USA > New Jersey > Morris County > A history of Morris County, New Jersey : embracing upwards of two centuries, 1710-1913, Volume II > Part 46
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71
June 13, 1883, marks the marriage of Dr. deGroot to Ella Young, a na- tive of Stanhope, New Jersey, and a daughter of Abijali and Amanda (Rose) Young, both of whom have since died. Mr. and Mrs. Young were
320
NEW JERSEY
the parents of two children: Laura, widow of Ridgway King, and a resident of Stanhope, New Jersey ; and Mrs. deGroot.
JOHN S. DANIELSON
John S. Danielson, although not a native of this State, has resided in New Jersey during the past thirty years. He was born in the southern part of Sweden, February 15, 1863, and emigrated to America in 1883, at the age of twenty years. He is a son of Victor and Annie (Sellergren) Daniel- son, the former of whom is now seventy-five years of age and the latter of whom died in 1907. The father came to the United States in 1887 and engaged in farming operations in the vicinity of Succasunna, Morris county, New Jersey. He is now living on Crane Hill with a daughter. He and his wife became the parents of twelve children, six sons and six daughters as follows: John S., of this notice ; Emma, wife of Peter Larson, a liveryman in Dover ; Charles, a grocer at Lake Hopatcong; Henry, a mason by trade and a resident of Connecticut ; Jennie, wife of Manuel Nurburg, of Crane Hill, Morris county, New Jersey ; Agnes, unmarried, resides at Bayonne, New Jersey ; David a carpenter in Dover ; August, a carpenter in Dover ; Ellen, single, resides in Bayonne, New Jersey; Julius ; two deceased.
The early schooling of John S. Danielson was obtained in Sweden. In 1883, after his arrival in America, he located in Sussex county, New Jersey, where for two years he was in the employ of the government. Subse- quently he worked in the mines at Mount Hope, this State, remaining in that place for two years, at the expiration of which time he went to Hibernia, where he worked as a miner for three years. In 1889 he came to Dover and began to learn the trade of carpenter. He has since given his un- divided attention to work of this nature and has been employed on some of the big business buildings of Morris county. In 1909 he contracted for and erected a three-story structure, twenty-four by fifty feet, at No. 69 West Blackwell street, Dover. His work is distinguished for its thorough, sub- stantial quality and as a business man he is strictly reliable. In connection with his trade he is a valued member of the local branch of the Carpenter's Union, and he is affiliated with the Order of Buffalo. His political support is given without stint to the Republican party, and he is an active factor in promoting the general welfare of his home community.
Mr. Danielson married Annie Anderson, daughter of Andrew Anderson, who is now deceased. Charles O. Anderson, only brother of Mrs. Daniel- son, is a prominent merchant in Dover. Mr. and Mrs. Danielson are the parents of three children, namely: Pauline, unmarried, resides at home ; George, a carpenter in a piano factory in New York City; Helen, at the parental home. Mr. and Mrs. Danielson are devout members of the Lu- theran Church at Dover, and they command the unqualified confidence and esteem of their neighbors. They own an attractive residence in this city and are hospitable entertainers.
DANIEL CALLAGHAN
Daniel Callaghan, proprietor of the Erin Hotel, on Lake Hopatcong, Jefferson township, Morris county, New Jersey, and for more than a half century a resident of that county, is one of those men whom the world de- lights to honor. Coming to this country with no resources save those rep. resented in his intelligence, his energy and his integrity of purpose, he has become a highly honored citizen of the community. His parents, Anthony
321
MORRIS COUNTY
and Ellen (Reardon) Callaghan, were born in Ireland, emigrated to the United States, and settled in New York City, about 1853, where she died five weeks, and he nine months, after their arrival here. One of their children, Michael, had died in Ireland, at the age of seven years, and im- mediately after arriving here they sent for their two eldest children to fol- low them. The parents were dead when the children, Margaret and John, arrived, and John died when in this country only twelve days. After Daniel Callaghan was in this country long enough to earn the money to pay for the passage, he sent for his sister Ellen to come here. She married John Tier- ney, and had children : Ellen, married Daniel Ryan, of Lake Hopatcong, superintendent of the Brady Brothers Ice Company; Elizabeth, married Christopher Kelly, a bottler of Rockaway; Timothy, a bridge builder, re- siding in Newark.
Daniel Callaghan was born in county Limerick, Ireland, in 1842, and there grew to manhood. When he came to the United States, about 1863, he went to Andover, Sussex county, New Jersey, and there worked in the mines fifteen months. His next place of employment was the Weldon Mine, where he remained one year, and then one year in the Dodge & Ford Mine. Removing to Hurdtown, he purchased a place from the widow of William A. Wood, sold this at the end of five years, and purchased another from Mrs. Wood, on the turnpike, and held this ten years. In 1884 he bought his present place, where he conducted a saloon for a period of four years, then secured his license as a hotel keeper, and conducted the hotel for eighteen years. He then rented the hotel to a Mr. Brown, a brewer of Paterson, New Jersey, for one year, with the privilege of renewal for five years, and at the expiration of this second period, his son, John Callaghan, took charge and conducted it successfully until his death in 1913. After the death of his son, Daniel Callaghan resumed the management of the Erin Hotel, and has continued to take charge personally up to the present time. At the time this hotel was purchased by Daniel Callaghan it was a rough looking struc- ture made of large hewed logs, with port holes about six feet apart, and had, presumably, been originally a fort as well as a dwelling house. The logs of which it was constructed had at a later date been covered with boards. There had been two wide chimneys in the building, for the burning of huge logs, and when Mr. Callaghan had the place remodeled, the bricks of which these chimneys were constructed were torn out, and those bearing the date were lost. In addition to the Erin Hotel, he is the owner of a con- siderable amount of other property at Lake Hopatcong. Mr. Callaghan is a communicant of the Star of the Sea Roman Catholic Church, and is Demo- cratic in his political opinions.
Mr. Callaghan married (first) Eliza Carroll, of Limerick, Ireland ; (second) Annie, daughter of Patrick and Bridget (Kallarney) Harkins. Children : I. Michael, of Morris Plains. 2. Daniel, married Ellen Dow, and resides with his father. 3. John, now deceased ; married Mary Cur- ran, of Pennsylvania, and had children: Rose, John, Daniel ; his widow is residing at Lake Hopatcong. 4. Ellen, married John Tierney, ex-free- holder, who has been a resident of Jefferson township for thirty-three years ; he was born in county Limerick, Ireland, May 1, 1863, son of Patrick and Ellen (Cosgrove) Tierney, both deceased ; John was the eldest child, and he had a sister Johanna, who married Patrick Kelly, resided in America ten years and then returned to Ireland, and another sister, Mary, now dc- ceased : John Tierney was only six years when he lost his father, and sixteen when he lost his mother, and he has made his own way in the world: he attended the schools in Limerick, then emigrated to America, arriving May
21
322
NEW JERSEY
I, 1881, and came to Jefferson township; for many years he worked in the mines, then became foreman for the Lake Hopatcong Ice Company, and then obtained a government position ; he has always been a strong supporter of the Democratic party, and has served six years as a township committee- man, three years as township treasurer, and was elected a freeholder in 1910; he is the owner of a beautiful home and twenty-eight acres of land ; he is a member of Mount Hope Parish Roman Catholic Church ; he has had children : Patrick J., unmarried ; Daniel A., married Kate Roach, of Whar- ton; Michael E., unmarried, lives in Denville, New Jersey ; John Jr., un- married; Bessie, a graduate of Drake's Business College ; Ellen, a student in the Wharton High School. Mr. Tierney has also an adopted daugh- ter, Eliza, whose parents were Joseph and Eliza (Callaghan) Dunn. 5. Mary, married George Nichols, formerly a mine boss, but at present em- ployed by the government; they have children: Eliza, Margaret, Rose, Fred, and an adopted child, James Dunn, son of Joseph and Eliza (Cal- laghan) Dunn. 6. Eliza, married Joseph Dunn; both died, leaving children : Joseph, John, Patrick, Edward, James and Eliza ; Patrick and Edward were adopted by Daniel Callaghan, their grandfather.
Mr. Callaghan is a safe, careful and conservative business man, in whose life few mistakes have occurred, and owing to his capable management his progress has been continuous and he has attained a financial independ- ence which assures to himself and family all the comforts and luxuries necessary to make life pleasant. He takes a deep interest in all that per- tains to the advancement and welfare of the community, and is not slow in giving his support to the measures which are intended to benefit it.
JOHN B. BENNETT
The initiative and energy possessed by some men stand as their dominat- ing characteristics and give to them a marked advantage in attaining dis- tinct prestige in any line to which they may confine their efforts. John B. Bennett has been interested in the hotel business during practically the entire period of his active career thus far and for the past eight years has been proprietor of the Mansion House, one of the foremost hostelries of Dover. He is known as a shrewd business man and as a loyal and public-spirited citizen. He is, furthermore, a self-made man, having been pushed out of the family nest at an early age and compelled to seek his living and advance- ment as best he could. From the first he was possessed of ambition and determination and his energy, courage and business judgment have brought him to a position of esteem and influence among the citizens of Morris county, where he is recognized as a man of mark in all the relations of life.
At High Bridge, New Jersey, in the year 1869, occurred the birth of John B. Bennett, who is a son of John Y. and Margaret Ellen (Alpaugh) Bennett, both of whom are now deceased, their remains being interred in Clinton, New Jersey. The father was a stationary engineer by profession. He and his wife had three sons, namely: John B., William N., Charles H. John B. Bennett attended the common schools of High Bridge until I reached the age of fourteen years, and in 1885 went to New York City and began to work for Nicoll the Tailor, in whose employ he remained for the ensuing seven years, gaining rapid promotions during that time. On ac- count of failing health he then located in Morristown and assisted his uncle, A. E. Vorhees, in the management of the United States Hotel, re- maining in that city for ten years. In 1902 he came to Dover and entered into a partnership alliance with T. S. Mulford in the opening of the Hotel
E. L. Garabraut
323
MORRIS COUNTY
Dover. He continued to be associated with Mr. Mulford for six months and then purchased his partner's share in the hotel and continued to conduct it individually for the following three years, at the end of which time ne bought the Albert Richards estate, the same including the Mansion House. For the next two years Mr. Bennett ran both the Hotel Dover and the Mansion House, but in 1905 he disposed of the former and confined all his efforts to making a modern hotel of the Mansion House. In recent years he has spent $30,000 in improvements, making this hotel one of the finest in the entire county. The same contains fifty-one sleeping rooms for the use of guests, eight rooms for the help, and thirteen other rooms for offices, dining, grill and Japanese rooms. Steam heat has been installed and hot and cold water are to be found in every part of the house. Mr. Bennett is a congenial host and does everything in his power for the comfort of his guests. In addition to the Mansion House he owns the entire block of property on which it stands, also the fine dwelling house called "the Annex" adjoining his hotel and fronting on Morris street.
A Republican in national affairs, Mr. Bennett maintains an independent attitude in local elections. While a resident of Morristown he was for many years foreman of the Resolute Hook and Ladder Company and he is now an honorary member of that organization. He is likewise an honorary member of the Protection Hook and Ladder Company of Dover. He has served in the capacity of fireman for a period of fourteen years and is now exempt from further active service in each of the above mentioned com- panies. In a fraternal way he is affiliated with Blue Lodge, Free and Ac- cepted Masons, of Dover; Royal Arch Masons, of Morristown; Knights Templars of Morristown ; and Mecca Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of New York City. He is likewise a valued member of the Knights of Pythias, of Morristown, and of the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks, of Dover.
EVERETT L. GARABRANT
Everett L. Garabrant is one of the foremost citizens of Mendham, where he is engaged in business as a contractor and builder and where he is likewise president of the Mendham Garage Company. He is a stockholder in the National Bank of Bernardsville and he has ever been on the alert to forward all measures and enterprises projected for the good of the community, serving his home town in various official positions of trust and responsibility. He is a native of Morris county, New Jersey, born Feb- ruary 10, 1866, son of John Newell and Helen (Day) Garabrant. The father was a prominent farmer in Mendham township during the major portion of his active career and he died January 24, 1881, and his wife died November 14, 1901; they are buried in the cemetery at Mendham. To them were born: Eugene M .; Everett L .; John W., a sketch of whose career appears elsewhere in this work; Eliza, wife of Oscar Pruden; Jen- nie, wife of Charles Freeman; Florence; Cornelia D., wife of Frederick R. Guerin ; and Margaret.
After a course of study in the common schools of his native place, Everett L. Garabrant learned the trade of carpenter, and he was in the employ of other men for the following four years. In 1887 he opened offices as a contractor and builder in Brookside and remained in that place for a period of two years, at the expiration of which time he came to Mendham, this place having since represented his home and business head- quarters. He has erected many prominent buildings in this section of Mor-
324
NEW JERSEY
ris county and keeps a number of carpenters busy all the year round. He became president of the Mendham Garage Company in 1913, and has money invested in the Bank at Bernardsville. He is a Republican in politics and for two years was freeholder of Mendham. He is one of the local council- men and has served on the Mendham township Republican committee for several terms, and member of board of health. He is prominent in fra- ternal orders and is affiliated with Prospect Lodge, No. 24, F. and A. M., at Chester ; the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Royal Arcanum, both of Morristown; and the Modern Woodmen of America and the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, of Mendham.
In 1888 Mr. Garabrant married Nellie Aldred, born and reared in Mendham, daughter of Abiah and Harriet Bell (Poland) Aldred, both deceased. The Aldred family consists of George, Nellie and Anna. Mr. and Mrs. Garabrant have four children: Clara Mabel, Lottie Irene, John Everett, and Orville. Clara Mabel, the eldest of the above children, is the wife of John Murray Beague, of Brooklyn, and they have two children- Evangeline and John Murray Jr. The Garabrant family are members of the First Presbyterian Church at Mendham, and are active and popular factors in the best social life of this place.
MAHLON SMITH
In that beautiful section of the New Jersey highlands which are in- cluded in the western part of Morris county and in the center of which lies the picturesque body of water known as Lake Hopatcong, there has taken place a development not surpassed in its rapidity by any in the eastern states. But a scant hundred years ago, the whole region was known as a part of the great unknown wilderness stretching away to the northwest indefinitely with only an occasional trapper's rendezvous or military outpost. The lake itself was spoken of as the great lake in the wilderness and the vaguest notions of its magnitude and location prevailed. About all that was known of it was that it formed a meeting place for the many tribes of Indians, both Lenni-Lenape and Iroquois, which traversed the trails east and west and north and south which ran throughout the region. In the short period between then and now, the most amazing changes have occurred, changes, however, characteristic of the American enterprise and industry of which they are the result, changes which have made this country what it is to-day. In that short time, the region has grown up from a wilderness to a thriving industrial community, dotted here and there with flourishing cities and towns, and the lake, from a vague, Indian-haunted body of water to one of the most popular summer resorts in that part of the country. Where then an occasional canoe flitted furtively across the silent surface, there are now a hundred pleasure craft, from the light canoe to steamers which ply the length of the lake carrying passengers back and forth. It has been due to the enterprise of the hardy pioneers in the region that these changes have come about, and conversely, it has been those with sufficient foresight to see the result of human endeavor upon a region so gifted by nature, who have won the chief rewards of the development. Of these Mr. Mahlon Smith is representative, having passed his whole life in that neigh- borhood, and coming of a family closely associated with the earliest opening up of the country thereabouts.
His father was Joseph Smith, who for many years prior to his residence in Hopatcong, New Jersey, lived in the town of Hopewell, Sussex county, that State. He was one of the pioneers in that part of the country and had
325
MORRIS COUNTY
much to do with the opening up thereof. He was a forgeman, and worked in the old fashioned forges which sprang up throughout the region in con- nection with the finding of iron and the development of iron mining. Hope- well was one of the centers of this industry and the incidental industries growing up about it and induced thereby, and it was in the forges of this place that Mr. Smith Sr. was employed. He moved after a time to Hopat- cong, New Jersey, and there died in 1874. He married Sarah Search. Mrs. Smith survived her husband a number of years. To them were born seven children as follows: Ellen, deceased; Elizabeth, who became Mrs. Arthur Mitchell, and is now a resident of Jersey City, New Jersey ; Laura, married (first) Arthur Mabie, and (second) Abram Mabie, of Hopatcong, New Jersey ; Susan, deceased; Ruth, who became Mrs. Joseph Parliman, of Mount Pleasant ; John, who became a prominent figure in the life of Morris county, a successful man of business and affairs, dying finally in Dover, New Jersey : Mahlon, of whom further.
Mahlon Smith, the seventh and youngest child of Joseph and Sarah (Search) Smith, was born February 1, 1852, at Hopewell, Sussex county, New Jersey. Here also he spent the years of his childhood. attending the local schools, and upon completing his education he started in to work in the forges at that place, in which his father had for so long been engaged. He continued this work for a period of thirteen years, and then secured a better position on the Ogden Mine Railroad, a road leased by the Central Railroad of New Jersey. It was in connection with this work that he first gained a knowledge of Hopatcong, then in the very beginning of its de- velopment, which was to remain his home for so many years. This was about forty odd years ago, at which time Mr. Smith had been given the posi- tion of engineer on the Ogden Mine Railroad. In this capacity he had the distinction of running the engine which pulled both the first freight and the first passenger train out of Hopatcong. He worked for many years on the Ogden Mine Railroad, but did not lose sight of the growth of the little com- munity in which he dwelt, or the opportunities it offered to the farseeing man. After a short time he began his operations by running a boarding house on the lake at what is known as Nolan's Point, which quickly met with such success that he was enabled to give up his position on the railroad, and devote himself exclusively to this enterprise. On Lake Hopatcong, Mr. Smith has spent the major portion of his life, and for twenty-five years has conducted the house popularly known as the Sunny Side, which enjoys the reputation of being one of the best houses on the lake, especially for those who wish to spend real vacations in the country, with opportunities to enjoy the rural beauties and pastimes together with a quiet rest. The house it- self is large and attractive, charmingly situated in such a manner as to afford a beautiful view of the lake and so as to be immediately accessible to the water. Mr. Smith has been eminently successful in his business, and has acquired a considerable fortune, and is the owner of much valuable property about the lake, including some within the town of Hopatcong, and a farm of seventy-three acres of valuable land. Mr. Smith is a man of much public spirit, and does not selfishly confine his attention to his personal interests, taking rather a keen interest in the affairs of the community of which he is a prominent member. Especially is this true in the realm of politics, wherein he takes an active part. He is a member of the Republi- can party, and is an intelligent observer of all the great questions and issues which confront the nation, as well of those matters which hold the stage in local politics. Besides these many admirable traits of character, Mr. Smith possesses a most attractive personality and the basic virtues
326
NEW JERSEY
of integrity and unimpeachable habits, industry and simple manners, which have won for him, not only a host of faithful and warm-hearted friends, but the universal respect and regard of his fellow citizens.
Mr. Smith married (first) Julia Schaffer, a native of the Hopatcong region, where she was born, daughter of Stephen Schaffer, who was one of the earliest pioneers of the country around the lake, having come there at so early a date that he grew to be on friendly terms with the Indians who at that time inhabited the shores of the lovely water, which they had for so long regarded as their own. To Mr. Smith four children were born by this marriage, all of whom are now deceased. Mr. Smith married (second) Mrs. Charlotte (Felmly) Lake, a widow, and daughter of Moses Felmly, a prominent citizen of Hunterdon county, New Jersey.
Mr. Smith's position in the community is an enviable one. He is very widely known and enjoys an equally wide popularity. He takes an active part in the social life of the neighborhood, and is prominent in fraternal circles, being a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Improved Order of Red Men of Dover.
THOMAS BRIGHT
The Bright family, of which the Thomas Bright of this sketch is a dis- tinguished member, is the oldest in that section of Morris county situated about the charming town of Woodport on the shore of beautiful Lake Hopatcong. The Brights came originally from England, and are typical of the best character of that strong and dominant race, which in the early days of American colonization laid a foundation in this country, upon which has been built up in safety all the subsequent fabric of American citizenship, a fabric composed of the most various and multiform races, with characters as divergent as the four corners of the world.
The great-grandfather of the present Thomas Bright was also a Thomas Bright. Indeed, it is a curious fact that the subject of this sketch is the fifth to bear that name in consecutive generations, and moreover that each Thomas Bright has been the fourth son of his parents. To return to the great-grandfather of the present generation, Thomas Bright, the second, was a native of England, and lived his entire life in that country. He was one of the Brights of Greebank, near Rochdale, in Lancashire, and an own brother of John Bright, the distinguished Liberal statesman and orator. John Bright's fame rests primarily on the part he played in the anti-corn- law agitation in the forties of the past century, a part which won for the people much relief from the burdensome and oppressive taxation of that time, and for himself a popularity great and merited. He was the great popular champion of the time, and enjoyed a brilliant government career. Entering parliament for the first time in 1843, he became president of the Board of Trade in 1868. He was chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in 1873-74, and 1880-82, and finally became lord rector of the University of Glasgow in 1883.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.