USA > New Jersey > Morris County > A history of Morris County, New Jersey : embracing upwards of two centuries, 1710-1913, Volume II > Part 50
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Frederick R. Guerin was an infant when his mother died and he was placed in the home of his maternal grandfather, Peter A. Irving, where he spent his boyhood. He completed the course of study prescribed in the common schools of Morristown. At the age of thirteen years he accepted a position as clerk in a grocery store at Morristown and continued as such for the ensuing ten years, at the expiration of which time he went to New York City, where he was manager of a Childs' restaurant for three years. Re- turning to Morristown in 1894 he held a position there as clerk for two years, and in 1898 came to Mendham, here entering the employ of the Freeman & Hoffman Company as a grocery clerk. With the passage of time he became thoroughly familiar with the details of this line of enter- prise and subsequently was made manager of the store. In 1908 the busi- ness was for sale and he purchased it. In addition to retaining the old trade he has in recent years attracted many new customers, and now holds rank as one of the foremost grocers of this section of the county. His success in business is the result of his energy and ambition and has been on a parity with his own well directed efforts. Politically Mr. Guerin is independent. He is a member of Mendham Fire Company, No. 1, and his fraternal con- nections are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and with Pros- pect Lodge, No. 24, F. and A. M., and Madison Chapter, No. 27, R. A. M., at Morristown. He and his family attend and are members of the First Presbyterian Church.
The year 1895 marks the marriage of Mr. Guerin to Cornelia D. Gara-
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brant, born in this county, daughter of John Newell and Helen (Day) Gara- brant, the former of whoni was for many years one of the progressive farm- ers of Mendham township. Mr. and Mrs. Garabrant are both deceased. They had the following children: Eugene M .; Everett L., mentioned elsewhere in this work, as is also John W .; Eliza, wife of Oscar Pruden; Jennie, wife of Charles Freeman ; Florence ; Cornelia D., wife of the subject of this sketch ; and Margaret. Mr. and Mrs. Guerin have two sons : Irving A., a stu- dent in the Mt. Herman School; and Chauncey H., a pupil in the public school at Mendham. There were also twin daughters born to Mr. and Mrs. Guerin, both died in infancy, Helen Marian and Eveline Irene.
AMZI DECKER ALLISON
With qualifications such as insure success in any undertaking, Amzi Decker Allison, of Milton, Morris county, New Jersey, holds an enviable place among the representative farmers of that section. He is broad- minded and of kindly nature, and his interest in those less fortunate than himself is deep and sincere. Such a man cannot fail to win the respect and confidence of all who know him.
(I) George Allison, grandfather of Amzi Decker Allison, was a farmer, married, and had children: George W. and others.
(II) George W. Allison, son of George Allison, was born in Jefferson township, Morris county, New Jersey, and died in Milton, at the age of fifty-three years. He married Nancy Davenport, who is living in Jefferson township at the age of seventy-six years, and they had children: Amzi Decker, of whom further; Evora, deceased; Gussie, married Edward At- wood, a minister, residing in Paterson, New Jersey ; Edith, married Everett Weaver, proprietor of a hotel at Singac, New Jersey; Henry M., a resi- dent of Milton, married Jennie Tallman.
(III) Amzi Decker Allison, son of George W. Allison, was born at Milton, Jefferson township, Morris county, New Jersey, February 19, 1855, and is living there at the present time. He acquired his education in the public schools of the township, and then assisted his father in the cultiva- tion of the homestead farm. For the past nineteen years he has lived on the farm of fifty-six acres formerly the property of Thomas K. Norman. There is a fine house on this place, and barns and other out-buildings in abundance, and all kept in excellent condition. He owns another farm of 146 acres in Jefferson township, and is the manager of the Ringland farm near Milton. He is Democratic in his political opinions, and is serving his second term as a county committeeman. He was formerly a member of several fraternal organizations, but resigned from them. Mr. Allison married Mary Catherine, a daughter of Thomas K. Norman, and they had five children, of whom there are living: Mildred and Paul.
NATHAN DEMOTT
The DeMott family ranks among the oldest and most highly respected in Morris county, New Jersey, and is worthily represented in the present generation by Nathan DeMott, of Pequannock. The ancestors of the line here under consideration, with members of two other families, purchased a large tract of land from the Indians, comprising the section wherein is located Pequannock and the surrounding towns, hence their history is closely linked with the development and progress of this section of the State.
Henry G. DeMott, father of Nathan DeMott, was born on the DeMott
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tract. He was educated in the common schools of his day, devoted his entire time to the cultivation of the soil, and died on the home farm at the age of seventy-four. His wife, Jane (Berry) DeMott, also a repre- sentative of one of the first settlers of Morris county, bore him four chil- dren, all of whom are deceased with the exception of Nathan.
Nathan DeMott was born in his present home, in Pequannock, October 23, 1834. After completing a course of study in the common schools of the neighborhood, he served an apprenticeship at the trade of carpenter, which line of work he followed during the greater part of his active career, and is now living retired, enjoying the just reward of well directed efforts. His business methods were honorable and reliable, winning and retaining the patronage of many, and a number of the structures in that section of the county bear evidence of his skill and ability. In October, 1861, he enlisted in the Fourth New York Battery and served until December, 1862, being actively engaged in service, and was subsequently discharged on account of disability. Mr. DeMott is independent of party affiliation in politics, casting his vote for the candidate best qualified for office, and thus best serves his town, county and State. He has ever been active and zealous in all matters pertaining to the best development of the community, and therefore merits the esteem in which he is held by all who have the honor of his acquaintance.
Mr. DeMott married, March 14, 1868, . Mary E. Roome, daughter of Benjamin Roome, born in 1799, died in Newfoundland, 1891, a descendant of one of the old families of New Jersey. Children: I. Lloyd, resides at Wayne, New Jersey, and there conducts a general store. 2. Wilbur, engaged in the silk business at Paterson, New Jersey. 3. Jesse R., engaged in the electric business in Paterson, New Jersey. Mrs. DeMott was born in Pompton, New Jersey, but has resided for the greater part of her life in Pequannock, where she is honored by all for her many excellent characteristics.
CHARLES N. EVANS
To attain distinction in a certain line of enterprise one must possess the characteristics of success, namely, energy, perseverance, integrity and progressiveness, all of which are brought into action in the case of Charles N. Evans, a prominent resident of Lincoln Park, who is conspicuously identified with the real estate interests of that place.
Jacob K. Evans, father of Charles N. Evans, is a native of New York City, where he now resides, and for the long period of forty-five years has been engaged in the banking business with Brown Brothers & Company. He has made a close study of this business and his capable services have advanced him far on the road to success. He married Carrie Copcutt, now deceased, who was the only niece of John Copcutt, the millionaire hat manufacturer.
Charles N. Evans, only child of his parents, was born in New York City, 1870. Upon the completion of his studies in the schools of his native city, he engaged in the live stock auctioneering business, which he conducted for twelve years, achieving a certain degree of success. He then turned his attention to the real estate business, in which he has since been engaged, residing in his present location since 1905, and since 1909 has devoted his entire time to the development of Lincoln Park and vicinity, having on his books farms, country homes, plots, villa and bungalow sites. all on easy terms, and few men in this section are better informed on
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property values than he. His success in his undertaking, his character for uprightness and fair dealing, and the universal esteem which he enjoys, places him among the foremost citizens of Morris county. He is deeply interested in measures for the public good and to them has been a liberal contributor. He was one of the organizers of the fire department of Lincoln Park, serving as its first chief ; was for three years a member of the school board; for seven years acted as constable; one of the organizers of the Republican Club; secretary of the Game Protective Association, and man- ager of the base ball team for two years. He is a staunch adherent of the principles of the Republican party.
Mr. Evans married, December 23, 1889, Mary G. Hughan, a native of Scotland, daughter of James G. and Mary (Kennedy) Hughan. They are the parents of one child, James S., born 1892.
EDWARD W. ELLIOTT
Many of the ablest men in America are ardent devotees of the great . basic industry of agriculture and it is well that this is so because the various learned professions are rapidly becoming so crowded with inefficient practi- tioners that in a few years it will be practically impossible for any but the exceptionally talented man to make good or even to gain a competent living therein. The independent farmer who, in addition to tilling the soil, culti - vates his mind and retains his health, is a man much to be envied in these days of strenuous bustle and nervous energy. - He lives his life as he chooses and is always safe from financial ravages and other troubles of the so-called "cliff-dweller." An able and representative agriculturist, who has done much to advance progress and conserve prosperity in Morris county, New Jersey, is Edward W. Elliott, who is the owner of a finely improved farm in the vicinity of Mendham. Mr. Elliott is likewise engaged in the timber business and owns and operates sawmills at Bernardsville and Ionia. He takes an active part in public affairs of his home community and has filled the office of mayor since the organization and incorpora- tion of the borough of Mendham.
Edward W. Elliott was born in Middlesex county, New Jersey, Janu- ary 14, 1855, son of John and Margaret (Cooper) Elliott, both natives of Ireland, whence they immigrated to the United States prior to their mar- riage. The father located in New Jersey and engaged in farming opera- tions in Middlesex county, later settling in Morris county. He was an energetic worker and secured a competency prior to his demise, which oc- curred in 1879; he is buried in Illinois. His wife, whose maiden name was Margaret Cooper, survived her honored husband for a number of years and she died in 1883, her remains being interred in Somerset county, New Jersey. Following are the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Elliott: Edward W .; Frank C .; Mary, wife of William H. Stevens, was a missionary in India for many years and she died in that country; Margaret, died at the age of seventeen years; Martha, twin of Margaret, is a popular and suc- cessful school teacher at Bernardsville, New Jersey ; John, an attorney of note at New Haven, Connecticut ; Thomas, died at twenty-four years ; Robert : James. The two youngest children live in Morris county and Union county.
On the old homestead farm and in the invigorating country air, Ed- ward W. Elliott was reared to adult age. His early schooling consisted of such advantages as were afforded in the neighboring district schools, which he attended about three months each winter. During the remainder of the
6.W. Elliott
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year he assisted his father in the management of the farm and he remained at home until his twenty-fifth year. He then purchased an estate in Mendham township, in the close vicinity of the village of Mendham, and here he has since maintained his home. His finely improved farm com- prises 500 acres and is one of the fine rural estates in Morris county. In addition to agricultural and stock-raising pursuits, Mr. Elliott is extensively interested in the timber business and in the latter connection owns and operates two saw mills-one at Bernardsville and the other at Ionia. His splendid success in life is purely the outcome of his own well directed endeavors. His business ability is well developed and the word failure is not in his vocabulary. His political support is given without stint to the Republican party in all affairs of national import but in local elections he exercises his franchise in favor of the man rather than party creed. Since 1907 Mr. Elliott has been the popular and capable incumbent of the office of mayor of Mendham and in that connection he has introduced many im- portant improvements for the good of the borough. He is likewise serving on the Mendham school board and is deeply and sincerely interested in the development of a better school system. In every sense he is a representa- tive and substantial citizen, one of whom any community may well be proud.
April 12, 1882, Mr. Elliott was united in marriage to Elizabeth M. Ward, a native of Mendham, New Jersey, daughter of Caleb H. and Rebecca Ann (Thompson) Ward, the former of whom was born in Essex county, New Jersey, and the latter in Morris county. During his lifetime Mr. Ward was engaged in business as a blacksmith and farmer. he died November 3, 1891, his wife died January 22, 1898. He and his wife had children as follows : Amanda, Anna, Luther, William, Malinda, Albert H., Elizabeth M., Lottie T., Hattie O. Mr. and Mrs. Elliott have two daughters : May, wife of George Jackson Ferry Jr., and to them have been born Gladys, Marion and George Jackson ; Margaret C., at home with her parents ; three sons deceased : Harrison, Albert W., George Whitfield, the latter died at sixteen years of age. The Elliott family are Methodists in their religious faith and he is president of the board of trustees in the church of that denomination at Mendham. Mrs. Elliott is a woman of most pleasing per- sonality and she and her husband are both held in high esteem by their neighbors and fellow citizens.
JOSEPH H. PARKER
Important elements of wealth and business activity in Morris county are the various manufacturing enterprises, prominent among which is the Ulster Iron Works at Dover. Of the large force of executive and minor employees, connected with this establishment, perhaps none is better known, more esteemed for his usefulness and influential position, than Joseph H. Parker, the boss roller. He has been connected with the business since he was a boy, has come to know practically every phase of the different departments of manufacture, owes his present position to his industry, his long experience and his trusted capability. Mr. Parker has prospered at his business, and is the owner of considerable property in the town of Dover.
Joseph H. Parker was born at New Bedford, Massachusetts, October 10. 1870, a son of Obadiah S. and Catherine (Gould) Parker. The paternal grandfather was also Obadiah Parker. The parents were natives of New Jersey, and the father was an iron worker all his life. Their children
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were: George W .; John; Joseph, deceased; Mary, deceased; who was the wife of George Brown; Elizabeth, wife of J. W. Bickley ; Charles E., of whom further; Lilly, wife of Sidney Cole; Fannie, deceased; Joseph H., of whom further; William; Carrie, wife of Chester Billings; Hattie, deceased; Obadiah Jr .; Catherine.
Joseph H. Parker had only a common school education when a boy, and was fifteen years old when he started in to work at the mill at Dover. His connection with the iron industry has been continuous since that time, and for the past seven years he has been one of the most competent rollers in the plant. In politics Mr. Parker is a Republican and is serving as ward committee man. His fraternal associations are with the Benevolent Pro- tective Order of Elks and the Grand Fraternity, and he and his wife at- tend the Methodist church.
In April, 1889, Mr. Parker married Bessie Trevethan, a native of New York State and a daughter of Richard and Matilda (Ripper) Trevethan. Her father was a mine contractor. The children in the Trevethan family were: Samuel, deceased; Nellie, wife of George Bodwell; Richard, de- ceased; Ida May, deceased; Richard, second of the name, also deceased ; Bessie, deceased ; Bessie, second of the name, and wife of Joseph H. Parker ; Lettie, wife of James Malone; William. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Parker were born the following children: Nellie B., Edgar J., Har- riett M., Carl W., Raymond G., Elizabeth M.
CHARLES E. PARKER
The importance of the Ulster Iron Works in the industrial resources of Morris county have been several times referred to in the course of these pages, and several of the prominent men connected with the industry have also been mentioned. Another factor in the local plant is Charles E. Parker, who holds the position of heater in the works. Mr. Parker has been identi- fied with the Ulster Iron Works since he was fifteen years of age, and by steady industry and thrifty management has gained a comfortable and influential position in his community, and among other evidences of his material prosperity is the comfortable house which he and his family occupy.
Charles E. Parker was born at New Bedford, Massachusetts, November 7, 1866. After a common school education, he left his books, and at the age of fifteen started in as a boy worker at the iron mills. Since that time he has never for any length of time been absent from the Iron Works, and has always enjoyed the confidence of his superiors and has been advanced accordingly. In 1889 was solemnized his marriage to Clara A. Thompson, daughter of John C. and Catherine (Dooley) Thompson. Both her par- ents are New Jersey people, and her father was an iron worker at the Forge Works. The Thompson children were: William, Clara A., Adeline, the last named being deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Parker have only one child, Nona, wife of Rev. John H. Earl, both of whom are now evangelists with the Baptist denomination. Mr. Parker is an independent voter, belongs to the Baptist church, and is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, the Knights of Maccabees and the Junior Order of United American Mechanics.
WINFIELD S. COX
One of the leading and respected citizens of Paterson, Passaic county, New Jersey, is Winfield S. Cox, proprietor of the Butler Wood Working Company, in Butler, Morris county, New Jersey. This is one of the
Jesuis Q Matery
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leading industrial concerns of the community and is accorded a prominent position in the business world. John Cox, father of the Mr. Cox of this review, was born in England, and was a child when he was brought to this country. He has always lived in Passaic county, was a steel roller in the Republic Steel and Iron Company, and died in Pompton, New Jersey, at the age of seventy-four years. He married Mary Sisco, and had five sons and one daughter.
Winfield S. Cox was born in Passaic county, New Jersey, in 1852. He received his education in the public schools of Blairstown. Upon its com- pletion he learned the trade of steel rolling, and followed that occupation until impaired health obliged him to abandon it. He then engaged in the hotel business, becoming the proprietor of a hotel in Bloomingdale, and while thus engaged was elected sheriff of Passaic county in 1881. When his term of office had expired he returned to private life, and at the ex- piration of one year was appointed deputy revenue collector under the administration of President Harrison. When Grover Cleveland became president, a Democrat was appointed to fill this office, but President Mc- Kinley re-appointed Mr. Cox, and he served two and one-half years, when ill health again obliged him to retire from all responsibilities for a time. After a rest of two years he purchased the Butler Wood Working Company, with which he has since that time been actively identified. They do all kinds of wood turning, sawing and planing, and are up-to-date in their work in every particular. Mr. Cox has made numerous improvements on this property since he has become the owner, and now employs five men regularly, and more, as occasion demands. About seven years ago he also held office as a member of the board of freeholders. He is a member of the local lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, and Mecca Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Paterson; Junior Order of United American Mechanics ; past noble grand of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and member of Hamilton Club of Paterson. His religious affiliation is with the Episcopal church. Mr. Cox married (first) Emma Carmin, deceased; (second) Jennie A. Corbet, of Brooklyn, New York.
LEWIS A. WATERS
One of the most popular and widely known citizens of Madison is Postmaster Lewis A. Waters, a man of executive ability, integrity of char- acter, and persistent determination to succeed in whatever he undertakes, whose life history is one of interest, and one which is well worthy of emulation.
He was born in Madison, Morris county, New Jersey, October 1, 1871, son of John and Sarah (Carter) Waters. He has resided in his native town all his life, educated in its public schools, and in 1890 he was appointed agent of the Union News Company, a position he is filling at the present time. He has always taken an active interest in the politics of his native county, and in 1902 was elected to the board of chosen freeholders, in the following year received the appointment of postmaster of Madison from President Roosevelt, and in the early part of the year 1914 his name was prominently mentioned for the office of sheriff. His life has been one of activity, and in public as well as in business and private life he is ever true and faithful to his duties. His record is without a blemish, and in his native town he occupies a position that is indeed enviable. He is an active member of many lodges and societies, among them being the Morristown Lodge, No. 815, B. P. O. E. ; Madison Lodge, No. 93, F. and A. M .; North 23
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Jersey Council, No. 1181, R. A .; Madison Council, Junior Order of United American Mechanics ; Oak Leaf Lodge, No. 325, I. O. O. F .; Young Men's Christian Association ; Madison Hose Company ; Madison Athletic Associa- tion, of which he is president, and was formerly president of the Morris County Road Drivers' Association. This brief resume of his life shows its many and varied activities, in all of which he takes a keen interest, and being but now in the prime of life a bright future awaits him.
He married, in 1890, May A. Corey, daughter of Samuel A. and Laura E. (Searing) Corey. Six children: Lewis A. Jr., Gertrude, Elwood B., Russell, Dorothy, Jack Curtice. The family affiliates with the Methodist Episcopal church.
FRED R. CASTERLIN
Fred R. Casterlin, proprietor of the Park Hotel, the leading hostelry in Butler, located on Main street, is a representative of a family that has resided in New Jersey for many years, the members of the family in various generations displaying special ability for the hotel business, in which they have been highly successful.
(I) Nathaniel Casterlin, grandfather of Fred R. Casterlin, spent his entire life on the old homestead at Rockport, Sussex county, New Jersey, and was a wagon maker by, trade. He married Hannah Mandeville, and their children were: George, Nathan, Thomas, Dennis, Jane, wife of Charles Kinsey ; Ella, wife of Alford H. Decker, of Paterson; Maggie, wife of Captain C. H. Tuttle; Sarah, wife of Jesse Rosencranse; Minnie, widow of James Decker ; Richard, of whom further.
(II) Richard Casterlin, father of Fred R. Casterlin, was born at Rock- port, Sussex county, New Jersey, 1806. He was a wheelwright in early life, and later conducted a hotel in Unionville, New York, engaging in that enterprise in 1860, and continuing for the remainder of his days. He mar- ried Mahala Rogers, daughter of Peter and Sallie (Scidmore) Rogers, the former named, who was a veteran of the War of 1812, died in March, 1892, at the advanced age of ninety-six years. Mr. and Mrs. Casterlin were the parents of three children: Charles, proprietor of a hotel in Florida, New York, married Mary Kellogg; Fred R., of whom further; Ralph, a car- penter in Unionville, New York, married Lizzie De Groot.
(III) Fred R. Casterlin was born at Rockport, Sussex county, New Jersey, January 16, 1856. He attended the school in the vicinity of his home in Orange county, New York, and his first occupation was as stage driver for his father, the route being from Unionville, New York, to Decker- town, New Jersey, in which capacity he served for one year. He then ac- cepted a clerkship with F. M. Cannon, of Deckertown, a prominent druggist there, with whom he remained for two years, after which he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, continuing along that line until 1890, in which year he took up his residence in Butler and assumed charge of the Park Hotel, which was erected in 1884, and to which many improvements were made in 1913 by Mr. Casterlin, making it one of the best equipped places of public entertainment in that section of the state. The house con- tains twenty-two bedrooms, in addition to the other necessary rooms, all of which are furnished with everything needful for the comfort and con- venience of his guests, the table is supplied bountifully with good, whole- some food, therefore the house receives its full quota of patrons. Mr. Cas- terlin caters largely to the auto trade, being capable of entertaining them in the proper manner. In 1909 he erected a commodious brick barn, fitted
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