USA > New Jersey > Essex County > Newark > Biographical and genealogical history of the city of Newark and Essex County, New Jersey, V. 1 > Part 56
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Calvin Howell, the father of our subject,
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spent his entire life in the county of his nativity and was one of its most prominent and influential citizens, a recognized leader in public affairs. He represented his dis- trict in the general assembly and was also judge of the court of common pleas. He was a man of strong character, unbending integrity and had the respect of all with whom he came in contact. He had two sons,-the subject of this review and Will- iam H., who is now deceased. The latter was also a leader in the public life of Morris county, filled the office of county sheriff and was elected to a seat in the state legis- lature.
Francis K. Howell was prepared for col- lege in Newark Academy and was gradu- ated at Princeton University in 1865. He is a man of scholarly attainments and broad mental culture, and thus is especially well fitted for the practice of law which requires a broader general knowledgethan is demand- ed in any other profession. His legal studies were pursued with diligence in a law office in Newark, and in 1868 he was admitted to the bar as an attorney, at once entering upon practice. Three years later he was licensed as an attorney at law. He was formerly the attorney and is now associate counsel for the Mutual Benefit Life Insur- ance Company, of Newark, and for many years has been connected with the legal department of the American Insurance Company, succeeding the late Lewis C. Grover as its counsel. In 1896 he was elected one of the directors of the company. He is well versed in the science of jurispru- dence and successful in its application to the causes in litigation. His clientage is of an important character and very extensive, being largely connected with the intricate and involved problems of civil law.
In 1869 Mr. Howell was united in mar- riage to Miss Mary Harrison, daughter of the late Edwin Harrison, of Orange. She died in 1876, leaving three daughters. In 1879 Mr. Howell was again married, his second union being with Miss Emma, daughter of Nathan H. Corwin, of Middle- town, New York. Four children were born by the second union. Their home is at No. 123 Broad street, Newark, and the family are members of the Park Presby- terian church. Mr. Howell gives his polit- ical support to the Republican party and stanchly advocates its principles. He la- bors earnestly for its success and on its ticket was elected to represent his district in the state legislature in 1876-7. He was a leading member of the house and used his influence for the adoption of all measures calculated for the public good.
ADOLF HOFFMANN,
prominent in the business and social circles of Orange Valley, was born in the city of Eppingen, Baden, Germany, December 19, 1855, and is a son of John and Fredericka (Ziass) Hoffmann. The father was born in the town of Sinsheim, Baden, and learned the trade of coppersmith, which occupa- tion he. followed as a means of livelihood throughout his life. Having conducted an establishment in Eppingen for a number of years he subsequently removed to Carls- ruhe, where he passed away on the 3d of December, 1886, at the age of sixty-three years. His faithful wife still survives him and resides on the homestead at Carlsruhe. Both were earnest Christian people, being zealous members of the Lutheran church. Their family numbered the following named: Louisa, who resides with her
Adolf Hoffmann
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mother; Adolf; William, who is now the manager of the importing establish- ment of Marshing & Company, of New York city, is married and he and his wife are the parents of four children: Wilhel- mina, wife of Carl Schweitzer, of Carls- ruhe, by whom she has a daughter, Annie. Three other children of the family died in early life.
Mr. Hoffmann of this review acquired his early education in the district schools of Eppingen and was graduated at the age of fourteen, after which he continued at his parental home and learned his father's trade. He afterward learned the trades of plumbing and steam-fitting and worked for a number of years as a journeyman in the principal towns of the fatherland, includ- ing Baden Baden, Dresden, Lubeck and Hamburg. He also followed the same pursuit in Copenhagen, Denmark, and in Sweden. In 1876 he was drafted into the military service in Gottesane, in Baden, where he remained until 1879, when he re- turned to his trade, which he followed in Carlsruhe for a time, but the opportunities and advantages of the New World at- tracted him and he made the voyage across the Atlantic in 1880, landing in New York on the Ioth of October. There he soon secured employment at his trade, and in July, 1884, came to Orange Valley, where he established business on his own account, conducting a hardware store, plumbing and steam-fitting establishment. He has succeeded in building up an excellent trade by reason of his enterprise, capable man- agement and honorable dealing, and his success is well deserved.
On the 30th of November, 1882, in Bloomfield, New Jersey, Mr. Hoffmann was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth S.
Yost, daughter of John Jacob and Chris- tiana (Werner) Yost. Three children have been born to them: Matilda L., born Oc- tober 27, 1883; Alfred John, born March 20, 1886; and Frederick William, born Sep- tember 28, 1888. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hoffmann are members of the German Presbyterian church of Orange Valley, in which he has served as trustee for six years. His love of music has led him to connect himself with a number of societies for the promotion of that art, and he is a valued factor in musical circles. He belongs to Lodge No. 52; of the Temple of Liberty, in Orange, and politically is affiliated with the Republican party. His support is given to all measures calculated to advance the moral or material welfare of the com- munity or the intellectual or æsthetic tastes, and Orange Valley numbers him among her leading citizens.
WILLIAM DIECKS.
Among the German-American citizens and prosperous farmers of New Jersey is found the subject of this sketch, William Diecks, of Livingston township, Essex county, who was born in Hanover, Ger- many, May 22, 1832, son of August and Frederica (Hobrecker) Diecks.
Mr. Diecks spent the first twenty years of his life in his native land, having the benefit of a common-school education and learning the trade of machinist there. Be- lieving that America offered advantages superior to those of his own country, he in 1852 took passage in a sailing vessel for New York, where he arrived after a voyage of thirteen weeks. From New York he went to Mt. Savage, Maryland, and spent six months in the machine shops of that
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place. Later he worked in Trenton and other places and from New York city went west to Waukesha county, Wisconsin, where he engaged in farming. Returning east, he took up his abode in Essex county, New Jersey, and began farming on rented land. In 1860 he purchased a small farm in Livingston township, to which he added by additional purchase in 1873, thus in- creasing his holdings to ninety-eight acres, which he has developed into one of the most valuable and thrifty-looking farms in this locality, his large barns being an at- tractive feature of the place.
Mr. Diecks was married in December, 1859, to Miss Bertha Kober, a native of Prussia, who came to America in the vessel which brought him to this country. They are the parents of eight children, namely : William, Jr., Charles, Albert, Louis, Emma, Minnie, Ella and Agnes. All are occupy- ing honored and useful positions in life, and the two youngest daughters are successful teachers of Essex county.
Mr. Diecks has served on the township committee and as school trustee, and takes an active and enthusiastic interest in all local affairs. He was a member of the board of chosen freeholders for part of two terms, beginning in 1888. He is a Granger.
JOSEPH BAER,
of Livingston township, Essex county, New Jersey, owns one of the most attrac- tive and valuable small farms in this part of the county.
Mr. Baer is a native of Switzerland, born October 31, 1837, son of Anthony and Catherine (Merk) Baer, whose people for generations lived and died in Switzerland and who passed their own lives in their na-
tive land, the father dying in 1844; the mother in 1861. Joseph Baer and his brother Jacob are the only ones of the fam- ily who came to America. The latter is a mason by trade and a resident of Buffalo, New York.
Joseph Baer was reared in his native land and early in life learned the trade of cabinet-maker, which he followed for sev- eral years. In 1865, thinking to better his affairs temporal by emigration to the New World, he set sail for the United States and on May 17th of that year landed at New York city. From there he came to New- ark. Two years later he went to Buffalo and connected himself with the West Shore Railroad, in the employ of which company he remained for some years. In 1875 he returned to New Jersey and took up his abode in Livingston township, Essex county, and since 1882 he has owned and occupied his present farm, forty-six acres, which, under his diligent labor and excel- lent management, has been brought up to a high state of cultivation and ranks with the best farms in this locality. Like most of the farmers in this vicinity, he carries on general farming and stock-raising, and keeps a dairy. He has commodious barns and other conveniences for the care of his stock.
Mr. Baer was married January 17, 1869, to Miss Augusta Hoffmann, daughter of William and Pauline (Brendtler) Hoffmann, of whom further mention is made else- where in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Baer have two children: Emma, born January 25, 1870; and August, March 21, 1872. Emma was married November 6, 1891, to Frederick Beckmeyer and lives in Newark. August is at home.
On becoming a citizen of this country,
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Mr. Baer identified himself with the Re- publican party and has given it his support ever since. From time to time he has filled offices of local importance. He has made many friends in the various places where he has lived, and such has been his life that he is justly entitled to the high esteem in which he is held by all who have in any way had dealings with him or had the pleasure of his acquaintance.
CHARLES H. HOFFMANN,
a native of Livingston township, Essex county, New Jersey, was born December 31, 1856, the son of German parents who had landed in this country only a few years before his birth.
William Hoffmann, his father, was born in Saxony, Germany, May 10, 1821; and Pauline (Brendtler) Hoffmann, his mother, at the same place, in October, 1824. It was in 1853 that they emigrated to Amer- ica, landing at New York and coming from there to Livingston township, Essex coun- ty, New Jersey, where Mr. Hoffmann pur- chased a farmand made his home until 1877. That year he moved to West Orange and subsequently to Newark, where he is now living a retired life. During the years he has resided in this country he has made three visits to his old home in Germany. His career has been that of a successful farmer and business man. He has accu- mulated a large amount of property and in his old age has a competency. His wife died June 17, 1872. Their children are Augusta, wife of Joseph Baer, of whom personal mention is made on another page of this work; and Charles H., of this sketch.
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Charles H. Hoffmann was reared to man- hood and received his education in his
native township, and here he has spent all his life with the exception of a few years when he was engaged in the butcher busi- ness in Orange, West Orange and in Liv- ingston. . His farm, comprising one hun- dred and twenty acres, is well improved and conveniently arranged for the care of stock,-stock-raising and the dairy business being a specialty with him. He also car- ries on general farming.
Mr. Hoffmann was married, October 12, 1881, to Miss Eda Fentzlaff, a native of Germany and a daughter of William and Adaline (Kellermann) Fentzlaff, both Ger- mans, the former born September 27, 1822; the latter October 14, 1824. They came to America about 1867 and are now living retired in Montclair, New Jersey. Mr. and Mrs. Hoffmann have four children: Will- iam, born July 29, 1882; Dora, April 26, 1885; Carl, October 15, 1888; and Freder- ick, February 12, 1892.
Politically, Mr. Hoffmann is Democratic. He has served his township for three years as tax collector, and is now a member of the school board. Both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church at Pleasantdale.
CHARLES M. SQUIER,
who owns and resides upon a fine farm about one mile from Livingston, Liv- ingston township, Essex county, New Jersey, is a native of this township. He was ushered into life September 6, 1849, son. of Alfred and Anna Laura (Mathews) Squier, and grandson of Ira and Patty (Denman) Squier, all natives of Essex county. The great-grandfather of our subject, John Squier, was a Pennsyl- vanian by birth who settled here at an early
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date. Ira Squier was a large land-owner . Phoenix Light Company, and afterward of Livingston township, prominent and in- was for a year with the McTight Company at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Returning home at the end of that year, he took up farming and fruit-raising and to these pur- suits has devoted his attention ever since. fluential in his day. His son Alfred was reared to manhood on the farm, having the advantage of a public-school education, and early in life learning the trade of shoe- maker, which he followed for many years, Mr. Squier married a lady of his own name, Miss Mary E. Squier, a native of Livingston and a daughter of Charles and Harriet W. (Young) Squier, both born in Morris county, this state. Mr. and Mrs. Charles M. Squier have one child, Hazel Gertrude. Both he and his wife are mem- bers of the local organization of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, of which he has for nine years been a trustee, and in all matters of public welfare he takes a keen interest. He has from time to time been honored with positions of local prominence and trust. For eleven years he filled the office of tax collector and he has also held the office of overseer of the poor. He votes with the Republican party. having a shop on the old homestead and manufacturing shoes for the New York trade. At times he had in his employ a number of men. During the days of civil war he tendered his services to the Union cause, and, as a member of the First New Jersey Artillery Volunteers, participated in a number of engagements, including Sher- man's famous "march to the sea." He was politically a Democrat. After the war he settled down to farming and devoted all his energies to that pursuit. He died in October, 1885. His first wife, the mother of our subject, died October 8, 1868, and for his second wife he wedded Miss Martha Ashley, a native of England. His children are as follows: William Wallace, who married a Miss McChesney and lives in THOMAS SEWALL KINGMAN. Livingston township; Alida, wife of Charles Munn, Joliet, Illinois; and Charles M., whose name heads this article.
Charles M. Squier spent the first thir- teen years of his life at the parental home. At thirteen a desire for seafaring led him to take passport on a merchant vessel, the Old Aerial, on which he made a number of expeditions, many times being under fire. After several trips on this vessel he was cured of his passion for the sea. He then settled in Brooklyn and engaged with the United States Electric Light Company, in the employ of which he remained four years. Following that he was for a time in charge of the lamp department of Brook- lyn bridge; next he went to Canada for the
A man who has not only attained a posi- tion of distinctive honor and prominence as the direct result of his own efforts, but who also traces his lineage back through many generations to characters of marked his- toric interest in connection with the annals of our national commonwealth, there is a peculiar propriety in according Mr. King- man representation in this connection. The original American ancestor in the ag- natic line was Henry Kingman, who emi- grated from Wales in 1632 and took up his abode at Weymouth, jn the colony of Massachusetts. He was made a freeman in 1636 and thereafter became prominent in connection with the public affairs of the
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colony, being a man of distinct individual- ity and marked ability. He died about 1666, at the age of seventy-four years, hav- ing married and become the father of six children, through the third of whom, John, is traced the direct lineage of the imme- diate subject of this review.
John Kingman, son of Henry and Jo- anna Kingman, was born about the year 1650, eventually purchased the estate of West Bridgewater, Massachusetts, and died in 1690, having become the father of six children, the second of whom was Henry, born in 1668. Henry (2d) King- man married Bethia, daughter of John Howard, and they became the parents of two sons and eight daughters, one of the latter being Hannah, born in 1705, who married John Alden, grandson of Hon. John Alden, the Pilgrim ancestor.
Henry (3d) Kingman, fifth child of Henry (2d) and Bethia (Howard) King- man, was born April 19, 1701. He married Mary, daugher of Samuel Allen, and by her became the father of several children, one of whom was Matthew, born September 8, 1732, the second son and eighth child in the family. He married Jane, daughter of David Packard, and their son Abel was born August 22, 1768. He married Lucy Washburn, daughter of Elisha Washburn, of Kingston, Massachusetts, who was four generations removed from John Wash- burn, the original ancestor in America and the first secretary of the council of Ply- mouth, England. He and his two sons were the original proprietors of Bridge- water. Of Hon. Abel Kingman, above mentioned, it has been consistently said that he "occupied a conspicuous place in the administration of the municipal gov- ernment of North Bridgewater. Few men
lived longer or led a more active or enter- prising life than he. For a number of years he represented the town in the legis- lature of Massachusetts, and for two years occupied a seat in the state senate, from Plymouth county. He was a justice of the peace, captain in the militia and held other public offices." He died January 19, 1850, at the age of eighty-two.
Abel Washburn Kingman, M. D., son of Hon. Abel and Lucy (Washburn) King- man, was born at North Bridgewater, Mas- sachusetts, April 22, 1806, graduated at Amherst College in 1830, pursued a thor- ough course in medicine and entered upon the practice of the same in his native town. He married Clarissa Alden, who was a di- rect descendant from Hon. John Alden, who came to Plymouth in the Mayflower, in 1620. By the marriage mentioned two collateral branches of descent from this his- toric character, immortalized by Long- fellow in his dainty New England poem, "The Courtship of Miles Standish," were united in generations far removed. Dr. Abel W. and Clarissa (Alden) Kingman be- came the parents of six children, namely : Francis Williams, Clara Gifford, Abel Wil- lard, Hannah Williams, Thomas Sewall and Helen Barton Elliott.
Thomas Sewall Kingman, who figures as the immediate subject of this memorial, was the third son of Dr. Abel and Clarissa (Alden) Kingman; and he was born at North Bridgewater, Massachusetts, on the 5th of April, 1843. and reared in the old Bay state, with whose history that of his family had been so closely and conspicu- ously linked from the earliest colonial epoch. He received his preliminary edu- cational discipline in the public schools and completed his purely theoretical train-
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ing in the academy of Dr. Adams, at New- ton, Massachusetts. As a youth he turned his attention to the practical affairs of life, entering the extensive wholesale dry-goods house of Jordan, Marsh & Company, of Boston, and being retained in the employ of this firm for a period of thirteen years, within which time he had risen from a posi- tion of the most modest and obscure order to the highest in the house .- that of buyer and manager of the dry-goods department. This record of consecutive advancement stands as the most effective voucher of the sterling characteristics of the individual,- his energy, fidelity, discrimination and unswerving rectitude,-attributes which come to him as a natural heritage from a long line of distinguished ancestors. In connection with the large real-estate ope- rations which he has since conducted it is interesting to revert to the fact that his first venture in the line was made while he was still with the Jordan and Marsh Com- pany. He purchased property in that sec- tion of the city of Brockton known as Winchester Park, and immediately began to improve the same, erecting and selling fourteen houses, the first in that portion of the city which is now given over to some of the most beautiful homes.
In 1870 Mr. Kingman located in New York city, where he entered the great mer- cantile emporium of A. T. Stewart & Com- pany, in the capacity of dress-goods buyer, and remained in the employ of the con- cern for twelve years. His experience in merchandising had thus covered a period of a quarter of a century, and that gained through two of the largest concerns in the Union; and in 1882 Mr. Kingman engaged personally in the dry-goods and commis- sion business, in partnership with Messrs.
Brown, Wood and Kingman, the firm name being Brown, Wood & Kingman. Mr. Kingman retained an active interest in the business until 1892, the same having grown to extensive proportions, and since his practical retirement he has devoted his at- tention largely to real-estate and building operations.
His identification with the interests of the Oranges, where he now retains his home, dates from the Centennial year, 1876. He has been most conspicuously identified with the upbuilding of the Or- anges, and in this beautiful suburban dis- trict of New Jersey his home is one of the most picturesque and artistic among the many attractive places which have given South Orange so wide a repute. His ar- tistic tastes and judgment are shown in every detail of this magnificent and beau- tiful home, which is located at the corner of Montrose avenue and Center street. The building has been pronounced one of the most striking in appearance and shows more individuality, if not originality, than any other house in South Orange. The interior is chaste and beautiful in every portion of its decoration and furnishing, and in all points there is evidence that the results attained have not been accidental but are the result of the most cultured taste. Both the old world and the new have contributed to the attractions of this ideal home, within whose precincts it is a delight to linger.
Mr. Kingman has been the prime factor in the building of many of the most beau- tiful residences in the Oranges, and his operations have been carried forward on that elevated plane of business honor which begets objective confidence and esteem. The number of residences erected by him
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has attained the half century mark, and to his artistic taste was entrusted the laying out of Montrose Park. In the spring of 1897 he was appointed by Judge Depue one of three commissioners selected to con- demn lands in Essex county for park pur- poses. He is thoroughly public-spirited and progressive and alive to the duties of citizenship, but has invariably refused to accept political preferment of any descrip- tion.
In the year 1867 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Kingman to Miss Anna H. Jenks, daughter of David Barclay Jenks, who was one of the most prominent and able of the lawyers of Pennsylvania at the time of his death, which occurred at an untimely age. Formerly Mr. Kingman was an affiliate of the Congregational church, but has since then transferred his membership to the Brick Presbyterian church of Orange. In his social relations he is a member of the Country Club. Mr. and Mrs. Kingman are the parents of four children,-Nellie L., Tom Sidney, Mabel, and Russell Barclay.
S. H. ROLLINSON.
The Rollinson family was founded in New Jersey by William Rollinson, who came from England to the New World. He belonged to a wealthy family, and merely as a pastime learned the art of steel- plate engraving, but after coming to this country he followed it as a means of live- lihood. He was the first to introduce the business into America, and engraved a por- trait of Alexander Hamilton, also a set of buttons for the coat of General Washing- ton. £
Physically, he was a very powerful man, and took great delight in hunting,
spending many hours with his gun in the forests, which at that time abounded in noble game. He was united in marriage to Miss Mary Stymetz, of New York.
The grandfather of our subject was Charles Rollinson, a man of high scholarly attainments and literary taste, who re- moved from New Jersey to Boston. His son, Samuel O. Rollinson, the father of our subject, was born in New York in 1832, was reared in the metropolis and inherited his father's studious nature. For forty years he was connected with the Atlantic White Lead Company, which covered the greater part of his business career. He married Abbie Maria Harrison, a daughter of Simon Harrison, the wedding being celebrated in 1869. After his marriage Samuel O. Rollinson removed to West Orange and was prominently connected with local affairs. He served as chairman of the township committee for several years, was vestryman of St. Mark's church from the time of his settlement here, and was serving as junior warden at the time of his death. He also organized and trained the choir and was very active in the promotion of the church work. Socially, he was connected with the Masonic frater- nity.
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