USA > New Jersey > Essex County > Newark > Biographical and genealogical history of the city of Newark and Essex County, New Jersey, V. 2 > Part 37
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63
Mr. Halsey was married in 1886 to Miss Sarah L. Harvey, a native of Morris county, and a daughter of Joseph P. Harvey of the same county. They have two children: Jeanette and Helen Elizabeth. Mr. Halsey belongs to the Masonic fraternity and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and is an ancient Odd Fellow. He is also a mem- ber of the Field Club. His political support is given the Republican party, and he has been an acceptable member of the town
council twice, once by election and once by appointment of the board of trustees.
RALPH BEERS,
a machinist and dealer in bicycles, and a prominent and progressive young business man of East Orange, was born in Morris- town, Morris county, New Jersey, on the 15th of August, 1868, and is a son of the late William and Harriet N. (Hoagland) Beers. Members of the Beers family were among the earliest settlers of New Jersey and were well known throughout Monmouth county, where most of the ancestors made their homes. William Beers was a native of Monmouth county, where he resided un- til 1845, following the vocation of farmer, and he was the first one to introduce the peach-growing industry into Monmouth county. In 1845 he moved to Morris county, where he became closely identified with the public affairs, was a member of the board of freeholders, and held other re- sponsible positions. Both he and his faith- ful wife were taken to their eternal rest in Morris county, after passing useful and well spent lives. They had two sons, James and Ralph.
Ralph Beers passed his boyhood days upon the old farmstead, acquiring a good education in the public schools of the vicin- ity, and at the age of sixteen years went to Morristown and learned the trade of ma- chinist, which vocation he has since fol- lowed, coming to East Orange in 1891 and establishing his present business, in which he has met with the success merited by his earnest efforts, diligence and strict integrity of character.
In the social relations of life Mr. Beers is a member of East Orange Council, Royal
273
ESSEX COUNTY.
Arcanum, and the Loyal Legion Benefit Society, of Newark. Politically considered he is a stanch Democrat, and in his relig- ious faith he is an adherent of the Methodist Episcopal church.
On the 23d of September, 1889, Mr. Beers was united in marriage to Miss Anna Meslar, a daughter of William H. and Sarah Meslar, and of this union two chil- dren have been born, namely: Hattie, Janu- ary, 25, 1891, and Ruth, June 10, 1895.
JOSEPH S. SUTPHEN, M. D.,
one of the well known members of the New- ark medical profession, with office and res- idence at No. 193 Orange street, was born in Somerset county, New Jersey, on the 5th of April, 1839, and is a direct descend- ant of Dirck Van Zutphen, who came from Holland to the New World in 1651 and took up his residence on Long Island. The Doctor's father, Peter Sutphen, was a na- tive of Somerset county, New Jersey, where he followed farming throughout his entire life, his death occurring in 1878. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Sarah Smith, and was also a native of Somerset county, passed to her final rest in the year 1880. They had three sons and three daughters, but only two are now living,- the Doctor, and Arthur P., of Somerset county.
Dr. Sutphen spent the early years of his life upon the home farm, acquiring his ed- ucation in the country schools and in Ches- ter Institute, where he pursued his studies for one term. In 1860 he began the study of medicine with his brother, and after con- tinuing his reading for a few months en- tered the initiatory service of the govern- ment as hospital nurse in the United States
General Hospital, of Newark. He won the degree of M. D. in 1865 from the medical department of the New York University, and the same year located in his native county, where he opened an office and be- gan practice. There he continued until 1870, adding to his technical knowledge a valuable experience. After five years he came to Newark, opened an office and also established a drug store. He continued the dual work until 1894, when he disposed of the store in order to devote his entire time to his practice, which had grown to .extensive proportions. He is doing an ex- cellent and profitable business and is one of the best informed members of the profes- sion in this city, being a close student who advances continually in connection with the progress that marks the science of medi- cine. He is a member of the Essex County Medical Society and the New Jersey State Medical Society.
The Doctor is one of the recognized leaders of the Republican party in Essex county, well informed on the issues of the day and thoroughly in sympathy with the principles advocated by the party leaders. His worth and loyalty as a citizen are rec- ognized by his fellow townsmen, who, be- lieving in his fitness for civic honors, have called him to a number of public offices. During the years 1878, 1879 and 1880 he represented his ward on the board of chosen freeholders of Essex county. In the latter part of 1880 he removed to Indiana, where he engaged in the drug business until 1884, when he returned to Newark. In 1891 he was elected a member of the board of edu- cation, serving one term and declining a re- nomination. In 1878 and again in 1892 he was the Republican nominee for the state legislature, but as the district is very
ii-18
274
ESSEX COUNTY.
strongly Democratic he failed of election. He has been a member of the county Re- publican committee for many years and his effective service has been of great value to the party. In 1896 he was elected a mem- ber of the Newark board of aldermen from the fifteenth ward and in that service has been the champion of all measures for the public good, for reform and for progress.
The Doctor was married in 1864 to Miss Harriet E., a daughter of the late Judge John Thatcher, of Newark. She died in 1872, leaving three children, two of whom have since died. The surviving child is Minnie F., wife of Charles E. Scott, of Sheridan, Indiana. In September, 1873, Dr. Sutphen was again married, his second union being with Miss Margaret Cairns, of Newark, a granddaughter of Samuel Cairns, Sr. They now have one daughter, Cora, eleven years of age.
HARRY FIRTH,
one of the leading architects of Orange, New Jersey, is a native of England and traces his ancestry back to the Isle of Man.
John Firth, his grandfather, was born and passed his life on that isle. He was never engaged in any active business, but lived the life of a retired gentleman. His chil- dren numbered four. Harriet, his eldest child, now deceased, was the wife of John W .. Naylor, one of the largest iron founders in Great Britain; the next in order of birth was Marrion; George is deceased; and William, the youngest, is the father of our subject. William Firth was born and reared on the Isle of Man. When a young man he located in Bradford, England, where he en- gaged in the manufacture of woolen goods and where he is still carrying on business,
now being ranked with the largest manu- facturers of England. Hemarried Miss Jane Pullan, and their union has been blessed in the birth of eleven children, namely: Eliza- beth, widow of Walter Kirby, who was a woolen manufacturer of Bradford, is the mother of two children; Samuel P., a retired citizen of Devonshire, England, married Miss Emily Walmsley; Annie is the wife of Gilbert Hay, a wine merchant of Sheffield, England; Louisa, wife of Mr. Hicks, resides at Great Neck, Long Island, New York; Herbert, a prominent lawyer of London, England, has a wife and seven children; Ada, wife of George Loverige, a broker re- siding in Hull, England; Thomas, a retired citizen of New York; John, living retired in Orange, New Jersey, married Miss Emily Lasher of New York, and they are the parents of six children; Harry, whose name heads this sketch, and Hettie and Amy, at their parental home.
Harry Firth was born in Bradford, Eng- land, February 26, 1862, and in his native land spent the first twenty-one years of his life. His early training was in private schools at Bradford. He entered Thor- parch college in Yorkshire, England, where he pursued and completed a theological course; however, he never entered the min- istry. He seemed to have a natural bent for architecture, and on leaving college entered the office of Lockwood & Mawson, archi- tects of Bradford, where he remained until 1883, the date of his coming to America. Upon his arrival in this country he located in East Orange, New Jersey, where he has since resided and enjoyed a prosperous business. Many of the handsomest public buildings and private residences of the Or- anges have been built after his plans, all showing wonderful ingenuity as well as
275
ESSEX COUNTY.
wide knowledge of available material and devices for comfort.
A few years after coming to this country Mr. Firth was united in marriage, in Jersey City, to Miss Millie Warren, daughter of John and Mary (Sniffen) Warren, and great-great-granddaughter of the famous General Warren. They have two children, William Harrold, born in 1891, and Milton Warren, in 1893.
Mr. Firth is a member of the Episcopal church, and politically he harmonizes with the Republican party.
CHARLES H. FRINT,
the popular and well known member of the firm of Smith & Frint, was born at West Kill, Greene county, New York, on the 2d of July, 1857, and is a son of Sydney D. and Julia F. (Dunham) Frint. Both paternal and maternal ancestors were of German stock, members of the family com- ing to America at an early date and settling in the state of New York. The grand- father of our subject was born at Bushnell- ville, New York, and there passed his en- tire life, engaged in agricultural pursuits. He married Dymity Lameut and the fol- lowing three children were born to them: Sydney; Dymity, who married Justice Knowles; and Catherine, who became the wife of Henry Banker. Sydney and Cath- erine still survive, the latter of whom now resides near Rochester, New York.
Sydney Frint was born at Bushnellville, New York, on the 5th of March, 1826, where his education was obtained in the district schools, after leaving which he se- cured a position with a large mercantile es- tablishment and was one of the pioneer traveling salesmen in the Empire state. To
Mr. and Mrs. Frint were born six children, of whom the following record is given: Rose, who became the wife of the Rev. O. C. Crawford, a Congregational minister at present being located at Indian River, Kansas; Charles H., the subject of this review; DeWitt C., residing at Deer Lodge, Montana, where he is extensively engaged in cattle-raising; George B. is engaged in the drug business at Middletown, New York; John W. resides at Middletown and conducts a wholesale liquor establishment; and Frank M. lives in Newark and is in the employ of the Singer Sewing Machine Company. Mr. Frint is now a resident of Middletown, New York, where he has spent the past thirty years of his life.
Charles H. Frint received his preliminary education in the public schools of Middle- town, supplemented by a course at the high school and academy, and after completing his studies he was for three years engaged in the retail shoe trade in Middletown and for the following thirteen years was as- sociated with L. E. Schoonmaker & Com- pany, wholesale boot and shoe dealers of New York city, being for eight years the traveling salesman for the house. In 1891 he became a partner in the present business and is one of the leading and successful mer- chants in Newark.
On the 20th of October, 1885, Mr. Frint was united in marriage to Miss Lena Sut- ton, a daughter of Louis and Lydia Sut- ton, of Warwick, Orange county, New York, and they became the parents of four children, namely: Lydia, born April 20, 1888; Edna, October, 1889; Madaline, March 4, 1892; and Helen, July 14, 1893.
In his political views Mr. Frint is a stanch Republican, and as to his religious predilections it may be sufficient to state
276
ESSEX COUNTY.
that he and his family attend the Episcopal church.
DAVID A. DEPUE, LL. D.
David Ayres Depue traces his ancestry back to one of the earliest families of the country. The name has been variously spelled by writers of early American his- tory; first appearing as Depui, then as De- pue, and again as Depuis. The family prob- ably preceded William Penn to the Key- stone state. Samuel Depue, one of the early progenitors of the family in America, is spoken of, in 1730, by Nicholas Scull, a surveyor, as "the venerable Samuel Depui," and the settlement of Minesink, on the Delaware, where he lived, was founded be- fore William Penn made his appearance in America. Samuel Depui, when seen by Mr. Scull, was, doubtless, a man between sixty and seventy years of age; but whether he or his progenitor were among the orig- inal settlers of Minesink is not certain. He had a son named Nicholas, who was born in Minesink, about the year 1720, and who, when old enough, accompanied his father upon his making trips to Esophus -now Kingston, New York. At that place Nicholas Depuis, or "Nicholas De- puis, Esquire," as he was afterwards called, settled for a short time, and then returned to Minesink, where, in 1787, he was joined by Surveyor Scull, residing in "a spacious store in great plenty and affluence." Mr. Scull speaks of him as "the amiable Nich- olas Depuis, Esquire."
From notes on Budets' Account of Penn- sylvania and New Jersey, 1685, we find that "Nicholas Depuy, founder of the family, fled from France to Holland during the persecution of the Huguenots and came to
America, with his brothers, Ephraim and Abraham, settling near Kingston, New York."
Moses Depui, son of Nicholas, first, was one of the charter members of Rochester, New York, under the grant of Queen Anne, in 1703. He took the oath of al- legiance in Ulster county in 1728, his name is given among a "List of Commanding Officers, Milletery and Sivel, old officers and old men." Moses Depuy is also men- tioned as a member of assembly of Ulster county, 1752.
These men were among the early ances- tors of Judge Depue, the subject of this sketch. His great-grandfather, Benjamin Depue, served as a commissary during the war of the Revolution and married Cather- ine, daughter of Colonel Abraham Van Campen, a judge of the court of common pleas. of Sussex county, New Jersey, who held office as colonel in the Colonial army. Abraham, son of Benjamin Depue was the grandfather of Judge Depue. Benjamin, son of Abraham, who carried down the name of his grandfather, Benjamin Depue, was the father of the subject of this sketch. Benjamin Depue resided at Mount Bethel, at which place he married Elizabeth, daughter of Moses Ayres. Mrs. Benjamin Depue was known as a most estimable woman; to her careful training and influ- ence much of the success of the life of her son, the Judge, is attributable.
To those who may not be uninterested in the history of this old family, the following notes are culled from various sources, ar- chives, ancient manuscripts and records of divers kinds. To such we give, in brief, these notes upon the Depuy family, in con- nection with the sketch of Judge David A. Depue, who is, as already stated, a descend-
Davia A. Dipine
277
ESSEX COUNTY.
ant of Nicholas Depui mentioned in the be- ginning of this article. Nicholas Depui, who may be called the founder of the family in America, "sailed from Artois, on the ship Ourmerland Church and reached New York in October, 1662." He applied, in March, 1663, to the city authorities "for land, seed and six months' provisions." In June, 1665, he was sworn in as "Beer and Weigh-house poster." In 1674 we find him named in a list of "the wealthiest citizens," and he is upon record as "paying tax on six hundred floumes." He lived in what was known as De Markeveth, in the rear of the present Produce Exchange. His wife was Catherina Renard. Nicholas Depui's chil- dren were: John, born 1656; Moses, born 1657; Joseph, born 1663; Aaron, born 1664; Magdelene, born 1667; Susannah, born 1669; Nicholas, born 1670; Paulus, born 1675.
Nicholas' will was proven July, 1691, and he left his property to his wife and surviv- ing children, John, Moses, Aaron, Susan- nah and Nicholas, "share and share alike." Some time before his death he had been granted a large tract of land, west of the Hudson to Ulster county; on this land his son Moses settled, probably before his fath- er's death. It is said of Moses, son of Nich- olas, that "he became the most prominent man in Ulster county." His wife was Marie, or Margaret, Wynkoop. His chil- dren were: Moses H., born 1691, married February 14, 1716, to Margaret Schoon- macher; Benjamin, born 1695, married September 3, 1719, to Elizabeth Schoon- macher; Catherine, born 1701, married May 10, 1722, to Benjamin Schoonmacher; Jacobus, born 1703, married August 20, 1725, to Sarah Schoonmacher; Cornelius, baptized 1688. The Schoonmachers were
all children of Jacobus Schoonmacher of Kingston. Nicholas, 2d, probably went to Kingston with his brother Moses.
Moses Depuy, born February 16, 1761, married, in 1780, Margaret Van Gorden, and lived near the Delaware Water Gap. His children were: Elizabeth C., born March II, 1781, married Ichabod Baldwin; John C., born June 29, 1782, died in prison, in Canada, 1812; James C., born July 7, 1784; David C., born June 5, 1786; Will- iam C., born December 7, 1790; Navery C., born December 7, 1790, married Chris- tian Beidleman; Elijah C., born Novem- ber 14, 1793; Samuel C., born March 14, 1796, married Hannah Rewalt; Benjamin C., born July 16, 1799, married Betsy Smith of Wallpack, New Jersey; Delilah C., born August 19, 1801. James (3) married Jane De Witt, December 10, 1809, and went to live near Geneva, New York.
Of the genealogical record of the Depue family branch of which the subject of our sketch belongs we give the following table: Nicholas Depui, founder of the family in America, married Catherina Renard; Moses, born 1657, married Marie Wyn- koop; Benjamin, born 1695, married Eliza- beth Schoonmacher, September 13, 1719, died 1765; Abraham, born September 28, 1765, married Susannah Hoffman, died Oc- tober 21, 1851; Benjamin, born September I, 1796, married Elizabeth Ayres, died June 18, 1884; David Ayres, born October 27, 1826, married, first, Mary V. Stuart, and second, Delia A. Slocum.
We are indebted to Mrs. L. E. Schoon- macher, of Stone Ridge, New York, H. T. Depuy, of New York city, to the Colonial Archives of Pennsylvania, to the Records of the First Dutch Church of Kingston, New York, to the History of Kingston,
278
ESSEX COUNTY.
New York, and that of Sussex county, New Jersey, as well as to Mrs. David Law- rence Gregg, of Salt Lake City, for a tran- script from a family Bible in her possession, for the information furnished above.
David Ayres Depue, son of Benjamin Depue and Elizabeth (Ayres) Depue, was born at Mount Bethel, Northampton coun- ty, Pennsylvania, October 27, 1826. The Ayres family, to which Mrs. Benjamin De- pue belonged, is one of antiquity. Origin- ally, the name Ayres and Eyres were identi- cal, their origin is traced to a knight of the time of William the Conqueror.
The preparatory education of David A. Depue, the subject of our sketch, was re- ceived at the school of Rev. John Vander- veer, D. D., a well known educator of his day, in Easton, Pennsylvania. Having at- tained a thorough academic training Mr. Depue entered the College of New Jersey at Princeton, New Jersey, where he was graduated in 1846. His parents had re- moved from Pennsylvania to Belvidere, New Jersey, in 1840, their son, therefore, immediately after graduation, commenced the reading of law in that place, entering, for that purpose, the office of John M. Sherrerd, who, for more than forty years, was a leader of the bar of northern New Jersey.
After his admission to the bar Mr. Depue began his professional life in Belvidere, and laid for himself in that place, and during his early days as a practitioner, the founda- tion upon which has been built his subse- quent success and eminence at the bar and upon the bench.
In 1866 he was appointed by Governor Marcus L. Ward as associate justice of the supreme court, and shortly afterward re- moved to Newark, Essex county, New Jer-
sey, which county, together with Union county, was embraced in the circuit to which he was assigned.
In 1873, on the expiration of this term, he was reappointed for a second term by Governor Joel Parker. He was again reap- pointed, in 1880, by Governor George B. McClellan, and, for the fourth and fifth terms, was appointed, in 1887, by Governor Green, and, in 1894, by Governor Werts.
No comment is necessary upon these suc- cessive appointments, for each one speaks for itself. The recognition of fitness for one of the highest positions in the gift of the executive, by five governors, covering a period of over thirty years, is a testi- monial such as falls to the lot of few men. It is recorded of Judge Depue that "he took to the bench the very highest qualifi- cations for the most responsible office in the system of the state government, and his record, as judge, has been in harmony with his record as a man and a lawyer." In 1874, together with Chief Justice Beasly and Hon. Cortlandt Parker, Judge Depue was appointed to revise the laws of New Jersey; a work which was completed to the great satisfaction of the bench and bar throughout the state.
The degree of LL. D. was conferred up- on Judge Depue, in 1874, by Rutgers Col- lege, New Jersey, and, in 1880, the same de- gree was given to him by the College of New Jersey, at Princeton.
In right accord with the dignity and em- inence of his position, the subject of our sketch is known as a man of broad culture and understanding, and as one whose out- look upon men and affairs is without per- sonal bias, without prejudice or favor.
Judge Depue married Mary Van Allen, daughter of John Stuart, who was for many
279
ESSEX COUNTY.
years cashier of the Belvidere Bank. Mrs. Depue died in 1859, leaving one child, Eliza Stuart. In 1862 Judge Depue mar- ried Delia Ann, daughter of Oliver E. Slocum, of Tollard, Massachusetts. Their children are Sherrerd, Mary Stuart and Francis A.
The son, Sherrerd Depue, was born in Warren county, New Jersey, on the Ist of August, 1864. His life has been spent in greater part in Newark, New Jersey. Hav- ing graduated in 1881 at the Newark Academy, he entered Princeton University, at which he was graduated in 1885. Mr. Depue, having determined to make the practice of law his life work, became a stu- dent in the Columbia Law School of New York city, where he was graduated in 1887. The same year he was admitted to practice as counselor-at-law, and in September of 1890 he was appointed assistant United States district attorney, in which capacity he served for one year. In 1894 he was appointed city attorney for Newark, and as such served two years. Mr. Depue is a man of exceptional ability, whose zeal for his profession, devotion to his clients, and known fidelity to all trusts will doubtless bespeak for him new honors in the future.
CHRISTOPHER ANDREW HINCK.
Although Mr. Hinck is among the more recent settlers of Montclair, the extensive improvements he has made in the town- ship and the large amount expended by him in opening and improving streets and avenues, are matters of record and entitle him to recognition in a history of Mont- clair.
Mr. Hinck was born in Kehdingbruch, province of Hanover,-now a part of Prus-
sia,-November 1, 1831. He came of a good and respectable family, his father being of that class of well-to-do, intelligent farmers who compose the bone and sinew of the German empire. His maternal grand- father, Hein Fick, was a man of more than ordinary intelligence and of great influence in the community, and at the time of the French invasion in 1810 was elected mayor of a large district and clothed with ample authority to protect the interests of his fel- low citizens.
Mr. Hinck was educated under a system which has long been compulsory, requiring parents to send their children to school from the age of eight to fourteen years, and at the present time a failure to do so in- volves a penalty of imprisonment to the de- linquent. Under such a system, which in his day existed in a more modified form, Mr. Hinck acquired an education sufficient to fit him for a mercantile career. He after- ward spent five years in a mercantile house and then concluded to try his fortune in the New World. He left home and landed in New York city in 1851, a total stranger. His frank, open manner and pleasing address made a favorable impres- sion upon those with whom he was brought in contact and he soon made friends who "clung closer than a brother." Among those who took a kindly interest in his wel- fare and who offered to assist him was Wil- son G. Hunt. He made the acquaintance of other prominent merchants, who invited him to their homes and honored him with their confidence. He obtained employ- ment in a wholesale woolen house, where by his strict attention to business, his in- dustry and uprightness of character, he won the confidence of his employers. He served a year in one house, two years in another,
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.