USA > New Jersey > Essex County > Newark > Biographical and genealogical history of the city of Newark and Essex County, New Jersey, V. 1 > Part 50
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who has been long associated with the busi- ness interests of Newark, belongs to that class of enterprising, progressive, wide- awake men to whom the prosperity and progress of a community are due. He was born in Newark, February 24, 1837, and is a son of Davis and Phoebe Manning (Pierson) Sayre. His father, also a native of Newark, was a son of Samuel and Sarah (Southworth) Sayre, both of whom were of English lineage. They had five children: Davis; William, who married Miss Reeves and has two children,-George and Mary : both these are married and the former has one son; Abner, who married and both he and his wife are now deceased; Phoebe. wife of Charles Mattoon; and Juan, wife of Dr. Muzzy, of Newark, by whom she had one child, Jane, now the wife of Alexander Benedict.
Davis Sayre learned the trade of stone mason under the instructions of his father, who had his home and business establish- ment on Halsey street, near Bleecker street, Newark, and followed that business as a life work for many years. He married Miss Rebecca Pierson, a daughter of Silas Pierson, of Scotch-Irish lineage. Her fa- ther, a native of Newark, was reared and educated in that city, and became the owner of a large tract of land on Bloomfield avenue, Newark, on which was located a brown-stone quarry, which he operated for some years. It was from this quarry that the stone was taken to serve as the base of a proposed monu-
ment to be erected to the memory of Washington. This movement was started in 1826, the fiftieth anniversary of the sign- ing of the Declaration of Independence, and was participated in by not only the citizens of Newark and vicinity but also by fifty-seven veterans of the Revolution, who were chosen to take an active part in the ceremonies and laid the foundation stone on which was to rest the proposed monu- ment; and on the stone, which still rests on Military common, is the inscription : "The citizens of Newark, in grateful commemo- ration of the fiftieth anniversary of Ameri- can independence, have, on this 4th of July, 1826, deposited this stone as the foun- dation of a monumental memorial here to be erected; and when the dilapidations of time shall discover this inscription to future generations may the light of the gospel illuminate the whole world."
To Mr. and Mrs. Davis Sayre were born four children : William Henry, the subject of this sketch; Frances L., the wife of Dan- iel W. Lyon: they had three children,- Albert and Lucius, who are deceased, and Ella, wife of Harry Thurber; Edward, who died in childhood; and Sarah Rebecca, the wife of David E. Benedict, of Newark, by whom she has several children. The fa- ther of this family died at the age of sev- enty-nine years, and his wife passed away five years later, at the age of seventy-eight. Both were faithful and earnest Christian people who had the respect of all who knew them.
William H. Sayre received his early edu- cation under private instruction, and when fifteen years of age started out to fight the battle of life, and the obstacles he has met have been overcome by industry and per- severance, and he has been enabled to wrest
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a desirable success from the hand of fate. He was first employed in a drug-store in Newark, and remained in the service of others until 1859, when, with some capital that he had acquired through his own la- bors, economy and good management, he began business on his own account, open- ing a drug-store on Market street, oppo- site the Pennsylvania Railroad depot at Newark. In 1861, after the inauguration of the civil war, he laid aside all business cares in order to respond to his country's call, and enlisted in the One Hundred and Seventy-third New York Infantry. He had not long been in the service until he was promoted to the rank of second lieu- tenant, and before his discharge he was promoted to the position of first lieutenant, and still further, after his return, he was brevetted captain of Company B. of the One Hundred and Seventy-third regiment of New York Volunteers.
When the country no longer needed his services, Mr. Sayre returned home and en- tered the drug business in the employ of IV. H. Schiefflein & Company, and in 1870 he again commenced business on his own account, at his present location, Nos. 588 and 590 Orange street, in which undertak- ing he has been very successful, having a large trade, which returns to him a good income. He is prominently associated with the New Jersey State Pharmaceutical Association, and the National Pharmaceu- tical Association.
On the 17th of October, 1859, Mr. Sayre was united in marriage, in Newark, to Miss Margaret P. Todd, a daughter of William and Susan (Whitehead) Todd. Their union has been blessed with two children : Wilbur Todd, who is engaged in business on the Bermuda islands, is mar-
ried and has one child, Marguerite by name; and Susan W., who is the wife of G. H. McClellan and has one child, named George A.
The parents are members of St. Barna- bas' church, Protestant Episcopal, and Mr. Sayre is a stanch Republican in his political preferences, but has never sought or de- sired public office, preferring to devote his energies to his business interests, in which he has met with signal success. He and his wife occupy a prominent position in social circles, and the charming hospitality of their home makes it a favorite resort with their many friends.
WV. A. JUDSON, M. D.,
of Newark, was born on Prince Edward Island, Canada, on the 27th of September, 1863, and is a son of Jacob U. and Mary (McLeod) Judson, both of whom were na- tives of Canada. The Doctor was reared in Alexandria and acquired his elementary education in the common school. He afterward attended Uigg high school and subsequently entered the Prince of Wales College, in Charlottetown, where he was graduated on the completion of the teacher's course in 1880. He then taught school for five years, within which time he determined to take up the study of medi- cine. He then matriculated in the medi- cal department of the Vermont University and was graduated at that institution in 1889 with the degree of M. D. He also took a special course in medicine and his thorough preparation made him peculiarly fitted for his chosen calling.
Dr. Judson embarked in practice in Union Hill, Hudson county, New Jersey, in 1890, and after a year there passed came
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to Newark, where he has since been a lead- ing member of the medical profession. He has an office at the corner of Clifton and Bloomfield avenues, and is now estab- lished in a good business. Connected with several benevolent and social fraternities, he is now holding membership in Apex Lodge, Knights of Pythias, of which he is Past Chancellor, and is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Royal Arcanum, being examining physician of the last named. He was mar- ried in 1894, the lady of his choice being Miss Nellie L. Edsall, of Newark, a native of the Empire state.
FRANK BELL ALLEN,
the well known and distinctively successful attorney of Newark, was born in Branch- ville, Sussex county, New Jersey, on the anniversary of Independence Day, 1851, and is a son of Dr. John L. and Charlotte (Bell) Allen, both of whom were also na- tives of Sussex county and descendants of old New Jersey families, the Allens orig- inally coming from Milford, Connecticut, to this state. For fifty years or more Dr. Allen was an active and prominent physi- cian of Sussex county, pursuing a most suc- cessful practice at Branchville and La Fay- ette.
Under the careful and efficient instruc- tions of his paternal grandfather, Rev. Ed- ward Allen, the distinguished divine, Frank Bell Allen was prepared for a college course, subsequently entering the University of Michigan, where he continued his studies for two years and was then compelled to leave the institution on account of financial straits.
Being desirous of adopting the legal pro-
fession as his permanent vocation in life, Mr. Allen, in 1870, entered the office of Titsworth & Francis, where he devoted his energies to the reading of law, and as a re- sult of his industry and application he was admitted to the bar in 1874 as an attorney at law, and in 1877 as counselor at law. In 1874 he engaged in the active practice of his profession at Newark, where he has secured a position in the front rank of his calling, prosperity and success attending his earnest efforts in that line of endeavor.
Mr. Allen has never sought political pre- ferment, and until 1896 he espoused the cause of the Republican party; but that or- ganization having failed to endorse the free coinage of silver in its platform of that year, our subject transferred his allegiance to the Democratic party, that he might find a field wherein he could advocate free-silver prin- ciples. In the campaign of 1896 he made a number of political speeches, which were well received. Although he affiliated with the Democrats in 1896, Mr. Allen may be termed a free-silver Republican.
WILLIAM STANIAR.
Those who develop and originate a new industry give to the new country some- thing of great value, for the world's ad- vancement depends upon commercial activ- ity, and the successful conduct of business interests furnishing employment to large forces of workmen, produces a momentum in the trade circles that is followed by pros- perity and progress. Mr. Staniar, long at the head of the wire industry in New Jer- sey, was one whose efforts added to the general welfare as well as to his individual success; and now, after a long, honorable and useful business career he is living re-
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tired in the enjoyment of that well earned rest which should always follow an ex- tended period of business activity.
Mr. Staniar was born in Manchester, England, on the 24th of July, 1824, a son of William and Hannah Staniar. His fa- ther was a manufacturer and weaver of wire and our subject became familiar with the business in his native land. His education was acquired in the schools of Manchester, and early in life he was trained to habits of industry and economy, which proved an excellent foundation for his future success. By invitation of a wire-cloth manufactur- ing firm at Belleville, he came to America in 1847, with the view of introducing and perfecting the method and process of man- ufacturing wire cloth. On arrival he took up his residence in Belleville, New Jersey, where he still resides, full of years and hon- ors. He is the founder of the wire-manu- facturing and weaving industry in Essex county and for many years was connected with that enterprise. He first formed a partnership with William H. Stephens, and began the manufacture of Fourdrinier wire- cloth in a portion of the sheet-brass and wire mill in Belleville. Upon his arrival he found the production of fine wire in a very primitive condition and immediately applied himself to the work of supplying the deficiencies necessary to bring the wire up to the required standard and thus com- pete with the imported article. This he eventually accomplished, overcoming the prejudice against "home production" and firmly establishing the character of the Fourdrinier wire cloth as made by him, and which soon came to be more in demand than the imported article.
In 1857 Mr. Staniar dissolved his busi- ness connection with Mr. Stephens and
during the succeeding nine years engaged in business in a building which he erected in Belleville. He then entered into part- nership with his brother-in-law, John Laf- fey, in 1866, purchasing property in East Newark, upon which they erected commo- dious buildings, fitting the same with the necessary machinery and facilities for suc- cessfully carrying on the business. The character of their work and the well estab- lished reliability of the house won them a patronage which constantly increased until the volume of their business had assumed very extensive proportions and the indus- try was one of the most important in Essex county. They manufacture brass and cop- per wire and wire cloth, the latter an indis- pensable factor in the manufacture of paper.
To Mr. Staniar is due the credit for giv- ing the government the water-stamped en- velopes. This was first used in the '50s, at which time it was supposed that there was no one in this country competent to make the "Dandy roll" required to produce this watermark, and arrangements were being made for its production in England. Mr. Staniar, hearing of this, interposed his ob- jection to the proceeding, and the work being given to him he produced the water- marked envelope to the satisfaction of the government. To him therefore may be credited the honor of the introduction of the Dandy roll for watermarking into this country; and the monogram. U. S., whichi was for many years used on the post-paid envelopes of the government, was his in- dividual work. He also furnished water- marks used by the Canadian postoffice and treasury departments, the treasury depart- ment of Japan and the Spanish govern- ment. In the manufacture of wire and
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wire cloth their business constantly in- creased, and with the most modern meth- ods they not only kept abreast but were leaders in the line of improvement. Thus for thirty years the firm of Staniar & Laffey carried on operations until, with a hand- some fortune acquired through the legiti- mate channels of trade, they retired to pri- vate life. Mr. Laffey died in 1895. The business was turned over to their respective sons, who are still continuing the industry on a safe and profitable basis. Mr. Staniar is a director of the North Ward National Bank of Newark, and superintends the management of his property interests, but otherwise has no active business cares, his time being spent in the well earned rest which should always follow a useful career.
Mr. Staniar was married in Manchester, England. to Miss Elizabeth Blomeley, by whom he had six children. all yet living. His political support is given the Republi- can party. To him is due that tribute of respect and admiration which is always given-and justly so- to those men who have worked their way upward to positions of prominence through their own efforts, who have achieved wealth through their own labors, and by their honorable, straightforward dealing commanded the esteem and confidence of those with whom they have been thrown in contact.
.
GIDEON LEE STOUT,
of Newark, was born in New Brunswick, Middlesex county, New Jersey, on the 30th of October, 1840, and is a son of John W. and Eliza (Woodruff) Stout, both of the latter being natives of New Jersey. Jacob Stout, the grandfather of our subject, be- longed to an old New Jersey family, the
progenitor of which in this country was Richard Stout, who came from England in 1640 and settled in this state. Mrs. Stout was a daughter of "Deacon" Obadiah Woodruff, of Newark, who was one of the early and well known citizens of that city.
Gideon L. Stout was reared in New Brunswick, his native town, receiving his education in the schools at Sing Sing and Bloomfield, subsequently entering Rutgers College, whence he was graduated in 1859. For a brief time thereafter he was associated with his father, who was engaged in the tannery business at New Brunswick, and then, forming a partnership with two cou- sins, he embarked in coal-mining at Eber- ville. Pennsylvania, with an office in New York city, conducting the same from 1863 to 1888, when he retired from business. In 1889 he was chosen vice-president of the Merchants' Insurance Company, of New- ark, and in 1894, upon the retirement of Henry Powless, then president of the com- pany, on account of ill health, Mr. Stout was chosen to succeed him and has since retained the incumbency of that position. In 1863 Mr. Stout took up his abode in Bloomfield and has continued a resident of that place to the present time.
A stanch advocate of Republicanism in his political faith, Mr. Stout takes an inter- est, but is not active, in the affairs of his party, although he has been a member of the Bloomfield township committee for many years, and since 1895 has been presi- dent of the same, rendering most efficient service in that capacity.
Mr. Stout has been twice married, first to Miss Rebecca C. Conger, and upon her death he subsequently became united to Miss Susan S. Comstock.
In his social relations he is affiliated with
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the Masonic fraternity and has attained the Master Mason's degree in Bloomfield Lodge, No. 40.
RICHARD W. BOOTH
belongs to the class of enterprising, pro- gressive citizens to whom the community owes its commercial activity and business prosperity. He is a wide-awake merchant now engaged in the grocery trade in Frank- lin, where his entire life has been passed. He was born here on the 13th of August, 1859, and is a son of Enoch and Mary M. (Stager) Booth, also natives of the same "place. When he had arrived at the proper age for entering school he began conning his lessons in the Franklin schools, and was there made familiar with the English branches which fit one for the practical af- fairs of life. On laying aside his text- books he turned his attention to business interests, but had already received training in this particular, having worked in a mill at intervals during his school days. Later he embarked in the grocery business and now has a well appointed store in Frank- lin, carrying a good stock of staple and fancy groceries. He has the confidence and good will of his customers and always retains their patronage by reason of his reliable business methods, his promptness and his genial disposition.
Mr. Booth was married in 1885, the lady of his choice being Miss Elizabeth Rusby, born October 13. 1868, a daughter of Leonard and Sarah M. (Hinkle) Rusby, of Franklin. Seven children have been born of this union and the family circle yet remains unbroken by the hand of death; they are still with their parents, namely: Bronson P., born June 9, 1886; Molly R., July 2,
1889; Dudley H., October 5, 1890; Leon- ard R., October 20, 1891 ; Dorothy I., May 20, 1893; Richard W., August 6, 1896; and Elizabeth J., September 6, 1897.
In his political views Mr. Booth is a Republican. All of his ancestors were Democrats, but a close study of the political situation of the country and the platforms of the two parties led him to the belief that the Republican party would best conserve the interests of the nation, and accordingly he allied himself with its forces. When twenty-one years of age he was elected township clerk, serving in that capacity for two years. He was town committeeman for five years, and three years served as chairman of the committee. He was also elected freeholder for two terms and in the discharge of his public duty manifests the utmost promptness and fidelity. He be- longs to the Dutch Reformed church and is deeply interested in all that will promote the general welfare along educational, moral, material or social lines.
Mary M. Stager, the mother of our sub- ject, and a daughter of Richard and Eliza- beth (Snyder) Stager, born February 16, 1827, in Franklin township, is of Hol- land Dutch extraction. At the age of forty years she was left a widow with three children. She was a sturdy and energetic woman, brought up and educated her three daughters all through her own efforts, and died January 10 or II, 1898, at the age of ninety-one years. She was a good Chris- tian woman, well known for her generosity among the poor. Enoch Booth was born at Hudson, New York, November 17, 1827, and died in Franklin township in 1884. He came to Essex county, New Jersey, when only three years of age with his par- ents,-Richard and Elizabeth (Jackson)
24
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Booth,-both natives of England. Rich- ard Booth was a block printer by trade, and followed that occupation for a number of years. He was a successful and useful citi- zen and was instrumental in the progress of the community. He lived to be over three-score years of age, was one of the founders of the Dutch Reformed church and was a liberal contributor. He was a man of strict integrity and his word was as good as his bond.'
EDMUND L. JOY.
Edmund L. Joy, of Newark, New Jersey, was born in Albany, New York, October I, 1835. He was a descendant of Thomas and Joan (Gallop) Joy, early colonists of New England. Thomas Joy, born in Norfolk. England, in 1610, is mentioned in the Book of Possessions among the first land-owners of Boston. He was a signer of the famous "remonstrance and petition" of 1646, which was a protest against certain illiberal cus- toms of the period and a prayer for reforms and particularly for some extension of the right of suffrage among the non-church- members of the colony, who since 1631 had been denied the full privileges of citizenship. He planned and constructed in 1657 the town house of Boston, which was the first seat of government of Massachusetts; built and owned, in 1648, the corn and saw mills in Hingham; and erected residences, wharves, bridges and warehouses in Bos- ton, Charlestown and Brookline.
In 1665 he became a freeman of the Massachusetts Bay colony, and in 1658 a member of the Ancient and Honorable Ar- tillery Company of Massachusetts.
From him has sprung a numerous prog- eny, now scattered throughout the United
States, which includes many who have won distinction in civil, professional and social life. One of these was Nathaniel Joy, who served with honor in the Revolutionary war, and from him is descended the subject of this sketch.
Edmund L. Joy received his preparatory education in his native city, at Anthony's Classical Institute, and the Albany Acad- emy. Later he entered the University of Rochester and after graduation studied law in New York city, and, in 1857, was ad- mitted to the bar of New York as an attor- ney and counselor. Soon thereafter he be- gan active practice in Ottumwa, Iowa, where, in 1860, he was appointed city at- torney, holding the office for two years.
The breaking out of the civil war aroused the patriotism inherited from Revolution- ary sires, and laying aside his law books and briefs, he offered his services to the cause of the Union, and became active in raising troops and otherwise aiding the govern- ment. In 1862 he entered the United States service as captain in the Thirty-sixth Regiment of Iowa Infantry, and in this capacity served with distinction in the southwest until the fall of Vicksburg, par- ticipating in important engagements on both sides of the Mississippi river. In 1864 he was appointed, by President Lincoln, major and judge advocate of United States volunteers, and assigned to the Seventh Army Corps. He was subsequently made judge advocate of the Department of the Arkansas, with headquarters at Little Rock, and in this position had much to do in the administration of justice in Arkansas and the Indian Territory, which was also with- in his jurisdiction. In this service he was engaged two years, and in addition to his official duties aided in the organization of
"_belmar Whatt ~ av. .
Edmund Le fay
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a state government under a new constitu- tion for the state of Arkansas.
When the war had ended he located in Newark, New Jersey, where his father, Charles Joy, a successful business man, had settled in 1855. He became associated with the latter in the management of ex- tensive business interests, and upon his father's death, in 1873, succeeded him.
It is not surprising that he should, by reason of his intellectual gifts, his superior attainments and varied experience, have at- tracted the attention and won the confi- dence of his fellow citizens of New Jersey. In 1871 and 1872 Edmund L. Joy repre- sented his district in the state legislature, and in the latter year was chairman of the judiciary committee, wherein his legal knowledge and effectiveness as a speaker enabled him to render valuable service to the state. For twelve years he was a mem- ber of the board of education of the city of Newark, being the presiding officer in 1885, 1886 and 1887. He was an early member of the Newark Board of Trade, was its president in 1875 and 1876, and its treas- urer from 1879 to the time of his death.
In 1880 he was a delegate to the Repub- lican national convention, and in 1884 and 1885, by appointment of President Arthur, he served as a government director of the Union Pacific Railroad Company. His ex- tensive business operations and well known abilities as a business man made him prom- inent in matters affecting the financial in- terests of the city in which he lived, and often placed him in positions of great re- sponsibility.
Great activity and energy of both mind and body were the prominent character- istics of Colonel Joy. Whatever he under- took was done with all his might, and fail-
ure in any enterprise was with him almost an impossibility. His quickness of appre- hension and correctness of judgment were equally remarkable, and if we add to these invaluable possessions the ability to express his thoughts in language both strong and elegant, it is no wonder that he should have been so successful as a soldier, a jurist, a statesman, and a man of business.
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