USA > New Jersey > Essex County > Newark > Biographical and genealogical history of the city of Newark and Essex County, New Jersey, V. 1 > Part 34
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Dr. Pennington had excellent educa- tional advantages. A graduate of Newark Academy, he entered Princeton College in 1823, and received therefrom, in 1825, the degree of A. B., and in 1828 that of A. M. In the latter year he commenced the study of medicine in the office of his maternal uncle, Dr. Samuel Hayes, and subsequently
attended lectures under the Rutgers medi- cal faculty, of Geneva College, among the names of whom we find those of the dis- tinguished Dr. David Hosack, Dr. Valen- tine Mott. Dr. John Griscom and Dr. John W. Francis. In 1829 our subject received the degree of M. D., and soon after began practice with his uncle at Newark, and in 1839 succeeded to his uncle's practice. His great activity, knowledge and skill and ex- cellent judgment, together with his success as a practitioner, made him prominent in his profession and brought to him a very extensive consulting practice. For this and other reasons, after more than thirty years of arduous labor, he began by de- grees to release himself from the more burdensome duties of his profession, con- fining his practice within a very limited circle.
A man of learning himself. he naturally and cordially seconded every effort to ad- vance the cause of education, and his elec- tion and re-election as a member of the public-school board of Newark, New Jer- sey .- for a period of seventeen years, seven of which he was president of the board,- is some evidence of the earnestness of his labors in behalf of the interests of his na- tive city. To the Newark Academy, of which he is a graduate, he has always shown great devotion, becoming a member of its board of trustees as early as 1833, and since 1854 being president of that board. In 1856 he was chosen a trustee of Prince- ton College, and soon thereafter a trustee of the Theological Seminary in the same place, both of which offices he still holds; and after the death of Chancellor Green became president of the board of the The- ological Seminary. While in the active practice of his profession he was prominent
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and useful in the Medical Society of Essex County, and in 1848 was elected president of the State Medical Society. That his professional reputation was not confined to his native state, is shown by the fact that he was elected an honorary member of the Connecticut Medical Society; also was a corresponding member of the Medical So- ciety of Munich and of the Royal Botan- ical Society of Ratisbon. In the year 1895 he received from his alma mater, the Col- lege of New Jersey, the honorary degree of LL. D.
As a writer, Dr. Pennington is graceful and vigorous. His productions are not voluminous; nevertheless he has made many and valuable contributions to medi- cal science, and is the author of numerous addresses and papers on the subject of education and essays on kindred topics.
More than forty years ago he took an active part in the establishment of the Newark City National Bank, and since its organization has been president of this bank. Although at an age when men usu- ally throw off the cares of business life, he is still faithfully exercising the sound judg- ment and business ability which have made this bank one of the most successful finan- cial institutions of the state.
The Doctor is a member-and is now president-of the New Jersey Historical Society, to which he has rendered much aid.
BEDA VOIGT,
a dealer in real estate, has been a promi- nent factor in the improvement and devel- opment of the city of Newark. To the real- estate dealers, perhaps more than to any other class of men, is due the substantial development of the city,-a fact which is
not generally recognized by the casual thinker, for the methods by which they sub- divide their property and the class of pur- chasers to which they sell may make or mar a neighborhood. Mr. Voigt ranks well among the leading men in his line, and the success he has achieved has been worthily won.
A native of the town of Stadt-Ilm, in Theiren, Saxony, Germany, Mr. Voigt was born March 12, 1846, his parents being Karl and Christiana (Grotz) Voigt. When only three years of age he was brought by them to America, and in Newark he ac- quired his education, chiefly under the di- rection of ex-Mayor Hahne. Later he learned the carpenter's trade, serving as an apprentice to Charles Ruser, and subse- quently he followed that vocation in New York city for three years. Returning then to Newark he began business on his own account as a contractor and builder, and also engaged in the real-estate business, which eventually claimed his entire atten- tion. He made some judicious investments in realty, from which he realized a hand- some profit, and in 1880 purchased a tract of ground consisting of seven acres, formerly known as Tivoli Park. Here he established the celebrated Caledonian Park, but previ- ously he had also become proprietor of Union Park. In 1886 he became the pro- prietor of the Krueger Auditorium, which he conducted in conjunction with his parks. Also he became the manager of the Gott- fried Krueger Club House. For a period of ten years he was probably the best known man in his line of business in the city, but in 1897 he retired from that enterprise. The buildings in Caledonian Park were de- stroyed by fire, since which time he has subdivided the ground into building lots
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and is now engaged in the development and improvement of the same.
At that time Mr. Voigt also changed his place of residence to Springfield avenue. He has other business interests which con- tribute to his income, and is a very capable and progressive business man. He was one of the organizers of the Standard Land & Building Company, of Newark, of which he is now president, and was one of the organizers of the Short Hill Park Associa- tion, of which he is a director.
Mr. Voigt is a member of Diogenes Lodge, No. 22, A. F. & A. M., of Newark; Schiller Lodge, No. 79, I. O. O. F .; New- ark Lodge, No. 21, B. P. O. E .; Court No. 6806, United Order of Foresters, of New- ark, and the Gottfried Krueger Democratic Association, of which he is chairman. He is a member of the Democratic county com- mittee and is a stanch supporter of the prin- ciples of Democracy.
On the Ioth of December, 1865, Mr. Voigt married Elizabeth Grub, a daughter of Abraham and Margaret (Schneider) Grub. To them were born four children : Hulda, who was born June 19, 1868, is the wife of John Brunig, of Newark, and has three children,-Viola, Gertrude and Anita; Agnes, born November 29, 1870, is the wife of Dr. F. W. Becker, of Newark, and has two children,-William Voigt and Susanna; Elizabeth, born December 12, 1872, is the wife of Edward W. Becker, of Morristown, New Jersey, and has one child, Hilda; and Gustave Karl, born May 1, 1875, is a grad- uate of Lafayette College, of Easton, Penn- sylvania, and is now a civil and electrical engineer. The mother of this family, who was born October 6, 1847, died December 16, 1891. She was a most charitable lady and was loved and esteemed by all who
knew her. Mr. Voigt was again married May 15, 1894, his second union being with Julia Grub, a sister of his first wife. They are members of the Lutheran church, and have the warm regard of many friends.
THOMAS NICHOLS,
president of the Dalton Pouncing Paper Company, of Newark, has attained to an enviable place in industrial circles by reason of his indefatigable energy, close applica- tion and great care in the management of the business interests with which he has been connected. He is now at the head of a paying industry and has won not only prosperity in his trade transactions, but has also gained the confidence of those with whom he has had dealing by his strict con- formance to the ethics of commercial life.
Mr. Nichols was born in Northampton- shire, England, on the 7th of March, 1837, and is a son of Samuel and Caroline (Win- gel) Nichols, who were also natives of Northamptonshire. The father came with his wife and children to America in 1841, locat- ing in Newark, where he followed the shoe- maker's trade for a short time, but his early career was soon ended by death. He passed away in 1844, leaving five sons to the care of the mother, who by her industry and frugality was enabled to provide for them until they were able to care for themselves. Her death occurred in 1889. Her children were: Ekin, who married Mary Costello and had four children: he engaged in the manufacture of hats and died in Bergen county, New Jersey, in 1877; John, who wedded Louisa Ward and has one child; Thomas, the third in order of birth, and William, who married Miss Mary Crap- nell and has five living children.
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To the common schools of Newark Thomas Nichols is indebted for his educa- tional privileges. At an early age he learned the trade of brush-making, and when a youth of sixteen began learning the trade of hat-making. After working as a jour- neyman for a few years he went into busi- ness for himself in 1862, locating on what is now Central avenue. The new enterprise proved a paying one, and in 1893 he sought more commodious quarters at his present location, near Nutley. Industry is one of the component elements of his nature, and by honest toil he has won an enviable place in business circles. In 1895 he began the manufacture of pouncing paper, supplying the hat factories of Newark and other places, and three of his sons are now asso- ciated with him in business. In 1896 he or- ganized the Dalton Pouncing Paper Com- pany, of which he is president, while his son William fills the office of vice-president and his son John that of secretary and treasurer. They manufacture large quantities of this paper, which is largely in use in making hats, and have built up a big trade among reliable houses. A man of strong purpose and sound judgment, he carries forward to successful completion whatever he under- takes and would be an important addition to the business force of any community.
Socially Mr. Nichols is a Mason, belong- ing to Belleville Lodge, No. 108, F. & A. M., and to Harmony Chapter, R. A. M., both of Newark. In politics he is an inde- pendent Democrat, and his religious prefer- ence is for the Episcopal church, in which he and his wife attend services.
Mrs. Nichols bore the maiden name of Mary Hamill, and their marriage was cele- brated December 31, 1855. Her father was David Hamill, a native of the north of
Ireland. By this union have been born the following children: John, who married Leonora Church, and has three children,- Ellen, David and Mary; William, who mar- ried. Anna Kirk, and has one son, Thomas; Thomas, who married Katharine Volkner; and Ekin, the eldest, who was born March 5, 1857, and died November 25, 1895.
JAMES McGOWAN,
a leading florist of South Orange, has his well equipped greenhouses at the corner of Mountain House road and Clark street. The proximity of several large cities, New York, Brooklyn and Newark, has made the cultivation of flowers for the city trade a very profitable industry, and Mr. McGowan holds an enviable position among those who are devoting their energies to this busi- ness.
Born in the county of Tyrone, Ireland, in March, 1848, our subject is a son of Francis and Ann (Mccullough) McGowan. The latter was a daughter of Patrick and Ann Mccullough. The former, having ac- quired his education in the common schools, remained in his parents' home until early manhood and then began farming on his own account. His life was quiet and unassuming, but honorable and industrious, and he had the respect of many friends. Both he and his wife passed away at the age of sixty-five years, and their remains were interred in their native county of Ty- rone. Their religious belief was that of the Catholic church. The children born to them were: Francis, who died at the age of four years; Patrick, who married and resides on the Emerald Isle; James; Mary Ann, who resides with her brother in Ireland; Bridget,
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who came to America, married, and now re- sides in Brooklyn, New York; Katharine, who is living in Ireland; Elizabeth, who is married and makes her home in the same country ; John, also living there; Isabella, of the Emerald Isle, and Frank, who married Katharine Shilling and resides in South Orange. He has five children,-John, William, James, Bertha and Francis.
The educational privileges which James McGowan received were quite limited; neither did he have theadvantages of wealth or influential friends to aid him in starting out on life's journey. He assisted his fath- er in the farm work until twenty-four years of age, and then bade adieu to friends and native land, for he had determined to seek a home in the United States. On the 2d of March, 1868, he sailed for New York, where he arrived on the 17th of the same month. Locating in West Orange, he secured a situation with Benjamin Tomes, in the ca- pacity of gardener, being thus employed until 1890, when with the capital he had ac- quired through his own industry, thrift and economy, he embarked in business as a flor- ist. In 1880 he purchased his present home- stead and erected thereon a commodious and pleasant residence, in which he still re- sides. He also built a number of large greenhouses, supplied with all modern im- provements and equipments, and in 1890 began the cultivation of roses, in which de- partment of his business he has been very successful. He has made a close study of the industry, and his thorough understand- ing of the needs of plants has enabled him to produce some of the finest specimens and varieties that have ever been placed upon the market.
In St. John's church, Roman Catholic, Mr. McGowan was married May 16, 1870,
to Bessie Coyne, a daughter of Patrick and Elizabeth (Waters) Coyne. They had two children, but one died in early life. The surviving child is Francis Joseph, who is now his father's assistant in business. Mr. McGowan and his family are Roman Cath- olics in religious belief and are communi- cants of the church of Our Lady of the Val- ley, in Orange.
WILLIAM .H. FRANCISCO,
son of Josiah A. and Elizabeth (Francisco) Francisco, was born October 8, 1859, on the old homestead in Caldwell township, and acquired his educational training in the district schools of the vicinity. After com- pleting his studies he engaged in farming in conjunction with the dairy business, and now ranks as one of the progressive and successful agriculturalists of Essex county.
Josiah A. Francisco, father of our sub- ject, was also born on the farmstead and was married on the 7th of April, 1855, his death occurring April 11, 1890. Mrs. Francisco was a sister of Stephen, born on the old home, September 24, 1833, and is now liv- ing with her son, William H. The other children of Josiah A. and Elizabeth Fran- cisco were: Peter Andrew, born June 9. 1857, died September 1, 1863; Bernice, born June 6, 1863, resides on the old home- stead; Richard S., January 8, 1867, resides at home: Lloyd J., January 16, 1873, is living at Fairfield.
The male members of the family are, without an exception, stanch Republicans and believe firmly in the principles of that party. In religion the family is affiliated with the Presbyterian church. Besides the old homestead, which is occupied by the immediate subject of this review, the latter
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and his brother, Richard S., now own two other farms and a half of a third farm. They are among the prosperous agriculturalists of Essex county.
AUGUST KRAEUTER
was born on the 27th of October, 1837, in the old town of Kensingen, in Baden, Ger- many, and was a son of John Jacob and Augusta Kraeuter. His father was born in the village of Hoerdten, in Baden, in 1778, and served in the Rheinbund army under Napoleon Bonaparte. He rose to the office of quartermaster, took part in the Russian campaign under that brilliant and daring leader of the French and participated in the siege of Moscow. He was afterward pen- sioned and was made district custodian of the government property in the grand duchy of Baden, which was the place of his residence. He died in 1847, and his wife passed away in 1840. They had seven chil- dren, who reached years of maturity. One sister, Elizabeth, came to America and died of sunstroke in New York city, at the age of thirty years.
August Kraeuter was left an orphan at the early age of three years. He attended the common schools of Karlsruhe and Mannheim, after which he prepared for a business career by learning the trade of locksmith and traveling through Germany, Switzerland and France as a journeyman. It was in 1859 that he determined to seek a home in America, landing in New York on the Ist day of September. Newark became the place of his abode and here he secured employment in a pistol factory on High street, near Warren street. He was after- ward employed by Henry Sauerbier, in the manufacture of military arms for the gov-
ernment, and in 1864 he became a member of the firm of Heuschkel, Kraeuter & Com- pany. Under this style the firm continued to carry on business for five years, when the partnership was dissolved and the firm of Foerster & Kraeuter was formed. This connection was maintained until December, 1878, when Mr. Kraeuter withdrew and em- barked in business on his own account in the manufacture of tools. In 1881 he re- moved to his present location, and has es- tablished a paying business, which from the beginning has constantly increased in vol- ume and importance.
In 1859, in Newark, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Kraeuter and Miss Mary Magdalena Margstein, and to them were born seven children, as follows: Elise, who married P. H. Miller, of Newark, and has one child, Ellsa; William, who married Katharine K. Jarvis, and has two daugh- ters,-Hazel and Emma; August L., of Newark, who is a member of the board of freeholders, and married Elenore Hotz, by whom he has three children,-George W., Augusta and Helen; Bertha, who married Frank Vorhees, of Irvington, and has one daughter, Sybilla; Emilie, wife of Gottfried Fiedler, of Orange, by whom she has two children,-Harry and Frank; Charles, of Newark, who married Miss Ella Bingham and has two children, Robert F. and Charles Howard; and Otillia, who died at the age of eight years. The mother of this family was called to the home beyond this life April 28, 1872, at the age of forty years, and on the 2d of June, 1872, Mr. Kraeuter was again married, his second union being with Sybilla L. Monier, a daughter of Albrecht and Eleonora Monier. She is of French de- scent. her ancestors having fled from their native country by reason of the repeal of the
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Edict of Nantes. By the second marriage of Mr. Kraeuter there are also seven chil- dren: Arthur A., who is engaged in the manufacture of tools in connection with his father; Eleonora; Louisa; Cora Lucia; Richard Garfield; John Jacob and Clara Julia, all at home.
In his political affiliations Mr. Kraeuter is a Republican, who warmly advocates the principles of his party. He was elected and served as school commissioner from 1876 until 1878, but has never aspired to political honors, being content to devote his time and energies to his business. In 1877 he was a member of the grand jury of Essex county. He is interested in all that tends to the mental culture and artistic development of the people of the community, and is a trustee of the West Newark Kindergarten Society and the Arion and Lyra singing so- cieties of Newark.
JOHN GEORGE REICHSTETTER,
one of the practical and energetic business men of Newark, engaged in the manufac- ture of wagons and trucks, belongs to that large class of worthy citizens that the fath- erland has furnished to America. He was born on the 14th of December, 1860, in Engelsbraent, Oberamdt Neuenburg, Wurtemberg, Germany, and is a son of Christian and Catharine (Kling) Reichstet- ter. His father was a farmer by occupation and was for twenty years chief burgess of his native town,-a man who enjoyed the confidence of his fellow citizens in a high degree. He was born in 1832 and died in 1884, at the age of sixty-two years. His widow is still living on the old homestead in Germany. Both held membership in the Lutheran church and in that faith reared
their six children, the record of whom is as follows: Frederick, who came to Newark in 1879 and still makes his home here, mar- ried Catherine Baer, and had two children; Christian is married and lives on the old homestead in Germany; John George, the third in order of birth; Gottlieb lives in Ger- many, is married and has a family; Karl, who is also married and has a family, makes his home in the land of his nativity; and Julia G. is with her mother.
Mr. Reichstetter, of this review, is in- debted to the schools of his native land for the educational training he received, and at the age of fourteen began to learn the blacksmith's trade, which pursuit had been followed by his father and grandfather. After completing his apprenticeship he traveled as a journeyman through Austria and the central German states and in 1881 came to America, landing at New York on the 7th of June. Taking up his residence in Newark he joined his brother in the blacksmithing business, and later he served for eight years as foreman of the wagon manufactory of Brandenburgh & Novelle. On the 18th of February, 1890, he began business for himself at his present location and has since greatly improved the plant. The wagons and trucks which he manufac- tures are of the best quality, being durable, and at the same time not too heavily con- structed, and supplied with all modern im- provements. His trade is constantly in- creasing and his business has grown to such size that it yields him a good financial re- turn for his labor.
Mr. Reichstetter was married at Newark, New Jersey, September 20, 1883, to Miss Sophia M. Erb, daughter of Adam and Catharine (Trautwein) Erb, and three chil- dren grace their union : Fred K., born Jan-
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uary 15, 1885; Sophia Catharine, born Aug- ust 7, 1887, and John George, born March 20, 1893 .. The parents are members of the Lutheran church, and socially Mr. Reich- stetter is connected with several societies. He is a self-made man, and the accumula- tions of an enterprising business career have come as the result of his able, per- severing efforts. The Trautwein family ap- pear in this work.
HENRY SCHREITMUELLER,
of Newark, was born in the ortschaft of Deidesheim, Oberamt of Moesbach, in Baden, Germany, October 4, 1860, his par- ents being Andreas and Sophia (Beck) Schreitmueller. His father was a weaver by trade and pursued that calling for a number of years, after which he was ap- pointed by the government as a keeper of the forests, a position which he filled for more than a quarter of a century, when he was pensioned by the government. He died in 1891 and his wife was called to her final rest in January, 1882. They had fifteen children, of whom the following reached mature years: Rosa, who is married and resides at Brucksal, Baden, Germany; Bern- hard, who is married and makes his home at Guedesheim, Baden; Andreas, who is mar- ried and is engaged in the building-stone trade in Guedesheim, Baden; John, who is married and resides in Wolterdingen, in the district of Donau-Eshingen, Baden; Mary, who is married and resides at Mertelstein, Baden, her husband being Ignaz Bernauer, who was a widower with six children at the time of their marriage, by which union sev- enteen children were born; Kilian, who came to America and makes his home in Newark with his wife and four children;
Henry, of this sketch; Martin, a locomo- tive engineer, residing in Carlsruhe, Baden, who is married and has a family; Anna, who is married and is also living in Baden.
Henry Schreitmueller obtained his pre- liminary education in the schools of his native land, and later attended a school of technique in Moesbach for some time. Be- ing desirous of trying his fortune in Amer- ica he determined to sail before reaching his twenty-first birthday, as at that time he would be eligible for military service. Ac- cordingly he left home on the 9th of March, 1881, and sailed from Rotterdam to New York, arriving in the latter city on the 27th of March. He took up his residence in New- ark and entered the employ of M. Mayer & Son, stone-cutters, with whom he remained until 1891, a period of eleven years. He then formed a partnership with Frank Au- lenbach and engaged in the building and flag-stone business, under the firm name of Schreitmueller & Aulenbach. Their wise and prudent management made their enter- prise a successful one and they continued in trade together until 1895, when by mutual consent the partnership was dissolved, Mr. Schreitmueller continuing in the business which he has conducted with good profit.
On the Ist of April, 1881, in St. Bene- dict's church, Roman Catholic, Newark, Mr. Schreitmueller was united in marriage to Miss Eva Frederick, who was born March 24, 1860, a daughter of Jacob and Mary Anna (Schoenlebe) Frederick. Five children grace this union: John, who was born August 6, 1885; Charles, who was born January 3, 1888; Josephine, born De- cember 23, 1890; Catharine, born Novem- ber 6, 1892, and Lena, born August 17, 1896. Mr. Schreitmueller and his family are communicants of the St. Peter's church,
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