USA > New Jersey > Essex County > Newark > Biographical and genealogical history of the city of Newark and Essex County, New Jersey, V. 2 > Part 23
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Being a man of social and genial nature, he, in 1852, organized and thoroughly equipped the first military company in Newark, known as the Montomery Guards. On being elected captain of the company, and being well acquainted with military tactics, it was not long before the Montomery Guards were known as the pride of Newark. During the reign of the Montomery Guards, and previous to the breaking out of the Rebellion, there were several local organizations, known respect- ively as the American Continentals, the American Guards and the Irish Volunteers, all of whom volunteered their services to the government on the breaking out of hos- tilities, amongst the first to offer their ser- vice being the Montomery Guards; but at that time they were to all intents and pur- poses to be mustered into the First Regi- ment of New Jersey. Through some unfore- seen circumstances (or the will of the pow- ers that were) the Guards, on presenting themselves to the official of Newark, were
ordered to be mustered in under another command, with no appointment for Captain Toler. The Montomery Guards to a man refused to join any regiment in which their organizer and captain was not given the right of position to which he was entitled, being the senior officer from Newark, and having, from past competitive drills with dif- ferent military organizations in New York and vicinity, shown his ability as a com- manding officer. The ramification of this was afterward shown, when the Montom- ery Guards enlisted under Sickles' brigade and mustered in as Company A of the Seventy-first New York Volunteers, Cap- tain Toler then being appointed drill-mas- ter for the regiment. Here in this position he showed his ability as a commanding officer, a rank which his own state denied him.
He served through the memorable battles of Dumfries, Yorktown, Williams- burg, Seven Pines, Fair Oaks, and both battles of Malvern Hill. After the battle of Fair Oaks he received his commission as major of the Seventy-first Regiment, and for the next two years saw service through every battle participated in by Sickles' bri- gade. After the two years' service he was compelled to return to his home an invalid, honorably discharged with the rank of colonel. To the older generation and his personal acquaintances he was always known as "Major." Honored and respect- ed by all, he passed to his eternal rest April 14, 1896, aged eighty-one years, life's work having been well and faithfully performed.
Mr. Toler was regarded as a sagacious and practical business man, just and honor- able in all his transactions, and his close attention to his interests, his careful man- agement and sound judgment brought to
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him a most gratifying success. He was al- ways deeply interested in all matters re- lating to the general welfare and the public good, and withheld his support from no movement calculated to advance the educa- tional, moral or material interests of the community. Politically he was an ardent Democrat of the true Jeffersonian type and served for one term as street commissioner of Newark by appointment of the mayor. He was a liberal contributor to church and charitable enterprises, and was a devout Catholic in religious faith, a communicant of St. Patrick's cathedral of Newark.
He was married in Newark to Eliza Den- man, a daughter of Joseph Denman, a rep- resentative of one of the old New England families. To them were born the following children: Francis J., who died January 5, 1873, leaving a wife and one daughter, Ella; Martha, wife of Francis Young, by whom she has four children,-Annie, Clara, Fran- cis and Vivian; Charles H .; and Mary, wife of Frank Price.
Charles H. Toler, the third of the family, was born August 13, 1843, and was edu- cated in the public schools of Newark. At the age of sixteen he learned the founder's trade with his father and on attaining his majority became interested with his father in the manufacturing business. In 1894 the firm was incorporated under the name of John Toler, Sons & Company, with the father as president and Henry J. Ill as secre- tary and treasurer. After the death of the father, Charles H. Toler succeeded to the presidency of the company and is now man- aging the affairs of the company with marked success and excellent business and executive ability. Their trade is steadily increasing and the enterprise is one of the important concerns of the county, giving
employment to a large force of operatives.
Charles H. Toler was married March 26, 1865, to Miss Mary Ackerson, and they have four children,-John, Mary, Freder- ick and William.
JOSEPH FEWSMITH, JR.,
was born at Auburn, New York, January 31, 1851. His preparatory education was received at Phillips Academy, Andover, and in 1871 he was graduated at Yale Col- lege. Having spent two years in prelim- inary study, he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York, and there received his degree of M. D. in 1874. Soon after graduating he became house surgeon in Roosevelt Hospital, New York, a position which he occupied for some time, and then went to the city of Vienna, Aus- tria, where he entered the General Hos- pital as a student and assistant. Return- ing, he established himself as a practitioner in Newark, New Jersey, where, in addition to his private practice, he has been physi- cian at the City Dispensary, St. Michael's Hospital and St. Barnabas Hospital, and was for some time a medical examiner for the Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Com- pany and the Royal Arcanum.
A. H. OSBORNE.
"History is the essence of innumerable biographies," said Carlyle, and the annals of Essex county are formed of the lives of those who have been prominent factors in her educational, moral, political, military and business interests. For twenty-three years Mr. Osborne has carried on the drug business at No. 193 Main street, of Belle- ville, and is one of the enterprising, re-
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liable and respected merchants of the town. He was born there July 23, 1851, and be- longs to one of the oldest families in this section of New Jersey. His father was Henry Osborne, and his mother was Cath- erine Osborne, a daughter of Abraham P. Sanford and a descendant of one of the pioneer families of the county, of Holland origin. The first of the name to locate here received by grant a large tract of land, which extended from Newark bay to Hack- ensack, on the east bank of the Passaic, and many of his descendants have been exten- sive land-owners.
Henry Osborne was a shoemaker by trade and followed that business in pursuit of fortune for a long period. Prominent in the affairs of the community he served as tax collector of Belleville for fifteen years and was very widely and favorably known. He died in 1892, and his wife passed away in 1884. They were the parents of five chil- dren, namely: Moses and Adelaide, now deceased; Joseph H., of Belleville, who occupies the important position of super- intendent in the works of Heath & Drake, of Newark: Eugene, deceased; and A. H.
No event of special importance occurred during the childhood and youth of Mr. Os- borne, who was reared in Belleville, and in 1867 began to learn the drug business in the store of I. W. Ketcham. In 1875 he began business on his own account at his present location, where he has remained for twenty-three years. He carries a large stock of goods and has a well equipped store which enables him to readily supply the wishes of his many patrons. He is also a partner in the firm of W. E. Sanford & Company, proprietors of a general market in Belleville.
Mr. Osborne was joined in wedlock with
Miss Mary E. Dickinson, of Belleville. So- cially he is connected with the Knights of Honor, the Royal Arcanum, and the League of American Wheelmen. In poli- tics he is a Democrat, and has been hon- ored with a number of local offices of pub- lic trust. In 1879 he was elected a member of the township committee, served as its chairman for two years, has been township tax collector since 1888, and has served four or five terms as fire commissioner. He takes a very active interest in politics, has been a member of the Democratic county committee, and is a capable worker in the behalf of Democracy. His well spent life commends him to the confidence and esteem of all with whom he has been brought in contact, and his reputation in business, political and private life is alike unassailable.
HORACE ALLING
has stood forth as a central figure in the business life of Newark for half a century, and to his discretion, foresight and superior ability is due the splendid success that has crowned his efforts. No honors of a polit- ical or public nature has he sought, but his example is probably of more benefit to the majority of mankind than that of heroes, statesmen and writers. In addition to his business interests his energies have long been devoted to the furtherance of many enterprises which have for their object the uplifting of man and the promulgation of higher standards among humanity. Honorable in business, loyal in citizenship, charitable in thought, kindly in action, true to every trust confided to his care, his life is the highest type of Christian manhood.
Born in Newark, New Jersey. on the
-
Horace Alling.
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24th of September, 1822, Mr. Alling is a son of David and Eunice (Roberts) Alling, and a lineal descendant of Roger Alling, a member of the band of Puritans, and one of the original proprietors of New Haven, Connecticut. He was also a signer of the compact of 1639, and took an active part in the establishment and affairs of the colony with which he was identified. His son re- moved to Newark in the second deporta- tion from New Haven, about 1670, and thus the family was founded in Essex county, where its representatives soon took a leading part in the development and progress of the county. Since that time the Allings have been numbered among the best citizens, and in the quieter walks of life the subject of this review has pro- moted the material and moral welfare of the county, in a manner most commend- able and worthy ..
Mr. Alling is now the only survivor of a family that once numbered five sons and one daughter. His education was thor- ough and systematic, being obtained in the Newark Academy and other preparatory schools. It was his intention to pursue a collegiate course, but ill health prevented him from executing this purpose, and at the age of sixteen he entered upon his busi- ness career as a clerk in a dry-goods store. After a short time, however, he left that employ and entered upon an apprenticeship at the jeweler's trade under the direction of his brothers, Isaac A. and Joseph C. Al- ling, well known jewelers of Newark. His service began in June, 1841, and continued for nine years. He gained a thorough and comprehensive knowledge of the business, and in 1850 entered into partnership with his brothers under the firm name of Alling Brothers. For thirty-five years he was
connected with the jewelry trade, and the establishment with which he was con- nected was one of the most popular, ex- tensive and thoroughly equipped in their line in the city. Their patronage was ex- tensive and they did a very profitable and satisfactory business.
Mr. Alling did not confine his attention alone to one enterprise, having been long connected with some of the most impor- tant financial institutions of Newark. He was one of the original board of directors of the Prudential Insurance Company of America and is now its treasurer. He is also a director of the Newark Firemen's Insurance Company and has been invited to join the directorate of a number of bank- ing institutions, but has always declined, feeling that his duty lay in other directions. His business methods have ever been most honorable and his dealings will bear the most scrutinizing investigation. His trust- worthiness has undoubtedly been one of the most important factors in its success, and, combined with his excellent executive abil- ity and sound judgment, has brought him the prosperity which is the laudable goal of all business ventures.
In his home life Mr. Alling is ever cour- teous, considerate and hospitable. In early manhood he was married, May 31, 1848, to Miss Julia Etta Ball, of Newark, who traces her genealogy to Milford, Connecticut. where the first of the name settled about 1667. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Alling, of whom two, H. Fred- erick and Clarence W., now survive.
In politics Mr. Alling is a stanch Repub- lican. He has been a lifelong follower of the Christian religion, having become a member of the Third Presbyterian churchi of Newark, in 1838, while since 1868 he
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has faithfully served as elder therein, and for several years a member of the board of trustees. His energies, money and coun- sel have been given freely for the upbuild- ing of the cause, and his work in this direc- tion has not been without excellent results. He is a life director of the American Sun- day-school Union, a life member of the American Tract and Bible Societies, and a member and treasurer of the board of man- agers of the Children's Aid Society and So- ciety for the Prevention of Cruelty to Chil- dren, organized in 1868. He is also a trus- tee of the Newark Academy, and a life member and director of both the New Jer- sey Historical Society and the Washington Association of New Jersey. His interest in all matters pertaining to the intellectual and moral welfare of his native county is marked and deep, and his influence has led many others to support such enterprises.
THE NEWARK EVENING NEWS.
This journal was first published on the Ist of September, 1883. A short time pre- viously the Evening News Publishing Com- pany was organized, with Wallace M. Scud- der as president and treasurer and Henry Abbott Steel as secretary. The business was incorporated for the purpose of pub- lishing the above named journal, which each evening has heralded the news of the world to the citizens of Newark and vicin- ity. The enterprise has been a successful one, and the News has continuously main- tained its place among the leading journals of New Jersey. Its office and printing house were first located at No. 844 Broad street, and on the Ist of January, 1894, were removed to the present quarters at No. 215 Market street. From the time of
its first publication to the present, Wallace M. Scudder has been the publisher and business manager, and Henry Abbott Steel has been the editor. Both are reliable and prominent business men, and under their able control the paper has reached a large circulation and has met with a merited pros- perity.
THE MUNN FAMILY.
The origin of the name of Munn is not definitely known, but it is doubtless of great antiquity, as shown in the armorial bearings of the English branch of the family, viz. : Arms .- Per chevron sable and or, in chief three bezants and in base a castle triple- towered of the first. Crest .- A dexter arm in armor, holding a lion's paw erased ppr. Motto .- "Omnia vincit veritas"-truth conquers all things.
Benjamin Mun, the American ancestor of this branch of the Munn family, was, in 1637, a resident of Hartford, Connecticut, but he removed to Springfield, Massachu- setts, in the same year. He joined John Mason's company in an expedition against the Pequots in 1637, and was at the attack on the fort at Groton, Connecticut, where several hundred Indians were slain. This expedition followed an attack made by the Indians upon Wethersfield, where many settlers were killed. In May, 1637, Mason set out with his followers and was joined by Uncas, chief of the Mohegans. The Pe- quot fort was a formidable affair, but it was surprised, stormed and carried by assault, with terrible destruction of the natives, who never recovered from the blow inflicted. The remnant of the tribe was nearly anni- hilated not long afterward in the swamp lands near Fairfield. Mason's company con-
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sisted of only seventy-seven Englishmen, while the savages numbered about ten times that number. As they were strongly en- trenched behind almost impassable pali- sades, the Mohegan and Narragansett In- dians that had joined the expedition de- serted before the assault took place. Upon his return he received, with others, by "the town's courtessie," in 1639, a grant of land on the east side of the "cow-pasture lane," now known as North Main street. He was the official "viewer of chimneys and ladders" in Springfield, the duties of which referred to precautionary measures to pre- vent fires originating in the thatched roofs then universally used. In 1653 he was fined the sum of five shillings "for taking tobacco in his hay-cock." He married April 12, 1649, Abigail, daughter of Henry Burt, widow of Francis Ball, and took up his res- idence where now is located Court Square and the Chicopee Bank building. The chil- dren of this union were: Abigail, borne ye 28 of ye 4 mon, 1650; John, borne ye 8 day of 12 mon, 1652; Mary, who married Na- thaniel Wheeler; Benjamin, borne the first day of ye I mon, 1655; James, bornethe 10th day of 12 mon, 1656; Nathaniel, borne the 25th day of ye 5 mon, 1661. In 1665, being very weak and aged, he "was exempted from military service." He died in Novem- ber, 1675, and. tradition has it that he was killed by the Indians, although the details of his death are not recorded.
Nathaniel, youngest child of Benjamin and Abigail (Burt) Ball Mun, was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, July 25, 1661. Married Sarah Chapin, daughter of Japhet Chapin, of Springfield, Massachusetts, March 24, 1689. They had seven children : Sarah, born September 10, 1692; Abigail, born April 9, 1696; Benjamin and Hannah,
twins, born May 28, 1698 (Benjamin died June 2, 1698); Benjamin, born August 12, 1700; Samuel, born July 20, 1706; John, born January 24, 1708. "He was deacon of the First church in Springfield; dyed the 3Ist day of December, Adomi, 1743, in the 63d year of his age."
Benjamin Mun, son of Nathaniel and Sarah (Chapin) Mun, was born August 12, 1700. Married, December 30, 1731, Re- becca Russell, daughter of Adonijah Rus- sell, of Brimfield, Massachusetts, and had is- sue, Benjamin, born October 8, 1732; Jo- seph, born May 1, 1734; Abner, born July 28, 1736; Abigail, born September 14, 1739; Reuben, born April 25, 1742; Rebekah, born December II, 1745; Mary, born Octo- ber I, 1749; Jeremy, born April II, 1754. In 1715 the new settlement of Brimfield was opened up, and young Benjamin, together with ten others, became the original proprietors of the new township. In 1760 the part of Brimfield in which Benjamin resided was set apart as a separate township under the name of Monson, "On petition of Benja. Munn Voted to abate the Highway Rates of those Soldiers in the Continental service the year past." (See records of Monson, June 24, 1776.)
Reuben Munn, son of Benjamin and Re- becca (Russell) Munn, was born April 25, 1742; married Hannah - -, and had is- sue, Alfred, born October 29, 1769: John, born January 17, 1771; Elizah, born Sep- tember 7, 1772; Julius, born February 9, 1774; Rice, born May 17, 1776; Cyrene, born November 12, 1777; Pamela, born April 13, 1780; Fidelia, born June 17, 1783: Oral, born August 6, 1785; Ulysses, born July 14, 1788. Widow Hannah Munn died at Monson, Massachusetts, October 4, 1823,
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aged eighty years. It was he who, when on June 24, 1776, the town passed a vote as to the attitude the town should take in relation to joining the Continental forces, made the following record on the minutes of the town meeting, viz .: "Voted unanimously for Indipency." At the time of the alarm roll call, previous to the battle of Lexing- ton, he formed a company and marched, on April 19, 1775, to Cambridge, where he re- ported for service. His name appears with the rank of "Captain in the Lexington Alarm Roll of Captain Reuben Munn's Company." He served under General Gates at Ticonderoga, and in 1778 was raised by ballot of the house of representatives to the rank of second major of the First Regiment in Hampshire county, and finally was raised to the rank of lieutenant-colonel of the First Berkshire County Regiment. He was in- strumental in suppressing the disorders arising at the close of the war, and he formed a company, which he marched to the front at the time of Shay's rebellion. However distressing the condition of the revolutionists may have been, and how- ever serious their grievances, he had no sympathy for those who endeavored to re- dress their wrongs by taking up arms against their country.
Rice Munn, son of Reuben and Hannah Munn, was born May 17, 1776: died March 12, 1866. Married Lavina Shaw, of Mon- son; born November 19, 1778; she died April 15, 1867. They had five children, viz. : Pamelia, born May 9, 1803, died August 22, 1880; Oril, born July 29, 1807, died July 16, 1891; Adaline, born March II, 18II, died August 31, 1894; Rice Shaw, born October 17, 1814, died February 15, 1890; Orson Desaix, born June II, 1824. Rice exempli- fied the sterling qualities of the Puritan
stock from which he was descended, and - was upright and honest in all his dealings with his fellowmen, a true friend, a good father and husband, and a man of more than average ability. He never aspired to great worldly wealth, but like the good parson Oliver Goldsmith describes in his poem, the Deserted Village, "he was passing rich on forty pounds a year." It would be true to say of him, "he was one of nature's no- blemen."
Orson Desaix Munn, youngest son of Rice and Lavina (Shaw) Munn, was born in Monson, Massachusetts, and was edu- cated at Monson Academy, an institution which had more than a local reputation, young men from distant sections of the country being attracted by its superior ed- ucational facilities. Soon after reaching the age of twenty-one years he was in- formed by an old school companion, Alfred E. Beach (at that time engaged with his father in the publication of the New York Sun), of a good opening for business. He started at once for New York city, and to- gether with his friend Beach, purchased for a few hundred dollars the Scien- tific American plant, the publication having been founded a few months before by Rufus Porter. The co- partnership of Munn & Company was formed in 1846, and was continued without interruption up to January 1, 1896, when Mr. Beach passed away, necessitating the conversion of the old firm into a corpora- tion, which is still conducted under the orig- inal firm name, Munn & Company, and without change of management.
It is seldom that a young man's first busi- ness venture continues with uninterrupted success for half a century, but Mr. Munn proved to be well adapted to his calling.
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His tastes and inclinations all ran in this direction, and under his management the Scientific American and the other publica- tions issued from the office of Munn & Company have acquired influence and standing.
Immediately after Mr. Munn and his partner, Mr. Alfred E. Beach, assumed con- trol of the paper they established an agency "for the soliciting of patents" for inventors, not only in the United States, but in all for- eign countries. This branch of their busi- ness became at once an important adjunct to the publication of the Scientific Ameri- can, and continues to this day a most impor- tant branch of Munn & Company'sbusiness. Mr. Munn was thus brought professionally into contact with many of the most distin- guished inventors and thinkers of the last half century. Among such who may be mentioned as having been specially instru- mental in the early industrial development of this country, are Morse, Ericsson, Eads, Howe, Wilson, Stevens, Cooper, Maxim, Gatlin, Woodworth, Blanchard, McCor- mick and a host of others.
In his desire to escape the turmoil of the city, it was eminently fitting that Llewellyn Park, the suburban paradise of the metrop- olis, should become the summer home of the still active publisher and world-wide known patent attorney. Some thirty years ago Mr. Munn purchased a large plot in the park, which he has made to "blossom like the rose." He has a large and taste- ful villa fronted by a well kept lawn, and the grounds were laid out to correspond with the natural elevation of the land and the topography of the country. The nine terraces rise one above another, each cov- ered with a variety of plants and flowers, inspiring the beholder with the thought, as
he attempts to ascend, that he is truly "stepping heavenward."
Mr. Munn's possessions in the park com- prise sixty acres, and in addition to this he has a large farm on the top of the mountain, where he is engaged in raising a breed of cattle, hitherto but little known in this country. They are the Dutch belted or blanket breed of cows, natives of Holland, and though in appearance they resemble the Holsteins, yet are a distant family, an- tedating the seventeenth century, when the cattle interests in Holland were in a thrifty condition and this type and color were established by scientific breeding. Their form is usually very fine and their hardy and vigorous constitutions enable them to stand sudden changes in the cli- mate and thrive on any variety of fodder. Mr. Munn has been very successful in rais- ing this breed of cattle and is proud of the result which has attended the exhibition of his stock every autumn at state and county fairs. Mr. Munn married Julia Augusta Allen, August 15, 1849. She died October 26, 1894, leaving two sons, who are asso- ciated with their father in the publication of the Scientific American and the patent de- partment of this office.
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