USA > New Jersey > Biographical, genealogical and descriptive history of the first congressional district of New Jersey, Volume I > Part 15
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He was joined in matrimony. September 30, 1885, to Miss Emma Dexter, a daughter of Charles Dexter, of Mannington township, who was at one time a member of the legislature of the state. They have one child, whose name is Florence M. Dr. Hitchner was formerly a member of most of the local fraternal societies, but has not been in communication with them for several years. He was president of the school commission for three years and was on the building committee of both the Presbyterian and Methodist churches, and has contributed in no small way toward their erection. It can truly be said that he has made the village what it is to-day, and the love and admira- tion which is accorded him is well deserved.
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HIRAM HITCHNER.
Hiram Hitchner is a prominent farmer who resides near Elmer, where he was born January 26, 1829. He is the second son of David and Margaret (Sithen) Hitchner, who were well known farmers of this section. He at- tended the common schools of his native district and after finishing his edu- cation began working on a farm. He resided at Deerfield for a short time, and in March, 1872, moved upon the farm of one hundred and twenty-six acres now occupied by him. He carries on general farming and keeps his place in the most perfect condition, everything showing the thrift and indus- try of the owner.
He was married, in 1867, to Miss Martha Kane, by whom he has two children: Frank, a resident of Camden, this state, and Bertha, who is at home. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he has been an officer many years and where the family are zealous workers. They are held in the highest estimation by their acquaintances and are among the most influential citizens of the county.
HAMMOND S. IRELAND.
Hammond S. Ireland is a leading merchant of Williamstown, Gloucester county, New Jersey, and was born in this village, September 8, 1860. He is a son of Edward S. Ireland, Sr., who has retired from active business and is a highly respected resident of this village. His father, William, was a son of Daniel Ireland, who resides in Atlantic county, where William was born. William Ireland was a farmer and lumberman and came to this vicinity when a lad of sixteen years to engage in that business. He was a leading member of the Methodist church, holding all the offices in the organization and was in great demand at revivals and other public meetings to lead in singing. His wife was Sarah Wear, daughter of Andrew Wear, of Sicklertown, and nine children were born to them, five of whom are living, all of this place. They are Daniel, Edward S., Andrew, William Page and Josiah.
Edward S. Ireland was born May 22, 1823, on the same lot where he still lives and has resided during his life. He attended the common schools of his native town and began as a wage-earner while still very young. He engaged in teaming and lumbering and for years operated a mill from which he drew a neat income. He is a veteran Freemason and Odd Fellow, joining the Masons at Bridgeton and the Odd Fellows at Glassboro. He is now living in retirement, enjoying the fruits of a well spent life. He was a freeholder, sur-
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veyor of highways and juryman for many consecutive years. He has been married three times, first to Hannah Steelman, who died in 1854; second to Anna Beckett, who died in 1860; and third to Anna P. Simmerman, who died in 1893. These three wives bore him twelve children, six of whom are living, namely: William, a resident of Millville; Edward S., of Mullica Hill; Emma, the wife of George Fifer, of this village; Matilda, who is unmarried; Hammond S., our subject; and Belle, the wife of Morgan Lutz, also of this vicinity.
Hammond S. Ireland was educated in the public schools but put aside his text-books at an early age to do battle with the world. He learned the trade of carpenter and did contracting for nine years. While he was a skillful mechanic and took pride in turning out only the best work, yet it was not the line of employment which would appeal to him as strongly as some other, and he determined to enter the mercantile field. In 1894 he started in his present business, opening a stock of general merchandise and building up a large trade, which is steadily increasing.
Mr. Ireland was married January 27, 1890, to Miss Emily G., a daughter of Jonathan Peterson, of this neighborhood, and they have one child, Walter C. I. He is a Republican in politics and has taken an active part in the local campaigns. He has served as a trustee and the secretary of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which he belongs, and has been a teacher in the Sun- day-school. He was made a Mason at Clayton, New Jersey, in 1891, became one of the charter members of Williamstown Lodge and was its first treas- urer.
JOHN HITCHNER.
Mr. Hitchner is one of the representative and reputable farmers of Salem county, New Jersey, and has resided on his present farm near Alloway for many years. He was born September 3, 1833, at Friesburg, and is a son of John and Sarah (Johnson) Hitchner. His father is remembered by many of the older residents as among the most prominent of the county's foremost citizens.
The family is of German origin, the great-grandfather of our subject hav- ing come from that country to America with his family of four sons and three daughters. Among them was Matthias, a carpenter, who remained unmar- ried. One son settled in what was then Pittstown, now Elmer, and one in Friesburg. George John Hitchner was born in Friesburg, where he con- tinued to make his home, was a prominent farmer, and was familiarly known as Major Hitchner, having been elected to that rank in the military company
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to which he belonged. He was the founder of the "Hitchner Tavern," which he conducted many years, with marked success, on the premises now owned and occupied by John Van Leer. His energetic industry and thrift soon placed him among the well-to-do people of that time, and he was highly esteemed by his neighbors. He was a Democrat in politics and in religion a Lutheran. His first wife was a Miss Miller, who bore him the following children: Jacob, George, Martin, John, Mary (Mrs. John Koats), and Mar- garet, who was married to Mr. Young. By his second marriage there were five children: Mary Ann, Mrs. Jonathan Wood; Sarah Ann, Mrs. Daniel Johnson; Lydia Ann, Mrs. Jacob Halter; Samuel and Levi.
John Hitchner, Sr., the father of our subject, entered into existence on the old farm in Friesburg, in 1793, and there grew to man's estate. He lived on one hundred and twenty acres of land, from which he obtained a comfortable living and was enabled to bring up his family in a manner befitting his station. He voted with the Democratic party and was a com- mitteeman, besides holding a number of other town offices. As a Lutheran he was a zealous worker in that body and contributed with a generous hand. He married a lady whose maiden name was Sarah Johnson and by whom he had twelve children, viz .: Johnson, a farmer, deceased, married Mary Colvin and left seven children: Daniel, Neal, Gould, Ed, George, Samuel, who is em- ployed in the Bridgeton National Bank, and Mary, who has three children. Lewis, who died in 1899, was a well known farmer. He is survived by his wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Moore, and by his children,- Jacob, Scott, Lewis, Lizzie, Peacock, Sallie, Miller and Ruth. Susanna, deceased, was the wife of Isaac Van Leer. Christiana married William Rem- ster, a miller. Her one daughter, Mary J., married Scott Grice and is the mother of two children. Matilda married Jeremiah Watson, a farmer and mill operator. Mary Ann was the wife of Benjamin Garrison, a farmer, and both are deceased. Eli Pallen married Mrs. Theodosia Pierson and their children are William, Frank, Philip, Mrs. Zaiser, Mrs. Hamilton, Ella Erbin and Charles. Sarah married John Mickle, a farmer. John is the subject of this review. George is individually mentioned elsewhere in this work. Mar- garet is the wife of Samuel Batton. Charles, deceased, married Lizzie Tim- berman and had four children,-John, Maggie, Bert and Geneva. The father died at the age of eighty-three years.
John Hitchner, Jr., remained with his father, assisting him in the farm work, until he was twenty-seven years of age, when he was married and be- gan to work for himself. He bought the farm which he later sold to his brother and upon which the latter still resides. Then, in 1866, he purchased the George Remster property and since that time has operated the mill.
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The plant is run by water and steam power, and both merchant and custom grinding are done there. In addition to this he owned one farm in Remsterville and one in Friesburg.
February 5, 1859, he was married to Mary R., a daughter of Andrew S. and Rosanna (Casper) Johnson, farmers of Friesburg. Nine children were the fruits of this wedding: Jeannette, born February 17, 1860, married John Hanthorn, a machinist of Philadelphia; Emma, born in 1862, married Elijah Fox, a resident of Camden, and has two children,-Oscar and Mary; Sarah, deceased, married Leslie Garrison, an engineer, and also had two children,- Mary Erma and Sarah; Theodore, who is a miller at Greenwich, married Minnie Smith and has one child, Mary; Susanna married Lewis S. Ayers, who is with Mr. Hitchner, our subject, in the mill, and they have two children,- Maud and Nellie; Lillie married George Jarmen, a farmer, and has one child, Blanche; Frank, a farmer, married Charlesanna Mickle; Casper is un- married and is a miller; and Ada is at home unmarried. Mrs. Hitchner en- tered into eternal rest on August 4, 1897, at the age of fifty-seven years.
Mr. Hitchner is a prominent Democrat and has been active in working for party interests. He has served as assessor, on committees, on the com- mission of appeals, as freeholder, etc., and was sent to represent his district in the legislature in 1871. He is a member of the Lutheran church and of Alloway Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
J. D. SOUDER.
J. D. Souder, deceased, a late and highly respected citizen of Williams- town, Gloucester county, New Jersey, by reason of his prominence and char- acter, very befittingly finds a place in the biographical history of the com- munity in which he lived and labored so many years.
Mr. Souder was a native of Gloucester county, New Jersey, born near Malaga, in 1830. He departed this life in the rich autumn time of 1897, the date of his death being October 4th. Lawrence Souder, his paternal ances- tor, was born on the old family homestead, in the same section of country near Malaga. Of the family of Souders, it should be remarked that three brothers came from Germany. One settled here, the other two went farther west. Lawrence was a farmer and lumberman. His son, the subject of this memoir, spent his youthful days as most boys did in his time, assisting his parents, attending the then but poorly organized subscription, and possibly district or public, schools, and enjoyed himself in hunting, fishing and taking part in the other sports and games of youth. Doubtless he of whom we
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write was a dutiful and hard-working boy, as the sequel of his after life seems to conclusively prove this. A shiftless, indolent youth seldom, if ever, ma- tures into an enterprising, wide-awake specimen of manhood; hence the con- clusion we have drawn concerning our subject's early life rather than from any direct data upon which to base our statements.
The first business enterprise we learn of our subject engaging in was that of the manufacture of barrel hoops in Pennsylvania, where he continued ac- tively engaged for six years in Blair county. He did an extensive business, including the operating of a large general store, and employed from twenty- five to thirty men. His health failed him and he moved to Philadelphia, and there engaged in the shoe business, removing, however, to Williamstown, New Jersey, in 1865, at the close of the civil war. Here he engaged in work and business more suitable to his liking, those of lumberman and farmer, in a moderate manner. By his good business tact and frugal ways, he amassed a handsome property. He was a self-made man, accumulating what he pos- sessed by his own industry and toil and his good management. It should be here stated that his father was the first man to make, sell and ship the smooth-shaved hogshead hoops used formerly in great quantities in the sugar districts of the West Indies. Previously all hoops were shipped in the rough, as cut from hickory and other saplings. It was Lawrence Souder who first shipped this line of goods to the sugar planters of Cuba and other West India islands. Our subject succeeded him in this business and also added the manufacture and exporting of "shook."
J. D. Souder was a member and strong friend of the Methodist Episcopal church, and lived an exemplary life in his daily walks with his fellow men. He never aspired to office, but it is related that he at one time held local positions, such as township trustee and treasurer, to the full satisfaction of his townsmen.
Like most other well balanced and sensible men, our subject believed in the sanctity of the true home and family life. Hence it was that on May 3, 1857, he was united in marriage to Martha E. Kirby, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Kirby, of Philadelphia. Her grandfather was a soldier in the war of 1812; the family is one of more than ordinary promi- nence. This marriage resulted in the birth of six children, four of whom are now living: William L., C. Oscar, living on the homestead at Williamstown; Martha Virginia, the wife of Dr. H. A. Jelly, of Allentown, Pennsylvania, and Anna C., the wife of Henry Glover, of Rochester, New York.
This notice but gives a faint outline of a noble life, but may serve well as a written monument to the memory of a man whose every act was fraught with some good thought or deed worthy of emulation. To those who may
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look upon these pages in years to come, as well as those of the present, will these lines preserve a record of a life with which the family of this and after generations may well be proud to be connected.
JOHN H. GROFF, M. D.
For a quarter of a century Dr. John H. Groff has been actively engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery at Penn Grove, Salem county, and seven years at Sharptown; and among those of his profession and in the estimation of the general public no one stands higher in this section of the state.
The birth of Dr. Groff occurred three-score years ago, in this county: and in early life he applied himself to the tasks necessary to be performed upon a farm. He continued to assist his father until more than a year had elapsed since he had come to legal age, when he determined to enter a profession. His father, Charles F. Groff, was a native of Lower Alloway Creek, Salem county, and was reared there to the age of maturity. Early in life he learned the tailor's trade, but eventually- preferring the free. independent, out-door existence of an agriculturist-he became a farmer. He was a quiet, unassuming man and a faithful member of the Baptist church. He was summoned to his reward in 1879, when he was seventy-nine years of age. His wife, whose name in girlhood had been Harriet Hum- phreys, lived to be sixty-three years of age, and of their four children-John H., Mary R., Anna and Keziah-the last mentioned only is deceased.
As stated previously, Dr. John H. Groff concluded that he would not follow his father's calling as a life work, and accordingly, in the beginning of the year 1861, he entered the office of Dr. Clawson, of Woodstown, New Jersey, and commenced the study of medicine. But the clouds of civil war, gathering fast, gradually encroached upon the young man's attention. Thus he was one of the first to respond to his country's call for loyal men and true to protect the Union, and in April, 1861, his name was enrolled as a private in Company I, Captain Sinnickson, Fourth New Jersey Regi- ment, which went to the front from Trenton. The company to which the Doctor belonged was stationed on picket duty around Washington, D. C .. until the time of its enlistment was out.
Returning home, our subject then devoted himself assiduously to his studies until the extremely serious position of the government again made itself strongly felt in the minds of all. He re-enlisted for a term of three years, as a member of Company H, Twelfth Regiment of New Jersey Infantry, and continued in the service until the close of the war. During
John F. Groff h.w.
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the important battle of Chancellorsville he was wounded in the left forearm by the bursting of a shell, and, as a result of that and the necessary operation following, the arm was rendered almost a useless member. When he had recovered sufficiently to permit of his being placed on duty, he was trans- ferred to the Veterans' Reserve Corps and sent to Baltimore for duty in hospital. During his term of service there the surgeon in charge of the hospital kindly gave him his time and permission to pursue his studies, which he did for about a year, under the direction of Dr. J. H. Butler, an assistant surgeon of the hospital and a demonstrator of anatomy in the University of Maryland. In this institution he took his first-year course of lectures. The war ended soon after and he was discharged from the ser- vice. After a short visit home in Woodstown, New Jersey, he returned to Baltimore, finished his studies with Dr. Butler and graduated at the Uni- versity there in March, 1866.
A few weeks later he opened an office at Sharptown, Salem county, and began the practice of his loved profession. He resided there seven years, and in December of 1873 removed to Penn Grove, Salem county, where he has enjoyed a large and lucrative practice.
In 1868 Dr. Groff married Olivia J. King, of Baltimore, who is a lady of excellent education and attainments. Her parents were Livingston and Elizabeth (Dimmet) King, the former of whom is deceased. Dr. Groff, who is quiet and reserved in manner, is very highly esteemed by those who know him well, and is a member of the Masonic order.
J. DOWN HERITAGE, M. D.
Dr. J. Down Heritage, a prominent physician and surgeon of Glassboro, New Jersey, was born September 14, 1837, in Hurffville, Washington town- ship, Gloucester county, New Jersey, and his paternal ancestor, Thomas J. Heritage, was also a native of the same place, as well as our subject's grand- father, Josiah Heritage, and his great-grandfather, Benjamin Heritage. whose father, Richard, was one of the original proprietors of Burlington, New Jersey. The family still possess the old deeds of the land upon which now stands the city. The first American ancestors, of the Quaker faith, came from England about 1600. Returning to our subject's father, Thomas J., it may be said that he was a Methodist in his religious faith and that he served as a church trustee for many years. He was married to Charity, a daughter of John Down, of Bethel, now Hurffville. Their children were J. Down Heritage, our subject, Amy and Arthur. Amy married Isaac Steven- son. The mother died in 1846, and the father in 1883.
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Dr. Heritage, our subject, after obtaining a good common-school edu- cation, attended school at Pennington Seminary for three years, after which he taught for two years. He graduated at the University of Pennsylvania in 1862, and was soon commissioned an assistant surgeon in the army. After practicing six months, he joined the Eleventh New Jersey Volunteers, which regiment was a part of the Army of the Potomac. He was with the Eleventh for three years, serving in that illustrious army during all the battles, marches and campaigns in which it took part in the rebellion. He was taken prisoner of war at Ream's Station, Virginia, and held in Libby prison for one month, after which he was released. At the close of the war, Dr. Heritage came home and began to practice medicine at his home town and after one year he came to Glassboro. He belongs to the Masonic order and at one time was quite prominent in the Knights of Pythias and Red Men's orders. He was elected to the office of grand chancellor of the Knights of Pythias of the state of New Jersey, serving in 1893. He was the supreme representa- tive in 1875-6. In keeping with the good sense of every man, our subject was married May 26, 1869, to Elizabeth, the daughter of Charles Shivers, of Swedesboro. Three children have come to brighten their home: Dr. Charles S., at home; Christian S., assistant superintendent of the Pennsylvania Rail- road, at Mount Holly; and Sarah A., at home.
Our subject is not now in active practice, having retired and given the work over to his son, Dr. Charles S. Heritage. When he was in practice he was accounted one of the best surgeons in his part of the state. It was he who prepared the article on the geology of southern New Jersey, for a late history of Gloucester, Salem and Cumberland counties. But the medical work will not suffer, because his son is a learned man, both in letters and sciences, and a skillful practitioner and surgeon. He attended and gradu- ated at Pennington and the University of Pennsylvania, in the class of 1893. See sketch on another page of this work.
ALBERT M. SEABROOK.
Albert M. Seabrook, the able editor and proprietor of the Glassboro Enterprise, is a native of Dutchess county, New York, born near Rhinebeck. April 1, 1861. Of his family connection it may be said that his father was Samuel S. Seabrook, a native of England, and his grandfather was an Epis- copal clergyman, who prepared young men for the colleges of higher learn- ing. Samuel S. Seabrook came to the United States about 1859 and located near Rhinebeck, New York, where he had charge of a large dairy farm. He moved to Vineland about 1867, and there engaged in farm pursuits. He
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died in Deerfield, Cumberland county, New Jersey, in 1871. His wife's maiden name was Fanny Peaters. She is still living, at the age of sixty-five years. By their union four children were born: Arthur P., of Deerfield, New Jersey; Frank, of Centerton; our subject, and Edwin, of Camden.
After leaving the common schools of his county our subject, in 1885, graduated at the Trenton State Normal school and followed teaching for six years, at Gibbstown, New Jersey, and at Monroeville, the same state. Having an ambition to enter the journalistic field, in 1891, he purchased the Glassboro Enterprise, which he still ably conducts. In 1898 he was elected a justice of the peace, which place he still fills, with credit to himself and to those who have business with him. He is an active member of the Methodist church and a Sabbath-school worker. He is one of the church stewards and the president of the Epworth League; also the first vice-presi- dent of the Bridgeton District League. In fraternal matters he is connected with the Junior Order of United American Mechanics and the Daughters of Liberty.
June 20, 1888, he was united in marriage to Mary D., the daughter of John Johnson and wife, of Gibbstown, New Jersey. One child, Byron M., came to bless their home circle. Mr. Seabrook is an enterprising, well in- formed gentleman, whose aim in the newspaper field is to give the patrons of his paper the latest news in his part of the state. Nothing but clean, sen- sible editorials ever come from his journalistic pen.
C. L. DUFFELL, M. D.
Dr. C. L. Duffell, a leading physician and surgeon of Clayton, New Jer- sey, is a native of Camden, of the same state. His great-grandfather came from Holland to this country and settled in Cumberland county, New Jer- sey, and became a glass-manufacturer,-among the first in the country. David Duffell, the father of our subject, was also born in Camden, was a merchant in that town, and about 1838 was admitted into the New Jersey conference as a Methodist minister. He served the church faithfully many years, and died in Clayton in 1884. He married into the Hawley family, of Connecticut.
Our subject, Dr. Duffell, attended the common schools and also Penning- ton Seminary, graduated at Jefferson College, in 1862, and immediately after leaving college he joined the Fifty-first Pennsylvania regiment as assistant surgeon and served his country for three years, seeing much hard and active service. He was with Pope in Virginia; was in Tennessee, and with General
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Grant, at Vicksburg, as well as in the Potomac campaigns. No soldier saw more of that terrible civil conflict than did this man of whom we now write. After peace had been established he returned and took up his practice at Wil- liamstown, New Jersey. Five years afterward he went into the Bodine glass- works; but in 1878 he resumed the practice of medicine, at Clayton, where he has been very successful in all branches, especially in surgery and obstet- rics. He has been on the board of education for years and is now the presi- dent, having served for fifteen years. He is the medical inspector for the board of health. In religious matters he is an active Methodist and holds many official places, being widely known.
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