USA > New Jersey > Essex County > Newark > Biographical and genealogical history of the city of Newark and Essex County, New Jersey, V. 2 > Part 16
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A man of keen foresight, good judgment, with a thorough knowledge of realty values,
he seldom errs in his calculations. His uni- form courtesy and agreeable manners have made him many friends, and when solicited to become a member of the township com- mittee in 1893 he accepted the nomination and was elected by a handsome majority, and re-elected in 1895 for another term of two years. He has held the position of vice chairman and chairman of the finance committee, and still holds the latter posi- tion. A very important measure-that of tide-water sewerage-was introduced dur- ing his first term, and he gave to this his most earnest support as well as to all other measures of real improvement. He believes in an economical administration of the township government, but favors a liberal expenditure where the health of the com- munity is involved. He served the full period as private in Company A, Third Regiment, N. G. S .N. J. He has long been a member of the Masonic fraternity, having received his first knowledge of its mysteries in Corinthian Lodge, No. 488, of New York, in 1882, from which he dimitted to Union Lodge, No. II, of Orange, and later to Hope Lodge, No. 124, of East Orange.
October 16, 1881, Mr. Bruen married Jennie Aylesworth Peebles, daughter of Thomas W. Peebles, of Chester county, Pennsylvania, whose wife was Melissa Aylesworth. The children of Edward E. and Jennie Aylesworth (Peebles) Bruen are, Clarence, Edward, Edith May and Marion Anita.
JABEZ FREEMAN,
deceased, was a citizen whose worth made him greatly valued in the community where he made his home. He was born in Orange, New Jersey, and was a represent-
JABEZ FREEMAN.
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ative of the old Freeman family so long prominent in that locality. His parents were Henry B. and Harriett Bryant (Waite) Freeman, and his paternal grand- father was Jabez Freeman. He attended the public schools of Orange, pursued his studies in Schenevus, near Troy, New York, where he took an academic course. While a young man he was employed as book- keeper in New York city, and later he be- came associated with the firm of Bucking- ham & Paulson, rope and twine manufact- urers of New York city, with whom he remained until his death, one of the most trusted and reliable men connected with that house. He enjoyed the unlimited con- fidence of the firm and had the regard of all who were with him in the house. He came to his present location in 1884, pur- chasing a tract of land in Franklin town- ship, near the village of Nutley, where he made a number of excellent improvements. He was one of the organizers of the Build- ing & Loan Association of Franklin town- ship and was serving as its vice-president at the time his life labors were ended.
Mr. Freeman was a loyal and interested citizen, who gave his support to all meas- ures for the public good and was active in promoting many enterprises that resulted to the advancement and improvement of the community. He was very charitable and though not a church member gave lib- erally to church and benevolent work. He had the warm regard of all with whom he came in contact, by reason of his honorable, upright life, his consideration for the rights of others, and his genial, social manner. He was a valued member of the Masonic order, holding a membership in Excelsior Lodge, of New York, and became a charter mem- ber of Nutley Lodge, A. F. & A. M.
Mr. Freeman was married by Rev. G. W. Wenner, at No. 528 Fifth street, New York city, July 22, 1872, to Miss Mary Louise Healy, a daughter of Henry and Rose Healy. Her parents were both natives of the Emerald Isle, members of the Roman Catholic church, and her father was a baker by trade. They were the parents of three children, but two died in early life. Mrs. Freeman was left an orphan in early girl- hood and became the ward of her uncle, William Healy. She was educated in the public schools of Harlem and is a lady of culture and refinement who enjoys the friendship of a large circle of acquaintances. Mr. and Mrs. Freeman had no children of their own, but reared an adopted son, Will- iam J. Allan, who went to live with them at the age of eighteen years. He was born February 18, 1866, in New York city and at an early age was left an orphan, was edu- cated in the common schools there and learned the carpenter's trade. He holds a membership in the Improved Order of Red Men, No. 124, Chattahoochie Tribe, of Newark, and is also a member of the Frank- lin Republican Club.
THE HEALD FAMILY.
The name Heald is supposed to be of Danish origin, but is found in England through several generations. The coat ar- morial of one branch of the family, as given by Burke, is: Arms, quarterly gules and azure in the first and fourth quarters an eagle, with wings elevated or; in the second and third, a fret of the last, over all a fesse argent thereon, between two crosses pattée, a rose, of the first, barbed and seeded ppr. Crest, on a mount vert a bundle of arrows fesseways, the points toward the dexter,
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ppr. bound gules thereon an eagle, wings elevated, criminois, in the beak a sprig of oak, also ppr .; the dexter claw resting on a cross pattée as in the arms. Motto, Mea gloria crux.
John Heald, the American ancestor of the family, came from Berwick, England, and settled in Concord, Massachusetts, in 1635; made freeman, 1641. His children were John (2d) and seven other children. John (Ist) died May 24, 1662. John Heald (2d), son of John (Ist), was born in Con- cord, married Sarah Dean and had four children, of whom John (3d) was the sec- ond. John Heald (3d), son of John (2d) and Sarah (Dean) Heald, was born Septem- ber 19, 1666, died November 25, 1721. He was commonly known as "Lieutenant John." He married Mary Chandler, daugh- ter of John Chandler, and had as issue, among other children, a son named Amos. Amos Heald, son of John (3d) and Mary (Chandler) Heald, was born in Concord, Massachusetts, in 1709. He married Eliza- beth Billings, daughter of Nathaniel Bill- ings, of Concord. He had as issue, Daniel and other children.
Daniel Heald, son of Amos and Elizabeth (Billings) Heald, was born in Concord, Massachusetts, July 14, 1739. He was a man of uprightness of character, but bold and fearless in the discharge of every known duty. In 1774, during the exciting events that preceded the war of the Revolu- tion, he was deputy sheriff of Concord, and in the discharge of his official duties he posted the notice of the adjournment of the court on the court-house door. On re- ceiving notice from the committee of safety, however, he promised "not to make return on said proclamation, nor in any way be aiding or assisting in bringing on the un-
constitutional plan of government." He was looked upon with suspicion by his neigh- bors, but, as he said to them, "they would be treated simply as rebels, while any overt act on his part would be treason and he would suffer the penalty if caught." At the battle of Concord, however, while he de- clined to be enrolled, he shouldered his musket and fought side by side with the pa- triots, joining them at "The Bridge." At the battle of Bunker Hill he served in Colonel Prescott's division. He was also at Ticonderoga in the summer of 1775, and throughout the entire war his sympathies were with the struggling patriots. He was a man much respected in the community and was long a deacon in the Congrega- tional church. Some time during the war he moved to Chester, Vermont, where he died September 17, 1833, aged ninety-four years. He married Abigail Wheeler and had, among other children, a son named Amos.
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Amos Heald, son of Daniel and Abigail (Wheeler) Heald, was born in Concord, Massachusetts, November 18, 1765. He heard the "clatter of arms" and the "roar of artillery" when but a little child, and at the age of nine years he witnessed the battle of Concord. Young as he was he was a true patriot and "lived in the days that tried men's souls," and would gladly have fought side by side with his worthy sire had he been able. He was but eleven years of age when his father moved to Chester, Ver- mont, and there the lad worked the farm, and after peace was declared obtained a little schooling in the old log school-house. He was a man of marked distinction in the community and held many positions of honor and trust. He was town clerk, jus- tice of the peace, judge of the county court,
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high sheriff of the county and represented his town in the state legislature; he was also for many years a deacon in the Con- gregational church. He married Lydia Ed- wards, daughter and third child of Captain Ebenezer Edwards, of Acton. Both Eben- ezer (then nineteen years of age) and his father, Nathaniel Edwards, were with the Acton company at the battle of Concord Bridge. Young Ebenezer was also at the battle of Bunker Hill and worked on the fortifications at Dorchester Heights. He was a carpenter by trade and did military duty at the same time. The issue of the marriage of Amos Heald and Lydia Ed- wards was Amos Edwards, Anna D., Pres- cott, Persis and Daniel Addison.
Daniel Addison Heald, youngest child of Amos and Lydia (Edwards) Heald, was born at Chester, Vermont, May 4, 1818. He is one of the few living connecting links with the Revolutionary period, having heard from the lips of his father and grand- father the thrilling stories of the Revolu- tion, and he still has in his possession the sword carried by his grandfather as deputy sheriff of Concord. As a boy he attended the common school, and remained on the farm until he was sixteen years of age. He was then prepared for college at Kimberly Union Academy, Meriden, New Hamp- shire, and was graduated at Yale College in 1841. During his senior year he read law in the office of Judge Dugget, and after- ward with Judge Washburn, whose daugh- ter he married, and whose son, Peter T., afterward became governor of Vermont. Mr. Heald was admitted to the bar of his native state in May, 1843. Early in life he adopted as his motto: "The Temple of Honor has no room for those who throng her portals without forcing her gates and
leaving traces of their stay within her walls." Mr. Heald continued the practice of his profession from 1846 to 1854, and for a portion of the time he was cashier of the bank at Black River. He took an active part in politics, being identified with the Whig party, and in 1850 was elected to the lower house of the legislature of Vermont, and in 1854 represented his district in the state senate. In 1856 he practiced law for a short time in Galena, Illinois, during the residence of young Grant, later general and president of the United States. He was ad- mitted to the bar of Galena about the same time as Rawlins, who afterward became sec- retary of war.
Soon after Mr. Heald began the practice of law in his native town, he accepted the agency of the Etna and other Hartford insurance companies, and during the thir- teen years that he remained in his native state, he acquired a marked reputation as a lawyer and underwriter. In 1856 the Home Insurance Company of New York invited him to become their general agent in that city. In April, 1868, after twelve years of faithful service as general agent, he was elected second vice-president; in April, 1883, vice-president, and in 1888 he suc- ceeded Charles J. Martin (deceased) as president. When he entered the service of this company its capital was five hundred thousand dollars and its assets eight hun- dred and seventy-two thousand eight hun- dred and twenty-three dollars; in 1890 the capital had increased to three million dol- lars and the assets to nine million dollars. Mr. Heald has been prominent in the New York Board of Underwriters for many years, and the existence of the National Board of Fire Underwriters is due mainly to his efforts, having been established on
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account of the fierce competition for busi- ness and the extraordinary cutting of rates in 1866. In September, 1880, Mr. Heald delivered an address before the Fire Under- writers' Association of the Northwest on "Fire Underwriting as a Profession," set- ting forth the evils that had crept into the system, and the dangers that threatened the companies in consequence. His treat- ment of the subject evinced deep thought, and the thorough knowledge which can be acquired only by long experience.
Another speech delivered in New York, July, 1886, on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of the organization of the Na- tional Board, is said to be the most master- ful presentation of fire-insurance history and suggestions of which there is any rec- ord. His address before the same board at the twenty-fourth annual meeting, May 8, 1890, contained a clear and comprehensive statement of the condition of fire insurance throughout the United States, illustrated by carefully prepared tables, showing the aggregate business done in the several states from 1860 to 1889, and a comparison of the mode of business and results of American companies with those of foreign companies. As an insurance expert Mr. Heald has few rivals, his legal training hav- ing enabled him to meet and overcome diffi- culties that would otherwise have been in- surmountable. He is a rapid thinker and a careful, painstaking and very methodical worker. "His services to the profession of underwriting, gratuitously rendered," says an observing writer, "have justified the as- sertion that has been made, that no other fire underwriter of late years has done so much to uplift the profession or advance the real interests of fire insurance as he."
Mr. Heald's connection with the
Oranges, and more especially with Llewel- lyn Park, began in 1857, two years after Llewellyn S. Haskell conceived the idea of utilizing this beautiful tract of mountain- ous country as a park, and he has been identified with its growth and the various improvements that have been made almost from the beginning. He is the sole sur- vivor of the original projectors of this en- terprise; he has been secretary of the Board of Proprietors since 1858, and has been largely instrumental in carrying out Mr. Haskell's plan of keeping it as a park for private residences. Over four miles of macadamized roads have been made under his immediate supervision. Mr. Heald was one of the nine original members of the New England Society, of Orange, and has been one of the most active in promoting its objects. He was twice elected its presi- dent, the first time receiving a larger num- ber of votes than General George B. Mc- Clellan, who was running against him for the office. He was one of the original mem- bers of the Orange Valley Congregational church, and served six years as a member of the board of trustees. He has been iden- tified with the Orange Memorial Hospital since its organization; was for fifteen years president of the advisory board, and has been treasurer of the endowment fund since it was established.
Mr. Heald married, in 1843, Sarah Eliza- beth Washburn, daughter of Judge Reuben Washburn and a sister of Governor Peter T. Washburn, of Vermont. This family is traced back in an unbroken line to Edward III. Judge Washburn was a direct de- scendant of John Washburn, secretary of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and was previously its secretary in England. Judge Reuben Washburn, the father of Mr.
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Heald's wife, married Hannah Blaney Thatcher, daughter of Rev. Thomas Cush- ing Thatcher, who was the son of Rev. Peter Thatcher, of Brattle Street church, Boston, during the war of the Revolution. He was the son of Oxenbridge Thatcher, an immigrant lawyer of Boston, and an in- timate friend of John Hancock, Samuel Ad- ams, Paul Revere and others; distin- guished as an orator of rare ability; men- tioned by Bancroft as the "silver-tongued orator." Oxenbridge Thatcher was the son of Rev. Peter Thatcher, of Milton, who married Theodora Oxenbridge, a daugh- ter of Rev. John Oxenbridge, pastor of the First church in Boston, who came to Bos- ton from the north of England, about 1635. Rev. Peter Thatcher was the son of Rev. Thomas Thatcher, son of Rev. Peter Thatcher, rector of St. Edmund's church, Salisbury, England, who died in 1614. Five children were the issue of the marriage of Mr. Heald with Miss Washburn, one of whom died in infancy. Mary Eliza, mar- ried A. M. Burtis, of Orange; John Oxen- bridge; Charles Arthur, died at Yale Col- lege during his senior year, aged twenty- two; and Alice Washburn, who married Prof. George L. Manning, of Stevens Insti- tute.
THE MEEKER FAMILY.
The progenitor of the New Jersey branch of the Meeker family was William Meeker, who came from England about 1635 to the Massachusetts Bay, and thence removed to the New Haven colony, of which he was one of the founders. While residing there he married Sarah Preston, a native of York- shire, England. In the spring of 1665, with his family and others of the New
Haven colony (whom tradition says he brought in his own sloop), he landed on the site that became known as Elizabethtown Point, New Jersey, and was enrolled with his eldest son, Joseph, with the original "Associates," who acquired title by pur- chase of the Indians, and also by grant from Governor Nichols, for the ground, a por- tion of which now comprises the entire county of Union. Following the subse- quent appointment of Sir Philip Carteret as successor to Governor Nichols, came (in the belief of the Associates) invasions of their purchase rights, which culminated in dissatisfaction and final revolt on their part, and the flight of Governor Carteret. Chosen by the Associates, and holding a commis- sion from Governor Carteret as constable of the town, William Meeker became an active adherent of Captain James Carteret, who succeeded the absent governor. For this offense he was, in 1675, adjudged to lose his estate. The people of Elizabeth- town and Newark, appreciating his fidel- ity to their interests, presented him with a tract of land at Lyons Farms, where the old homestead of the family was erected by his son, and where he died in 1690. The children of William and Sarah (Preston) Meeker were: Joseph, Benjamin, Sarah, Mary and John.
Benjamin Meeker, second child of Will- iam and Sarah (Preston) Meeker, was born in New Haven, March, 1649. He also was of the Elizabethtown Associates. He was a planter and carpenter by occupation, and built the house known as the Meeker home- stead at Lyons Farms, about 1677. This quaint old house, one of the oldest in the state, has never been alienated from the family. The successive generations, who have been its occupants, have adhered to
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the English rather than the American prac- tice in cherishing "the old," even though homely. An enlargement, corresponding in style to the original structure, and the necessary repairs, have been made, but the main features have been preserved. Re- cently, however, the "old oaken bucket" and the still more antiquated well-sweep, after over two centuries of service, have given way to modern fixtures, and while it is not on record that the successive occu- pants dispensed with clocks, the ancient sun-dial not only indicates the meridian, but reminds the observer, in the words of David, engraven upon the stone to which it is affixed, "Our days on earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding." Benjamin had seven children: William, Benjamin, Jonathan, Daniel, Samuel, Thomas and Joseph.
William Meeker, eldest child of Benja- min and Elizabeth Meeker, was born at the homestead of his father, October 13, 1677. He married Hannah Potter and had as is- sue, Jonathan, Isaac and David. He died March .5, 1744.
Jonathan Meeker, eldest son of William and Hannah (Potter) Meeker, was born at the Meeker homestead, November 18, 1712. After his marriage he built a house on a farm given him by his father, adjoining the homestead property. His children were Johanna, Jonathan, Oba- diah, Sarah and Rebecca. He died in 1781.
Jonathan Meeker (2d), son of Jonathan and Sarah Meeker, was born at Lyons Farms, February II, 1744, and died June 10, 1805. He served with the Essex county militia in the war of the Revolution. He was twice married. By his first wife, nee Mary Ogden, he had three children,-Oba- diah, Hannah and Joel. He married, sec-
ondly, Rachel Denman. Of this marriage were born, Jonathan, Rebecca, Denman, Elly, Polly, David, Moses and Rachel.
Denman Meeker, third child of Jon- athan Meeker (2d) and Rachel (Den- man) Meeker, was born at Lyons Farms, June 10, 1781. In connection with his brother Jonathan, he estab- lished a pottery in Newark, his interest in which continued till 1814, at which time he removed to Succasunna Plains and es- tablished himself in the same business, which is still successfully run under the ownership of his son Josiah. He married Mary, daughter of John Maxwell, son of David. Thirteen children were born to them, of whom Josiah, Marcus and Edward are now living.
Edward Meeker, youngest child of Den- man and Mary (Maxwell) Meeker, was born at Succasunna Plains, Morris county, . New Jersey, September 27, 1830, and re- ceived such educational advantages as the place of his birth afforded. After serving an apprenticeship to the carpenter trade, at Newark, he, in 1853, began contracting for the erection of buildings at Newark and Orange. In 1865 he removed his business entirely to East Orange, and availing him- self of the wider opportunities offering, (for the great development of the Oranges dates from about that time), he engaged actively in the purchase and improvement of real estate, in addition to his former busi- ness of contracting. Both at Newark and in the Oranges he has constructed many public buildings, churches and private resi- dences, which will compare favorably with those of any in the limits of the two places. In 1891 he retired from active business and is now devoting himself to the care of his real-estate interests, which
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still continue to be large. In the pub- lic offices he has held that of township committeeman, school trustee, commission- er of appeals, etc. He endeavored to serve his constituents faithfully, on the basis of a wise economy in the expenditures of pub- lic moneys.
In 1854 Mr. Meeker married Emma Car- oline, daughter of Nathaniel Douglas, of Hanover, New Jersey. The children of this marriage are: Henrietta M., now Mrs. M. P. Ward; Anne Maxwell; Edward C., who married Lorena, daughter of Stephen B. Colgate; Helen Douglas, and Arthur Denman.
DAVID R. FRAZER.
Fifteen years have passed since David Ruddach Frazer accepted the pastorate of the First Presbyterian church of Newark. A man of ripe scholarship and marked abil- ity, his life has been consecrated to the cause of the Master and to the uplifting of men; and there is particular propriety in here directing attention to his life history. He has devoted himself without ceasing to the interests of humanity and to the further- ance of all good works. His reputation is extended and unblemished, and his power and influence in his holy office have been exerted in a spirit of deepest human sym- pathy and tender solicitude.
Mr. Frazer was born July 10, 1837, in Baltimore, Maryland, and is a son of Will- iam R. and Eliza J. (Armitage) Frazer, the former a merchant. On the paternal side he is of Scotch ancestry and on the mater- nal side is of English and Welsh descent. In 1853 he was graduated in the Central high school of Baltimore, Maryland, and on the completion of the regular course in
the College of New Jersey, at Princeton, he was graduated in that far-famed institu- tion, in 1861. The year of his graduation in the Union Theological Seminary of New York city was 1864. After leaving the pub- lic schools he was employed in a wholesale dry-goods house until entering upon his collegiate work. His first pastoral charge was in Clifton, Staten Island, where he oc- cupied the pulpit of the First Presbyterian church from 1865 until 1867. He then ac- cepted a call from the First Presbyterian church at Hudson, New York, where he re- mained until 1872, when he removed to Buffalo, having charge of the First Pres- byterian church in that city for eight years. From 1880 until 1883 he was engaged in pastoral labors in the Classon Avenue Pres- byterian church of Brooklyn, and then came to Newark. where he has since la- bored among the people of the First Pres- byterian church. 'As a speaker he is force- ful and eloquent, and his every utterance rings with sincerity and honest conviction. A master of rhetoric, he is enabled to pre- sent his views in such a way as to enter- tain as well as instruct his hearers, and his earnest and impassioned words reveal the deep fervor with which he is imbued in pre- senting the divine truths, which are thus made to appeal more strongly to those whom he addresses. His mind, carefully disciplined, analytical and of broad ken, his deep perception and quick and lively sym- pathy, make him a power in his field of labor. In addition to his work in Newark he is a director in the Union Theological Seminary of New York, a trustee of Prince- ton University, and vice-president of the German Theological Seminary of Bloom- field, New Jersey.
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