USA > New Jersey > Essex County > Newark > Biographical and genealogical history of the city of Newark and Essex County, New Jersey, V. 2 > Part 43
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While a resident of Basking Ridge Mr. Knight was married, in December, 1871, to Clarissa J. Peppard, and they have five children, viz .: Charles E., Lillie, D. George, Clara and W. Raymond.
Mr. Knight is a Republican and has taken a leading and active interest in local politics. He has been three times elected a member of the town committee, of which he served as chairman two years, and has also for years served as a member of the Republican town executive committee. Fraternally, he is identified with the Ma- sonic order and the Knights and Ladies of the Golden Star, and in the former holds the rank of past master of Franklin Lodge.
THOMAS F. HIGGINS,
an undertaker and embalmer of Orange, was born in New York city, on the 2d of September, 1860, and is a son of John and Bridget (Clark) Higgins. The family is of Irish origin and the father was born in county Kerry, where he grew to manhood. About the time he attained his majority he crossed the Atlantic and spent several years
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in Canada, but subsequently he removed to Rochester, New York, and later to New York city, where he is now engaged in business as a successful shipbuilder. To him and his wife were born twelve children, but eight died in childhood, and Anna, the wife of William Benson, died May 27, 1897. Those still living are Thomas F .; John, and Catherine, wife of John Gollor.
Our subject spent his early life in the city of his nativity and acquired his education in the public schools. He subsequently learned the trade of shipbuilding in his father's shipyard and followed that business .until 1879, when he turned his attention to the coal trade and as a wholesale dealer in that commodity carried on business until 1883. He then returned to shipbuilding, and about 1891 engaged in the livery busi- ness, to which he has since added a new branch, that of undertaking and embalm- ing. He is a graduate of the Massachusetts College of Embalming and is fitted to do the most perfect and satisfactory work in that line. His business has now assumed extensive proportions, his patronage is con- stantly increasing and his well directed ef- forts have brought success.
Mr. Higgins was married in Bayonne city, New Jersey, on the 22d of April, 1882, to Miss Emma Driscoll, a daughter of John and Anna (Collins) Driscoll. They have become the parents of nine children: John, deceased; Thomas, who has also passed away; William; Loretta; Edward; Cath- erine and Ellen, twins, deceased; Michael, deceased; and Thomas F.
Mr. Higgins has served for three terms as a member of the Bayonne city council and as school trustee two terms, and in the faithful performance of his duty has ma- terially advanced the municipal and educa-
tional interests of the town. He attends St. John's church, Roman Catholic, of Orange.
JOHN F. HAGERTY, M. D.
Among the leading young physicians of Newark is Dr. Hagerty, who is located at No. 297 Central avenue. One of New Jer- sey's native sons, he was born May 9, 1869, his parents being Patrick and Mary (Hughes) Hagerty. The father was a na- tive of the Emerald Isle but in early life came to America, and for thirty-five years was prominently connected with the busi- ness interests of New Brunswick, New Jer- sey, as a leading merchant tailor. His wife was born in New Brunswick, but was of Irish descent, her parents having emigrated from Ireland to the United States at an early day.
The Doctor spent the days of his boy- hood and youth in his native city of New Brunswick and acquired his education in its public schools, graduating at the high school in 1887. He afterwards pursued a course of chemistry in Rutgers College, and later entered the office of Dr. Frank Donahue, of New Brunswick, with whom he remained for five years, during which time he attended lectures in the Medical University of New York and was grad- uated with the honors of the class of 1892. He next entered Bellevue Hospital, where he was connected with the surgical depart- ment for eighteen months, on the expira- tion of which period he came to Newark. He has built up a large and lucrative prac- tice in this city and has demonstrated his ability by the successful conduct of a num- ber of very important cases. He is a close student of his profession and carries his re- search and investigation in the fields of
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medical science far beyond the average practitioner. He is equally skilled in sur- gery and at the present time, 1898, is in charge of the surgical clinic in St. Michael's Hospital. He is a member of the Bellevue Hospital Alumni Association; a member of the Essex District Medical Society, and is ex-president of the ÆEsculapian Society, of Newark. He is ranked high by the mem- bers of the profession as well as the public, and is greatly respected by all.
THOMAS S. OSBORNE,
of Irvington, his native city, was born in October, 1837, the eldest child of Merton and Jane (Frazee) Osborne. The family was planted on New Jersey soil soon after the establishment of the American republic by the great-grandfather of our subject, who, like the greater part of the population at that day, followed agricultural pursuits. His son, Moses Osborne, who was born in Clinton township, Essex county, became a shoemaker and served his country in the federal army during the war of 1812. His son, Merton Osborne, was born in Clinton township in 1788, learned his father's trade and passed his life in the boot and shoe business in this locality. He died in 1867. His career as a citizen was one worthy of emulation. His interest in public affairs was confined to matters local, and his party affiliation was with the Democrats, among whom he was a leader. His wife was a daughter of William Frazee, of Scotch Plains, New Jersey.
In the public schools of his native city Thomas S. Osborne acquired his education, pursuing his studies there until sixteen years of age, when he went to Newark and began learning the jeweler's trade. He was
in the employ of Alling Brothers when the business depression of 1860 obliged that house to lessen the number of their em- ployes, and accordingly he was left without employment. For a year thereafter he was engaged in various pursuits that would yield him an honest living, and in 1861 se- cured a situation with the firm of Durand & Company, with which he continued until 1862, when, feeling that his duty demanded his enlistment, he put aside all personal con- sideration and entered the army as a mem- ber of Company.A, Twenty-sixth New Jer- sey Infantry. The regiment was assigned to duty in the Sixth Corps of the Army of the Potomac, and with that command Mr. Osborne remained at the front, faithfully defending the cause which the old flag rep- resented until it was victoriously planted in the capital of the southern Confederacy.
Returning home Mr. Osborne embarked in the jewelry business, which he has since followed, and his success is well deserved. He is one who fully appreciates the signifi- cance of the saying that "we live in the great Now, for all Yesterday has gone and To-morrow has not yet come." It is this which has prompted him through life to take advantage of every opportunity, to make the most of his possibilities and achieve in the present the utmost that he can. He has enjoyed a large trade by rea- son of his enterprise and honorable dealing.
Like his father, Mr. Osborne has been a useful man and important factor in the man- agement of local affairs in Clinton township. The issues of the war made him a Repub- lican, and he has since been an advocate of the party principles, and is treasurer of the executive committee of the Republican township committee. He was one of the organizers of the Irvington Water Com-
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pany and is its treasurer; was elected tax collector of the town in 1891, re-elected in 1894, has served as village trustee of Irving- ton, and in all his official duties his clerical ability and general official efficiency are clearly noted. He is an exempt member of the Newark fire department, is a member of Lincoln Post, G. A. R., and of the Junior Order of American Mechanics. Mr. Os- borne was married in 1864 to Miss Maria Burt, and they have two children-Harry E. and Burtie.
GEORGE R. STAGG.
The truth of the statement that "Educa- tion makes the man; the want of it the fel- low," has had verification in every age and under all conditions, and that this has not failed of recognition as a logical sequence has been shown, for enlightenment has in- variably been the result of such apprecia- tion, even on the part of those who have been denied the privileges whose values they could dimly discern. Educational ad- vantages have figured both as the initiation and invariable concomitant of normal prog- ress, and in this end-of-the-century period it is unmistakably certain that they walk hand in hand-potential allies in whose union there is strength and whose segregation implies the annihilation of both. Our nation has reason for a marked degree of satisfaction and pride in the char- acter of her educational system, and in no branch so particularly as that of her pub- lic schools, which offer opportunities to all sorts and conditions of men. One of those who have been particularly active and zealous as workers in the educational field of West Orange, and of whom it has been consistently said that he has probably done
more to advance the cause of education in said province than any other man, is he whose name initiates this paragraph. On this score alone he merits specific recogni- tion in this compilation, while other phases of his career, character and ancestral his- tory render this recognition all the more appropriate.
The history of the Stagg family has been identified with American annals since the early colonial epoch. It is practically well authenticated that the original American progenitor was John Stagg, who emigrated at a period considerably antedating the war of the Revolution. His son, John Stagg, Jr., was born in New York city in the year 1732, and became a man of prominence in wealth and influence. It is a matter of record that he owned in New York sev- eral houses, which were burned at the time of the occupation of the city by the British during the Revolution. During this great struggle he was a stalwart supporter of the colonies in their heroic efforts to free them- selves from froward and unjust thraldom, was a most ardent and uncompromising patriot and wielded much influence in civil affairs. He removed to Orange county, New York, and was there honored with the distinguished preferment as representative of his district in the general assembly of the state. He eventually returned to New York city, whence he was again sent as a representative to the assembly. He was a member of the General Society of Me- chanics and Tradesmen and was president of the fire department of New York, of whose organization he was one of the prin- cipal promoters. He fell a victim to the yellow-fever scourge in 1803 and suc- cumbed to its ravages. John Stagg was twice married, his first union having been
GEORGE R. STAGG.
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in his espousal of Rachael Conklin, who bore him two sons, Abraham and John; while he took as his second wife, Anneke Stoutenborough, and they became the par- ents of nine children, namely: Isaac, Henry, Ann, Peter, Nellie, Phebe, Wood, Benjamin and Philip.
Jacob Stagg, who was born on the 25th of September, 1787, was undoubtedly the grandson of John Stagg (2d), and married Sarah Tompkins on the Ist of December, 1812. The children of this union were four in number: Abraham L., born November 4, 1814, died February 10, 1815; Pauline, born February 18, 1817; Amos L., born November 24, 1818; and Abraham G., born March 20, 1820, died September 16, 1820.
Amos L. Stagg, the father of the imme- diate subject of this review, passed the major part of his life in Orange, where he had but few educational advantages, and at the extremely youthful age of seven years he was an indentured apprentice to James Reock, to learn the shoemaker's trade, but not relishing the apprenticeship he deserted his employer and began a career on his own responsibility, subsequently engaging in the custom manufacture of shoes, constructing a shop in his native place. He was a man of natural abilities and superior ambition, and spent much of his time in reading, in which he became proficient, and in this manner he acquired an extensive acquaint- ance with the leading men of the day, not only of the United States but of foreign countries as well. In his political adher- ency he was always a stanch Democrat, giv- ing his undivided support to the principles and policies of that party until the birth of the Republican party in 1856, when he be- came a Republican, and from that time he
gave his support to the grand old party, taking an active part in the public affairs of his home city. In 1846 was consummated the marriage of Mr. Stagg to Miss Eunice Pierson, a descend- ant of Thomas Pierson, one of the early settlers of New England. He died January 27, 1892, in the seventy-fourth year of his age. Mrs. Stagg is still living, in West Orange, at the venerable age of seventy- three years.
Amos L. and Eunice (Pierson) Stagg be- came the parents of the following eight children : Warren P., George R., Sarah E., Harriet E., Pauline H., Amos A., Mary Ida and Minnie F. Amos Alonzo Stagg was born in West Orange, August 16, 1862, se- curing his preliminary educational discip- line in the public schools, graduating at the Orange high school, later at the Exeter Academy, in New Hampshire, and there- after matriculating in Yale College, where he graduated as a member of the class of 1888. He has been an enthusiastic and dis- tinguished worker in the educational world, having been for a time connected with the School of Christian Workers, at Spring- field, Massachusetts, and is now the incum- bent of the chair of moral and physical cul- ture in the Chicago University, which posi- tion he has occupied since the reorganiza- tion and magnificent expansion of that now famous institution. It is worthy of note that he graduated at Yale with highest honors, and that he is one of the foremost athletes of that institution.
George Randolph Stagg, who figures as the subject of this sketch, was born in Orange on the 26th of October, 1850. He acquired his education in the public schools of his native township, and has most effectually supplemented this by
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private study and extensive reading, being a man of broad mentality and unmistakable New York. culture. He learned the sash and blind trade, but subsequently assumed the position as bookkeeper in the establishment of Mc- Collough, Barry & Company, who were en- gaged in the manufacture of hats, and re- tained a similar incumbency with Cum- mings, Barry & Company, and later with their successors, Cummings, Matthews & Barry. Since 1893 he has held a similar position with John J. Perine.
Under the old district-school system Mr. Stagg labored indefatigably for more than fifteen years to secure the best possible ad- vantages for children who were dependent upon the public schools for their education, and when the new compulsory law was en- acted, requiring all townships in the state to be placed under the control and direction of a board of education, he was elected the first president of such board in West Orange, and has ever since been retained in that position, his earnest efforts and con- stant interest being recognized and duly appreciated by all who have cognizance of true values in educational work. Mr. Stagg is an ardent advocate of the principles and policies of the Republican party, and has been an active factor in local political af- fairs. In November, 1894, he was elected to represent his township as a member of the Essex county board of freeholders. His fraternal relations are indicated by his membership in Live Oak Lodge, No. 186, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is past grand, and in Hillside Council, No. 1329, Royal Arcanum, of which he is past regent.
On the Ist of February, 1888, Mr. Stagg was united in marriage to Miss Emma A. Veeder, a daughter of John H. and Kather-
ine (Dowland) Veeder, of Gloversville,
PETER BUSHAUER,
of Newark, was born in the town of Bleeck- er, Fulton county, New York, April 25, 1862, and is the son of Jacob and Mary A. (Starcks) Bushauer. His father, a native of Bavaria, Germany, was educated in the pub- lic schools there and learned the trade of stone-cutter. On attaining the age of twenty-one he was drafted into the military service and was a member of the army dur- ing the revolution of 1848-9. He was left fatherless at the early age of five years and was the only child of his parents. His mother afterward married Nicholas Gil- sleider, by whom she had two sons and one daughter. The sons were: Jacob, who was married and had one son, Edward C., who is married and resides at Newark with his wife and two children; and John, who was married and had three children: Gussie, wife of Lafayette Nunan, Arthur and Ben- jamin. Jacob Bushauer came to America with his mother and the children of her second marriage, the family locating at Bleecker, Fulton county, New York, about 1855. There he followed farming until 1865, when he removed to the town of Perth, Fulton county, and engaged in the butchering business, meeting with marked success in that undertaking. He continued his residence in Perth for more than twenty years, and died in Rockton, Montgomery county, New York. in 1896. His life was well spent and he had the respect of all who knew him. In religious faith he was a Roman Catholic.
Jacob Bushauer was married in the town of Bleecker, in 1856, to Miss Mary A.
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Starcks, who died July 2, 1875, at the age of forty-six years. By her marriage she became the mother of eight children, name- ly: Mary, wife of George Uhlinger, of Hegeman's Mills, Montgomery county, New York; Jacob B., who married Maggie Hock and resides in Newark; Libbie, wife of John Schwartz, of Fulton county, New York; John, who is married and lives in Johnstown, New York; Peter, of this sketch; Katie, wife of James Fairbank, of Perth, New York; Maggie, wife of James Cole, of Fulton county, New York; and Carrie, wife of James McCarty, of Connecti- cut. After the death of his first wife the father of this family married Miss Maria Connelly, and after she, too, had passed away, he wedded again, and by this mar- riage had two children-Ada and Charles. Jacob Bushauer was a very energetic and persevering man and by his capable man- agement, sound judgment and untiring in- dustry succeeded in accumulating a con- siderable competence, at one time owning much real estate. He was also very hos- pitable, and a ready welcome was always assured his many friends.
Peter Bushauer, of this review, was edu- cated in the public schools of his native county and in one of the business colleges of Newark. When eighteen years of age he began to learn the trade of a brass- molder in the service of P. Hayden, and on the completion of his apprenticeship worked as a journeyman for about ten years, during which time he was frugal and industrious and accumulated the means which enabled him to start in business on his own account. In March, 1889, he en- tered into partnership with William Weis, under the firm name of Weis & Bushauer, in the brass-foundry business, opening a
factory in Newark, where they carried on operations until 1892, when by mutual agreement the partnership was dissolved. Mr. Bushauer, however, has continued in this line of business up to the present time, and in 1897 purchased his present premises at No. 261 Elm street, where he now con- ducts a safe and profitable business. He is progressive but not over-venturesome, and his business transactions are always guided by a sound judgment that is rarely at fault. This has made him successful in his career, and the competence he has accumulated is well deserved.
Mr. Bushauer was married, in Newark, September 2, 1891, to Miss Emma X. Mar- tin, who was born March 6, 1867, and is a daughter of Albert and Mary (Grimm) Martin. Their children are as follows: Mary, born in March, 1892, and died April 22, 1893; Edna E., born September 15, 1894; Jacob Peter, born August 8, 1896; and Arthur J., born November 14, 1897. Mr. and Mrs. Bushauer hold a membership in St. Benedict's church, Catholic, and in his political views he is a Democrat, but has · never sought or desired office, preferring to devote his energies to his business interests.
OWEN A. CAHILL,
a progressive citizen and an enterprising coal dealer of Newark, with offices and yards at No. 133 First street, was born in his home city on the 22d of October, 1865, and is a son of Bernard and Catharine (Co- gan) Cahill, both of whom were natives of county Carew, Ireland. His preliminary education was received at St. Vincent's Academy, supplemented by a course of study at St. Benedict's College, of Newark, being graduated at both of these institu-
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tions. At the age of nineteen years he entered the employ of E. G. Faitoute & Company, dealers in coal, and was identified with that business until 1890, when he entered upon a similar line of enterprise on his own responsibility and established his present offices, where, under the careful tuition of his father, he acquired a compre- hensive business experience, and has since met with pronounced success, which is the logical result of his natural ability, industry and strict integrity of character,-qualities that inspire the utmost confidence in all who have dealings with him. Among other enterprises in which he is interested is the Newark Paving Company, of which he is a director.
In his political faith Mr. Cahill is a Demo- crat of the true Jeffersonian type, and he was elected and served two terms on the board of freeholders. Socially he is a mem- ber of the Catholic Benevolent Legion, the Improved Order of Heptasophs, Conclave No. 475, of Orange, and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He is also an active member of the Jeffersonian Club, of Newark, and takes a prominent part in its work.
Mr. Cahill was married in Newark on the 24th of November, 1889, to Miss Louise C. Conroy, the youngest daughter of Michael and Ann (Bradley) Conroy, and of this union the following children were born: Mollie, Russell and Leonard, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Cahill are communicants of St. Joseph's church, Roman Catholic.
Bernard Cahill, the father of our subject, was born in county Carew, Ireland, a son of Felix and Mary (Nugent) Cahill. He came to America, landing at New York, and located in Connecticut, where he worked on a farm for many years and then
came to Newark and entered the employ of E. G. Faitoute as a clerk. After remain- ing several years in that capacity he began business on his own account at Orange and Plane streets in Newark, and then became associated with E. G. Faitoute, under the firm name of E. G. Faitoute & Company, which conducted a large and successful business for a period of fifty years, when Mr. Faitoute died and Mr. Cahill continued in the same for three years, then disposed of his interests to Frederick B. Faitoute and retired from active life. Politically he was a Jeffersonian Democrat, and he was presi- dent of the St. Vincent de Paul Society and a director in the Associated Charities of New Jersey.
He was united in marriage to Miss Cath- arine Cogan, a daughter of James and Ho- nora Cogan, both of her parents being na- tives of county Carew, Ireland. They came to the United States and settled at Belle- ville, Essex county, but passed the latter days of their lives at Newark. James Cogan was a farmer by occupation. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Cahill were: Felix and Joseph, deceased; Julia, who died when eighteen years old; Mollie, who died at the age of twenty-seven; Catharine, who married James Russell and they now reside in New Haven, Connecticut, with their three children-Mollie, Joseph and Catharine, the last mentioned being a grad- uate of St. Mary's Academy, Newark; Orvin A .; Elizabeth and Felix are twins, the former being a graduate of St. Vincent's Academy and the latter of the New Jersey Business College; Bernard John is a grad- uate of St. Benedict's College. Bernard Cahill was a school-teacher in Ireland for a number of years; he was a consistent member of St. Joseph's church, Roman
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Catholic, in the faith of which he died, in July, 1894, being survived by his widow. Mr. Hart and his sister, who was the mother of John Cahill, came to America with Ber- nard Cahill, and they settled on Staten island.
Mr. and Mrs. Felix Cahill, the grand- parents of our subject, lived and died in county Carew, Ireland, where they reared seven children, of whom Bernard, Felix, Julia and Mary came to America. Felix married and settled in Newark, becoming the father of one son, Francis; Julia settled in Newark, married, and reared children; Mary married and located in Brooklyn, where she became the mother of three sons and one daughter.
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