Sunday school. Mr. Comly married Adelaide Starkey, and has one child, Agnes, who mar- ried Sidney Benjamin.
DAVID BENJAMIN
David Benjamin, who stands among the foremost builders and contrac- tors of Morris county, New Jersey, and who resides in Lincoln Park, where he is an enterprising and progressive citizen, comes from a family which has been identified with building and contract work for a number of generations.
His grandfather, David Benjamin, was a builder, and purchased the Benjamin homestead about three-quarters of a century ago. He helped construct the Morris canal planes at the reconstruction of the canal.
Thomas W. Benjamin, father of David Benjamin, was born in the house on the family homestead, 1848, and in addition to assisting his father in his contract work was engaged in farming many years. Subsequently he engaged in the mourning goods business in Newark, New Jersey, where he conducted a store for a period of between two and three years, since which he spent his life on the homestead. He is a Republican and served as tax collector of Pequannock township for the past twelve years. Has served on the town committee some years. He is a member of the Re- formed church of Pompton Plains. He married Leah A., daughter of Garrett B. Jacobus, a wagon builder in Towaco, Morris county, New Jersey. They have had children : Herbert, David, Sidney N.
David Benjamin was born on the Benjamin homestead, next to his present place, in Morris county, New Jersey, and was educated in the public schools of that section, and in those of Newark. Upon the completion of his educa- tion he learned his trade in a short time, and during this period attended evening school. Later he took an exhaustive course in a correspondence school in contracting and architecture, and was in the employ of others in this line eight years. Deciding that he had gained a sufficient amount of experience by this time, he established himself in business in 1910, as a general contractor, and has built up a flourishing concern. He has a large patronage in Paterson, Pompton, and all the nearby towns, and his shop is the only one between Paterson and Dover equipped with machinery of varied character. It is his pride to keep this machinery fully up to date, and he is continually installing more modern appliances and improvements. He has an autocar, and is easily able to undertake work at distances, not so readily reached by his less fully equipped competitors. While Mr. Benjamin has never had the time nor inclination to occupy public office, he is a con- scientious citizen and takes a deep interest in whatever concerns the wel- fare of the community. He casts his vote for the candidates of the Re-
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publican party. He is a member of the Reformed church, and his fraternal affiliation is with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Benjamin married Ethel N. Tillotson, of Boonton, Morris county, New Jersey, and they have children: David Jr. and Lucy N.
JOHN S. KITCHELL
John S. Kitchell, of Troy Hills, Morris county, New Jersey, is one of those men of merit who, by their own efforts, attain a prominent position in business circles. He is a descendant of one of the oldest families of the county.
Dr. William M. Kitchell, his father, was born in Morris county, 1827, died at the early age of thirty-four years. At a suitable age he commenced the study of medicine, but abandoned it in favor of mineralogy and geology, in which he had become greatly interested, and was at one time State geologist. He married Marcia B., daughter of Hiram Smith, and had : John S. and Helen M. Lake.
John S. Kitchell was born in Troy Hills, Morris county, New Jersey. He was there educated in the public schools, and spent one year in study in a school in Flushing, Long Island. Upon the completion of his education he was employed for a time in a dry goods store, then went to Chicago, where he was in the employ of the Chicago & Atlantic Railroad for a time. Upon his return to Newark, New Jersey, he was engaged in the ice business for a time, then came to his present location in Troy Hills, where he con- ducts a fine poultry farm on a tract of ten acres. He not only has large flocks of the common varieties of domestic fowl, but makes a speciality of fancy breeds, for which he has become celebrated. In addition to this he cultivates his farm with excellent judgment and results. He gives his political support to the Republican party, and is a member of the Presby- terian church. While living in Chicago he was a member of the Knights of Pythias.
Mr. Kitchell married Maria Clifford Howell, and has children: Marcia S., at school in Burlington, New Jersey ; John S. Jr., Irene B. No man is more favorably known in his section than Mr. Kitchell. His popularity and splendid reputation have been won by beginning life as an upright man with no false pretenses, and continuing in that path throughout his career.
B. F. HOWELL
B. F. Howell, a progressive business man of Troy Hills, Morris county, New Jersey, is descended from one of the oldest families in the State of New Jersey. It is supposed that all of the Howell blood in this country are descendants of Edward Howell, who purchased a large tract of land from the Indians in 1640, and settled on the south shore of Long Island. Benjamin Howell, a direct descendant of this Edward Howell, was born on Long Island, October 10, 1725, died at Troy, December 26, 1798.
John Howell, only child of the preceding, was born October 20, 1759, died October 5, 1834. He married Phebe, daughter of Ebenezer Farrand, and had: Benjamin, of further mention ; Samuel F., Sarah, Chileon, Eliza- beth.
Benjamin Howell, son of John and Phebe (Farrand) Howell, was born June 29, 1786, died February 17, 1852. He married ---- -. Some of his children died in infancy, the others being: Susan C., Phebe F., Monroe, of further mention; Benjamin F., Lemuel C.
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Monroe Howell, son of Benjamin Howell, was born at Troy Hills, New Jersey, September 9, 1819, died in the same town, March 2, 1883. He was engaged in the lumber business, as a general merchant, and as a farmer. For many years he was assessor of Hanover township, held other township and county offices, and at the time of his death was surveyor-general of the eastern division of New Jersey. He married, June 13, 1849, Henrietta Clay, daughter of William Stevens, of Newark, who had at one time been postmaster of that city. They had seven children.
B. F. Howell, son of Monroe Howell, was born on the homestead farm at Troy Hills, New Jersey, on which he is living at the present time, in 1862. He was educated in the public schools of the county, and completed his education at the usual age. He then engaged in the ice business at Fox Hill, and is now established in that line in Newark. He also success- fully cultivates the farm of 200 acres, finding a ready market for his crops by reason of their excellent quality. He is progressive in his methods, and has made many improvements on the farm since it has come into his possession. He gives his political support to the Republican party, and attends the Presbyterian church. Mr. Howell married Caroline S., daughter of James Quimby, a representative of one of the old families of the State, and they have had children : Benjamin F., Samuel Farrand, . Dorothy Houghton, Harriet Stevens.
JOHN W. YOUNG
Morris county, New Jersey, figures as one of the most attractive, pro- gressive and prosperous divisions of the State, justly claiming a high order of citizenship and a spirit of enterprise which is certain to conserve consecutive development and marked advancement in the material upbuild- ing of this section. A prominent citizen of Dover, this county, is John W. Young, who for the past ten years has filled the offices of judge of the police court and justice of the peace. He is descended from English an- cestry, his forefathers having settled in Pennsylvania in the early colonial epoch of our national history. The progenitor of the Young family in New Jersey was Daniel Young, who was born in Huntingdon county, Penn- sylvania, about the middle of the eighteenth century. He was a blacksmith by trade and was the owner of two large farms, one at the mouth of Budd lake and the other at . Drakestown, New Jersey. He married a Miss Betson and to them were born the following children: John, Stephen, Edward, Daniel ( father of the subject of this review), Amos, Rachel (married George Bird), Nancy (married Samuel Smith), Mary (wife of a Mr. Van Fleet).
Daniel (2) Young was born in Morris county, New Jersey, in 1809, died 1885, at the venerable age of seventy-six years. He was a shoe- maker by trade, and followed the occupation of farming on the Drakestown estate, which he purchased from his father. He married Mary Ann Wyre, born in 1819, died 1871, aged fifty-two years. This union was prolific of seven children: John W., of this notice; Eliza, deceased, was the wife of David Dilly; Serron and Daniel, both deceased; Anette, died as the wife of Noah Thomas; Malinda, wife of Alfred Crall, a resident of Vinton, Iowa.
John W. Young grew to maturity on his father's farm in Morris county, where his birth occurred January 7, 1844, in a log house on the road leading from Hackettstown to Bartley. He was educated in the Drakestown public schools and he continued to reside in Morris county
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until he reached his twenty-seventh year. From 1871 to 1881 he was a resi- dent of Warren county, New Jersey. In the latter year he returned to Morris county and for the ensuing five years was engaged in farming operations here. He then farmed in Sussex county for another five years, and in 1891 located in Newark, New Jersey, where he was engaged in the milk business until 1896. In that year he settled in Dover and here has since resided. For seven years after his advent here he had a large milk business, and in 1903 he was elected judge of the Dover police court and justice of the peace, two offices he has filled with the utmost efficiency during the past decade. Mr. Young is conscientious in discharging his official duties and he is ever on the alert and enthusiastically in sympathy with all measures and enterprises projected for progress and improvement. In politics he is an ardent Progressive, and during the early years of his residence in Dover he was the able incumbent of a number of important township offices.
January 5, 1871, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Young to Mary Ellen Longcore, a native of Sussex county, New Jersey, daughter of Theodore and Sarah Ann (Smith) Longcore, the former of whom died in Sussex county and the latter at Newark, this State. Mrs. Young died June 12, 1912. Mr. and Mrs. Young had two sons: Fred R., who was educated in the Newark schools, is now traveling auditor for the New Jersey Central Railroad, his headquarters being in the city of Philadelphia ; Theodore L., who is engaged in business as funeral director at Dover, a sketch of whose career appears elsewhere in this work. Mr. Young is affiliated with the local lodge of the Junior Order of United American Me- chanics, and in religious faith he is and his wife was a zealous member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
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