USA > New Jersey > Morris County > A history of Morris County, New Jersey : embracing upwards of two centuries, 1710-1913, Volume II > Part 44
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Adolph Foerster, whose name heads this sketch, was born in Germany in 1868, and was educated in excellent schools in that country. He learned the hotel business thoroughly, then served one year in the army, after which, in 1894, he emigrated to the United States, appreciating the fact that there are better opportunities in this country for an enterprising and ener- getic young man. Upon his arrival in this country, he lived for a time in Hoboken, New Jersey, holding the position of manager of the German Club there for a period of six years. February 23, 1914, he removed to Denville, Morris county, New Jersey, where he bought the Wayside Inn, which he is conducting at the present time. It is a hotel of very good size for that section of the country, having twenty-two sleeping rooms, beautiful re- ception and dining rooms, and in fact every convenience which modern
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ingenuity can contrive. The cuisine is unexceptionable, and the service of superior character. He makes a speciality of catering to automobile patron- age, and as the hotel is located halfway between New York and Lake Hopatcong, and is the only hotel between Rockaway and Morris Plains, this patronage is a very large one. The pleasant and cordial manner in which Mr. Foerster greets his guests adds not a little to the attractiveness of the place. In political matters he is very independent, and has the courage of his convictions. Mr. Foerster married Gussie Klietsch, and they have one child, a daughter, Millie.
GEORGE B. ATWOOD
A resident of Pompton Plains, Morris county, New Jersey, George B. Atwood, the genial hotel proprietor, is recognized as one of the most able business men of the county. His sagacity and foresight enable him to conduct his enterprise successfully, and his indomitable energy and un- daunted perseverance have won him the prosperity that numbers him among the substantial citizens of the community. He has not alone advanced his individual interests, but has done much toward promoting the general wel- fare.
His father, George H. Atwood, was the manufacturer of the F. and C. Collar, and spent his entire life in Hackensack, his death occurring about 1902 at the age of sixty-four years. He was first master of Pioneer Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of Hackensack, also member of Palestine Commandery. He married Lucy S. Burt and had six children: Lucy H., George B., Harriet, William, Leland M., Hortense W.
George B. Atwood was born in Hackensack, New Jersey, in 1872, and there attended the public schools. After leaving them he became a student at St. John's Academy, and subsequently matriculated at Princeton Univer- sity, New Jersey. Upon the completion of this liberal education he engaged in business with his father in the collar manufacturing, remaining for three years and then became an importer of coffee, his office being at No. 82 Front street, New York City, under firm name of A. B. Davies & Company. He was identified with this for sixteen years, and in 1910 removed to Pomp- ton Plains, where he purchased a farm of fifty-four acres. He devotes considerable time to the raising of pigs, and raises large crops of alfalfa. As the proprietor of the Mandeville Inn Mr. Atwood has gained far more than a merely local reputation. The hotel contains thirty-eight rooms, all furnished regardless of expense, and with superlative good taste, has all the most modern improvements, and is fully up-to-date in every particular. Mr. Atwood makes a speciality of serving rare delicacies, and the cuisine is said to compare favorably with that of the finest hotels on Broadway, New York. He caters to a private trade exclusively, excluding commercial pa- tronage, and his hotel is the Mecca for numerous automobile parties. It is pronounced by competent authorities to be the only place of its kind in the State of New Jersey. In political adherence Mr. Atwood is a Republi- can, and he has served as a member of the common council of Hackensack. He is a member of Hackensack Lodge, No. 658, B. P. O. E. Mr. Atwood affiliates with the Episcopal church, and sang at Christ Church, Hacken- sack ; First Presbyterian Church, Newark; and at various other churches. He studied vocal music with Tamaro, Florence Mulford,-Hunt, and took lessons on the pipe organ with Dudley Buck and L. Carroll Beckel. He has given much attention to oratorio work. He is a member of Union League of Hackensack, also Union League of Newark.
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Mr. Atwood married Laura A. Schroder, born in Jersey City, New Jersey. They have no children.
WILLIAM ELMER DICKERSON
For many years William Elmer Dickerson has been prominently identi- fied with the business interests of Tabor, Morris county, New Jersey, as a merchant, and is one of the leading representatives of the town in many respects. The Dickerson family is one of the pioneer families of Morris county, the earliest members of the family having settled at Mine Hill.
(I) Stephen Dickerson, his grandfather, owned land at Mount Tabor, and sold this to the Methodist Episcopal Association for camp grounds. He married Nancy Smith and had children : Hattie, married David Lyon ; Mary, married Timothy Palmer ; Daniel, of further mention ; Charles S., married a daughter of Cummings Cooper ; Caroline, married Charles Young ; Henriette, married (first) Isaac Lyon, (second) Benjamin Reed, who was chaplain in the Union army during the Civil War; Stephen, who resides in Denville Green : Addie, married Charles Myers, a contractor and builder, member of the Republican party, for a number of years a collector for Rock- away township, and a member of the school board of Denville.
(II) Daniel Dickerson, son of Stephen and Nancy (Smith) Dickerson, was born in Mount Tabor, New Jersey, and is now seventy-six years of age. He was a farmer all his life, and has been located on one farm for a period of forty-eight years. He is a Republican in politics, and a member of the Methodist church. He married Charity, only daughter of Simeon and Susan Casterline, and half-sister of Augustus and Jennie. The Casterlines are of Revolutionary stock, and members of the family took part in the War of 1812. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Dickerson: Frank, born March 4, 1867, died at the age of twenty-eight years; Susan, married Hon. Joseph Righter, of Denville: Julia, died in infancy ; William Elmer, whose name heads this sketch; Cornelia Grace and Harriette May, un- married.
(III) William Elmer Dickerson was born one mile from Denville, Morris county, New Jersey, May 22, 1871. He attended the public schools near his home, but was obliged to leave these at the age of thirteen years. He has, however, keen powers of observation, and by wisely selected read- ing in later life has acquired a' broad and liberal education. Until he at- tained his majority he resided on the home farm, assisting his father in the management of affairs, then settled in Mount Tabor, where he engaged in the mercantile business, with which he has since been so successfully identified. During the summer months he employs from ten to twelve men constantly, and in May, 1914, will open another store. Until two years ago he gave his entire attention to the mercantile business, and is now also connected with the timber and saw mill industry. He is a strong supporter of the Republican party, and was elected a freeholder of Denville in Novem- ber, 1913. He is a member of the Methodist church and of the following organizations : Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of Morristown ; Royal Arcanum, of Rockaway; Patriotic Order Sons of America, of Den- ville ; Morristown Lodge, No. 188, F. and A. M. Mr. Dickerson married, November 4, 1897, Ida, daughter of William and Mary Jane (Sanders) Dunn, the former, born March 7, 1843, has been for thirty years superin- tendent of the Water Works of Morristown, the latter died in 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Dickerson have two children: Claude, fourteen years, and Ruth, ten years of age, in 1914.
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GEORGE D. VAN ORDEN
George D. Van Orden, station agent for the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Company, at Denville, Morris county, New Jersey, has been uninterruptedly in the service of this company since 1882, a record alike creditable to employer and employe. He is descended from one of the old Dutch Colonial families, whose thrifty habits had so much to do with the early prosperity of the country.
Thomas Van Orden, grandfather of George D. Van Orden, was a farmer. His son, Anthony, the father of George D., was born in Denville, April 21, 1839. In early life he was a farmer, then entered the employ of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Company, and remained with them almost forty years, when he retired with a pension. He was a mem- ber of the Seventh, and later of the Twenty-seventh Regiment, New Jersey Volunteer Infantry, and was in the Cumberland river disaster. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He married Sarah Frances, daughter of John H. Husk, who was the owner of a fine farm. Children : Samuel R., a clerk in the engineering department of the Dela- ware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Company, and resides in Denville ; George D., of whom further; Elizabeth Kitelee, married David Cook, of Denville ; Anthony H., a clerk in the engineering department of the Dela- ware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Company, at Hoboken, New Jersey ; Robert M., lost his life on the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad, October 31, 1904; Thomas A., a resident of Denville, a mechanic in the switch and frog works of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Company at Dover, New Jersey.
George D. Van Orden was born in Denville, Morris county, New Jersey, December 27, 1866. He was educated in a sound and practical manner in the public schools of Denville, and upon the completion of his education he commenced working for his uncle, Henry Husk, on the farm of the latter. At the age of sixteen years, in 1882, he entered the employ of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Company, a connection which has re- amined unbroken to the present time. So faithful had he been in the discharge of the duties that fell to his share that in the fall of 1887 he was made assistant agent at Denville, under John T. Hoffman, and in April, 1892, when Mr. Hoffman retired, Mr. Van Orden succeeded him in the position of agent, and has since been the incumbent of this office. He gives his staunch political support to the Democratic party, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he holds official position. He is a member of the Patriotic Order Sons of America, Wash- ington Camp, No. 19, of Denville; Cincinnati Lodge, No. 3, F. and A. M., of Morristown; Madison Chapter, No. 27, R. A. M .; Ode de St. Amand Commandery, No. 12, K. T .; and Salaam Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Newark, New Jersey.
MARCUS WHITFIELD ADAMS
Marcus Whitfield Adams, now deceased, retired from business in 1906, in the town of Chatham, Morris county, New Jersey, where he had been prominently and very successfully identified with insurance matters in the States of New York and New Jersey, and in the south, for many years. He was successful in launching new enterprises, and his pro- gressive methods were the means of coining money for the corporations with which he was connected.
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Edson flood.
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Mr. Adams was born in Newark, Essex county, New Jersey, February 13, 1839, died June 3, 1913, the son of John and Eliza (Townley) Adams, the former engaged in business as a mason. He was educated in Pennsyl- vania Academy, and upon the completion of his studies he entered the employ of his father, and then engaged in the fruit business, but this line of endeavor was not to his liking. He now determined to learn the jeweler's trade, and this was accomplished at first with Riker & Gobel, and later with Carter, Howe & Company. Having learned this business very thoroughly and practically, Mr. Adams established himself in it independently, and was thus engaged for a number of years. He then sold out and turned his at- tention to the insurance business, forming a connection with the Prudential Life Insurance Company of Newark. At the end of four years he had demonstrated his executive ability in so admirable a manner that he was sent to Louisville, Kentucky, to become the agent of this company at that point. During the few years he spent in Louisville in this capacity, he managed the responsible duties of his position in a masterly manner, and won the confidence of the highest class of people in that section of the country. Through his suggestion and enterprise a sufficient capital was raised to organize a new life insurance company, of which Mr. Adams was elected president. It was called the Sun Life Insurance Company, of Louisville, Kentucky, and Mr. Adams was at the head of this corporation for more than twelve years. The Metropolitan Life Insurance Company of New York then purchased the interests of this company as individual members, as the business done by the company in the dozen years of its existence was of considerable importance. Altogether Mr. Adams lived in Louisville, Kentucky, for a period covering a quarter of a century. He then returned east, where he made his home in Newark, New Jersey, until after the death of his first wife. Removing then to Chatham, New Jersey, he made his home in that town up to the time of his death, when he was still on the pay roll of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, doing special work for them when they had need of his services.
Mr. Adams married (first) 1859, Anna Amelia Lee, and of this mar- riage there are now living: John L., who is a physician; Eliza Townley, who had charge of her father's home. . Mr. Adams married (second) February 5, 1908, Helen, daughter of Rufus Palen and Agnes (Allen) Northrop. Mr. Adams was a member of St. John's Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of Newark, and before his retirement was affiliated with a large number of insurance societies. In the short time which elapsed since he first made his home in Chatham he won many friends in the town, and was held in the highest esteem by the entire community. In spite of his seventy odd years he could easily have passed for a man much his junior in point of age.
EDSON JULIUS ROOD
Edson Julius Rood, an honored citizen of the little city of Mendham, Morris county, New Jersey, typifies true Americanism. He is of straight English descent, the name having been spelled Rude in the early days. It has been laughingly claimed for him that he was a connection of Honest John Rude, the hero of "Lorna Doon," and without doubt the family came from that part of England in which the Doon family lived during their palmy days.
Jeremiah Rood, the great-grandfather of Mr. Rood, was in the Wolfe campaign of 1754. He was, also, an Indian fighter of more than local renown, and was instrumental in saving many an isolated white family
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from the torch and scalping knife. He died at the age of eighty-eight, leaving his descendants many thrilling stories of his experiences by field and flood, with Indian, Frenchman and wild animals. Briggs Rood, the grand- father of Mr. Rood, was born in the colony of Connecticut, and followed the peaceful vocation of farming, unless interrupted by Indian marauders. At the outbreak of the Revolutionary War he offered his services to the Continental army, shouldered his musket and served throughout the entire time. At the close of the war he returned to Connecticut and resumed his former occupation of farming. He reared a large family; many of his descendants are living in the New England States.
Dudley Belcher Rood, the father of Mr. Rood, was born in Shoreham, Vermont, 1797, to which State his father went after the War of the Revolution. He died in Fletcher, Franklin county, Vermont, 1889, aged ninety-two. Like his forefathers, he was a farmer by vocation, and reared his children on the farm. When the trouble arose between England and the United States in 1812 he joined the corps of sharpshooters known as the Minute-Men, and did effectual work. He was in the battle of Platts- burg, but escaped unharmed. At the cessation of hostilities he returned to his farm, and took up the even tenor of his life as though there had been no tragic break in it. He married Elizabeth Himes, daughter of Vernon Himes, of Rhode Island, a Revolutionary soldier and a blacksmith and farmer, who also claimed pure English descent. Elizabeth was born in Vermont in 1802, and proved an excellent wife for those days of unrest. They were the parents of eight children, of whom E. J. Rood and a younger brother, William Hammond Rood, of Fairfax, Vermont, are the sole stir- vivors. The six dead are: Electra, Jane, Elizabeth, Harriet, Martha, Dr. Vernon D. Rood, who died in California, was a soldier in Company H, Second Vermont Regiment, Civil War, was wounded before Richmond and taken prisoner, exchanged after four weeks.
Edson Julius Rood was born in Fletcher, Franklin county, Vermont, October 18, 1835. He was educated in the common schools of the time and section. Leaving school he taught for three years, making for himself a name as an excellent disciplinarian and a kind master. He moved to Somer- set county, New Jersey, in 1856, and taught in various places until 1862. The Civil War was in progress and the president called for recruits. He enlisted in Company K, Thirty-first New Jersey Regiment, and was at once elected first lieutenant, and went to the front as an officer. He took part in the battle of Chancellorsville, and in minor engagements. He was mustered out in 1863, and returned to New Jersey. He taught school in Hunterdon county, New Jersey, until 1866, at which time he opened a general merchandise store in that county. He gave this up in 1868, and came to Mendham, where he farmed for twenty years, teaching school during first three years. He has lived in Mendham since, and is now engaged in the fire insurance business. He is a member of the Masonic Order, of the Grand Army of the Republic, and is a Son of the American Revolu- tion. He is a strong Republican, and a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Rood is now serving his sixth term as commissioner of deeds; for twenty years served on the election board, and held the commission of notary public three terms.
He married (first) Katherine Apgar, in 1865: she died September 15, 1892. She was a lineal descendant of John Adam Epgar, also called Ebgert, Ebcher, Edgar and Abgar, who fled from the southern part of Switzerland, September 13, 1749, from the intolerable persecutions by the Roman Catholics of the Protestants. He settled in New Jersey and reared a large family, many of whom still bear his name. By Katherine Apgar
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Mr. Rood had three children: Annie, now the wife of Rev. Walter L. Hughes, of Amenia, New York; Peter A., of the township of Mendham; Vernon D. Rood, D. D. S., of Morristown. He married (second) Mrs. Hughemma (Nesbitt) Dildine, daughter of John R. Nesbitt, of an old and consequential family of New Jersey, the great-great-grandfather came from Ireland and settled in New Jersey, this was John Nesbitt, then came Thomas Nesbitt, a man of prominence, next in line was Hugh Nesbitt, then John R., father of Mrs. Rood. By her first marriage Mrs. Rood had one child, Henry Nesbitt Dildine, who died in infancy.
ALBERT E. RISDEN
Albert E. Risden, owner of the leading clothing and men's furnishing store in Butler, Morris county, New Jersey, occupies a place of much in- fluence in the community. He is public-spirited in large measure, and is ever ready to give his aid, time and influence to any cause that promises benefit to society and good to his fellowmen. While his extensive business interests have necessarily made a steady draft upon his time, thought and abilities, he has never forgotten his duties as a citizen.
William Risden, his father, was born in Cambridge, England, came to America when he was a young child, in 1868, and died here, November II, IQII. For a time he followed various occupations, then opened a clothing store upstairs in the house in which he lived, while his wife con- ducted a millinery store in the lower floor of the same building, these being the first stores of the kind in the town. Both were successful in their efforts, and he later erected a building for the proper conduct of his increased business. His wife now has, on Manning avenue, the finest mil- linery store in the town. Mr. Risden married Catherine Richards, and they have had children: Mary, married Harry May, and conducts a large novelty store in Butler ; William, in the contract painting business, in Butler : Lillie Bedson, cultivates a farm; Joseph, is in the barber and clothing busi- ness in North Paterson, New Jersey; Mrs. William Mabey, in the con- fectionery business in North Paterson; Ray. in the glue business ; Albert E., whose name heads this sketch ; James and Emily, deceased.
Albert E. Risden was born in Butler, Morris county, New Jersey, in 1887, and attended the public schools of that town. Upon leaving school he at once entered upon his business career, spending the next seven years in the business built up by his father, and under his watchful supervision he obtained a thorough knowledge of the details of the clothing business. In 1910 he removed to his present place of business on Main street, and there carries a full line of clothing, shoes, etc. His ever courteous manner at- tracts a large patronage, and his business is conducted on the strictest principles of integrity and progressiveness. Republican in politics he has been honored by election to membership in the county committee. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and of the following named fraternal organizations: Free and Accepted Masons, Junior Order of United American Mechanics, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Eastern Star Lodge, Independent Order of Foresters, and several others. Mr. Risden married Susie Tidaback, of Middletown, and has children : Earl and George.
LAWRENCE M. CHRISTENSEN
Numbered among the representative citizens of Morristown, whose suc- cessful careers set forth the fact that they possess business ability of a high order and integrity of character, is Lawrence M. Christensen, a native of
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Jutland, Denmark, born April 18, 1875, son of Jasper and Katherine (An- dersen) Christensen.
Jasper Christensen was born in Denmark in the early thirties, was brought up in his native land, attending its public schools, and there followed the occupation of farming. He emigrated to the United States in 1883, locating in Dover, New Jersey, whence he removed to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he spent ten years, and then purchased a farm in Polk county, Wisconsin, where he still resides, prosperous and respected. He is a Re- publican in politics, and he and his wife are members of the Lutheran church. He married Katherine Andersen, born in Denmark, who bore him eight children, namely: Mariann, wife of K. Lökkegaard, resides in Denmark ; Christian C., a carpenter, resides in St. Paul, Minnesota ; Andrew C., resides in Roosevelt, Long Island; Martin B., a farmer, resides in Wisconsin ; child, deceased ; Lawrence, died in infancy ; Lawrence M., of whom further ; Marie, deceased.
Lawrence M. Christensen attended the public schools of St. Paul, Min- nesota, whither his parents removed when he was eight years old, and at. the early age of thirteen began his business career, his first employment being in a drug store in St. Paul, and two years later he had advanced to the position of clerk. At the age of eighteen he removed to Chicago, Illinois, and there attended the Chicago College of Pharmacy, and passed the Illinois State Board of Pharmacy before attaining the age of nineteen, after which he continued the practice of pharmacy in that city, remaining until 1902, in which year he came to Morristown, New Jersey. The last two years of his stay in Chicago he was making a study of cleaning and dyeing, preparatory to his coming and locating in Morristown, New Jersey, in that line of endeavor. His knowledge of chemistry especially fitted him for this business, which has been proven by his splendid success. He engaged in the cleaning and dyeing business at No. 6 De Hart street, and by perse- verance and straightforward business methods has built up one of the most extensive and remunerative concerns of that kind in the east. In 1912, find- ing it necessary to increase the facilities for handling his business, which has grown wonderfully in volume and importance in the decade, he purchased the property at No. 12 De Hart street, Morristown, remodeled the premises, erecting additions in which he has his offices and finishing rooms, all of which are equipped with every modern appliance for the transaction of business. He caters to the better element and his patrons are treated with every courtesy, due consideration being shown to their every wish and desire. He has attained success through no fortuitous chain of circumstances, but has made his own way by industry, thrift and probity. In 1913 he in- corporated under the name of Lawrence M. Christensen Inc., with main office and works at 12 De Hart street. Officers: Lawrence M. Chris- tensen, president and general manager ; Clara J. Christensen, secretary and treasurer. He holds membership in Norristown Lodge, No. 188, F. and A. M. ; Madison Chapter, No. 27, R. A. M .; Ode de St. Amand Comman- dery, No. 12, K. T .; and Salaam Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.
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