USA > New Jersey > Biographical, genealogical and descriptive history of the first congressional district of New Jersey, Volume I > Part 29
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64
The Doctor's father, Robert Phillips, was born in Salisbury township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, June 1, 1797, and with his father learned the miller's trade. He afterward operated a mill in the state of New York, later carried on the same business in Trenton, New Jersey, and subsequently in Lambertsville, New Jersey, where he conducted the Pine Hope Mill. He then began the operation of a mill at Neshaminy Falls, Pennsylvania, and on selling that property removed to Byberry township, Philadelphia county, where he built a mill, which he operated until 1846. He then sold out and started westward. He made his way to Chicago and soon afterward pur-
E. H Chillifs m.
265
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY.
chased a farm in the Fox river valley, where he carried on agricultural pur- suits until his death. He was a member of the Society of Friends and a most honorable man. He took quite a prominent part in public affairs in early life, was an active advocate of the anti-slavery movement, and in this was associated with the renowned Robert Purvis. He was also a member of the jury which tried Mrs. Chapman for the murder of her husband at Andalusia, Pennsylvania, about 1835. This was one of the most celebrated cases of early days in which the purported son of a Spanish don, but probably a common tramp, was convicted; but the woman was acquitted. Mr. Phillips was called to his final rest January 3, 1888, when more than ninety years of age, and his wife passed away January 3, 1892. at the age of seventy-seven years. They were the parents of three sons and three daughters, of whom the Doctor is the eldest. Willet, the second, a farmer of McHenry county, Illinois, mar- ried Miss Malinda Balch, and their children were Fred and Annetta. Maria married Isaac Griswold, a carpenter by trade, who served throughout the civil war and was the chief of the orderlies on Grant's staff at the battle of Vicksburg and later was commissioned captain. After the war he removed to California, but is now a contractor and builder of Seattle, Washington. In his family are five children. Harriet, the third child was drowned when about two years of age in the mill race running through the yard. Emma. the fifth child of Robert Phillips, was the wife of William Sorter, now de- ceased, a blacksmith and ranch owner of Larkspur, Colorado, by whom she has one son, Robert. She afterward married A. B. Sears, of Detroit. Michi- gan, now of Lansing, Michigan. Howard, a farmer living on the family homestead in McHenry county, Illinois, is married and has two children,- Walter and Robert.
Dr. Phillips, whose name introduces this review, acquired his preliminary education in the public schools of Byberry township, Philadelphia county. Pennsylvania, and later was a student in the English Seminary, in Elgin, Illi- nois. Determining to make the practice of medicine his life work, he studied medicine in the New York Medical College, and was graduated in 1858. Ten years later he was graduated in the Hahnemann Medical College in Phila- delphia, and then located in Cape May, where he has continuously main- tained a place as one of the leading representatives of the profession in the county. He is a member of the State Homeopathic Medical Society and the West Jersey Medical Society, of which he is now the honored president. He is also a member of the board of health, belongs to the Building & Loan As- sociation at Cape May, and was one of the organizers and the secretary of the Staten Island Building & Loan Association.
The Doctor was married on Christmas day of 1859, to Miss Jennie Spin-
266
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE FIRST
ning, a daughter of John Spinning, a cattle broker of Summit, New Jersey, and they had one child, Russell, who was born October 31, 1862, and married Lizzie William, by whom he has four children,-Bert, Helen, Russell and John. He was formerly a photographer but is now engaged in the bicycle business in Washington, D. C. Mrs. Phillips died December 5, 1865, and the Doctor afterward married Miss Anna Hughes, a daughter of Ellis Hughes, a farmer of Cape May county. They have four children,-Walter, Edward, Albert and William.
Ellis Hughes, the father of Mrs. Phillips, was born July 7, 1793, and died in June, 1862. He was the son of Thomas H. Hughes, who was born in 1769 and died in 1839. He represented the first congressional district of New Jersey in the house of representatives from 1829 to 1833. He was a prominent member and one of the trustees of the Cold Spring Presbyterian church, contracted for and rebuilt the present brick church there, about the year 1830. He also took an active part in the cause of temperance in that early day. He had five children: Thomas P., Ellis, Ellen, Lydia and Sarah. Thomas P. Hughes married Mary Boon, of Salem county and had one son, Benjamin. Thomas P. represented the county in the house of assembly for one term. He was also the sheriff of the county, serving two terms. He died in 1863. Benjamin, his son, married Mary Wales, a sister of Eli and Edmund L. B. Wales, M. D., who was a prominent member of his profession and held a number of public positions in the state and county. Ellis Hughes married Sarah Higgins and had two children,-Ellis and Sarah. Ellis married Hester Ovam and raised three boys and two girls. Sarah married Dr. Ran- dolph Marshall and they had five boys and four girls. Dr. Randolph, Jr., and Dr. Joseph succeeded to their father's practice at his death. Benjamin, the oldest, studied medicine but preferred another calling and has been in the mercantile business. He represented his township in the board of free- holders for a number of years. Ellis, the youngest son, is now (1900) a mem- ber of the legislature. Sarah Higgins, the wife of Ellis Hughes, Sr., died, and he married Nancy Teal, and of this marriage were born eight children: Thomas, John, Lydia, Richard, Smith, Albert, Martha, and Annie, the wife of the subject of our sketch. Of the other children of Thomas H. Hughes, Ellen married Richard S. Ludlaw, who built and was the proprietor of the Mansion House at Cape May until it was burned. They had no children. Lydia married Richard Edmunds and they reared a large number of children. Sarah married Eli Wales and brought up several children. The Hughes family have all been prominent and active in all good works.
Of various civic societies the Doctor is a valued representative. He be- longs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the
267
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY.
Good Templars, and since sixteen years of age has been identified with the Sons of Temperance. He does all in his power to promote the cause of tem- perance and overthrow the liquor traffic. In politics he was formerly a Re- publican and his first presidential vote was cast for John P. Hale, the candi- date of the Free-soil party. He now exercises his right of franchise in support of the Prohibition party, which embodies his ideas on the temperance ques- tion. He is a member of the Swedenborgian church at the corner of Twenty- second and Chestnut streets, Philadelphia, and at all times he lends his sup- port to those interests which tend to uplift humanity and improve the con- ditions of life. Honorable and upright, he commands the respect of all with whom he comes in contact, his kindly manner and helpful spirit winning him many friends.
R. HOWARD THORN.
This gentleman is now the efficient postmaster at Ocean City, and is in control of one of the most extensive enterprises at that place. Through the passing years he has added to his capital by the careful conduct of his mer- cantile interests and enlarged his facilities to meet the demands of the con- stantly increasing trade, thus becoming the proprietor of one of the largest business houses in the city which he makes his home.
Mr. Thorn was born at Frankford, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June 23, 1857, his parents being Richard H. and Rebecca (Shallcross) Thorn. Seven brothers by the name of Thorn came to America at an early period in the history of this country. One of the brothers settled in Salem county, New Jersey, the second in Maryland, and John Thorn, the original ancestor of our subject, took up his abode in Chesterfield township, Burlington county, New Jersey, where he followed the occupation of farming. James came over with Lord Baltimore. The grandfather of our subject also bore the name of John, and was born at Crosswicks, Burlington county, in 1790. He was educated in the schools of Bordentown, learned the potter's trade, and en- gaged in the manufacture of pottery in Crosswicks in early life, but subse- quently removed to Frankford, Philadelphia, where he manufactured all . kinds of earthenware. There he spent his remaining days, his death occur- ring in March. 1857, at the age of sixty-seven years. His political support was given the Whig party, and of the Methodist Episcopal church he was a faithful member, contributing liberally to its support and regularly attending its services. He married Miss Mary Thomas, whose death occurred at the age of sixty-four years. They were the parents of the following children: Thomas, who was a tailor and baker, married and had one daughter, Mary
268
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE FIRST
E .; Siloam T. was the second of the family; Richard was the next younger; David, a bricklayer, married Mary Wilson, and their children were Silas W., Richard, Hare, Melvina and two who died in childhood; Hannah became the wife of James G. Glenn, a saddler of Philadelphia, and their children were Edwin T., Charles T., Clara T., Milton, Fannie, Harry and Loucina; Mary Anna became the wife of Charles T. Homes, a master painter at Frankford. and they had seven children,-Charles, Mary Ada, Evadne, Richard, Lin- wood T., Maud and Irene; Susan became the wife of Christian S. Ruth, a master mechanic and foreman of the blacksmith shops of the Altoona (Penn- sylvania) Railroad Company, by whom she had six children,-James Bu- chanan, Mary, Susan, Wilbur, Linford and Milton; Margaret, the youngest of the family, married William MacDonough, a wood turner and superin- tendent of an umbrella factory, by whom she had four children,-John Thorn. William, Mary and Frank.
Richard H. Thorn, the father of our subject, was born at Crosswicks, Burlington county, New Jersey, March 24. 1820, and throughout his busi- ness career followed contracting and building at Frankford, Pennsylvania. and executed some of the largest contracts in that part of Philadelphia and furnished employment to a large force of workmen. He exercised his right of franchise in support of the Democracy. He married Miss Re- becca Shallcross, and they became the parents of eight children: George Bancroft; Mary Deborah, who died at the age of nine years; Horace St. Clair, who is the secretary of the Frankford Mutual Insurance Company, and married Ella Greenly, by whom he had two children,-Joseph S. and Walter St. Clair; Warren Douglass, who died at the age of twenty-three years: Richard Howard; Joseph Shallcross, who died at the age of five years; Effie Grey, who became the wife of Abel D. Scull, a contractor at Ocean City, by whom she had five children,-Olive Pearl, Howard Thorn, Morris S., Thomas J. and Ruth D .; and Thomas J., a grocer, who married Ella Smith. The father of these children was called to his final rest November 16, 1885, at the age of sixty-six years, and his wife, who was born May 8, 1824, died April 21, 1892.
In the public schools of his native town R. Howard Thorn pursued his education until the age of fourteen years, when he learned the carpenter's trade. He afterward worked at the cabinet-maker's trade, and then accepted a clerkship in Frankford, and subsequently he mastered the millwright's trade, which he followed until 1885. That year witnessed his arrival in Ocean City, where he began business on a small scale at the corner of Asbury avenue and Eighth street, carrying a line of hardware and house-furnishing goods. His straightforward dealing, his systematic business methods and earnest
269
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY.
desire to please his patrons secured to him a constantly increasing patronage, and in 1887 he bought two adjoining lots and enlarged his store by build- ing upon them. At different times he made additions and improvements in his store until the Thorn Block is now seventy-eight by sixty feet, and three stories in height. The large store building in which the postoffice is now located was erected in 1887 for a furniture store, and he purchased the furni- ture stock and fixtures of Oliver Pierce. He soon built up a good trade in that line, continually enlarging his store and stock, and in 1895 he erected a building twenty-eight by fifty-six feet and three stories in height, and the third story is occupied by the Masonic fraternity. His store at No. 801 is now used as a retail cigar establishment; No. 803 is occupied by his mam- moth hardware and house furnishing stock, all three floors being utilized, and the store being valued at seventy-five hundred dollars; and No. 805 is occupied by the postoffice. Mr. Thorn also owns other valuable property in other parts of the city, and is accounted a leading merchant in his line at this place, receiving the patronage of many of the summer visitors as well as of the permanent residents of the town. He is also the treasurer of the Ocean City Building & Loan Association, a position which he has occupied since 1888.
Mr. Thorn has been twice married. On the 4th of April, 1878, he wedded Alice Kirk, who was born in Manchester, England, February 6, 1857, a daughter of James and Alice Kirk. Her father was a skilled textile worker, and when she was only six weeks old he brought his family to the New World. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Thorn were born two children,-Mary Shall- cross and Amy H. The mother died April 9, 1887, and on the 20th of No- vember, 1889, Mr. Thorn married Lavina Eyre Smith, who was born in
Philadelphia December 2, 1866, a daughter of Edwin Smith, of Ocean City. Her father was a machinist inventor and the manager of Sellars' machine works of Philadelphia. He invented file tool machinery, the utility of which was demonstrated by its adoption in many of the leading manufactories throughout the country. He was also a member of many societies, was the founder of the Knights of Birmingham in Philadelphia, and belonged to the Knights of Pythias fraternity and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. By. the second marriage of Mr. Thorn there is one child, Howard St. Clair, who is now in school.
Mr. Thorn is the organizer of the lodge of the Ancient Order of United Workmen of Ocean City, and was its first representative to the grand lodge. He is also a member of the Royal Arcanum, the Improved Order of Red Men, the Knights of Pythias and the Masonic fraternity. In politics he is a Democrat, and served as postmaster under the first and second administration
270
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE FIRST
of Cleveland, being still the incumbent in the office through the appoint- ment by President Cleveland made on the Ist of July, 1896. He administers the affairs of the postoffice with the same business-like dispatch that char- acterized his mercantile interests, and his promptness and accuracy have won him the highest commendation of all. He is a prominent and faithful mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, and since 1876 has held official posi- tions therein, being now the chairman of the finance committee. He has given his support to measures for the public good, and as a business man he possesses keen discernment and unflagging diligence, qualities which have enabled him to acquire a handsome competence.
GENERAL WARREN P. EDGARTON.
The story of but few lives is more replete with interest, daring courage and distinguished service than is that of General Warren P. Edgarton, who. alike in the varied fields of literature, military life, law and conspicuous public office, has shown marked ability and rare executive powers. His is another case of a New Englander called into the most arduous and responsible posi- tions and everywhere being found fully equal to the occasion.
A native of Harvard, Massachusetts, born May 16, 1836, the son of John and Mary (Hayden) Edgarton, he was reared in the shadow of Harvard Uni- versity, and from early years evinced the tastes of a student. His ancestors were prominent participants in the early battles of the Revolution, and did well their part on the historic battle fields of Concord and Lexington. Gen- eral Edgarton descends from the old English family of Egertons (as the name was formerly spelled) which first appeared in this country as residents of East Bridgewater, Massachusetts, the same town where dwelt the ancestors of William Cullen Bryant. "There was an Edgarton at Saybrook as early as 1645." The paternal great-grandfather of General Edgarton was John Edgarton, his grandfather was Leonard Edgarton and his father also John Edgarton. The latter was also a native of Harvard and followed the voca- tions of contracting and building. He did life's duty well and died in 1897. at a hale old age. His wife died many years ago, in 1861. Three of their four children are now living.
General Edgarton, after the advantage of Harvard schools, took a train- ing course at the New England Normal School at Lancaster, Massachusetts, and then engaged in teaching. He was the professor of oratory and rhetoric at the Hudson River Institute and Claverack College at Claverack, New York, before he was twenty, and the author of an educational work of merit. "The New York Speaker," published in 1856.
Trassen Ferapartie,
1
27I
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY.
Becoming early convinced that the west was the place for a young man of ability, he located on the Western Reserve in Ohio in 1855 or '6. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in Cleveland in 1859. In 1861, at the break- ing out of the civil war, he was the professor of the law of contracts and of parliamentary and forensic oratory in the Ohio State College of Law at Cleveland, and also special lecturer at President Garfield's famous school at Hiram, Ohio. He had also written and published several books on law and elocution. When loyal patriots were responding to the nation's call for brave defenders, the pursuits of law and literature lost their charm-for the young professor and he volunteered as a private soldier. From this time his upward course was rapid. The historian of the Second Division of the Army of the Cumberland says, in a biographical foot note, of the General's connection with that distinguished organization:
"Upon the president's call for troops, in April, 1861, General Edgarton enlisted as a private in Colonel James Barnett's battery of artillery and served in every engagement of McClellan's campaign in western Virginia. His term of enlistment having expired, he was commissioned to raise a battery of artillery. In less than three weeks he enlisted one hundred and fifty men. who were mustered into the service as Battery E, First Ohio Light Artillery. It was assigned to General O. M. Mitchell's division, and participated with that command in all its arduous and brilliant campaigns in middle Tennessee and northern Alabama. When his battery was attached to the second divi- sion he was appointed the chief of artillery and served in that honorable position until the memorable battle of Stone River. Of his heroic action and capture enough has been said in the text. In June, 1863, he returned to his command and was appointed chief of artillery at the post of Nashville. When the reserve troops moved to the front just previous to the battle of Chickamauga he was relieved from his post at Nashville upon his own request and made chief of artillery upon General Morgan's staff. Five weeks later he was assigned to a similar position on the staff of General Sheridan. During the first and second days of the battle of Mission Ridge he commanded the guns of Fort Negley at Chattanooga. On the morning of the third day he took the field. Stationing two regular batteries on Orchard Knob he directed their fire upon the enemy on Mission Ridge until our own troops came within range; then, mounting his horse, he dashed to the front, joining General Sheridan just in time to participate in the capture of Bragg's headquarters. When the Fourth Army Corps hastened to the relief of Burnside at Knox- ville, he was placed in charge of the artillery accompanying the expedition. On the 10th of March he was promoted major of artillery."
The daring bravery of our subject at the battle of Stone River, December
272
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE FIRST
31, 1862, resulted in his capture by the Confederates and his confinement in Libby prison for five months. His later military service was in complete unison with that detailed above, and he retired from the army with the rank of brevet-brigadier general. This long and hazardous service in the campaigns of the war, and the deprivations and sufferings of his prison life at Libby, nearly wrecked a wonderfully strong physical organization, and at the close of the war he sought recuperation in country life at Newfield, Gloucester county, New Jersey, where he purchased a farm which is still his home.
After partially regaining his health he visited the principal countries of Europe, and while in Scotland was made a Master Mason in Caledonia Lodge, No. 392, of Edinburg, with which he is now affiliated. After his return to America General Edgarton was for a time engaged in railroad building in Arkansas, and in 1872 was appointed by Postmaster General Creswell assist- ant superintendent of the United States Railway mail service and special agent of the United States post-office department. His was just the nature to grapple with the numerous difficulties and dangers connected with these offices, and with the exception of two years of President Cleveland's admin- istration he was twenty-seven years in office, resigning his position on March 9, 1899. He was first located at Little Rock, Arkansas, in charge of a division which included Arkansas, Texas and the Indian Territory. His headquarters were later transferred to Cincinnati, and later still to St. Louis, where he was chief of a division which embraced eight states of the southwest, and here thirty inspectors were subject to his orders. The healthful results of his labors in these fields and his success in organization, together with his admin- istrative ability, caused him to be transferred to New England, where, with his headquarters at Boston, he was the chief of the six New England states. During President Harrison's administration and that of President Mckinley he was stationed at Philadelphia in charge of the service in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
During his official career he visited and made friends in every state in the Union. A competent authority has said, "His work is among the highest in his branch of the service." He was ever found accurate, reliable, faithful to the minor as well as major duties of service, and at all times was counted an "invaluable" member of this responsible force. A stalwart Republican in pol- itics and a brilliant public speaker, and for many years a reliable campaigner in heated political years, he has yet won and retained the friendship of his opponents to a surprising extent by his fairness, his courtesy and his kindly consideration of the rights of others.
General Edgarton married, in 1887, Miss Mary E. Hill, a daughter of Thomas Hill, of Newfield, New Jersey, and is passing the evening of life with
273
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY.
the consciousness of having done long years of faithful service to the hearty satisfaction of his superiors, and with the satisfaction of numbering among his familiar friends the leaders in a period of the highest importance to the prosperity of the nation, including such men as Rosecrans, Sheridan, Sher- man, Grant, Garfield and numerous others whose memories are endeared to and revered by every lover of his country. And not only these, but the com- rades of the Grand Army of the Republic, in which he is prominent, are equally his friends.
In civil life he is considered as a gentleman of rare accomplishments and culture, whom it is a pleasure to know and to associate with, and here also he numbers his friends by legions. The lessons of his life are well worthy of care- ful perusal by the young men of the period who are desirous of serving their country faithfully and well.
ANDREW SINNICKSON.
Andrew Sinnickson, a retired lawyer of Salem, is one of the best known men in the county, and is descended, through a long line of prominent ances- tors, from one Sinnich Sinnichsen, who lived in Denmark in 1550 and was ennobled by King Frederick II, of that country, and given the possession of Hestrip, Angela, Denmark. About fifty years later this property passed into the hands of his son, Carlen.
Andrew Sinnichsen, a son of Carlen, came to America with the first Swedish emigrants about 1627 and located along the Delaware river, after- ward moving to New Jersey, where he purchased a large tract of land, in 1645, in what is now Lower Penn's Neck township. Some thirty years later, when John Fenwick came to this country to take possession of his tenth, Andrew secured a quit-claim to the tract in consideration of a yearly pay- ment of three shillings. Two sons came with him to his new home, Andrew and Broor, the latter having located in Delaware. Andrew, the remaining son and the fourth of the name, came to this state, where he married and reared a family. One of his sons, Andrew the fourth, was born in 1718, in Lower Penn's Neck township, and became one of the most prominent men of his time, being judge of the court of common pleas, deputy to the provin- cial congress of the state and a member of the first legislative council. By his strong opposition to British tyranny he called down upon his head the vituperations of that nation as did also his son, Thomas, who was a promi- nent statesman and business man of Salem, and for whose capture, either dead or alive, the British general, Lord Howe, offered one hundred pounds, ster-
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.