USA > New Jersey > Essex County > Newark > Biographical and genealogical history of the city of Newark and Essex County, New Jersey, V. 2 > Part 27
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In 1855 Mr. Harrison was united in mar- riage to Miss Frances Reeve, a native of Millburn and a daughter of Jacob Reeve. They are the parents of five children, name- ly: Elston, a provision dealer of Mont- clair, this county; Edward, a farmer of that place; Clifford B. and Clarence, twins, the former a commercial traveler, and the latter
at home; and Harriet R., at home. Mr. and Mrs. Harrison are members of the Caldwell Presbyterian church, and they are known as representative people of the com- munity, enjoying a distinctive popularity and having a wide circle of acquaintances.
In his political proclivities Mr. Harrison is stanchly arrayed in the support of the Republican party and its principles, and he is zealous in his advocacy of all measures which he believes will advance the public welfare and promote general good. He has always lived on the old homestead, hal- lowed by the associations of years, and thus his life is as an open book to his friends and neighbors who cannot but commend the unsullied record.
THEODORE C. WALLACE.
Thirty years ago this gentleman, then a young man, became connected with the business interests of New York. Since then, as a manufacturer of and dealer in iron, he has been an important factor in commercial circles and no man has been more respected or more worthy of the high regard in which he is held in the trade than Mr. Wallace. With the strictest regard for commercial ethics, he has conducted his interests in a manner most commendable; keen discrimination, unfaltering persever- ance and undaunted energy have brought to him a high degree of success.
Mr. Wallace traces his ancestry back to the early New York colonists. From Scotch ancestry he is descended, the first of the family coming to the United States about 1700. Through the nineteenth cen- tury the family has been prominently iden- tified with the mercantile interests of the metropolis. The grandfather, Robert Wal-
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lace was for a number of years a merchant of the city, and the father, Thomas Wal- lace, was for a long period a prominent rep- resentative of that class of business men. He was born in New York and there mar- ried Miss Eliza Adams, also a native of the city and a daughter of John Adams, who died at the advanced age of ninety years. He was descended from Holland Dutch an- cestry.
Theodore C. Wallace, the subject of this review, was born in New York, December 18, 1842, and was the second son of the family. He was reared in the place of his nativity and attended the public schools, ac- quiring there a thorough knowledge of the English branches. Throughout his busi- ness career he has been connected with the iron trade. In 1858 he entered the employ of Smith, Hegeman & Company, dealers in iron and steel, and was connected with that house as an employe for ten years, during which time he mastered the business in all its details and won continued advancement by his ability and fidelity to duty. In 1868 he ceased to be an employe and became a partner in the house. Many changes have occurred in the firm since then, but the business is still carried on, and to-day Mr. Wallace is at the head of the enterprise, which is conducted under the firm name of Ogden & Wallace, wholesale dealers in iron and steel, at Nos. 577-583 Greenwich street, New York. The volume of their business has now assumed mammoth proportions and their shipments are made to all parts of the country. For reliability their house has a reputation second to none in the coun- try, and the wisdom of the partners in for- mulating and executing their plans is dem- onstrated in the successful results which follow their undertakings.
Mr. Wallace is also connected with other enterprises of the north, and his capable management and keen foresight have en- abled him to direct to a successful outcome these various interests. He is now a stock- holder and director in the Boonton Iron & Steel Company, at Boonton, New Jersey, and is agent for the largest iron manufac- tories in the country. His record should serve as a source of inspiration. Working his way steadily upward, he has overcome the obstacles and difficulties which always encompass the business man in his efforts to compete with old-established houses and win the public confidence and patron- age, but his determination has triumphed over all discouragements and he stands to- day one of the leaders in his line in the country.
During the civil war Mr. Wallace mani- fested his loyalty to the Union cause by enlisting at President Lincoln's first call for seventy-five thousand volunteers to serve three months, joining the Seventy-first New York Militia in April. He took part in the first battle of Bull Run and on the expira- tion of his term was honorably discharged, and returned to his home. In politics he is a pronounced Democrat, but business cares have prevented his taking an active part in political work.
In 1871 Mr. Wallace was united in mar- riage to Miss Lucy E. Huckins, of Boston, Massachusetts, a daughter of Frank Huck- ins, a prominent and successful merchant of Boston. The family originated in Eng- land and was related to the Crocker family, both coming to New England in the May- flower. Mrs. Wallace was born and reared in Boston, and obtained her education in the schools of that city. By this marriage there are four children, a son and three
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daughters: Theodore C., who is assisting his father in the business; Helen, Lucy and Margaret, at home. In 1885 Mr. Wallace erected a fine residence on Prospect avenue, Montclair, New Jersey, calling the place Ellerslie. Its architectural beauty is en- hanced by the elevated site, which affords a magnificent view of the surrounding coun- try. Its interior furnishing would delight the most artistic eye, being all that a cul- tured taste can suggest and wealth procure. The lawns are handsomely and tastefully adorned with beautiful flowers, ornamental shrubbery and grand old trees, while the landscape beyond forms an ever varying panorama of the beauties of nature. With the aid of a telescope one can see many of the prominent buildings in New York city, also Coney Island and Long Island. The time and money that Mr. Wallace has ex- pended in fitting up this magnificent home indicate one of his most prominent charac- teristics,-his devotion to his family and his delight in extending the hospitality of his own fireside to their many friends and neighbors.
GEORGE VARLEY,
one of the most capable and well known carpenters and builders of Newark, is a na- tive of Yorkshire, England, where his birth occurred on the 7th of February, 1849, and is a son of William and Ann (Denton) Var- ley, who reared two other children besides our subject: Joseph, and Mrs. James Brakes, both now residing in England. George Varley was reared in the city of his nativity, securing his education in the pub- lic schools, and in 1868 he decided to seek broader fields of endeavor and set sail for the United States. He subsequently lo-
cated in Newark, and shortly after his ar- rival here he obtained employment as a carpenter with Timbrook, of Brick Church, one of the leading sash, door and blind man- ufacturers of East Orange, and remained in the capacity of a journeyman until 1881, when he embarked in the business of con- tracting on his own account, his first work in that line being the erection of a residence for R. J. Carey, on Humboldt street. The excellent character of his workmanship is displayed in many of the admirable and tasteful residences in the Short Hills, Sum- mit, Glen Ridge and Montclair, besides which he erected the McDermott, William Riker, Jr., Joseph M. Riker and the White- head residences, and numerous blocks of buildings for the Duryee estate.
Mr. Varley is one of the charter members of the Master Carpenters' Association, and is one of its directors. In his political af- filiation he is one of the leading local Republicans, and has been chairman of the Eleventh Ward Republican commit- tee, and served in a similar capacity for the district for a number of years and is pres- ident of the Roseville Republican Associa- tion. For about eleven years he served in the New Jersey state militia, enlisting first in Company A of the First Regiment of Newark, with which he served about three years. He re-enlisted May 5, 1874, in Company C, of the Fifth Regiment, Nation- al Guards of the state of New Jersey (N. G. S. N. J.), and received his discharge Sep- tember 15, 1882. He responded to three different calls for troops at the time of dif- ficult riots in Newark, and served his state well in this capacity. At one time he filled the position of orderly sergeant. He is a member of Roseville Lodge, No. 143, F. & A. M., and at one time served as chair-
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man of the board of trustees. He is a past master of Trinity Lodge, No. 160, I. O. O. F., of Roseville. For some years he was chairman of the board of trustees of the Baptist church of Roseville.
In January, 1871, Mr. Varley was united in marriage to Miss Sarah J. Carey, daugh- ter of Richard Carey, the following chil- dren being the issue: Richard W., Harry F., Joseph D., and Edward G. The two first named are carpenters by vocation, and Joseph D. is bookkeeper for Alsop Broth- ers. Mr. Varley is popular in his home city and merits the high regard in which he is held by his many friends.
JOSEPH M. MALATESTA, M. D.,
who is engaged in the practice of medicine with gratifying success, at No. 42 Eighth avenue, Newark, was born in Philadelphia on the 27th of May, 1859, and is descended from one of the oldest families of sunny Italy, the name figuring conspicuously on the pages of Italian history. His grand- father, Francis Malatesta, was the third representative of that nation to land in New York city and the first to make a home in Philadelphia, in which city he en- gaged in the fruit-commission business for many years.
Mark Malatesta, the father of our subject, was born in Genoa, Italy, and was brought to the United States by his parents when about three years of age. In early manhood he engaged in the wine and liquor business, being an extensive importer of wines, but later he turned his attention to the hotel business and since 1878 has been proprietor and owner of Hotel Malatesta, at Atlantic City, one of the finest and most popular hotels in New Jersey. He was joined in
wedlock to Miss Marv Airola, daughter of Francis Airola, a Corsican who came to the United States when his daughter was only three months old and settled in Philadelphia, where he died in 1852. Mrs. Malatesta also departed this life in Philadelphia in Sep- tember, 1891, leaving three children: the Doctor; Carrie, wife of James K. Carmack, a prominent hotel man, formerly manager of the Grand House, of Philadelphia, and now manager of the Hotel Malatesta, of Atlantic City; and Ella, now deceased.
Dr. Malatesta acquired his elementary education in the Ringgold grammar school of Philadelphia, and on leaving the public schools at the age of fifteen was sent to Genoa, Italy, where he studied the Italian language and pursued a course in the class- ics, there continuing his studies for four and a half years. Returning to America he entered the Aterford, New Jersey Acad- emy, where he was graduated in 1879 with the degree of Master of Arts.
His literary training being thus com- pleted he secured a situation in Helmbold's pharmacy in the Continental Hotel. Phila- delphia, and afterward matriculated in the Philadelphia School of Pharmacy, where he was graduated with the class of 1884. But this was but a means to an end. He had determined to make the practice of medicine his life work, and having learned how to compound medicines he now began to master the science of applying them to the alleviation of human suffering and was enrolled as a student in the Jefferson Medi- cal College, where he completed a thorough and comprehensive course and was grad- uated in 1886. Following this he became a member of the Jefferson Medical Hospital staff and served for four years as an assist- ant under Professor Gross, in the surgical
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department. He then became chief of the medical clinic and an instructor in the Phil- adelphia polyclinic. Subsequently he was made chief of the clinic for diseases of the skin, in the same institution. In September, 1894, he located in Newark and has since engaged in the general practice of medicine with gratifying success. He is one of the best informed members of the profession in the city, is a close and thorough student and possesses a skill and ability that rank him far above the average member of the profession.
The Doctor is a member and medical ex- aminer for Newark City Lodge, No. 247, Heptasophs; also is the medicine man of Lucas Tribe, No. 143, Improved Order of. Red Men. He is medical examiner for Ris- ing Star Lodge, No. 2283, of the Knights of Honor, and belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. The home re- lations of Dr. Malatesta are very pleasant. He was married in 1887 to Miss Sabina Barchy, of Pittsburg, a lady of Italian de- scent, and in the community where they reside they have many warm friends.
THE CONDIT FAMILY.
John Cunditt is known to be the ancestor of nearly all bearing the name of Condit or Condict in the United States. Of his an- cestry nothing definite is known. Tradi- tion says he came from England or Wales. In the "Life of Sir Isaac Newton," by David Brewster, it is stated that John Con- duit, knight, married in England, a widow, Catherine Barton, who was a niece of Sir Isaac Newton, with whom they resided dur- ing the life of Sir Isaac and inherited his estate. Burke's "General Armory," refer- ring to the Conduitt family, gives: "Arms,
-Gules on a fesse wavy argent between three pitchers, double eared or, as many bees volant ppr. Crest,-Two caducean rods with wings, lying fesseways or, there- on a peacock's head ereased ppr."
The earliest reference made to John Cun- ditt, the American ancestor, is in 1678. He married, first, in Great Britain, where his wife died. As his name indicates, he was of Norman descent. He came to America in 1678 with his son Peter, and settled at Newark, New Jersey, where he married, second, Deborah -, by whom he had a son, John, who died a minor. He was the purchaser of lands "in the bounds of the town of Newark," in 1689 and 1691. The first deed describes the boundaries as "on the east by the river, on the south by said Condit, and on the west by a highway." This description indicates a previous deed. The second deed is from Richard Lawrence, March 24, 1691, and conveys to John Condit, weaver, nine- teen acres of upland for a lawful sum of money. This lot is described on the plain commonly called the "Mill Brook Plain." John Cunditt died in 1713, leaving one son, Peter.
(Second Generation.)-Peter Condit, son of John Cunditt, was born in England and came to America with his father. He married in 1695, Mary, daughter of Sam- uel and Mary (Ward) Harrison (son of Sergeant Richard Harrison). He had is- sue, Samuel, Peter, John, Nathaniel, Mary, Philip, Isaac. Three of the sons, John, Na- thaniel and Isaac, settled at the foot of the Orange mountain on the east.
(Third Generation.)-Samuel Condit, eldest son of Peter and Mary (Harrison) Condit, was born in the town of Newark, December 6, 1696. He married, first, in
MR. AND MRS. IRA H. CONDIT.
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1722, Mary Dodd, born November 8, 1698, and who died May 25, 1755. He died July 18, 1777.
About the year 1720, he purchased from the Indians land lying between the Orange mountains in what was afterwards called Pleasant Valley. According to tradition, this land was purchased of the Indians; its first private ownership, as the rec- ords show, was vested in Samuel Condit, and its extent was such that during his lifetime he gave to each of his five sons fifty acres, and on each lot thus donated he erected a house and also gave to each son a family Bible. He reserved to himself about seventy acres of land. Three of the farms have ever since remained in the fam- ily line of descent. Like his grandfather John, his first care was that each son should possess a copy of the holy scriptures, an act which, combined with the meager items of his history which are still preserved, indi- cates the sturdy Christian citizen. His selec- tion of a farm was a fortunate one. Tak- ing the Livingston road west from Orange by way of Eagle Rock, and by a long ascent reaching the top of the mountain, the val- ley beyond stretches out in a panorama of neat and productive farms with comfortable and tastefully built farm houses. Here was Samuel's home, where
"In sober state, Through the sequestered vale of mortal life, The venerable patriarch guileless held
The tenor of his way."
From here, during the many years of his manhood, was he wont to take his way over the mountain to the Orange church as often as the time arrived for divine ser- vice, and from here was borne his sacred dust to the Orange burying-ground, where a simple slab bears the inscription: "Sam-
uel Conduitt, Sr., died July 18, 1777." He had survived his first wife more than twenty years. He outlived his second wife, Mary Nutman (widow of Amos Williams), born 1700, whom he married in 1756, and who died February 18, 1777. Their graves are near their husband's, while in close prox- imity is that of his third son, Samuel, whose monument bears the name, "Samuel Con- duitt, Jr." Here, also, repose the remains of many useful members of the Condit fam- ily. The children of Samuel Condit (I) were: Daniel, Jotham, Samuel (2), Martha, David, Jonathan.
(Fourth Generation.)-Line of Daniel, eldest son of Samuel (I): Daniel Condit, eldest son of Samuel and Mary (Dodd) Condit, was born December 22, 1723, at the homestead, situated on the highway be- tween Orange and Swinefield roads (now Eagle Rock avenue), on the corner where Valley road crosses the highway. He occu- pied the farm given him by his father. He was an earnest patriot and served through- out the war of the Revolution. He was a member of Captain Williams' company, Second Regiment, Essex, also state troops, also Continental army. His brother David was major of the same regiment and for gallantry was made lieutenant colonel. Daniel was an exemplary Christian and a deacon in the Presbyterian church. He married Ruth, daughter of Samuel Harri- son, son of Samuel, son of Sergeant Rich- ard, son of Richard Harrison, the ancestor of the Harrison family, who died at Bran- ford, Connecticut, October 25, 1653. The issue of this marriage was Adonijah, Eu- nice, Jemima, Mary, Joel, Amos, Samuel, Ira, Martha.
Rev. Ira Condit, son of Daniel, was a very good and noted man. He graduated
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at Princeton in 1784, and from 1804 to 1809 was a trustee of the same college. From 1791 to 1794 he was president at Rutgers College, and did much to build it up, as it had run down during the Revo- lutionary war. He was ordained to preach at Newton in 1787, and had charge of churches at Newton and Hardwick. He was a gentleman eminent in learning, and prudent and successful in his ministry, and was prominent in the church and in Sun- day-school work. He was pastor of the Dutch Reformed church at New Bruns- wick at the time of his death. He died in New Brunswick, New Jersey, June 1, 18II, and his last words were: "Prepare for the life to come, and may you be of the right- eous who shall meet with the saints of God."
(Fifth Generation.)-Samuel Condit, seventh child of Daniel and Ruth (Harri- son) Condit, was born at the homestead of his father, August 16, 1761. He was but fifteen years of age at the breaking out of the war of the Revolution, yet he served as private in the Essex county militia. After his marriage he removed to the east side of Orange mountain and resided at what was known as Tory Corners. He was a de- vout Christian, a kind parent and a sincere friend. He was a member of the state legislature early in the century. He mar- ried Hannah, daughter of Ichabod Harri- son, son of Nathaniel, son of Joseph, son of Richard Harrison, the ancestor. His chil- dren were: Jemima, who died soon; Sarah; Jemima (2d); Eunice; Harriet; Samuel; Mary; Abby; Clara; Ira Harri- son, Ichabod. Samuel, the father, died August 31, 1822.
(Sixth Generation.)-Ira Harrison Con- dit, tenth child of Samuel and Hannah
(Harrison) Condit, was born on the corner of Park and Washington streets, Orange, in what has long been known as the Sam- uel Condit homestead, May 16, 1808. His sisters were born in the old homestead, the stone house on the mountain side. His only education was that afforded by the little village school, yet he made the most of his limited opportunities and what he lacked in book knowledge he made up in good judgment and hard common sense. He was a live business man in his day and speculated extensively in real estate and was, in his early days, a well known con- tractor in Essex county. He always took an active part in politics, which was char- acteristic of the family, and was one of the leading men of Essex county. He was an old-line Whig until the organiza- tion of the Republican party, which he united with and heartily endorsed its prin- ciples. He never desired office, but served in the board of chosen freeholders from 1871 to 1874. At one time he owned a large part of what is now Llewellyn park, and used it for farming purposes, which occupation he carried on in addition to his general business. In 1855 he sold one hundred acres to Llewellyn S. Haskell, and moved to Roseland in 1858. He has watched with pride the transformation of his old farm into the beautiful retreat which it is to-day, and gave to the immortal Has- kell many valuable suggestions.
Mr. Condit is still a large landholder, his property in West Orange, in Livingston township and in Morris county amounting to nearly six hundred acres. Among other tracts, he owns the original farm of Aaron Kitchell, his wife's grandfather. Mr. Con- dit has nearly reached his four score and ten years, and is still hale and hearty and in
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full possession of all his mental faculties and able to attend personally to all his busi- ness affairs. Mr. Condit married Phebe Farrand Mulford, daughter of Timothy, who was the son of Timothy Mulford; the former married Susan Kitchell, daughter of Aaron Kitchell, who was one of the patriot leaders of New Jersey. In the opening scenes of the Revolution he was foremost in the great debate, a zealous and sagacious champion of freedom. At the close of the war he was for some years in the state legis- lature. In 1799 he was elected representa- tive in congress and held that position by successive re-elections till 1807. He was then chosen United States senator and served four years in that capacity. The is- sue of Mr. Condit's marriage with Phebe Mulford was: Samuel, born July 9, 1832; Clara, born January 27, 1834; Hannah, born October 9, 1839; Elias Mulford, born May 22, 1841; Susan, born July 2, 1843, died November 23, 1894; Sarah, born De- cember 18, 1848; Mary and Harriet, twins, born October 31, 1850; Ira, born February 5, 1855, died March 24, 1859. Ira and Phebe, both in their ninetieth years, are liv- ing out a beautiful old age; and she, as well as he, is in possession of all her mental faculties. At all social events, in the home, it can be truly said of them that they are the host and hostess of the occasion. They are anticipating on September 13, 1898, to celebrate the sixty-seventh anniversary of their wedding,-a rare occasion indeed. Three daughters-Susan, Mary and Har- riet-grace the home. Their lives, too, have had an influence that has been felt, not only in the family circle but also in public walks of life. They saw the needs of a new church in their village and were in- strumental in establishing the Presbyterian
church of Roseland; and with the co-op- eration of their father and uncle Elias Mul- ford, who was a member of the family, the neat little concrete building which stands in the center of the village was presented by them to the Presbyterian society by deed dated May 8, 1894; and they are still lib- eral contributors to its support. The three sisters bought the hotel at Roseland, which had for over one hundred years main- tained the only bar room in the village, and converted the place into a distinctively tem- perance house, and as such it has been con- ducted since 1893. After a life of devotion and loving service, Susan entered peace- fully into rest November 23, 1894. Mary and Harriet were educated at the State Normal School and graduated in 1870, after which time they successfully held re- sponsible positions as teachers in the coun- ty. They retired from that work in 1892. At the present time Mary is devoting her strength and ability to a free night-school for working boys who wish to obtain an education. Harriet was offered the state lectureship of the Patrons of Husbandry. She wrote a sketch on old-fashioned arti- cles, which appeared in the historical ex- hibit of New Jersey at the World's Fair in Chicago. She is indeed quite a literary character. Both sisters are members of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry.
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