USA > New Jersey > Essex County > Newark > Biographical and genealogical history of the city of Newark and Essex County, New Jersey, V. 2 > Part 24
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ALBERT BAILEY BALDWIN,
a well known and highly respected citizen of East Orange, enjoys the distinction of having been born in the distant land of China, where his parents were stationed at the time in the performance of missionary duties. His birth occurred in the city of Foo-Chow. province of Fo-Kien, on the 26th of December, 1861, a son of Rev. C. C. and Harriet (Fairchild) Baldwin. The
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father is a son of Eleazar Baldwin and Jemima (Matthews) Baldwin, and was born in Bloomfield, Essex county, New Jersey, his primary mental discipline being re- ceived in the public schools of his native county. His next step in the line of educa- tional attainments was to enter Princeton College, after which he secured his degree of doctor of divinity and was graduated at a seminary in Baltimore, Maryland. But a short time elapsed before he was assigned to missionary duty in China, under the auspices of the American Board of Commis- sioners of Foreign Missions. On the 28th of September, 1849, he married Miss Har- riet Fairchild, who accompanied him to his new field of labors, and after a long and tedious journey they reached Foo-Chow, where they at once entered upon their mis- sionary work and continued the same for a period of forty-seven years. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin comprised the following: Harriet Gertrude, born Oc- tober 10, 1850, married David Gerry, of East Orange, who was a descendant of Governor Elbridge Gerry, of Massachu- setts; Caleb Clifton, born at Foo-Chow on the 16th of February, 1851, died nine days later; Mary Jane, born June 9, 1853, died April 7, 1859; Cecil Fairchild, born May 21, 1854, died February 3, 1859; Sarah Cummings, born November 26, 1855, died at Orange, New Jersey, November 29, 1866; Helen Burrows, born at Orange June 8, 1857, died April 19, 1858; Ella Matthews, born at Orange on the 5th of September, 1858, died November 21, 1858; Albert Bailey, our subject ; Alice Mills, born at Foo-Chow on the 6th of February, 1864, married Dr. W. C. Robbins and they at present reside in Durban, state of Natal, an English settlement in South Africa; Agnes
Seymore, born November 10, 1865, mar- ried William Fairchild, of Summit town- ship, Essex county, and they have one child, whose name is Winifred.
Albert Bailey Baldwin was nine years old when his parents returned to Orange for a rest from their missionary labors in China, and he obtained his early education in the district schools, attending the same for two years, when he went to Newton, Massa- chusetts, and there completed his studies. He entered upon the practical duties of life in Boston, Massachusetts, where he em- barked in the piano-tuning business in a large factory, where he remained for over fifteen years. In 1891 he returned to Orange and established himself in his trade, and has since built up a large and remuner- ative business throughout the Oranges, where his popularity is a recognized fact.
Mr. Baldwin celebrated his marriage on the 6th of May, 1884, when he was united to Miss Sarah J. Davis, a daughter of John and Harriet (Watson) Davis, and they are the parents of four children, as follows : Clifton Davis, born January 18, 1885; Alice Harriet, July 18, 1889; Albert Fairchild, March 8, 1892; and Cyril Crockett, Novem- ber 21, 1893. Both Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin are consistent members of the Congrega- tional church.
Mrs. Baldwin, the mother of our sub- ject, was born in Bloomfield, New Jersey, and after spending forty-seven years of her life in the missionary fields of China, her health began to fail and she returned to the United States, finding a home with her daughter, Mrs. William Fairchild, at Sum- mit, New Jersey, where she passed to her eternal rest on the 29th of July, 1896. Mrs. Baldwin's maiden name was Harriet Fair- child, and her birth occurred on the 5th of
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November, 1826, her mother being a very devout Christian. The daughter received her education in the seminary of her native city, which was conducted by Mrs. Harriet B. Cook and her son, the former of whom was noted in parts of New England and New Jersey as an able teacher and adminis- trator. To the devotion and careful train- ing of "Mother Cook" the loved pupil owed much of her fitness for future work on heathen soil. She was graduated at the seminary in 1847, having occupied for a few years, as a pupil, the position of assistant teacher, and on the 28th of September, in the same year, she married Rev. C. C. Bald- win, and together they sailed from Phila- delphia on the IIth of November, 1847, by way of the Cape of Good Hope, to the newly opened missionary field in Foo- Chow, reaching that city on the 7th of May, 1848. Mrs. Baldwin was unusually effi- cient in various branches of mission work, and of her many labors her husband writes appreciatively as follows :
"For about seven years she superintend- ed the first regularly organized girls' board- ing school. Her peculiar gifts and fitness for educational work also found full scope, almost from the beginning of the mission, in organizing and managing numerous common schools. She worked courageous- ly and persistently, believing that such schools, under wise and improved methods, would prove a success even among heath- en people, in spite of their inveterate preju- dices. In a like spirit she visited women in their homes, trusting that they could be raised from their degradation by the love and truth in Christ. She had very strong literary tastes, working with a keen relish over geographies and maps in the Foo- Chow colloquial style, written in Chinese
characters and now used in the three mis- sions, in schools, and sold among the peo- ple. Much more serious was the task of preparing and publishing the Foo-Chow Manual, and revising proof sheets of a dic- tionary of eleven hundred pages in English and Chinese. This she did in concert with her husband, assisting him also in settling the text of his share of work in the transla- tion and revision of the whole Scriptures in the Foo-Chow dialect, her judicious sug- gestions helping him over the 'hard places.' One other qualification for missionary work should be mentioned. She had rich poetical and musical talents. She dearly loved sacred song and was herself a sweet singer till her voice failed in strength. She loved to write humorous rhymes, as well as more serious pieces, to please the little ones, while the love-light in her eyes was enough in itself to draw them close to her side. Scattered among her promiscuous pieces and hastily penciled jottings we find pre- cious gems of thought to remind us of the departed one."
Mrs. Woodin, who for thirty-six years la- bored side by side with Mrs. Baldwin, has expressed her affection and high regard for her co-laborer in the following terms :
"Our dear sister, Mrs. Baldwin, pos- sessed rare qualifications for usefulness as a missionary. She was a fine Chinese schol- ar. I think we unanimously gave her the first place among the missionary ladies at Foo-Chow for her thorough familiarity both with the written and spoken language. She was a laborious student of the native tongue, sparing neither time nor effort that she might perfect herself in it. We young- er sisters all looked up to her as our teach- er, and she was often called upon to answer difficult questions and give us the benefit
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of her own experience. Ever ready to help us with her patient, loving words, many of the unmarried ladies of the mission claimed her as their 'Chinese mother.' The mission- ary children dearly loved 'Auntie Baldwin,' and her efforts to make them happy and give them a 'good time' were always appre- ciated. She was no less loved and respected by the Chinese. Her fluent command of the language gave her direct access to the people and a great influence over both the heathen and the Christian Chinese. She impressed herself upon her pupils of both sexes, and some of our most active Chris- tian women owe much of their present strong consistent characters to her wise teachings and example. Her gentle and pa- tient manner especially met the tastes of the Chinese and won their confidence and affec- tion. She was remarkably careful of her words, and I think she will have very few idle words to give an account for. To do her whole duty and bless and help others as she could, seemed to be the ruling motive of her life."
Mrs. H. W. Osgood, who, during the life of her husband, Dr. Osgood, was asso- ciated with Mrs. Baldwin in the Foo-Chow mission, has this to say of her:
"Her active, useful life has been a bless- ing to others, and now she is at rest from her labors and her works will follow her both in China and America. How many Chinese women there are who will receive the tidings of her death with sad hearts and a feeling of personal loss! She will live for years to come in the hearts and homes of the Foo-Chow people. The girls whom she trained in school are making better wives and mothers to-day than they would have done had they not been blessed by Mrs. Baldwin's labors and influence."
ELIAS HUNKELE,
of Newark, was born in the state of Baden, in the ortschaft of Neuhausen, Germany, on the 3d of March, 1839, and is a son of Joseph A. and Rosa (Friton) Hunkele. His father followed the occupa- tion of blacksmithing as a life work. He was a Catholic in religious faith, and died in 1854, at the age of forty-seven years. The mother's death occurred in Newark, when she had reached the advanced age of eighty-four.
In the common schools Elias Hunkele acquired his education, and assisted in the labors of his father's farm until fifteen years of age. In 1854 he crossed the Atlantic to America, hoping here to find a better busi- ness opening than was assured in the land of his nativity. He sailed from Havre, France, on the 15th of March, and on the 16th of April landed at New York. He first went to Irvington, where he worked for a year and a half at the shoemaker's trade, and later was employed by various leather manufacturing concerns in Newark, at japanning leather. He followed that pursuit until the war, when his loyalty to his adopted country prompted his enlist- ment in the Union army.
It was on the 3d of September, 1864, that Mr. Hunkele joined Company F, Thir- ty-ninth New Jersey Infantry, his brother John being captain of the company. He first saw service at Baltimore and City Point, and was assigned to an engineering corps. Later he went to Poplar Grove, Virginia, and saw severe service on picket duty at Petersburg. At the close of the war he was honorably discharged, on the 17th of June, 1865.
Returning to the north Mr. Hunkele was
Elias Hunkele
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employed at his trade until 1869, after which he was variously engaged until 1874. In that year he embarked in the wholesale egg and cheese business at 193 Broome street, up to 1892, when he came to his present location. The business he has since conducted with remarkable success, his store being located at No. 35 Avon Place, Newark.
Mr. Hunkele was married April 14, 1861, to Miss Catharine Huether, who was born May II, 1838, a daughter of George A. Huether, who was born in Baden, Ger- many, and was a cabinetmaker by trade, but after coming to America engaged in the manufacture of trunks in Newark. To Mr. and Mrs. Hunkele have been born the following children: One who died in early life; Sophia R., who was born April 3, 1863, and died April 6, 1888; George A., who was born November II, 1866, and died November 13, 1869; Anna, who was born August 8, 1868, and died November 25, 1869; Harry H., who was born December 30, 1869, and married Miss Fredericka Roessler, by whom he has one daughter, Florence; Emma, who was born November 14, 1871, and married Charles Roessler, her death occurring June 30, 1897, two children, Harry and Lilian, being left to mourn her loss; George, who was born September 5, 1873, and is his father's assistant in business; Ann, born August 5, 1875; Catharine, born December 1, 1876; Rosa, born February 20, 1879; and Elias W., born March 13, 1881. The three sons, Harry H., George and Elias WV., are en- gaged with their father in business.
The parents attend the Episcopal church, and Mr. Hunkele is a member of Lincoln Post, G. A. R., while to the Republican party he gives his political support. He is
an energetic business man, to whose nature indolence and idleness are utterly foreign. He justly regards earnest, honorable labor as the road to advancement and financial success, and in this path he has reached the goal of prosperity.
THE ORANGE VOLKSBOTE,
which is printed in the German language, is devoted to the interests of the German- American residents of the Oranges. It is Democratic in politics and is a six-column paper, issued weekly. It was established in 1872, by Darnstaedt & Erdman. In 1876 August Erdman, the junior partner, pur- chased Mr. Darnstaedt's interest in the pa- per. Mr. Erdman continued as its editor and publisher till his death in 1890, when he was succeeded by his son, Charles Erd- man. In 1892 Ernest Temme, a well known Newark newspaper man, bought the Volksbote and he is still its editor and pro- prietor. He is also city editor of one of the Newark German dailies. The Orange Sonntagsblatt is a German paper published on Sundays. It was established in 1883 by August Koehler, its present editor and proprietor. It is Democratic in politics.
THE ORANGE JOURNAL.
So far as journalism is concerned. Orange was for many years a suburb of Newark, depending on the one Newark paper for its local news. With the exception of deaths and marriages, Orange supplied but little material for the columns of the paper, but when. early in the '30s, New York mer- chants commenced buying farm lands and converting them into villa plots, ample space was given to record the facts and other items of interest growing out of the change. It was not until 1854, when the
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new element had largely supplanted the old, that the people of Orange realized the importance of having a weekly journal of their own. The project originated with Robert Seers, a New York publisher, who came to Orange in 1850. He talked over the matter with his friends and neighbors, and the result was that Edward Gardner offered to start a weekly paper, provided the people of Orange would furnish a cap- ital of $1,000. A canvass was made and forty individuals subscribed $25 each, among whom was E. O. Doremus, of East Orange, from whom these facts were obtained. The Orange Journal was then started, with Ed- ward Gardner as editor and proprietor.
There were no separate local govern- ments then, and the four Oranges were un- der one name and municipality, and this was the only paper in Essex county out- side of the city of Newark. The size of the paper was then 24x37 inches, quarto, seven columns. In 1860 Mr. Gardner disposed of the property to Henry Clay Bloomfield and Henry Farmer. At this time it had en- larged its pages to 28x40 inches and in- creased the number of its columns to eight. These gentlemen retained proprietorship until July 13, 1861, when Mr. Gardner again took possession and remained at its head until April 30, 1870, and on May 2 of the same year he disposed of it to J. M. Reuck, of the New York Evening Post. For six years, or until April 1, 1876, the Journal was conducted by Mr. Reuck as a Repub- lican paper, and on that date he disposed of it to Oliver Johnson, of the New York Tribune. Mr. Johnson brought to the ed- itor's chair an experience and ability which enabled him to advance the Journal to a leading position among the papers of the state. He made many improvements in the
paper, changing it from a folio to a quarto, adding new type and expending a large sum in making it conform to his literary and artistic taste. Not having real- ized his monetary anticipations, Mr. Johnson disposed of his interest to Samuel Toombs then city editor, who at once changed the character of the paper by confining its work almost wholly to the local field, magnifying local interests, giving full and accurate reports of all local affairs. In 1883, believing that the time had come when the citizens of Orange would appreciate an advance in newspaper work, Mr. Toombs issued the Journal as a semi-weekly. He continued until 1885, when it was purchased by its present owner.
As soon as Mr. Williams secured the Journal he thoroughly overhauled the es- tablishment, putting in a new Campbell press, with new type, and enlarging the paper to 29x42 inches, nine columns. The first issue under his manage- ment was on April 17, 1885, but it was not until a later date that all the improvements were completed, and the Journal made an attractive appearance in its enlarged form, tidy dress and makeup.
In June, 1895, the Journal was incor- porated as the Orange Journal Publishing Company, under the laws of New Jersey, Mr. Williams, of course, retaining the con- trolling interest. The present members of the editorial staff of the Journal are: Edgar Williams, editor and proprietor; Frank H. Jamison, city editor; Eugene W. Farrell, business manager; William J. Fitzgerald, advertising manager. The paper has stead- ily gained favor under the present manage- ment.
In politics the Journal is Republican, but, although the editor continues the policy of
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his predecessors in maintaining the prin- ciples of the Republican party, he is not so biased that he cannot condemn his own party when occasion requires, or applaud a political adversary for meritorious acts. Not only is the Journal appreciated by resi- dents of the Oranges for the large amount of interesting local news furnished each week, but a glance at its columns shows that it is valued by merchants as an adver- tising medium, circulating as it does not only in the Oranges but in some of the other villages about this noted cluster. The advertisers are not confined to the resi- dent merchants, but some of the largest houses of New York and Newark, realizing that the trade of Orange is not wholly con- fined to local houses, liberally advertise for a share of it. The progress and growth of the Oranges is reflected in the growth of the Journal, and it is a representative paper of a flourishing and highly-favored com- munity, a welcome visitor to homes where the word "welcome" is always uttered with the emphasis of sincerity.
Edgar Williams, to whose energy and enterprise the Journal owes its greatest success, is the first one of its proprietors during its forty years' existence who is a native of Orange. His. ancestors were among the sturdy founders of this portion of Essex county, while as a molder of pub- lic opinion he is foremost in the ranks of its modern builders. Earnest and inde- pendent as a man, he voices the sentiments of his party without being partisan. His utterances have no uncertain sound, and they come from the honest convictions of an honest heart, trained in the school of an honest ancestry.
He was born in Orange, a son of Leander and Emily Williams, and is a direct de-
scendant of the first Matthew Williams, through Matthew (2), Gresham, Joseph, Zophar, Job, father of Leander. His great- grandfather, Joseph, served with the Essex county militia in the war of the Revolution. Mr. Williams' preparatory course of edu- cation was received in the public and pri- vate schools of his native city. Four years in the office of Blake & Freeman (one of the leading law firms in the county), with ample facilities for acquiring a knowledge of the law, failed to awaken in him any de- sire to follow that profession. Later, while a student at Phillips Academy, at Exeter, New Hampshire, he was enabled to gratify his taste for journalism which he formed in early life. He became business manager of the Exonian, a school paper that was highly creditable to its projectors. Even in this limited sphere he showed his capacity for this kind of work. He did not carry out his plan of entering college, owing to circumstances over which he had no con- trol. After he returned to his native city he decided to adopt journalism as a profes- sion. Being a Republican and a man of de- cided convictions, it was but natural that he should avail himself of the first oppor- tunity for engaging in work of this charac- ter, and when he found the Journal was for sale he was not long in deciding to pur- chase. For a man without practical knowl- edge or experience other than that men- tioned, his success has been marked. He had his own ideas of what a paper of this character should be, and, with due defer- ence to his predecessors who had estab- lished the reputation of the Journal, he marked out a line for himself to which he has strictly adhered. "Principle, not pol- icy," is his motto, and while working for the success of his party he has never hesi-
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tated to criticise its acts nor to condemn its individual members when occasion re- quired. That his efforts to serve his par- ty have been appreciated was shown at the sessions of the legislatures of 1894-5, when he was made engrossing clerk of the house, an office of great responsibility and trust, the duties of which he discharged to the satisfaction of the legislature and by uni- form courtesy won the approbation of all parties. In 1896 Mr. Williams was ap- pointed to the corresponding office in the senate, where he added to the good reputa- tion made in the house.
Mr. Williams is in touch with every movement that tends to promote the moral, intellectual or physical development of his native city. He is a member of the Orange Board of Trade, the New England Society, East Orange Republican Club, East Or- ange Improvement Society, Orange Athletic Club and Orange Council, Royal Arcanum. He is also a member of the Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, by virtue of his great-grand- father's service in the war of the Revolu- tion, Dr. John Condit, who was surgeon of Colonel Van Cortlandt's battalion of Heard's brigade.
Mr. Williams married Miss Gertrude A. Robinson, daughter of James Robinson, of East Orange. His children are Revsis G., Edgar and Kathryn Smith.
Eugene William Farrell was born in South Orange, July 22, 1871. He is the business manager of the Orange Journal and the South Orange Bulletin, both pub- lished by the Orange Journal Publishing Company. Mr. Farrell was educated in the parochial and public schools of his native village. When he left school he went to work as of-
fice boy in the office of the South Orange Bulletin when that paper was owned by F. D. Crozier. Mr. Farrell soon showed his love for the newspaper business, and while with the Bulletin he became South Orange correspondent for the Newark Daily Ad- vertiser. Mr. Farrell left Mr. Crozier's em- ploy to accept a position in the office of the Orange Journal, and when Edgar Williams, the editor of the Journal, bought the Bulletin, Mr. Farrell was made business manager of both papers. Aside from his connection with the Orange Journal Pub- lishing Company, Mr. Farrell and Frank H. Jamison represent out of town papers as their correspondents for the Oranges, in- cluding the Newark Evening News and the New York Sun. Mr. Farrell is well known in the newspaper fraternity in Essex county and is vice president of the Newark Press Club.
Frank Harrison Jamison, city editor of the Orange Journal, was born in Orange on December 20, 1873, and for the past four years has been connected with the Jour- nal, serving as reporter for a year, then be- ing made city editor. Mr. Jamison has al- ways been interested in newspaper work. When thirteen years of age he began con- tributing to the Newark Sunday Call from seaside resorts and served that paper as a summer correspondent for five years. He was educated at the Orange high school, graduating in 1892. During the last two years of his course there he edited and pub- lished High School Life, founding the pa- per in 1891. With his graduation the paper discontinued publication. During the four years of his high-school course he was em- ployed at the Orange postoffice as clerk in the registry and money-order departnients. In addition to his work on the Journal Mr.
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Jamison conducts, in conjunction with Eugene W. Farrell, a successful newspaper correspondence bureau.
William J. Fitzgerald, the advertising manager of the Orange Journal and the South Orange Bulletin, was born in South Orange, on September 12, 1871. He was educated in the Maplewood public school and in St. Mary's parochial school, South Orange. Mr. Fitzgerald has only been in the newspaper business for three years, but during that time he has made a good rec- ord as an advertising solicitor. He is a wide-awake and energetic young man. Be- fore accepting a position with the Orange Journal Publishing Company, Mr. Fitz- gerald did suburban work for the Newark Daily Advertiser.
THE ORANGE RECORD.
The next to enter the field for journalistic honors was the Orange Record, started in 1867 by Michael Purcell, a former em- ploye of the Journal. Others had already conceived the idea of starting another pa- per, believing the time was ripe for such an enterprise, but Purcell, being on the spot, was the first to make the attempt. His means were limited and he had many obstacles to contend with, and after a few months' trial he sold his interest to Hugh P. Shields, a bright young Irishman, who had served in the war and acquired some experience as a newspaper correspondent. He met with no better success, however, than his predecessor, and the Record ex- pired just before Christmas, in 1868.
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