USA > New Jersey > Essex County > Newark > Biographical and genealogical history of the city of Newark and Essex County, New Jersey, V. 1 > Part 44
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In early youth Robert and William Gil- fort attended both German and English schools in St. Louis, and supplemented their primary study by a course in the high school in that city. At the outbreak of hostilities between the north and the south Robert Gilfort, with commendable patriot- ism, responded to the call for three-months troops and enlisted in Company C, First Missouri Cavalry. On the expiration of his first term he re-enlisted and remained in the same company until the close of the war, participating in many important en- gagements, including the battles of Wil- son's Creek, Pea Ridge, Silver Creek, the capture of Little Rock and a number of others.
When the war was over Robert Gilfort returned to his native town, where he had previously been engaged in gymnastic per- formances and resumed his professional work. Both brothers had been trained in gymnastics, and the brothers soon after- ward started out on a tour. In their travels they have visited all parts of North and South America, Australia, the South Sea islands, Africa, Asia and Europe,-in fact have touched at every country in the civil- ized world. Masters of the art which they have so thoroughly studied, they have awakened the greatest applause and elic- ited the highest commendation of people and press throughout the globe. The most difficult feats they have accomplished with seeming ease, such is their wonderful training and such complete mastery have they over their muscular systems. While thus engaged in traveling over the country in a professional capacity, the Messrs. Gil- fort obtained a most wonderful collection of curios brought from all sections of the world. A detailed description of the same
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with the incidents concerning them would occupy a volume : suffice it to say that at a cost of more than forty-five thousand dollars they have obtained one of the most interesting private collections in the entire United States, which they now have in their fine museum.
About 1881 the brothers, being desirous of finding a pleasant home for their aged mother, decided to come to Orange, and accordingly located here. In October, 1896, they established their unique and costly decorated cafe at the corner of Essex and Main streets, where they are now doing a very successful business.
Robert C. Gilfort is a member of Uzal Dodd Post, No. 12, G. A. R., at Orange and he and his brother William are mem- bers of the Masonic fraternity, having been initiated into that order in Scotland, in 1875. They are pleasant, courteous, genial gentlemen, entertaining conversationalists, progressive business men and have the warm regard of many friends throughout the world.
EDWARD L. BURNS, M. D.
To this gentleman is due that tribute of respect and admiration which is always given-and justly so-to those men who through their own efforts have worked their way upward to positions of prominence, who have achieved a competence through their own labors, and by their honorable dealing commanded the esteem and confi- dence of those with whom they have been thrown in contact.
Dr. Burns was born in Boston, Massa- chusetts, on the 25th of November, 1865, and is descended from one of the prominent New England families. He is a son of Ed- ward Alonzo Burns, a native of Milford,
New Hampshire, which town was settled almost entirely by the Burns family in its various branches, direct and collateral. His mother bore the maiden name of Lucretia Hutchinson, also a native of Milford and a member of the famous Hutchinson family of singers, who did so much to mold pub- lic sentiment in war times by singing aboli- tion songs throughout the country. She was a niece of Abby Hutchinson, so widely known throughout the United States and Great Britain fifty years ago, at which time she was almost as famous as Jenny Lind. She and three brothers formed a quartet, whose musical powers were seldom ex- celled.
The paternal ancestry of Dr. Burns can be traced back to Scotland, whence the first of the name in America emigrated in 1643, locating in Gloucester, Massachu- setts. From there the family moved north- ward and established the town of Milford, then included within the boundaries of the Bay state but now within the limits of New Hampshire. One of the representatives of the name served as captain of a company in the American army during the war of the Revolution. The Doctor's grandfather, Charles Henry Burns, was a native of Mil- ford, and Edward Alonzo Burns, the father, who was a native of the same locality, spent his business life as a merchant of Boston and Somerville. He died in January, 1891, at the age of fifty-one years. His wife is still living in Milford. The eldest brother of our subject, Charles Henry Burns, is a lawyer of considerable note in Wilton, New Hampshire, now serving as corporation counsel for the Boston & Maine Railroad Company, and is a leader in political affairs. Mark F .. the younger brother, was for five years mayor of Som-
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erville, Massachusetts, and is now presi- dent of the Charlestown Five Cent Savings Bank.
Dr. Burns spent the first thirteen years of his life in Boston and attended the city schools. He was graduated in the high school of Somerville in 1883, after which he took a special course in Tufts College. Determining to make the practice of medi- cine his life work, he entered the Harvard Medical School, where he spent four years and was graduated in 1890, although he re- ceived a certificate of practice the preced- ing year. On leaving college Dr. Burns went to Ogden, Utah, as surgeon for the Union Pacific Railroad in the hospital at that place, where he remained until called home by the death of his father. After set- tling up his father's business, which re- quired a period of about three months, he resumed the practice of his profession, re- moving to Newark in May, 1891. He is here established in a good business and his practice is constantly increasing.
During the first summer after locating in Newark, Dr. Burns spent a portion of his time as house physician for the Manhanset House at Shelter Island. The same year he was elected to the position of recording secretary of the Essex County Society of Christian Endeavor for three years. He was on the staff of St. Michael's Hospital for nearly three years, acting a portion of the time as house physician and for nearly two years as assistant house surgeon. He is one of the examiners of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company and for other in- surance companies, and is a member of the Essex County Medical Society. He has a deep interest in his profession and his abil- ity is manifest by the success which has attended his efforts.
On the 30th of August, 1894, Dr. Burns married Miss Ida Buehler. They are mem- bers of the Peddie Memorial Church, in which he is now serving as president of the Christian Endeavor Society. He belongs also to the Royal Arcanum. He is a man of broad humanitarian principles, of deep sympathy and kindly temperament, and never fails to endorse any movement which has for its object the betterment of man- kind.
JOHN MONTEITH,
an able and successful counselor at law of Newark, is a native of Scotland, his birth having taken place at the noted manufac- turing town of Paisley on the 23d of Octo- ber, 1863, his parents being John and Jean- ette (Purdon) Monteith, both of whom were of Scotch birth. They came to Amer- ica in 1874 and first resided at Elgin, Illi- nois, removing a year later to Newark, and here occurred the death of Mr. Monteith in 1887. He is survived by his wife, who makes her home in Newark.
John Monteith received his mental disci- pline in the public schools of his home city, after leaving which he determined to devote his energies to the calling of law and began the study of that profession under the effi- cient preceptorage of Frederick Freling- huysen. He was accorded admission to the bar in 1886, since which time he has contin- ued to practice in Newark, meeting with that distinct success that is ever the logical result of intelligently applied industry, in- volving the mastering of his work in all its details, a well disciplined mind and a strict integrity of character.
The marriage of Mr. Monteith was sol- emnized in 1887, when he was united to
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Miss Elizabeth Wix, who was born of Ger- man parentage, and this union has resulted in the following three children: John E., deceased, George and John F.
In his political belief Mr. Monteith is a stanch supporter of the Republican party, but has never sought official preferment. He is a member of the Second Presbyterian church, and his social connections are with the Knights of Pythias.
WILLIAM J. KEARNS,
one of the ablest counselors-at-law and most enthusiastic political leaders of Essex county, was born in Newark, on the 12th of August, 1864. His parents were William J. and Elizabeth (Cogan) Kearns, natives of Ireland. The paternal grandfather, William Kearns, who was born on the Emerald Isle, came to America in the 30's and for many years followed the shoemaker's trade in Newark. The maternal grandfather, James Cogan, died in Ireland. In 1848 his widow with her children crossed the Atlantic to the New World and became residents of New- ark. The parents of our subject spent al- most their entire lives in this city, and were people of education and culture. The fath- er was a man of pronounced literary taste and considerable poetic ability. His career, however, was early terminated, for he died at the age of thirty years. His wife, sur- viving him some time, passed away at the age of forty-five. They had a family of three children: William J .; James, de- ceased, and Thomas.
William J. Kearns was educated in St. Patrick's parochial school and St. Bene- dict's College, of Newark, and pursued his law studies in the University of the City of New York, where he was graduated March
26, 1892, the degree of LL. B. being con- ferred upon him. He is a man of scholarly attainments, a linguist of ability and can speak German, French, Spanish and Italian. Thus a broad mental culture well fitted him for the profession which requires a more ex- tended and comprehensive knowledge of all things of life than any other calling to which man devotes his attention. Before entering upon his preparation for the bar, however, Mr. Kearns had opened an office as law stenographer in Newark, in January, 1883, when nineteen years of age. He had already at that time earned the reputation of being one of the most capable and expert court reporters in New Jersey. For several years he continued his stenographic work and at the same time studied law. During this period in his career he frequently took the place of the official stenographer in the court of Vice-Chancellor Bird, whom he often accompanied on his official trips into Warren, Morris, Sussex, Hunterdon and Somerset counties. He was admitted to practice as an attorney at law at the June term of the supreme court in 1887, and as a counselor at law at the February term in 1892. He was made master in chancery, February 14, 1888.
After his admission to the bar he aban- doned the stenographic office and has since achieved a large measure of success as an advocate and counselor. In 1890, at the April term of the Court of Oyer and Ter- miner, Mr. Kearns was assigned by Justice Depue to defend James Smith, who was in- dicted for the murder of Hastings. This trial attracted considerable attention at the time, because of the novelty made by the defense,-an insanedelusion of persecution. -which Mr. Kearns ingeniously prepared, and which, together with the able assistance
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of Samuel Kalisch, whom he asked to have assigned as his associate counsel, succeeded in saving Smith from the gallows. More recently Mr. Kearns has given his attention largely to the practice of civil law, and is well versed in this department of jurispru- dence. He is a close student of his profes- sion, and his devotion to his clients' interests is proverbial. He is very careful and pains- taking in the preparation of a case and never loses sight of a point that will ad- vance his cause. His clientele is already ex- tensive and is constantly increasing.
Very soon after attaining his majority Mr. Kearns became an active worker in the ranks of the Democracy and in 1893 was elected to represent his district in the state legislature. He served as chairman of the house committee in the State Industrial School for Girls, was also a member of the committee on federal relations and the judi- ciary. While acting as a member of the last named, he earned the reputation of being one of its most useful and hard-work- ing members. He was secretary of the Es- sex Democratic assembly caucus, which determined to make the Hon. James Smith, Jr., a candidate for the United States sen- ate, and it was Mr. Kearns who, as secretary of the caucus, made public announce- ment of the action of the Essex lawmakers at their memorable meeting on the night of December 5, 1892. In the November elec- tion of that year, in the seventh assembly district, Mr. Kearns defeated the popular ex-freeholder, Mr. Huegel, who was then generally regarded as invincible at the polls, and won by the handsome majority of two hundred and thirty-nine votes, but in the defeat which overwhelmed his party in No- vember, 1893, Dr. Edwards defeated Mr. Kearns by twenty-four votes on the face of
the returns. The latter demanded and ob- tained a judicial recount because of the re- jection of official ballots on which his name appeared. This election contest, Kearns ver- sus Edwards, resulted in an important de- cision rendered by Justice Depue in the su- preme court as to the constitutional judicial authority of each house of the legislature to decide and pass upon the qualifications and elections of its own members. The contest resulted in seating Dr. Edwards. In the congressional convention of the Democratic party, in Orange, in 1896, Mr. Kearns was prominently mentioned as a candidate for congress.
In 1890 was celebrated the marriage of our subject and Miss Catherine L. D. Tighe, and to them have been born three children : Agatha T., John P. and Anthony P. Mr. Kearns is a member of the Catholic church, a prominent member of the Knights of Col- umbus and judge advocate of the Newark organization of this society, and a grand knight and district deputy. He has a win- ning manner, a pleasing personality and is very popular in social and professional cir- cles.
CHARLES W. HARRISON,
of Irvington, whose life has been one of honorable and prominent identification with the agricultural interests of Essex county, wears worthily the name of a dis- tinguished family, whose representatives have attained eminence in almost all the walks of life. Their names are engraved on the pages of history in connection with the ministry, statecraft and the political and military affairs of the country, and their efforts have proved most beneficial and effective in bringing out the advance-
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C. M. Harrison
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ment and improvement of the republic in a way that has excited the wonder and ad- miration of the world. The branch of the family residing in New Jersey have given their attention more exclusively to that quiet but important calling,-agriculture, -yet they have not been negligent in the performance of those duties which produce the best development and bring about sub- stantial progress.
They trace their ancestry back to Rich- ard Harrison, who resided in West Kirby, Cheshire, England, whence in 1642 he started for the new world and joined the Connecticut colony at New Haven. With his family he afterward removed to Brant- ford, that state, where his remaining days were passed. Among his children was a son, Richard, who in 1666 came to New Jersey, among those pioneers who opened up this state to civilization. He purchased a tract of land on the present site of New- ark, the exact location of which is shown by a map among the records of the county. Thus from the earliest period in the annals of New Jersey the Harrisons have been identified with its development.
One of his sons, Joseph Harrison, had a son, also named Joseph, who was the great- grandfather of the subject of this review. His son, a third Joseph Harrison, was born in Orange, December 19, 1747, and was the grandfather of Charles W. and John G. Harrison, of Newark. He was a man of great force of character, possessed of in- domitable industry and was a leading and influential citizen. He was chosen magis- trate of his borough or township, and while he believed in the suppression of vice and crime and exerted all his authority in aggravated cases to bring about the pun- ishment of the offenders, he was neverthe-
less a man of peace and frequently induced contending parties to compromise and thus avoid lawsuits. He was reared in the faith of the Presbyterian church and for many years was one of its leading members in Caldwell, but finally differences arose as to certain policies to be pursued, and being in the minority, but rightly, he and his son Demas withdrew and founded in Roseland the first Methodist Episcopal church, being ever afterward one of its loyal and consci- entious supporters. During the Revolu- tionary war he joined a New Jersey regi- ment of the colonial army, was made en- sign and participated in the battle of Springfield. In politics his sympathies were with those who had risked their lives, as did he, for the independence of the na- tion, and, being a leader in social matters and an active participator in the recent mili- tary affairs of the country, it follows that his interest in civil matters was no less con- spicuous.
Mr. Harrison was a man of domestic tastes, devotedly attached to his family, and trained his children to become useful and honorable members of society. He was three times married, as is noted below. His first wife was Rhoda, daughter of Abel Freeman. She was born in 1751 and died February 21, 1791. They had eight children, as follows: Demas, born September 10, 1773, and died in 1849, married Jemimah Wade and after her death wedded Mrs. Rhoda Tuttle, daughter of Justice Burnett. She died in 1868, leav- ing two children: Charles W. and Ma- linda, deceased wife of Rev. Charles S. Coit, of Irvington. Tamer, the second child, was born August 14, 1775, and be- came the wife of Aaron Dodd, by whom she had a daughter, who became the wife
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of Caleb S. Crane, of Caldwell, and the mother of four children,-Aaron, Henry, Maria and Louisa. Rufus, the third child, was born August 28, 1778, and married Phebe Williams, by whom he has the fol- lowing named children: Tamer, Gershom, Demas, Marcus, Marinda, Betsy, Mary, Rufus F., Rhoda M. and Phebe J. Jared, the next of the family, died in childhood. Samuel, the fifth, was born September 15, 1782, wedded Mary Crane and their chil- dren are Joanna, Mary, Samuel, Rhoda, Elizabeth, Cyrus, Zenas G. and Tamer M. Abigail, the sixth of the family, was born December 18, 1784, married Bethuel Crane, and her children were Rachel, Aaron D., J. Smith, Louisa, Phebe H. and Abbie A. Joanna, the seventh of the fam- ily, died unmarried. Jared F., the eighth, was born October 28, 1796, and married Elizabeth, daughter of Rev. John Duryee, who was born on Long Island, but re- moved to Little Falls, New Jersey. Their children were Joseph D., born July 3, 1822; John G., born October 19, 1824; Frances A., born February 22, 1826; and Philip H., born August 24, 1831.
For his second wife, Joseph Harrison, the grandfather of our subject, married Rhoda Tompkins, daughter of Jonathan Tompkins. She died February 21, 1827. Her eldest son, Joseph, was three times married, his first wife being Charlotte Gould, his second Mary Crane, and his third Betsy Blinn. By his first union he had one daughter, Charlotte. The chil- dren of the second union were Abbie, Will- iam H., Durand, Sarah J. and Lydia. Of the third marriage there were four chil- dren, Aaron D., Joseph, Rhoda and Phebe. About 1824 the father of these chil- dren removed to Ohio and located near
Mount Gilead. Rhoda, the second child of Joseph and Rhoda Harrison, was born Sep- tember 16, 1795, and married Henry Beach, by whom she had the following children: Abbie, Joseph, Catherine and Henry. Harvey was born April 1, 1798, and wedded Mary Bond. Phebe, the fourth child, was born November 26, 1802, and married Henry S. Harrison, emigrat- ing to Michigan about 1834. Their chil- dren were Zenas, Joseph, Henry, Eliza, Abbie and Richard.
For his third wife, Joseph Harrison, the grandfather, chose Mary Kirk. They had no children. His death occurred in March, 1837, and his widow passed away August 25, 1840.
Demas Harrison, the father of our sub- ject, followed farming at Roseland during his early life and was a recognized leader in public affairs, exerting a marked influ- ence on the public life. In business he was very successful, became the possessor of extensive real-estate interests, including much property in Newark, and in this city spent his last years.
Charles W. Harrison was born at Rose- land, December 17, 1828, but was reared to manhood in Newark and acquired his education in the Pennington Seminary, a Methodist college, near Trenton, New Jer- sey. Determining to make the practice of medicine his life work, he began prepara- tion by reading in the office and under the direction of Dr. Thomas Lowery, with whom he remained three years. He was then in the office of Dr. Milton Baldwin for two years, after which he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York city, but had been there for only a term or two when his father died. He was then selected as the one most competent to
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settle his father's large estate, and to do this he had to abandon his studies, which ended his preparation for the medical pro- fession. He made a trip to Indiana in 1850, with the purpose of making his home there, but when he returned to Essex coun- ty to be married he was induced to abandon that plan and instead purchased a farm in Camptown, now Irvington, on which he located in 1851. He is a man of remark- able industry, energy and enterprise, and has prosecuted his business interests in a manner that has brought to him rich re- turns for his labors.
In February, 1850, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Harrison and Miss Mary A. Bodwell, and they traveled life's jour- ney together for thirty-nine years, her death occurring December 24, 1889. Their children are as follows: Edwin Demas, who married Emma Ash and had two chil- dren,-Charles H. and M. Louisa; Mary E., wife of E. Frank Meeker, by whom she has a daughter, Esther Frances; William H. was married October 22, 1884, to Miss Jennie L. Headley, and they have three children,-M. Estelle, Russell Coit and Clifton; Irving B., who married Harriet E. Drake, daughter of E. W. Drake, and has two children,-George D. and Isabel B .; Henry Levi, now deceased, buried on the isthmus of Panama in 1886; and Albert B., of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, married Annah Baldwin, daughter of H. S. Baldwin.
Mr. Harrison has frequently been called upon by his fellow citizens to serve in posi- tions of public honor and trust, and, in keeping with the high character of the man, the duties thereof have ever been dis- charged with the utmost fidelity. He aided in the organization of the village of Irvington, has served as its president and
as a member of the board of trustees and has shown a progressive interest in pub- lic schools by his twenty-two years service on the board of education. He has also filled the offices of town clerk and town committeeman, and was for eight years a freeholder from Irvington. His record is that of a well spent life, characterized by honesty in business, integrity in social re- lations and by faithfulness to every obliga- tion resting upon him.
IRVING B. HARRISON.
The marriage of Mr. Harrison was cele- brated on the 2d of May, 1884, when he was united to Miss Harriet S. Drake, a daughter of Elias W. Drake, of Irvington, and their children are as follows: George D., born March 31, 1883; and Elizabeth and Isabel, twins, born July 9, 1888. Eliza- beth died on the 20th of August, 1889.
HUGH MITCHELL,
the popular proprietor of the Crystal Lake summer resort, Essex county, New Jersey, is a Scotchman by birth, the date of his nativity being May 19, 1840, and he being a son of John Mitchell.
In 1865 the subject of our sketch, think- ing to better his condition by emigration to America, took passage for this country and in due time landed in New York city. There he was for some time occupied as general clerk and hotel-keeper. Failing health, however, forced him to give up a lucrative business and seek a change of cli- mate, and he accordingly came to Eagle Rock, New Jersey. That was in 1866. He brought his family with him and engaged in the hotel business here, and he it was
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who opened the Eagle Rock Hotel, made that now celebrated place popular and caused it to be made a public park, as it is to-day. In 1891 he purchased his present property, thirty acres of land at the corner of Eagle Rock avenue and Prospect ave- nue, and reached now by cars from New- ark and South Orange. This is indeed one of the most beautiful and picturesque sites to be found in Essex county. From the pin- nacle, overlooking the landscape of Pleas- antdale and beyond the second ridge, can be seen the cities of Boonton and Morris- town, a distance of many miles. This mag- nificent view and the numerous shade trees combine to make this a most popular place for picnic parties, to say nothing of the charms of Crystal lake. Crystal lake, a beautiful sheet of pure, clear water, cover- ing an area of several acres, affords delight- ful boating and fishing in summer, and in winter is a great attraction for skating par- ties. From this lake Mr. Mitchell obtains his supply of ice. His vegetables he gets from his own garden, a well cultivated tract of five acres, and thus his table is supplied with the freshest and best vegetables and fruits that can be grown. The hotel itself is a large building, 75x100 feet in dimensions, fitted and furnished as a first-class summer resort, and having among other conveni- ences and attractions a large, well arranged dining room and ice-cream parlors. Those who frequent this resort are the best class of people from Orange and New York,- people of wealth and influence.
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