USA > New Jersey > Morris County > A history of Morris County, New Jersey : embracing upwards of two centuries, 1710-1913, Volume II > Part 41
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On November 20, 1873, Mr. Righter married Virginia Dixon, daughter
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of Cyrus and Elizabeth Dixon, of Rockaway Valley. She is one of two children born to her parents, and her brother, Cyrus Byron Dixon, lives on the old homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Righter are the parents of three children, namely: Nellie Elizabeth, wife of Thomas Fitzherbert, who is a deputy United States collector of revenues, located at Douglas, Arizona, on the borderland between the United States and Mexico; Mr. and Mrs. Fitzherbert are the parents of two daughters; Nellie Virginia, named for both her mother and her grandmother, and aged fourteen; Hazel Fitzher- bert, aged eleven. Cyrus Dixon Righter and Harry H. Righter, the two sons of Mr. and Mrs. Righter, are at home and assisting their parents in conducting the farm and dairy. They are substantial young men of the township and county and both are unmarried. To them is due much credit for the able manner in which the Righter farm is conducted.
JAMES HAGAN
James Hagan, a prominent citizen of Dover, Morris county, New Jersey, is a native of that State as were his parents before him. He was born in the city of Paterson, Passaic county, 1849, son of Harry and Mary (Griffin) Hagan, natives of Lodi, Bergen county, New Jersey, who removed to Paterson in 1863, where they died at the advanced ages of eighty and seventy-five years respectively. Mr. Hagan Sr. was employed for some time as a chemist at the Lodi Chemical Works and later in the same capacity at the Waverly Print Works in Paterson. To him were born four children, three sons and a daughter as follows: I. Anna, married John Sulivan, a soldier in the Civil War, and killed in that struggle, herself deceased, 1864. 2. James, our subject. 3. Patrick, went west in 1866 and prospered in Dayton, Nevada, until his death some eighteen or nineteen years ago. 4. Harry, an iron moulder at Newark, New Jersey, where he died November 3, 1910, leaving a son, Andrew, now residing in New York City.
James Hagan attended the old third ward school of Paterson, where he obtained his education, remaining until the year 1862. At this time there was great difficulty experienced by the chemical and print works in the neighbor- hood in securing men to carry on the industry. Owing to this lack of men to perform the tasks of peace, he was obliged to leave his studies and lend a hand with the active business of life. After the war, he apprenticed him- self to Israel Munson, a butcher, to learn that trade. Mr. Munson was one of the old landmarks of Paterson, and with him young Mr. Hagan served three years. After learning the butcher's trade, he removed to Dover, Morris county, New Jersey, in company with James R. Beemer, but on this occasion did not remain there, returning to Paterson after a year's absence. Here, however, he did not remain either, but went once again to Dover, which has been his home and place of business ever since. In 1881 Mr. Hagan started as butcher with Charles DeHart and continued this until 1891, in which year he was appointed chief of police for Dover, an office which he held for ten years. In 1901 he returned to the same business and opened a shop, but in 1908 he was elected justice of the peace and police judge, an office which he still holds, having been re-elected in 1913 for another term of five years. Mr. Hagan has been a member of the Dover fire department, Engine Company No. I, and also a member of the Exempt Firemen's Association of the town. He is a charter member of Piute Tribe, Improved Order of Red Men, organized in December, 1893. Mr. Hagan is a staunch Republican in politics and it is upon that party's
James Hugo
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ticket that he has won his election to the offices he has filled. He served as coroner of Morris county from 1901 to 1904.
Mr. Hagan was married in 1874 to Martha A. Davis, of Ledgewood, daughter of Peter and Mary A. Davis of that place. Mr. Davis was a miner by occupation. Both he and Mrs. Davis are dead. To Mr. and Mrs. Hagan were born two children: I. James Alvin, now in the automobile business at 365 Halsey street, Newark, New Jersey; he married Jennie , from Virginia, and by her has had one child, a daughter, Jennie, named for her mother. 2. Hattie, now Mrs. Elmer Bailey, of Rockaway. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey are the parents of six children. Mrs. Hagan died May 18, 1879, and two years later, about the time of the formation of his association with Charles DeHart, Mr. Hagan was again married, this time to Hattie L. Bailey, daughter of Daniel Bailey, the manager of Augustus McCarthy's large farm. The children of this second union were: I. Harry, manager of L. Lehman & Company's meat department, married Edith Vanderhoff, by whom he has had two children: Florence and Mabel. 2. Charles R., of the day police force of Dover, married Flossie Tice by whom he has had four children : Robert, Edna, Gladys and Annie. 3. John M., a butcher at Lehman's store, married Elizabeth Jenkins by whom he has had one daughter, Helen. 4. Edward B., in charge of Lehman's butcher business in Rockaway, married Elma Dickerson by whom he has had one son, Edward. 5. Fred J., at present a student in the Dover Business College, a musician and a stenographer. 6. Ella A., wife of Fred Anderson, of Dover.
James Hagan has been a resident of Dover for forty-two years and has seen many changes and a great development of the town in that period. His present residence at 82 McFarlan street was erected in 1901. He is a familiar and honored figure in the community, and the various public offices he has held have been discharged with honor and adequacy and to the evident popular satisfaction.
GEORGE SHAW
For a long period of years George Shaw has had a useful role in the life and business activities of Morris county. His term of efficient service in the office of sheriff a few years ago will be recalled to his credit as a public force, and he has also been a factor in important business affairs. He was also for some years superintendent of the Ferromonte railway, and inspector of mines for the Dickerson Company.
Irondale in Morris county was the birthplace of George Shaw, who was born there October 30, 1848. His parents were Forbes and Ann (McDonald) Shaw. His father was a native of Ireland, and a young man when he came to America, following the business of contract miner, under the firm name of Byram & Shaw. The senior member of this firm was a son of John Bryam, owner of extensive mines. Forbes Shaw died June 20, 1863, in his forty-fourth year. His wife, also a native of Ireland, came to America as the wife of Mr. Shaw. Her marriage to Forbes Shaw was productive of a family of five children, all natives of Morris county. These children are mentioned as follows: James, died in 1876; Margaret, wife of Charles H. Munson, of Dover; Sarah J., living near Succasunna, and perhaps the oldest teacher in the State of New Jersey, having followed that vocation for more than forty years, and having received her early training in the public and private schools ; George; Anna Mc., unmarried.
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George Shaw attended both public and private schools when a boy, and was a student in the school conducted by Rev. Mr. Crossett, and a private school in Dover, also Mt. Retirement Seminary at Deckertown. Almost immediately after leaving school he entered the employ of the Ferromonte railroad, and for nearly thirty years was connected with the corporation, eventually being promoted to the office of superintendent. In 1905 Mr. Shaw was elected sheriff of Morris county for a term of three years, during which time he gave a splendid administration of this import- ant county office. All his adult life he has voted and supported the Repub- lican party, but the only time he has entered practical politics was when he fought successfully the election for sheriff. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of Morristown; also the Tapkaow Club.
In 1883 Mr. Shaw married Catherine Vannier, daughter of Charles Vannier, who married a Miss Knight, a native of England. Of the three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Shaw only one is now living, a son employed by an insurance company of Morristown. Mr. Shaw has membership in the Hercules Gun Club of Succasunna, and prior to his election as sheriff was engaged in the lumber and contracting business.
WILLIAM WACK
There is no more honorable nor highly esteemed representative of the business and agricultural interests of Morris county, New Jersey, than William Wack, of Netcong, whose entire life has been spent in that section of the state. For many years he has been valued for his sterling qualities, his fearless loyalty to his convictions, and his clear-headedness, discretion and tact in commercial circles. His family has been resident in Morris county for a number of generations, and has been distinguished in various walks of life.
Jacob Wack, paternal grandfather of William Wack, married (first) -, and had children : Casper ; Jacob, of further mention; William ; a daughter, married a Mr. Ulrich ; Kate, who married William Grandon ; Barbara, married John Lindabury. Jacob Wack married (second) Hopler, and had children: George, Sarah, John.
Jacob (2) Wack, son of Jacob (1) Wack, was of Mount Olive town- ship, formerly Roxbury township, Morris county, New Jersey. For about fourteen years he rented land, then removed to Flanders, Mount Olive township, where he purchased a farm and there raised his family. He mar- ried Clarissa, daughter of Jacob and Esther (Yauger) Wolfe, and a niece of Samuel Yauger, who lived for a time in Ohio, but returned to Mount Olive township, where his death occurred. Jacob and Clarissa (Wolfe) Wack had children: Eliza, who never married; William, of further mention ; Minerva, married William McPeak, and lives at Hack- ettstown, New Jersey; Nancy A., married Elias Angleman, and lives in Viola, Delaware; Lydia Ann, married (first) William Rarick, (second) Robert Wallace, both deceased; George, an extensive real estate owner in Flanders, Mount Olive township, married Lettie, daughter of Charles and Nancy Skellinger, and has daughters, Emma and Annie; Jacob, who died at Ledgewood, married (first) Catherine Case, (second) Elizabeth Wiley, (third) Mittie Wilkerson; Gideon, residing at Ironia, Morris county, married and has four children.
William Wack, son of Jacob (2) and Clarissa (Wolfe) Wack, was born in Mount Olive township, Morris county, New Jersey, May 3, 1839.
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He acquired his education in the public schools of Mount Olive town- ship, and learned all the details concerning the management and practical cultivation of a farm under the supervision of his father. Later he fol- lowed agricultural work independently, and was very successful as a farmer, residing at Draketown for thirty-six years. He removed to Net- cong, Morris county, New Jersey, in April, 1904, and has made that his place of residence since that time. In addition to his farming interests he was extensively engaged in the lumber and timber field, and was equally successful in this line of endeavor. He sold his farm of one hundred and ten acres, but still owns one hundred and thirty acres of fine timber land in Mount Olive township. He is also the owner of ten houses in Netcong, which he has rented very advantageously, this being another of his pros- perous business ventures. In spite of his manifold business activites, Mr. Wack finds time to devote to the public interests of the community, and as a staunch supporter of the Democratic party, he has been of great benefit to the township. He has now for some years filled the office of street commissioner, and the present fine condition of the streets in his charge testifies in the best possible manner to his executive ability in this direc- tion. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and a liberal supporter of that institution.
Mr. Wack married (first) November 10, 1869, Maria, daughter of Isaac Swackhammer, of Chester township, Morris county, New Jersey. He married (second) April 11, 1883, Amanda Wright, who died July 3, 1906. By the first marriage there were children: Alice, married Joseph Vinnietta, of Flanders, New Jersey; Eliza, married Hyram Stone, of Roseville, New Jersey; Hattie, married Harris Van Horn, of South Orange, New Jersey ; Minerva, never married. Children of second mar- riage: William, died at the age of twenty-one years; Edna, married Reeder Herrick, of Jersey City.
GEORGE WACK
George Wack, a prosperous farmer and prominent citizen of Flanders, Morris county, New Jersey, was born August 14, 1843, in Roxbury town- ship, son of Jacob and Clarissa (Wolfe) Wack.
Jacob Wack, the father, was a native of Morris county and was born on the place where Joseph Sanders now resides, and where he reared his numerous family. To him and his wife were horn eight children, four sons and four daughters as follows: William, a resident of Netcong, New Jersey ; Jacob, who lost his life in a fall from an apple tree; Gideon, a farmer of Randolph township, New Jersey, and the father of four children, two married and two single; George, the subject of this sketch; Eliza; Minerva, Mrs. William McPeck, of Mount Olive township, New Jersey ; Nancy, married Elias Angleman, now a resident of the State of Delaware; Lydia, married (first) William Rarick, (second) Robert Wallace, both deceased.
George Wack was brought up on his father's farm, and passed the major portion of his youth there, and worked on a farm until the year 1873. He is now the owner of valuable real estate in the region, and holds in his possession two houses and lots in Flanders and a splendid farm a mile and a half west of Flanders in Mount Olive township, and known as the Salmon farm. It contains 110 acres of land, of which eighty-five are under cultivation. There are on the farm at present a comfortable house and fine barn, a quantity of good timber and 100 fine grafted fruit trees. The
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soil is well adapted to the growth of fruit, especially peaches, there are eight flowing springs of pure water and the property is crossed by a vein of iron ore. It stands about a half a mile west of the Central Railroad of New Jersey's station at Flanders, and was at one time leased to Thomas A. Edison. Mr. Wack has owned this property for twenty-eight years and has prospered there. Mr. Wack has made one visit to California, taking Mrs. Wack with him. He is a Democrat in politics.
Mr. Wack married, November 23, 1873, Lettie Skellinger, one of the ten children of Charles and Nancy Skellinger. To Mr. and Mrs. Wack have been born two daughters: Emma, wife of William Betson, a black- smith of Flanders, and the mother of one daughter, Madeline Betson; Annie, Mrs. Jacob Parliment, of Flanders. Mr. Parliment is a moulder at Bartley, New Jersey, and learned his trade before he was sixteen years old. To them have been born two sons, Clifford and George. Mr. Wack enjoys the distinction of being the oldest resident in Flanders with the single exception of Mr. Wilson Howell. Mr. and Mrs. Wack and Mr. and Mrs. Parliment are staunch members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
ROBERT CASKEY BARTLEY
The Bartley family is one of the oldest in New Jersey. Indeed, with the exception of an insignificent break, which the great mass of evidence shows to be purely incidental, they may trace their descent directly to John Barkley, one of the "Proprietors" of East Jersey. Robert and David Bark- ley were two of the twenty-four proprietors to whom the Duke of York originally gave the grant of sale of East Jersey. On March 14, 1683, Robert Barkley was appointed governor of the colony of East Jersey, but did not live to enjoy his honors long. His death occurred October 3, 1690, and that of David Barkley even earlier, probably about August 15, 1675, during the passage from Aberdeen to his new possessions in America, in charge of a cargo of supplies for the proprietors. His brother John, the ancestor of the present Bartleys, inherited his rights in East Jersey and removed to the colony in 1683, with a company of six persons, living for many years, and finally dying there. In 1692 he was appointed receiver general and surveyor general of the colony of East Jersey, and his name appears in 1699 as a clerk in Perth Amboy, and in 1702 in a signature as one of the proprietors. From him, it appears, the Bartleys of Bedminster, Somerset county, New Jersey, are descended, as was also Colonel Hugh Bartley, the grandfather of Robert C. Bartley, and the first of the name to settle in Mount Olive township, Morris county.
Colonel Hugh Bartley served in the War of 1812, with the rank of captain, and owned a farm and one of the first saw mills in the Mount Olive region. He was actively engaged in the saw mill business. At the time of his death he left a family of six children, of whom the eldest was Jonathan Potter Bartley, father of Robert C. Bartley,
Jonathan Potter Bartley was born on one of the farms of the Bartley estate, the one adjoining that owned at present by Robert C. Bartley. He was a prominent man in the community, playing an active part in its affairs and doing considerable building there. Among other things he constructed the Bartley Mill for grain at Bartley in 1840, which since his time has been rebuilt several times, and which of recent years has been owned and operated by James M. Conover. Besides the mill, Mr. Bartley also built the first foundry and blacksmith shop in the neighborhood, and these were conducted by William Bartley, an uncle of Robert C. Bartley. Mr. Bartley
BleBartley
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Sr. married Dorothy Caskey, daughter of Captain Robert and Betsey (Salmon) Caskey, of Morris county, New Jersey, of which region both the Caskey and Salmon families were among the early settlers. Captain Robert Caskey was a prominent man in his day, owning and operating a highly successful farm in the neighborhood of Flanders, Morris county, where he lived and died. To Jonathan Potter and Dorothy (Caskey) Bartley were born five children as follows: Robert Caskey, of whom further ; Caroline, who became the wife of George L. Salmon, a prominent citizen of Mount Olive township, both deceased; Hannah, now Mrs. Peter Salmon, of Boonton, New Jersey; Alma, who became the wife of Henry Salmon and is now deceased; Dorothy, deceased, wife of Stratton Salmon.
Robert Caskey Bartley was born August 24, 1835, at Bartley, Morris county, New Jersey. He obtained his education in the local schools. He was brought up to work in a forge, foundry and blacksmith shop. At the death of his father he came into possession of the flour and feed mill erected by the elder man at Bartley and these he owned and operated most successfully for seventeen years, and added to them a number of times during that period. He was also engaged in the manufacture of steam and hot-water heaters, and for a number of years owned and operated the Bartley store. He is the owner of a valuable farm in the neighborhood. Mr. Bartley has been very active in the affairs of his community, and has filled nearly all the offices in the gift of the township. For twenty-seven years he has been overseer of the roads and has served for some years as freeholder of Mount Olive township. He is a member of the Democratic party.
Mr. Bartley married (first) in 1858, Elsie Swackhammer, by whom he had two children, both of whom died young. She was a daughter of David Swackhammer, a resident of Morris county. Mr. Bartley married (second) Hannie Stephens, daughter of William and Hannah (Grandon) Stephens, of Mount Olive township. Mr. Stephens was the owner of several mills and a forge in the Mount Olive region and the father of two sons, Amos and Charles Stephens, who were members of the Twenty-seventh New Jersey Regiment of Volunteers and lost their lives during the Civil War, drowned in the Cumberland river disaster. To Mr. and Mrs. Bartley were born two children as follows: Anna, deceased; Abbie F., who was educated in the local public schools and in a private school at Dover, New Jersey ; she was later married to William K. Hopler, who engaged in the manufacture of steam heaters with his father-in-law and was very success- ful therein ; he sustained a severe injury in his shops, which, after confining him for a number of months to his house, eventually caused his death; Mr. and Mrs. Hopler were the parents of three children, Bernice D., De- Witt B., Elliott S. Hopler ; Mrs. Hopler makes her home with her parents. Mr. Bartley's personal character and attainments, as well as his wealth and family, give him a prominent place among his fellow citizens, and his courtesy and hospitality are proverbial in the neighborhood. He and his family are members of the Presbyterian church.
AUGUSTUS M. JONES
One of the leading and highly respected citizens of Netcong, Morris county, New Jersey, is Augustus M. Jones, whose life has been charac- terized by honor in business transactions, loyalty in the discharge of the responsible duties which have fallen to his lot, and cordiality and kindness in social circles.
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George Godfrey Jones, his father, was a resident of Philadelphia, and from there removed to Luzerne county, Pennsylvania. He was a wood turner by trade, and his son, Augustus M., carted the results of his work to Philadelphia at a time when the railroad was not running within fifty miles of that section of the state. The elder Jones died at Chatham. He married Elizabeth Lafferty, who died in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania. They had children: I. Augustus M., of whom further. 2. Charles S., who was a soldier in the Union army during the Civil War, and was killed at Petersburg, Virginia. 3. Alfred, was a soldier in the regular army, serving two enlistments of five years each; he was a participant in the Indian campaigns in Washington and Oregon, and while there took up two quarter sections of land at Hood's Canal, at the port of Puget Sound, and spent the remainder of his life there. 4. Martha, married William Havenstrite ; died at Moscow, Pennsylvania. 5. Mary Ann, married David McWade, both now deceased; resided at Daleville, Pennsylvania.
Augustus M. Jones was born November 25, 1836. At a very early age he became an active assistant to his father. He went to the woods, felled trees, cut logs and cross-sawed them, and prepared them for use in the cabinet making business, following these occupations until the opening of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad. He removed to Chatham, Morris county, New Jersey, in 1867, holding the position of train and engine dispatcher until the Boonton branch was completed, when he went to Port Morris, and was the first train dispatcher there. At the end of one year he was advanced to the office of yard master, and filled this position very efficiently until his resignation in 1895. He had a rec- ord of thirty-five years of uninterrupted service. . At one time Mr. Jones was station agent at Gouldsboro, a station built for the firm of Pratt & Gould, of which Jay Gould was a member, and while in charge there was frequently called upon to act upon his own judgment in matters of the utmost importance and involving huge sums of money. Before entering into his connection with the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Mr. Jones had a varied business career. He was in the livery business, and later engaged in business as a wagon and carriage builder and harness maker. His fraternal affiliations are as follows: Madison Lodge, No. 93, F. and A. M .; a charter member of Musconetcong Lodge, No. 151. In political matters he has always been a strong Republican, casting his first vote for Abraham Lincoln, for whom he had an intense admiration, being obliged to ride eighty-five miles to get to the polling place.
Mr. Jones married, in 1863, Hannah, daughter of Joseph Casterline, of Beaumont, Pennsylvania, and in the fall of 1871 they removed to Net- cong, New Jersey. Children : I. Edward, now of Budds Lake, Morris county, New Jersey ; has a contract to carry the mail between Stanhope and Mount Olive, he married Edith Dangler and has children: Edmund T., Percy R., Mildred F. 2. Jennie M., married Lever McDougal, now deceased, and has three children: Ellory, Mattie, Leslie. 3. Zada B., married William King, of Netcong, and has one son, Maximilian. 4. Mary E., married S. S. Wills, and has one child, Marguerite. 5. Charles M., of Netcong, married Nellie, daughter of Henry Astrick, and has one son, Paul. 6. Joseph G., resides with his parents, 7. Francis W., mar- ried Hazel Trezise, a daughter of Richard Trezise, and has children: Rachel and Ruth. 8. Hazel E., married Leslie W. Browe, of Newark, New Jersey, and has one daughter, Thelma.
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LOUIS E. OSMUN
Depending entirely upon his own abilities and efforts, Louis E. Osmun, plumbing and steam heating contractor of Netcong, Morris county, New Jersey, has achieved a prominence in the business world that numbers him among the leading citizens of the county. The Osmun family has been resident in the State of New Jersey for a number of generations, and Elisha Osmun, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was one of three sons, and married Mary
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