USA > New Jersey > Morris County > A history of Morris County, New Jersey : embracing upwards of two centuries, 1710-1913, Volume II > Part 64
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The history of Morris county would be incomplete if it did not beal upon its pages the name of Dr. Britton D. Evans, whose career has been of signal usefulness and honor, and who is in sympathy with all that is beneficial, pure and good in the community. Permanent success, which has been achieved by Dr. Evans, does not grow out of more activity, persever- ance and judicious action, but personal virtue, combined with these.
Dr. Evans was born in Caroline county, Maryland, October 1, 1858, son of Dr. Louis W. and (Boone) Evans, grandson of Colonel Britton Evans, and a direct descendant of Christmas Evans, the eminent Welsh divine, and of Daniel Boone, the celebrated Kentucky pioneer. Colonel Britton Evans served under General Harrison in the war of 1812, with rank of lieutenant of artillery, took part in the war with Mexico, the Florida war, and at the time of his death was organizing a company to go to Greece to help her in her struggle for independence against Turkey. His original commission, signed by Presidents Monroe and Madison, and also the original credentials which enabled him to organize a company in aid of the Greeks, are in possession of Dr. Evans, of Morristown. Dr. Louis W. Evans was a graduate of two of the medical schools of Philadelphia, and he practiced for many years in that city. He married (first) a Miss Patton, and (second) - Boone.
Dr. Evans was reared to manhood in his native state, acquiring an academic education which prepared him for the activities of life. Later he became a student in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Baltimore, from which he was graduated in the class of 1885. He located for active practice in Millington, Kent county, Maryland, and continued thus employed for two years, when he was appointed upon the staff of surgeon of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. Without solicitation on his part, he was
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called to the position of assistant medical superintendent of the Maryland Hospital for the Insane, in which capacity he served for nearly five years, gaining a valuable experience. He then resigned in order to accept the position of medical superintendent of the Maryland Institution for the Feeble Minded, and after a very short period he was offered the position of medical director of the New Jersey State Hospital, at Morris Plains, this being tendered to him for his efficiency and superior ability in his line of work. On June 1, 1892, Dr. Evans entered upon his duties, and dur- ing his incumbency of office raised the standard of the institution until it ranked with the best in the country. The patients are the insane of New Jersey, and Dr. Evans gained renown as a specialist in that line. Many re- forms were introduced during his administration, namely: The reduction of the use of mechanical restraints among the patients, the number of pa- tients under such restraint being reduced to less than one per cent; the establishing of out-door amusements on a broader plane; a pathological laboratory, second to none, was organized ; a training school for nurses was established ; the medical library was greatly improved, and in fact advance- ment marked every department of the institution.
Dr. Evans has gained an enviable reputation as an expert on insanity, and his ability on its medico-legal aspect has for years been recognized by the legal fraternity of New Jersey and other states. He has been employed on numerous important trials in New Jersey and New York, in all of which his work gave evidence of a thorough knowledge of the subject and added still further to his reputation as a specialist. His contributions to the medi- cal literature of the world on nervous and mental diseases have been numer- ous and valuable. He is a member of the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of the State of Maryland, the American Medical Association, the Medical Society of New Jersey, the Medico-Legal Society of New York, the Ameri- can Medico-Psychological Association, the National Society for the Study and Care of Epileptics or Insane, the National Conference of Charities and Correction, ex-president of the Morris County Medical Society, and an honorary member of the Temperance Reform League of Boston, a society organized for the scientific study and cure of inebriety. He is also a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, Improved Order of Red Men and the Royal Arcanum. He is a member of the Methodist church, as is also his wife.
Dr. Evans married, in 1889, Addie E. Dill, a native of Maryland, but at that time a resident of Wilmington, Delaware.
RICHARD W. MCEWAN
Richard W. McEwan, of Morristown, actively and prominently known in trade circles, his character and integrity being above reproach. is a rep- resentative of a family which has long been connected with the paper trade throughout the entire country, their name being synonymous with honor- able and straightforward dealings.
Richard W. McEwan was born in Bloomfield, Essex county, New Jersey. January 25, 1866, son of Robert and Sarah A. (Walsh) McEwan, and grandson of Anthony and Mary (Coomb) McEwan, the grandfather hav- ing been a paper-maker by trade. Robert McEwan (father) was born near the city of Glasgow, Scotland, September 8, 1828. He came to this country in early manhood. He followed his trade of paper-maker in Easton, Connecticut, from whence he removed to Caldwell, New Jersey, then to Bloomfield and Whippany, same state, leading for many years a retired life
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in the latter named place. He married Sarah A., daughter of John and Ann Emeline Walsh, who bore him nine children as follows: Wilson E., William W., Robert B., Jesse L., Richard W., Mary, Arthur, Frank, Fred.
Richard W. McEwan received a practical education in the public schools adjacent to his home, and at an early age entered his father's factory as an employee, spending considerable time in each department, thus familiarizing himself with all branches of the work, mastering the details of each. Be- fore attaining the age of eighteen he had acquired an interest in the busi- ness, and since then he has been an active factor in the success of the enterprise, which was established by his father, who built up a business of immense proportions, which is now being successfully carried on by his sons, they keeping up the honor of the family name. The factory is one of the best equipped in the country, being supplied with the latest and best improved machinery, and all accessories for the manufacture of the differ- ent grades and kinds of paper. They are in receipt of an extensive trade, which is constantly increasing in volume and importance, from which they derive a lucrative income. Mr. McEwan is a Republican in politics, but has never sought or held public office. He is a member of Cincinnati Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons ; Madison Chapter, No. 12, R. A. M .; Ode de St. Amand Commandery, Knights Templar, and the Topkaow Club, of Morris- town.
Mr. McEwan married Hannah H., daughter of George H. and Martha B. Brown, of Washington, North Carolina. Children: Richard W. Jr., born August 5, 1895; Martha Virginia, born February 27, 1898.
CYRUS E. COOK
Cyrus E. Cook might almost be called the father of Mount Arlington, so closely has he been identified with the beginnings and growth of this charming New Jersey town, so generous of effort, time and money in furth- ering its development, both in the early years of its existence and later. Settling in the region a number of years before the incorporation of Mount Arlington borough, he has witnessed, almost from the beginning, the grow- ing popularity of the eastern shore of Lake Hopatcong as a pleasure resort, and taken an active part in the construction of its most important roads and buildings. He comes of an old South Jersey family, long identified with Burlington county, one of the garden spots of the east, a region of pros- perous farms and wealthy farmers, where his father and grandfather were both engaged in that profitable occupation.
His grandfather, John Cook, was a resident of Burlington, Burlington county, and owned and operated a farm in the vicinity, but it was at Mount Holly, the county seat, that Cyrus Cook Sr., our subject's father, was born September 7. 1802. He was a farmer all his life and was living on a farm at Wrightstown, New Jersey, at the time of his death, July 2, 1856. His wife, Isabella (Murdock) Cook, was a native of the quaint town of New Egypt, which has the distinction of standing in three counties, Burlington, Monmouth and Ocean, New Jersey. She was born there August 25, 1810. Her father, Abram Murdock, was a resident of the place and died there of rabies while still a young man. Mrs. Cook's death occurred October 28, 1873. To Mr. Cook Sr. and his wife were born eight children as follows : Sabilla, deceased ; Stratton, deceased ; Apollo, deceased ; Isabella, deceased ; Cyrus E., our subject; William B., now of Spokane, Washington, where he has a business as carpenter and builder ; George K., a resident of East
Leyrus & look
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Orange, New Jersey, where he also does a carpentry business ; Joseph, deceased.
Cyrus E. Cook was born December 6, 1841, in the city of Trenton, Mer- cer county, New Jersey. He attended the district school for a time, and on the breaking out of the Civil War enlisted in the federal army and con- tinued his studies there. On August 23, 1861, he was mustered into Com- pany F, First Regiment New Jersey Cavalry, at Columbus, Burlington county, New Jersey. He was not the only member of his family who fought for the Union cause. His brothers, Apollo and William B., also enlisted, though in different companies. Mr. Cook saw the most active kind of service. He was in ninety-seven different engagements, all in the early part of the war, and June 9, 1863, took part in battle of Brandy Sta- tion, during the course of which he was twice wounded. He was also taken prisoner on the same eventful day and thus prevented from taking part In the battle of Gettysburg. After his release, he returned to service, but was again wounded at Reams Station, July 13, 1864, and this time so badly that he did not return to the army, but was mustered out August 14, 1865, the order reaching him while he was still at Ward's United States Hospital, Newark, New Jersey. Mr. Cook reached the rank of first sergeant or orderly during the war. His record in the army was an unusual one, and he was never punished or even reprimanded during his time of service. He suffered much for a considerable period from his wound after his re- turn to private life. During the war, Mr. Cook was obliged to provide for his mother and an invalid brother.
Upon the cessation of hostilities, Mr. Cook returned home and took a position in a mill where his work consisted in running a saw. Not con- tent with the prospect of remaining in this position indefinitely, he con- tinued his studies which had before been interrupted, at home and applied himself so assiduously to learning the trade of carpenter, that his employer, a Mr. Moore, gave him the full pay of a carpenter from the start. After the death of his mother in 1873, Mr. Cook started for himself, selecting New Egypt as the scene of his venture. From here he removed, in 1868, to Elizabeth, Union county, New Jersey, and followed his trade there for seventeen years, and in 1885 he had his attention drawn to Lake Hopatcong and the possibilities of development there. . In that year, therefore, he went to Morris county and located on the very spot where he has since built his residence and where he now lives. This was upwards of seven years be- fore the incorporation of Mount Arlington borough, but Mr. Cook had faith in the future of the place, and at once became active in its affairs. In 1887 he purchased the lots which he occupied and built for himself and family a residence there. He engaged in business as builder and contractor, and with the rapid growth of the region built up a very large business and made a reputation for himself, second to none. In 1909 he took into partnership with him George H. Beatty, (elsewhere mentioned in this work) his son-in-law by virtue of his marriage to Georgia A. Cook, his eldest child. Mr. Beatty was a builder in Mount Arlington prior to the formation of the partnership with Mr. Cook. Among the largest works accomplished by him was the building of the Hotel Breslin only a year after his arrival and its completion in a year so that it was opened in 1887. The erection of this imposing structure gave a tremendous impetus to the development of the region, and since that time he has built more than 200 buildings of all kinds on the lake. The town has now five hotels and two churches, the Roman Catholic and the Episcopalian, both of which were
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erected by Mr. Cook in 1888, during the incumbencies of Bishops Wigger and Starkey.
Mr. Cook has from the start played an active part in Mount Arlington's affairs. He was elected a justice of the peace before the incorporation of the borough, and has held that office during the period of five full com- missions, over twenty-five years in all, or during the administrations of Governors Wertz, Griggs, Murphy, Stokes and Fort. He was one of the incorporators of the borough of Mount Arlington, was made its first clerk and was one of the first trustees of the schools there. The new borough issued $22,000 worth of improvement bonds of which about $6,000 were expended upon the erection of a building to be used for the combined pur- pose of town hall, post office and school. Nearly $20,000 were expended upon the construction of roads, for which Mr. Cook had the contract, and many of which he turned over to the community for less than they cost him. He now holds the office of recorder of the town of Mount Arlington. Mr. Cook is a Republican in politics and active in his party's councils. He is also prominent in fraternal circles thereabouts. He has been a member of both branches of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows since 1872, of Dahlgren Post, Grand Army of the Republic, of Elizabeth, since 1869, and past commander of the post for some years, and a member of Musconetcong Lodge, No. 151, F. and A. M., of Stanhope. He was formerly a member of the American Legion of Honor and of the American Protective Union.
Mr. Cook was married in 1864, while still in New Egypt, to Lydia Fields, daughter of John and Rachel ( Bloomfield) Fields. Mr. Fields was a native of England who came to this country as a young man and settled at Amboy, New Jersey, and later meeting his wife at Woodbridge in the same state. Both Mr. and Mrs. Fields died at over seventy years of age. To Mr. and Mrs. Cook there have been born four children as follows: Georgia A., now Mrs. George H. Beatty, of Mount Arlington ; Rae Bloomfield, assistant postmaster at Mount Arlington ; Ulysses W., died at the age of twenty-three at Mount Arlington, New Jersey ; Clyde F., who also died at the age of twen- ty-three years. Mr. Cook's children were all graduated from the Batton High School of Elizabeth, New Jersey. He and his family are all communicants of the Episcopal church. Mr. Cook, who now holds the office of postmaster of Mount Arlington, has retired from active business, although in the year he withdrew he had five buildings in course of construction, and had had most of the business of the region for the past ten years. Mr. Cook is a distinguished figure in the community and is well known and popular throughout Morris county.
GEORGE HOPLER BEATTY
One of the rising men in a young community, the wide-awake, progres- sive town of Mount Arlington, is George Hopler Beatty, a member of a family for many years associated with New Jersey state, where they made their home and plied, for at least three generations, the trade of carpentry and building. His paternal grandparents were Jacob and Eva Beatty, who lived for many years in Warren county, and there he carried on success- fully his business of millwright up to the time of his death. Jacob Beatty Jr., father of George H. Beatty, was born in Warren county, at the home of his parents, and here he lived most of his life of seventy-three years. He was a carpenter and builder and followed his trade until the year of his death. He married Mary Hopler, daughter of Isaac Hopler, who carried on a prosperous farm in Morris county on Schooleys Mountain, one of the
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most picturesque regions in that most picturesque country, northern New Jersey. Jacob Beatty's death occurred November 18, 1910, that of Mrs. Beatty in July, 1913. To them were born seven children as follows: Ida, now Mrs. John Hankerson, of Hackettstown, New Jersey; Emma, now Mrs. Miller Curl, also of Hackettstown; George Hopler, of whom further; Charles, who married Flora Hoffman, and is employed as a carpenter in Saw Mill Foundry ; Harry, employed by the Notion Store at Hackettstown, New Jersey ; Alvin, who has a position as clerk in the store at Luxemburg ; Stella, who now resides with her brother, George H. Beatty.
George Hopler Beatty was born in Hunterdon county, New Jersey, but passed his childhood and early youth in Warren county, the home county of his family for many years, and here also he obtained his education, at- tending the local public schools. He found employment on a farm and was engaged in this occupation up to the commencement of his apprenticeship as carpenter and builder. This trade he learned with Cyrus E. Cook, who eventually took him into partnership and gave him his daughter to wife. In the spring of 1888 Mr. Beatty removed to Mount Arlington, Morris county, New Jersey, and here it was that he met Mr. Cook and entered into that association with him which has lasted so long and proved so mutually advantageous. Mr. Cook's reputation was already firmly established in the town, he had built the Hotel Breslin but the year before, and had the largest business of the kind thereabouts. Mr. Beatty soon rendered himself invaluable to his employer, who in 1904 took him into partnership. Since Mr. Cook's retirement from active business, Mr. Beatty has carried on the concern on his own account, and has done a large proportion of the build- ing accomplished on the lake in that period. It seems probable that the large measure of success that has been Mr. Cook's in the past will remain with Mr. Beatty in the future. Mr. Beatty is a Republican in politics and prominent in the local organization of the party. He takes a great interest in public affairs and is at present a member of the board of elections.
Mr. Beatty was a young man when he first came to the locality on the shore of Lake Hopatcong which has since become the borough of Mount Arlington, but young as he was, the town is still younger and Mr. Beatty has had an opportunity to witness almost the entire growth of the place during the time of its extraordinary development. He is one of those whose business acumen enabled him to foresee this development and to realize that, unlike many such rapid growths, this one represented a substantial pros- perity, based as it was upon the deserved popularity of the beautiful lake upon which the town borders. There are few more beautiful spots to be found than those afforded by the bold yet gracious shores of Lake Hopat- cong, whose broad waters are broken up into innumerable bays and channels of charming variety. In this attractive locality Mr. Beatty has become a man of distinction, and has made for himself a position of wealth and hap- piness, which there is every reason to believe he will increase for himself in the future, as well as his usefulness to the community at large.
Mr. Beatty married, in 1893, Georgia A. Cook, eldest daughter of Cyrus E. and Lydia Cook, of Mount Arlington.
O. C. WHAITES
Frank Whaites was born on Staten Island, New York, where he lived for a number of years, engaged in a variety of occupations, then removed to Hanover, Morris county, where he is now living almost retired from business responsibilities. They have a fine homestead in which the family
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has lived many years. Mr. Whaites married Sarah Courter, and they have had children: Percy, Ernest, Ada, on the homestead; O. C., of further mention.
O. C. Whaites was born in Hudson county, New Jersey, in 1865, was educated in the public school of Hanover, and in 1887 accepted a position in the store of James R. Meade, engaged in the general mercantile business. January 1, 1910, Mr. Whaites purchased this store, and has since conducted it as its sole proprietor. He also has wagons in constant use, with which he supplies such of his customers who live too far away to come to the store to make their purchases. He has always given his political support to the Re- publican party, and was appointed postmaster of the town, March 21, 1910. He is a member of the Presbyterian church of Hanover, and of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics and Morris Grange. Mr. Whaites married Rena Jeannette Cook, of Hanover, June 18, 1913.
JOHN C. MCGRATH
John C. McGrath of Rockaway, Morris county, New Jersey, is a man whom to know is an honor, for his well spent life has gained him the con- fidence and respect of all with whom he has come in contact. Advancement has been his watchward, and the years have marked a steady progress along business and educational lines. He is a man of liberal ideas in business, and the cultivation of his mental powers has made him a leader in thought and action in his section of Morris county. His family has been resident in Rockaway for three generations.
Isaiah Collins McGrath, grandfather of John C. McGrath, was born in 1805. He married, in 1826, Jeanne Craig, born in Paisley, Scotland, in 1803, and she married (second) Hubbard Stickle, of Rockaway. Mr. and Mrs. McGrath had children : Isaac Rowen, born in New York City ; John P., and Isaiah W., also born in New York City; Thomas B., of further mention ; Agnes Craig, married John Norris, of Rockaway; Jeannette B., married Isaac N. Beach, of Rockaway, and now resides in Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas B., son of Isaiah Collins and Jeanne (Craig) McGrath, was born in the city of New York in 1830, is now a resident of Rockaway, Morris county, and is one of the oldest funeral directors in the State of New Jersey. He came to Rockaway in early manhood, and there pur- chased the McGrath homestead, which had been owned by his mother. This property was later purchased by his son John C. For many years he was a funeral director in Rockaway, but for ten or twelve years prior to retiring, he practised his calling in Newark. He is a member of the Senior Order of United American Mechanics, and of the Presbyterian church. Mr. McGrath married (first), May 19, 1858, Anna, born in New Jersey, a daughter of John and Sarah Clark; he married (second) Ella Cooper. Children, all by the first marriage: Agnes, died young; Jean, died in in- fancy ; John C., of further mention ; Agnes Jeannette, married S. E. Young, of Rockaway ; Florence E., married Frederick Schoot, agent for the Pils- bury Flour Company, at Rockaway.
John C., son of Thomas B. and Anna (Clark) McGrath, was born at his present place of residence in Rockaway, April 22, 1861. He attended the local schools, and was graduated from the Dr. Rankin Institute, at Mendham. He then went west, spending two years in Illinois, Iowa and the upper peninsula of Michigan, and was for a number of years employed at the Hoagland machine shops. He served his apprenticeship to his trade,
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and, having been graduated from the Massachusetts School of Embalming, commenced his career as a funeral director in Rockaway about 1897. In this he has been eminently successful, his methods being progressive, yet suf- ficiently conservative to gain the approval of all. He is Republican in his political views and served as the first borough clerk, after Rockaway had been incorporated as a borough. He was then elected collector of the borough, and a custodian of the school funds, filled this office six years, after which he refused to serve again, although requested to do so. He is the owner of a comfortable and beautiful home, and his business offices are on Church street. His religious affiliation is with the Presbyterian church, and he is a member of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Mr. McGrath married, in 1886, Emma E., a daughter of John and Caro- line Benjamin, of Morristown, both natives of New York City, and they have had children: Edith, employed in New York City; Frederick Mat- colm, who is a member of a church choir in Morristown, is also employed in New York City; Walter Benjamin, at home. All of these children received their elementary and high school education in Rockaway.
JAIRUS J. LANGDON
One of the thorough-going business men of Wharton, Morris county, New Jersey, who has gained success as the result of honest, honorable toil, is Jairus J. Langdon, whose sterling worth is acknowledged by all who have had dealings with him. His family is an old one, and in all probability came here from England. Phoebus Langdon, his grandfather, was born in Connecticut, came to Morris county, New Jersey, in early manhood, and took a noteworthy part in its development.
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