USA > New Jersey > Essex County > Newark > Biographical and genealogical history of the city of Newark and Essex County, New Jersey, V. 2 > Part 21
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He was one of the first men in the coun- try to advocate a department of agriculture in the general government, the head of which should be a cabinet officer, holding equal rank with the other secretaries of de- partments. He was one of the founders of the National Agricultural Society; was one of the early promoters of county and state agricultural societies, and delivered very able addresses before many of them. In July, 1851, he became associate editor of the Journal of Agriculture, an able semi- monthly paper started in Boston under the editorial charge of W. S. King, Esq., of Manton, Rhode Island. As a writer he was distinguished for terseness, united with rare simplicity of style, and he was still more remarkable for his conversational powers.
In New Jersey, whither Professor Mapes removed in 1847, he is best known as a farmer and a teacher of science as applied to agriculture. During the last twenty years of his life his energies were directed chiefly to this work.
Professor Mapes died January 10, 1866, at his residence in New York. At his death he was not quite sixty years of age.
Of the children of Professor Mapes, four are living, three daughters-Mary Mapes Dodge, the writer and the editor of the St. Nicholas magazine; Sophy Mapes Tol- les, the artist; Catherine T. Bunnell, resid- ing in San Francisco; and one son, Charles V. Mapes, familiar to the farmers of New Jersey as the originator of the "Mapes Complete Manure," and for his contribu- tions to the annual reports of the New Jer- sey State Board of Agriculture.
ISAAC A. NICHOLS
was born in Newark, New Jersey, on the 24th of February, 1828. He was a pupil in the classical school of Dr. William R. Weeks, who for so many years maintained the reputation of a learned and efficient teacher in the city of Newark. In 1846 young Nichols entered the office of Drs. Darcy and Nichols as a student, and there enjoyed more than ordinary advantages in the necessary preparation for his profession. In 1850 he received his diploma from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York, and at once began the practice of medicine as an associate with his recent pre- ceptors, whose mantle fell, in a very short time, upon his shoulders.
His rise in his profession was very rapid. In 1858 he was appointed health physician of the city, and continued to hold this po- sition until his death, November 22, 1880. In this office he was very active and effi- cient, and mainly through his instrumen- tality the Newark City Dispensary was es- tablished. When the Ward United States Hospital was located in Newark, he was intrusted with its chief management until it was placed in the charge of a surgeon of the regular army. His industry was so great
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that, notwithstanding his growing private practice, he found time to discharge his du- ties as surgeon of the New Jersey Railroad Company and as one of the staff of St. Mi- chael's Hospital. In 1873 he was elected president of the District Medical Society of Essex, which position he filled with no- ticeable dignity.
Dr. Nichols was remarkable for his devo- tion to his profession. Things not thereto appertaining engaged very little of his at- tention, though he was a genial companion and a warm-hearted friend. His widow, daughter of the late distinguished Anthony Dey, and four children survive him.
JAMES H. BROWN,
a farmer of Livingston township, and a na- tive of Newark, was born on the 9th of February, 1840, a son of William and Ann (Wykes) Brown, who were natives of Eng- land. About 1837 the father crossed the briny deep to the New World and took up his residence in Newark, where he remained until 1844, when he removed to Shorthills, and thence to Livingston township in 1858. There he purchased a farm of ninety acres, the ownership of which is easily ascertain- able. The land was first granted to Will- iam Muchmore, who sold it to Joseph Wil- son, who in turn disposed of it to Henry McIlvaine. The next owner of the place was Patrick Houston, from whom it was purchased by William Brown. The father continued the cultivation and development of his land until his death, which occurred in April, 1874, his wife passing away on the Ist of January, 1879. Their children were as follows: Joseph, who left home for the war and is supposed to have been killed in battle; Matilda; Salina; Maria; Joseph;
Mary; Naomi; Ruth; George W., who is living in Hilton; Martha, a resident of Belleville; and James H.
The last named spent much of his youth in Shorthills and attended its public schools, acquiring a good practical educa- tion to fit him for life's responsible duties. He assisted in the cultivation of the home farm and is now the owner of the place, which under his careful management and active supervision has become one of the valuable farms of the locality. He has made many excellent and substantial im- provements on the place and has all the accessories and conveniences of the model farm of the nineteenth century. His well tilled fields yield abundant harvests, and a profitable source of income to him is his stock-raising, keeping on hand good grades of horses, cattle and hogs. -
On the 28th of November, 1860, Mr. Brown was married, the lady of his choice being Miss Catherine Victoria Ayres, who was born on the 12th of October, 1840, a native of Livingston township and a daughter of Andrew (who was of Orange county, New York), and Nancy (Baldwin) Ayres, of this township. Her father died on the Ist of March, 1850, and her mother, whose birth occurred in 1798, died on the 2d of September, 1889. To Mr. and Mrs. Brown have been born the following chil- dren : Jennie L., born May 10, 1862; Anna Bell, born December 13, 1863; Grace D., born April 28, 1865; Nancy E., born April 18, 1869; Kitty M., born May 2, 1873; Emma A., born April 6, 1876; Helen L., born February 29, 1880; and Willie H., born February 27, 1882.
Mr. Brown keeps well informed on the political issues of the day, and exercises his right of franchise in support of the men
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JAMES H. BROWN
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and measures of the Republican party. He has served as a member of the township committee for three years and does all in his power to promote the growth and in- sure the success of his party. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Epis- copal church at Livingston, and are people of the highest respectability whose sterling worth has won them the confidence, good will and high regard of many friends.
EDWARD APEL.
A native of New York city, Edward Apel was born March 19, 1853, and is a son of Henry and Mary (Muecker) Apel. His ma- ternal grandparents were natives of Saxony, Germany, and after coming to America emi- grated to Kentucky, where they probably spent their last days. Henry Apel was born in the town of Bidebach in the kreis of Hirschfeld, in the province of Hessen, Ger- many, where he acquired his education and learned the trade of a tailor. In 1851 he crossed the Atlantic to New York city, where he followed his trade and conducted a successful business until his death, which occurred May 23, 1878, at the age of fifty- four years, for he was born March 16, 1824. His life was well spent and commanded the confidence and good will of all. In New York city he married Miss Muecker, and they became the parents of three children : Edward, of this sketch; Louisa, who was born March 18, 1855, and married Chris- tian Gilman, by whom she has three chil- dren-Henry, Edward and Mamie; and Henrietta, who was born October 13, 1864, and is the wife of Edward Behar, a resident of Newark, their children being Nettie, Henry. Mamie, Edward and Agnes. The mother of our subject was born August
12, 1826, and died January 10, 1884. Like her husband, she was a consistent Christian of the Protestant faith.
Edward Apel, who acquired his early ed- ucation in the public schools of Newark and under private instruction in both Ger- man and English, then learned the steam and gas fitter's trade, working as a journey- man until 1875, when he entered the em- ploy of the city, remaining in the govern- ment service for a year. He afterward fol- lowed various occupations until 1883, when he secured a situation with George Brueck- ner in the undertaking and embalming busi- ness, remaining with him until 1890, when he began business on his own account at No. 320 Springfield avenue. He has there a large establishment and is meeting with excellent success. On the Ist of Novem- ber, 1893, he opened his present office at No. 286 Springfield avenue.
Mr. Apel was married in Newark, Feb- ruary 23, 1873, to Teressa Liebhauser, who was born April 5, 1853, and was a daughter of Christopher and Margaretta (Brickner) Liebhauser. She was a consistent Christian woman, holding her religious membership in St. Marys Catholic church. She died August 2, 1895, leaving one daughter, Mamie, who was born December 18, 1875. Mr. Apel was again married May 9, 1897, his second union being with Charlotte Lang, a daughter of George and Elizabeth (Dieterle) Lang. She holds her ecclesias- tical membership in the Presbyterian church and is a most estimable lady.
Mr. Apel is prominent in several civic societies. He belongs to Oriental Lodge, No. 244, I. O. O. F .; Newark Lodge, No. 21, B. P. O. E., of Newark; Alamo Council, No. 1749, Royal Arcanum; Newark City Camp, No. 21, Fraternal Legion; and Sago
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Tribe, No. 206, Improved Order of Red Men. In politics he is a Democrat of the true Jeffersonian type.
JOHN REMER.
The family of whom the subject of this bi- ography is a member came to America orig- inally from the river Rhine, Germany, where the name was spelled Reimer. The grandfather of Mr. Remer was a soldier in the war of 1812 and a grandson of a colonel of the New Jersey volunteers in the Conti- nental army.
Jacob F. Remer, the father of John, was born at Long Hill, near Springfield, New Jersey, in 1800, and spent several years of his life in the state of New York, but about 1830 he came to Newark and near the time the city was chartered, in 1836, he em- barked in the grocery business in this place, which he conducted until the early '6os, when he engaged in the saddlery and har- ness business. He built the house in which our subject was born-the old building which is still standing next to the postof- fice in Academy street. Mr. J. F. Remer was married in New Brunswick, New Jer- sey, to Martha, daughter of Elias I. Thomp- son, a descendant of English pioneers who settled in Elizabethtown. He died in 1885, survived by his wife until 1892, when she was called to her eternal rest, at the ven- erable age of eighty-one years. Of their four sons and three daughters, our subject was the fourth in order of birth.
John Remer was born in Essex county, New Jersey, on the 18th of July, 1846, and attended school until sixteen years old, when, the needs of his country appealing to him and being imbued with the patriotic spirit that possessed his ancestors, he an-
swered the call for volunteers to assist in supporting the Union and enlisted in Com- pany B, Eleventh New Jersey Infantry, in July, 1862, and served his country faithfully and efficiently for three years. The regi- ment went from Trenton into camp at Ar- lington Heights, Washington, D. C., and from there to the vicinity of Fairfax Court House, and Fredericksburg, Virginia, sub- sequently engaging in its first battle at Chancellorsville. On account of illness Mr. Remer was detailed to duty in the medical director's office and was absent from his command until January, 1865, when he re- turned to the regiment and was immedi- ately transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps, as a detail, with which he ended his services.
He was mustered out in July, 1865, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and soon there- after was clerking for his father, who was engaged in the saddlery and hardware busi- ness in Mechanic street. In 1866 he en- tered the employ of the Morris & Essex Railroad Company as a clerk in the freight office, and such was his industry and ability that in two years he was promoted to the agency of the company at this place. The business of the road at this time, as com- pared with that of to-day, was infinitely small, consisting of only about one-sixth of the amount accomplished at the present time. The Morris & Essex line was ab- sorbed by the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad system in 1869, and Mr. Remer has been continuously in its employ since it was· chartered. He has always dis- charged the duties incumbent upon his po- sition with fidelity, circumspection and en- ergy, and has won the confidence and re- spect of all with whom he is associated. He is interested in several other business enter-
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prises, among which he is treasurer of the New Jersey Adamant Manufacturing Com- pany.
Socially he is a member of Damascus Commandery No. 5, K. T., Free and Ac- cepted Masons, and the Legion of Honor, and in religious matters he is a trustee of the First Presbyterian church, to which he renders liberal support.
ALBERT F. PIERSON.
In tracing the genealogy of the Pierson family we find that its members have been conspicuously identified with the earliest history of New Jersey, and down to the present day representatives of the name have been prominently associated with the professional and commercial interests of the state. Thomas Pierson, Sr., and his broth- er, Rev. Abraham Pierson, are the first an- cestors of whom any record can be found. In the histories concerning the settlement of Newark, published at various periods, there is mention made of Thomas Pierson, Sr., as being "a near relative, possibly a nephew or brother, of Rev. Abraham Pier- son." On page 262 of the "Branford An- nals," published by the New Haven His- torical Society, is found the following rec- ord: "November 27, 1662, Abigail Pierson, daughter of Rev. Abraham, was married to John Davenport, son of Rev. John. *
On the same day Thomas Pier- son, brother of Rev. Abraham, married Maria Harrison, daughter of Richard."
Thomas Pierson, Sr., came to Newark with the Branford settlers in 1666, and was one of the signers of the "Fundamental Agreement." In the first division of land he had for his home lot "six acres, bounded with the Common west, the High east, and
the rear of other lots, together with Benja- min Baldwin, north." This property ex- tended from what is now High street to Brick Lane. He was one of the first set- tlers, if not the first, of Watsessing, now Bloomfield. As appears by the records of 1676, "he hath another parcel of land on both sides of the Second River, containing 20 acres in length. He hath another parcel of land, containing eighteen acres, lying upon Watsessing Hill, bounded on the south by Daniel Dodd, on the north by Benjamin Baldwin, on the east by the plain, and on the west by the Brook." He also had a tract of land in Watsessing, acquired by patent from Governor Carteret, as ap- pears by the following: "Thomas Pier- son, in November, 1690, conveyed for thirteen pounds to Daniel Roonros and Jasper Nessepot, both merchants of New York, all his right, title and interest in a certain parcel of upland, con- taining 20 acres, lying by the second River; bounded east, west, north and south by land unsurveyed, according to my Patent, granted by Governor Carteret, bearing date Ioth July, 1679." In a work called "Early Roads," mention is made of a "third going over," supposed to indicate a third crossing or ford of Second river, on Thomas Pier- son's land, about 1678. That he erected a house and located in this neighborhood is shown by the fact that Thomas Pierson's "fence" below Watsessing hill is mentioned in the records as early as 1695. The busi- ness of Thomas Pierson is indicated in an item which appeared in the Newark Rec- ords of March 19, 1673: "It is also agreed that the weavers, Thomas Pierson and Ben- jamin Baldwin, shall be considered by the surveyors to make out their lots on the Hill shorter." In his will, dated 1698, the
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names of his children are given, as follows : Samuel, Thomas, Hannah, Abigail, Eliza- beth and Mary. The last named had one son, Sam Lyon.
Of this family Samuel Pierson, the eldest son of Thomas and Maria (Harrison) Pier- son, was born in Branford, Connecticut, in 1663, and was brought by his parents to Newark when but three years of age, whence he doubtless removed with the fam- ily to Watsessing some years later. It is said that he was a carpenter by trade, but he turned his attention to farming and took up a tract of land between the First and Second mountains, being one of the first settlers there. His name is first mentioned as one of the organizers of the Mountain Society. When a purchase of twenty acres of land was made for a glebe, January 13, 1719, the grant was made to Samuel Free- man, Samuel Pierson, Matthew Williams and Samuel Wheeler. Mr. Pierson was a deacon and a leading member of the new or- ganization. He died March 19, 1730, and ' was buried in the "old graveyard." He wed- ded Mary Harrison, daughter of his uncle, Sergeant Richard Harrison, and his children were: Joseph, born in 1693; Samuel, born in 1698; James, who was born in 1703 and died in 1777, leaving two sons, Moses and Daniel, the latter known as Judge Daniel; Caleb, Jemima and Mary Hannah.
Dr. William Pierson, Sr., the eldest son of Dr. Isaac and Nancy (Crane) Pierson, was born in Orange, December 4, 1796. His preparatory studies were pursued in the Orange Academy, and he was gradu- ated at the College of New Jersey, in Prince- ton, in 1816. Under the direction of his father he began the study of medicine and later attended a course of lectures in the University of Pennsylvania and at the Col-
lege of Physicians in New York. On the completion of his course of study, he was licensed to practice by the Medical Society of New Jersey, in 1820, and received from that organization his degree of M. D. Later he served as its recording secretary for thirty years and was one of its most hon- ored and able members. He was thorough- ly devoted to his profession and enjoyed a very extended patronage, covering a wide territory. Public-spirited and progressive, he manifested a deep and commendable in- terest in everything pertaining to the public welfare and largely advanced the general good by his wise counsel and efficient serv- ices. In 1837-8 he was a member of the state legislature of New Jersey, was a di- „ rector of the board of freeholders, sheriff of Essex county from 1846 to 1850, and was also prominently connected with various commercial interests which largely pro- moted the public welfare as well as ad- vanced his individual prosperity. He was instrumental in the promotion and con- struction of the Morris & Essex Railroad and was one of the incorporators of the Newark Savings Institution, serving as its vice-president for many years. He was the original promoter and became one of the incorporators of the Rose- dale Cemetery, of Orange, in 1840, and continued an active trustee until a short time before his death, when he resigned. When the town of Orange was incor- porated, he was elected its first mayor and served continuously in that office for three years. On his retirement from that position he served for three years as a member of the common council. He was very prompt and faithful in the discharge of his public duties and his name was inseparably connected with the best
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development of the county. Dr. Pierson married Miss Margaret Hillyer, a daughter of Rev. Asa Hillyer, D. D., who for many years was pastor of the First Presbyterian church of Orange. Their children were Jane Riker, Anne, William, Edward Dick- son and Margaret Riker.
Rev. Albert Pierson, the father of our subject, was the second son of Dr. Isaac Pierson, and was born in Orange, New Jersey, December 17, 1798. He acquired his preliminary education in the Orange Academy, and when fifteen years of age matriculated in the junior class of Prince- ton College, where he was graduated in 1816. He was one of four who divided the first honors of his class and was a man of scholarly tastes and attainments, who left the deep impress of his individuality upon the mental culture of Essex county. In early life he determined to engage in the practice of law, and as late as 1820 was still a student in the office of Mr. Frelinghuysen, of Newark, but soon afterward he resolved to abandon the law for the ministry, and became a teacher and theological student in
the Bloomfield Academy, of which institu- tion Dr. Amzi Armstrong was then presi- dent. In May, 1824, Mr. Pierson was ap- pointed professor of languages by the Presbyterian Education Society, and two years later was made principal of the academy. On the 7th of April, 1827, in Bloomfield, Rev. Pierson and Miss Jane Armstrong, daughter of Rev. Amzi Arm- strong, were united in marriage by the Rev. Mr. Judd, and in December of that year Rev. Pierson united, by let- ter, with the Presbyterian church of Bloom- field, having made a public profession of his faith in the Presbyterian church of Orange in 1821. He made many pleas-
ant friendships, of lifelong duration, in the years which he spent in Bloomfield. He continued his connection with the Bloom- field Academy until the spring of 1831, when he resigned and removed to Or- ange, where he was engaged in teach- ing, with brief periods of change, until near the close of his life. He was very suc- cessful in his educational work, and won the esteem of his pupils by his learning and unassuming dignity. Although a man of positive convictions in religion and poli- tics, and extremely conscientious in all the relations of life, he was liberal in his views and charitable in his judgment of others. He passed away June 10, 1864. His chil- dren were William Hugh; Frances J .; Sarah R., who became the wife of Jacob L. Hal- sey; Rev. George and Albert F.
Rev. George Pierson, another son of Dr. Isaac Pierson, was born in 1805 and died in 1880. He was a clergyman and was the first pastor of the Second Presbyterian or "Brick" church of Orange, New Jersey. He married Eliza L. Day, a daughter of Stephen D. Day, and after her death he wedded Caroline Stall. His children were Wilson G., Caroline Elliott, Stephen and Sarah Ann.
In taking up the personal history of Al- bert F. Pierson, we present to our readers the life record of one who has long been prominently and honorably connected with the business interests of Orange, and who by the faithful discharge of all the duties of public and private life, and by his support of all measures for the public good, has be- come a valued citizen of the community. During the civil war he manifested his loy- alty to his country by following the stars and stripes on the battlefields of the south, and in the days of peace the same fidelity
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to all the duties of citizenship mark his ject continued his connection with these public career.
Mr. Pierson was born in Orange, De- cember 19, 1838, his parents being the Rev. Albert and Jane (Armstrong) Pierson. He acquired his early education in the district schools and partly under the instruction of his father. At the age of seventeen he re- moved to the west, locating in Kendall county, Illinois, where he engaged in agri- cultural pursuits for several years. At the outbreak of the Rebellion he enlisted in Company K, Twentieth Illinois Infantry, under command of Colonel C. C. Marsh, but remained in the service but a short time when he was taken ill, his regiment being at that time in Missouri. Being totally un- fitted for duty, he was granted a furlough and returned to Kendall county, Illinois, where he suffered a severe illness of six months' duration. Through the mediation of some friends he was then brought to Orange and reported to the government authorities on Bedloe's island, in New York harbor, being finally discharged in Novem- ber, 1862. Mr. Pierson then returned to his home in Orange, but in June, 1863, re-enlisted, in Captain Roberts' independ- ent company, of Newark, with which he served a short time.
Again returning home Mr. Pierson en- tered upon a business career in connection with Mr. Mandeville, under the firm name of Mandeville & Company, dealers in flour and feed, with offices and store rooms in Willow Hall, Orange. In 1868 Mr. Pier- son organized the firm of A. F. Pierson & Company, and engaged in the coal and wood business, in connection with his other enterprise. In 1870 he embarked in the sale of masons' materials, as a member of the firm of Matthews & Pierson. Our sub-
various enterprises until 1872, when he withdrew from the flour and feed business and also sold his interest in the store of masons' materials, continuing, however, as the senior member of the firm of A. F. Pierson & Company in the coal business. This enterprise is a very profitable one, ow- ing to the extensive patronage which the firm receive and which has come to them as the result of their honorable dealing and their courteous and fair treatment of their customers.
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