USA > New Jersey > Morris County > A history of Morris County, New Jersey : embracing upwards of two centuries, 1710-1913, Volume II > Part 37
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mercantile pursuits, which proved highly successful, and in 1785 he pur- chased a large tract of land at Sing Sing, New York, and became one of the founders of that town. He married Anna Drake, a daughter of Gilbert Drake, his employer, and they were the parents of several sons and one daughter.
Ezra Hunter, son of Captain Elijah and Anna (Drake) Hunter, was born in 1774, died in the spring of 1806, at the early age of thirty-two, leav- ing a widow and two sons and a daughter. Before her marriage Mrs. Hun- ter was Miss Thew and in connection with her father she owned many thousands of acres of land bordering Thew's pond, now known as Rockland lake. Her two sons, Abraham T. and William A., were both graduated at medical colleges and attained considerable eminence in their chosen calling. Abraham T. Hunter, son of Ezra and (Thew) Hunter, was born in Sing Sing, New York, died of cholera in 1849. After acquiring a practical education in the schools of the neighborhood, he followed a course of study along the line of his chosen vocation, medicine, and after receiving his degree of Doctor of Medicine began the active practice of his profession, gaining an enviable reputation as the result of his skill and ability. He removed from Sing Sing to New York City, and for many years was a resident of St. John's Square, where he was regarded as a man of influence, promoting the welfare of the community to the best of his ability. He married, October 13, 1825, Adeline M. Morrison, a native of New York State, daughter of John Morrison, an Irish refugee, who during the rebellion of 1798 fled to the United States in company with a brother of the martyred Emmett. Children: Elizabeth, wife of Theron H. Butterworth; John Morrison, deceased; Thew Morrison, deceased ; Allen M., of whom further; Catherine Stewart; Thew Hunter; Wilson Augustus, deceased; Susan Morrison; Adeline, wife of Allen S. Gibbs, resides in Marietta, Georgia.
Allen M. Hunter, son of Dr. Abraham T. and Adeline M. (Morrison) Hunter, was born in New York City, March 6, 1832. After completing the common school education in New York City, he attended the preparatory school at West Point for three years. In 1849 he went to California, pros- pecting for gold, making the voyage around Cape Horn in the barque Griffin, which was purchased by Mr. Hunter and a number of other young men for that purpose. After a long voyage of six months they landed at San Francisco, which was very different at that time to the prosperous city it is at the present time. Not meeting with the success he anticipated, he returned home at the expiration of one year, making the return trip by way of the isthmus of Panama. He then traveled through the eastern states to some extent, but in 1855 located in Succasunna, New Jersey, where he has since made his home, successfully engaged in farming and stock-raising. He is now retired from active pursuits, enjoying to the full the result of his many years of hard and incessant toil. He is the owner of 147 acres located on the edge of the town of Succasunna, which is now rented, from which he derives a goodly income. He is a Democrat in politics, served in the capacity of delegate to State and county conventions, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he has served as trustee and steward, and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
HON. HARRY W. MUTCHLER
Among the prominent and public-spirited citizens of Rockaway, Harry W. Mutchler holds prestige as one who has ever been on the qui vive to
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Allen M. Hunter and his home, Succasunna. V.
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promote progress and improvement. He is connected with a number of important business enterprises in this city and for two terms gave a splen- did administration as mayor of Rockaway. A native of Warren county, New Jersey, he was born at Asbury, October 8, 1862. His parents, Andrew J. and Margaret (Wilson) Mutchler, were born and reared in New Jersey and they are now deceased. The father was a mason by trade and was a prominent railroad contractor for many years. He was a Republican in his political proclivities, and in religious faith he and his wife were devout Methodists. To them were born two children that grew to maturity: Harry W., of this sketch; Ella, wife of Stephen Arnott Strait, a resident of Mont- clair, New Jersey.
To the common schools of Phillipsburg, New Jersey, Harry W. Mutch- ler is indebted for his preliminary educational training. He initiated his active career as a clerk for John P. Brown & Son, which concern was engaged in the mercantile business at Newfoundland, New Jersey. Mr. Mutchler remained with the above company for seven years and at the end of that time he accepted a position with Lawrence & King, at Stanhope, this State. One year later he went to Hibernia, New Jersey, and there acted as bookkeeper for the Richard Beach Company for seven years. In 1892 he was installed as traveling salesman for Edward D. DePew & Company, a wholesale grocery concern with headquarters in New York City. He has remained in the employ of the above concern during the intervening years to the present time and is now one of its oldest and most capable representatives. He has considerable money invested in the First National Bank of Rockaway, of which substantial institution he is one of the directors, and he is likewise a director in the Rockaway Building and Loan Association.
In his political convictions Mr. Mutchler is aligned as a stalwart sup- porter of Republican principles. He served as councilman of Rockaway for four years and in 1908 was elected mayor of this city, serving with the utmost efficiency in that capacity for two successive terms. At the Novem- ber election of 1913 he was elected to the New Jersey State assembly. In a fraternal way he is affiliated with Acacia Lodge, No. 20, F. and A. M., of Dover ; the Rockaway Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, also the Dover State Encampment ; the Royal Arcanum; and the Junior Order of United American Mechanics. Religiously, he and his wife are connected with the Rockaway Presbyterian Church.
In March, 1883, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Mutchler to Margaretta Howell, a native of New Jersey, daughter of Isaac B. and Henrietta (Roberts) Howell, both of whom are now deceased, their re- mains being interred at Hackettstown, New Jersey. Mr. Howell was a carpenter and contractor during his lifetime, and he was a member of the Methodist church, as was also his wife. To the Howells were born: Robert O .; Thomas; Matilda, widow of John Hess; Charles; Margaretta, wife of Mr. Mutchler, as already noted; Gustavus; Julia, wife of William Mc- Cracken ; Emma, wife of John B. Roe.
Mr. and Mrs. Mutchler have one son, Dr. Harry Raymond Mutchler, who was graduated in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, at Baltimore, Maryland, as a member of the class of 1911, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. For one year following his graduation Dr. Mutchler was as- sistant to Dr. Smith in Washington, New Jersey, and for six months fol- lowing that period he was interne in the Volunteer Hospital of New York City. For the past year he has been a member of the General Hospital corps at Passaic, New Jersey. He is a young man of marked ability and 17
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his splendid equipment for his professional work, as combined with his energy and endurance, are bound to win him unusual success in the field of his chosen labor. June 25, 1913, he married Helen Van Cleaf, of Asbury Park, New Jersey. Mrs. Mutchler is a zealous church worker and she is a member of the Kings Daughters and the Foreign Home Mis- sionary Societies.
JOHN MORRIS MCCARTY
John M. McCarty died May 1, 1865. At the time when he was called from the scene of his mortal endeavors he was in his sixty-fifth year and it may be said concerning him that "his strength was as the number of his days." The prestige which he gained as a fair and honorable man was the result of his own well directed endeavors and his success in life was on a parity with his ability and well applied energy. During the latter years of his life Mr. McCarty, whose name forms the caption for this review, lived in retirement in the village of Rockaway and although it is a good many years since his demise his memory is still green in the hearts of his friends who survive him.
A native of New Jersey, John Morris McCarty was born in July, 1800. He was a son of Francis and Ann (Vandervoort) McCarty, both rep- resentatives of pioneer families in Morris county. The father was a farmer by occupation, and in religious faith he and his wife were devout Presby- terians. They reared to maturity a family of several children of whom John M. was the first in order of birth of Mr. McCarty's third marriage. He passed his boyhood and youth on the parental farm, in the work and man- agement of which he early began to assist his father. He availed himself of the advantages afforded in the common schools of his pioneer day and as he was naturally a great reader and observer, he gradually broadened and developed his intellect until he was well informed. As a young man he became interested in the working of the iron mines and for many years he was superintendent of forges at Hibernia and Powerville, New Jersey. He established his home in Rockaway in 1825 and there continued to re- side until his death.
In 1825 was solemnized his marriage to Sally Ann Hoagland, a native of Dover, New Jersey, daughter of Peter G. and Elizabeth Hoagland, mem- bers of old New Jersey families. To Mr. and Mrs. John M. McCarty were born five children as follows: Charles Augustus; Ann Elizabeth, wife of George Richards, who was a resident of Dover; William; Frances, wife of Dr. John W. Jackson, of Rockaway ; Mary Emma, single ; maintains her home at Rockaway, only one of the above children living in 1913.
In his political convictions Mr. McCarty was a staunch Democrat. His co-operation in public interests and his zealous support of all objects that he believed would contribute to the material, social and moral improvement of the community in which he made his home kept him in the foremost rank of loyal and public-spirited citizens. He was a charter member of the Dover Lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons. He dearly loved home life and the company of his immediate family and many intimate friends. His hospitality was extended to everyone, regardless of class or creed, and his philanthropy was only bounded by the limits of his purse. His entire life was characterized by upright principles and it also exemplified the truth of the Emersonian philosophy that "the way to win a friend is to be one." His genial, kindly manner won him the high regard and good will of all with whom he came in contact and thus his death was uniformly mourned throughout Rockaway and the surrounding district.
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JACOB KELLER
Jacob Keller, proprietor of the Hotel Central at Rockaway, New Jersey, is a representative business man of this city, where he has maintained his home since 1909. He was born in the empire of Germany, March 10, 1861, and in that country was reared and educated. His parents, Conrad and Margaret (Zeun) Keller, lived and died in Germany and to them were born five children as follows: Carl, Catherine, Louis, August, Jacob. The daughter is the wife of Frederick Schmetzer, a resident of New York.
At the age of twenty years Jacob Keller bade farewell to fatherland and relatives and immigrated to America. He landed in New York City in 1881 and there began to work at the trade of printer and compositor, which occupation he followed for a period of five years, at the expiration of which time he removed to Paterson, New Jersey. In the latter place he became interested in the provision business and followed that line of enterprise with marked success for the ensuing twenty-one years. In 1907 he engaged in the hotel business at Passaic, New Jersey, and in June, 1909, he came to Rockaway, where he is now proprietor of the Hotel Central. This modern hotel has twenty-one sleeping rooms and is conducted principally for the accommodation of summer boarders. Excellent food is provided for its patrons and a congenial, homelike atmosphere pervades the place. Mr. Keller is a Democrat in his political convictions and while he does not take an active part in local politics he is deeply and sincerely interested in all matters projected for the good of the general welfare, at this writing he is candidate for councilman on the Democratic ticket. In a fraternal way he is connected with the Loyal Order of Moose and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. He and his wife are devout members of the Presbyterian church, and they command the unqualified confidence and esteem of their fellow citizens.
January I, 1887, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Keller to Eliza Penner, born and reared in Germany, daughter of Cornelius and Emily Penner. Mr. and Mrs. Penner had four children: Martha, Eliza, Otto, Margaret. To Mr. and Mrs. Keller have been born the following children : Gretchen, married Bernard Rickes; Catherine. Elizabeth, Elsie, Jacob Jr.
PAUL WITTECK
Germany has contributed many stalwart and energetic citizens to the upbuilding of the United States and it is worthy of note here that Paul Witteck, one of the foremost business men of Butler, New Jersey, was born and reared to manhood in that country. Mr. Witteck holds the re- sponsible positon of superintendent of the American Hard Rubber Com- pany at Butler, and is a director in the First National Bank of this city. All his time, however, is not taken up with business duties. He has served with honor on the council and for the past ten years has been the popular and efficient incumbent of the office of mayor of Butler. His regime as administrator of the municipal affairs of this place has been fraught with infinite good in connection with the introduction of many important im- provements in the internal workings of the government.
July 21, 1861, in the city of Trier, Province of Rhine, Germany, oc- curred the birth of Paul Witteck, who is a son of John Michael and Maria (Herbert) Witteck, both of whom are now deceased. The father was an artificer in metals and he died in Germany, March 23, 1893, aged seventy- four years; his cherished and devoted wife died November 12, 1895, aged
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seventy-two years. There were four children born to Mr. and Mrs. John Michael Witteck as follows: Maria, wife of Frederick Fisher at the time of her demise which occurred in Chicago, Illinois, March 1, 1891, at the age of thirty-two years; Marguerita, wife of Nicholas Becker, of Trier, Germany ; Katherina, wife of Fred Ebberhart Sulzback, a mining engineer in the vicinity of Saarbrucken, Germany ; Paul, of whom further.
To the public schools of Germany Paul Witteck is indebted for his early educational advantages, and for three years he was a student in the school for the advancement of tradesmen in the city of Munich, Germany. He served in the German army for three years and for a time was an under officer in the Bavarian Guard at Munich. In 1882, at the age of twenty-one years, he came to America and for the ensuing two and a half years worked as a silversmith for the firm of Whiting & Company in New York City. In 1885 he established his home and business headquarters in Butler, Morris county, New Jersey, here engaging in the trade of tool- maker for the following ten years. In 1895 he entered the employ of the American Hard Rubber Company as master mechanic and since 1905 he has filled the responsible position of superintendent of the Butler plant of that concern. The American Hard Rubber Company was founded by William Kiel in 1876 and he is now general superintendent of the same. While running at full capacity the Butler plant of the American Hard Rubber Company employs a force of one thousand men, a speciality being made of the manufacture of hard rubber. He is also director of the Pequanoc Rubber Company of Bulter, New Jersey.
Mr. Witteck is affiliated with Silentia Lodge, No 168, F. and A. M .; Immanuel Lodge, No. 200, I. O. O. F .; Paterson Lodge, No. 60, B. P. O. E. In politics he supports the principles promulgated by the Republican party and he is an active factor in the local councils of that organization. He served as a member of the town council from the time of the incorporation of Butler until his election to the office of mayor, in 1903. In the latter capacity he has proved himself diligent and highly efficient and Butler has profited in every way through his administration. He is financially in- terested in the First National Bank of this city and is a member of its directorate. He is a man of fine character and pleasing address and he numbers many loyal friends amongst his acquaintances. His high place in business and public life has been won by his own diligence and devotion to duty and therefore is the more commendable.
In 1886 Mr. Witteck was united in marriage to Wilhelmina Kiel, daugh- ter of William Kiel, mentioned above. Four children: Paul, aged twenty- six years, in 1913, is a mechanic by trade and unmarried ; Wilhelmina, wife of Howard Tallman, a toolmaker in Butler ; Virginia, died November 8, 1896, at the age of six years; Marguerita, at home with her parents.
HARRY W. CYPHERS
A lifelong resident of Chester, where he has been station agent for the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Company since December I, 1882, Harry W. Cyphers was born in Chester, Morris county, New Jersey, the date of his nativity being September 23, 1864.
The paternal grandfather was Peter Cyphers, of German parentage, and he is supposed to have been born on Schooleys Mountain, June 20, 1797, died August 16, 1888, was engaged for many years as a merchant. He was the son of Philip who was the son of Philip who was the son of Michel Seifers who settled on West Jersey society lands in Alexandria, Hunterdon
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county, October, 1756-66. The maternal grandfather was the son of Elisha Robeson who was a Scotchman who came from Scotland and settled at Wiretown, Warren county, New Jersey, and operated a mill for the produc- tion of wire and castings, was evidently a man of means, his son Elisha was maternal grandfather of Mr. Cyphers.
Harry W. Cyphers is a son of James and Nancy P. (Robeson) Cyphers, both of whom are now deceased, their remains being interred in the Pleasant Hill cemetery at Chester. James Cyphers was a native of Schooleys Moun- tain, New Jersey, born April 7, 1833, and he was reared a farmer, an oc- cupation he followed during the major portion of his active career. He was also interested in the breeding and selling of high-grade cattle and for many years was a wool buyer. He was a stalwart Democrat in his political con- victions and in religious matters was a member of the Presbyterian church, in whose faith he reared his children. His demise occurred October 23, 1868. Mrs. Cyphers, only daughter of Elisha and Mary (Perry) Robeson, was born at Penwell, in Warren county, New Jersey, and for her second husband married Marshall A. Sayre, conductor and superintendent of the Chester branch of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Company for many years. Mr. Sayre was conductor on the first train of the Chester division that started to run January 2, 1869, and that was known as a free train. Mr. and Mrs. Cyphers had two children: Harry W., of this notice ; and Alice, who died at the age of eleven years. To Mr. and Mrs. Sayre were born three children: Lillian R., deceased, wife of Douglass Broad- well, her death occurred June. 1912; Jennie H., resides at Chester ; Emily S., died at two and a half years.
Harry W. Cyphers was a child of but four years of age at the time of his father's death. After completing the prescribed course in the common schools of Chester he attended the Chester Institute for several years and then went to Morristown public school, and later he was a student in the Chapel School at Chester conducted by Rev. James F. Brewster, for a period of one year. He early became interested in the art of telegraphy and learned the rudiments thereof on an instrument that he constructed out of an old cigar box. Mr. Cyphers still has the above box in his posses- sion and regards it as quite a curio. He was installed as station agent at Chester for the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Company on the Ist of December, 1882, and has held that position during the long inter- vening years to the present time, in 1913. In addition to caring for his duties as station agent he has been engaged in the fruit commission business and has also dealt extensively in coal and lumber. He is the owner of a great deal of valuable real estate in Chester and here is looked upon as a representative and enterprising citizen.
October 13, 1886, Mr. Cyphers was united in marriage to Miss Susie Q. Staats, a native of Hampton Junction, Hunterdon county, New Jersey, and a daughter of James P. and Ann ( Peterson) Staats. Mr. Staats was for many years locomotive engineer of the Central Railroad of New Jersey. He and his wife were devout members of the Presbyterian church and they were the parents of two daughters, namely: Susie Q., now Mrs. Cyphers ; and Minnie V., a trained nurse in Boston, Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. Cyphers have two children: James Marshall, who is now a student in the University of Pennsylvania, where he is preparing for the degree of Doctor of Veterinary Surgery ; and Marion Lula, who was graduated in the Dover High School and who is now attending the Centenary Collegiate Institute, at Hackettstown, New Jersey.
Mr. Cyphers supports Republican principles and for three years he was
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a member of the Chester school board. Fraternally, he is affiliated with Prospect Lodge, No. 24, F. and A. M .; Chester Lodge, No. 209, I. O. O. F .; and Washington Camp, No. 8, P. O. S. A. The family are members of the Presbyterian church and Mr. Cyphers was for several years trustee of that church in Chester. He is now serving as trustee and treasurer of the Pleas- ant Hill Cemetery Association.
EDWIN AUGUSTUS BIRD
Edwin Augustus Bird certainly deserves representation among the men who have been instrumental in promoting the welfare of Chester. He has done much to advance the wheels of progress, aiding materially in the de- velopment of business activity and energy whereon the prosperity and growth of any community always depend. He has found in each transition stage opportunity for further effort and broader labor and his enterprise has not only contributed to his individual success but has also been of marked value to the city in which he makes his home. Since 1909 Mr. Bird has been proprietor and manager of the Flagstaff Inn at Chester Crossroads and he is a stockholder in and president of the Fairview Realty Company.
At Peapack, in Somerset county, New Jersey, March 7, 1856, occurred the nativity of Edwin A. Bird. His parents, Terry H. and Mary L. (Bow- man) Bird, were born and reared in Chester township, Morris county, this State, and they are both now deceased, being buried in the Chester cemetery. The father was a blacksmith by trade, and he and his wife were devout members of the Congregational church. He was a Democrat in his political proclivities but never held public office of any description. The Bird family consisted of the following children: George H .; Edwin A., of this sketch; Emma, widow of former Senator Elias C. Drake; Frank, deceased; Ada, wife of Benjamin Mott.
In the public schools of Chester, Edwin Augustus Bird received his primary educational training. At the age of twenty years he entered upon an apprenticeship to learn the trade of painter at Morristown, remaining there for four years. He then went to Paterson, New Jersey, where he was employed in a confectionery store for a period of seven years, at the expiration of which time he engaged in the milk, cream and ice cream busi- ness at Paterson, following that line of enterprise for about twenty years. He came to Chester in 1909 and since that time has conducted the Flagstaff Inn at Chester Crossroads. This inn is an up-to-date hostelry and caters a great deal to automobile tourists. In addition to the hotel business Mr. Bird is a stockholder in the Fairview Realty Company, of which corporation he is president. He is a Democrat in politics, and is president of the Chester Cemetery Association. Fraternally, he is affiliated with Ivanhoe Lodge, No. 88, F. and A. M., of Paterson ; has passed through all the degrees up to and including the thirty-second degree.
In April, 1897, Mr .Bird married Ida H. Howell, born in Chester, daugh- ter of George W. and Mary (Horton) Howell, both natives of Chester township. Mr. Howell was engaged in business as a butcher during the major portion of his active career and he is now living in retirement at Chester. He and his wife are the parents of five children as follows : William ; Ida H., Mrs. Bird, as already noted; Emma, wife of Alva Breese ; Margaret and Fannie, popular and successful teachers in the public schools of Morris county. Mr. and Mrs. Bird have two daughters: Mary Ethel and Mabel Lorraine, who have completed the curriculum of the common schools of Chester and who are now attending high school at Succasunna. The Bird family are members of the Chester Congregational Church.
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