USA > New Jersey > Morris County > A history of Morris County, New Jersey : embracing upwards of two centuries, 1710-1913, Volume II > Part 40
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and is a native of Easton, Pennsylvania. Seven children were born to the parents, mentioned as follows: Earl, of Phillipsburg; Marguerite Sit- greaves, unmarried; one that died in infancy; William, Hazel, Paul, Edwin E.
Edwin E. Sitgreaves grew up at Phillipsburg, where he got most of his education in the public schools. As a boy of about fifteen, during 1892-93, he was a page in the house of representatives at Trenton, New Jersey. Then during the following year and in 1894 he was clerk in the Phillipsburg post office. On July 4, 1896, he accepted a place as clerk in the Port Morris yards of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Company. In 1898 he was promoted to the responsible place of night yardmaster, and discharged the duties of that office until July 7, 1907. In that year he bought the Erskine Hotel from A. J. Drake, and has since conducted it. The hotel is located a quarter of a mile from the landing on Lake Hopat- cong, and is on the main road from Hopatcong to Dover and Newark. The Morris County Electric Line runs by the door. It is well situated for a large trade, and under the management of Mr. Sitgreaves has been very prosperous.
On June 29, 1909, Mr. Sitgreaves married Edna McMannus, daughter of Joseph and Anna McMannus, of Netcong. They have one child, Marie Godley Sitgreaves. Mr. Sitgreaves is affiliated with the Improved Order of Red Men and the Loyal Order of Moose.
FRED NATHAN NAPOLEON DAVIS
The Davis family has been prominent at Port Morris practically through- out the existence and development of that flourishing little village. The father of the gentleman named at the beginning of this article was one of the creators of the town, and for many years a very prominent railroad contractor in this and other sections of New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New England. The essential facts in the career of that well remembered citizen and railroad contractor are given in the following paragraphs and also appropriate mention of his two sons, both of whom have lived at Port Mor- ris upward of fifty years, have been identified with railroad service for a great many years, while Fred N. N., since leaving railroading has given his attention to the management of the Port Morris Hotel.
The late Nathan Davis, father of the two sons just mentioned, was born at Boston, Massachusetts, 1818, and subsequently resided for a number of years at East Brookfield, Vermont. As a young man he was educated above the ordinary, taught school for a time, and an interesting fact re- membered by the family and here recorded is that he received his certificate for teaching by answering just one question, that being: "What is the science of all sciences?" His answer was "Mathematics." No doubt he was skilled in several branches of mathematics, and that qualification not only enabled him to enter the teaching profession, but also proved useful when he got into construction work. For many years he was engaged in grading and other forms of railway construction in different sections of the country. Some of his early work was on the Vermont Central and the Hartford, Fishkill & Providence railroads. He was employed on the Hart- ford & New Haven and on the Warren Railway from Poultney to Eagle Bridge. In 1854 he moved from New York state to Washington, New Jersey. There he was employed on the Warren Road from Delaware Sta- tion to Hampton Junction for three years. Later he was engaged in the digging of basins for the Canal Company at Washington, New Jersey. Some
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of his construction work was in connection with the Belvidere & Delaware Railroad from Belvidere to Mauch Chunk, and in that enterprise his son, Frank Iago Davis, mentioned later, was his assistant, although the latter was then only sixteen years of age. The Belvidere and Mauch Chunk Line is now part of the Pennsylvania system. Nathan Davis was a man of exceptional ability, and understood every detail of his business, and was very capable in the handling of both men and material resources.
During 1863 and 1864 he began work on the extension of the Morris Railroad, from Hackettstown to Phillipsburg. In 1864-65 he did other work for the same company. He first came to Port Morris in 1867, but prior to that time had some teams on the work from Branchville to Newton. His coming to Port Morris in the winter of 1867 was for the purpose of grading for the double track. At that time only two houses stood on the site of the present little city of Port Morris. Later returning to Washing- ton, he took a contract for the grading of the double track from Washington to Broadway under Superintendent Bethune. He also did grading for the double track between Shippingport and Drakesville station, had charge of the grading for the third track in Port Morris yards, laid the double track between Bundletown and Chatham in 1867, and in 1869 and 1870 did grad- ing for the railroad at East Dover. In 1870 Nathan Davis constructed the line from Kenvil to Dickerson Mines for the Canfield Brothers. In 1872 his resources were employed in grading section two for the Essex county public board. In the meantime, in 1867, Nathan Davis had bought land and had laid out a number of lots at Port Morris. About 1873 he re- tired from active business, and thereafter was one of the highly esteemed and prosperous citizens of Port Morris. Nathan Davis married Fannie B. Hibbard, of Vermont, daughter of Gordon Hibbard, of East Brookfield, in Orange county of that State. To the marriage of Nathan and Fannie Davis were born five children. The oldest and the youngest, one of whom was named Caroline, are both deceased. The only daughter living is Josephine J. Davis, an artist by profession.
Frank Iago Davis, the older of the two sons of Nathan Davis and wife, has for many years been a resident of Port Morris in Rockdale township. He was born near White River Junction in Vermont, January 27, 1847. His early schooling was received at Washington, New Jersey, and after reaching the age of sixteen, as already mentioned, became as- sociated with his father in the contracting business at the various places already mentioned. He continued with his father until the latter's retire- ment, in 1873, and during a portion of this time was a partner in the exten- sive operation. During the succeeding thirty-two years, Frank I. Davis was in the same service on the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad. For twenty years of that time he was conductor, his run for a number of years being between Port Morris and Hoboken, and later from Port Mor- ris to Sussex. Finally in 1909, after a career exceptional in length and in fidelity to his duties, he was retired on a pension. Mr. Davis is a member of the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen, and of the Order of Railway Conductors. He is also affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, and the Improved Order of Red Men. On May 19, 1870, Frank I. Davis married Malvina Heaton, daughter of Joseph and Sarah Heaton. Joseph Heaton was a carpenter by trade and lived at Stanhope in Sussex county. Frank I. Davis and wife have one daughter, Fannie Heaton Davis, who was born at Irvington, was educated in the public schools and the State Normal at Trenton, and is now vice-principal of the Port Morris public schools. Mrs. Davis and Miss Davis are Methodists. Now living
Rf. Chaplin
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retired at Port Morris, Mr. Davis owns a beautiful home in that city, having erected it in 1912. He also still owns the old house in which he and his family lived for thirty-eight years. His residence at Port Morris dates from March 8, 1861. He is a member of the Rockbury township board.
Fred Nathan Napoleon Davis, son of the late Nathan Davis, and pro- prietor of the Port Morris Hotel, was born in Granville, Washington county, New York, September 1, 1851. His early rearing was at Washing- ton, New Jersey, where he attended school until about 1865 or 1866. Since April of one of those years his residence has been continuous at Port Morris. In 1873 he erected a home in this town, and has at various times added to the building until it now contains twenty-eight rooms, and for a number of years past has conducted the Port Morris Hotel, which he also owns. Up to 1902 Mr. Davis was active in the employ of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad as a machinist. He entered the service of that road in 1871, and continued for a period of thirty years. For nineteen years of this time he was foreman in the round house at Port Morris under Waters B. Day. Mr. Davis is affiliated with Muscogna Lodge, No. 151, F. and A. M., of Stanhope, and is a charter member of the Improved Order of Red Men. In politics he is independent.
On October 29, 1871, Mr. Davis married Lottie Brown, daughter of Rankin and Sarah (Young) Brown. Her father was for many years, up to 1856, connected with the old Morris canal. Rankin Brown died twenty-nine years ago in his seventy-eighth year, while his wife died about 1890, at the age of sixty-four. Mr. Brown was reared in Morris county. Of the six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Davis, only two are now living, the children being noted as follows: Charles, born May 16, 1873, married Carrie Bowlby, died March 15, 1910, and left two children, Freda, aged thirteen and Carl, aged twelve; Ed, born July, 1875, died July 30, 1875, George Nathan, born May 7, 1880, died February 4, 1882; Guy Rankin, born in July, 1884, married Jennie Von Tassel, who had previously been a teacher, and they are the parents of one son, Fred Davis; Roy Hibbard, born July 28, 1890, died April 28, 1899; Eva Josephine, born August 13, 1892, lives at home with her parents in Port Morris.
RICHARD JOHN CHAPLIN
The life of Richard John Chaplin reads not unlike the familiar romance of our childhood, of the youth who goes to sea to seek his fortune, and really finds it at the end of the story. The only difference being that the finding of Mr. Chaplin's fortune is not at the end, but pretty well toward the beginning of his story. He is of the sturdy English stock which was so large a factor in the formation of our first national character, a character which has acted in the past, and now in the present is still acting as a leaven to the huge mass of immigrants of varied and multiform races and peoples that find a haven on these shores.
Mr. Chaplin was born December 25, 1851, in county of Norfolk, village of Geldeston, England, son of Charles Nelson and Elizabeth ( Balls) Chaplin, natives of that place. His father was a respected man in the home community, a carpenter and builder by trade, and the clerk of the parish in which he dwelt for forty-five years. To him and Mrs. Chaplin were born seven children as follows: Charles, a resident of London until his death some years ago; Richard John, of whom further ; William Henry,
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his twin brother; Elizabeth, deceased; Sarah, deceased; Mary, deceased ; Rosa, deceased.
In common with the other lads of the neighborhood, Richard J. Chaplin attended the local schools for his education, but leaving them, and his home also, when sixteen years old, he went to London, where his elder brother then resided. It was here that his love of the sea induced him to embark as cabin boy on the Cornelius Grinnell, a sailing vessel bound for the United States by way of the West Indies. After touching at the islands, the youthful sailor came to the United States, his port of destination being New York. Upon his arrival here, evidently feeling that he had tasted enough salt water, he went, in company with Charles Smith, a sailor whose friendship he had made, into the rural districts of New Jersey, and settled at White House, Hunterdon county, in that State. The first work he found in the new land was as hostler for Albert Hoagland, a resident in that region, but becoming dissatisfied with this place, he found employment as a section hand on the railroad under the direction of John P. Hagan. He was later engaged as a farmhand by the Rev. Mr. Pickel. From this period his for- tunes were continually rising. He procured the position of foreman with Rrady Brothers, and shortly afterwards superintended the construction of the Central Railroad of New Jersey's line to Lake Hopatcong. His skill in this work caused more employment of the same kind to be given him, and he was soon engaged in superintending the construction of telephone lines through the region for the New Jersey Telephone Company. He was thus very active in the work of opening up the country about Lake Hopatcong, which was soon to experience such a large development, and where Mr. Chaplin was to make his home. Perceiving the opportunities which awaited the pioneers in business, in the location in which he had been working, and feeling confident in his own skill and ability, he decided to venture into business for himself as a contractor for construction work of all kinds. The event proved the wisdom of his decision. He was quickly given the position of superintendent of construction of the Forcite Powder Company's plant in the neighborhood, and afterwards contracted on his own account for the completion of the work.
It was with the development of Mount Arlington, however, that Mr. Chaplin's fortunes were most definitely bound up. This thriving borough enjoyed one of those rapid growths so often dependent on fortuitous cir- cumstances, but in the present case based on the substantial popularity of Lake Hopatcong as a pleasure resort, a popularity which can hardly wane as long as charm of scenery and accessibility are valued by the busy American seeking relaxation on his infrequent holidays. When the "boom" came to Mount Arlington, Mr. Chaplin contracted with the community for the construction of the new roads which its growth rendered necessary. About the same time he opened a livery stable on a small scale, with no more than two horses. The seeds which Mr. Chaplin plants, however small, seem to bear worthy fruit, and this livery establishment grew until it em- ployed sixty horses. Besides these ventures, Mr. Chaplin has been greatly interested in Mount Arlington real estate and is now a large owner of land in the vicinity, and is also interested in hotel properties, which have been so eminently profitable there. He is the senior partner of the firm of R. J. Chaplin & Sons, which conducts a flourishing garage in the town, and vice-president of the Bertram Island Corporation and the Bertram Island Transportation Company.
But Mr. Chaplin's activities have not been confined to the conduct of his personal business, however binding this may have been, but have been
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directed into public affairs in which he takes a lively and effective interest. He is a member of the Republican party and has always been prominent in the politics of Morris county, serving at present as the chairman of the Republican local committee. He has been president of the board of educa- tion for twelve years and chairman of the local board of health for ten years. He is now serving his fourth term as mayor of Mount Arlington, Morris county, New Jersey, and was elected to the New Jersey State as- sembly for the years 1906 and 1907. Besides his political interests, Mr. Chaplin is prominent in the fraternal circles of his community. He is a charter member of Dover Lodge, No. 782, B. P. O. E.
Mr. Chaplin married (first) Annie F. Johnson in 1872; to them were born seven children as follows: I. Charles N., born April 10, 1875, edu- cated in local public schools; a member of the firm of R. J. Chaplin & Sons; married Mary Werner, daughter of John Werner, of Mount Arling- ton, by whom he has had two children, Richard J. and Charles N. 2. William H., born 1878; educated in local public schools ; engaged in livery and garage business; Republican in politics; member of the Junior Order of American Mechanics; married Elizabeth Reed, of New York City, by whom he has had no children. 3. Edward, educated in local public schools ; now in the livery business in Mount Arlington. 4. Albert, educated in local public schools; now in livery business in Mount Arlington. 5. Elmer G., educated in local public schools; in the garage and livery business; a Republican in politics ; married to Mina Dougherty, by whom he has had one child, Mildred. 6. Robert E., educated in local public schools; now in Newark with the Service Automobile Company ; married Mabel Downey, of Mount Arlington, by whom he has had two children: Robert and Vir- ginia. 7. Elizabeth, died at the age of two years. Mr. Chaplin married (second) Emilie Werner, in the spring of 1909. The second Mrs. Chaplin is a daughter of John Werner, of Mount Arlington.
CHARLES N. CHAPLIN
One of the rising business men of the younger generation in the flourish- ing community of Mount Arlington, Morris county, New Jersey, is Charles N. Chaplin, a member of the firm of R. J. Chaplin & Sons, which does a large garage and livery business throughout the neighborhood. He is of English descent but himself a native of New Jersey, where he was born and has passed his whole life up to the present time, and where his associa- tions and interests all lie. He was born April 10, 1875, the oldest of the seven children born to Richard John and Annie F. (Johnson ) Chaplin.
Charles N. Chaplin was educated in the public schools of his native State, and having completed his course of study there, entered his father's livery house, which upon the entrance of his brothers assumed the name of R. J. Chaplin & Sons, under which it does a thriving business. Besides his activity in the business of the firm, Mr. Chaplin is prominent in fra- ternal circles and is a member of the Musconetcong Lodge, No. 151, F. and A. M., at Stanhope, and of Dover Lodge, No. 782, B. P. O. E. In politics he is a Republican and a member of the board of education.
Mr. Chaplin was married to Mary Werner, daughter of John Werner, of Mount Arlington, and they have two children, Richard John and Charles N. Jr.
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BENJAMIN INGRAM
The proprietor of the Lagunda House at Port Morris in Roxbury town- ship, has spent most of his life in Morris county, and for a long period of years was connected with the active railroad service, finally retiring about ten years ago, and turning his attention to the management of a first-class hotel, which has prospered, and in time has furnished excellent service to the traveling public.
Benjamin Ingram was born in Sussex county, New Jersey, on Lake Hopatcong, March 6, 1856. His parents were John and Mary (Arno) Ingram. John Ingram was a son of Thomas Ingram, and Mary Arno was a daughter of Knapp Arno, who lived at Brooklyn on Lake Hopatcong, on a farm adjoining that of the Ingrams. John Ingram, the father, who was born in Hopatcong, Sussex county, followed farming as his regular vocation, and at one time owned a hundred acres of land on the lake, even- tually selling or giving away about fifty acres of that tract. His home was on that beautiful farm since he was eight years of age, and as he was eighty- four years of age at the time of his death, he had spent about seventy-six years on the shore of Lake Hopatcong. His death occurred June 9, 1909, while his wife passed away in 1908, at the age of seventy-three. They were the parents of eight children, mentioned as follows: Mahala, widow of John D. Barnes; Christina, now deceased, who was the wife of John Brit- tain, also deceased; Benjamin ; Alice Ingram, widow of Albert Chamberlain ; William Ingram, who resides on the old farm, unmarried; Irene, unmarried and lives at home; Theodore Ingram, deceased; Jennie, wife of August Ranberg.
Benjamin Ingram grew up on the old homestead at Lake Hopatcong, and in the meantime attended schools at Brooklyn in that vicinity. He re- mained at home and engaged in farming until he was twenty-one, and then entered the service of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railway, with which corporation he continued a quarter of a century. He was a fireman for a number of years and was then promoted to the post of engineer, and for fifteen years piloted an engine back and forth over his division. Since 1904 he has been engaged in the hotel business at Port Morris, and conducts a very popular establishment. In 1904 Mr. Ingram married Miss Huss- man, of Port Morris, daughter of Peter C. Hussman. Mr. Ingram has been a lifelong Republican, and is a man of influence in his community. His wife owns considerable valuable real estate.
CYRUS H. RIGHTER
That farming in Morris county may be made a pleasant and profitable industry has been proved in a most substantial manner by Cyrus H. Righter, whose farm and dairy are situated in Roxbury township, one mile south ot Succasunna, where on a highly improved farm of 135 acres, Mr. Righter conducts a model establishment, and one that has paid good profits for many years under his management.
Mr. Righter, who belongs to one of the old families of the county, de- voted the younger years of his life to commerce, but about thirty years ago found his true vocation. To furnish food to the public, and thereby prosper in the same manner as a merchant or manufacturer is probably the most satisfactory occupation to which men may apply their energies, and Mr. Righter deserves as much credit as any citizen in Morris county for what he has accomplished in this direction.
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Cyrus H. Righter was born March 3, 1850, a son of Cyrus H. and Elizabeth (Johnson) Righter. His parents long resided at Parsippany in Morris county, and in Hanover township, where the father was the pro- prietor of the Righter Hotel for more than forty years. That hotel was built by Grandfather Righter, who conducted it for some time and died in the hotel. Cyrus H. Righter Sr. died at Parsippany in 1875, at the age of sixty-five years. Elizabeth Johnson, his wife, was the daughter of Thomas Johnson. Her death occurred in 1880 at the age of seventy. In the family of the parents were four sons and one daughter, mentioned briefly as follows: I. Orlando F., died at Morristown as a result of an operation for the amputation of a leg. 2. Johnson Isaac, who went out to California, at the age of nineteen, became a wealthy landholder and ranchman, owning a tract of two thousand acres in the Livermore Valley of Alameda county ; he was a prominent stock raiser, and in 1908 returned to New Jersey to visit his brother Cyrus and other relatives; his death occurred as the result of an effort to lead a pair of spirited horses. 3. Augusta, became the wife of S. S. Lyon, a prominent merchant of Boonton, who was prominent in politics as well as in business, was twice appointed consul general abroad, representing our government in foreign countries for a number of years, and dying while still in the service; he was an able speaker, and a man of ex- ceptional worth and ability ; his wife is also now deceased. 4. Cyrus H., mentioned below. 5. William, remained on the old homestead, and the exact manner of his death is unknown, since his body was found in a wagon.
Cyrus H. Righter, the fourth child in the family of his parents, and the only one now living, was brought up in his native locality, and for three years attended the boarding school at Mt. Retirement. For two years he was a bookkeeper at Lathrop's Iron Works at Boonton, and for four years was in the store of F. F. Ryan at Boonton. About that time his father was taken ill, and he returned home to manage the hotel for three years. His next move was into Rockaway Valley, where he conducted a farm and mill for four years. After that he purchased the farm on which he still resides near Succasunna. This purchase was made in 1881, and from the George T. Cobbs estate of Morristown. Originally the farm comprised seventy-six acres, and Mr. Righter has since increased his holdings there until he now has 135 acres of highly improved and valuable farm lands. During the first year of his residence he conducted a truck farm, and now for thirty-two years he has conducted a high-class dairy and has sold his
products from local delivery wagons. His herd runs from forty to sixty head of cows, all of the better grade. It is in every respect a modern and sanitary dairy. The barns are as clean and wholesome as the average home, care and cleanliness being mottoes on the Righter place. There is a com- plete drainage system, and cement floors aid in the almost perfect sanitary condition. Besides his dairy barn, other important features of the Righter farm are the meadows for the production of hay and the potato fields, these being practically the only farm crops with the exception of a small area devoted to truck patches. Probably few farmers in Morris county are so successful as hay producers, since Mr. Righter cuts as high as three and a half tons of hay to the acre, and each year puts up about 125 tons. He also sells as much as 1800 bushels of potatoes. The reason of his success is that he is a business man on a farm, and everything is done systematically and efficiently. In the basement of his home he has an engine for the pumping of water to every room, and his dwelling is comparable in comfort to almost any city home.
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