USA > New Jersey > Essex County > Newark > Biographical and genealogical history of the city of Newark and Essex County, New Jersey, V. 1 > Part 40
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Elias W. Drake was born at Scotch Plains, Essex county, New Jersey, on the 24th of August, 1821, the son of Nathaniel and Huldah (Payne) Drake, being the third in order of a family of eleven children. The paternal grandfather of our subject also bore the name of Nathaniel. He was born in Piscataqua, New Jersey, being a young man at the time when the war of the Revolution was in progress. It does not ap- pear that he was an actual participant in the struggle for independence, though his char- acteristics were such as to leave no mar- gin for doubting that he rendered equally patriotic and effective service in behalf of the cause of the colonies. He was a man of ability and progressive spirit, ordering his life upon the most exalted plane of honor and integrity. His death occurred at Scotch Plains, where his body lies in- terred. He was a miller by occupation and he held a position of prominence in the county where his entire life was passed. He became the father of three sons, one of whom was Nathaniel (2d), the father of the immediate subject of this review.
Nathaniel Drake, Jr., was born at Plain- field, whence he removed with his fa- ther to Scotch Plains, where he was
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reared to man's estate. He followed in the footsteps of his sire, becoming iden- tified with the milling business and at- taining a conspicuous position as an energetic and capable business man. In political adherency he was identified with the Democratic party, though he was in no sense a politician or an aspirant for official preferment. His wife, Huldah, was the daughter of Jonathan Payne, one of the early residents of Piscataqua. Nathan- iel Drake lived to attain the venerable age of seventy-three years,
Elias WV. Drake received his educational discipline in the public schools of his native place, his theoretical training in this line having been completed when he was six- teen years of age, when he turned his atten- tion to the practical duties of a life there- after devoted to consecutive and successful endeavor. His initial effort was as a clerk in a grocery at Scotch Plains, and he later retained a similar incumbency in Newark. About the time when he attained his ma- jority he returned to Scotch Plains, where for a time he was engaged in the operation of his father's mill. In 1842, soon after his marriage, he located in Newark, where he engaged in the feed business, continuing operations in this line for a period of three years. His experience in and seeming predilection for the milling business, led him to return to this field of enterprise in finally selecting a permanent field of en- deavor. He rented a mill at Scotch Plains and after operating the same successfully for a period of three years he purchased an excellent milling property at Irvington. where he has ever since retained his resi- dence. He continued his milling enter- prise at this point for a long interval of years, after which he retired from active
business. In 1871 he erected a finely equipped mill at Newark, the same being located at the corner of Halsey and Mar- shall streets, and this is now owned by G. D. Drake, who has been thoroughly trained in the enterprise and is successfully carrying forward the work instituted by his father many years ago.
While Mr. Drake has ever maintained a commendable interest in all that conserves the welfare and stable prosperity of the state with whose annals the family name has been prominently identified for so many years, he has upheld the principles and policies of the Democratic party so far as national issues are concerned, but has not been dominated by party rule in the matter of local affairs, preferring to accord his support to the best men, irrespective of political affiliations. He has ever held aloof from anything in the way of seeking official position, but has not withheld his influence in the advancement of the party cause. The Drake family were among the first to become identified with the Baptist church in Essex county, and to this relig- ious faith our subject strongly adheres.
On New Year's day, 1842, Mr. Drake was united in marriage to Miss Harriet C. Smalley, daughter of Mahlon Smalley, a prominent citizen of Somerset county, New Jersey. They are the parents of five chil- dren,-George D., Mahlon S., Nathaniel, Augusta, and Harriet C., wife of Irving B. Harrison, of Irvington.
CYRUS CANFIELD.
For nearly a century and a quarter the Canfield family has been identified with the business and agricultural interests of Essex county, and its members have been
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numbered among the prominent citizens of this section of the state. Matthias Can- field, father of the immediate subject of this review, was born on the 31st of March, 1775, in Essex county, and resided at West- ville, where he was engaged as a tanner and farmer and later became a successful business man, continuing to follow mer- cantile enterprises until his death, which occurred on the Ist of April, 1847. He married Miss Betsy Crane, who was born on the 22d of October, 1782, her demise taking place on the 12th of October, 1868. Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Can- field the following record is given: Sam- uel C., born March 24, 1804, was a farmer at Caldwell, and died December 5, 1882; Esther, born July 5, 1807, became the wife of John Moore, now deceased; Mary, born February 9, 1811, died September 19, 1872; Elizabeth, born May 12, 1813, married Jared Beach, is now deceased; Cyrus, born June 17, 1815, has followed farming all his life and resided on the old homstead up to 1890, when he moved to Caldwell; Mat- thias Smith, born October 21, 1817, was a teacher and township collector for some years: he was intended for the ministry, but failing health compelled him to seek other vocations; Phoebe Emeline, born November 5, 1821, married Nathaniel Baldwin, of Orange; Isaac N., born August 24, 1823, is a farmer in Caldwell township.
Cyrus Canfield was reared on his father's farm and engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 1841 he celebrated his marriage to Miss Eliza Courter, who was born on the 8th of March, 1821, and they became the parents of two children, namely: Carrie C., the wife of John Francisco, now living in Franklin; and Milter H., who was born about 1850 and now lives on the old home-
stead, where he is carrying on farming and dairying. The inherent politics of the fam- ily is Democratic, all the members giving a stanch support of that party, their religious adherency being to the Presbyterian church.
Cyrus Canfield is well known throughout the county as a prosperous, progressive farmer, a quiet, unassuming gentleman and a public-spirited, loyal citizen, and he re- tains the high esteem of a large circle of friends.
FRANK B. DAILEY,
the efficient and accommodating postmas- ter of Bloomfield, New Jersey, is a young man whose prominence in the town entitles him to some personal mention in connec- tion with that of other representative citi- zens of Bloomfield. Briefly, his life history is as follows :
Frank B. Dailey was born in Bloomfield, Essex county, New Jersey, November 18, 1869, son of Peter and Catherine (Higgins) Dailey, both natives of Ireland. Mrs. Dailey emigrated to this country in 1849, and Peter Dailey a few years later. They were married in 1861, and are still living in Bloomfield, honored and respected by all who know them, and are devout members of the Roman Catholic church. In his na- tive town Frank B. grew to manhood, re- ceiving his education in the public and pa- rochial schools, and on leaving school started out to make his own way by accept- ing a position as assistant in the office of the Lister Surgical Company, of Bloom- field, and later of Kearny, New Jersey, re- maining with the company until the spring of 1894. March Ist of that year he became assistant postmaster under Frank G.
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Tower, with whom he remained until the death of Mr. Tower. Mr. Dailey was then appointed to fill the vacancy, his appoint- ment being confirmed January 12, 1897, for a term of four years.
Mr. Dailey was married in June of last year.
EDWIN BURPEE GOODELL.
History and biography for the most part record the lives of only those who have at- tained military, political or literary distinc- tion, or who in any other career have passed through extraordinary vicissitudes of fortune. The routine of private life, al- though in the aggregate more important to the welfare of the community, cannot, from its nature, figure in the public annals. But the names of men who have distinguished themselves in their day and generation for the possession, in an eminent degree, of those qualities of character which mainly contribute to the success of private life and to the public stability, ought not to be al- lowed to perish. Their example is more valuable to the majority of readers than that of illustrious heroes, statesmen or writers. Few can draw rules for their own guidance from the pages of Plutarch, but all are benefited by the delineation of those traits of character which find scope and ex- ercise in the common walks of life.
Among the individuals of this class in the state of New Jersey none are better en- titled to representation in this work than the subject of this sketch. His record is the account of a life, uneventful, indeed, as far as stirring incident or startling adven- ture is concerned, yet distinguished by the most substantial qualities of character. As a member of the legal profession Mr.
Goodell has achieved distinction and won success in Essex county. He was born in Rockville, Connecticut, on the 7th of May, 1851, and is the eighth in the line of direct descent from Robert Goodell, one of the early settlers of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and the founder of the family in America. Titus Goodell, a native of New Hampshire, the great-grandfather of Ed- win B., was a soldier of the war of the Rev- olution and was killed in the battle of Still- water.
Edwin B. Goodell pursued his prelimi- nary education in the grammar and high school of his native town, and he and his brother were the first students to enter col- lege from the Rockville high school. He matriculated in Yale and was graduated in the class of 1877, after which he taught in the public schools of Montclair until 1879. In the autumn of that year he returned to his alma mater and was graduated at the law school with the degree of LL. B., in I880. In 1877 he was awarded by the Yale faculty the De Forest prize medal for the best written and delivered English ora- tion, and in 1880 the John A. Porter prize of two hundred and fifty dollars, for the best essay on an assigned subject.
After leaving the law school Mr. Good- ell returned to Montclair, where he again engaged in teaching for a year. He was admitted to the bar of Connecticut in 1880, to that of New York in 1882 and to that of New Jersey in 1883. With a branch of- fice in New York city, his practice is prin- cipally confined to New Jersey, his main office being located in Montclair, where he has practically made his home since 1877. He is a man of a strong intellectuality, with a comprehensive knowledge of the prin- ciples of the law, and in the handling of the
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cases entrusted to his care has shown a masterful ability which has gained him a foremost place among the legal practition- ers in this part of the state.
Mr. Goodell has been an important fac- tor in the public life of Montclair. He was one of the original promoters and most ac- tive members of the Tariff Reform Club, which did very active work in the cam- paigns of 1888 and 1892. He was a mem- ber of the original committee which or- ganized the Montclair Club, in 1887, has served two terms on its board of directors, was its secretary and treasurer for several years, its vice-president in the year 1895-6 and its president in 1896-7. He was one of the original trustees of Trinity Presby- terian church, and is still serving in that capacity; and he was for two or three years secretary of its Sunday school. He has been one of the promoters and most influ- ential members of each of the financial in- stitutions of Montclair, and has been ac- tive in nearly all public movements which have promoted the well-being of that pro- gressive community.
It is in connection with the public schools, however, that Mr. Goodell's most important public work has been done. Having taught in the high school for three years, he was elected trustee by the voters of old district No. 9, in 1883, and was con- tinued in that office by successive re-elec- tions until the change from the township to the town form of government was adopted in Montclair, in 1894. Mr. Good- ell was thereupon nominated by both po- litical parties in the second ward, was unan- imously chosen to represent that ward on the town board of education in 1894, and was again unanimously elected to succeed himself in 1896. He is now (1897) serving
his second term as chairman of the board.
During this long term of service he has devoted himself freely to the important du- ties of his office, has made himself familiar with the requirements of good schools, as they exist in several states, and has been an active supporter of every measure which has tended to promote the interests of good education. While he would be the last person to claim credit for the eminent success of educational methods in Mont- clair, and would repudiate any statement which did not fully acknowledge the im- portant services rendered by the late Dr. Love, and by many other faithful and able laborers in that field, it nevertheless re- mains true that Mr. Goodell has been one of the most influential and most progres- sive of the members of the board, and has done much to earn for Montclair her high record in this respect.
He married Annette C., daughter of Philip Doremus, in 1881, and they have four children,-three sons and one daugh- ter.
C. G. HERMANN ZOERNER,
a builder and contractor of Franklin town- ship, was born in the town of Ronneburg, in the province of Sachsen Altenburg, in the state of Saxony, Germany, July 21, 1844. His father, Christian Gottloeb Zoer- ner, was employed by the government to oversee the highways in the province where he lived, and died in 1869, at the age of forty-eight years. His wife, Christina, nee Fritsche, passed away in 1856, at the age of forty years. Both were members of the Lutheran church. Their family numbered five children, all of whom remained in Ger- many with the exception of our subject.
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Educated in the public schools of his native town, and confirmed at the age of fourteen, Mr. Zoerner, on laying aside his text-books, learned the carpenter's trade, after which he worked as a journeyman for a time. At the age of twenty he enlisted in the German army and served for three years: he was in active service in the war between Prussia and Austria in 1866 and participated in the whole campaign. He was a member of the Third Company, First Battalion, Ninety-sixth Regiment, Elev- enth Division, Seventh Army Corps, un- der the generalship of the Prussian leaders. In 1867, after spending two and a half months in England, he came to the United States, landing at New York, June 18, after a voyage of thirty-one days. He had but an English half-crown as his entire capi- tal, and thus almost penniless he began life among strangers in a strange land. Neces- sity as well as choice led him to seek imme- diate employment, and he secured a situa- tion in a pattern shop. He came to Essex county in 1869, locating in Montclair township, where he worked at the carpen- ter's trade. In 1879 he came to his pres- ent location near the village of Nutley, and his handiwork has been an important factor in the development and improvement of this section of the county. He is very en- ergetic and industrious, and has been prom- inently identified with the building inter- ests of his township for almost twenty years. The excellence of his work and his reliability in all business transactions have secured him a liberal patronage, and he has derived therefrom a good income.
In Montclair township, September 5, 1869, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Zoerner and Miss Helena Pruefeir, a daughter of Gottfried and Justiana Pruefeir,
natives of Germany and neighbors of our subject in the fatherland. Mrs. Zoerner was born May 22, 1842, and by her mar- riage has become the mother of the follow- ing children: Karl Edward, who was born August 23, 1870, and was married in 1895 to Josephine Travis, their home being in New York, learned telegraphy, and is now employed by the Manhattan Elevated Rail- road Company, of New York; Hermann H. A., born October 7, 1871, learned the ma- son's trade and is engaged in business as a contractor along that line; Amelia B. was born June 12, 1873; Robert Paul, who was born October 3, 1874, is now learning civil engineering at Newark with the firm of Francisco and Barkhorn. Edward, born June 13, 1876, is assisting his father; Anna, born November 16, 1878, is a student in the Newark Business College; and Francis, born October 8, 1881, attends the public schools.
Mr. Zoerner holds membership in Har- mony Lodge, No. 25, I. O. O. F., of Belle- ville, and is also a member of the Knights of Honor Lodge, No. 3631, of Nutley. In politics he is a stanch Republican. He and his wife and family attend the Congrega- tional church, and in the community where they reside are widely and favorably known.
HON. JOHN C. DENMAN,
whose leadership in the public affairs of New Jersey made him one of the promi- nent residents of Newark, was born on the 17th of November, 1815, on the old family homestead, which is still in possession of ·
the Denmans, and is situated in Crawford township, about five miles from Elizabeth, New Jersey. It was purchased in 1723 by John Denman, Jr., a descendant of one
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John Denman, who came to America from England, in 1635, and located in Dorches- ter, Massachusetts. He is mentioned in the "Town Book" of the Elizabeth records as one of the memorialists of November 18, 1729. He had much influence among his fellow citizens on account of his educa- tion and wealth, and possessed such luxur- ies as were common to those days, includ- ing books, and a riding-chair, which was mentioned in the inventory of his effects.
John Denman, Jr., located upon the hun- dred acres which he had purchased in 1723, in Crawford township, a property that has since been inherited in direct line until now it is in possession of the family of our sub- ject. It is to-day one of the few places in this section of the state having a clear title, no mortgage having ever been placed upon it. John Denman, Jr., died, leaving six children, of whom Christopher succeeded to the property. His married life was blessed with five daughters and one son, John Denman, the father of our subject, who succeeded to the ownership of the property.
On the 5th of February, 1815, John Den- man married Lockey Marsh, and died, leav- ing one daughter and four sons, of whom John Christopher, of this review, was the eldest. The Denman family were members or attendants of the Episcopal church of Elizabeth until the Revolutionary war, when that church was closed, after which they attended the West Presbyterian church, at Westfield, New Jersey.
John Christopher Denman, as before stated, opened his eyes to the light of day on the old family homestead, and there' spent the days of his boyhood and youth. His early education was acquired in the school there,-the Rahway Athenian Acad-
emy,-and at the age of sixteen he began preparation for the duties of active busi- ness life by learning the carriage-maker's trade in Newark, in the factory and under the direction of Charles Hedenberg. Here he laid the foundation for his subsequently successful career as a manufacturer of and dealer in carriages and vehicles of all de- scriptions. Soon after attaining his ma- jority he entered the shop of his uncle, Ralph Marsh, of Rahway, and later directed his steps to New Orleans, where in 1840 he entered into partnership with John E. Matthews in the carriage business. They had a large repository, partly stocked with goods of their own manufacture and partly from carriage factories of northern markets. During the Mexican war they did an extensive business, making large contracts with the government for the sup- ply of wagons, mules, horse-shoes, etc., for the army. Mr. Denman was a very enter- prising and energetic man, quick to note and take advantage of any opportunity in business, and above all was thoroughly reli- able and honorable in all trade transactions, so that he won the confidence as well as the patronage of the public.
In the spring of 1852 Mr. Denman deter- mined to retire from business, feeling that his accumulations were sufficient to supply all his wants, but after a short time he real- ized that indolence and idleness formed no part of his nature. He could not content himself without some business interests and re-entered business life. At the open- ing of the civil war, however, the business in New Orleans was closed out and Mr. Denman connected himself with Fisher, Rickards & Company, of Australia, ship- ping to that firm large consignments of carriages.
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Mr. Denman was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Hendricks, daughter of Aaron V. and Eliza (Backalen) Hendricks, of Middlesex county, New Jersey, who sur- vives her husband and makes her home in Newark, with her two children, George H. and Lillie O. A handsome fortune was left to the family and their pleasant home in this city is the center of a cultured society circle.
John C. Denman was a man of remark- able energy, sagacity and enterprise, and during his active life his name was known in business circles throughout the country and quite extensively in foreign lands. He was a man of quick perception, fixed pur- poses, frank and outspoken, and his great kindness of heart, marked liberality in sup- port of any enterprise he conceived to be right, and especially his sympathy and help to those in need have caused him to be held in loving remembrance in many house- holds, where, in his unostentatious way, he gave of his means, commensurate with the spirit of liberality.
Politically, Mr. Denman wielded a wide influence and was very prominent in the councils of the Democratic party. He was a member of the legislature from Essex county in 1858, and successfully advocated the bill to form a new county, to which he gave the name of "Union." He also advo- cated the removal of the milldams at Rah- way. After two terms of service as a mem- ber of the general assembly in Trenton, he took up his residence in Newark, where he was elected and served on the board of chosen freeholders. He was a leading fac- tor in the public interests of the city and earnestly advocated all measures which tended toward its best development. He continued his residence in Newark, as one
of its honored citizens, until his life's labors were ended in death, February 4, 1864.
H. H. HORNFECK,
of Verona, one of the leading furriers in New York city, was born in Gera, Thur- ingia, province of Saxony, on the 5th of February, 1839, a son of Henry Horn- feck, a stationary engineer. His mother bore the maiden name of Maria Gruenwald, and by her marriage became the mother of five children, one of whom, Ernest, is still living in the fatherland. Two daughters, Emilie, wife of Albert Young, and Miss Elwine Hornfeck, are residents of Brook- lyn, New York.
Henry Herman Hornfeck learned the trade of a furrier in his native land and con- tinued his residence there until he had at- tained his majority, when he crossed the broad Atlantic to the New World, landing at New York in 1860. Soon afterward he engaged in business on his own account as a furrier and has since carried on operations in that line, his establishment being one of the most popular and profitable in the trade in the city. They carry a valuable stock, well assorted and of fashionable manufac- ture, and the business of the house is stead- ily and constantly increasing. Its reputa- tion for reliability is unquestioned, and en- terprise and perseverance are the chief characteristics of the house.
Mr. Hornfeck came to Verona in 1865, and the following year was married in the house in which he still makes his home, the lady of his choice being Miss Anna K. Cimiotti, a daughter of Ferdinand and Fan- nie Cimiotti, who came to this country from Vienna, Austria. The children born of this union are: Frances M., Clara Hermine,
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wife of William L. Loftus, superintendent in the large factory of the Clark Thread Company ; Herman G., who is in the finance department of the Mutual Benefit Life In- surance Company, in Newark; Sylvia Hed- wig; Max Roland, in business with his father; Henry F., a plumber in Montclair; Gustave Adolph, who graduated in the Montclair high school, in June 1897; and Annie Stephanie.
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