USA > New Jersey > Essex County > Newark > Biographical and genealogical history of the city of Newark and Essex County, New Jersey, V. 2 > Part 19
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or less connected with the "American Monthly Magazine," sometimes writing all the editorial matter. In 1837, his reputa- tion as a writer of historical novels seemed fully confirmed by the appearance of "Cromwell," which was even more favor- ably received by the American public than "The Brothers."
Mr. Herbert was married in 1839 to Miss Barker, daughter of the then mayor of Bos- ton. The happy marriage seemed to make Mr. Herbert more useful and more ad- mirable in society, With a happy home a man has some chance for shining forth in his true character. So it was with Mr. Her- bert.
In 1840, the year his son was born, Her- bert extended his literary and poetical con- tributions to the papers more freely than ever. It was at this interesting period when the name of "Frank Forrester" came from Mr. Herbert's Jove-like brain, and the world has consented to receive "Frank For- rester" with all the honors, regardless of title or nation. The name "Frank Forrest- er" soon became famous by creating him a spirited controversary in the "American Turf Register," while the able records fur- nished by "Cyphers, Jr .; " and "Warwick Woodlands" caused a general desire for "a few more of the same sort." While thus engaged in producing some of the finest novels of his day, he found time to con- tribute many a good fugitive to the "Knick- erbocker Magazine," "Graham's Maga- zine" and several other periodicals. One of the articles Mr. Herbert furnished to Graham in 1841 was the "Roman Bride," a beautiful story. Another of the articles sent to Graham in 1841 was "The Mar- riage of Achilles," which attracted general attention.
Mr. and Mrs. Herbert shortly after mar- riage removed from the Carlton House, in New York, to the Park House in Newark, New Jersey. In 1846 Mrs. Herbert died, while at the latter place. Their son was sent to England, where he pursued his edu- cation.
In February, 1858, Henry William Her- bert married Adela R. Budlong.
Owing to unfortunate family relations Mr. Herbert became melancholy, and on the 17th of May, 1858, put an end to his own life. He is buried in Mount Pleasant cemetery, Newark, New Jersey.
FREDERIC W. WARD,
a prominent and successful legal practi- tioner of Newark, was born in Rahway, Union county, New Jersey, on the 30th of January, 1858, his parents being Samuel D. and Rebecca M. (Miller) Ward. In an early day in the history of New Jersey, three brothers by the name of Ward moved from Connecticut to New Jersey, one of them settling in Newark, one in North Jersey, and the third in Hanover, Morris county, from the last of whom the father of our subject descended. Samuel D. was for many years a resident of Rahway, where he engaged in the manufacture of carriages until his death, which occurred in 1882. The paternal grandmother's maiden name was Dodd and she belonged to the Bloom- field, New Jersey, Dodds. Mrs. Ward was born in Westfield, New Jersey, and was a daughter of Isaac Miller, a member of one of the oldest and best known families of Elizabeth, who resided in Newark for over forty years. Mrs. Ward survived her hus- band about twelve years.
Frederic W. Ward was reared in the city
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FREDERIC W. WARD.
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of his nativity, and after a preliminary train- ing in the public schools he completed his literary education in the Rahway Academy. In 1875 he entered the law office of Hon. F. W. Stevens, now vice-chancellor, and under that gentleman's able tuition he be- gan to read law, being admitted to the bar as an attorney at law in 1879, and as a coun- selor at law in 1882. Upon engaging in the practice of his profession Mr. Ward formed a partnership with his former pre- ceptor and the firm of Stevens & Ward was continued until 1891, when the latter took up the practice alone, and since then has rapidly risen in his chosen calling, being recognized to-day as one of the most tal- ented lawyers in the state. He enjoys a large and lucrative patronage, and for a number of years he has been counsel for the United States Industrial Insurance Company, is now the executor for the ex- tensive estate of the late William M. Force, and is also executor for several other im- portant estates. His integrity of character has gained for him the confidence of the public and he has a reputation for fidelity and sincerity in all his endeavors. He is in every respect a self-made man, and his success and prosperity in life have been ac- complished by his individual efforts.
In 1888 Mr. Ward was united in mar- riage to Miss Jessie O. Peck, a daughter of James Peck, of East Orange, and they have had three children.
ORLANDO WILLIAMS.
The first representatives of the Williams family in New Jersey were Samuel, Amos and Matthew Williams, who were among the pioneers of Newark, and it is from the first named that our subject is descended. He was the father of Jonathan Williams,
who married a Miss Squire. They became the parents of Nathan Williams, the grand- father of our subject. He married Catha- rine Wade, and to them were born the fol- lowing children : Abigail, who married Jo- seph Dobbins; Electa, wife of Henry Beach; Albert, a graduate of Princeton Col- lege, who went to California in 1849 and became a distinguished preacher on the Pacific coast, but died in West Orange, New Jersey; Henry W .; Henrietta Mul- ford, who became the wife of Dr. J. C. Bar- ron; and Albert.
The parents of our subject were Jonathan S. and Phoebe (Perry) Williams. The fath- er was born on the old homestead, was reared to farm life, and in his early years also learned the hatter's trade and engaged in the manufacture of hats for many years. He married Phoebe Perry, a daughter of William S. Perry, who was born on the old Perry homestead, on what is now Prospect avenue, West Orange, but was then known
as Perry Lane. He was a son of Samuel Perry, who was of English descent and was one of the first settlers of Newark, where he reared a number of children, including the grandfather of our subject. William S. Perry, who served throughout the Revolu- tionary war. He followed agricultural pur- suits and also engaged extensively in tlie manufacture of cider .- a popular industry at that day,-conducting a store in New York city for the sale of this product. He married Miss Kent and they became the parents of the following named: Abbie, who became the wife of Zebulon Condit: Jotham, who married Margaret Morris: Jacob, who married Emma Brundage: Sarah, wife of John Garrison; Achsah, wife of Prosper Warner: and Charlotte, wife of Lemuel Baldwin.
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After his marriage Jonathan S. Williams located on the old homestead which his father had settled and which is now the home of our subject. He rebuilt the house, made many excellent improvements and be- came the owner of a large landed estate in addition to the homestead. The land com- prising the latter has always been in posses- sion of the family since it was first located by a Williams. For many years the father of our subject filled the office of justice of the peace and was a member of the town- ship committee, while for about forty-three years he was an elder in the old Presby- terian church of Orange. His family num- bered the following: Samuel A., who died in 1894, at the age of seventy years; Cath- erine R., wife of Albert Condit; William N .; Orlando; Albert, who died at the age of fifty-nine; J. E .; and Sarah A., wife of Herman Woodruff.
At the ancestral home of the Williams family, on the 30th of October, 1831, Or- lando Williams first opened his eyes to the light of day, and the farm whereon his boy- hood days were passed has also been the scene of his manhood labors. He was edu- cated in the public schools and has always followed agricultural pursuits. His labors have been well directed as the result of his judicious management, enterprise and in- dustry, and he has now a valuable property, a very pleasant home and is surrounded with the comforts that go to make life worth the living.
In April, 1871, Mr. Williams was united in marriage to Miss Hannah Condit, a daughter of a Ira H. Condit, of Roseland, and their union is graced with one daugh- ter. Marie Antoinette. Mrs. Williams and her daughter are members of the St. Cloud Presbyterian church, and the family is
widely and favorably known. Mr. Williams has served as a member of the township committee and is accounted one of the val- ued citizens of the community.
MATTHEW T. GAY
was born in Newark, November 15, 1845, and educated in the common-schools, leav- ing the public high school at the age of six- teen to enter the employ of the Newark Daily Mercury. After working for about one year in the office, and later in the com- posing room, in February, 1863, he secured a position with N. F. Blanchard & Brother. manufacturers of patent leather, on Bruen, Hamilton and Mc Whorter streets. In 1869 this firm was changed by the admission of P. Van Zandt Lane to Blanchard Brothers & Lane; and in 1887, when the concern was merged into a corporation, retaining the same name, Mr. Gay was elected treas- urer of the company. On the death of Mr. Lane, in 1894, he was elected president, which position he still retains. In the thirty-six years he has been connected with this establishment it has grown to be one of the largest of the kind in the country, its trade extending to all parts of the United States, Europe, Australia and South America. That in a marked degree he had the confidence of those with whom he was first associated is shown by the fact of his being an executor of the estate of Noah F. Blanchard and administrator of Samuel F. Blanchard, the former of whom died in 1881 and the latter in 1889.
In 1867 Mr. Gay married Miss Joanna M. Beach, a daughter of Joseph Beach, of Rahway, New Jersey, and to them were born two children. Alice W., the elder, who was born May 21, 1869, and was edu-
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cated in the State Normal School, of Tren- Empire state. His children were William ton, New Jersey, married Harry T. Craw- ford, of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and has two children,-Elsie Beach and Har- old Gay. Joseph H., who was born May II, 1873, is now engaged with his father in business. The mother died April 11, 1877, and Mr. Gay was again married, in 1879, to Miss Elizabeth Eversoll, daughter of Abra- ham Eversoll, of Hunterdon county. They have one son, Herbert S., who was born August 20, 1881, and is a student in Cayuga Lake Military Academy, of Aurora, New York.
In the year 1873 Mr. Gay took up his residence in Rahway, New Jersey, and later served for three years as a member of the common council there, and as a member of the board of water commissioners. Since 1892 he has resided in Newark, having a very pleasant home at No. 47 Lincoln ave- nue. He is now serving as a member of the board of health of this city, and in his po- litical views is a Republican. Socially he is connected with St. John's Lodge, F. & A. M., of Newark, also with the commandery of Knights Templar, and Mecca Temple of the same order. He is also a member of the Essex Club and is a director in the Newark City National Bank.
WILLIAM LEWIS SCOTT,
assistant superintendent of the Newark City Home, was born in the village of Greene, Chenango county, New York, May 24, 1829, and is a son of G. V. and Abigail (Williamson) Scott. His father was a na- tive of Connecticut, and his mother of Westchester county, New York. The former became a well-to-do farmer and spent his last days in Broome county, of the
L., Thomas, M. W. and Alvah. On both the paternal and the maternal sides the ancestry can be traced back to colonial days. The grandfather, Mark Scott, was a descendant of one of the early families of Connecticut, while Garrett Williamson was a pioneer of Westchester county, New York. Both were supporters of the Whig party, and their descendants became advo- cates of Republican principles.
In the county of his nativity William L. Scott was reared to manhood and attended the public schools until fifteen years of age. He afterward pursued his studies in the schools of Broome county, and was a stu- dent in Binghamton Seminary. Early in life he turned his attention to educational work and began teaching in the district schools of the Empire state, where he soon demonstrated his ability to impart readily and clearly to others the knowledge that he had acquired. In 1859 he came to New Jersey, and locating in Verona, Essex county, was numbered among its successful teachers for a period of ten years. He then embarked in merchandizing, which he followed for almost a decade, when in 1879 he was appointed assistant superintendent of the Newark City Home, which position he has since acceptably and creditably filled. He is a man of broad humanitarian principles, and his deep interest in others makes him especially fitted for his work. In 1869 he was appointed postmaster at Verona, the office then paying the round sum of twenty-eight dollars a year! But under Mr. Scott's management the revenue was greatly increased, and in 1878 it had reached four hundred dollars.
Mr. Scott was married in Colesville, Chenango county, New York, to Miss
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Martha M. Watrous, and they have one daughter, Miss Carrie A. Scott, who has taught successfully for several years.
Mr. Scott has made a deep study of the political situation and issues of the country and is a stanch advocate of Re- publican principles. He was one of the first Republican committeemen ever elected in Caldwell township, and is now township assessor of Verona township, formerly a part of Caldwell township. He holds a membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, in which for many years he has been steward, and also belongs to the Ma- sonic fraternity, his membership being in Caldwell Lodge, No. 59, F. & A. M. He is a worthy representative of this benevolent order, with its all-embracing creed of the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man, and in every relation of life he com- mands the respect and confidence of those whom he meets.
JEREMIAH A. CROSS
was born in Sharon, Schoharie county. New York, where he grew up to manhood, and where, at the age of sixteen, in conse- quence of the death of his father, he was thrown upon his own resources. His am- bition was to acquire an education and to fit himself for one of the learned profes- sions. To this end, under very adverse cir- cumstances, he obtained such an educa- tion as could be had in the district schools of the county, over one of which, in time, he was appointed to the mastership, and then, as is usually the case, learned ten times faster and ten times as much as when a pupil. The profession of law was his first choice, but this he soon abandoned, with the determination to devote himself to
the study and practice of medicine. With this in view he removed from the state of New York and fixed his residence in Frank- lin, Essex county, New Jersey, where, as a student, he entered the office of Dr. S. Daily. In 1854 he attended a course of medical lectures in the University of Michi- gan, and the next year attended another course in the Albany Medical College, where he was graduated in the spring of 1856. In August of the same year he estab- lished himself in practice in Newark, New Jersey, where he continued to reside till the end of his life, March 30, 1881.
Dr. Cross was one of the physicians and surgeons of Essex county who rendered es- sential service to the country during the war of the Rebellion. In 1862 he, with a small body of surgeons, volunteered to take care of the wounded New Jersey soldiers at the siege of Yorktown. During his ab- sence on this service the Ward United States Army Hospital was established in Newark, and on his return he was attached to it as acting assistant surgeon, which po- sition he held until December, 1863, when he accepted the post of surgeon to the board of enrollment of the fifth congres- sional district of New Jersey. Here he re- mained until the close of the war, and then resumed his private practice. In 1870 he was appointed one of the staff of St. Michael's Hospital, in the city of Newark, and during the same year became physi- cian for the Essex County Home for the Insane, with which latter institution he re- mained connected till his death. As a mem- ber of the Essex County Medical Society he was active in all that concerned the in- terests of his profession, and as a citizen he was prominent and influential whenever and wherever an earnest and leading spirit
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was needed in the conduct of public affairs. By reason of his genial nature, his kindly disposition, and honest dealing, Dr. Cross made many warm friends, and his death was lamented throughout the whole com- munity.
OLIVER S. HALSTED,
the first chancellor of New Jersey appoint- ed under the constitution of 1844, was born at Elizabeth, New Jersey, in 1792, and, after receiving a good preparatory educa- tion, entered the College of New Jersey, at Princeton, where he was graduated in 1810, receiving, in course, his degree of A. M. In 1814 he was admitted to the bar, and set- tling in Newark continued the practice of his profession until near the close of his life, with the exception of seven years, when he held the office of chancellor. In 1836 Mr. Halsted was recorder of the city of Newark, in 1840 held the office of mayor, in 1827 was a member of the general assem- bly, in 1834 a member of the state council, and was at one time surrogate of the county of Essex.
On the expiration of the gubernatorial term of Daniel Haines, who was the last governor and chancellor under the consti- tution of 1776, Mr. Halsted received from Governor Stratton the nomination for chancellor and the same was confirmed by the senate, February 5, 1845. He held his office until 1852, when he resumed the prac- tice of his profession. Chancellor Halsted was a man of much learning, and in his lat- ter years a great student of the Bible. In 1875, two years before his death and at the age of eighty-three, he published "The Book Called Job," being a literal translation from the Hebrew. It is accompanied with
copious notes, which show a vast amount of study and research. He was also the author of a work entitled "The Theology of the Bible." Chancellor Halsted died August 29, 1877.
OLIVER S. HALSTED, JR.,
son of the late Chancellor Halsted, was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, in 1818, and was graduated at the College of New Jersey in 1838. He entered soon after, as a stu- dent at law, the office of his distinguished father, and in 1841, having been admitted to the bar, began the practice of his profes- sion in Newark, New Jersey. He met with great success as a practitioner, and acquired considerable reputation as a fearless and eloquent speaker.
In 1849 he went to California, and there commenced the practice of law, but after an absence of about one year he returned to his former home. When the war for the Union broke out, in 1861, he relinquished his practice in Newark, and located in Washington, where he remained till the close of the year 1865. During all this time he was actively engaged in the cause of the Union, and is said to have rendered many and important services to the government and to the country. Some months after the close of the war he returned to Newark and resumed the practice of his profession, in which he remained until the time of his death, which occurred July 2, 1871.
ERNEST F. KEER
was born in the city of Newark, on the Ist of November, 1870. His parents, Julius and Josephine (Sautermeister) Keer, both natives of Germany, were married in New-
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ark, after having resided in the city some years. Julius Keer was for twenty-five years employed by the Joseph Hensler Brewing Company, and previous to that conducted a brewery for himself, in this city. The mother of our subject was a sis- ter of Ferdinand Sautermeister, deceased, a long resident citizen of Newark. She died in 1895, leaving four children.
Mr. Keer, our subject, has spent his en- tire life in Newark. The public and the German schools of the city afforded him his preliminary educational privilege and his collegiate course was pursued in the Uni- versity of the City of New York, in which institution he was graduated in 1892 with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. The fol- lowing year he was admitted to the New Jersey bar as an attorney at law, and in 1896 as a counselor at law. For five years he has been actively engaged in practice here. His success in a professional way affords the best evidence of his capabilities in this line. His knowledge of the law is accurate and comprehensive, and the success he has won is the result of earnest effort, without which there is no advancement in this most exact- ing of all the professions.
In his political views Mr. Keer is a Dem- ocrat and is well informed on the issues of the day, thus giving to his party an intelli- gent and effective support. His genial manner and courteous disposition make him a popular favorite.
ASA WHITEHEAD,
one of the prominent lawyers and public- spirited citizens of Newark, was a native of Essex county, where he was born in 1793, and there spent the early years of his life upon a farm owned and occupied by his
father, Silas Whitehead. Subsequently he took up the study of law in the office of Hon. Theodore Frelinghuysen, at Newark, and in 1818 was admitted to the bar. His father, who at that time was clerk of the county of Essex, died the following year, and the son was commissioned by the gov- ernor to fill the vacancy. At the meeting of the legislature in 1819 he was regularly appointed clerk, and, being reappointed in 1824, such was his popularity that he was the incumbent of that position for the fol- lowing ten years. Upon retiring from the clerkship, he devoted his entire time and energies to the active practice of his pro- fession, and his superior ability being quick- ly recognized he soon took rank as a ju- dicious counselor and a wise advocate.
William Silas Whitehead, son of Hon. Asa Whitehead, was born in Newark, New Jersey, on the 3d of March, 1829, and after completing his preliminary literary studies he entered the College of New Jersey, at Princeton, and was graduated at that insti- tution in. 1847. He continued his legal studies in the office of his father, and was admitted to the bar in 1850, immediately after which he began the active work of practice in Newark, and met with distinct success in that line of endeavor. In 1872 he formed a professional partnership with Albert P. Condit under the firm name of Whitehead & Condit, and this association. has been continued with a high degree of success. In his political faith Mr. White- head is a stanch Republican, and in 1859 he was elected surrogate of Essex county, holding that office for a period of five years, and he is regarded as a lawyer of pro- found and extensive learning, his reputation extending throughout the state of New Jer- sey. For many years he has been prom-
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inently affiliated with the Masonic frater- nity and for several terms he was grand master of the state.
WILLIAM WHITNEY AMES,
one of the younger members of the New Jersey bar, was born in Rockville, Con- necticut, on the 30th day of July, 1866. His ancestors, both paternal and maternal, were among the earliest settlers in New Eng- land, of pure English and Scotch blood, and there were in the Ames family several distinguished lawyers in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Mr. Ames' father. Charles Fisher Ames, was born in Rhode Island, and has spent his whole life in the manu- facture of cotton goods. In March, 1865, he married Ellen L. Goodell, an older sis- ter of Edwin B. Goodell, now of Mont- clair.
William W. Ames spent his childhood and youth in his native city and acquired his early education in its public schools. He graduated in the high school of that place in 1883, and during the next year worked in the factories of Rockville, as a clerk, and as a woolen weaver. He also spent one year in teaching a public school. In the autumn of 1885 he entered Yale College, and immediately after his gradu- ation, in 1889, came to Montclair, New Jer- sey, where he entered the law office of Edwin B. Goodell. In 1892 he was ad- mitted to the bar and immediately entered upon the practice of his profession.
In 1892 Mr. Ames was united in mar- riage to Miss Hattie O. Hunt, of Hartford, Connecticut, a daughter of Milo Hunt. She is a graduate of the high school of Hartford, and is a lady of natural culture and refine- ment, who presides with grace over their
hospitable home. They have two children, a daughter, born in 1895, and a son in 1897.
In his political views Mr. Ames is inde- pendent, giving his support to the candi- dates who, in his judgment, are best quali- fied for office, without regard to party ties. Since 1896 he has filled the office of record- er for the town of Montclair. He is a popular and valued member of the Mont- clair and Athletic Clubs, and is a genial, pleasant gentleman, having a host of warm friends in the community.
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