USA > New Jersey > Essex County > Newark > Biographical and genealogical history of the city of Newark and Essex County, New Jersey, V. 2 > Part 38
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and during this period he acquired a thor- ough knowledge of the business and laid the foundation for his subsequent success- ful business career. In July, 1854, having by careful economy saved something from his yearly income, together with a few hundred dollars received from his mother, he started in business for himself, under the firm name of Hinck, Harms & Com- pany. He withdrew in 1859 and organized the firm of Hinck & Pupke, which later became Hinck Brothers. He continued in active business for more than a quarter of a century and passed through several financial crises in which some of the oldest business houses in the country were com- pelled to suspend; but, through all these and the frequent fluctuations of prices in- cident to the war, he maintained his credit unimpaired and met all his obligations promptly. He made it a principle of his life never to purchase in excess of his ability to pay promptly in cash when due. With abun- dant opportunities for speculation during the war by risking his capital, and with the chances of acquiring wealth rapidly, he pre- ferred the "slow and sure" course, and was satisfied with fair profits and quick sales, and when the rapid depreciation in prices took place at the close of the war, he found himself in a condition to dispose of his stock without impairing his capital. From the beginning of his business career he sought to establish confidence between himself and his customers by fair dealings, and would never permit any misrepresen- tation in regard to the quality of goods for the purpose of making a sale. His con- scientious regard for the truth forbade him to take any advantage whatever of those who trusted in his judgment and in his in- tegrity. Honesty as a principle and not
as a mere matter of policy was rooted and grounded in his nature and instilled into his mind through the early teachings of his parents, who believed that character was more to a man than riches or worldly hon- ors. His uniform kindness and courtesy toward all with whom he came in contact had much to do with his success in life. He believed that every friend made added that much to his capital and every enemy made impaired it to the same extent.
After accumulating a moderate fortune Mr. Hinck retired from business in 1883, with a spotless escutcheon, conscious that he had wronged no man and that his gains had been honestly acquired. He was then able to carry out a long cherished plan of a visit to the fatherland and to view again the scenes of his childhood. He visited various parts of Europe and spent some three years with his family at Hanover, which country during his absence had been merged from an independent kingdom into the great German empire. His enforced idleness, however, began to wear on him after the long and busy life which he had led, and he determined to seek some occu- pation which should again call forth his dormant energies and give activity to his mind and body. Soon after his return to the land of his adoption he visited Mont- clair and was attracted by its beauty and . the healthfulness of its location. He final- ly purchased what was known as the "Sad- ler Place," comprising the homestead and fourteen acres, nearly adjoining the home of Inness, the artist, and known as "The Pines" He enlarged and improved the homestead, which he changed from the simple farmhouse into a beautiful modern villa. The grounds were transformed into beautiful lawns adorned with shade and
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fruit trees of the finest variety and the added materially to the wealth of Mont- clair.
whole place was made to blossom like the rose, presenting a most beautiful and pic- turesque appearance. He subsequently purchased three acres additional, adjoining the homestead property.
Mr. Hinck became impressed with the great social, educational and other advan- tages of Montclair-of its healthfulness and other attractive features, and, with characteristic energy and faith in its future greatness, determined to do his share toward its further development. He pur- chased a tract of land north of Oxford and east of Grove street, and another tract of land lying west of Grove street, north of Greenwood Lake Railroad. Between Montclair avenue and Grove street, and ex- tending from Walnut to Chestnut street, he opened a new street to which he gave the name of "Christopher,"-that being his Christian name,-thus perpetuating the name of its projector; this he graded so as to form a perfect drainage, curbed and macadamized it, all at his own expense. He also made the same improvements at Chestnut street, from Grove street to Mont- clair avenue. About six hundred feet north of Chestnut street from Grove to Forest street, he cut an avenue in 1892, which he named Columbia avenue, in commemora- tion of the quadrennial event of that year. He has erected fifteen houses on Christo- pher street, one on Walnut street-a dou- ble brick building-and a beautiful villa on the corner of Grove and Chestnut streets, and has prepared plans for further improve- ments in this direction. While benefiting himself by this large expenditure of money, he has proved a public benefactor to the township by the enhanced value of other property arising therefrom, and has thus
In 1857, when fortune had smiled upon him, Mr. Hinck began to feel the necessity of a helpmeet, and his thought naturally turned toward the fatherland, which he resolved to visit, and amid the scenes of his childhood he found the woman of his choice, in Johanna Maria Fliedner, whom he married after a brief courtship and returned with her to the land of his adoption. She proved a valuable helpmeet and wise coun- selor, and his success in life is due largely to her aid and co-operation in all his plans, thus verifying the proverb, "Who so find- eth a wife findeth a good thing and obtaineth favor of the Lord." Their chil- dren are Maria, Henry, John, Georgine, deceased, George Frederick, Edward Louis, Louisa, Ernest Christopher, Ed- mund, deceased, Alfred John and Otto Helmuth,-the last named for Count von Moltke and Bismarck. A friend of the family communicated the fact to Count von Moltke and he sent a photograph to his namesake on the back of which was sub- scribed: "With the best wishes for Otto Helmuth," signed "Field Marshal Count von Moltke."
FREDERICK KILGUS,
the well known contractor and builder of Newark, is a native of Germany, who has brought his inherent talents and ability with him to this country, where he has not only become one of her loyal citizens, but has ever met with distinctive success in the lines of endeavor followed by him since his arrival. Born in Wurtemberg, Germany, on the 18th of November, 1851, he is the son of Frederick and Barbara (Pfaut) Kil-
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gus, the former of whom was born in the same province as our subject, in 1823, and there followed the vocation of a farmer, log cutter, and shipper, as did the grandfather, John Kilgus.
Frederick Kilgus secured a fair education in the excellent public schools of his native land, and before coming to the United States had worked at both the carpenter's and the blacksmith's trades, at both of which he was quite proficient. In 1869 he determined to try other fields of endeavor and sailed from Bremen on the good boat "Main" bound for America, landing in New York harbor on the 9th of April. Coming to Newark he had no trouble in securing work at the blacksmith's trade, in which he continued during his first half year in this country, next taking up the carpenter's trade and for the following two years he was associated with a Mr. Auckster. He then engaged with Kirk & Company, contract- ors, as a journeyman carpenter, continuing with them until 1883, when he embarked in the same business for himself, his initial con- tract being for a residence for Mr. O'Leary, on Eleventh avenue. During the first year his force did not exceed the small number of four men, which he has since increased as his business demanded, until now he has about forty men, and the character of his work may best be judged by a brief refer- ence to some of the contracts he has ex- ecuted, among which are: A residence for Dr. Chambers in East Orange, and one for John R. Howe, on Arlington avenue; the Hebbig Hotel; the Condit residence in Madison; the Berk hat factory in Orange Valley; the Eagle Brewery; No. 1I engine house; William Burnett's residence on Hal- sey street : the Highland Flats, on Quitman street; Dr. Wait's residence, on High
street; a residence for Judge Guild, on Mount Prospect avenue, and the asylum at Overbrook, New Jersey.
The first marriage of Mr. Kilgus was at Bloomfield, New Jersey, where he was united, in April, 1874, to Miss Caroline Ja- ger, who died, leaving five sons: Fred J. and Louie, who are carpenters; and Harry, Benjamin and George. The second mar- riage of our subject was on February 18, 1897, when he was united to Miss Bertha E. Strumph, daughter of John Strumph, a japanner, born in Hessen-Darmstadt. He emigrated to the United States in 1860, and served as a private in the late war.
Socially Mr. Kilgus is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Builders' Association, in both of which societies he enjoys a high degree of pop- ularity.
EDWARD LIVINGSTON PRICE.
There is, perhaps, no citizen of Essex county more closely entitled to definite representation in this compilation than is he whose name initiates this paragraph,- the elements making this representation peculiarly compatible being determined not through one source but several. His line- age traces back through the past to touch intimately the ancestral honors of those who were prominent in the settlement of the New World, conspicuous in colonial annals, stalwart patriots when the strug- gling colonies strove to throw off the un- just yoke imposed by the British throne; those whose names are illustrious on the pages of civil and military history through many successive generations, and in whose deeds and lives a sterling worth reposed. He of whom this brief review is written has
Price
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gained distinctive prestige as a man of af- fairs, and has shown that it was his to inherit the truest patriotism and to mani- fest it by valorous deedswhen the cataclysm of civil war deluged the country with blood; and all these are points which call for rec- ognition in any work purporting to touch upon the history of Essex county and her citizens.
As early as 1700 the ancestors of Colonel Edward Livingston Price in the agnatic line settled in what is now Sussex county, New Jersey. His father was the late Judge Francis Price, of Weehawken, Hudson county, New Jersey. His mother was a representative of the Hart family, one of whose members, John Hart, was a signer of the Declaration of Independence.
Edward L. Price, the immediate subject of this sketch, was born in the city of New York, December 25, 1844. At the early age of sixteen he laid aside his school-books and tendered his services for the defense of the Union, joining the United States army, in April, 1862, as second lieutenant of Com- pany E, Seventy-fourth Regiment of New York Volunteers. He was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant, and for gallant conduct at the siege of Yorktown, was ap- pointed by Major-General Joseph Hooker to a position on his staff as ordnance officer of the division of the Third Army Corps. As such he served all through the Penin- sular campaign, at the termination of which he was promoted to the position of major of his old regiment, which he commanded through the subsequent battles of Bristow, Second Bull Run and Chantilly. Still fur- ther military honors awaited him, for his valor and meritorious conduct won him the colonelcy of the One Hundred and Forty- fifth Regiment of New York Volunteers,
his commission bearing date December 18, 1862, at which time he was not yet eighteen years of age. His brilliant military record is one of which he may well be proud, and it is to such men that the country owed her salvation in the dark days of civil war.
When hostilities had ceased and the country no longer needed the support of her loyal sons on the field of battle, Colonel Price returned to his home and began his preparation for a life work. Predilection led him to the profession of the law as affording him the best field for the exercise of his peculiar talents and for the greatest advancement. He studied under the direc- tion of Joseph P. Bradley, who later won distinction as an associate justice of the United States supreme court, and zealously and earnestly applied himself to the mas- tery of the science of jurisprudence. In 1866 young men from all parts of New Jer- sey assembled at Trenton to take the exam- inations which would test their fitness for admission to the bar, and on the list of applicants for that year were Garret A. Hobart, now vice-president of the United States; Andrew Kirkpatrick, now a judge of the United States district court; Colonel E. L. Price and others who have gained enviable distinction at the bar and in the field of politics.
Admitted to the bar as an attorney at law, Colonel Price at once located in New- ark and began practice. His success was marked and immediate. He soon rose to prominence and for over thirty years has maintained high rank among the ablest representatives of the profession in the state. With a strong power of analysis, a mind at once receptive and retentive, he quickly grasps all the points in a case and never loses sight of any assailable point in
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an opponent's argument. He has been connected with much of the important liti- gation in eastern New Jersey since his ad- mission to the bar and has a large and dis- tinctive clientele.
Colonel Price began his political career very early in life. He was not yet twenty- one years of age when, in 1865, he was elected to the lower branch of the state leg- islature, but before he took his seat in the general assembly he had attained his majority. In 1867 he was re-elected and as a legislator he met the most sanguine hopes of his many friends and rendered a service which gave abundant evidence of his unusual ability in legislative affairs. He is the author of many measures now found upon the statute books of the state, in- cluding the law creating the board of street and water commissioners of Newark and Jersey City, and which made a wonderful and much needed change in that branch of the municipal government in large cities. The law has stood the tests of the courts and thus far its provisions stand unchanged by a single adverse decision. His broad knowledge of constitutional law made his services especially valuable, and he was regarded as one of the ablest members of the house. For many years Colonel Price has been an active worker and effective speaker on behalf of the Democratic party. He has been a member of the Essex county Democratic committee for many years, and served as its chairman most of the time. He is especially effective as an organizer and has led his party through many cam- paigns to victory. He is now chairman of the Democratic state committee and as such commands the confidence and respect of his associates.
In the Newark municipal campaign of
1896, he took a very active part in securing the election of Hon. James M. Seymour to the mayoralty, and it was a fitting and de- serving reward that he was appointed to the important position of corporation counsel in May, 1896, and re-appointed to the same position by Mayor Seymour after his re-election in April, 1898, and since his first appointment Colonel Price has ac- ceptably served in that capacity; and his work has given abundant evidence of the wisdom of Mayor Seymour in calling him to the office. He has rendered many written and verbal opinions relating to the city affairs which have met with the full approval of the courts and lawyers, and has the commendation of almost the entire bar. Few successful and accomplished politicians are also thorough masters of the law and possessed of good legal minds; but Colonel Price is credited with not only being a lawyer of both abundant learning and acu- men, but also a politician of rare power and discrimination. He is possessed of a commanding and pleasing personal appear- ance, and always manifests courtesy and respect for those with whom he is brought in contact, whether they be high or humble, rich or poor. Easy of approach, possessed of a charitable and sympathetic nature and endowed with the distinctive characteris- tics of a gentleman, it is not a matter of .wonder that Colonel Price enjoys the re- spect, esteem and full confidence of his fellow citizens.
FRANCIS H. SIEGER,
of Newark, is one of that city's retired mer- chants and has been actively identified with its business interests for a period extending over thirty years. He is a native of Ger-
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many, having been born in Hanover, on the 14th of November, 1828, the son of Charles and Sophie (Zurede) Sieger, who, although in humble circumstances, were a most respectable couple. The father was a harness-maker by occupation, and it was but natural that his son, as soon as he had finished his schooling, should apply himself to learning the same trade. He is the only surviving son and received his early mental discipline in the excellent public schools of his native country, attending the same until reaching the age of fourteen, when he was sent to Hamburg and there apprenticed to the harness-making, upholstering, paper- hanging and carriage-trimming trades, serving at them for five years. He then went into the country and followed his trade from 1847 to 1853, and then, having accu- mulated a small sum of money, he decided to seek his fortunes in the United States.
Mr. Sieger left Germany with some rela- tives on the 18th of October, 1853, and em- barking on a sailing vessel they made the trip to New York by the 15th of the follow- ing December. Our subject stopped for a short time in Brooklyn, but being unable to find employment he came to Newark, and here secured work from Lang & Hoffman, on Broad street, the only German mer- chants in their line at that time in Newark. He oscillated between them and a firm in the harness business for about three years. In 1863 he opened a small place in a base- ment on Mulberry street, and the profits from his business enabled him, in three years, to purchase a building at the corner of Market and Beaver streets, where he did a large and profitable trade until 1891, when he retired from active life, and is now en- joying the proceeds of a well spent, indus- trious career. The last enterprise in which
he was engaged was as a retailer of carpets, furniture, oil-cloth, etc. At this writing he is a stockholder in the State Banking Com- pany. In his political affiliations he is a stanch supporter of the Democratic party.
Mr. Sieger was united in marriage in 1853 to Miss Sophie Miller, while residing in Germany, and they had three children. Mrs. Sieger departed this life in 1888, and in the same year one of the sons died. They were survived but five years by the only daughter. The remaining son, Francis H., is a resident of Chicago, Illinois.
The career of Mr. Sieger is an excellent example of what industry and perseverance, combined with business acumen and a de- termination to succeed, can accomplish. Coming to this country a stranger to its language and customs, without the influ- ence of friends or the prestige acquired by wealth, he steadily made his way to the front without pausing to rest, until he had se- cured a comfortable competence, which he is now enjoying, as well as the respect and consideration of a large number of friends.
FERDINAND J. HOSP,
president of the Newark Lithograph & Bank Note Company and a member of the board of aldermen, representing the thir- teenth ward, Newark, New Jersey, is a na- tive of this city and dates his birth, at No. 3 South Orange avenue, January 2, 1867.
Mr. Hosp is of German descent, his par- ents, Charles and Matilda (Muller) Hosp, having both been born in Baden, Germany. Charles Hosp was the captain of a company during the revolution in the old country in 1848, and in consequence of that fact came to the United States in 1849, at the same time Schurz, Sigel and others came. Im-
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mediately upon his arrival in America he lo- cated at Newark, where he has ever since re- sided, he being now sixty-nine years of age and his wife sixty. By trade he is a watch- maker, and was one of the first watchmak- ers in Newark, where he was in business for many years, but is now retired.
In his native city Ferdinand J. Hosp was reared, receiving his education in its Eng- lish and German schools. In 1885, while yet a boy in his 'teens, he went to New York city and entered upon an apprenticeship to the business of lithographing. He remained in New York, giving his close attention to that business, until 1890, when he returned to Newark and organized the Newark Lithograph & Bank Note Company, hav- ing for his partner Mr. Carl Groebe. Mr. Groebe died in February, 1897. In 1894 other partners were taken into the firm and the company was incorporated under the above name, Mr. Hosp at that time being elected its president and having retained the office up to the present time.
Mr. Hosp is a thoroughgoing, up-to- date business man, interested in all that per- tains to the welfare of Newark, and by his fellow citizens has been honored with of- ficial position of local importance. In the spring of 1896 he was elected a member of the board of aldermen, to represent the thir- teenth ward, receiving this election at the hands of the Republican party, of which he is a stanch and enthusiastic member. In .1896 he served on the finance, police and printing committees, and this year, 1897, he is a member of the fire and license com- mittees.
Mr. Hosp is also active and popular in social as well as political and business cir- cles. At this writing, and for seven years past, he has been president of the National
Turnverein, the largest society in New Jer- sey.
May 24, 1892, Mr. Hosp was united in marriage to Miss Annie Hopple, of New- ark, daughter of Robert Hopple. They have had two children, Ferdinand R., who died when a year and a half old, and Edna W., fourteen months old at this writing.
JULIUS HAUSER.
The time has come in the history of the world when the path of labor and usefulness is indicated as the highway to honor. Bi- ography has brought to the attention of mankind the fact that it is the men in the industrial and commercial pursuits of life to whom more largely is due the development and prosperity of town, county and state. Those distinguished in military service, statecraft, science or letters play an impor- tant part in the public life; but it is now a recognized fact that the stability of a coun- try and its substantial growth is drawn from the citizens who are the workers in trade and agricultural circles.
It is of this class that Mr. Hauser is a rep- resentative, and among the reliable and prominent contractors and builders of New- ark there is no one, perhaps, who is more highly rated than our subject. He was born in Sinkershausen, kreis Biedenkopf, Hessen-Darmstadt, March 24, 1841, and is a son of Jacob and Catherine (Smith) Hau- ser. The father, born in 1805, died in 1872, and the mother passed away in 1874. Ju- lius Hauser was the second of their five children, and his educational training was in accordance with the laws of his native land, which provided that each child should at- tend school between the ages of eight and fourteen years. On reaching the latter age he was apprenticed to a carpenter and
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served a full term of seven years, after which he was obliged to enter the military service of his native land. Upon being dis- charged from the army he resumed his work as a carpenter, and soon afterward was in- duced by his stepbrother to leave the father- land and seek a home and fortune in America. Accordingly he crossed the At- lantic, sailing from Havre, France, and at length landed at pier 17, in New York, May 28, 1867.
For nearly a year Mr. Hauser remained in the metropolis, and in the spring of 1868 came to Newark, where he entered the em- ploy of Tobias Wiedenmayer, a contractor. He continued his labors as a journeyman until the fall of 1871, when, in company with his brother, Jacob Hauser, he began con- tracting on his own account. Their first contract after this partnership was formed was for a two-story residence on Magazine street for Mr. Rothfusz, and from this be- ginning their business steadily increased. Their shop was first located at No. 2 Bow- ery, later at 75 Wall street, and in 1887, when the brothers dissolved partnership, our subject established his place of business at Nos. 88 and 90 Alyea street, and his resi- dence at Nos. 99 and 101 Hamburg place. Since his embarkation in business on his own account he has been prominently con- nected with the building interests of the city, and has taken contracts for the erec- tion of some of the principal buildings of Newark, including the ice and malt houses for the Hensler Brewery, Balentine's brew- ery, elevator and malt-house, the Third Ger- man Presbyterian church, the storage ice- house for the Krueger Hygeia Ice Com- pany and many residences whose architec- tural beauty attests his skill and ability in the builder's art.
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