USA > New Jersey > Essex County > Newark > Biographical and genealogical history of the city of Newark and Essex County, New Jersey, V. 1 > Part 57
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Mr. and Mrs. Rollinson were the parents of four children. Simon H. was born De- cember 31, 1870, attended various board- ing schools, and completed his literary edu- cation in Princeton College. He prepared for the legal profession in the New York Law School, and in the office of Blake & Howe, of Orange, and was admitted to the bar in June, 1896. He then formed a part- nership with F. A. Borcherling, of Newark, under the firm name of Rollinson & Borch- erling, and is now successfully engaged in
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the general practice of law. He has been honored with local office, having served as township committeeman in 1893-4 and as chairman of the committee in 1895-6. Holding membership in St. Mark's Epis- copal church, he is also serving as vestry- man, and in the Essex County Club and the Essex Troop he holds membership. Polit- ically, he affiliates with the Democracy.
The two daughters of the Rollinson fam- ily are Phoebe H. and Mary S. William Rollinson, the younger son, was born in 1875, pursued his literary education in Princeton College, and is now studying law in the office of his brother and in the New York Law School.
THOMAS C. BAKER,
assessor of South Orange township and a leading representative of the agricultural in- terests of Essex county, was born on the Baker homestead, April 9, 1838. His grandfather, Norris Baker, was a native of New Jersey and when a young man came to Essex county as a school teacher. He located what has since been known as the Baker homestead, and engaged in teaching and farming. For his second wife he mar- ried Martha Campbell, a native of this lo- cality, and of their union was born three children, Thomas Baker, the father of our subject, being the second in order of birth. He was born on his father's farm on the 12th of December, 1790, acquired his edu- cation under the personal direction of his father, and continued on the old homestead until his marriage. He wedded Miss Susan H. Headley, a native of this locality and a daughter of Cary Headley, a representative of one of the early families of Union county, which was then a part of Essex county.
Mr. Baker made farming his life work and was an industrious, energetic man and good citizen. In his political belief he was a Democrat. His death occurred May 18, 1873, and his wife passed away in March, 1863. They were the parents of ten chil- dren, nine of whom reached mature years, while four are still living, namely: Tim- othy .H., Jane E., Susan H., wife of J. War- ren Vandevere, of Newark, and Thomas C.
The last named spent his youth in the usual manner of farmer lads of the period, assisting in the labors of the fields and at- tending the public schools, wherein he ac- quired a good practical education which fitted him for life's duties. In 1861 he was united in marriage to Miss Harriet A. Headley, a native of Union township, Union county, and a daughter of Andrew J. Headley. Three children constitute their family: Harry, a merchant of Maplewood; Warren T. and Lydia J.
After his marriage Mr. Baker took up his residence upon a part of the old home- stead, where he has since lived, with the exception of four years, which were spent in Union county. He is engaged in farming, in connection with his other pursuits, and in the management of his business affairs dis- plays remarkable executive ability, energy and enterprise. His land is under a high state of cultivation and the improvements upon the place are in keeping with all those found upon a model farm of the nineteenth century. He takes a deep interest in politi- cal questions, votes with the Democracy and does all in his power to promote the growth and insure the success of his party. He was for many years on the township's com- mittee, for three years was a member of the road commission of Union county, and in 1884 was elected as township assessor of
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Subelmar Photo Gravure Ca.
Thomas C. Baker
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South Orange, in which capacity he has since served with marked fidelity and abili- ty. In September, 1895, he became the purchasing agent of the property for the South Mountain Park, and is still engaged in that work.
CHRISTOPHER MUSLER,
a wagon manufacturer and blacksmith lo- cated on the Valley road, West Orange, was born on the 4th of May, 1854, in the little village of Schuttern in the oberant of Laher, Baden, Germany. His father, Franz Musler, was a son of Leopold and Margaret Musler. The grandfather of our subject made farming his life work and was a good and worthy citizen who won the respect of all with whom he came in contact. His family numbered the follow- ing: Carl, who is married and resides in his native town; Franz; Margaret, who is married and lives in her native town; Se- bastian, who came to America in 1854, married Minnie Walters and engaged in the bakery business in Newark; Benjamin, who married and made his home in the place of his birth. '
Franz Musler, the father of our subject, was born and reared in the county of La- her, Baden, attended the public schools, and as a life work chose that to which he was reared,-farming. Thinking to bene- fit his financial condition and secure better educational advantages for his children, he sailed for the New World in 1865, landing in New York on the Ist of May. With his family he settled in Northfield, Essex county, New Jersey, where he carried on agricultural pursuits and spent the re- mainder of his days. He and his wife both held membership in the Catholic church.
His death occurred April 14, 1896, when he had reached the age of sixty-nine years, and his wife passed away on the 24th of April 1873, at the age of forty-three years.
Mr. and Mrs. Franz Musler had the fol- lowing named children: Frank, the first born, married Barbara Nett and had five children, was a resident of Newark, and died in 1889, aged thirty-eight years; Apo- lona, who married John Hock and has four children; Annie, wife of John Caesar, by whom she has four children; Christopher; Emma, who married Charles Futi and has four children; Bertha, who wedded Julius Huper and has five children; Mrs. Lena Griggs, who has two children; Adolph, who married Jennie Chalmers and has three children,-Douglas, Margaret and Thomas; Katie, wife of Charles Saner, by whom she has three children; and John, who lost his eyesight when four years of age, and resides with his sister, Mrs. Apo- lona Hock.
Christopher Musler acquired his early education in the district school of his na- tive town and with his parents came to America when eleven years of age, after which he attended the schools of North- field, New Jersey. When fourteen and a half years of age he began to learn the blacksmith's trade, under the direction of John Marshall, of Orange, and after com- pleting the four-years apprenticeship worked as a journeyman for a period of seven and a half years in Newark and Or- ange. In 1879 he began business on his own account at his present location and has since met with very gratifying success as the result of his skill and honorable busi- ness methods. He bought the tract of land on which he has his shops and in 1892 also bought a tract of land on which he
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erected his pleasant, commodious resi- dence.
Mr. Musler is a member of Harugari Lodge, No. 184, of Orange, and in his political affiliations is a Republican. Mr. Musler served as a member of the township committee in 1895 and has always taken an active interest in local affairs and such enterprises as tended towards the good of the community. He is a liberal contribu- tor to charitable purposes as well as were his worthy parents. He was married in Newark, May 20, 1879, to Theresa Bau- man, a daughter of George Adam Bau- man. Six children honor this union, namely : George A., Bertha, Edward, Rosa, Henry and Joseph.
WILLIAM YUDIZKY.
One of the busiest, most enterprising and most energetic men of Newark is this gen- tleman, who has been long connected with the industrial interests of the city. For some years he has devoted his entire time and concentrated all his energies toward the supervision of the active details of his business; and with the will to resolve, the understanding to direct and the hand to execute he has carried forward his labors until to-day he ranks among the leading hat manufacturers of Newark, which city is the recognized center of hat manufactur- ing in America.
Mr. Yudizky was born in the village of Zuburewka. Russia, on the 24th of March, 1862, and is a son of David and Anna (Soroken) Yudizky. The paternal grand- father was Johannes Yudizky, for many years a resident of the province of Cherson, Russia, where he was engaged in the dis- tilling business, with good success. In the
prime of life he met his death by accident caused by a runaway team. His wife sur- vived him some time and died at the age of seventy-two years. In their family were the following named children: Hirsch, who married and resided in his native town of Ananiew, in the province of Cherson; Bessie, who married and also resided in that town; and David.
The last named acquired his education under private instruction in Gorodisch, in the province of Poltowa, Russia, and in his early manhood learned the distiller's trade with his father, following that occupation during the greater part of the time until he was thirty-five years of age. His busi- . ness experience and association with men of intelligence and learning made him well fitted for positions of responsibility and trust, and he became well acquainted with the celebrated Russian, General Chko- dowsky, who appointed him superintendent of his estate, situated in the province of Cherson. In this capacity Mr. Yudizky had charge of over eleven hundred slaves up to the time of the Crimean war, when slavery was abolished in the southern prov- inces of Russia. Mr. Yudizky next turned his attention to commercial pursuits in the city of Cherson and was there engaged in business until 1871, when he removed to Odessa and engaged in the lumber busi- ness until 1887.
He then decided to come to America, and, accompanied by his wife and daughter Rose, landed in New York, when he made his way to Newark, here to spend the re- mainder of his days. In his family were six children, namely: John, who married Anna Uniglicht, came to this country and took up his residence in Newark, where he is engaged in the grocery business; Na-
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than, of Newark, who came to the United States, was married at Odessa, Russia; Louie, also of Newark, was married at Odessa, Russia; Deborah is the wife of Jacob Braun, a resident of Newark; Rosa is the wife of Abraham Rievelis, of Newark; and Ida is the wife of Jacob Barchatzky, whose home is in Brooklyn, New York.
William Yudizky acquired his education under private instruction in his native town and the town of Alechka, in the province of Tovria. When only eleven years of age he began to learn the miller's trade, which occupation he followed until nineteen years of age. To avoid being forced into the military service of his country he left home and traveled through the principal cities of Europe, finally sailing for the New World. He landed in New York, December 2, 1881, and in the spring of 1882 secured a situation in the employ of Meyer Mercy, of Newark, a hat manufacturer, with whom he remained until 1885, during which time he completely mastered the business. In the latter year he associated himself with Ber- nard Budish, under the firm name of Bu- dish & Yudizky, and established a hat man- ufactory in Orange. The following year, 1886, they removed to Newark, but the enterprise here did not prove a success and they were forced to suspend business. Both partners then began working at the hatter's trade as journeymen, but in the latter part of 1887 a partnership was again formed by Messrs. Budish and Yudizky, and a hat factory established in Library court, Newark. Prosperity attended the new undertaking, and their success was marked and immediate. In 1888 they pur- chased land and erected thereon a commo- dious and substantial building, in which they extensively engaged in the manufac-
ture of soft felt hats of both fine and me- dium grades. On the 25th of December, 1896, the factory was destroyed by fire, having only partial insurance; they sus- tained considerable loss, but with charac- teristic energy they began to replace the burned structure by a new building, a three-story brick, seventy-five by one hun- dred feet, built on a most modern and im- proved plan and supplied with every facility for turning out first-class work. The fac- tory has a capacity of one hundred and fifty dozen finished hats per day, and em- ploys seventy men and thirty-two girls. This enterprise ranks among the best in its line in the city, and the house sustains a reputation for reliability that has contrib- uted not a little to its success.
Mr. Yudizky was married at Newark, on the 14th of June, 1885, to Miss Clara Unig- licht, who was born June 24, 1869. She was left an orphan in early childhood and became the ward of her grandfather, Mr. Uniglicht, of Newark. Mr. and Mrs. Yu- dizky are the parents of five children: Nettie, born April 7, 1886; Allie, born April 6, 1888; Bessie, born April 1, 1890; Theodore, born November 25, 1892; and Bennie, born on the 29th of December, 1896.
DANIEL E. GOULD.
It is believed that the locality surround- ing Fairfield, Connecticut, was the home of the Gould family for several generations before the American Revolution, and both Jesse and Henry Gould, the grandfather and father of our subject, as well as the latter, were also natives of the vicinity. The father was in early life a carpenter by occupation, but his last years were spent in
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horticultural pursuits. By his marriage to Miss Esther Jennings he became the father of six children, of whom the second in order of birth was Daniel E. Gould, the subject of this review.
Born in Fairfield, Connecticut, on the 24th of August, 1845, Mr. Gould secured a liberal literary education in the schools of his native state, and at the age of sixteen, such was his fund of knowledge, that he was enabled to take up the vocation of teaching. This line of work was fascinat- ing to the young man and his success in that direction led him to determine upon making it his life work, but after four years of arduous labor the discovery was made that his health was failing him, and under the advice of his physician he took to the carpenter's trade, and subsequently became proprietor of a planing-mill in Fairfield and operated the same for nearly two years. He then went to New York state, locating in the metropolis and in Yonkers for some four years, taking up his residence in Har- lem in 1869, and there passed the follow- ing three years or more in the pursuit of his trade. In 1872 he came to Newark and entered the employ of Gould & Moore, a prominent firm of contractors, and upon its dissolution Mr. Gould entered upon a career of contract work that has covered a period of twenty-two years, the inaugura- tion of which was the building of a small
ottage on Clinton avenue for Horace Baldwin. His work has consisted almost altogether of what may be termed private character, and has, as a natural conse- quence, been scattered over the entire city of Newark and the Oranges, his principal public accomplishment being the construc- tion of the Central Presbyterian church, on Clinton avenue, and of which he is an
affiliate. He is a member of the Builders' Exchange, in which he has attained a high degree of popularity.
The marriage of Mr. Gould was solem- nized in New York city on the 2d of Octo- ber, 1866, when he was united to Miss Henrietta Van Tine, a daughter of William Van Tine, and their children number six, namely: Otis, George, Winfield, Edson, Carrie, who is the wife of John Campbell, Jr., of Jersey City, and Florence.
JOHN H. MATTHEWS,
of the firm of Cummings & Matthews, hat manufacturers, of Orange, was born in the city which is still his home on the 4th of May, 1842, and is a son of John H. and Elima C. (Meeker) Matthews. He ac- quired his education in private schools and at an early age began learning the hat- maker's trade, which he has since followed. He mastered the business in all its depart- ments and became an expert workman. Since 1881 he has been a member of the present firm, which now has a large factory in Orange. The plant is supplied with the latest improved machinery and best equip- ments for turning out first-class work, and the firm has a reputation for its products that extends far and wide and has brought to it a liberal and constantly increasing patronage. The industry is one of the leading manufacturing concerns in the city and is a leader in styles and materials. Upon the markets their hats command good prices and the business of the house is extensive and profitable.
Mr. Matthews was united in marriage, in Orange, on the 15th of September, 1863, the lady of his choice being Miss Louisa C. Smith, a daughter of Elija C. and Lydia
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Smith. Their union was blessed with six children; but they lost their four daughters in early childhood. They have two surviv- ing sons: Harry E., now a practicing phy- sician of Orange; and De Witt Clinton, who was born in July, 1874, and is now studying under the direction of private tutors at home. The family is one of prominence in the community and their home is noted for its culture and refine- ment. Mr. Matthews ranks high in busi- ness circles and has attained to the emi- nent position which he now occupies by his own exertions. Enterprise, energy and honorable dealing have been the salient points in his career and have brought to him a prosperity which is well deserved.
EDWIN SMITH
was born in Orange, New Jersey, on the 26th of July, 1830, at the old homestead on Scotland street, and was there reared to manhood, acquiring his education in the public schools of those days. (His father, David Smith, was born February 17, 1780.) As was then the custom, every youth was required to learn a trade, and our subject was apprenticed to a shoemaker, following that vocation during the first part of his life. In his political allegiance he is a stanch Democrat, and energetically sup- ports the principles and policies of that party. For seven years he served as con- stable in Orange, and for fifteen years he has been justice of the peace, to which office he was last year commissioned for a new term. He is an officer at Newark on the staff of John Post.
On October 24, 1855, Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Lydia A. Mor- gan, of West Orange, and a daughter of
William and Abbie (Williams) Morgan, members of old families of Essex county. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Smith are : Clara E., born March 4. 1859; Newell N., March 17, 1863; Sarah F., July 1, 1867; William B., March 9, 1872. Frederick A. married Fannie Woodhouse and they are living in West Orange; Clara married Ed- ward Perry, and they reside in Orange; Newell married Helen Farrow, and their home is in West Orange: and William also is in West Orange, at home.
WILLIAM KENT.
deceased, who was for three-quarters of a century connected with the public life of Essex county and throughout his long and useful career commanded the respect of all who knew him, was born in Livingston township, Essex county, New Jersey, on the 17th of September, 1820. His father, Joseph Kent, was also a native of Essex county and located on the old homestead in this county in the year of his son's birth. He endured many hardships incident to establishing a home in a wild region, per- forming the arduous task of developing a new farm and transforming the primeval tract into richly cultivated fields. During the winter months he also engaged in shoe- making. He married Bessie Wade, also a native of Essex county and a representative of one of the old families of New Jersey. Their children were William, Charles, George, Levi, and Mary, wife of Levi Tuttle.
William Kent, the subject of this memoir, was reared to manhood on the old homestead and in early years learned the shoemaker's trade with his father, follow- ing the same in Providence for several
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years, manufacturing shoes for the New York market and employing a large force of men at different times. Farming, how- ever, may be said to have been his prin- cipal vocation and in the active manage- ment of his business interests he accumu- lated a comfortable competence, resulting from his industry, energy and honorable dealing.
Mr. Kent was thrice married. He first married Sarah Pickens, and after her death wedded Jemima Shanger. The following children were born to them: William, who is living in Pennsylvania; Joseph, who makes his home in Providence; George, also of Providence; Ann, wife of T. L. Daneer, who is living in Bloomfield; Mrs. Emma Shultz; Ida, wife of Peira Black. Mr. Kent was again married July 4, 1875, when Mrs. Kate F. Ellison became his wife. She was the widow of Deforest Ellison, of New York city, and a daughter of John Keyser, a prominent politician of New York, and his wife Ann (Van Orden) Key- ser. By her first marriage Mrs. Kent had one son, J. Ellison, who is a prominent jew- eler of Providence. He married Ella De Camp, a daughter of George E. De Camp.
Mr. Kent departed this life on the 4th of August, 1896, at the age of seventy-six years. His life had been well spent, char- acterized by the fulfillment of every trust committed to his care, by devotion to pub- lic and private duty and by honor in busi- ness relations, and he therefore proved a valued member of society.
Mrs. Kent still lives on the old home- stead on Midway avenue and has very ap- propriately named the place Clover Farm. She takes great pride in ancestral history and has in her possession many deeds, pa- pers, etc., giving accounts of the family in
early days. It will therefore be interesting in this connection to note something of the history of the Keysers, who are of Aus- trian descent. In early life her great- grandfather left his native city of Vienna and came to this country, where he re- mained for some years. When his son John was six years of age he returned to the land of his birth with his family and household "gods" and there John Keyser remained until nineteen years of age. Ile was then a student in a university in or near Vienna, and quitting that place of learning he resolved to seek a home and fortune in America. Accordingly he crossed the Atlantic, and when the colonists attempted to throw off the yoke of British tyranny he enlisted, at the age of twenty-one, as a pri- vate, serving under General Wayne, and was wounded at the battle of Maumee. He also participated in the war of 1812.
His son, John, father of Mrs. Kent, was a very prominent politician. He was born in the ninth ward of New York city in 1810, liberally educated in the schools of that day, and after attaining his majority became noted in two ways,-as a con- tractor and builder and in public affairs. He was married in 1831 to Miss Ann Van Orden, who died nine years later, and in 1840 he married Harriet Dixon, who died in 1862.
In 1843 Mr. Keyser was appointed cap- tain of the city watch, and in 1848 was elected assessor in the ninth ward of New York. In 1852 he was a candidate for assistant alderman, but was defeated, and in 1860 he was elected register of the city, running far ahead of his ticket. His strong individuality and excellent characteristics gained him leadership, and he was recog- nized as a very prominent and influential
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man. His integrity was proverbial, his worth above question and one of the high- est tributes paid to his manliness and honor was the friendship manifested for him by those who had known him throughout his entire life.
WILLIAM WATKINS.
Indelibly engraved on the pages of Es- sex county's history is the name of this gentleman. Within the last half century America has demonstrated her right to the leadership of the world in the realm of in- vention. She, at first, by the brilliancy of. her achievements won the attention of the old countries, then commanded a respect which rapidly developed into a wondering admiration. Though she cannot cope with the old masters in the fine arts, Europe has acknowledged her pre-eminence in useful inventions and enterprise, and Mr. Wat- kins, of this review, was one of the leaders in the latter department. He was known as a prominent electrician and gave to the world a number of useful devices whose utility has been demonstrated in the prac- tical affairs of life.
Mr. Watkins was a native of Newport, New York, born in 1835, and was a son of Ephraim and a grandson of Churchill Wat- kins, belonging to one of the old and hon- ored families of Newport. Agriculture was the principal pursuit of the representa- tives of the name but William Watkins directed his energies into a different chan- nel. He was reared at his parental home, and after attending the common schools became a student in a business college, of Buffalo, New York, after which he re- turned to New York city. There he en- gaged in the grain business, which he fol-
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