USA > New Jersey > Essex County > Newark > Biographical and genealogical history of the city of Newark and Essex County, New Jersey, V. 2 > Part 12
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ESSEX COUNTY.
Mr. Crofutt was married in Newtown, Fairfield county, Connecticut, to Miss Car- oline Amelia Moorehouse, daughter of George and Dehlia (Johnson) Moorehouse. One son was born of this union, George Benjamin, October 20, 1864. Mrs. Cro- futt's maternal grandparents were Abraham and Sarah (Briscoe) Johnson, and her pa- ternal grandparents were Aaron and Urana (Starr) Moorehouse, of English ancestry. The early progenitors of the Moorehouse family made their first settlement in Ameri- ca at Wethersfield, Connecticut, in 1640. This was Thomas Moorehouse, and he was one of the original twenty-nine settlers who located there and purchased the ground from the New Haven colony that had pre- viously bought it from the Indians for one hundred bushels of corn. The descendants of Thomas Moorehouse are now found in Elizabeth, Paterson, Newark and other points in New Jersey.
JACOB KIERSTEAD,
for many years an honored citizen of Franklin, was born in Little Falls, Passaic county, New Jersey, November 6, 1833, and is a son of Major Isaac and Mary (Vreeland) Kierstead. His father was born May 24, 1795, served in the war of 1812 and was mustered out with the rank of major. He lived to be more than four- score years of age, and reared a family of seven children.
In his youth Jacob Kierstead removed to Brookdale, Essex county, and thence to Franklin. He learned the carpenter's trade, but did not long pursue that occupation. Later he engaged in the contracting and draying business, and for a long time did the hauling for the Stitt & Underhill Manu-
facturing Company, in Franklin, and later was connected in the same way with the firm of A. T. Stewart & Company until 1875, when he established the coal yards at Franklin, on the Erie Railroad. He estab- lished a reputation for integrity that was indeed enviable. His charities were many and unostentatious; no one knew of them except the recipient, yet no one in need ever went to Jacob Kierstead who did not receive help, and many times it was done when it resulted in his own inconvenience.
Mr. Kierstead was always active in the political development of the township. He was a member of the citizens' committee that visited Trenton to advocate the separa- tion from Belleville, and was a member of the first township committee. He served several years as assessor and was four times elected freeholder, which position he held at the time of his death, which occurred March 19, 1895. For ten years prior to his demise he was the recognized leader of the Republicans in Franklin, and during that period was continuously their repre- sentative in the county committee, serving during the greater part of the time as a member of the executive committee. He was fearless in defense of his principles, and open in his opposition to the Democracy.
A local paper said of Mr. Kierstead: "As a neighbor and friend he was the best. He had a wider acquaintance than fell to the lot of most men, and he was a friend to every one. No matter how lowly was a man's position he had a good word for him, and was ready to encourage and aid him. In his death Franklin has lost her leading citizen, foremost in all that went to forward her prosperity. He was one of the organ- izers of and active workers in the Building & Loan Association, that great help to the
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advancement of the township. In all things looking to the development of Franklin he found his place. He was a charter member of Granite Council, O. U. F., of the Franklin Club, now the Nutley Athletic Club, and was one of the organ- izers of the Yauticaw Improvement As- sociation, and in all was active up to the time of his death. He will be missed in all our councils and meetings, and his place will be hard to fill. He left behind him the most enviable of qualities-an unsullied character and an untarnished name."
Mr. Kierstead was married at Stone House Plains, in Bloomfield township, De- cember 24, 1855, to Eliza E. Post, a daugh- ter of Abram and Anna Post, both of whom were born in Bloomfield township, Essex county. Mr. and Mrs. Kierstead were the parents of three children, all sons,-Wilson G., Jesse R. and Charles H.,-who since their father's death have continued the coal, wood and ice business, in the name of Jacob Kierstead's Sons.
WILLIAM HEMMER,
deceased, was long and prominently con- nected with the industrial interests of Es- sex county and established one of the larg- est office and library furniture manufactor- ies in this section of the state. He pos- sessed superior business ability, keen dis- cernment and sound judgment, and his well directed efforts brought to him a hand- some competence. He came to America with little capital and from a humble be- ginning worked his way steadily upward to success.
He was born in the ortschaft of Neu- kirchen, an old villagesituated near Kaisers- lautern, in the Rhine-Pfaltz, of Bavaria, Germany, May 29, 1810. His parents were
Johannis and Magdalena (Wildanger) Hemmer. The former, a blacksmith by trade, followed his chosen vocation in the ancient town of Neukirchen and was a skillful and ingenious mechanic, a thor- ough master of his trade. He was born at Frehner Hof, the ancestral home of his family, and died at the ripe old age of seventy-five years. His faithful wife sur- vived him about three years and was seventy-five years old at the time of her demise. Both were of the Roman Catholic faith.
This worthy couple had fifteen children, of whom John Adam, Sebastian, Christian and William all came to America. Sebas- tian crossed the Atlantic about 1833, tak- ing passage on a French sailing vessel. He is known to have landed at New York and to have taken passage on the same vessel on her return trip to Europe, but after sail- ing from New York no news was ever re- ceived from him. His two brothers came to America soon after, landing in the me- tropolis, where they remained for a short time and then came to Newark, where they spent their remaining days. Both married and reared families.
William Hemmer, whose name begins this article, was educated in the schools of his native town, according to the laws of his native land pursuing his studies be- tween the ages of six and fourteen years. He was then apprenticed to learn the cab- inet-maker's trade in Kaiserslautern, and during his four years' term became very proficient, acquiring an excellent knowl- edge of the business. He then started out in life on his own account and traveled through the southern states of Germany and the countries of southern Europe, vis- iting the principal cities of the continent,
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ESSEX COUNTY.
wherein he worked as a journeyman. Be- fore attaining his majority he returned to the place of his nativity and soon after was drafted into the military service, becoming a member of the Ninth Bavarian Infantry. After having served for three years he de- cided to hire a substitute to fill out his en- tire term of six years, in order that he might resume work at his trade, and accordingly he paid the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars for a substitute, to obtain his re- lease.
In 1835 Mr. Hemmer was united in mar- riage to Miss Apollonia Schall, who was born in the village of Heiligenstein, situated in Rhenish Bavaria, July 4, 1817, and was an only daughter of John and Magdalena Schall, who had six sons, all older than the daughter. Mr. Hemmer began his do- mestic life in Heiligenstein, about three miles distant from the celebrated city of Speier, on the Rhine, and there worked at his trade until 1842, when he removed his business to the old fortified city of Germer- sheim, where he conducted a successful en- terprise and became prominently known as a contractor and builder. He was exten- sively engaged in contract work for the gov- ernment, frequently employing fifty or more men, and in this way he became prom- inently associated in social, business and po- litical circles with some of the leading men of the kingdom located at Germersheim. During the political uprising throughout the central German states, which precipi- tated the revolution of 1848-9, he allied himself with the people who were striving to establish a more democratic form of gov- ernment and do away with some of the extravagances of the royal family who in this way had done much to deplete the pub- lic treasury. It was also the wish of the
revolutionists to ultimately consolidate the German states under one head and one government, but the time seemed not yet ripe for this movement and history tells of the disastrous defeat which followed the war, causing great loss of life on both sides.
Mr. Hemmer's support of the defeated army led to the loss of his position; many of his one-time friends turned against him through the stress of party feeling, and rather than humble himself to ask for his position again and a renewal of the old friendship of his former associates, he de- cided to come to America. Accordingly, in November, 1849, he left his home and made his way to Antwerp, where he took passage on the barque Cotton Planter, which after a voyage of forty-seven days dropped anchor in the harbor of New York, January 13, 1850. When his old associates found that he had gone they expressed great regret, for all acknowledged his fidel- ity to the duties which had been entrusted to him and noted his very efficient ser- vices.
On reaching this country Mr. Hemmer at once sought employment at his trade and his excellent workmanship enabled him to command high wages. Becoming con- vinced that the advantages here afforded were superior to those of the Old World, he sent for his family to join him, and his wife and five children accordingly sailed from Havre, France, on the ship La Duchesse d'Orleans, which crossed the At- lantic in thirty-two days, reaching New York November 1, 1850. Mr. Hemmer settled with his family in that city and en- gaged in business on his own account at No. 375 Madison street, where he met with gratifying success until 1860, when he re- moved to Newark. Here he purchased
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ESSEX COUNTY.
the land at Nos. 29 and 31 West Parker street, erected thereon a substantial plant, and began the manufacture of desks and office furniture. He made his own designs and styles and perfected a model for an office desk, which he later patented and manufactured exclusively for his own trade. In his new enterprise he met with the satis- factory results which always follow well directed and honorable efforts.
Mr. Hemmer's labors, however, were in- terrupted in 1861, for his spirit of patriot- ism would not let him remain quietly at home when his adopted country was in the throes of civil war, and on the 25th of Au- gust, 1861, he enlisted in Company C, First · Regiment of New York Volunteer Engin- eers, under Colonel Edward W. Serrell. He participated in the campaign until Novem- ber 23, 1863, when he was discharged at Folly Island by reason of physical disability. Returning then to Newark, and after he had regained his health, he resumed busi- ness and met with splendid success, his trade constantly increasing until it had assumed very extensive proportions. He continued to operate the factory on Parker street until October 7, 1870, when he re- moved to the site of the present commo- dious factory, now operated by his sons, on Bloomfield avenue and Morris canal. The first building erected consisted of the wing on the north side of the main building, and here he began to use steam power in the manufacture of his wares. Year after year the volume of the business increased, and he was compelled to enlarge the plant in order to meet the growing demands of his trade. A handsome financial return crowned his efforts and he continued in active business until his death, which oc- curred January 17, 1881. He was a skill-
ful and ingenious mechanic, persevering and energetic in all his undertakings, just and conscientious in all his business tran- sactions. He won the respect and esteem of all with whom he came in contact and his loss was mourned throughout the com- munity.
Mr. Hemmer was a very charitable and benevolent man and no worthy person was ever turned from his door empty-handed. He contributed liberally to church and charitable enterprises and was a devout member of St. Augustine's church, Roman Catholic. In politics he never swerved from the Democratic principles as laid down by Jefferson, and was always a stanch advo- cate of his party. His wife, who was also a communicant of St. Augustine's church, survived him a number of years and passed away on the 3Ist of July, 1883.
The following is the record of the chil- dren of Mr. and Mrs. Hemmer :
Peter, the eldest child, born April 12, 1837, died in early life.
Frederick, whose sketch appears else- where.
Peter Hemmer,the third child of William and Apollonia Hemmer, was born February 19, 1841, and married Magdalene Stroe- bert, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Ebert) Stroebert, who was born in New- ark November 16, 1844; and this union has been blessed with the following children : John Peter (Ist), born April 26, 1867, and died September 13, 1875; Magdalene (Ist), born November 29, 1868, and died Sep- tember 10, 1869; Magdalene (2d), born September 16, 1870; Anna, born Novem- ber 15, 1872, and died in November, 1877; William, born December 21, 1874, and died in 1880; Peter J., born January 29, 1876, and died the same year; Frank J., born
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ESSEX COUNTY.
June 29, 1878; John Peter (2d), born Sep- tember 20, 1880; William H., born May 9, 1883; and Frederick A., born January 29, 1885.
The father of these children was one of the "boys in blue," having enlisted on Sep- tember 30, 1861, in Company C, First Regiment of New York Volunteer En- gineers, and was promoted to the rank of · corporal for meritorious and faithful ser- vice, and he was honorably discharged at New York city, October 13, 1864.
Max Hemmer, the fourth of the family, usually known as Maurice, was born at Germersheim, Germany, August II, 1843, and married Matilda Burgmeier, a daugh- ter of Joseph and Margaretta (Saxer) Burg- meier, by whom he has two children : Maxi- millian Joseph, born October 6, 1882; and Matilda Margaretta, March 18, 1885. The parents of Mrs. Max Hemmer were both natives of Germany, but were married in New York, where they resided for some time, but on account of ill health Mr. Burg- meier returned with his family to his na- tive land and died in the ortschaft of Og- gersheim, in Wurtemberg. His widow afterward married Peter Hemmer, by whom she had three children, namely : Frank, who died at the age of five years; Peter, who married Annie Schmeckenbeck- er and resides in Brooklyn, New York; and Elizabeth, who died in infancy. The chil- dren of her first marriage are Louis, who married Caroline Schalter and resides in Brooklyn, New York; Otto, who died at the age of twenty-three years; Sophia and Lena, who died in early childhood; and Mrs. Max Hemmer.
August, the fifth child of William Hem- mer, was born December 23, 1845, and died November 18, 1851, in New York city.
Anna Maria, the sixth, was born May IO, 1848, at Germersheim, was married No- vember 25, 1867, to Joseph Abendschoen, and to them were born the following named: Joseph, who was born September 5, 1868, and died July 8, 1874; Annie, who was born May 6, 1870, and is now Mrs. Aloise Kramer; Mary, who was born June 17, 1872, and died May 30, 1874; William, who was born June 2, 1874, and married Rosa Haasenfutter; Julia, born June 6, 1876; Frank Joseph, born Septem- ber 23. 1880; Lawrence Edward, born Au- gust II, 1884; Peter Paul, who was born January 24, 1889, and died September 10, 1891; and Aloise Peter, born August 20, 1895.
Maria Magdalena, the seventh member of the family, was born January 1, 1852, in New York city, and died in September, 1883. She became the wife of John Schu- macher, and had three children,-Magda- lena, Anna and Matilda.
William, the eighth member of the Hem- mer family, was born February 3, 1855, in New York city, and was married in St. Peter's church, Roman Catholic, in Newark, June 19, 1883, to Elizabeth Nigel, who was born April 9, 1864, a daughter of George and Magdalena (Holdenried) Nigel. They have five children, namely: Louisa Elizabeth, born July 20, 1884; Magdalena Elizabeth, born April 8, 1886; William Peter, born October 18, 1887; Amelia Apollonia, born January 16, 1890; and Marie Theresa, born July 19, 1892.
Frank, the youngest member of the Hemmer family, was born September IO, 1857, in New York city, and was married in St. Mary's church of the Immaculate Con- ception in New York city, November 25,
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ESSEX COUNTY.
1884, to Miss Louisa Freese, who was born December 21, 1864, in New York city, and is a daughter of John and Catharina (Lan- zer) Freese. They have seven children, as follows : Catharina, born November 7, 1885; Frank William, born April 6, 1887; Louise Theresa, born July 31, 1888; Martha Frances, born August 12, 1890, and died on the 6th of November following; Blanche Barbara, born November 28, 1892; John Louis, born April 3, 1894; and Bertha Anna, born September 11, 1896.
This family was represented in the civil war not alone by the father, for two sons, as well, "donned the blue" and went forth to the defense of their country. Peter en- listed September 30, 1861, in Company C, First Regiment of New York Volunteer Engineers, and was promoted to the rank of corporal for meritorious and faithful ser- vice. Maurice Hemmer enlisted at the same time as his father,-August 25, 1861, -becoming a drummer boy in the same company to which his brother belonged, and both served until October 13, 1864, when they were honorably discharged in New York city. They then returned home and entered their father's employ.
Each of the sons had acquired a thor- ough knowledge of the business under the direction of their father, and on his death they succeeded to the ownership. They have a very large and splendidly equipped plant and theirs is one of the leading in- dustrial concerns in the city. In 1885 they were forced to increase their facilities in order to meet the demands of the trade, and their output of office and library furni- ture is very extensive, comprising all kinds · from the simple in design and inexpensive to the most elaborate and beautiful. In 1882 they invented and perfected an auto-
matic combination lock, which they use ex- clusively on the desks which they manu- facture. The Hemmer brothers are all men of well known business powers and reliability, and the. house sustains a reputation in trade circles that is in- deed enviable. Their policy with their patrons and with their employes is most honorable and commends them to the confidence and the business sup- port of all. The family name is honor- ably connected with the business and so- cial interests of Newark, and this work would be incomplete without the record of the family.
JAMES GILLIAM OSBORNE,
deceased, was born in Richmond, Virginia, and was a son of Charles F. Osborne, a representative of one of the old and hon- ored families of that state. In ante-bellum days, Mr. Osborne, Senior, brought his family to the north, locating in New York city, where he was prominent in the Church of the Holy Communion, and filled the office of Senior Warden.
James G. Osborne was educated at Columbia College, where he pursued the study of law, which he afterwards practiced for several years in New York city. He then abandoned the law, and turned his at- tention to the tobacco trade, which he car- ried on with most excellent success, secur- ing a custom which made the enterprise a very profitable one.
Forty years ago he removed to South Orange, where his father purchased the present home of the family, "Ashford." He afterwards made many improvements there, and transformed the place into one of the most beautiful residences in this sec-
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ESSEX COUNTY.
tion of the county, adorned in a most taste- ful way, while the furnishings of the house indicate a refined and cultured taste.
Mr. Osborne married Miss Alice Clop- ton Terry, daughter of the Rev. Mr. Terry, also of an old and well-known Virginia family. Two children were born to them, namely : Alice Harrison and Mary Gilliam.
Mr. Osborne was an influential and gen- erous member in the church which his father founded in South Orange, also called the "Church of the Holy Communion," and served there as Junior Warden for many years. He was a member of several secret societies connected with the colleges, and was popular with all by reason of his kindly, sympathetic spirit, generous, frank nature and engaging manner. He died in 1889.
DAVID AUSTEN RYERSON,
who for more than a quarter of a century has maintained a distinguished place at the bar of Newark, is one of the most compe- tent and able lawyers in Essex county. Well versed in the science of jurisprudence, strong in argument, logical in his reason- ing, he prepares his cases with the utmost thoroughness and exactness and provides for every possible contingency. To his po- sition of eminence he has attained by earn- est effort, for in the law more than in any other profession advancement depends upon individual merit.
Mr. Ryerson was born in Pompton, Pas- saic county, New Jersey, a son of Peter M. and Mary A. Ryerson. He is of Huguenot descent, his ancestors coming from Holland at a very early date and locating in the vi- cinity of New York city, whence they re- moved to New Jersey in the early part of the eighteenth century. The subject of
this review, having acquired his prelimi- nary education in private schools, was grad- uated at Rutgers College in the class of 1858, and then took up the study of law under the direction of John Whitehead, Esq., of Newark. He was admitted to the New Jersey bar as an attorney, in June, 1861, and began active practice in Newark, but his legal career was interrupted by his military service.
Prompted by a spirit of patriotism to defend his country in her hour of trial, he enlisted in August, 1862, and raised Com- pany C of the Thirteenth New Jersey Vol- unteer Infantry, of which he was commis- sioned captain on the 25th of August. His regiment was attached to the Third Bri- gade, First Division, Twelfth Army Corps, and subsequently to the Second Brigade, First Division, Twentieth Army Corps, and on the 5th of April, 1864, he was promoted to the rank of major. He was detailed as judge advocate of court martial of the First Division, Twentieth Army Corps, in Ten- nessee, and also as judge advocate of a military commission during the winter of 1863-4, and was brevetted lieutenant-colo- nel and colonel, March 13, 1865, for gal- lant and meritorious services during the war. He participated in a number of im- portant engagements, including the battle of South Mountain, Maryland, September 14, and Antietam, same state,. September 17, 1862; Chancellorsville, Virginia, May I-3, and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on the 2d and 3d of July, 1863, being wounded on the latter day; Rocky Face Ridge, Georgia, May 8-II; Resaca, Georgia, May 15; Cass- ville, Georgia, May 16; Dallas, Georgia, May 25; Pine Knob, Georgia, June 16; Kulp's Farm, Georgia, June 22; and Kene- saw mountain, Georgia, June 27, 1864. On
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ESSEX COUNTY.
the 16th of July, 1864, he resigned and returned home.
Mr. Ryerson resumed the practice of law in Newark and in 1871 was licensed to practice as a counselor. He served for several years as city attorney of Newark. His knowledge of the science of jurispru- dence is accurate and extensive, and his clientage is large and of a very important character. His strong mentality, his clear insight and his ready mastery of the intri- cate points of a case give him a strength before court or jury that is much to be de- sired.
On the 27th of November, 1883, Mr. Ryerson was united in marriage to Miss Mary McIlvaine Brown, a daughter of James and Eliza (McIlvaine) Brown, of Philadelphia. His social qualities and ster- ling worth make him a popular citizen and he is highly esteemed by all classes.
CORNELIUS SMITH,
a prominent dealer in flour, feed and grain in Newark, was born at Mount Horeb, Somerset county, New Jersey, on the Ist of March, "1844, and is a son of William and Harriet (Coddington) Smith, the former of whom was born in New Jersey, a descend- ant of Anglo-Saxon stock. His education was acquired in the district schools, and upon attaining his majority he chose farm- ing as his occupation, which he followed most of his life in Somerset county. He was a just and conscientious man, a good citizen, always taking an active part in local affairs, and he served in the various offices of his township. Politically he was at one time a Whig, but after the formation of the Republican party he became one of its most ardent supporters and still main-
tains a deep interest in its welfare. He is living at the present writing (1898), having reached the venerable age of eighty-seven years. His wife, who was born in 1808, a daughter of John and Mary (Coon) Cod- dington, was a consistent Christian and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. She was known to have been a most charitable woman, aiding the poor of her neighborhood on numerous occasions, and her death, which occurred on the 28th of March, 1887, was sincerely mourned by those who had enjoyed her generous hos- pitality as well as by a large number of friends. Mr. and Mrs. Smith were the par- ents of the following children: Catherine, who married Manning Titus and now re- sides in Jersey City: her husband (de- ceased) left four children,-Keziah, Joshua, Cassie and Manning, the latter of whom died in 1882; Mary L. is now deceased : she married Joshua G. Slocum, and they re- sided in Newark, and had two children,- Walter W. and De Witt T .; John C. mar- ried Miss Louisa French and they are liv- ing in Newark, and have one daughter, Laura; William, Jr., married Miss Mary Lawler and they are residing at Burlin- game, Kansas, where their children com- prise the following: Myra, Jennie, Fanny and Salis; Harriet became the wife of Sam- uel Edmunds and they live in Somerset county, New Jersey; Sarah Jane married Bergen Huff, of Newark, their children be- ing William B., Hattie M., Dudley B., Julia E. and Charles L .; George W. married Miss Mary K. Schott, and they also live in Somerset county, with their four children, Frederick, George, Bertha and Warren; Cornelius, our subject; Silas O., who mar- ried Miss Elizabeth Skinner, and resides in Newark, their children being Daisy, Nor-
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