USA > New Jersey > Biographical, genealogical and descriptive history of the first congressional district of New Jersey, Volume I > Part 20
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Mr. Gayner was married January 14, 1878, to Miss Rebecca C. Miller, daughter of Joseph Miller, a farmer of Burlington county, this state. They have been blessed by the birth of six bright children,-Sarah Edna, John M., Joseph F., Rebecca, Margaret and Marion. Mr. Gayner is a man of a deeply religious nature, consistent and earnest in all his acts, and has been a power for good in this community, where he has taken an active interest in the cause of prohibition and endeavored to advance public opinion both by example and precept. He is a member of the Broadway Methodist Episcopal church at Salem, and counts any work connected therewith a privilege, giving freely of both time and money. He has been an incumbent in each office in the church, serving as a trustee, steward, choir-leader, class-leader, Sunday-school chorister, president of the Epworth League and assistant superintendent of the Sunday-school.
EDMUND JONES.
Edmund Jones, who is engaged in merchandising in Franklin, was born near Elmer, Salem county, on the 14th of October, 1832. His father, Joseph Jones, first opened his eyes to the light of day on the same farm, and the grandfather, John Jones, was also a farmer. The family is of Welsh origin, two brothers of the same name having left the little rock-ribbed country of Wales to become residents of the New World. Crossing the Atlantic they
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took up their residence in Harrisonville, and their descendants have since been found in New Jersey. Joseph Jones was a farmer by occupation and in 1846 removed to Elmer, where he embarked in merchandising, being the owner of two stores at that place for three years. He became the leading business man of the town and its commercial prosperity largely depended upon his efforts. He was also a recognized factor in political affairs, his influence being surpassed by no resident of Salem county. He held many township offices and gave an earnest and active support to the Democratic party. In business he met with remarkable success, his enterprise, keen discernment, and careful management making him a very prosperous mer- chant. In manner he was very genial, cordial and courteous and was a most delightful host, being able to entertain his friends in a most pleasing manner. His interests centered in his family and it seemed as though he could not do too much to enhance the welfare and happiness of his wife and children. He married Mary A. Van Meter, of Salem county, who died in 1841. By her marriage she became the mother of seven children, of whom four are living: Edmund; Charles W., a real-estate operator of Richland, New Jersey; Sarah J., the wife of Lewis Du Bois, of Atchison, Kansas; and Samuel V., of Wat- son Corner, Salem county. The father of this family died in 1887, at the age of eighty years, and in his death the community lost one of its most valued, influential and respected citizens.
The educational privileges which Edmund Jones received were limited. At the age of sixteen years, when his father went into business in Elmer, he entered the store and acted as cashier and bookkeeper. An extensive busi- ness was carried on, and for a time he was the manager of one of the stores at that place. In 1856 he came to Franklinville, Gloucester county, where he began merchandising on his own account. Success has attended his efforts from the beginning and he has constantly enlarged his facilities in order to meet the growing demands of his trade, having now one of the most complete and best appointed general stores in this section of the state. His efforts have not been confined to one line, for he is a man of resourceful business ability and has extended his field of operations. In 1887, in connection with others, he organized the Farmers' & Mechanics' Bank, of Woodbury, being one of the leading stockholders and a director and vice-president of the in- stitution. He spends two or three days each week in the bank and his wise counsel has been an important factor in its successful conduct. He is the owner of over twenty-two hundred and fifty acres of land, but rents the greater part of his property.
Since arriving in Franklinville Mr. Jones has taken an active interest in politics and has held all of the township offices, having been in public service
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for thirty-two years,-a record which stands an unmistakable evidence of his ability and faithfulness. He was a freeholder for seven years, retiring from that office in 1874, and in the fall of the same year he was elected county sheriff, serving for four years. The county has usually given a Republican majority of from eight to twelve hundred, but he was elected on a Democratic ticket by a majority of six hundred, a fact which indicates his personal popu- larity and the confidence reposed in him. On the 16th of February, 1860, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Jones and Miss Harriet S. Wilson, a daughter of Thomas Wilson, of Gloucester county, and a representative of a prominent family. They have two children, Harry W. and Wilson T., both at home. The eldest son is now serving as a freeholder of the county, and the youngest one is serving as a township clerk. The family is one of prominence in the community and its representatives occupy enviable positions in social. business and political circles.
ROBERT T. SEAGRAVES.
There is probably no man in the community, aside from those who have consecrated their lives to the ministry, who have exerted a stronger influence for the uplifting of humanity than Robert T. Seagraves. In business life he has achieved a splendid success and acquired a handsome competency, but though his business cares and responsibilities were many he has yet found time and opportunity to promote the interests and movements which tend to the betterment of the race and has long been a recognized leader in the temperance and religious work of the community.
A native of Salem county, he was born in Mannington township, January 13, 1836, his parents being William K. and Mary (Tuft) Seagraves. The name is of English origin, and its first representative in America took up his abode in Cape May county, New Jersey, in early colonial days. During the progress of the Revolution the family was founded in Elsinboro township, Salem county, and its members have since been active factors in promoting the varied interests of the county along moral, educational and material lines. William Seagraves, the grandfather, was a farmer of Mannington township, where he owned two hundred acres of land, a part of which is now in possession of our subject. There he carried on agricultural pursuits until his death. He was a member and deacon in the Baptist church in Salem and took a very active and zealous part in its work. One of his brothers, Samuel Seagraves, a very intelligent man, served as a captain in the war of 1812,
Robert J. Lagrave
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and made his home in Mannington township. William Seagraves was the father of two children,-Rebecca and William K. The former, now deceased, became the wife of William Lawrence, a farmer of Mannington township, and they had six children: William, Joseph, Edward, Susan, Mary and John.
William K. Seagraves was born in Mannington township, in 1808, ob- tained a good English education, and became a surveyor. He followed that vocation throughout the greater part of his life and laid out many of the roads in this section of the county. He also engaged in school-teaching and in farming in Mannington township and subsequently removed to Lower Penn's Neck township, where he spent his last days upon a farm. He exer- cised his right of franchise in support of the Democratic party and held a number of local offices, the duties of which he discharged with promptness and fidelity. In the Baptist church of Salem he held a membership, served as one of its deacons, and aided largely in its work, doing all in his power for its growth and upbuilding. The cause of education also found in him a warm friend, and as trustee he did effective service in the interests of the schools. He died May 26, 1849, at the age of forty-one years, and his wife passed away in December, 1893, at the advanced age of eighty-two years. This worthy couple were the parents of seven children: Sarah married Dr. Scott Stewart. a very prominent physician of Philadelphia, who died and left the money for the erection of the Methodist hospital of that city. William K. began study- ing for the ministry, but died before completing the course. Robert T. is the third in order of birth. James M. engaged in the shipping business but is now deceased. George W. died at the age of sixteen years. Dr. Joseph S. was a graduate of the Jefferson Medical College and engaged in the prac- tice of medicine in Philadelphia up to the time of his death, which occurred when he was about thirty years of age. Dr. Clermont S., the youngest, was a graduate of Jefferson Medical College, and also studied medicine for a year in Edinburg, Scotland, but is now deceased.
In the district schools Robert T. Seagraves began his education, which was continued in the Salem Literary Institute. He began business when seventeen years of age, becoming identified with the agricultural interests of Lower Penn's Neck township in 1853. There he carried on farming until 1883, and added to his property there until he had two hundred and twenty- five acres, which he placed under a high state of cultivation, the well-tilled fields yielding to him a golden tribute in return for the care and labor he bestowed upon them. In 1883 he removed to Salem and retired from active business, save the management of his landed possessions. In addition to the old homestead he has one hundred and twenty acres in Mannington town- ship, besides wooded land and other property in different sections of the
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county. His diligence and capable management have brought to him a very desirable success in his business affairs, and having acquired a hand- some competence he is now enabled to live a retired life. He certainly de- serves great credit for what he has accomplished, for in his youth he not only had to provide for his own support, but was the mainstay of his mother and her family. His father died when he was quite young and in connection with his mother he managed and operated the home farm and provided for the education of the children, aiding them to become comfortably settled in life.
Mr. Seagraves was married January 14, 1874, Miss Mary M. Gay becom- ing his wife. She is a daughter of Thomas Gay, of Boston, Massachusetts, and is a most estimable lady, who shares in the high regard in which her hus- band is uniformly held.
Politically Mr. Seagraves is a Prohibitionist, and is a recognized leader in the temperance work in the county, teaching both by precept and example that abstinence is the best course. The cause of education finds in him a warm and zealous friend. He has served as a member of the board of trus- tees of the South Jersey Institute, at Bridgeton, filling that position for six- teen years. He contributed liberally to the support of the school and also per- sonally solicited funds. In 1891 he was appointed to raise an endowment fund and secured fifty-seven thousand dollars for that purpose, and when the work was successfully accomplished he resigned his position in 1892. He is a member of the board of trustees of the New Jersey Baptist state con- vention and treasurer of the Baptist Association of the State of New Jersey. For several years he has served as a deacon of the church of that denomina- tion in Salem, and his labors have been very effective in advancing its inter- ests. He is also the treasurer of the board of trustees of the Young Men's Christian Association and has always taken a very active interest in the work of that organization. He was one of the two gentlemen whose labors made possible the erection of their buildings at a cost of sixteen thousand dollars, his associate in this work being Caleb Wheeler. It would be almost tauto- logical to say that Mr. Seagraves is a man of broad humanitarian principles and marked sympathy, for this has been shadowed forth in the lines of this review. With a correct conception of the plans and purposes of life, he real- izes the importance of laying a firm foundation for character-building, and is therefore actively interested in assisting young men as they start out upon the journey of life where temptation and trials will frequently meet them. His kindly nature and genial manner win him the confidence and friendship of all, and Salem county numbers him among her most esteemed citizens.
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CHARLES WALTON.
Charles Walton, ex-mayor of Woodbury, is one of the public-spirited bus- iness men of this beautiful city, and none are held in higher honor or more generally esteemed. He is a worthy representative of a distinguished En- glish family, four brothers of the name having come to America prior to the Revolutionary war. They settled near the Delaware river, not far from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. George Walton, of this family, was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.
Hiram Walton, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Philadelphia, learned the milling business in early life and followed that vocation thence- forth. He was the father of six children, namely: Mordecai, Mary, William, Abigail, Joseph and Rebecca. The latter, the only survivor of the family, was born in 1810, and is a resident of the Quaker city, her home being at No. 459 North Fifth street.
William Walton, father of Charles Walton, was born in Philadelphia in 1800 and passed his early manhood there. Coming to New Jersey about 1840, he settled in Deptford township, Gloucester county, and eventually purchased a farm. He had been a miller in his native city, but during his last years he gave his attention solely to agriculture. He was in the United States army when a young man, but of this period of his life he preferred not to speak, as he was a member of the Society of Friends, and of course opposed, in principle, to war and aught but peace. His long and noble life came to a happy close September 15, 1883, but his memory is tenderly cher- ished in the hearts of scores of his old friends and associates. His wife, whose maiden name was Maria McKean, survived him a number of years, her death taking place in September, 1896. To this worthy couple twelve chil- dren were born, namely: William, deceased; Hiram, of Philadelphia; Anna. the wife of Zaccheus Patterson, of Westville, Gloucester county, New Jersey; Charles; Henry, who died in infancy; Edward, of Chicago; Joseph, deceased; George, of Chicago; Mordecai, deceased; Morris, of Atlantic City, New Jersey, and John G. and Alfred C., twins, both residents of the Quaker City.
Charles Walton, whose birth occurred in Deptford township, Gloucester county, February 13, 1853. was educated in the common schools of Wood- bury and at Pennington Seminary, in Mercer county, New Jersey. After completing his studies he was employed in various capacities for seventeen years, by Daniel Thackara, in Philadelphia, Woodbury and points in the south. In 1880 he embarked in business on his own account, and for nearly
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a score of years has been numbered among the leaders in Woodbury's com- mercial circles.
The high esteem in which Mr. Walton is held among our citizens may be judged, in part, by the fact that he has frequently been called upon to rep- resent them in the council. He served as a member of that honorable body for two terms and for a like period held the important office of mayor of Woodbury. He is a member of the board of freeholders at present, and since the organization of the health board he has been one of its most efficient workers. For six years he officiated as the assistant chief of the Woodbury volunteer fire department, and he is yet a member of the Friendship Com- pany. Politically, he is a stanch Republican, and religiously both he and his estimable wife are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
The marriage of Mr. Walton and Anna K. Warren took place in Wood- bury, August 9, 1887. Four children blessed their happy home, namely: Mary R., born June 16, 1888; Nellie, who was born July 9, 1889, and died in infancy; Gladys, born January 16, 1892; and Charles Wayne, August 29. 1893. Mrs. Walton is a daughter of Reuben and Mary K. (Kirkbride) War- ren, of Gloucester county, and was reared to womanhood in this section of the state.
JULIUS WAY, M. D.
The eminent ability of Dr. Julius Way has given him a standing in the medical profession that will entitle him to mention among the leading practi- tioners of Cape May Court House, where he has gained a large and lucrative patronage that many an older practitioner might well envy. His success rests upon a thorough and accurate knowledge of the principles of the medical science, of close application to the duties of his profession and upon a native ability that has enabled him to master the difficult problems which are con- tinually arising in connection with the profession upon which depends every other calling and labor in life, for health is an indispensable element in every task that falls to the lot of man and is the foundation for all enjoyment and all progress.
A native of the Empire state, Dr. Way was born in Kirkwood, Broome county, September 7, 1860, his parents being Palmer M. and Amelia (Wil- son) Way. The Way family is of Scotch origin, and on the maternal side the Doctor is of Irish descent. Martin Way, the great-grandfather, married a sister of Lord Stirling, and emigrated from Scotland to America, where his descendants have become very numerous. His son, Philemon Way, was born in New York and spent his entire life in that state. He loyally served his
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Julius Way
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country in the war of the Revolution and gave his political support first to the Whig party and afterward to the Republican party. Among his children was Palmer M. Way, who was born in Avon, Monroe county, New York, November 18, 1807, and there acquired his preliminary education in the com- mon schools. He was afterward a student in Hartwick Seminary, in Coopers- town, New York, and acquired an excellent knowledge of some of the ancient languages. Thus peculiarly well qualified for teaching, he devoted his ener- gies to that profession for a time. While in the seminary he formed the acquaintance of J. Fenimore Cooper, the noted American novelist, and a friendship sprang up between them which endured until the death of Mr. Cooper. After two years spent as a teacher in Albany county, New York, Dr. Way continued his studies preparatory to entering Albany Academy, in which institution he was later graduated. He was afterward graduated in the Albany Medical College and then entered the Methodist ministry, offi- ciating for a time as the pastor of the Wesleyan Methodist Episcopal church, in Albany.
In 1851 Dr. Way removed with his family to Jamaica, West Indies, whither he went as a medical missionary for the Congregational church, with which he became connected a short time before leaving for the new field. For four years he remained in Jamaica and then returned to his native land. opening a drug store in New York city and also engaging in the practice of medicine there. For twelve years he remained in the Empire state, and in 1868 came to Cape May county, New Jersey, where he resided until his death. Here he engaged in the practice of medicine until 1865, when he turned over his business to his two sons: Dr. Eugene, a prominent physician and leading citizen of Cape May county; and Julius, of this review. In early life Dr. Palmer Way gave his political support to the Whig party, and on its dissolution joined the ranks of the Republican party, with which he affiliated until the rise of the Greenback movement. He was identified with that or- ganization during its brief existence and then returned to the Republican forces, exercising his right of franchise in support of its men and measures throughout the remainder of his life. At the time of his death he enjoyed the distinction of being the oldest Freemason in the state of New Jersey, having joined that order in 1828, when he was made a Master Mason in Mid- dlefield, Monroe county, New York, at the age of twenty-one years. At the time of his demise he was a member in good standing of Canon Lodge, No. 104, F. & A. M., in South Seaville, New Jersey, with which he had been connected for twenty-seven years. The Doctor was a man of fine physique. large and well proportioned, and had a rugged constitution. He passed the eighty-third milestone on life's journey, yet he had the appearance of
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being much younger and possessed the vigor of a man scarcely past his prime. His was in many respects a remarkable career. He traveled all over the American continent, and was a witness of the remarkable growth and prog- ress made by the United States in the nineteenth century.
Dr. Palmer Way married Amelia Wilson, and to them were born eight children: James P., the eldest, married Virginia Rice, by whom he had two children,-Maud and Edna,-and after her death he married Lizzie Thomp- son. He engaged in merchandising at Sea Isle City, and was the treasurer of that place, but died in 1892. Mary became the wife of Eugene C. Cole, a well known lawyer. Charles married Jennie C. Swan, and they have two children,-Mabel and Edna. He is a merchant of South Seaville, New Jer- sey, and has served as the postmaster there. Eugene wedded Mary Adams. and their children are Clarence, Jesse and Fannie. He is now a prominent practicing physician of Dennisville, Cape May county, is a member of the pension board and a trustee of the South Jersey Institute. Julius is the next of the family. George died at the age of twenty-two years. Albert married Lizzie Van Gilder, and their children were Liness, Emil and Benton. Their father has twice held the office of postmaster of Ocean View and is now en- gaged in merchandising there. Minnie, the youngest child, is a well known educator, for a while being a teacher in the Ocean View public school.
We now take up the personal history of Dr. Julius Way, knowing that it will prove of interest to many of our readers, for he is both widely and favor- ably known in Cape May and adjoining counties. He attended the public schools of Seaville and subsequently was a student in the Philadelphia Col- lege of Pharmacy, in which institution he was graduated with the class of 1882. He then matriculated in the Jefferson Medical College and was gradu- ated in the class of 1885, after which he practiced for two years in South Seaville. In 1887 he came to Cape May Court House, where he has since remained. Few men are better qualified for the practice of medicine than Dr. Way. He has taken a special course in chemistry, which together with his study in the medical and pharmacy schools has given him a broad and comprehensive knowledge of drugs and their uses. He is also conducting a drug store, and in both branches of his business is meeting with excellent success. He is a member of the Cape May County Medical Society and has gained a position of distinction in the ranks of the medical fraternity. He is also the physician for the board of health and the county physician for the almshouse and jail.
In connection with his profession he has other interests, being interested in the New Jersey State Mutual Association and the Mechanics' & Laborers' Building & Loan Association. In 1892 he was elected a commissioner of
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Cape May county. Socially he is connected with various civic organizations. He belongs to Hereford Lodge, I. O. O. F., Pomenah Tribe, O. R. M., and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is also a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church. The Doctor was elected, by the Republican party, the county clerk of Cape May county in the fall of 1899, taking the office February 27, 1900. In 1893 he was elected the coroner of the county, on the same ticket, and served one term.
In August, 1886, was celebrated the marriage of Dr. Way and Miss Ella Corson, a daughter of German Corson, and they now have two children,- Palmer M. and Helena. The Doctor and his wife occupy a very prominent position in social circles and enjoy the hospitality of many of the best homes in Cape May Court House. He is a man of broad humanitarian principles and deep sympathy, and on many untold occasions he has professionally visited those from whom he could hope to receive no remuneration. His honorable and upright life commends him to the confidence and regard of all, and no man is more highly esteemed in his adopted county than Dr. Julius Way.
SAMUEL H. SMITH.
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