USA > New Jersey > Morris County > A history of Morris County, New Jersey : embracing upwards of two centuries, 1710-1913, Volume II > Part 6
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George Pierson as a boy availed himself of the advantages afforded in the district schools of Randolph township. At the age of twelve years he was obliged to leave school in order to assist his father in the management of the farm, as the latter had just become blind. He remained at the paternal home until his twenty-second year and after the death of his father he inherited a portion of the old homestead farm. At the present time, 1913, he owns three hundred and fifty acres of land in Randolph township, the same being divided into three different plots. After his marriage, in 1861, he was engaged in farming enterprises for a time and in 1861 he engaged in the lumber business at Dover, where he is still a member of the well-known firm of The Park Union Lumber Company, dealers in lumber and supplies, of which he is president. Mr. Pierson is one of the most prominent lumber merchants in Morris county. He is a shrewd business man and one who is honorable and straightforward in all his dealings.
A Democrat in politics, Mr. Pierson was township committeeman for
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two terms and freeholder eight years. In 1892 he was elected surrogate of Morris county for five years, and for three terms, first in 1892, he was mayor of Dover. In the latter capacity he accomplished a great deal for the improvement of this city, his administration having been fraught with progressive action. Mr. Pierson is now seventy-five years of age but his youthful spirit and innate cheerfulness make him seem much younger. He is a ·man of good judgment and liberal views and his advice is eagerly sought on many important matters. He has been a leader-was first to erect a four-story building, laid the first cement walk and put in the first plate glass store windows. Along about 1895 he began operations in the real estate line, and has erected eighteen stores in Dover, also a number of dwellings and has some sixty tenants. In 1912-13 the last building erected by him was a business block 25x100 feet, four stories. This building was erected entirely from the sand and gravel taken from the cellar, with the addition only of the required amount of cement; it is one of the most attrac- tive buildings in Dover. He has done probably more than any other man toward building up Dover. He is a director in the Farmers Mutual Insurance Company.
Mr. Pierson married (first) in January, 1861, Elmira Youngs, of Mount Freedom, who died in 1898 and who is buried in the Mill Brook cemetery. Married (second) Mrs. Anna E. (Lyon) Pool, a native of Morris county, New Jersey. The first union was prolific of the following children : William H., engaged in the clothing business at Dover, married Laura Hedden and they have four children; Elmer, George, Arrilla, Ethel; Mary Emma, married Henry Young and she died in 1894, survived by two children, Grace and Ida; Nora, at the paternal home. Mr. Pierson is a member of Mount Freedom Methodist Episcopal Church.
J. THOMAS SCOTT
The name of Scott is one which has become famous throughout the civilized world in many lines, and it would seem as if all who bear it have a right to at least some share of renown. J. Thomas Scott, of Chatham, New Jersey, editor and proprietor of the Chatham Press and also of a printing establishment in that town, is no exception to this general rule.
Mr. Scott was born in London, England, March 13, 1872, his mother dying when he was very young, and his father leaving that country very shortly after the death of his wife. The education of Mr. Scott was watched over by relatives and he was sent to a private school at St. Chloe, Amberley, Gloucestershire, England, which he attended until the age of ten years, when he was sent to another private school for a short time, during which he paid for his tuition by singing in the choir. At the age of twelve years he came to the United States, arriving at the city of New York, whose public schools he attended. He was graduated from Public School No. 3, and was then a student at the Evening High School for a period of five years. After his graduation from the day school he was apprenticed to his uncle to learn the trade of printing, and in 1890 his uncle sent him to England to obtain journalistic experience, which he thought could be ob- tained in perfection nowhere else. Mr. Scott remained in England five years, and during this period was associated with The Litchfield Mercury, the North Wilts Herald, and the Bromley Chronicle. His experience on these papers was a varied one, from the gathering of the smallest items of local news to writing editorials. Returning to America, he was engaged in a journalistic capacity in the city of New York for some time, then
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went to Summit, New Jersey, having accepted the position of foreman ou the Summit Herald. At the end of several years he resigned this position and went to New Providence, New Jersey, where he founded a paper of his own, called the Passaic Valley News, which is still in existence and for which he does the printing at the present time. His next removal was to the town of Chatham, New Jersey, which he has made his headquarters since that time. He purchased the local paper, which had been started the previous year and which had been a failure up to that time, and has made it an unqualified success. It had been a four-page sheet with only sixty subscribers and but two columns of advertising matter. The equipment consisted of an old army press, one stand of type, and Mr. Scott was obliged to work alone. This he has developed to its present importance. The present equip- ment consists of a modern type-setting machine, an up-to-date cylinder press, and other innovations tending to perfect workmanship, and the office force consists of a number of assistants in addition to Mr. Scott himself. The Chatham Press is a weekly publication, now has a considerable and constantly growing list of subscribers and is eagerly looked forward to by its numerous readers.
Mr. Scott married, January 1, 1900, Olive Oswin, of Brooklyn, New York, who died in 1909. They had five children, of whom those now living are: Dorothea, aged five years; J. Frederick, aged three years. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Madison Lodge, No. 93, Free and Accepted Masons; Madison Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; and the Congregational church, in which he is also a member of the choir. Educational matters have always had his earnest attention, and he is a member of the board of education of Chatham. He is also a member of the board of health. Mr. Scott is held in high esteem in the community, not only as a man of wide reading and deep learning, but for his high-minded- ness and integrity.
L. F. & D. F. STURGIS
Lewis Francis and Daniel Farrand Sturgis, of the well known firm of Sturgis Brothers, Builders and Contractors, of Morristown, New Jersey, the fourth generation of the family to carry on this line of business in Morris county, are recognized as men of strong individual character, keen discernment, unflagging enterprise and energy and of unquestioned reli- ability in all of their business relations.
They descend from the sturdy New England family of the same name, the men of which were upright, industrious, frugal, God-fearing and law- abiding, who did their share toward the upbuilding of that section of America while it was yet a wild, unconquered country. Their progenitor in America was Edward Sturgis, of a branch of a distinguished English family. He came to America a few years after the Mayflower made her eventful and historic voyage, and settled in the colony of Massachusetts. Records of that day prove that he was in Charleston, Massachusetts, in 1634. His son, Edward Sturgis Jr., was born in England, April 10, 1624, and came to Yarmouth, Massachusetts, with his father, while yet a small boy, making the trip across the Atlantic in one of the tiny sailing vessels that infrequently visited American shores. Edward Sturgis married Temperance Gorham, born May 5, 1646, in Marshfield, Massachusetts, daughter of Captain John Gorham and his wife, Desire (Howland) Gorham. Desire Howland was the daughter of Captain Jolin Howland and his wife, Elizabeth (Tilley) Howland. Elizabeth Tilley was the daughter of John
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Tilley and his wife, Bridget (Van de Velde) Tilley, John Howland and wife and John Tilley and wife being Mayflower Pilgrims. Bridget Van de Velde married John Tilley while he, with other English exiles, was sojourn- ing in Delfthaven, Holland. Edward Sturgis died December 8, 1678. To cement the Sturgis alliance with Mayflower descendants, Jonathan Sturgis, of Barnstable, Massachusetts, married Temperance Gorham, a daughter of Ebenezer Gorham, of the fourth generation. Jonathan Sturgis was a Revolutionary soldier, and enlisted in April, 1775, in Captain Hart Williams' company, Thirty-first Regiment, commanded by Colonel Edmund Phinney. The Sturgis family of New Jersey, as well as that of New England and other parts of the United States, are thus qualified to become members of the Mayflower Society, Colonial societies and the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution. A more recent ancestor, filled with the keen, restless spirit that made pioneers in the early days of the seventeenth century, left Massachusetts and finally located in New Jersey. His descendants eventually drifted to Morris county and there settled, where they have remained for generations, admittedly among its most respected citizens.
Walter Sturgis, grandfather of the Sturgis Brothers, was the second generation of the Morris county builders of the name. He was an honorable, upright man.
Lewis Robert Sturgis, father of the Sturgis Brothers, was born in the Sturgis homestead in Green Village, Morris county, New Jersey, May 10, 1816. He received his education in the village schools, and on leaving them he entered with his father into the building business, making the third generation to select the occupation. At the death of his father he succeeded to the business and soon made for himself a name in the building world. While making his home in Green Village he established himself in Morris- town, and during the years that he was in business he erected forty houses in Morristown. He was of the firm of L. R. & E. B. Sturgis. He died March 27, 1885, at Green Village, much regretted by his large circle of friends and acquaintances. In the life and character of Mr. Sturgis is demonstrated the possibility of achieving an honorable and gratifying success through well directed and unremitting efforts in legitimate channels. His life exemplied success. He was a supporter of the principles of Democracy all of his life, as were his forefathers, and was honored by his constituency on many occasions with county offices. He served as freeholder twice. He married Susan Cochran, like himself a descendant of an old New England family. She was born in Green Village, August 4, 1820, died February 7, 1882. They were the parents of six children, one of whom died in infancy, the remainder reaching the adult age. Of the five growing to maturity only two are now living, the two brothers. Maria C. became the wife of Norwood Genung, passing away October, 1890; Mary A. married John B. Ammeran, dying July 17, 1879; Watson C., also deceased.
Lewis Francis Sturgis, senior member of the firm of Sturgis Brothers, Builders and Contractors, of Morristown, New Jersey, was born at the comfortable old homestead of the Sturgis family in Green Village, Morris county, New Jersey, August 31, 1853. He attended the school in the village of his birth, and on leaving it, while yet a mere youth, became engaged with his father in his present occupation. As one of New Jersey's native sons she has cause to be proud of him, not only for the great success he has achieved as a member of the firm of the fourth generation, but also on account of his high integrity in personal matters, and his great sense of justice. Like his forebears he is a Democrat, supporting the ticket, State and national. His church affiliations are with St. Peter's
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Protestant Episcopal, attended by himself and family. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum, and has been connected with the fire department since 1886. He married, November 10, 1884, Lettie Bonnell, a member of a substantial New Jersey family. They are the parents of two children, of whom, Wallace, died at the age of five; and Raymond F., born November 1, 1887.
Daniel Farrand Sturgis, junior member of the firm, was born in the Sturgis homestead, Green Village, July 27, 1857. He was partially educated in the public school in Green Village, and afterward attended the high school in Newark, New Jersey. Like his brother he stands for high business probity in Morristown, and like him commands the respect and admiration of his fellow citizens. They are both public-spirited always advocating the measures that they believe will be beneficial to their town, county and State. He is a Democrat, working for and voting with the party on all occasions, but has never held any public office. He is a bright member of the Royal Arcanum, and is also a member of the local fire brigade, and has been since 1886. He, with his family, is connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church of Morristown. He married, May 13, 1885, Julia C. Lindsley, a descendant of an old distinguished family of Morris county, living at Spring Valley, which has made many bright and heroic pages in the history of the county. Of their six fine children they have lost only one, Madeline, who died in infancy. The others are: Oscar L., born June 6, 1886; Lewis Robert, September 13, 1887; Carl J., February 24, 1890; Alice, October 25, 1892; Sarah, July 16, 1896.
AUGUSTUS J. LAUENSTEIN
Ideas backed with indefatigable energy, the desire and power to accom- plish big things, these qualities make of success not an accident but a logical result. The man of initiative is he who combines with a capacity for hard work an indomitable will. This type of man recognizes no such thing as failure and his final success is on a parity with his well directed efforts. For the past fifteen years Augustus J. Lauenstein, who is a business man of tremendous energy and unusual ability, has been a resident of Dover, New Jersey, and here he is now secretary and treasurer of the General Contracting & Reality Company.
Mr. Lauenstein was born in Springfield, New Jersey, April 1, 1869, son of William and Susan (McManus) Lauenstein, the former a native of Germany and the latter of whom was born in Ireland. The father immi- grated to America about the year 1850 and became a prominent farmer in Union county, New Jersey. He died April 11, 1913, at the venerable age of eighty-eight years, and his wife passed away in 1910, aged eighty years. Mr. and Mrs. William Lauenstein had six children, namely: Catherine, Henry, Charles, Suzanne, Augustus J., James.
The second youngest in a family of six children, Augustus J. Lauenstein was reared to maturity at Springfield, New Jersey, where he attended public school until he had reached his eighteenth year. At that time, in 1887, he became interested in the accident insurance business in New York City and was so employed during the ensuing ten years. From 1897 until 1910 he was engaged in the life insurance business and for eight years was superintendent of the Dover branch of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. In 1913 he resigned his position in that company to engage in business for himself in his home town being financially interested in the General Contracting & Realty Company of Dover. He is secretary and
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treasurer of this corporation, which controls a large business throughout Morris county.
Mr. Lauenstein is affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at Dover and with the Knights of Columbus. His interest in political questions is deep and sincere and he gives an earnest support to Democratic principles, believing that the platform of that party contains the best elements of good government. He is a member of the board of education at Dover and is ever on the qui vive to do all in his power to further the progress and improvement of his home city and county. In religious matters he is a devout communicant of the Catholic church.
October 30, 1901, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Lauenstein to Elizabeth Conlan, daughter of John and Julia (Foley) Conlan. Mr. Conlan is deceased and his widow is now the wife of Edward Kelly, a sketch of whose career appears elsewhere in this work. Mrs. Lauenstein has one sister and two brothers: Mary, Thomas, John. Two children have come to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Lauenstein, namely: Edward J. and Julia M., both of whom are at the parental home.
FRANCIS H. TIPPETT
At this place in a volume devoted to the careers of representative citi- zens of Morris county, New Jersey, it is a pleasure to insert a brief nar- rative concerning Francis H. Tippett, who has ever been on the alert to forward all measures and enterprises projected for the general welfare, and who has served his community in various official positions of trust and responsibility. He was assessor for Randolph township and the town of Dover for five years, and for seven years was collector of taxes for the town of Dover. He is now devoting the major portion of his time and attention to his large real estate and insurance business, which he has been conduct- ing at Dover since 1893.
A native of Morris county, New Jersey, Francis H. Tippett was born at Rockaway, December 6, 1860. His parents, Samuel and Julia (Call) Tip- pett, are both deceased. His father was a native of England, born at Chase- water, county of Cornwall, December 8, 1826, and his mother was born at Haverstraw-on-the-Hudson, New York. At the age of twenty-two years Samuel Tippett left England for America, under contract by the British North American Mining Company, to engage in the mining business in their copper mines in the Lake Superior district. He arrived at Quebec after a voyage of three months in a sailing vessel. His practical knowl- edge of mining soon elevated him to a position of responsibility, and he did not long remain in a subordinate capacity. From Lake Superior he went to the Bruce and North Shore mines on the Canadian side, then to Dutchess county, New York, and later to the Irondale mines of Morris county, New Jersey, where he was during the panic of 1857. The latter part of his life was spent at Hibernia, being in partnership with Richard Stephens, under the firm name of Tippett & Stephens, engaging in contract work for the Glendon Iron Works. In 1859 he formed a partnership with Robert Rich- ards, under the firm name of Richards & Tippett, and continued with this association until his death, doing a large business as contractors, under the name of the Glendon Iron Company in their extensive mines at Hibernia. They employed hundreds of men, and doubtless raised more iron ore than any other firm of mining contractors in New Jersey in the same length of time.
It was in January, 1855, that Samuel Tippett married Julia Call. They
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became the parents of six sons, three of whom are living: Francis H., Charles E., George F. His second wife was Ellen Rose, also of Haver- straw, New York, who survives him, with all of her children-Amelia, now Mrs. Eugene Westbrook, Edward, Samuel, Jeanette.
Francis H. Tippett did not follow the footsteps of his father. After finishing the prescribed courses of study in the public schools of Rockaway, he attended the Centenary Collegiate Institute at Hackettstown, New Jer- sey, for three years. From there he went with the Hibernia Mine Railroad Company until 1879, at which time he came to Dover and accepted the position of secretary to the late George Richards, with whom he remained eight years. Mr. Tippett next formed a partnership with William H. Baker, and engaged in the mercantile business for some time, under the name of Baker & Tippett, later disposing of his interest to his partner. Since 1879, Mr. Tippett has been a resident of Dover, and for the past twenty years has been most successfully engaged in the real estate and insurance busi- ness there. He manifests a great interest in civic affairs, is a stalwart Repub- lican, and one of Dover's most respected and honored citizens. He is a notary public and commissioner of deeds. He fraternizes with Dover Lodge, No. 782, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of which he has been treasurer for many years, and holds that position at present. His religious faith is in harmony with the teachings of the Presbyterian church.
On October 23, 1883, Mr. Tippett married Henrietta Baker, daughter of William Hedges and Clarissa (Dell) Baker, one of the most prominent families of Morris county, and enrolled among its earliest settlers. Mr. and Mrs. Tippett have one son, Clarence Baker Tippett, born July 22, 1884, a prominent attorney in New York State and New Jersey.
Clarence B. Tippett, after completing the Dover High School course, entered New York University, graduating from that institution in 1906 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He obtained his legal training in New York Law School, graduating therefrom in 1908 with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. He successfully passed the bar examinations of both New York and New Jersey, and carries on a lucrative practice in those states. He is a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity, a member of the executive commit- tee of the Delta Upsilon Club of New York, and of various other clubs and organizations.
On September 18, 1913, at "Rensselaerwyck," Katonah, New York, Clar- ence B. Tippett married Rebecca Coffing Van Rensselaer, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. James H. Van Rensselaer, of Belleville, New Jersey, and one of the old and illustrious Van Rensselaer family of New York.
JOHN A. EGBERT
Among the enterprising and progressive business men of Dover, John A. Egbert holds distinctive prestige as a strictly self-made man. Here he is president of the board of water commissioners and sole owner of a large contracting and building concern, the same having erected many fine structures in Morris county, including several magnificent churches and schools.
October 18, 1866, at Marcella, Morris county, New Jersey, occurred the birth of John A. Egbert, who is a son of John A. and Elizabeth (Allison) Egbert, the former of whom is deceased and the latter of whom is now a resident of Marcella. The father was a prominent farmer in Morris county during the greater part of his lifetime and he was summoned to the life eternal in 1902. He and his wife were devout members of the Methodist
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church and she is still connected with the church of that denomination at Marcella. Eleven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Egbert and following are their names in respective order of birth: Peter, Amida, John A., of this notice, Bertha, Viola, Jane, Melvin, Evelina, Bannesse, Harry, Inez.
To the vigorous discipline of the old homestead farm, John A. Egbert was reared to adult age. His education consisted of such learning as he was able to glean in the neighboring district schools and when he reached young manhood he entered upon an apprenticeship to learn the trade of carpenter. He followed that line of work until his arrival in Dover, in 1896, and later opened offices as general contractor and builder, his partner in this line of enterprise being Halsey M. Hiller. This firm was established in 1903, and conducted under the style of Hiller & Egbert, Contractors and Builders. They employ an average of twelve men the entire year around and among the prominent structures erected under their supervision may be mentioned the First Methodist Episcopal Stone Church and the Church of the Sacred Heart, both of Dover. Since 1912 Mr. Egbert has been president of the Dover board of water commissioners and in that connection has helped wonderfully to improve the water system of this section. He is public-spirited and active in his civic attitude and in politics maintains an independent position, preferring to give his support to men and measures meeting with the approval of his judgment rather than to vote along strictly partisan lines. He exercises a decided influence for better government and improved conditions in his home community.
In 1892 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Egbert to Hannah E. Zeek, born and reared in Morris county, daughter of William C. and Harriet (Wittie) Zeek. Mr. Zeek was engaged in farming operations during his active career and he and his wife had six children: Eliza, Ann, Minerva, Margaret, Augusta, Hannah E. (Mrs. Egbert), Ward. Mr. and Mrs. Egbert have one daughter, Christina, whose birth occurred in 1898.
In a fraternal way Mr. Egbert is affiliated with the Junior Order of United American Mechanics and with the Royal Arcanum, both at Dover. He was reared a Methodist and still owns allegiance to the doctrines promulgated by that denomination. He has lived a life of usefulness such as few men know. God-fearing, law-abiding, progressive, his life is as truly that of a Christian gentleman as any man's may well be. Unwaveringly, he has done the right as he has interpreted it. His life has been exemplary in all respects and he has ever supported those interests which are calculated to uplift and benefit humanity, while his own high moral worth is deserving of the highest commendation.
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