USA > New Jersey > Essex County > Newark > Biographical and genealogical history of the city of Newark and Essex County, New Jersey, V. 2 > Part 25
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THE ORANGE CHRONICLE.
The death of the Record in its infancy did not discourage Frank W. Baldwin from making another attempt in this direction.
He had watched the growth of his native town and was nearly ready to begin opera- tions when his rival unexpectedly came to the front. When at last the opportunity came for carrying out his cherished project, he hurried to his native town and pur- chased the plant of the Record, which had fallen into the hands of its creditors. As- sociated with him in the enterprise was Jo- seph Atkinson. It was found that the plant of the Record could be purchased for eight hundred dollars; as the partners had but two hundred each to invest, the balance re- mained on chattel mortgage. They began operations on January 19, 1869, in a little store on Main street. The ensuing nine days were occupied in preparing for the first issue of the Orange Chronicle, and on Sat- urday, January 27, the first edition made its appearance, having been printed on a Washington hand press. Four members of the craft connected with the Newark Jour- nal came up and worked until midnight, without pay, to aid their fellow-craftsmen in getting their paper out on time. One thousand copies were printed, but many of these were distributed free in order to in- troduce the paper, and it was not until the second or third issue that the bona-fide cir- culation was established. Then the regular edition settled down to between two hun- dred and three hundred, from which point it steadily increased. Isaac P. Baldwin, the father of Frank W., rendered material aid to his son in soliciting and collecting. In September, 1869, Mr. Atkinson sold his interest to Joseph B. Loomis, and in Octo- ber, 1870, Frank W. Baldwin purchased the latter's interest, since which time, up to date of incorporation, in 1892, he has been its sole owner.
The Chronicle grew in favor and on July
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23, 1870, it was enlarged from a seven col- umn paper, 24x36 inches, to an eight-col- umn sheet, 273x41}. A cylinder press was purchased, operated by man power, capable of printing one thousand impressions per hour. On October 1, 1881, the Chronicle was enlarged to 28x42, and again on Octo- ber 23, 1883, to 29x42. The size of the page was reduced on May 12, 1888, to 26 x40, but two more pages were added, and subsequently two pages at once till the maximum normal issue has reached four- teen pages. Special holiday editions of six- teen pages and cover, handsomely illumi- nated, have been issued during the past five or six years, and on January 27, 1894 -- the twenty-fifth anniversary of its first pub- lication-the Chronicle appeared in one of the most beautifully illuminated covers ever issued from any suburban press. This edition contained a complete history of the enterprise from its inception to that time, including brief notices of the several mem- bers of the editorial staff who had been con- nected with it at various periods. The of- fice and composing room were also in- cluded, and every one -- from foreman to "devil"-was honorably mentioned. Among those who have contributed materially to its success are: Elbridge G. Dunnell, first city editor; Isaac P. Baldwin; A. H. Ward, foreman; Charles Starr, city editor (now editor and proprietor of the East Orange Gazette; L. C. McChesney, city editor; Horace E. Kimball, and F. C. Shann.
family paper, neutral in politics, the Chron- icle has few equals and no superior in the state of New Jersey. Clean, bright, newsy and attractive, it is always a welcome visitor in the homes of the Oranges.
Frank Wilfred Baldwin, the founder of the Orange Chronicle, is a lineal descendant of one of the founders of the Oranges, and has been one of the most successful builders. In molding public opinion, in promoting public enterprises and in educating the masses up to a higher standard of virtue and morality, he has rendered valuable service to the place of his birth. His line of descent is through ---
Joseph Baldwin, of Milford, Connecti- cut, 1639, who by his first wife, Hannah, had Joseph, born 1640; Benjamin, 1642; Hannah, 1644; Mary, 1645; Eliza, 1646; Martha, 1647; Jonathan, 1649; David, 1651, and Sarah, 1653. Of these, Joseph, Benjamin and Jonathan are named among the Newark settlers. Jonathan was born February 15, 1649; married, first, Hannah Ward; second, Thankful Strong; had a son, John; and died December 13, 1730. John was born May 22, 1683, died January 20, 1773. He had a son, Ezekiel, who was born December 19, 1719. His son, Caleb Bald- win, was born October 21, 1757, and mar- ried Lydia Johnson, and had eight children, of whom Isaac, the fifth, was born July I, 1791, married Nancy Hopper, and had a son named Isaac Preston. The latter was born on Scotland street, Orange, June 17, 1821, married Abby Dean, daughter of Viner Dean. The second child of this mar- riage was Frank Wilfred.
In April, 1889, the first bookbindery ever existing in Orange was established as a part of the Chronicle plant. The enterprise was an experiment, but has exceeded the Frank Wilfred Baldwin was born on the corner of Valley road and Mount Pleasant avenue, Orange, June 26, 1846. Starting anticipations of its proprietor and has received the hearty encouragement and support of the business community. As a out in life at the early age of thirteen, with
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a fair knowledge of the elementary branches acquired at the public schools of his native town, he was soon able to support himself. He worked at odd jobs for the first three or four years, and in 1862 found employment as clerk with a New York publishing firm. He availed himself of this opportunity to acquire a knowledge of the details of other departments than that to which he was as- signed, especially of the printing depart- ment, with which he became thoroughly familiar. In 1868 he obtained employment in the office of the Newark Daily Journal, and there received his journalistic training which was the foundation of his successful career as editor and publisher of one of the best conducted weeklies in the state of New Jersey. He did not wait for "something to turn up," but with true journalistic enter- prise he was quick to "turn up" the first opportunity which presented itself, and he got in ahead of his competitor and secured the prize. But for his indomitable will, te- nacity and steadfastness of purpose, the prize might have slipped from his grasp, for he had little conception of the obstacles to be met and overcome. The plant which he purchased of his predecessor was limited in quantity and poor in quality. His little cash capital was soon exhausted and with little or no credit, "a steady outgo for ma- terials and wages, it was for a time up-hill work, and oftentimes so discouraging that thoughts of giving up the struggle often presented themselves." He held on, how- ever, and his efforts were eventually crowned with success. The name selected for the paper was an indication of the char- acter of its founder-a true and faithful chronicler of passing events. On January 27, 1894, he celebrated the twenty-fifth an- niversary of the founding of the Chronicle,
and, without egotism, he could truly say, "This is my monument." From the begin- ning of his journalistic career his individual- ity has been stamped on every page of his journal and he has invariably pursued a straightforward, independent course, with- out fear or favor. His belief in the brother- hood of man has been exemplified in his treatment of his employes, some of whom have grown up with him from boyhood, and through his assistance and encourage- ment have not only accumulated property but have become "bright and shining lights" in the profession.
With journalism as a profession, the cul- tivation of his musical talents and the pro- motion of musical organizations has been his pastime. He founded, in 1881, the Orange Mendelssohn Union, composed of the best musical talent in the Oranges, and this has been one of the most successful organizations of its kind in this or any other suburban city or township in the state. Gifted by nature with a good tenor voice and a passionate love of music, Mr. Baldwin has availed himself of every oppor- tunity for the cultivation of vocal and in- strumental music from early childhood, and during this period he has enjoyed frequent intercourse with the musical celebrities of the day. His influence in the community in educating the people up to a high stan- dard of musical attainment has been marked and positive. He has achieved dis- tinction as a musical critic and is a per- former on the violin and other stringed in- struments. Of these he has a rare and val- uable collection.
Mr. Baldwin married, first, Frances Eliza Love, daughter of Samuel G. Love, of Western New York, for many years super- intendent of the schools of Jamestown, and
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one of the first to introduce manual train- ing in the public schools. Four children were the issue of this marriage. The sec- ond wife of Mr. Baldwin was Miss Harriet M. E. Cox, daughter of Thomas C. and Harriet E. Cox, a descendant of an old New Jersey family. Mr. Baldwin has been for twenty-five years a member of the New Jersey Editorial Association and was its president in 1891. He is also a member of the New England Society, of Orange.
Leonard C. McChesney, city editor of the Chronicle, assumed charge of his de- partment with but a limited experience to fit him for the work; but he applied him- self to the task with untiring industry, and rapidly developed an instinct for news. The news columns of the Chronicle and its con- tinued growth in public favor are the best evidence of Mr. McChesney's fitness for the position. He is a man of good judgment as well as business capacity and is popular with the patrons of this journal. He was born in Orange, November 7, 1859; edu- cated at the public school; engaged in vari- ous business enterprises until June 1, 1882, when he began his connection with the Chronicle. His ancestor was one of the early settlers on the Northfield road, West Orange.
Horace E. Kimball has passed his first decade as a member of the Chronicle staff, his connection with the paper dating from 1886. As a news-gatherer he is wide- awake, earnest, industrious. He penetrates every nook and corner of the Oranges and nothing worthy of record escapes his notice.
Mr. Kimball is the eldest child of Horace Kimball, M. D.,-the first resident dentist of Orange-and Mary Davenport (Fisher) Kimball, daughter of Rev. Samuel Fisher.
He was born in Clyde, Wayne county, New York, September 18, 1839, while his par- ents were there on a visit. He was brought to Orange by his parents when he was five years of age. He attended the public schools both here and in New York city, and later entered the Free Academy, now the Col- lege of the City of New York. During his sophomore year he left that institution and engaged in business. Soon after the breaking out of the war he raised Company G, of the Fourth New York Heavy Artil- lery, was commissioned first lieutenant and served in the defense of Washington. He was afterward transferred to Ullman's bri- gade, was commissioned captain and trans- ferred to New Orleans; participated in the siege of Port Hudson; served on General Burke's staff as assistant engineer, and con- structed the seventeen-gun battery on the left of the line. Returning to New York at the close of the war, he engaged in busi- ness for a time on his own account and was afterward editor of Brainard's Musical World. He came to Orange in 1878 and in 1886 he joined the staff of the Chronicle.
REV. CHARLES S. COIT,
of Irvington, is an honored representative of two pioneer American families, and is de- scended in a direct line from the Coits of Glamorganshire, Wales, and from the de Places whose agnatic ancestor, Victor Hugo de Place, was the first of this family in England.
With reference to the Coits, "Groves' An- tiquities of England and Wales" reveals to us that the exact time when Coity (also spelled Coite) castle was first erected seems uncertain, though in all probability it was built about the year 1091 by Payanus de
your July O .S. voit
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Tuberville, one of the twelve Norman knights who seized the lordship of Glamor- gan under Robert Fitzhamon.
The first American Coit was John, who came, probably, from their native heath, Glamorganshire, between 1630 and 1638. He was granted a tract of land in Salem, Massachusetts, this latter. year. He re- moved to Gloucester in 1644, where in 1647 he was made a freeman and, in 1648, a selectman. He was a land-owner on Planter's Neck and a lot-holder at Wheel- er's Point. The records of New London, Connecticut, show that he was granted land in that colony on October 19, 1650. He was the first of a long line of ship car- penters. John Coit was married in Eng- land to Mary Ganners or Jenners, and all their children were born before their ar- rival in America. He died in 1659 and his wife in 1676. Only his descendants in a direct line to the subject of this review are herewith presented.
Joseph Coit, son of John and Mary Coit, was a shipbuilder in New London, Con- necticut, carrying on a large business for his day. He married Martha Harris, of Wethersfield, in 1647. He died in 1704 and his widow three years later. Nearly or quite all the Coits in America are de- scended from him.
John Coit, the eldest child of Deacon Joseph and Martha Coit, was born in New London, December 1, 1670. He spent a long life in pursuit of the busi- ness of his father, and for this purpose the town granted him, in 1689, ground for a new shipyard near the Point of Rocks. He married Mehetabel Chandler, June 25, 1693, died in 1744, and his widow in 1758.
John, son of John and Mehetabel Coit, was born in New London, May 25, 1699.
He pursued the occupation of his ancestors in Bank street, the city of his birth, as late as 1743. In 1758 he was town clerk. His first wife was Grace Christophers and his second wife was Hannah Potter.
Samuel Coit, fourth child of John and Grace Coit, was born in New London, Oc- tober 14, 1726. He was a shipbuilder and was married to Elizabeth Ely, daughter of David and Elizabeth Richards, February 18, 1753. He died in November, 1792, and his widow in August, 1794. His son, Sam- uel, the grandfather of our subject, was born in the city of his fathers June 17, 1761, succeeded to the occupation of his long line of honorable ancestors, married Silvia Lewis November 28, 1782, and died May 22, 1845, followed by his widow April 18, 1851.
Samuel Coit, and his son, Samuel, Jr., fought in the Revolutionary war. Samuel Coit was a private in the first alarm-list company, in the Third Regiment of militia in the state of Connecticut, under the com- mand of Captain John Deshon; Winthrop Saltinstall, lieutenant. Samuel Coit, Jr., was a private in Captain John Hempstead's company of militia in New London, Con- necticut.
Nathaniel Coit, Rev. C. S. Coit's father, and third son of Samuel and Silvia Coit, was born in New London, December 28, 1786, and died in Bloomfield, New Jersey, July 8, 1866. He began an apprenticeship at boat-making with his uncle, David Coit, in New York city, at the age of fourteen, but before he became of age he abandoned his trade for the grocery business. He was called out in 1813 to join the state militia in defense of New York city, at Harlem Heights, in our second war with England. In 1827 he removed his family to his new-
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ly purchased farm at Bloomfield, New Jer- sey, where he died. He retained his busi- ness in New York till the close of the '40S, when he devoted his last years to the duties of a farmer. In business he was active, prompt, energetic and honest to a fault. He was a diligent student of the times, and watched with much interest the progress of political events. Next to his God and family he loved his country, and during the late Rebel- lion he regretted that only age prevent- ed him from active participation in the war for the preservation of the Union. He was an earnest, constant Christian worker, joined the John Street Methodist Episco- pal church in New York city early in life and was a member of that denomination at his death. For nearly forty years he had charge of a class of colored people in Ann street, New York, and until the close of his life maintained a warm interest in every movement which sought the elevation of that people. In his more advanced years it was frequently his practice to walk long distances to spend a Sabbath in Christian labor with a neighboring church.
Mr. Coit was twice married, his first wife being Esther Olmstead, of Wilton, Con- necticut, whom he married March 9, 1807, and his second wife being Mariam, the youngest daughter of James and Sarah Place, of Hempstead, Long Island, whom he married December 18, 1820. He was the father of three children by his first mar- riage and of six by his second. The first born of his last marriage was Rev. Charles S. Coit, the immediate subject of this men- tion. Mariam Place Coit was descended from the de Place mentioned in the intro- duction to this article. He it was who re- belled against King John on the occasion of
the signing of the Magna Charta in 1215. He was a baron and held seven knights' fees in Lloyd and Werherbourne, in the county of Stafford. The American Places start with Peter Place, who settled in Bos- ton in 1635, having crossed the water in the "Truelove," at about twenty years of age. From the best obtainable evidence the Rhode Island Places descended from one Peter Place, of Providence, believed to have been a son of the Boston Place whose ancestors were the de Places prominent in English history in the time of King John and the Edwards. The chain connecting James Place, our subject's grandfather, with Boston or Providence Places has not been linked and welded, but there can be no doubt of their kinship. They seem to have scattered over the whole of southern New England; and as James Place was born on Long Island, and died (of yellow fever) in New York in 1799, it is correct to presume they were descended from a com- mon parent.
The Rev. Charles S. Coit was born in the city of New York April 14, 1822. He divided his time, from the age of five to seventeen, between his father's farm at Bloomfield, New Jersey and the common school. In his father's absence the su- pervision of the farm work fell to his lot, and the knowledge he gained then, of busi- ness and of men, has been of vast service to him. In his youth he acquired a fair knowledge of history and science. In his sixteenth year he was a pupil of Mr. I. K. McDonald at the Bloomfield Academy and a schoolmate of Rev. J. D. Ward, Amzi Dodd and others. He acquired also a fond- ness for practical architecture and from the age of seventeen to twenty he made sundry attempts in Brooklyn and in New York to
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acquire a knowledge of it, but for perhaps providential reasons he failed. One of his employers was burned out, the other failed in business, and returning home in 1843 he attended a revival meeting then in progress at Montclair, his conversion followed and soon afterward his union with the Metho- dist Episcopal church. When called to the ministry he felt the need of better prepara- tion for that work, and turned his attention to the study of theology under the direction of his pastor, Rev. C. S. Van Cleve, sta- tioned at Montclair. While a student at Pennington Seminary he did much effect- tive work for Christ among his fellow students, some of whom became his fellow laborers in the pulpit. He closed his col- lege labors in July, 1846, and was appoint- ed by Presiding Elder Felch, of New Jersey, in September following as a supply on San- diston circuit, Sussex county, on the Dela- ware river. His first year's labor put his Christian fortitude and his physical strength to a severe test, yet he was equal to the de- mands, and at its close he received a recom- mendation to the New Jersey conference "as a young man well qualified for the work of the ministry." In 1847 he was admitted as a probationer, and after successfully pass- ing his examinations was admitted to full membership. Since that date for more than fifty-one years he has been a zealous and successful minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The following is a partial list of the ap- pointments he has filled since his admis- sion to the conference: New Prospect, Rockland Lake, New York; Port Jervis, New York; Hackensack, Hackettstown, Pitman Church, New Brunswick (where he built that church and was its first pastor), Hoboken, Madison, Bethel (Staten Island),
Newark, New Providence, Fulton Street, Elizabeth, Newton district as presiding elder four years, Dover (New Jersey), Grace church at Paterson, La Fayette church in Jersey City, presiding elder of the Paterson district four years, Centenary church (Newark), Newton and De Groot church (Newark), besides being corres- ponding secretary of the Preachers' Aid Society four years.
His efficiency as a presiding elder was marked. His districts were large, rough and mountainous, with many appointments, requiring him to preach often. Fre- quently, when his regular official work was done, at his quarterly meetings, he would remain to assist in special efforts, thus cheering and greatly aiding his preachers in their fields of labor.
Rev. C. S. Coit's gifts are those of the highest practical order. He has a warm heart and a genial nature, and the culture he has acquired makes him a safe counselor, a warm friend, a pleasant companion, and an interesting and instructive preacher. His pulpit efforts are often very effective. In the midst of an earnest exhortation, while the audience is throbbing with emotion, under his thrilling words, he will occasion- ally add to the interest of the occasion by some appropriate melody, and thus more deeply impress his subject upon the hearts of his people. His sermons are character- ized by great simplicity and directness of aim. They are frequently adorned with quaint and original figures. His old par- ishoners will recognize some of the follow- ing: "A bad thought placed in a child's mind is like the egg which an insect de- posits in the blossom: it hatches before the fruit is ripe." "His speech is like the bee, darting hither and thither, carrying
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honey and a sting." "The church sup- porting itself by fairs and worldly enter- tainments is a trolley car drawn by old discarded horses." "In fishing for souls spearing is sometimes more efficient than netting.'
Rev. Coit has been peculiarly successful as an administrator. He is a man of affairs. He has a quick discernment, a rare practical sagacity, a strong will, and a genius for or- ganization. He studies the materialities of his church with the minute care of a mer- chant. He served two terms in the elder- ship, with great credit to himself and the blessing of the districts. He has done ex- cellent service as trustee of the Mount Ta- bor camp-ground, Hackettstown Institute and Drew Theological Seminary. He has been a member for twenty years of the missionary board of the Methodist Episco- pal church; he has represented his confer- ence at the Wesleyan and Syracuse Uni- versities, and in 1884 he was elected a re- serve delegate to the general conference. For four years he was corresponding secre- tary of the Preachers' Aid Society, which he reorganized in 1889. In 1893 he took a supernumerary relation in the Newark conference.
Rev. Mr. Coit has always possessed a pas- sionate love for the country. When Provi- dence clearly indicated that the end of his active ministry was approaching he was greatly relieved by the purpose he had cher- ished of spending his closing years amid rural scenes, and in employments which had gilded the dreams of his life. He and his wife planned and erected a commodious house on their Irvington plat, to which he retired in 1891. With the memory of fifty years in the ministry,-an only son carrying the mantle his father has laid aside,-his
immediate family in their normal health and his own reinvigorated, the evening of his life began with golden promise.
December 22, 1852, Rev. Coit was mar- ried to R. Malinda, only daughter of the late Demas Harrison, of Newark, and half sister of the Rev. James M. Tuttle, of the Newark conference. Mrs. Coit was born at Caldwell, New Jersey, January 30, 1831 ; educated in Newark Academy, Borden- town, and Wesleyan Institute, Newark; was converted in her girlhood, and for forty years was "a tower of strength" to her hus- band in his ministerial labors. There was no place she touched that did not feel her inspiring influence. She was a natural lead- er in every circle she entered, and all her strength was spent for Christ in the service of others. Her generosity is known throughout the churches. All the institu- tions of the conference were the recipients of her benefactions. For many years she was closely identified with the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society, and supported a Bible reader in India, who bears her name.
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