USA > New Jersey > Morris County > A history of Morris County, New Jersey : embracing upwards of two centuries, 1710-1913, Volume II > Part 53
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JOHN H. DEMOTT
Pompton Plains, one of the most picturesque and beautiful locations in Morris county, New Jersey, is the scene of the birth and present home of John H. DeMott, an enterprising and progressive agriculturist, who by industry and good management has gained for himself a competence for his declining years, also a reputation for integrity and uprightness. The family is one of the oldest in this section of the State, dating back to Revolutionary times, the ancestors purchasing their property from the Indians, and the farm on which Mr. DeMott now resides has been in the family possession for more than a century.
Henry B. DeMott, father of John H. DeMott, was a native of Bergen, Hudson county, New Jersey. When six years of age he accompanied his parents to Morris county, New Jersey, locating in the vicinity of Pompton Plains, where his death occurred at the advanced age of over eighty years. His active career was devoted to farming pursuits, in which he was highly successful, his land being very productive by reason of high cultivation and constant and arduous labor. He was a man of influence in the community, active and public-spirited, and was respected by all with whom he was brought in contact. He married Catherine Brown, whose death occurred on the homestead farm, and they were the parents of four children, among whom was John H., of this review.
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John H. DeMott was born near his present place of residence, in 1844. During his early years he attended the district school and assisted in the work of the home farm, thus becoming inured to that kind of labor, and upon the death of his father he inherited the property, which consists of fifty-eight acres, and has since spent his entire time in its cultivation and improvement, it ranking now among the best farms in that locality. He has ever been thorough and painstaking in his work, and his practical methods have led to gratifying financial results. His political support has been given to the Republican party, but he has never sought or desired public office, devoting his entire time and energy to the management of his farm. He holds membership in the Reformed church, the local Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Junior Order of United American Mechanics.
Mr. DeMott married Rebecca Ida Jacobus, of Cedar Grove, New Jersey. Children : Eva May; Aleria Hosier, resides in Mountain View ; Arthur. The family take an active interest in all that pertains to the welfare of the community in which they have made their home for so many years, commanding the respect of all, sharing in their confidence and good will.
HARRY M. BALL
It is always pleasing to the biographist or student of human nature to enter into an analysis of the character and career of a successful tiller of the soil. Of the many citizens gaining their own livelihood, he alone stands pre-eminent as a totally independent factor, in short, "Monarch of all he surveys." His rugged honesty and sterling worth are the outcome of a close association with nature, and in all the relations of life he manifests that generous hospitality and kindly human sympathy which beget comrade- ship and which cement to him the friendship of all with whom he comes in contact. Successfully engaged in diversified agriculture and the raising of high-grade stock, Harry M. Ball is decidedly a prominent and popular citizen of Hanover township, Morris county, where he has resided during practically the entire period of his life thus far. He is a stockholder in several banks, including the Farmers and Merchants Bank at Boonton; the American Trust Company, of Morristown; and the First National Bank of Boonton.
Harry M. Ball was born on the farm which now represents his home, the same being located at Ball's Crossing, Morris county, New Jersey, December 3, 1861. His paternal grandparents were John and Nancy (Badgley) Ball, and in the maternal line he is a grandson of Joseph Johns- ton and Emily (Cobb) Minton. His parents, Henry and Mary Elizabeth (Minton) Ball, are both deceased, their remains being interred in a private cemetery on the old Ball estate, now owned by the subject of this review. The father was born on the above farm, and the mother was born in Han- over township, Morris county. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Ball, namely: John Minton ; J. Johnson ; Mollie, now deceased, was the wife of William W. Cook; Edward E .; Emily A., widow of the late Dr. H. B. Day, of Butler ; Harry M., of this notice; and Julia H.
After a common school education, Harry M. Ball attended private school at Fordville, New Jersey, for a time, and then began to assist his father in the work and management of the home farm. He has been in- terested in farming operations all his life, and is the sole owner of the old parental estate, which comprises 150 acres of exceedingly fertile, well im- proved land. Mr. Ball has been unusually successful in his various busi- ness ventures. Although a Democrat in his political convictions, he votes
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for the man rather than the principle. For the past seven years he has been fire warden of Hanover township. His religious faith is in harmony with the teachings of the First Reformed Church of Boonton, and he is an elder in the same. He fraternizes with the Royal Arcanum and with Arcana Lodge, No. 160, F. and A. M. He is kindly and affable in disposition, is a good business man, and a loyal and public-spirited citizen. Mr. Ball is unmarried.
FRANK BOTT
In the quiet and honorable pursuit of general farming and market- gardening, Frank Bott, of Boonton, Morris county, New Jersey, has achieved a degree of success that places him among the substantial citizens of the community. His faithful performance of the public duties which have fallen to his share also makes him a valued factor in public life, and dur- ing his long residence in Boonton he has ever commanded the respect and confidence of all with whom he has come in contact. The Bott family has lived in Morris county many years. John Bott, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Morris county, where he died at the age of forty- seven years. He was a farmer by occupation. He married Margaret Stickle, and had eight children, of whom three are now living.
Frank Bott was born on the farm on which he is located at the present time, in 1864, and was educated in the public schools of his native township. For a number of years he farmed as assistant to his father, then established himself in this line of industry independently, and has been very successful. His father erected all of the buildings now on the farm, but since Mr. Bott has taken charge of the place twenty-five years ago, he has made improve- ments of varied character and great value. In political matters he is Re- publican, and is at present a member of the township committee. His re- ligious affiliation is with the Methodist Episcopal church. He married (first) Nellie Gormley ; children : Delmar, married Olive Vreeland; Olive, Mil- dred, Harold, and Homer. He married (second) Rulie Danhof ; children : Catherine, Frank, and Margret. Mr. Bott is ever to be found on the side of all moral, educational and other measures which tend to the advancement and progress of the community, and his well spent life commends him to the confidence of all.
GEORGE W. MILLS
The name of Mills is met with frequently in all portions of the United States, and an old branch settled in Morris county, New Jersey. and con- tributed its full share toward developing that section of the State. A rep- resentative of this family is George W. Mills, a farmer of Boonton, Morris county. Theodore Mills, his father, is an engineer in the employ of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Company, and has been con- ยท nected with this corporation forty-two years. He lives about one mile be- low Boonton, and married Kate Storms, of Paterson, New Jersey. They have had eleven children.
George W. Mills was born in Hudson county, New Jersey, in 1878. Upon the completion of his education in the public schools of his native county, he accepted the position of fireman on the Delaware. Lackawanna & Western Railroad, and retained it three years. Six years were then spent in the manufacture of hats at the plant of the Knox Company, after which, in 1896, he came to Boonton, in which place he has had his
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residence since that time. His farm is about forty-three acres in extent, and he has been very successful in cultivating it for general produce. Since the last four years he has also been in the ice business, having his own pond, and runs one wagon to Boonton to supply his numerous customers, and another to the mountain lakes. His storage plant has a capacity of about 1,200 tons, and he has one man constantly in his employ. He stores spring water ice, and has the reputation of having the clearest ice in that section of the country. Politically he is a Republican, and he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Mills married Cora E. Stevenson, and has one child, Doris, born in 1907.
EDWARD L. HULT
A prosperous and progressive farmer of Boonton, Morris county, New Jersey, is to be found in the person of Edward L. Hult, who has brought to his work the energy and thrift which have been distinguishing character- istics of his Swedish ancestors.
His father, August Hult, was born in 1836, died in 1894. He was an officer in the Swedish navy, where he earned commendation. He married Charlotte Lineburg, and had ten children.
Edward L. Hult was born in Sweden in 1872 and came to this country about 1895. He was educated in the schools of his native land, and at a suitable age was sent to sea and followed this calling for a period of eight years. Upon his arrival in this country, he located near Boonton, and has now been identified with the county interests for almost twenty years. With the exception of one year he has always been engaged in farming here, of which he has made a decided success. He has made many improvements on the farm of forty acres which he now owns, and has erected all the buildings now upon it. They are considered by experts the best group of the kind in this section of the country. A strong Democrat in political opinion, he has served as a member of the board of elections. His fraternal affilia- tion is with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Hult married Theresa Earle, a native of Morris county, New Jersey. Mr. Hult is a far- seeing and enterprising man, keeping up with the progress of the times and the county numbers him among its valued citizens.
AUGUST MOLLER
One of the most public-spirited men of Parsippany, Morris county, New Jersey, is August Moller, who as his name indicates is of German extrac- tion. He is a son of Frederick Moller, who was a farmer and never left his native land.
August Moller was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1843. He received an excellent education in his native land. He emigrated to the United States in 1872, and since that time has made the interests of his adopted land his own, and furthered them to the fullest extent of his power. For some time he lived in the state of New York, then removed to Troy Hills, Morris county, New Jersey, later to Parsippany, in the same county, and has now been identified with that for the past forty years. He has given his active and beneficial support to the Democratic party, has served five years as a justice of the peace, and has now for the past four years been in office as road supervisor. He has been successfully engaged in farming operations, and his farm is a model of its size. Mr. Moller married Fredericka Lutz, and they became the parents of eight children, among whom was Harry B. Moller, mentioned below.
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HARRY B. MOLLER
Harry B. Moller, one of the representative men of Parsippany, Morris county, New Jersey, is a descendant of German stock, which has become thoroughly identified with the interests of the country of their adoption. The name he bears is one frequently met with and in a variety of forms, German, Dutch and English, form one of the very largest groups of families in the United States, and the name is to be found as Moller, Miller, Mollar, Mueller, Muller, etc.
Harry B. Moller, son of August Moller, was born in Parsippany, Morris county, New Jersey, in 1881. He was educated in the public schools in the vicinity of his home. Having completed his education, he was apprenticed to learn the blacksmith's trade, with which, and allied trades, he has since been identified. He established himself in business independently, about four years ago, and has a fine shop, which he erected himself. He is an expert horseshoer, and also extensively engaged in wagon building. In all of these branches he has been decidedly successful. In political matters he takes a deep interest, but will not affiliate with any party, reserving to himself the right to cast his vote for the candidate whom he considers the best man for the office to be filled. Mr. Moller married Gertrude Eagles, of Morris county, New Jersey, and they have one child, Ruth Elizabeth, now six years of age.
PATRICK O'NEILL
Patrick O'Neill, one of the oldest agriculturists in Parsippany, Morris county, New Jersey, is one of the representative men of that section of the county. He is descended from the O'Neills, of Ireland, whose name has become famous in the annals of that country.
Patrick O'Neill, his father, emigrated to America with his family, and here found employment as a laborer. He died in Brooklyn, New York, at an advanced age, having led an active and useful life. He was three times married, the mother of Patrick O'Neill, of this sketch, being Julia (Car- raher) O'Neill.
Patrick O'Neill was born in Ireland in 1851, and was an infant of one year when he was brought to this country by his parents. All his life has been spent in Morris county, New Jersey, where he was educated in the public schools of Parsippany, and with which all his business interests have been identified. He was a strong, sturdy lad, and upon leaving school he found employment in railroad construction work, continuing until about 1874, when he established himself in the hay business, which he has carried on successfully since that time. He is also engaged in general farm- ing, owning a finely cultivated farm of thirty acres. On this he raises general produce of excellent quality, for which he finds a ready market. Politicany Mr. O'Neill is a Democrat. Mr. O'Neill married Jeannette Barton, of Troy Hills, and they have had children: William H., of East Orange, New Jersey ; Mrs. Kate Leonard ; Charles ; Mrs. Nellie Looker ; Frank C .; Mrs. Emma McMahan, of Orange, New Jersey.
JOHN F. DICKISSON
Successfully engaged in the decorating business in Parsippany, Morris county, New Jersey, is John F. Dickisson, who has attained a leading place in industrial circles through his own well-directed efforts. Like others, he
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has not found in his business that all days were equally bright, but with resolute purpose and unshaken energy he has progressed, and has attained to a plane of financial comfort. He descends from a family which has been identified with the interests of New Jersey for some generations.
Royal T. Dickisson, father of John F. Dickisson, was born in 1840, and was a farmer in Sussex county, New Jersey. He removed to Morristown, Morris county, New Jersey, in 1886, after selling his farm in Sussex county, and engaged in landscape gardening for many years, his death occurring May 15, 1910. He married Elizabeth Heater, born in Pike county, Pennsyl- vania, where she lived until she was eighteen years of age, and she is now living with her son, John F. Children: Mrs. Georgia Strait, of Paterson, New Jersey ; Ira, of Weatherly, Pennsylvania; Edward, of Newark, New Jersey ; John F.
John F. Dickisson was born in Sussex county, New Jersey, in 1869. After the removal of his parents to Morris county he attended school in Morristown for the period of one year. He was apprenticed in Morristown to learn the trade of painting and decorating and, having finished this apprenticeship, secured a position in a decorating shop in the city of New York. While living there he attended the New York Trades' School, and also the Cooper Institute. He then returned to Morris county, New Jersey, in 1893, and located at Troy Hills. Three years later he leased a dairy farm at the same place, and conducted this until 1910, when he purchased his present place of six acres at Parsippany. He has built a shop on his prop- erty for the proper conduct of his painting and decorating business, and during the busy season employs a considerable number of men. He has also erected a fine barn and other out-buildings, and made many improve- ments on this place. In political matters he affiliates with the Progressive party, and he is a member of the Baptist church. He married Minnie Bayles, of Morristown, New Jersey, and they have had children : Olive L., Lester, Ruth, Bayles.
WALTER K. TRELEASE
The name of Trelease is one not met with frequently, and like all English names commencing with "Tre," it has had its origin in Wales, from whence the sturdy bearers of it came to this country, and they have trans- mitted their sterling characteristics to their descendants. Walter K. Tre- lease, a farmer of Boonton, Morris county, New Jersey, who is now living retired, has amply proven his possession of the valuable traits which char- acterized his ancestors.
Richard Trelease, his grandfather, emigrated from Cornwall, England, some time about the year 1700, and spent the remainder of his life here.
William Trelease, son of Richard Trelease, was born at Fox Hill, Mor- ris county, New Jersey, was a farmer in Morris county, and died there at the age of fifty-eight years. He was in active service during the War of 1812. He married Margaret Doremus, and they had seven children. Of these the only ones now living are: Samuel R., now in his eighty-seventh year ; Walter K., the subject of this review.
Walter K. Trelease was born on the farm on which he is now living in 1836. He was educated in the district schools near his home, and upon leaving school found an opening in the Boonton Iron Works, where he was employed for some years. Later he learned the blacksmith's trade in Sus- sex county. It was from that county that he enlisted in 1862, becoming a private in Company K, Twenty-seventh Regiment New Jersey Volunteer
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Infantry. He served ten months, and was under heavy fire at the battle of Fredericksburg. Upon his return from the war he again went to Sussex county, where he was engaged in blacksmithing one year. He then pur- chased his present farm, on which he has made many improvements, among them being the erection of the fine residence in which he lives. Mr. Trelease has never married. His political affiliations are with the Republican party, and he served one year as constable. He is a member of the John Hill Post, Grand Army of the Republic, of Boonton. The schoolhouse where Mr. Trelease used to attend is now used as a hennery on the Quimby farm. It was located at the corner of the road opposite the George Cole house, and was known as the Grimes School. Mr. Trelease is of the opinion that a man should have decided views on all questions, and should be fearless in the expression of his honest convictions. Years of toil have brought him a handsome competence that now enables him to enjoy his declining days.
WILLIAM DECKER
It is confidently believed that all the Deckers, now resident in America, have had a common ancestor in Abraham Decker, who settled in New York in the early days of colonization. From this point they have spread until they are represented in almost every State of the Union. A well known representative in the business world is to be found in the person of William Decker, of Boonton, Morris county, New Jersey, who has inherited many of the characteristic traits of his sturdy Dutch ancestors.
His father, Jacob Decker, was born in Morris county, New Jersey, 1810, where this branch of the Decker family had been settled for some genera- tions, and died near Boonton when he was over seventy years of age. He was a prosperous farmer and blacksmith, and was the owner of four farms. He married Ann Vanderhoof, a descendant of another old Dutch family, and they had a large family of whom those now living are: William, Emmons, Hudson.
William Decker was born near Boonton, in Pequannock township, Morris county, New Jersey, in 1834, and has lived in Boonton since the Civil War. He owes his educational advantages to the public schools of his native township, and after leaving school his entire time was devoted to farming. July 18, 1861, he enlisted, being assigned to the First New York Mounted Rifles, under General Kilpatrick, and was in active service three years. He was an active participant in numerous battles, and was honorably dis- charged at City Point as veteran sergeant. Upon returning to his home, he followed various occupations for a time, then purchased his present farm, and also a tract of timber land. During a period of eighteen years he operated a saw mill, and was also engaged in teaming. Another industry which claimed a share of his time and attention was a threshing machine, which he operated with much success. He is now living retired from these active industries, but by no means leading an idle life. He is Republican in political opinion, and a member of John Hail Post, Grand Army of the Republic.
Mr. Decker married (first) Elvina Young, who died prior to the Civil War; he married (second) Martha A. Young, a sister of his first wife. Children by first marriage : Clement Oscar and Elvina. Children by second marriage : Emmons D. and William E.
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ALLISON VANDERHOOF
No historical or biographical record of Morris county, New Jersey, would be complete without mention of the Vanderhoof family, of which Allison Vanderhoof, of Boonton, is a representative in the present generation. He is an enterprising and progressive man of business, and has shown his worth to the community on various occasions.
Elijah Vanderhoof, his father, was born in Morris county, as had been a number of his ancestors, and died there at the age of eighty years. He was a farmer on the Vanderhoof homestead. He married (first) Amanda Miller, (second) Alice Taylor, of Newark, New Jersey, and had ten children by each marriage.
Allison Vanderhoof was born on the Vanderhoof homestead, about two miles from Boonton, in 1849, and acquired his education in the public schools of his township. He worked on the farm for his father until he was twenty- two years of age, when he established himself independently. He has a fine farm of sixty-six acres, which he cultivates according to the most mod- ern and successful methods, and in addition to this has a sand pit, which he works steadily. He has erected a fine barn and house on his place, and has made a number of other and valuable improvements on the property. It is very plainly to be seen that Mr. Vanderhoof has inherited in rich measure the sturdy and sterling traits of his Dutch ancestors, and combined them with American ideas of progressiveness. He takes a deep interest in what- ever concerns the welfare of the community, gives his political support to the Republican party, but has never cared to hold public office. For seven- teen years he has been a member of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, and he is secretary of the Daughters of Liberty. Mr. Vander- hoof married Mary L., a daughter of Jacob Decker, and they have had chil- dren : Annie M., married John E. Vreeland, of Bloomingdale, has two children : Marjorie and Helen : Eli, a policeman of Montville, who mar- ried Anna Dixon, and has one child, Irene.
CHARLES S. CASE
Charles S. Case, numbered among the enterprising and highly successful business men of Boonton, proprietor of an establishment devoted to the sale of groceries and meats, also an active factor in a number of enterprises that add to the general welfare of that thriving town, is a native of Sussex county, New Jersey, born December 29, 1873, son of James Gordon Case, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work, and his wife, Emma (Lantz) Case, and grandson of John O. and Jane (Van Kirk) Case, all natives of Sussex county, where they were honored and respected by all who knew them.
Charles S. Case attended the common schools of Chester, New Jersey, receiving an excellent preliminary education, and this was supplemented by a commercial course in Coleman's Business College, Newark, New Jersey. He then entered the general store operated by his father and Mr. Simpson under the style of Simpson & Case, remaining for a period of ten years, during which time he became thoroughly familiar with the business in all its details, displaying great aptness for that line of work, and also a keen interest in everything pertaining to the same. At the expiration of the above specified time, he formed a business partnership with Phineas Tred- way, conducting a business similar to that of his father, and this connection continued until 1907, proving highly satisfactory and remunerative, and
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