USA > New Jersey > Morris County > A history of Morris County, New Jersey : embracing upwards of two centuries, 1710-1913, Volume II > Part 67
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may be mentioned General Benjamin Gurnee; Abraham Gurnee, member of assembly from 1818 to 1825, and afterwards state senator ; Colonel William Gurnee, and Hon. Walter S. Gurnee, who was mayor of Chicago in 1851. Francis, son of Francois Gurnee, died about 1825, leaving two children- Anna, the mother of ex-Mayor Hewitt of New York. and William. The latter resided on the homestead of his paternal grandfather, near the town of Haverstraw, at the junction of several highways, the place being known from very early times as Gurnee's Corners. William Gurnee married Elizabeth Drummond, and their children were Francis, James, Jessie, Wil- lianı, Elizabeth, John, Edward and Mary. Francis Gurnee, son of Wil- liam and Elizabeth (Drummond) Gurnee, was born near the site of the first settlement at Haverstraw, and there passed the larger portion of his life, during his early years a schoolmaster, and later a merchant. He married (first) Leah, daughter of John Demarest, and (second) Margaret E. Mead. His children were: William Z., Eleanor, Elizabeth, Frank, Harry, Anna, and Myra.
William Z. Gurnee, eldest child of Francis and Leah (Demarest) Gur- nee, was for many years a successful merchant at Parsippany. In 1860 he married Marianna Quinby, whose family is among the most ancient of the United States, and is traced several centuries in England, previous to its coming to America. The name seems to have originated at Quarmby or Quermby, near Hotherfield, in Yorkshire, the first on record being Hugh De Quarmby, in the reign of King Edward III. (1341). Branches of the family are found at Farnham Surry, near London, and in the old church there is a tablet commemorating Robert Quynbe, one of the first bailiffs of Farnham. His death occurred September, 1570. Tradition states that the Quinbys were early settled at Stratford-on-Avon. The records of
the parish church at Farnham show christenings, marriages and burials from 1551 to 1582. The arms of the Quinby family are: Argent, two bars sable in chief a proper Cornish chough. Crest: A Cornish chough in arms. The recent researches of Henry Cole Quinby Esq., of New York City, have untangled many perplexing snarls regarding the ancestry of this family. There is no discoverable authority for the statement that Thomas Quinby was the founder of the family in America. There is ground for a reasonable supposition that Robert and William Quinby, who settled about the same time in New England, the former in Norfolk county, Massa- chusetts, the latter in Connecticut, were related, probably brothers, but nothing has thus far been found to establish any relationship between them. Robert Quinby of Amesbury, Massachusetts, left a very numerous posterity, and members of the family are found in many localities of the United States, especially in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Wil- liam Quinby, who undoubtedly came from England, was probably advanced in life when he came to the American shores. A persistent tradition of the family says that he and his son John were connected with Cromwell's army, and were forced to flee from their native land to escape political wrath. William Quinby was one of the first proprietors of Stratford, Con- necticut, and in 1652 possessed there a home lot, two pieces in the "new field," and three acres on the Neck. He sold these possessions April 1, 1657, and about that time removed to the town of Westchester, in the pres- ent county of Westchester, New York, then under the jurisdiction of Connecticut. In 1664 he and his sons John and Thomas were residents of Westchester, and he and John were members of the First Congregational church there. Nothing can be discovered about his wife, but he is known to have had children: John, Thomas, Ann and Martha. John, son of Wil-
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liam, was probably born in England before 1630, and accompanied his father to Stratford, and Westchester. He was an inhabitant of Westchester in 1664, and was one of the patentees of lands there in 1667. In 1665 he was one of the delegates appointed to represent Westchester in a meet- ing of representatives from that region and Long Island held in Hempstead. He was a member of the First Congregational church at Westchester, and served on a committee on schools, and one to provide a minister. In 1662 he was appointed a magistrate by Governor Stuyvesant, with local jurisdiction only, his commission specifying that he should have no power in 'momentous affairs, and especially in witchcraft." His wife's name was Deborah. Some authorities say she was Deborah Haight, but this is dis- puted by others. His children were: John, Charles, Josiah, Mary and probably David. Josiah, son of John and Deborah Quinby, was born at Westchester, presumably before 1670, and died in 1728. In 1720 he purchased 320 acres of land known as the Great Middle Neck in Mar- maroneck. This land jutted out in Long Island Sound, and he was un- successful in holding all he had because of defective title. In 1686 a monthly meeting of Quakers was organized at Marmaroneck, and Josiah Quinby and his wife became members, the meeting being frequently held at his house. His descendants still adhere to this sect. He married, June 17, 1689, Mary Molyneux, daughter of a neighbor and French Huguenot, who came from northern Ireland, and settled at Marmaroneck. She died in June, 1728. Children: Dorcas, Josiah, Jonathan and Samuel (twins), a son died unnamed in 1699, Ephraim, Aaron, Moses, Martha, Daniel, Phebe and Isaiah. Josiah (2), eldest son of Josiah ( I) and Mary (Moly- neux) Quinby, was born in 1692, and married Hannah Cornell. There is an old record which was in the possession of the late Charles Quinby, of Orange, New Jersey, which states Josiah (3), born in 1726, was the son of John Quinby, of Wampus Pond, Westchester county, New York, who was twice married, his second wife being a Lawrence. John was the son of John and Annie Kierstead, and he the son of John Quinby and Deboran Tounley, and he the son of William Quinby, from England. The above record is without a doubt correct, as it was taken from manuscripts in the possession of Josiah's (3d) descendants. Josiah (3d) settled in Orange, New Jersey, about 1746. He was lieutenant of the Third Batallion of the first establishment of the New Jersey line in 1776, in Captain Potter's com- pany. He owned a large farm in the region of Lewellan Park, and died about 1805, the date of his will. In 1747 he married Martha Harrison, and they had a large family, including Aaron, Moses, Joseph. John, Josias, Patty, Jemima, Sarah, Phoebe and Hannah. The third son was a physician in Westfield, New Jersey, the fourth was a Revolutionary soldier, wounded at the battle of Brandywine. Josias (4), the fifth son, moved to Troy Hills, New Jersey, about 1796, and died there in 1835. He was born 1762, and married Phoebe Harrison, of Orange. Children : Isaac, James, Dr. Josias, Phoebe, Martha. Rachel, Jemima, David and Moses. Isaac, eldest son of Josias (4) and Phoebe (Harrison) Quimby, was born 1788 in Orange, and died 1865 at Parsippany. He moved to the latter place from Troy Hills, was a well-to-do farmer, served as judge from 1829 to 1836, and a member of the state legislature in 1844. His children were: Phoebe, Wil- liam, Alonzo, Isaac, Dewitt, Eugene, George A., Sarah, Emma and Mari- anna. The last named was the wife of William Z. Gurnee, and the mother of Isaac Q. Gurnee. Isaac, son of Isaac Quinby, was appointed a cadet to West Point, and became a room mate and classmate of General Grant, graduating sixth in his class. He served with distinction in the artillery
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service under Generals Scott and Taylor, in the Mexican War. He was appointed colonel of the Thirteenth New York Volunteers, and later pro- moted to brigadier-general, and was engaged at the siege of Vicksburg.
Isaac Q. Gurnee received his education at the public schools, and de- veloped an especial faculty for mathematics. He also showed an early in- clination towards mechanics, and left school at the age of fourteen years to enter upon a busines career, which has proved most successful and praise- worthy. He became office boy for the Rubber Comb and Jewelry Company of Butler, New Jersey, and later was assigned to the turning room, where he had charge of the clerical work. His knowledge of mechanics and skill in mathematics were here brought into play, to the advantage of his employees, and promoted his own advancement. In 1882, at the age of eighteen years, Mr. Gurnee had mastered the duties and many details of the work in his department, and on the reorganization of the company, in 1898, when it became known as the American Hard Rubber Company, he was given full charge as department superintendent. He was subse- quently appointed by Supt. William Kiel as his principal assistant in the sundry departments. Mr. Gurnee has become interested in various interests of his home town, and was one of the organizers of the First National Bank, and proprietor of the Pequanock Coal & Lumber Company. His long continued service with one employer has demonstrated his ability and faithfulness, and he justly enjoys the esteem and confidence of many ac- quaintances and associates.
He married, May 30, 1885, in Newark, Margaret, daughter of John Sevald, a veteran of the Civil War, and for many years a shoe dealer of Butler, New Jersey. Mr. and Mrs. Gurnee have two sons: Eugene C. and Charles Quinby.
FREDERICK GORDON BURNHAM
The family of Burnham, represented in the present generation by Fred- erick Gordon Burnham, an eminent and successful lawyer of Morristown, settled at Ipswich, Massachusetts, about 1635. His paternal great-grand- father was a soldier in the French and Indian wars. His maternal great- great-grandfather, Jonathan Dickinson, was the founder and first president of Princeton College; his maternal grandfather, Judge Silas Condict, of Morris county, New Jersey, was a man of sterling integrity and great financial ability ; his maternal great-grandfather, Colonel Ebenezer Condict, having been a commissioned officer in the Revolutionary army, died while encamped at Morristown. Gordon Burnham, father of Frederick G. Burn- ham, was for many years a large wholesale merchant in New York City, but removed with his family in 1840 to Morristown, New Jersey, and died at the homestead in August, 1881, his wife, Marcia (Condict) Burnham, dying in 1884.
Frederick G. Burnham was born in New York City, June 29, 1831. He prepared for college at the Morristown Academy, and in 1847 matriculated in the New York University, from which institution he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1851, and that of Master of Arts in 1854. He pre- pared for his profession by entering, as a student, the office of Barney, Hum- phrey & Butler, in 1851, with whom he remained until 1853. He then entered Harvard Law School, completing his studies there the following year. He was admitted to the New York bar as an attorney and counsellor in 1853. The following year he established an office in New York City and there engaged in active practice until 1864, when he abandoned his line of
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work in order to regain his health which had been impaired, and the follow- ing four years he spent in travel. In 1858 he entered into partnership with John Van Buren, formerly Attorney General of New York, and under the name of Van Buren & Burnham had a large law practice until 1864. Upon his return from his travels in 1868 Mr. Burnham was admitted as an at- torney at the New Jersey bar in February of that year, and a few months later settled in Morristown, New Jersey, his present place of abode. He was appointed one of the counsel of the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York, for New Jersey, and on assuming these duties he removed his office to Newark, in order to be in close proximity to the courts. He was admitted to the New Jersey bar as a counsellor in 1871. For many years he has acted as the general counsel of the Board of Church Erection of the Presbyterian Church for the United States, and in this capacity examined and passed upon every land title in which that body was interested. He also acted as counsel for a large number of charitable and religious organizations, for which he successfully conducted many important will cases. In the year IgII he was elected president of that board.
Mr. Burnham founded, in 1886, the Burnham Industrial Farm, located near Canaan, Columbia county, New York, but which is now known as the Berkshire Industrial Farm, and donated a property of 1000 acres with ap- propriate buildings for the purposes of that institution. He was for several years and is now its president. He has always supported the principles of the Republican party, but has never sought or held public office, preferring to devote his time and energy to his profession. For several years he acted as chairman of the Morris County Republican Committee. During the Civil War he received an appointment as aide, with the rank of major, on the staff of Governor Morgan, of New York, but the state of his health forbade him from performing his duties. consequently he tendered his resignation.
Mr. Burnham married. April 29, 1859, Catharine L. Hilliard, daughter of Judge Francis Hilliard, of Roxbury, Massachusetts, a prominent jurist and writer of legal treatises. One child. Anna Washburn, now the wife of Samuel T. Carter, a member of the New York bar, is their only child.
AARON DRAKE STEPHENS
Aaron Drake Stephens, a prosperous farmer and dairyman and a prom- inent citizen of Roxbury township, Morris county, New Jersey, a member of an old New Jersey family, was born in Randolph township, Morris county in that state, December 10, 1858. His birthplace is in that most picturesque region of northern New Jersey where are situated such lovely bodies of water as Lake Hopatcong and Budd's Lake. near the old Dicker- son iron mine. and about a half a mile from Mount Arlington railway sta- tion. He is the descendant of a family of farmers, his father and grand- father having been engaged in that occupation before him. The paternal grandparents, Samuel G. and Clara Stephens, were inhabitants of the region and lived to advanced ages, Mr. Stephens dying when eighty-two years old. William Stephens, the father of our subject, was reared in Mount Olive township, Morris county, near Budd's Lake, and was a farmer and also engaged in the hotel business, having kept the hotel now known as the Brooklyn House, in Sussex county, New Jersey. He was married to Miss Still, and their deaths occurred respectively in the years 1883 and 1904. To them were born ten children as follows: Samuel, a resident of King- land, where he is employed in the car shops; Aaron, the subject of this sketch ; Frederick, died in childhood : William, a resident of Emporium,
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Pennsylvania, where he was engaged in the trade of carpenter, deceased June, 1910; Charlotte, now Mrs. Hampton Kishpaugh, of Roxbury town- ship; Estella, deceased wife of Mr. McConnell; Amelia, now Mrs. Grant Strait of Reynolds, Pennsylvania ; Anson, died in early youth ; and Charles, who died of injuries received at the age of eight or nine years.
Aaron Drake Stephens obtained his education in the public schools of Fairmont, but left at the age of seventeen and employed himself in work on his father's farm, and for a time in the carpenter's trade. He purchased his present farm from Mrs. Catherine Hart in 1895, in Mount Arlington, and for the past seventeen years has operated a dairy there. The farm contains 103 acres, and upon it Mr. Stephens has made manifold improvements, re- building the house, erecting additions to the barn, and making many minor alterations. He keeps on the average from twenty to twenty-five head of cattle, and has developed a fine and paying orchard there. Mr. Stephens may congratulate himself that all the advantages which he now enjoys have been accomplished through his own efforts and hard work. He is a large man, easy of access, of a fine address, and very popular, altogether a citizen of which the community may be proud. He is a Republican in politics and very active in public affairs, having served his fellow citizens in the capacity of councilman in Mount Arlington. He is a member of the Roxbury Lodge, No. 184, I. O. O. F., of Succasunna, having joined that fraternity January II, 1883.
Mr. Stephens was married, February 8, 1881, to Miss Annie Zeek, a daughter of Charles Zeek of Sussex county, New Jersey, who was killed while serving in the Union army during the Civil War. To Mr. and Mrs. Stephens were born two children as follows: William, died April 28, 1909, at the age of twenty-eight years: Frank, died when sixteen years of age. Mr. Stephens married (second) Miss Maria Van Dyke, daughter of Robert S. Van Dyke, also a veteran of the Civil War. Mr. Stephens was married March 29, 1888. They had born unto them four children, of whom two are living-Annie, aged twenty-one years, now the wife of E. Frederick Mann, employed as a secretary with a jewelry firm in Newark, New Jersey ; and Robert Aaron, born Jaunary 28, 1909. Mr. Stephens and his family are members of the Presbyterian church.
JAMES HANCE NEIGHBOUR
James H. Neighbour, who enjoys the distinction of having been the first permanent lawyer in Dover, is a descendant of a Holland ancestry. The progenitor of the American branch, Leonard Neighbour, emigrated in 1740, coming to New Jersey and settling in German Valley, Morris county. The line of descent is through his son Leonard (2), Leonard (3), and David, father of James H., who married Ann Hance.
James H. Neighbour was born in Lebanon township, Hunterdon county, New Jersey, in 1830. He attended the common schools adjacent to his home, and Lafayette College, from which he graduated in 1848. He pre- pared for his chosen calling by a course of study at Judge McCarty's Law School, Easton, Pennsylvania, and with Hon. Frederick T. Frelinghuysen of Newark, New Jersey, and Hon. A. G. Richey, of Trenton, New Jersey, in 1852. He was admitted as an attorney to the Pennsylvania bar at Easton in 1850, and to the New Jersey bar at Trenton in November, 1853, as a counsellor in February, 1869, and is also a special master in chancery, also examiner, and a Supreme Court commissioner. He has practiced in all the courts of the State of New Jersey, and has won high legal attainments,
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sagacious and forceful, and of decided opinions of strict integrity. He was elected to the first common council of the city of Dover in 1869-70, as recorder, in which capacity he served two terms, later was re-elected to common council for a term of two years, and was city treasurer and city attorney. He was elected to the New Jersey assembly in 1882-83, and dur- ing his appointment served as chairman of the judiciary committee for two terms. In addition to his professional duties, he has written extensively concerning the history of Morris county. Mr. Neighbour married, in June, 1856, Mary L., daughter of Elisha and Eliza (Ayres) Warne, of Philadel- phia, Pennsylvania.
HARRY PAUL PIPER
The time has come in the history of the world when the path of labor and usefulness is indicated on the highway to honor. Biography has brought to the attention of the majority of men the fact that it is the industrial and commercial pursuits of life which furnish us the material which hastens the development and progress of town, county and state. Those distinguished in military service play an important part in public life ; but it is now a recognized fact that the stability of a country and its substantial growth are drawn from the citizens who are the workers in business circles. This state of affairs is clearly shown in the career of Harry Paul Piper, a rep- resentative citizen of Morristown, New Jersey.
John Piper, his great-grandfather, was born at Tuftonborough, New Hampshire, January 17, 1760, and died in his native state, April 20, 1830. He served gallantly as a captain in the Continental army during the War of the Revolution. He married (first) January 12, 1783, Jemimah Hersey, born January 15, 1762, died February 6, 1803. They had five sons and five daughters. He married (second) January 25, 1804, Anna Young, born August 25, 1777, died January 29, 1842, and by this marriage there were three sons and eight daughters.
Paul Wiggin, second child of John and Anna (Young) Piper, was born in the State of New Hampshire, September 17, 1805, and died January 26, 1854. He left his home while he was a very young lad and went to sea. Later he drifted into New Jersey, and for a time acted in the capacity of a driver of a stage coach. For a short time he conducted a hotel on the pres- ent site of the Mansion House, in Morristown, then worked on the railroad. He married Eliza De Hart, a member of one of the oldest families of the State of New Jersey.
John R., son of Paul Wiggin and Eliza (De Hart) Piper, was born in Morris county, New Jersey, and spent his entire time there, for the greater part being located in Morristown. About the year 1859 or 1860 he estab- lished himself in business in Morristown, at first in the produce business, and later in wines and liquors. In this latter line of business he commenced with a retail trade which he gradually abandoned, confining himself to wholesale trade exclusively. Almost from the outset he was located on the site of the present business still conducted by his sons, altogether a period of about forty-five years. For a large part of this time he conducted a hotel in connection with his other business. He was an active man of busi- ness until his death in 1905, when he had attained the age of seventy years. Before he entered upon his commercial career he had worked for a time as an engineer on the railroad. He married Cornelia Doyle, also deceased, and they had seven sons: Harry Paul, of further mention : Frank C., who married Gertrude Meyer, and resides in Morristown : John R., unmarried,
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also of Morristown; Frederick, unmarried, of Morristown; Bertram F., died in 1912, leaving a widow ; two who died in early youth.
Harry Paul, son of John R. and Cornelia (Doyle) Piper, was born in Morristown, New Jersey, September 22, 1861. He received an excellent education which was acquired in private and public schools of his native city, and then found employment in the business of his father, with whom he was associated until 1892. In that year he established himself in business independently on Speedwell avenue, where he was located for a period of sixteen years. He then sold this place of business in order to take charge of the wholesale department of the business established by his father, and has been thus occupied since that time. For many years he has taken a deep interest in the fire department of the city, and in 1882 he organized Humane Engine Company, No. 2, of which he has always been a member, has held all the offices in this organization, and has now been president for a number of years. He has served on the board of engineers under two different chiefs. Mr. Piper married, December 28, 1885, Sadie, died May 3, 1914, a daughter of James and Rosetta (De Damare) Tynan. They have chil- dren: Isabella, married Arthur Carrell, of Morristown, a salesman for a New York wholesale establishment, and has: Eugene and Gilbert; and Harry P. Jr.
Harry Paul Piper Jr., who received his early education in the local high school, from which he was graduated in the class of 1907, then entered Colgate University, from which he was graduated in the class of 1912 with the degree of Bachelor of Sciences, having studied engineering and chem- istry. At present Mr. Piper is located in Amsterdam, New York, where he is representing the Maryland Casualty Company, of Baltimore, Mary- land, as resident engineer on their section of the New York State Barge Canal construction. He is also connected with the engineering staff of Clyde Potts, civil and sanitary engineer, No. 30 Church street, New York City. Mr. Piper is Republican in his political views, and a member of St. Peter's Protestant Episcopal church. His association with other organiza- tions is as follows: National Greek letter fraternity of Beta Theta Pi ; Hamilton Lodge, No. 10, F. and A. M .; the American Society of Civil Engineers ; the American Society of Engineering Contractors; and the American Chemical Society.
HARRY A. VAN GILDER
Among the earnest men of Morristown, New Jersey, whose depth of character and strict adherence to principle, arouse the admiration of the citizens of that town, is Harry A. Van Gilder, a man of distinguished ability, whose character is above a shadow of reproach. Many responsible trusts have been placed in his hands and the utmost fidelity has marked their full and complete discharge.
Abraham Van Gilder, grandfather of the above mentioned, was a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church of Morristown. He married, and had children : Samuel G., of further mention; Martha, now deceased, married Gibson Teed: Anna, married William L. Pruden; Kate, married dward W. Pruden ; Hanna, deceased, married Morris Culberson.
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