USA > New Jersey > Biographical, genealogical and descriptive history of the first congressional district of New Jersey, Volume I > Part 16
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In 1866 the Doctor married Phoebe, a daughter of John F. Bodine, of Williamstown. They were of an old family, in this section. Her grandfather started the glass-works at Williamstown, many years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Duffell are the parents of two children: one is deceased and the other is married to W. S. Sinickson, who is a clothing dealer in Salem, New Jersey, and one of the most active business men.
The community in which our subject lives and practices the healing art very much prizes him. Besides being a skillful physician, he is an influential and honored member of society. The service he rendered his country, when in peril of war, will never be forgotten.
URIAH GILMAN, M. D.
A prominent physician and surgeon of Woodstown, Dr. Uriah Gilman is a patriot, having served his country well in times of peace and during the troublous days of war. He stands high in his chosen profession, which he has followed in this town for more than three decades, and many of the best families of this vicinity are numbered among his patrons.
The eldest of the seven children of Richard F. S. and Ann (Taylor) Gil- man, the Doctor was born September 11, 1838, in Upper Penn's Neck town- ship, Salem county. His father, whose birth occurred in Roadstone, Cum- berland county, New Jersey. April 25, 1812, was a farmer by occupation, though in his early manhood he learned the trade of watch-maker with the intention of following that vocation. He managed a valuable homestead situated in Upper Pittsgrove township, and, in addition to raising a general line of crops common to this region, he dealt extensively in livestock and met with a fair degree of success in his various business transactions. Al- though his educational advantages had been limited to those afforded by the district schools, he possessed sound, practical common-sense, and was con-
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sidered to be a man of exceptional intelligence. Religiously he was a Baptist and had deeply at heart the upbuilding and progress of the church. Death called him to his reward on New Year's day, 1897, and in the following sum- mer, in July, his devoted wife also entered the silent land. She was a daugh- ter of Damon and Mary Ann (Smith) Taylor, of Pittsgrove township, Salem county. The father, who was a farmer, took a leading part in the building of the Baptist church at Woodstown, in the early part of the century, and though he was a young man, with his own way to make in the world, and with a family to rear and provide for, he contributed fifty dollars in cash and more than that amount besides, in work on the structure. He was only forty years of age at the time of his death, yet he had accomplished more for the lasting good of his community than many of his neighbors much older than he had done. He reared two sons, John, and David, who was engaged in the practice of medicine in Arkansas, and eventually died in Cali- fornia. On the paternal side of the family, our subject had five uncles and one aunt, namely: Stratton, Abram, Benjamin, Lemuel, Ephraim and Eliza- beth, all of whom are deceased. His own brothers and sisters are: Damon Taylor, Richard S., John Taylor, Stratton, and Mary A., who married Joseph R. Humphreys. All of the number are deceased. Damon T., who was wounded at the battle of Morton's Ford and the Wilderness, Virginia, was a member of Company A, Twelfth New Jersey Volunteers, during the war of the Rebellion.
After completing his district-school studies Dr. Gilman attended the Woodstown and Bridgeton schools for a period, after which he pursued a three-year course at the West Jersey Academy. Then going to Arkansas. he read medicine with his uncle, David Taylor, of Rocky Comfort, Little River county. With this foundation, he returned to the east, and matriculated as a southern student at the Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia, where he was graduated with a degree, in 1861. The great civil-war issue was at hand, and, while he was on his way to the west once more, he found at Cincinnati that the postal lines were practically closed between the north and the south, and he retraced his steps to his old New Jersey home. Learning that Dr. John Wiley, of Cape May Court House, had entered the Union service as the surgeon of the Sixth Regiment of this state, he took up his practice, which he carried on successfully for about a year. Then, resisting no longer his earnest desire to do all in his power for his stricken country, he enlisted with the Twelfth Regimental staff as surgeon, and con- tinued to act in that capacity until the close of the war. He was at the post of duty during the fierce battles of Chancellorsville, Cold Harbor. Petersburg, Deep Bottom, Gettysburg, Auburn and Bristoe Station, Mor-
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ton's Ford, Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court House, Mine Explosion, North Bank of the James River, Ream's Station, Fort Sedgwick, Hatcher's Run, and Boydton plank road. He also spent six weeks in the Seminary Hos- pital, Georgetown, D. C. The date of his enlistment was August 20, 1862, and his honorable discharge was granted June 5, 1865. Soon after he left the army the Doctor entered the revenue service and for one year was detailed on duty on board the revenue cruiser "Lincoln," at the end of which time he returned to this state, via the Nicaragua route. He located in Woodstown in 1867, since which year he has been regularly engaged in practice. His love for the "boys who wore the blue" has never waned, and for years he was very active in the Grand Army organization, being the commander of the John G. Fortin Post, No. 57, during the last years of its existence.
In social circles of this place and elsewhere, he is deservedly popular, as is also his estimable wife. A marriage ceremony celebrated February 4, 1869, united the destinies of Dr. Gilman and Miss Keziah Richman, a daughter of Abram and Clarissa (Dubois) Richman. The father was a well-to-do farmer of Richman's Mills, owning valuable property and mills in that locality. The Doctor and wife are members of the Presbyterian church of Woodstown, and take an influential part in all local philanthropic work.
JOHN WOOLSON REEVES.
This gentleman, who is now ably and faithfully serving as the sheriff of Cape May county and makes his home at Cape May Court House, is a rep- resentative of one of the old and prominent families of this locality. Prior to the war of the Revolution there came to Cape May county from Cumber- land county, New Jersey, three brothers,-Adonijah, Abraham and Abijah Reeves. The first named was three times married and though he had several children none of his descendants are now living.
Abijah Reeves, the third brother, was born in Cumberland county, New . Jersey, in the year 1750, and came to Cape May county in 1772. In his fiftieth year he married Miss Mercy Hand, who was twenty-seven years of age and a resident of Cape May county. They had four sons and two daugh- ters, namely: Abraham, David, Andrew H., Joshua H., Sarah and Mercy; but the last named died in infancy. The youngest son was the father of our subject. Abijah Reeves was a soldier in the Revolutionary war and was a member of Captain Joshua Townsend's company of militia in the war of 1812. This company consisted of brave and hardy men,
John W. Reeves
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inured to toil and fearless of danger, and to them Cape May county will ever owe a debt of gratitude for the service they rendered. Abijah Reeves died in the year 1822, at the age of seventy-two years, and his wife passed away in 1847, at the age of seventy-four years. Their remains were interred in the Cold Spring cemetery.
Joshua H. Reeves, the fourth son of Abijah and Mercy (Hand) Reeves, was born in Lower township, Cape May county, July 22, 1808, and at an early age was apprenticed to Isaac Whildin to learn the shoemaker's trade. He completed his apprenticeship, but the business did not agree with his health and accordingly he entered the employ of a neighboring farmer, Enoch Edmunds, who proved to him a most faithful friend. Joshua H. Reeves was a man of the highest character, strictest integrity and honorable in all his dealings. He was a kind father, but firm in family discipline. Always a model in his personal appearance, carefully exacting in dress and toilet, he thus exemplified the maxim that cleanliness is next to Godliness. At the age of thirty-two Mr. Reeves became a member of the Cold Spring Presby- terian church and was up to the time of his death one of its most consistent attendants. He was a strong advocate of the temperance cause, being the president of the Order of Sons of Temperance. The great destroying in- fluences of drink were just then beginning to fasten themselves upon the public with conclusive conviction and he was one of the first to take an active step in the solving of one of the greatest social problems that confronts our government. He was one of the original founders of the Cape Sunday- school and for many years labored in its interests. At the time of his death he was serving as its superintendent.
On January 1, 1833, Joshua H. Reeves was married to Eleanor Woolson, and to them were born seven sons and four daughters, as follows: David, born October 15, 1833; Swain S., born July 17, 1836; Andrew H., born May 26, 1838; John W., born December 31, 1840; Charles W., born Janu- ary II, 1843; Joshua H., Jr., born December 1, 1844; Mary E., born Janu- ary 26, 1847; George H., born January 29, 18449; Ann E., born December 22, 1850; Eliza W., born July 30, 1852; and Annie M., born September 19, 1854. The father of these children died November 26, 1855, aged forty-seven, and the mother August 31, 1898, at the ripe age of eighty-five years.
John Woolson Reeves, the fourth son of Joshua and Eleanor Reeves, the well known sheriff of Cape May county, is the subject of our sketch. Mr. Reeves is a native of Lower township and has resided within the county all his life. Adverse circumstances early forced him to depend upon him- self, as his father suffered a stroke of paralysis, from which he never recov-
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ered, when our subject was only thirteen years old, and he was obliged to leave school in order to provide for his mother, younger brothers and sisters. Consequently his educational privileges were very limited. His first em- ployment was that of a farm hand when fourteen years of age, in which capacity he served until he reached his majority. As compensation for his services for the first few years he received only board and clothing, but later earned a salary of six to nine dollars per month. While assisting in the support of his mother and younger children of the family, the Civil war broke out, and responding to his country's call he enlisted in Company F, Twenty-fifth Regiment, New Jersey Volunteers, August 23, 1862. He was mustered in at Beverly, this state, on the first of September and served under the command of Captain David Blenkow and Colonel Andrew Dur- ham, his company being composed of a hundred men from Cape May county. They joined the Army of the Potomac under General Burnside, but soon after this Mr. Reeves was stricken with scarlet fever and sent to Fairfax Hospital, subsequently being transferred to the Philadelphia Hos- pital.
After returning from the war Mr. Reeves engaged in farming upon the old homestead in connection with several other business interests. He was associated in the building and owning of a number of vessels for coast trading purposes and was extensively engaged in the shipping of gravel to Philadelphia and other ports. The gravel business at that time was a big industry. He also bought considerable real estate and erected a number of residences.
From the time Mr. Reeves cast his first ballot up to the present he has taken a lively interest in politics and has served his county in many and various positions of trust. Like all the other members of the family he is and always has been a stanch supporter of the principles of the Republican party. He has been the township committeeman for Lower township, was a member of the board of chosen freeholders for ten years, acting as the director of that body during the last five, during which time the county almshouse was erected, at a cost of seventeen thousand dollars, and has served as a member of the county board of elections, whose duty is to examine and appoint all election boards, and for three years was its chair- man. He has also served in several other minor official capacities.
Mr. Reeves has been tendered the nomination for county clerk and for both branches of the legislature, but all have been declined. In November, 1898, he was elected the sheriff of Cape May county, his opponent being Stilwell H. Townsend. He did not seek the office and was only induced to accept the nomination after repeated solicitations. Elected by a good ma-
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jority, he is now serving in that position, faithfully performing his duties, for no trust reposed in him has ever been betrayed in the slightest degree. He has always labored earnestly to promote the growth and insure the success of his party, has been a delegate to various conventions and for three years was the chairman of the Republican county conventions. His political course has ever been most honorable and has commanded the respect of those of opposite political faith. Mr. Reeves' business interests have been varied and quite successful. He is progressive, energetic and practical,-qualities which, when directed by good business judgment, never fail to bring success. What he undertakes he carries forward to successful completion and through legitimate channels of trade has accumulated a well merited competence. Mr. Reeves is a member and director of the Cape May Saving Fund Building & Loan Association, the Mechanics & Laborers' Building & Loan Association, a director of the Cape May Agricultural Asso- ciation and a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the John Mecray Post, No. 40, G. A. R.
Mr. Reeves was reared in the Presbyterian faith. being a pew-holder of the old brick church at Cold Spring, where he has attended all his life. The cause of education and temperance finds in him a strong advocate and he withholds his support from no movement or measure which is calcu- lated to promote the welfare of the community along material, intellectual, social and moral lines.
On the 3d of March, 1869, Mr. Reeves married Miss Emma L., a daugh- ter of John N. Nott, who was of English birth and education and who became a school-teacher in Lower township, Cape May county. Four sons have been born of this union: Andrew Higgins, the eldest, is en- gaged in the drug business at Tuckerton, N. J. He received his education at the West Cape May Academy and later attended the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy in Philadelphia. David LeRoy, the second son, is a practicing attorney at the bar of Philadelphia. He prepared for college at South Jersey Institute, Bridgeton, New Jersey, and subsequently entered Lafay- ette College at Easton, Pennsylvania. He read law in the office of the firm of Gendell & Reeves, attending the University of Pennsylvania Law School at the same time. He was admitted to the bar in 1897 and has offices with his preceptors in the Crozer Building, 1420 Chestnut street, Philadelphia.
He married Katherine Cornell Tallman and two children have been born to them,-John Woolson and Howard Gendell. Abram Carl, the third son, is still a student. Having an unusually strong artistic instinct, he is pre- paring himself for a life work in art and is now pursuing his third year in
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the course of Fine and Applied Art at the School of Drawing, Painting and Modeling of the Drexel Institute. Samuel Winchester, the youngest son, is a member of the United States Marine Corps and is stationed at Fort Mifflin, Pennsylvania.
EUGENE WAY, M. D.
The name of this gentleman is inscribed high on the roll of New Jersey's eminent medical practitioners, and his standing in the profession is shown by the fact that he is now accorded the largest practice given to any physi- cian of Cape May county. For more than twenty years he has given to his duties as a representative of the calling his close and undivided atten- tion, and he is remarkably skillful in the exercise of important functions which are demanded by the healing art. Added to his natural ability was his careful preparation for the work, and he has never yet ceased to be an earnest and diligent student of the science of medicine. Thus has he gained prestige and prosperity, and in the history of his adopted county he well deserves honorable mention.
The Doctor was born in Kirkwood, Broome county, New York. Sep- tember 14, 1857. and is a son of Dr. Palmer M. and Ann Amelia (Wilson) Way. He pursued his literary education in the public schools of the Empire state and in Cape May county, and after determining to devote his attention to the medical profession he entered the Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia, in which he was graduated March 12, 1879, on the completion of a three-year course. Thus prepared for the practice of medicine, he opened an office in South Seaville, Cape May county, where he remained for three years, when in 1882 he came to Dennisville, where he has since made his home. From the beginning his practice has steadily and constantly increased until it has now assumed extensive proportions, bringing him a reputation second to none in the county. He is well versed in all departments of the science of medicine, and has also taken a course in pharmacy, receiving from the state board a diploma. He has been for two years a member of the pension board at Bridgeton and devotes one day each week to his work in that connection, being associated on the board with Dr. S. M. Wilson. of Bridgeton, and Dr. M. A. Foulkener, of Vineland. Their district comprises the greater part of the congressional district. The Doctor is a frequent and valued contributor to a number of the leading medical journals and is a mem- ber of the Cape May County Medical Society, the New Jersey State Medical Society, and the American Medical Association. He is a member of the board of health of Dennisville and has been a health inspector for ten years.
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CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY.
On the 17th of March, 1880, Dr. Way was united in marriage to Miss Mary Adams, a daughter of ex-Sheriff Albert Adams, of South Seaville. Four children were born to them: Clarence, a student in the Peddy Institute, in Heightstown, New Jersey; and Jessie, Fannie and Sara, at home. The Doctor is connected with some civic societies, being a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity, at Dennisville, and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Cape May Court House. He has long been a faithful member of the Baptist church, in which he has held all the offices, including those of deacon, trustee and church clerk. He has written a history of the church, a work of thirty pages, giving an account of its progress and work through one hundred and seventy years. He is a man of broad humani- tarian principles and deep sympathy, and his spirit of helpfulness is often manifested, but always unostentatiously.
A. B. WOODRUFF, M. D.
Dr. A. B. Woodruff, of Elmer, Salem county, New Jersey, has been a practicing physician of this county for more than twenty years and is the leading practitioner in this section, occupying a place second to none in the affections of the people. He was born at Bridgeton, Cumberland county, this state, June 13, 1850, in the spot where his father was born and about two miles from the birthplace of his grandfather. He is a son of Isaac D. Woodruff, who was born in this county in 1825. He was a resident of Hopewell township. They were a family of farmers, the son Isaac D., the father of Mr. Woodruff, following the same occupation and accumulating a moderate fortune. He was a pleasant, easy-tempered man who made many friends, and his upright, honorable conduct won universal respect. He united with the Presbyterian church and strove to regulate his every-day life according to its precepts. He married Miss Hannah Brooks, of Green- wich, Cumberland county, a daughter of Alpheus Brooks. She is now in her seventieth year and became the mother of five children, three of whom are still living. They are Dr. A. B .; Ella, Mrs. Frank Tice; and Hannah, Mrs. Harvey Havens, both sisters residing in the vicinity of Bridgeton. The father passed gently away in October, 1889, just as nature was donning her autumnal garb preparatory to taking her winter's rest.
. Dr. Woodruff attended the common schools and West Jersey Academy, at Bridgeton. He then secured a position in Whipple's drug store, where he remained three years and there received the nucleus of that education in which he afterward perfected himself by a course in the University of Penn- sylvania, located at Philadelphia. In 1874 he had completed the four-years
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course, and graduated at the institution with the degree of M. D., when he at once returned to his native town and began the practice of his chosen profession. He remained there three years and was meeting with success, but decided a better scope was offered for his work in some other locality, and accordingly moved his office to Elmer, where he has continued since 1877 and worked his way up from a humble beginning to one of the largest and most lucrative practices in the county. His area of patronage is not confined to this particular locality, but has extended over a wide range of country, where his reputation had preceded him. He travels over long dis- tances to care for his cases and it requires three horses to carry him over his rounds. He has been most careful in his diagnosis of disease and skillful in his treatment, meeting with the happiest results, winning words of commendation and praise from even those who do not agree with his methods. He is a genial, "cheery," kind-hearted, sympathetic man, whose very presence in the sick-room inspires the afflicted with courage and hope, and many an unfortunate poor family has reason to bless his ministrations, as well as the family of wealth. He is a general practitioner and keeps well up with the times on all the latest and most approved discoveries in the science of medicine, applying this knowledge whenever it seems desirable to do so. . While a very busy man, the Doctor is deeply interested in all local affairs and is ready to assist in any way in his power the promotion of municipal growth and prosperity. He is a member of the different medical societies and of the board of trade.
October 14, 1874, he married Miss Anna, a daughter of Charles Ashcroft, who was a sea captain; and their four children are Gertrude, Alice, Charles and Isaac.
GEORGE H. WAINWRIGHT.
George Hanson Wainwright, a designer of merit who is well known to all large carpet houses, is a native of Kidderminster, Worcestershire, Eng- land, his natal day being February 26, 1852. His parents were James and Clara (Hanson) Wainwright, natives of Tamworth and Birmingham respec- tively. The paternal grandfather was a resident of Tamworth, Stafford- shire, England, and was noted as a man of great strength and endurance. He lived to reach an extreme age and retained the use of all his faculties in their vigor until the last. He was reared in the Episcopal faith and was an earnest Christian. He married a Miss Blood, a relative of Thomas Guy, who founded Guy's Hospital and College in London, and built and en- dowed the almshouses at Tamworth, his mother's native place. He pros-
George Hanson Wainwright, Salem, New Jersey
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pered in his business and left a handsome legacy to be distributed among those who could prove any relationship to him, he himself being a bachelor. (See The Condensed American Cyclopedia, Vol. II,-Cuba-Jarrow,-page 524; and The World-wide Cyclopedia, Vol. VII, page 2985,-published by the Bible House, New York.)
James Wainwright was born at Tamworth, England, in 1809, and was educated at the college located there. He was an industrious lad and at an early age took charge of a carpet-manufacturing plant. Later he engaged in the mercantile business, continuing it until his death at Kidderminster, October 19, 1864, when he was in the prime of life, fifty-five years of age. He was also reared in the Episcopal church, but later united with the Con- gregational church and took an active part in their meetings, was super- intendent of the Sunday-school, etc. He was a man who was much loved and esteemed and aimed to govern his life by the Golden Rule. He mar- ried Miss Clara Hanson and twelve children were born to them, viz .: Sarah; Andrew; Edward; Clara; Elizabeth; James; William, who came to America and was foreman in a woolen mill at Lowell, Massachusetts; Eliza; George H., our subject; John; and two that died in infancy. The wife and mother died June II, 1869, at the age of fifty-eight years.
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