USA > New Jersey > Essex County > Newark > Biographical and genealogical history of the city of Newark and Essex County, New Jersey, V. 2 > Part 36
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4
WILLIAM A. GAY
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ESSEX COUNTY.
Kinsey, of Newark; Matthew T., president of the Blanchard Brothers & Lane Patent Leather Company, of Newark; and Mrs. Mary S. Devlin, of Newark.
William A. Gay was only four years of age when brought by his parents to this city, and he acquired his education princi- pally in the Newark Wesleyan Institute and later in a short course in a boarding-school of Montclair. At an early age he joined his father in the roofing business and is still en- gaged in that enterprise. His headquar- ters are at the corner of New and Norfolk streets, and he is now enjoying an excellent patronage by reason of his excellent work- manship, his well directed efforts and his honorable business methods.
Mr. Gay has been twice married. In New York city, in 1862, he wedded Miss Mary E. Crane, a daughter of Horace Crane, and to them were born three chil- dren: T. Elmer, who for seven years was with the Prudential Insurance Company and was for two years in charge of the Vir- ginia Insurance Company, at Richmond, then took charge of the American Insur- ance Company of Philadelphia: he served for six years as secretary of the United States Industrial Insurance Company, at Newark, and is now manager of the Indus- trial branch of the Pacific Mutual Insurance Company, of San Francisco, California, one of the best known insurance companies of this country; Matilda A., who is the wife of C. B. Hoyt, of Bridgeport, Connecticut; and Mary E., who is at home. The wife and mother died in 1878, and Mr. Gay was again married, this second union being with Mary F. Clammon, of Orange, New Jersey.
Mr. Gay is deeply interested in all that pertains to the welfare and advancement of Newark, and in addition to his roofing busi-
ness he is a member of the City Board of Trade and the Builders & Traders' Ex- change. He exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party. In 1895 he was elected a member of the board of education from the eleventh ward, and in that year was ap- pointed chairman of the school-house com- mittee, having in charge the erection of new school buildings. Since 1896 he has served as president of the board of edu- cation and has taken an active part in the formation and establishment of the present revised school system of Newark, which has largely advanced the grade of the schools in the city, and which is unsurpassed by any system in the entire state. He is deeply in- terested in all matters pertaining to the edu- cational advancement of the young and his labors have been most effective and valu- able.
In social affairs Mr. Gay is also prom- inent. For many years he has been a mem- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows. In 1873 he joined St. John's Lodge, No. 1, F. & A. M., and in 1889-90 was Worshipful Master of the lodge. He is also a member of Union Chapter, R. A. M., of Kane Council, R. & S. M., and of Damas- cus Commandery, K. T. In 1896 he served as grand marshal of the most worthy grand lodge of New Jersey. He is also a mem- ber of the Ancient Order of United Work- men and was master of Success Lodge, but withdrew from that organization in order to assist in the organization of Newark Lodge, of which he was a charter member and the first master. Mr. Gay is not only an ardent lover of music but is endowed with superior talents as a performer, and since twelve years of age he has served as organist in different prominent churches,
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both in Newark and Orange. He is a mem- ber of the Lincoln Club, and in all circles is very popular; his genial manner and kindly disposition, as well as his musical talents, make him a social favorite.
FRANK W. MEEKER,
who is extensively engaged in farming and dairying in Millburn township, is a business man of much ability and force of character, who, starting out in life for himself without capital, has steadily worked his way upward until he is the possessor of a valuable prop- erty which yields to him a good income.
Born in Millburn township, March 30, 1858, Mr. Meeker is a worthy representa- tive of a family whose identification with Essex county covers a long period, but back of that the ancestry can be traced to the Emerald Isle, where was born Timothy Meeker, the founder of the family in Amer- ica, who took up his residence near Spring- field, New Jersey, prior to the war of the Revolution. With his nine sons and two sons-in-law he participated in the struggle for independence and valiantly battled for the nation's rights. Few families can show so honorable a record. Isaac Meeker, his son, married a Miss McChesney, and reared three sons and four daughters, namely: Samuel, Oliver, Timothy, Mary, Ann, Nancy and Jerusha. Isaac Meeker followed farming as a life occupation and died when about seventy years of age.
Samuel Meeker, the grandfather of our subject, was born in 1797, on the old home- stead in Livingston township, where oc- curred the birth of our subject, and married Hannah, daughter of David Meeker, who was a native of Millburn and his relative. David Meeker was the father of four chil- dren, three of whom reached years of matur-
ity-Elias, Betsey and Hannah, while Lu- cinda died at the age of eighteen years. Samuel Meeker followed farming in Living- ston township during his active life and died at the home of his son, Samuel Harvey, June 8, 1878. His wife passed away some years previously, at the age of sixty-five years. They were members of the North- field Baptist church, and in politics the grandfather was a Whig until the organiza- tion of the Republican party, when he joined its ranks. His family included the following named children: Eunice, de- ceased wife of Sampson Sharp; Enoch, de- ceased; Oliver, who has also passed away; Samuel Harvey and Isaac.
The father of our subject, Samuel Har- vey Meeker, was born on the old home- stead in Livingston township, March 3, 1824, and when eleven years of age started out to make his own way in the world. He was employed as a farm hand until twenty- seven years of age, and in September, 1852, purchased the farm upon which our subject now resides, the land at that time being heavily timbered. This he cleared and im- proved, successfully carrying on farming for a long period. He was married in 1855 to Miss Dorcas Almira Williams, a native of West Orange, and a daughter of Daniel S. Williams. Of the children born by this union, four died in childhood. Among the children were: Cora; Matilda, who married Joseph Condit, of Orange Valley; Frank; Ira; and Ada, wife of Joseph Ranibeck. Their mother died February 4, 1876, at the age of forty-five years, and Mr. Meeker was afterward married again, his second union being with Miss Rachel Frances Jen- nings, a daughter of David M. and Rachel (Burnett) Jennings. In his political views he is a Republican.
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Frank W. Meeker, whose name intro- duces this article, was born and reared on the old homestead and is indebted to the common schools of the neighborhood for his educational privileges. On attaining his majority he established a retail milk route in Orange and South Orange. This he conducted for a time from the old home- stead, but about 1880 purchased fifty-three acres of land in Livingston township, and at the same time rented the farm upon which he now resides. Two years later he purchased this place and now has one hun- dred and fifty acres of fine land, particu- larly well adapted for pasturage, a very im- portant essential in connection with the dairy business. He also has well tilled fields, and raises considerable grain, which he feeds to the stock. He is now engaged in the wholesale and retail dairy business in Orange and South Orange, and his arrange- ments for caring for his products are among the best in the county. His barns are models of convenience, one having a very large floor space, while another barn has a capacity of one hundred and fifty tons of hay. He also has a fifteen-horse-power en- gine and boiler for steaming and cutting feed and cleaning cans and bottles. All the arrangements are most complete and per- fect, and the products of the dairy find a ready sale on the market.
Mr. Meeker was married March 20, 1882, to Miss Laura L. McChessney, a daughter of the late Hugh McChessney, a farmer of Mill- burn township, who married Sarah F. Col- lins. They were the parents of twelve chil- dren. By her marriage Mrs. Meeker has be- come the mother of eight children: Fred H., Laura A., Sada, Grace, Edna, who died at the age of seventeen months, Harvey, Ada and Ruth.
Mr. Meeker has taken quite an active part in political affairs and has served on the township committee and board of educa- tion. His vote supports the men and meas- ures of the Republican party. He is a mem- ber of the Patrons of Husbandry, and he and his wife hold membership in the North- field Baptist church, of which he is now serving as trustee.
C. DURAND CHAPMAN,
at his beautiful home in Irvington, exercises in the art of painting, the talent which has gained him eminence among America's most famed artists and enables him to per- petuate on the canvas the beauty of the passing moment. The love of nature, the appreciation of harmony in color and form, the strong powers of imagination which look beyond the exterior to the soul and spirit within, the sensitiveness to beauty even in the humble scenes and walks of life which are found in the composition of every true artist, are his. It is the possession of these attributes which has gained him dis- tinction in the high calling to which his life is devoted and which enables him to bring before the world the loveliness of animate and inanimate creation which is not recog- nized by the majority of mankind. New Jersey may well be proud to number lıim among her native sons, and Irvington ac- counts him one of her valued citizens.
Mr. Chapman was born in Essex county, September 23, 1856, and is the son of the late Rev. John L. Chapman, a noted edu- cator, divine and author, who died July 27, 1890. He was born in Ireland and was of Norman-French descent. His birth oc- curred in 1812, and a few years later he came to the United States, where he was
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.
educated, being graduated in a theological seminary in New York city. Having de- termined to devote his life to his fellow men through the avenue of the ministry, he took up his residence in Irvington soon after his marriage and founded the First Reformed church of that place. He was also the foun- der of the Home Institute, a training school for young people, which flourished in Irv- ington for some years, and became one of the prominent institutions of learning in the state. He closed his work there about the beginning of the war and went abroad, be- ing absent for a year. Upon his return he was tendered the position of president of the Wetmore Institute, in Irving, Kansas, and for three years was at the head of the faculty, after which he came again to New Jersey. In a short time, however, he re- turned to Kansas, and for two years was pastor of a church in Troy. The remain- der of his useful, active and honorable life was passed at his pleasant home in Irving- ton, where he continued his labors for mankind, leaving behind him a memory that is a blessed benediction to all who knew him. During his earlier residence in Irvington he formed the acquaintance of Dr. Vincent, then pastor of the Methodist church there, who became a student in the Home Institute, of which Rev. Chapman was then the head. Their friendship and association led to the ultimate initiation of the Chautauqua movement, which has made Dr. Vincent famous throughout the entire country. Dr. Chapman was also associated with Rev. T. DeWitt Talmage in the Brooklyn Tabernacle, and in the Brooklyn Lay College, a theological school. He_was also the author of a system of text-books, published by D. Appleton & Company, and his life was devoted to the improvement of
the mental and spiritual condition of the race. He was married to Miss Jane B. Du- rand, daughter of Cyrus Durand (the en- graver and inventor) and a niece of the famous American artist, Asher B. Durand. They had three sons,-Chalmers D., an Episcopal minister, S. W. and C. Durand.
Mr. Chapman, of this review, acquired his literary education in Stephens' Institute, in Hoboken, New Jersey, and then turned his attention to the study of art. Early in his boyhood he manifested a love of painting and gave evidence of the talents he pos- sessed by excellent freehand drawing. He became a student in the National Academy of Design, in New York city, where, at the age of twenty-two years he was graduated with honorable mention. Among his fellow pupils there were Henry P. Roor, B. R. Fitz, Fred W. Kost and Ed A. Bell. Mr. Chap- man was also graduated in a night class in Cooper Institute about the same time he completed his studies in the National Acad- emy of Design. He then opened a studio in Tenth street, New York, where he re- mained for three years, when, wishing to still further perfect himself in his art, he went abroad and studied in Munich and in Paris. In the latter city he was a student in the Corman school, under the instruc- tion of Fernando Corman and Benjamin Constant.
Returning to America in 1885, after two years' absence, he opened a studio in New- wark and one in Irvington, and has since devoted himself to painting and illustrat- ing. In 1896 he was in England in the ca- pacity of art writer and illustrator for the magazine published by the Prudential In- surance Company. In the intervals of his study while in Europe he produced several paintings of considerable merit, including
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"Mine Ease in Mine Inn," and "Reverie," the latter exhibited in the Paris salon. Among his notablecanvases in Boston, New York and Newark are "Reveries of a Bache- lor," "In Disgrace," "Come In," "The Old Clarinette," "Eventide" and "Old Chums."" Mr. Chapman delights in rendering quaint interiors, in which are figures, all having the atmosphere of homely comfort and old- fashioned cheer.
As a painter of still life, he has been pro- nounced by leading critics to be without a superior in this country. He is well known as a designer of strong imaginative powers and an illustrator in black and white, and is also a very successful instructor in the art of painting and drawing, being now profes- sor in drawing in the antique classes for ladies at the "Evening Drawing School" in Irvington. He belongs to the American Art Society and the Newark Sketch Club, and is very prominent and popular in art circles.
On the 10th of December, 1890, Mr. Chapman wedded Miss Carrie A. Hol- brook, daughter of A. M. Holbrook, of Newark. They have one child, John Hol- brook Chapman. Their beautiful home is the center of a cultured society circle, and the high artistic taste of the owner is indi- cated in its adornment.
JULIUS STEFFENS,
in the conduct of a large and constantly growing business, has acquired a handsome competence and is now living retired in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil. The attributes of the successful business man are his. He possesses great energy, strong determination, resolute purpose and above all, that most essential factor, good
common sense, and from small beginnings he developed a business which extended into many foreign countries and brought him rich returns. His dealings were char- acterized by the utmost fairness, and it is this that places Mr. Steffens above envy in his present comfortable financial condition.
It is ever of interest to note the progress of one who has risen from humble sur- roundings and to mark the path that he has followed to the goal of prosperity. Mr. Steffens entered upon the scene of his earthly activities as a native son of Prussia, November 4, 1829. His father, John Henry Steffens, born in 1776, was a silk manufacturer, and two of his sons are still leading business men of Elberfeldt, Prussia, their old family home.
Our subject was reared in the place of his nativity, and while pursuing the regular educational course also completed a course in chemistry, which in after years he put to practical use in experimenting in the manufacture of varnish. Just at the time when he was about to enter business life he was brought face to face with thegovern- ment on the charge of being a revolutionist, having taken part in the attempted revolu- tion of 1848, which failed, and as that of- fense was punishable with a long and severe sentence, he chose to avoid such conse- quences and fled to the United States. He landed in New York in October, 1852, and here in the "land of the free" he has not only found political liberty, but has also taken advantage of the opportunities af- forded each man to utilize to the full his business powers in legitimate channels of endeavor and win the success which ever awaits honorable, persistent effort.
Mr. Steffens readily secured work from Daniel Tiernan & Company, extensive
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color manufacturers of that city and re- mained in their employ for three years. Through the succeeding five years he was connected with the house of Reynolds, De- voe & Pratt, varnish-makers, after which he came to Newark and invested his capi- tal, which he had accumulated through in- dustry and economy, in a business of his own on Vesie street. There he engaged in the manufacture of varnish and operated his factory until eight years ago, when he sold out and laid aside the care of business life. He enjoyed a constantly increasing trade and was frequently obliged to enlarge his fa- cilities in consequence thereof. His patron- age came from all sections of this country, also from England, South America and Mexico, and the volume of his business as- sumed gigantic proportions and brought to him a handsome income.
In his political views Mr. Steffens is a stalwart Republican, who warmly advocates the principles of his party. He was elected a member of the city council from the tenth ward, filling that office at the time when Judge Ricord was mayor, and was a stanch friend of the chief magistrate in his oppo- sition to the granting of a franchise for the Nicholson pavement in this city.
Mr. Steffens is a man of domestic tastes who finds his greatest happiness at his own fireside, and it seems that he cannot do too much to promote the happiness and en- hance the welfare of his family. He was married in New York city, in 1853, to Miss Sophie Snetzer, daughter of John Snetzer, a native of Baden, Germany. Four chil- dren grace this union, namely: Julius, Augustus T., a manufacturer of saddlery hardware in Newark; and Julia and Sophie both married. Mr. Steffens has traveled extensively during the past twenty years
and his wife is always his preferred travel- ing companion. He has visited many points of beauty and of interest in the United States and Canada, has journeyed through the West Indies, has seen most of the principal cities of Europe and contem- plates a trip to the Sandwich islands. He takes great delight in viewing nature's love- liness as well as the marvelous works of man, and has a broad general intelligence which only travel can bring.
HENRY B. HALSEY, ·
a dealer in lumber, coal and masons' mate- rials at South Orange, was born in Madison, New Jersey, February 5, 1854, being a lineal descendant of Thomas Halsey, one of the founders of the town of South Hampton, Long Island, in 1640-this being the first English town in the state of New York. His father, Major Thomas J. Halsey, was born in Flanders, Morris county, and was a son of Henry Halsey, a native of Southamp- ton, Long Island, and a grandson of David Fithian Halsey, who was a captain in the Revolutionary war, also born on Long Is- land. . Henry Halsey was the first of the family to locate in New Jersey, and at Flan- ders he established a tannery, which he car- ried on for a number of years, after which he removed to Ohio, dying at Marseilles, that state, at the age of about sixty-five years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Eliz- abeth Corwin, belonged to a family that removed from Long Island to New Jersey at a very early day. The grandfather of our subject served as a captain in the state mi- litia and was an elder in the Presbyterian church.
Major Thomas J. Halsey was reared in Flanders. His educational privileges were
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limited, but he was a young man of great natural ability, which made up for his lack of school training. When a young man he went to Ohio, where he followed various business enterprises. After a few years, however, he returned to New Jersey, where he engaged in operating a canal boat for a short time. He then went to Madison, where he was employed as station agent for the Morris & Essex Railroad Company for about two years, after which he was transferred to Dover, where he remained until the breaking out of the civil war.
When the south attempted to overturn the Union he raised Company E, Eleventh New Jersey Infantry, 1862, and as its cap- tain went to the front, and at Chancellors- ville he was severely wounded in the right thigh, which disabled him for active duty for a time. As soon as possible he rejoined his regiment, having been promoted as Major, and participated in the Grant cam- paign until captured on June 22, 1864, dur- ing the siege of Petersburg. He was con- fined in the prisons of Libby at Richmond, Virginia, Macon, Georgia, Charleston and Columbia, South Carolina, and Charlotte, North Carolina, and exchanged March I, 1865. He then rejoined his regiment at Richmond, and was with his command until mustered out at the close of the war.
Major Halsey then returned to his old position as station agent at Dover, and was soon after tendered the position of purchas- ing agent for coal and wood for the Morris & Essex Railroad, in which capacity he served until that road became a part of the Delaware, Lackawanna & West- ern system. He remained with the latter company as wood and tie agent for several years and was then made dispatcher at Port Morris, but after a
short time he resigned in order to engage in the lumber business at Dover, where he re- mained until 1876, when he sold out and es- tablished a grocery store at Hackettstown. After two years he disposed of that proper- ty and removed to Holden, Johnson county, Missouri, where he carried on farming for some years, and, selling the farm, he con- ducted a hardware store for about one year. On the expiration of that period he re- turned to the grocery business, which he continued until his death, January 20, 1893. While residing. in Dover he was a mem- ber of the first city council and was a promi- nent and influential citizen.
In 1851 Major Halsey married Miss Sarah Elizabeth Burt, of Succasunna Plains, New Jersey, a daughter of Job Burt, who was a representative of one of the old fami- lies of this state. They became the parents of nine children, two of whom died in in- fancy, while five sons and one daughter are still living. The parents were members of the Presbyterian church. The mother still survives her husband and makes her home in Holden, Missouri. The Major was at one time a member of the Independent Or- der of Odd Fellows, and in all the relations of life was true and faithful to the duties which devolved upon him.
H. B. Halsey, whose name introduces this sketch, was reared in Dover until fifteen years of age, and acquired his early educa- tion in the public and private schools at Dover and at Deckertown, Blairstown and the Model School of Trenton. He passed an examination for West Point, but on ac- count of an injured arm could not enter the military school. He then entered upon his business career as ticket agent with the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Rail- road Company, at Dover, New Jersey, and
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later became a clerk for Beemer & Palmer, of Dover. Later he spent about a year in Texas, and then, returning to New Jersey, entered the employ of Gage & Halsey, of Dover, continuing with them for two years, when he became a student in the State Uni- versity at Champaign, Illinois. On leaving that institution he followed teaching through the following winter, and then re- turning to Dover resumed his old position with C. F. Gage & Company, his father hav- ing sold his interest in the firm, continuing with that firm until the business went into the hands of a receiver. He then aided in closing out the business, subsequently hav- ing entered the employ of a lumber com- pany, and in August, 1879, went upon the road as traveling salesman, with headquar- ters at Newark. After a year's clerkship in Montclair, in the employ of F. F. Sayre & Company, he again entered the service of the Tobyhanna & Lehigh Lumber Com- pany, and a year later became salesman for J. S. H. Clark & Company, with whom he remained eight months. In 1890, in part- nership with J. Bayard Clark, he began dealing incoal, wood and masons' materials, under the firm name of H. B. Halsey & Company, and is now one of the enterpris- ing and successful business men of South Orange.
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