USA > New Jersey > Essex County > Newark > Biographical and genealogical history of the city of Newark and Essex County, New Jersey, V. 2 > Part 15
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Ernest. b. Every.
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all landed safely in New York, after a long and tedious voyage of fifty-five days. All went to Newark, where they resided for a short time and then took up their resi- dence in the district which is now called Roseville. The second daughter, Amelia, was then a widow and had one child, Rosa- lie. The other daughter, Alvena, and her husband, Peter Daniel Evertz, had eight children.
Mr. Evertz secured employment with Henry Sauerbeer, afterward working at his trade for some time in the employ of Jacob Wiss, the founder of the firm of Jacob Wiss & Sons, of Newark. His diligence and per- severance, after two years, enabled Mr. Evertz to begin business on his own ac- count in the manufacture of cutlery hard- ware, and in this he was very successful, continuously conducting the enterprise un- til 1865, when, on account of failing health, he was forced to relinquish the business. Within the same year he purchased the homestead in East Orange, consisting of a fourteen-acre tract of land, to which he in- tended to retire with his family; but on the 19th of February, 1866, at his home in Newark, he passed away, at the age of forty-one, his birth having occurred on the 2d of February, 1825. His wife, who was born.on the 17th of May, 1827, died Sep- tember 30, 1881.
This worthy couple had eleven children : Emma, wife of Alexander Kohler, of New- ark, by whom she has two children; Charles, who married Emma Hass, by whom he has six children, and resides in Newark; Rosalie, who married Frederick Schmachtenburg, of Newark, and has four sons; Ida, who died at the age of eighteen years; Ernest C .; Amelia, wife of Jacob Kocher, of Newark, and the mother of two
daughters; Edward; Peter Daniel, who married Hattie Matthews and has four chil- dren; Matilda, who died at the age of four- teen years; Charlotte Wilhelmina, wife of William J. Layden, by whom she has three children; and Bertha, who died in infancy.
Ernest C. Evertz acquired his education in the schools of Newark and East Orange, and since the age of fifteen years has de- pended upon his own efforts for a liveli- hood, so that whatever success he has achieved is due entirely to his labors, his capable management and his resolute pur- pose. He served a three-years apprentice- ship to the florist's trade under Richard Purdue, and then began business on his own account, erecting commodious green- houses on the Evertz homestead in East Orange. In this enterprise he met with a fair degree of success, and in addition to his labors in that direction he managed the family estate until 1887, when the home- stead was sold to the East Orange Water Company. Mr. Evertz then leased the property from the water company and in addition to the nursery business is suc- cessfully engaged in the dairy business. He has a good patronage in both lines, and the industries yield to him a gratifying profit.
On the 15th of April, 1885, Mr. Evertz was married in Newark to Miss Mary M. Weimer, who was born October 15, 1861, and is a daughter of George and Matilda (Weigman) Weimer. Four children grace this union: Meta M., born June 28, 1886; Irving E., November 25, 1889; Hazel May, May 3, 1893: and Ethel Mildred, Novem- ber 12, 1896. The parents hold member- ship in the Lutheran church of Newark, and Mr. Evertz is a valued member of Radi- ant Star Lodge, No. 190, I. O. O. F.,
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of Newark; America Lodge, No. 143, tables. His honorable business methods, Knights of Pythias, of Newark; and New- ark City Conclave of Heptasophs, No. 247. In his political connections he is a Re- publican. His honorable methods, his en- terprise and sound judgment have made him one of the successful business men of East Orange, and he is now the possessor of a comfortable competence as the result of his labors.
EDWARD EVERTZ,
a representative of the mercantile interests of Newark, was born on the 5th of August, 1858, in Solingen, Prussia, Germany, and when three years of age was brought to America by his parents, Peter Daniel and Alvena (Konart) Evertz. More detailed data touching his ancestral history may be found in the sketch of Ernest C. Evertz, appearing on another page of this work. To the public schools of East Orange he is indebted for the educational privileges which he received. He remained at his parental home until eighteen years of age and then began to learn the butcher's trade, with Joseph Schmidt, of No. 324 Broad street, Newark. When his term of appren- ticeship had ended he bought out his em- ployer and carried on the business for a year. On the expiration of that period he entered the employ of Louis V. Pfeifer, with whom he remained for five years, when, in 1887, he again embarked in busi- ness on his own account, at the corner of Eleventh and Warren streets, Newark. He met with excellent success, and in 1890 purchased his present business property and has added to it a number of good im- provements. He here carries on a meat market and also deals in fruits and vege-
his efforts to please his customers and the excellent line of goods which he carries, have brought to him a very liberal patron- age, and his trade is constantly increasing.
Mr. Evertz is a member of Trinity Lodge, No. 160, I. O. O. F., in good stand- ing, and in his political convictions is a Re- publican, who stanchly advocates the prin- ciples of his party without demanding offi- cial honors for his services. He was mar- ried in Newark, December 29, 1881, his union being with Miss Sarah McGill, a daughter of William and Sarah McGill. They now have three children: Harry Alexander, born October 23, 1882; Edna May, June 21, 1884; and Jesse, June 19, 1890. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal church in Roseville.
THE CANFIELD FAMILY.
Matthew Canfield, the American ances- tor of this family, was one of the original settlers of the New Haven colony. His name is in the royal charter as petitioner and grantee in 1639. He swore allegiance in 1644. He married Sarah, daughter of Richard Treat, of Wethersfield, Connecti- cut, before 1643, and their children were Samuel, Sarah, Ebenezer, Matthew, Han- nah, Rachael, Jonathan, Mary. He was a representative at the general court in 1654, until the union of the Connecticut and New Haven colonies. He came with the colon- ists to Newark in 1666, and both Matthew and his son Ebenezer signed the two "Fun- damental Agreements." He was one of the committee chosen consisting of "Seven Men that should have full Power to hear, examine and judge of every Man's Estate and Persons, as their Rule, &c." He was also one of the commissioners chosen to
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Edward Every
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"agree upon and fully issue the Divident Line and Bounds between Elizabeth Town and Newark." He died in Newark in 1673. His son Matthew had a son John, who pur- chased of C. Ball fifty acres near the moun- tain, in 1705.
Ebenezer Canfield, eldest child of Matthew and Sarah (Treat) Canfield, was born in 1649 and died in 1694. He married Bethia and had a son Joseph, who was born in Newark in 1681, and died December 14, 1733, aged fifty-two years. He was known as "Deacon Joseph." He married Rachael Daglish, and their children were Benjamin, Abiel, Ebenezer, Bethya, Rachael. The Ebenezer here mentioned was born in Newark in 1712, died June 10, 1775, aged sixty-three, and was buried in the old churchyard at Orange. His wife Deborah died December 9, 1791, aged seventy-five, and was likewise buried at Orange. Their children were Joseph, Sarah, Ebenezer and Deborah.
Tradition says that red clover and timo- thy for hay and pasturage were introduced about the beginning of the present century by Ebenezer Canfield, who had the best farm at the mountain. It lay at the north side of Main street, beginning a little east of the old road to Watsessing (Bloomfield), now Prospect street, and was next on the east to Moses Jones' land, where the Cal- vary Methodist Episcopal church now stands in East Orange. The site of his large stone house was on Main street, op- posite the present Dutch Reformed church. He was a member in communion with the Mountain Society prior to 1756.
Ebenezer Canfield (2d), son of Ebenezer and Deborah Canfield, was born at the homestead of his father on Main street, in East Orange, in 1761, and died September
8, 1831, in his seventieth year. He served in the war of the Revolution as private in Captain Josiah Pierson's company, Second Regiment, Essex state troops. He married Rhoda Baldwin and had children, Eliza- beth, Maria, Harriet, Fanny, Isaac, Ben- jamin, Ira, and Moses Baldwin. He was buried in the old Orange cemetery. His wife, Rhoda, died at Belleville, 22d March, 1815, in her fifty-seventh year. Ebenezer signed himself "gentleman." Mr. Jotham Condit, of East Orange, states that he kept an hotel for a number of years in the old stone house erected by his father, and at that time was the owner of the lands in direct line extending northward from his homestead in East Orange through to Bloomfield.
Moses Baldwin Canfield, third son of Ebenezer and Rhoda (Baldwin) Canfield, was born at the Canfield homestead, on Main street, Orange, July 28, 1806. He re- ceived a fair education and learned the trade of shoemaking, which was the pre- vailing industry of Orange during his life. He became master of this, and his ambition was to excel and to produce the best quality of work obtainable, using only the finest materials. He began the manufacture of the higher grades of boots and shoes early in the '30s, and built up a large and exten- sive trade. He began in a modest way at first, his factory being near his residence on Scotland street. He afterward owned and occupied the large brick building ad- joining the present library building, near the First Presbyterian church, on Main street. He used this building as a manu- factory and had a store underneath, where he did an extensive retail business. He sold his property on Scotland street and bought a valuable property nearly adjoining his fac-
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tory on Main street. He carried on an ex- tensive business there for many years. His house and store were destroyed by fire, De- cember, 1850, and he then moved to the opposite side of the street. He also had a large factory in Newark. He carried on an extensive trade with the south before the war and made many warm friends among the southern people. His generous treatment of them in all his business deal- ings and the many noble qualities exhibited in his personal intercourse with them won for him their respect and admiration, and when the separation of the north and south became inevitable they took no advantage of the situation, but continued to remit promptly until all intercourse was cut off, and even then they made frequent remit- tances through private sources. Mr. Can- field did a large trade with the east and west during the war and obtained a repu- tation for the superior quality of his goods that found a ready demand in every market at higher prices than those of his com- petitors.
In his private life Mr. Canfield was the soul of honor and integrity. He had a smile and a word of encouragement for every one. The children loved him, and when he met them on the street he had a kind word for all. Through his great gen- erosity and his desire to help those who were in trouble, he often met with severe financial losses, but he never grieved over these; the satisfaction of having done a kind act and of having contributed to the happiness of his fellowmen amply repaid him for all his losses. He was a deacon in the First Presbyterian church in 1851, and afterward an elder, serving under the Rev. James Hoyt as one of his warmest supporters and most faithful officials of the
church. Mr. Canfield married Mary Ann Baldwin, daughter of Colonel Isaac Bald- win. His children were William Henry, Hiram Quimby, Ira, Mary Lucetta, Charles Baldwin, Jane Eliza, Wiley, and Jessup.
William Henry Canfield, eldest child of Moses B. and Mary Ann (Baldwin) Can- field, was born in Orange, April 12, 1829. After a due course of preparation he entered Princeton College and was graduated with high honors. He also took a theological course at Princeton Seminary, intending to enter the ministry. He was a young man of great promise and bid fair to make his mark in the world. He was an eloquent speaker, a warm-hearted, sympathetic, Christian gentleman, and had already made for himself hosts of friends, when he was suddenly cut off at the very threshold of his promised useful career. He attended the funeral of a classmate, where he took a severe cold which settled on his lungs, re- sulting in his death January 22, 1856. About one hundred feet from the entrance to Rosedale cemetery, in Orange, is a plain marble obelisk erected by his father, which contains the following inscription: "In memory of William Henry Canfield, A. M., a graduate of the College of New Jersey. In the bloom of early manhood, rich in the love and esteem of an ever-widening circle of acquaintances and friends, his mind in- vigorated and embellished by study and various learning; prosecuting the two-fold labors of a tutor in his alma mater and of a student in divinity, the past fragrant with pleasing memories of duties done, the future bright with hopes of serving God in proclaiming the gospel of His Son, he ceased to be mortal. Entering into rest on the morning of January 23, 1855, at the age of 25 years, 9 months and II days."
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Ira Canfield, Jr., third son of Moses Bald- win and Mary Ann (Baldwin) Canfield, was born at the homestead of his father, in Orange, where he spent his boyhood days. He was sent early in life to the best private schools in Orange, among which were those of Rev. S. S. Stocking and Mr. Alonzo Brackett. He was prepared for college, but owing to failing health was unable to con- tinue his studies. He finally decided upon a business career and entered his father's employ, and subsequently acquired an in- terest in the business. He inherited many of the traits of character which contributed so largely to his father's success. Genial, courteous, obliging, full of push and en- ergy, he was almost without a rival as a salesman. He traveled west and south and always kept ahead of his competitors, and not unfrequently made sales beyond the capacity of his firm to supply. He bought out his father and carried on the manufac- tory at Newark for some years, where he did a most successful business. The old employees, who had been with his father for so many years, remained with him and were treated with the utmost kindness and consideration. They were influenced, how- ever, by the labor disturbances, and while he sought by every means in his power to conciliate them by conceding every reason- able demand, they tried his patience beyond endurance until he finally closed out his stock and gave up the business about 1872. Later, he started in the grain business in New York city, under the firm name of Canfield, McCoun & Company. He was a member of the Produce Exchange, and for a time did a successful business, continu- ing for a number of years, when, owing to continued reduced rates of commission, he withdrew.
He soon after organized a company of which he was president and treasurer, and began the publication of an illustrated paper known as "La Exposicion Norte Ameri- cana." He secured the best literary talent that could be found and spared no expense in procuring the finest illustrations of sub- jects of great interest to its South Ameri- can patrons. Portraits and biographical sketches of our military leaders, statesmen and other prominent men, views of historic interest, of our magnificent buildings, American scenery, arts, industries, manu- factories were selected with the greatest care and executed in the most artistic man- ner, thus imparting to the South American people a knowledge of our republic, its greatness and importance, that would re- quire years of residence here to obtain. Advertisements of leading manufacturers, business houses, with suitable illustrations, were inserted, the great object being to pave the way for an increase of trade with our sister republics of South America. It was a great undertaking and gave promise of ultimate success. It was well conceived and ably executed. It was followed up by Mr. Canfield with a personal visit by him and his partner to the leading cities of South America, and resulted in establish- ing a more friendly intercourse between these republics and the United States and an immense increase in trade. Agencies were opened in the principal cities of Chili, the Argentine Republic and Brazil, for our American manufacturers, and direct busi- ness intercourse established between these people and our own manufacturers. Mr. Canfield left his partner there to manage the affairs at that end, while he returned to his New York quarters, where he could be placed in constant communication with
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such parties as desired to extend their trade in this direction. His partner, in the mean- time, was engaged in building up and ex- tending their trade in South America, re- sulting as it did in establishing a successful business. In all this affair, which has re- sulted in great public as well as private benefit, Mr. Canfield has been the leading spirit. Notwithstanding the severe draw- backs occasioned by the frequent revolu- tions in the South American states, he has managed the affairs with discretion and safety. It is a noteworthy fact that the Canfields, through every generation, have preserved unsullied the reputation for hon- esty, integrity and uprightness which char- acterized their worthy ancestor. The sub- ject of this sketch, the latest representative of the old Orange family, is no exception, and the success achieved by him in life is due to his strict observance of the great moral principles so firmly engrafted on each and every generation of his family.
Mr. Canfield married Fannie T. Backus, a niece and adopted daughter of Judge Franklin T. Backus, of Cleveland, O., a direct descendant of Lieutenant William Backus, one of the original proprietors of Saybrook, Connecticut, under the grant made to Lords Say and Seal and Lord Brook.
THE BRUEN FAMILY.
Obadiah Bruen was the ancestor of all the families of this name in east New Jer- sey. He was the second son of John Bruen, Esq., of Bruen, Stapleford, Cheshire, was a descendant of Robert Le Erun, of Staple- ford, A. D. 1230, and was baptized Decem- ber 25, 1606. He came into the Plymouth jurisdiction from England with his wife,
Sarah, 1640, removed thence to Gloucester, was made freeman 1642, and selectman the following year, and represented the town at the general court, 1647-51. He removed to Pequot (New London, Connecticut), and was town clerk fifteen years; was a repre- sentative at the general court, and is named in the charter of Connecticut, 1662. He came to Newark with the Milford colon- ists, in 1666, and his name is second on the list of the subscribers to the "Fundamental Agreement." His "home lott" and resi- dence was on Market street, not far from the present Pennsylvania Railroad depot. By his wife, Sarah, he had Hannah, born 1643, who married John Baldwin, Sr .; John, born 1646; and Rebecca, widow of Thomas Post, of Norwich.
John Bruen, only son of Obadiah and Sarah Bruen, was born in Gloucester, Mass- achusetts, in 1640, and came with his father to Newark just before he reached his ma- jority. He married Esther, daughter of Deacon Richard Lawrence, one of the Branford settlers. He died before 1696. His children were: Eleazer, Joseph, John, and tradition says he had a daughter who married Joseph Baldwin.
Joseph Bruen, second child of John and Esther (Lawrence) Bruen, was born in Newark, in 1669, and died February I, 1753. He had as issue, David, Ruth, widow of Caleb Davis, and perhaps other children.
David Bruen, son of Joseph Bruen, was born in Newark, about 1700. He removed to, and was one of the original settlers of, Chatham township, Morris county, New Jersey. He married Phebe, daughter of Christopher Wood, and had as children, Joseph, Elias, Jabesh, Elizabeth and Phebe. He married, secondly, Phebe Crane, daugh- ter of Robert, son of Deacon Azariah
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Crane, and had Benjamin, Jonathan and Barnabas.
Joseph Bruen, son of David and Phebe (Wood) Bruen, was born in Chatham, Morris county, about 1730, married Matil- da Bonnell, and had Alexander, Benjamin and Ichabod.
Benjamin Bruen, son of Joseph and Ma- tilda (Bonnell) Bruen, was born in Chat- ham, New Jersey, about 1765; he married Nancy Harris, and had as issue, Isaac Har- ris, Elias Runyan, Ashbel, Jacob, Phebe, Eliza Jane, and Caroline.
Ashbel Bruen, third child of Benjamin and Nancy (Harris) Bruen, was born in Madison, Chatham township, New Jersey, in 1806, and died in 1853. He was a suc- cessful builder and contractor, and erected some of the finest dwellings, as well as pub- lic buildings and churches, in Madison and Morristown: was a man of considerable prominence and stood well with his neigh- bors. He married Mary Chandler, daugh- ter of Jonathan Chandler, a descendant of John Chandler, who settled in Elizabeth- town before 1750. The children of Ashbel and Mary (Chandler) Bruen were, Benja- min, Jane, Elizabeth, Theodore W., Caro- line Merritt, Frank and Adeline.
Theodore Wood Bruen, son of Ashbel and Mary (Chandler) Bruen, was born in Madison, Chatham township, New Jersey, October 12, 1832. He was associated with his father in building until the breaking out of the civil war. He joined Company K, Seventh Regiment, New Jersey Volunteers, and was mustered into service in Septem- ber, 1861, for three years, or the war. His regiment was attached to the Third Bri- gade, Hooker's division. His first engage- ment was at the siege of Yorktown, April and May, 1862. In the battle of Williams-
burg, May 5, 1862, while his regiment was retreating and firing. he fell forward and struck his back on a fallen tree, sustaining a serious injury to his spine which rendered him unfit for further service, and after re- maining in the hospital for some months he was discharged at Philadelphia, June 12, 1863, being totally disabled on account of a lateral curvature of the spine. Some time after his return home he removed with his family to Elizabeth, and entered the em- ploy of the New Jersey Central Railroad Company. He was a mere wreck of his former self and he finally died, in 1879, of hemorrhage, the result of his injury in the army. Though a constant sufferer he re- fused to apply for a pension, and it was not obtained until after his death. He married Caroline, daughter of Smith Maxwell Mil- ler, son of Smith Miller, born in Elizabeth, 1765, a great-grandson of William Miller, one of the settlers of Elizabethtown, 1687, admitted an "associate," 1699, and was one of the memorialists of 1700. The mother of Caroline M. Miller was Catharine Cod- dington, daughter of Benjamin Codding- ton, a captain of artillery in the war of the Revolution, who was long confined and nearly starved to death in the New York prisonhouse, living for a time on tallow candles.
The children of Theodore Wood and Caroline (Miller) Bruen were, Frederick S .. Edward Everett, Ella C. (who married Arthur C. Webb), Katie J. (who married Joseph B. Roberts), and Theodore Ashbel, who is the youngest child.
Edward Everett Bruen, son of Theodore Wood and Caroline Maxwell (Miller) Bruen, was born in Chatham, Morris coun- ty, New Jersey, June 26, 1859. He was taken by his parents to Elizabeth when he
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was but five years of age, and enjoyed the benefit of the excellent public-school sys- tem of that city. After completing his time at the machinist's trade he entered the cleri- cal department of the New Jersey Central Railroad Company, and was subsequently promoted to the general freight office, New York city, where he remained about two years, and then became private secretary to his father-in-law, Mr. Peebles, master mechanic of the Manhattan Elevated Rail- road. He continued in this capacity for four years, until May, 1855. Two years previous to this he had removed to East Orange, and in 1855 he started the first steam laundry ever attempted in the Oranges. This he left to the management of his brother while he began, in a small way at first, buying and selling real estate. He soon evinced a remarkable adaptation for this business, and distanced many of his oldest competitors whose whole life had been spent in this line of business. He opened an office on Washington Place, near Brick Church station, and confined himself mainly to buying lots, building and selling. He has been one of the most suc- cessful real-estate operators in the Oranges. He has assisted others in building and has erected a number of first-class dwellings, averaging in cost from $5,000 to $150,000 each, the result of which has been to draw a large number of first-class people to the Oranges, and has added upwards of half a million dollars to the wealth of the town- ship. He is a most indefatigable worker, and during the general depression of 1894- 5 he continued his operations without in- terruption and succeeded where others failed.
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