USA > New Jersey > Essex County > Newark > Biographical and genealogical history of the city of Newark and Essex County, New Jersey, V. 1 > Part 43
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WILLIAM GAUCH, M. D.,
is one of the younger representatives of the medical profession of Newark, but his years seem to be no limit to his ability, which might well be envied by many an older practitioner. He was born in New- ark on the 12th of November, 1873, and is a son of William and Emma (Schoenams- grauber) Gauch. The father was born in Germany and came to the United States when thirteen years of age. He served for four years during the civil war as a loyal defender of the Union, enlisting in a regi- ment at Washington, D. C., with which he served until the starry banner was vic- toriously planted in the capital of the Con- federacy. After the war he returned to Newark, and a few years later, in partner- ship with his brother Jacob, established a box manufactory, which they are still con- ducting under the firm name of J. Gauch & Brother. The mother of our subject is a native of Newark.
The Doctor was reared in the city of his birth, and acquired his preliminary educa- tion in the public schools and was gradu- ated in the high school in 1891. He then spent one year in the School of Art of Columbia College, after which he began his preparation for his professional duties by matriculating in the College of Physi- cians and Surgeons of New York, where he was graduated in 1895, on the comple- tion of a thorough and comprehensive course of study.
Dr. Gauch then spent six months as a
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substitute physician in different hospitals in Newark and Jersey City, and began the regular practice of his profession in De- cember, 1896. In March, 1897, he opened his office at No. 284 Orange street, where he is now located. He is serving as as- sistant house physician at St. Michael's Hospital and is a member of the Essex County Medical Society and the Physi- cians' Club, thus keeping in touch with the advancement in the medical science and gaining from this interchange of thought between practitioners valuable helps for his own work. He is now enjoying a fair practice and will undoubtedly continually work his way upward.
ISAAC ROLFE DENMAN.
There are men in every community who are the leaders in thought and action, who mold the public life and to whom is due the progress and advancement of that commu- nity. Such a one is Mr. Denman, who is now serving as city treasurer. He has been very prominent in business circles, is well known in military circles, and in local po- litical affairs occupies a distinguished posi- tion and is now serving his fellow towns- men as treasurer of the city of Newark.
Mr. Denman is a native of the Crescent City, born on the 13th of May, 1851. His father was Abraham Cross Denman, now deceased. In his early life he left New Or- leans, accompanying his parents on their removal to Newark, where he was reared to manhood, acquiring his education in the Newark Academy and in private boarding schools. His first business venture was undertaken in 1869, when at the age of eighteen years he became a member of the firm of A. C. Deas & Company, with which
he was connected several years. On sev- ering his connection with that enterprise, he learned the carriage-maker's trade, spending five years at the bench and learn- ing the different branches of the business. In 1870 he went to New Orleans, where he entered his father's carriage repository, be- ing thus employed for a year. On the ex- piration of that period he returned to Newark and for some years was connected with various profitable enterprises in New- ark and New York. For the past fifteen years he has been engaged in no regular business, and has spent his time largely in California and Florida, especially through the winter seasons.
On the 21st of May, 1897, Mr. Denman was elected to the office of city treasurer of Newark, and three days later entered upon the discharge of his duties, to which he is now devoting much of his time. His deep interest in the welfare, progress and up- building of the city insures his careful handling of the finances and their expendi- ture to the best advantage. For a number of years he has been identified with the New Jersey National Guard, being an en- thusiastic worker for the promotion of that body. · He was for some time a member of the First Regiment, served as its rifle in- spector for a time and was a member of General Plume's staff.
In 1874 Mr. Denman was united in mar- riage to Miss Anna Marshall, a daughter of the late Charles Busselle, a lumber dealer of New York. Two children were born to them, Elma and Rolfe, but the former died at the age of eight, the latter at the age of four, both within a month, in 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Denman enjoy the hospitality of the best homes of Newark, and Mr. Den- man's honorable connection with public
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affairs and his irreproachable character in all the walks of life have won him a host of friends whose number is constantly increas- ing.
WILLIAM HENRY PEOPLES.
a member of the firm of Jaehnig & Peoples, plumbers, steam and gas fitters, at Nos. 172 and 174 Thirteenth avenue, was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, August 29, 1858. His father was James Peoples, and his mo- ther's maiden name was Cecelia Kennedy. In 1847 they located in Philadelphia, whence they removed to Lancaster, where he resided until his death, which occurred December 10, 1881. His wife passed away April 19, 1866. The father was a horse- shoer and followed that business as a life occupation. In politics he was a strong Democrat, and for a number of years repre- sented the fourth ward of Lancaster in the common council of that city.
Mr. Peoples, of this review, was reared in the city of his birth and attended the public schools, acquiring a good English education. On laying aside his text-books to enter upon that training which comes in the harder school of experience, he was set to work to master the tin and sheet-iron business, at which he served a regular ap- prenticeship. In 1875 he went to Phila- delphia, where he worked at his trade for about a year and a half. He then spent about fifteen years in traveling over the country, during which period he worked at his trade in every city of importance in the United States. He settled in Newark in the spring of 1891, and was employed by others until 1893.
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In that year Mr. Peoples formed a part- nership with Oscar Jaehnig and established
their present business. They do as exten- sive a plumbing business as any house in the city and their patronage in the line of steam and gas fitting is also extensive. They employ about twenty men on an average, including six plumbers, six tin- ners and other workmen. They now have on hand several large contracts and are recognized as leaders in their line in New- ark.
Mr. Peoples was married October 12, 1893, the lady of his choice being Miss Marta Jaehnig, a sister of his partner. They have one son, James Donald.
Mr. Peoples was elected a member of the board of education, April 13, 1897, from the sixth ward, and is a member of the heating and sanitary committees. He is an enter- prising, energetic business man, a pro- gressive, public-spirited citizen and his irre- proachable character in all the walks of life commends him to the confidence and re- spect of all.
CONRAD KOEGEL,
a retired merchant tailor of Newark, is in- debted solely to his own efforts for the suc- cess he has achieved, and throughout the city he is known and honored as a man of great strength of character, indomitable will, large mental capacity and a sterling honesty and integrity. He was born in the ortschaft of Boennigheim, in the state of Wurtemberg, Germany, September 24, 1841, and is a son of Gottfried and Chris- tina (Haeusler) Koegel, both natives of Boennigheim. His father was a good and worthy citizen, who for many years was en- gaged in the culture of grapes and the manufacture of wine. He was appointed to the position of keeper of the forests and
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served in that capacity until he had reached the age of eighty years. He was born February 22, 1805, and died at the age of eighty-nine years. His faithful wife passed away in 1849. They were consistent Christian people of the Lutheran faith, and their children were reared in that religion. They had eight children: Gottfried was drafted into the military service and lost his life in the revolution of Hungary in which the late Kossuth was identified; Johannis is married and resides in the town of Kleinengert, Hungary, Germany; Cas- per is married, resides in the town of Boeb- lingen, in Wurtemberg, and has two sons, Robert and Ernest; Christian, who came to America in 1873, married Johanna Moesch and resides at Newark: his children are Fritz, Fredericka, Maria, Carrie, Christian, Conrad and Andreas, the first four born in Germany. Conrad is the next of the fam- ily; Fredericka died at Kipler's Hotel in Newark, in 1864; Joseph, who came to America about 1867 and located in New- ark, is married and has the following chil- dren: Rosie, Elizabeth, Joseph, Edward, Matilda and Frederick; and Gottfried, who came to America in 1873, locating in New- ark, married Catherine Moesch, by whom he had three children: Catherine, Carrie and Annie. After the death of the mother of this family, the father, Gottfried Koegel, married Frederica Lipot, a widow, and the sister of his first wife. By this union they had two children,-Joseph and Gottfried.
Conrad Koegel acquired a common- school education in his native town and then learned the tailor's trade, after which he worked as a journeyman for four years, traveling through the central German states and visiting the principal cities. In 1862 he came to America, landing in New
York in the month of August. Locating in Newark, he began work at his trade with his cousin, Christian Koegel, who at the beginning of the Rebellion enlisted in the Union Army, our subject then succeeding to the ownership of the business. In this he met with good success, and in 1864 he removed to Chatham street, now Arling- ton street, where he remained until 1866, when he opened his store on Mercer street. In 1868 he changed his location to No. 42 West street, and next removed to 238 Charleston street, and here built a house and resided till he came to his present home. He conducted a large and profit- able business until 1892, when he bought the tract of ground at No. 432 Eighteenth avenue and 487 Springfield avenue, where he built the houses now standing there, and in this way greatly improved the appear- ance of the neighborhood. He was recog- nized as a leader in his line during his con- nection with active business interests and had one of the largest and best equipped merchant tailoring establishments in the city, while from the public he received a very liberal patronage.
Socially, Mr. Koegel is a member of Diogenes Lodge, No. 22, F. & A. M., of Newark; Teutonia Lodge, No. 118, I. O. O. F., the Aurora Singing Society, of New- ark, and the Allgemeine Beneficial Verein. His qualities of good fellowship, geniality and courtesy make him very popular. In his political associations he is a Republican, but has never been an aspirant for public office.
Mr. Koegel was married on the 8th of January, 1865, the lady of his choice being Miss Matilda Joffrey, who was born July 28, 1845, and is a daughter of Henry and Julia (Druess) Joffrey, both of whom were
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natives of Prussia. Their union has been blessed with six children: Amelia, born November 17, 1865; Conrad C., born April 6, 1869; Matilda, who was born May 10, 1873, and is now the wife of Leo Hauser, by whom she has one son, Leo Conrad, born November 14, 1896; Henry G., born March 27, 1876; Julia, born January 29, 1886; and Gustav Adolph, born August 28, 1890. The family attend the German Lutheran church.
JOHN DORER
is a leading representative of the business interests of Newark, having been the pro- moter of several enterprises. He was born in the town of Mietesheim, in the province of Alsace, France, June 27, 1847, and is a son of John George and Magdalene (Deutsch) Dorer. His father died in Al- sace in 1865, and the mother, surviving him thirty years, departed this life there in 1895.
John Dorer was educated in both the German and French languages in his na- tive province and continued a member of his father's household until nearly eighteen years of age, when he determined to come to America, and accordingly sailed for New York, where he arrived on the 6th of July, 1865. Coming thence to East Orange, he here secured a situation with Andrew Younger and later entered the employ of Matthias M. Dodd, a leading citizen of East Orange. Later he began work at the car- penter's trade, but not finding that pursuit remunerative he decided to go to California and in 1866 made his way to the Pacific slope, where he remained three years and seven months.
On the expiration of that period he re-
turned to East Orange and again entered the employ of Matthias M. Dodd, with whom he remained until 1871, when he re- turned to the land of his nativity, spend- ing several months there. On the 20th of January, 1872, he once more landed on American soil and entered the employ of Booth Brothers, of East Orange, dairymen, with whom he formed a partnership after two years. This connection was continued for fifteen years, when Mr. Dorer began business alone in the same line. He is doing well in this enterprise, having a large milk route and conducting a profitable dairy. Nor has he confined his attention and energies alone to this business. He has become somewhat interested in real- estate dealings, and in 1877 purchased a house and eight acres of land on Grove street, where he made many substantial improvements. In 1883 he bought a tract of land on Grove street, upon which he erected the modern and convenient resi- dence in which he resided till 1898. He now lives in his new house that he has just built on Springdale avenue, between the Bloomfield railroad and Rosville avenue. He has erected a number of dwellings and by his judicious investment has been suc- cessful in his real-estate dealing. In 1897 he purchased three acres, on which he has erected a commodious barn and substantial dairy buildings in order to facilitate his large and increasing trade. He is also a half owner in the Schwartzkopf & Dorer Jewelry Manufacturing Company, of 277 Washington street, Newark, New Jersey, and his sound judgment and capable man- agement in business affairs make his coun- sel and labors in connection with any en- terprise very valuable. He also has real- estate interests in Irvington, upon which
JOHN DORER
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he erected a fine dairy, which his son John is conducting.
On the Ist of February, 1872, Mr. Dorer was united in marriage to Miss Eva Eliza- beth Schaeffer, a daughter of Michael and Elizabeth (Helmstedter) Schaeffer, who were of German ancestry. They spent their last days in East Orange at the home of their daughter, the father dying in 1889, the mother in 1892. Their remains were deposited in Fairmont cemetery, of New- ark. To Mr. and Mrs. Dorer have been born five children: John, who married Susan Rusch, and is a graduate of the New- ark Business College; George, a graduate of the East Orange high school; Mary Elizabeth; Louisa Ernestina and Charles. The parents are members of the Second Presbyterian church of Newark and take a deep interest in all that tends to elevate humanity. In his political views he is a Republican.
HUGH FRANCIS COOK, M. D.,
was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, on the 4th of July, 1872, and is a son of James and Anna Cook, both of whom are natives of Connecticut, the father now engaged in business in Bridgeport, that state.
The Doctor secured his primary educa- tion in the public schools, and after his graduation at the Bridgeport high school entered the Holy Cross College, at Wor- cester, Massachusetts, at which institution he was graduated in 1892, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Having determined to enter the medical profession and devote his life to the alleviation of human suffer- ing, he matriculated in the Yale Medical College, where he spent one year. On the expiration of that period he entered the
College of Physicians and Surgeons, of Baltimore, Maryland, where he was gradu- ated on the 15th of April, 1896. He next entered the Alexian Brothers Hospital at Elizabeth, New Jersey, where he put his carefully acquired knowledge to the prac- tical test, serving as house physician for eleven months. On the 4th of March, 1897, he opened his office at No. 451 Or- ange street, Roseville, where he entered upon the general practice of his profession. On the 15th of June, 1897, he was ap- pointed on the staff of physicians for the Alexian Brothers Hospital at Elizabeth, New Jersey.
He is a member of the Alumni Society of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Baltimore, also of the New Jersey Sur- gical Society of Newark. He is a thor- ough student, whose text-books are often reviewed, while in the current literature he keeps abreast with the progress which is continually being made in the profession. He is enjoying a good practice and de- serves the success which has come to him.
HON. CHARLES W. POWERS.
Bloomfield has reason to take pride in her thorough-going and enterprising busi- ness men. Prominent among this class is found the Hon. Charles W. Powers, a real- estate dealer, and at this writing a repre- sentative to the state legislature of New Jersey from the district composed of the townships of Montclair, Bloomfield, Frank- lin and Belleville. His life history, briefly given, is as follows :
Charles W. Powers was born in Bloom- field, Essex county, New Jersey, March 14, 1851, son of Charles W. and Mary Ann (Paddick) Powers, the former a native of
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New York state and the latter of Sussex county, New Jersey. James Powers, the grandfather of our subject, was of Scotch- Irish extraction and was one of the early settlers of the Empire state. The Pad- dicks trace their ancestry to Holland. The first representatives of the family to land in this country settled in New England, com- ing thence some years later to New Jersey, Hiram Paddick, the maternal grandfather of Mr. Powers, being an old resident of this state.
· Charles W. Powers, whose name heads this sketch, was reared principally in Bloomfield, receiving his early education in the schools of this place. Then he entered Rundell Academy, now the German Theo- logical Seminary, where he pursued his studies for a time, and afterward took a commercial course in the Bryant & Strat- ton Business College at Newark, New Jer- sey. On leaving the last named school, he became an assistant in the lumber yard and planing mill owned and operated by his father, and continued as such until 1871, when his father disposed of the mill. After this the subject of our sketch engaged in the manufacture of building material and began contracting and building. Among other buildings erected by him was the Lester Surgical Plant. When this was completed he became connected with the company which owned it and remained with it three years, two years of which time he was superintendent. At the expiration of the third year he turned his attention to the real-estate business, handling realty in Bloomfield and Newark, having an office at both places and doing an extensive and paying business.
Politically, Mr. Powers is a Republican, active in furthering party interests and tak-
ing part in both local and state politics. He did some effective stumping in the cam- paign of 1896. Four years he has served as a member of the town council. In the fall of 1896 he was elected to represent his district in the state legislature, and the one hundred and twenty-first session of the leg- islature of New Jersey and the fifty-third under the new constitution; and while a member of that honorable body he took an active part in the discussion and passage of several important bills, performing his ser- vice in a manner that reflected credit both upon himself and his constituents.
Mr. Powers was married in 1870 to Miss Jane Dougherty, a daughter of John Dougherty, of Bloomfield, and they have one daughter, Miss Irene.
PATRICK J. NASH,
of East Orange, was born in county Meath, Ireland, on the 15th of August, 1859, and is a son of Joseph and Bridget (Fitzsim- mons) Nash. His father, a farmer through- out his active business life, was an upright and honorable man, enjoying the respect of neighbors and friends in a high degree. He died in the prime of life, at the age of fifty-five years, and is buried near his home in county Meath, Ireland. His children numbered eight, three of whom died on the Emerald Isle, namely: Joseph, who died at the age of twenty-one years; Thomas, who died at the age of eighteen; and Mar- garet, who passed away at the age of eight. The surviving members of the family are, in addition to the subject of this sketch: Anna, wife of John McCormick, a resident of Boston, Massachusetts; Mary, wife of John Colbert, of New York; William, who is living in Memphis, Tennessee; and John,
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from whom no news has been received for about twenty years, at which time he was in Connecticut.
Patrick J. Nash is indebted to the dis- trict schools near his boyhood's home for his education, which, however, was termi- nated before he had reached the age of eight years, occasioned by the death of his father. In early life he began learning the blacksmith's trade, and when about twelve years of age came with his mother and sis- ter Mary to America, landing at New York in the spring of 1871. From the metropolis they came to Newark, where our subject completed his trade, and then accepted a position in the horse-shoeing estab- lishment of the Orange & Newark Railroad Company, now the Consoli- dated Traction Company, at this time being in his fifteenth year. He re- mained with that company from 1873 to 1890, when he started business at his pres- ent place. While completing his trade in Newark he also attended night school and at the same time became able to aid in the support of his mother and her family. Eventually he became her chief dependence and is now providing her with a comfort- able home, delighting to make this return to her for the attention she bestowed upon him in his early years.
In 1890 Mr. Nash established a smithý at No. 98 Main street, East Orange, where he has since conducted a large and profit- able business. Among his patrons are many owners of fine roadsters and track horses who desire to have their horses shod only by the most skillful workmen. Some of his customers come from a distance of fif- teen miles, and he has a very enviable repu- tation for efficiency in his line. His well directed efforts are now bringing him a
good income, and his success is well de- served.
Mr. Nash has taken an active interest in local political affairs, and has been actively concerned in various enterprises. He is a member of the East Orange Fire Depart- ment and a member of the Exempt Fire- men's Association of East Orange. He was a member of the fire department from its organization, serving at one time as its assistant chief, resigning on account of pressure of business. He also is a member of the Master Horse-shoers' National Pro- tective Association of America; is an active member of the East End Republican Club; was one of the first trustees of the church, Catholic, taking an active interest in the location of the house of worship at the new site at the corner of Main and Clinton streets. He and his mother are both de- vout members of the church. Their resi- dence is at No. 52 Sterling street, East Orange, where he purchased the ground in 1876 and erected the house in i884.
ROBERT C. and WILLIAM O. GIL- FORT
are proprietors of one of the most popular and interesting places of business in Or- ange,-the Gilfort Museum and Cafe. Theirs has been a most interesting experi- ence. Traveling throughout the civilized world they have gained a knowledge of the various countries and their peoples which only travel can bring, and their delightful reminiscences of their journeyings make them most entertaining and pleasant com- panions. The story of one whose career has been different from that of the mass of mankind is always interesting and the his- tory of these brothers cannot fail to prove an attractive addition to this volume.
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Both natives of St. Louis, Missouri, Robert C. Gilfort was born February 12, 1845, and William O., May 24, 1849. They are sons of Frederick and Wilhelmina (Barnewitz) Gilfort. The father was born in Prussia, acquired a district-school edu- cation, and in early life learned the trade of machinist, which he followed for a number of years in the land of his nativity. Fi- nally deciding to come to America, he crossed the Atlantic in a southwesterly di- rection, landing at New Orleans. He brought with him his tools, but finding no favorable opening for one in his line in the Crescent City, he made his way to St. Louis, where he established one of the first machine shops in that place. There success attended his efforts, his business rapidly increasing and bringing to him ex- cellent financial returns. After a time he formed a partnership under the name of Gilfort & Robinson, and this firm con- structed the first locomotive built west of the Mississippi river, it being the property of the Iron Mountain Railroad Company. Mr. Gilfort was very successful as a me- chanical engineer and was connected with many of the most important mechanical and engineering projects of St. Louis and vicinity. His manufactures along that line were also extensive and proved a profitable source of income. A recog- nized leader in his line, he had constantly to enlarge his facilities to meet the grow- ing demand of his trade. The prosperity that crowns well directed efforts was his, and with a handsome competence he re- tired from business life in 1882. He passed away in 1895, at the age of eighty years, but his wife is still living with her sons in Orange, and is a consistent member of the" Lutheran church.
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