USA > New Jersey > Biographical, genealogical and descriptive history of the first congressional district of New Jersey, Volume I > Part 38
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Powell Smith was the eldest of his father's family and grew to manhood in his native township. Generations of the family had been wedded to the occupation of farming and he also turned his attention to that pursuit. He
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was a Democrat and a member of the Friends' meeting at Salem. He was twice married, his first wife, Sarah Elizabeth Elpinton, being the mother of six children, of whom our subject is the eldest. They are Richard T .; Sallie, who married Albert Risnier, a farmer; Isaac, deceased; Annie, who married David Jones, a farmer, and has two children,-Henry and Sallie; Mary, who died young; and Powell, who died in infancy. The mother died in 1867, at the age of thirty-nine years. The second marriage, to Rebecca (Keene) Dowling, was without issue. The father is now in his seventy-third year and is a well preserved gentleman.
Richard Thompson Smith attended the pay schools of Salem until he reached his eighteenth year, when he left school to attend the duties on the farm. He remained with his father until he was twenty-seven years of age, when he began farming for himself, first in his native township and later in Lower Penn's Neck. He continued this work until 1881. when he moved to Salem and abandoned farming to try the butcher business. After devot- ing a short time to this enterprise he once more took up farming, in Lower Penn's Neck township, where he has a fine farm of one hundred and forty- eight acres. besides other business interests.
He was married in 1876 to Martha Patterson, who was a daughter of Martin Patterson, of Lower Penn's Neck township. She died September 8. 1877, and in June, 1881, he was wedded to his present wife, Amanda Fox, a daughter of Jacob and Lucy Ann Fox, a farmer of Lower Penn's Neck town- ship. Two children have blessed their union,-Powell and Lucy,-both at home. Mr. Smith has twice represented the west ward of the city on the Democratic ticket and has always worked for the public interest. He is one of the strongest advocates of the much discussed filter for the city, and pushes any enterprise that will help the general public. He was for three years a member of the township committee and is respected by all regardless of party.
SAMUEL G. LEFEVRE.
Samuel G. Lefevre, who resides in Pitman Grove, and is engaged in busi- ness in the Terminal Market, Philadelphia, was born in Lancaster county. Pennsylvania, on the 15th of September, 1850. His father, Henry W. Le- fevre, was a well known locomotive engineer on the Pennsylvania railroad. entering the service of that company at the time Tom Scott became one of its employes. In 1894, when his death occurred, Mr. Lefevre was the oldest engineer on the road, and his long term of service stood in unmistakable evi- dence of his fidelity and capability. His wife, who bore the maiden name of
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Hannah Baughman, is still living, at the age of seventy-six years. They were the parents of four children, three of whom are living, namely: Susan H., the wife of William McClure, of Pennsylvania; Samuel G., of this sketch: and Mary A. (Mrs. William Buchanan), a resident of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
S. G. Lefevre attended the common schools and also pursued a collegiate course for a time. He entered upon his business career in Philadelphia in 1866, in connection with the grocery trade, and in 1873 opened a butcher shop, which he is still conducting in the Terminal Market of that city. He enjoys a liberal patronage, which is well merited by reason of his honorable dealing and his earnest desire to please his patrons.
In 1890 Mr. Lefevre took up his residence in Pitman Grove, where he has since made his home and for the past eight years he has served as a jus- tice of the peace here. He has been commissioner of deeds, notary public. and district clerk, and now has charge of the schools of the township .. As a citizen he is public-spirited and gives his support to every movement calcu- lated to advance the progress and upbuilding of the community. He is not identified with any political party, supporting the men whom he thinks best fitted for the office. He was married September 3, 1874, to Miss Lizzie W. Rink, of Camden, and they have six children: Frank, Howard, Maud, Arthur, Bessie and Marion.
HENRY APPLEGIT.
Captain Henry Applegit, of Shirley, Salem county, has had a life an ac- count of whose checkered experience would sound like a romance if it could be given to the reading public; and he is a fortunate individual who hears the thrilling incidents as told in his own interesting and characteristic man- ner.
The date of his birth was November 15, 1824, at Bridgeton, Cumberland county, this state, his parents being William and Hannah (White) Applegit. well known citizens of that city. The family were of English birth, and the father learned the trade of millwright, which he followed at Bridgeton from the time he was a young man until his death. He was a member of the home guards, with which he went to Cape May in 1812. His wife was a daughter of James White, of Bridgeton, and he had six children, only one of whom is now living, namely, the subject of this sketch.
In his early life Mr. Applegit attended the pay school at Bridgeton, but the attractions of a seafaring life, as told and written by those who had sailed on the watery deep, were too much for him to withstand, and at the age of
Henry Appleget
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sixteen he left school and began the life of a sailor. He first sailed on a vessel that did a coast trade and then went upon the high seas, soon becom- ing an experienced sailor and rising to the position of captain of a vessel. He commanded the ship that carried the first cargo of cotton from New Orleans to Havre, France, after the civil war and before he was in the employ of the civil government, and had some hairbreadth escapes and thrilling ex- periences. He carried coal to supply Farragut's fleet before it entered Mobile bay. Only a few hours after he had coaled a certain vessel it was sunk on Mobile bar by a torpedo. While at sea Mr. Applegit's home was at Brook- lyn, New York. In 1868 he retired from the sea to his old home at Bridge- ton, and since 1888 he has lived on a farm in Salem county ; but the memories of those old days on the sea are a source of much pleasure to both himself and friends, who never tire of hearing him recall them.
August 16, 1853, Mr. Applegit was united in the holy bonds of matrimony to Miss Mary V. Coombs, a sister of Henry Coombs, who is represented in thise biographical work. Captain Applegit and his wife took up their resi- dence on the farm where they now reside in 1888. It contains two hundred and eighty-one acres of fine land, and in addition he owns fifty-three acres within the city limits of Bridgeton. As a farmer he has been very successful and has laid up a considerable competency to take him through life's evening hours with comfort and ease.
MISS CAROLINE G. WEBB.
This lady is the fortunate owner of a beautiful country home in Williams- town, Gloucester county, where she passes about half of each year. Here she is surrounded with numerous evidences of a refined taste, and the hours speed all too swiftly by, for she is a great lover of nature and takes delight in rambling about this beautiful region. She is well and favorably known to the local inhabitants, and many a deed of timely assistance and loving sym- pathy shown towards those in sickness or trouble is justly laid at her door. During the winter season she makes her home in Philadelphia, where the greater part of her life has been spent, but she has a special fondness for her pleasant residence in Williamstown.
Miss Webb is the only survivor of a family which originally comprised eight members,-Thomas W. and Susanna (Douglass) Webb, and their six children. Her paternal ancestors were natives of England, and her grand- father, William Webb, was born in Maryland, and became a wealthy planter, owning a number of farms and slaves, and a store at Denton, Maryland. He
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was a man of influence in his community, everyone looking to him for advice and counsel.
Thomas W. Webb, who was born near Denton, on the old plantation, April 10, 1808, received special instruction from a private tutor, as the pub- lic schools of that early day and locality were few and poorly conducted. In 1824 he removed to Philadelphia on account of his poor health, and later he learned the druggist's business, following that calling until his death. He was very successful and enterprising, investing large sums of money in Phil- adelphia real estate from time to time, laying out an addition to the city, and in various ways finally amassed a fortune. His integrity and justice were beyond question, and, though he was keen-sighted and judicious in business affairs, he scorned anything like over-reaching, and his word was considered as good as his bond. He was well read, keeping thoroughly posted on the leading topics of the day, and at all times he was ready to do all within his power for the promotion of the welfare of the public. He was summoned to his reward on the 13th of January, 1877, loved and mourned by all who had had the pleasure of his acquaintance. His widow, who was a daughter of John Douglass, survived him a number of years, her death occurring in 1893. Her family were very prominent in Philadelphia, and were descendants of natives of Scotland,-Friends, who came over to America with William Penn.
Randolph Webb. a son of Thomas W. and Susanna Webb, was born June 1, 1847, in the Quaker City, where he obtained an excellent education. Dur- ing the progress of the civil war his health failed, and it was decided that an out-door life might prove of benefit to him. Accordingly, he removed to Williamstown, in 1863, and thenceforth gave his attention to the manage- ment of a fine homestead which he purchased. This valuable farm, one of the best in this locality, comprises about five hundred acres, well improved and suited to the raising of a varied line of crops. For a wife, Mr. Webb chose Miss Ida C. Atkinson, a daughter of Edwin F. Atkinson, of Franklin- ville, and one child was born to their union, Mabel R., now a resident of Philadelphia. Mr. Webb, whose health was never of the strongest, lived to enjoy his pleasant home here for several years, but while still in the prime of early manhood he was called upon to lay down the burdens of life and to enter into the heavenly rest. Though more than a decade has rolled away since he left these earthly scenes, his demise having occurred February I, 1879, his memory is fresh and tenderly cherished in the hearts of his innumer- able friends. Like his father before him, he was of a kindly, sympathetic dis- position, and won the respect of his acquaintances by a thousand quiet, unassuming deeds of thoughtfulness and love.
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ADAM HITCHNER.
Adam Hitchner, one of the well-to-do farmers in Lower Pittsgrove town- ship, Salem county, was born three miles from where he now lives, in Olivet. October 9, 1829, the son of Mathias Hitchner, who was born and reared in the same section and was a farmer by vocation. He was a member of the Olivet Methodist church and a man of great generosity. In business he was a successful man, and had three large farms. In his day he held most of the local offices of the township. His death took place in 1885, when he had reached the age of eighty-six years. His wife Sarah was the daughter of Adam Hannon, of Deerfield, who was of English descent and possessed a con- siderable amount of wealth. She died in 1855. They had thirteen children, twelve of whom still survive, namely: Mary, the widow of George B. Cake. of Buena Vista, New Jersey; Susan, the wife of Samuel Johnson, of Pole Tav- ern; Daniel, of Kansas; Adam, our subject; Oliver, of Elmer, this state; Ell- well N., of Philadelphia; Elizabeth, the wife of John S. Woodruff; Samuel, Mathias and George N., in Indiana; Sarah, the wife of Jason Homer, of Woodruff, New Jersey: Jacob, of Elmer; and William, of Franklinville, also of this state.
Mr. Hitchner, whose name heads this sketch, obtained a fair education by attending the common schools of his home district, and then learned the car- penter's trade, following the same for about nineteen years. In 1864 he pur- chased the farm he still owns, containing sixty-six acres, where he carried on general farming. As to local office we may state that for a year he served as the overseer of the public roads.
November 17, 1858, he was united in marriage to Sarah E. Ellwell, a daughter of Jason Ellwell, of Daretown, this state, and by this union nine children have been born, all of whom are still living, namely: Harry H., who is a carpenter at Woodbury, married Mary Mayers and has four chil- dren .- Elsie P., Harry H., Vanelda and Adam H .; Laura, the wife of Frank . Evans, of Pole Tavern, who has one child, named Leola; Norman A., a mason of Elmer, who married Elizabeth Henry and has two daughters. named Maude and Reba; Minnie, the wife of Peter Miller, of Elmer, has two children,-Loran and Sadie H .; Warren, a tinner of Elmer, who married Lewie Johnson and has four children,-Lyllian, Orval, George R. and Edith: Herbert M., a farmer of Elmer, who chose for his wife Anna Ellwell; Thorn- ton A., a railroad man residing at home; Walter M., also a railroad employe, at Winslow Junction, this state; and Edna V., at her parental home. These children are an honor to their parents and to the community in which they respectively reside. Having been properly trained, they go out into life
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fitted to do the part assigned them by their environment. . Mrs. Hitchner's parents, who lived at Daretown many years, are both deceased.
WILLIAM M. TOMBLESON.
William M. Tombleson, freeholder of Williamstown, Gloucester county, New Jersey, was born on the paternal homestead at Cross Keys, September 5, 1851, and is a son of Samuel and Sarah A. (Nicholson) Tombleson. The family are of German stock, and the father, whose father was Samuel, was born in Franklin township and was extensively engaged in the lumber and hoop business, shipping large quantities of the latter article to Cuba. He was a large land-owner and held several township offices, being a freeholder at one time. His marriage to Sarah Nicholson was honored by the birth of three sons,-William M., Samuel E., and Joseph,-the last mentioned a resi- dent of Vineland. The father died in 1877 and the mother was spared but a few short months, until the 28th of the following June, when she, too, was laid to rest.
William M. Tombleson was educated in the public schools and began the task of a wage-earner at an early age. He worked at various pursuits,- farming, teaming, and lumbering for several years-and has always been re- garded as one of the wide-awake, hustling men of this county. In 1897 he purchased a small farm of twenty-five acres, where he resides, and which is devoted to general farming. He is a Democrat in politics and has been the efficient road overseer of this township for seven years past, and in 1892 was elected a freeholder. He is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men. He was married May 10, 1876, to Miss Mary E., daughter of Job D. Eldridge, of Williamstown, and nine children have been born to them: Howard, a resident of Trenton; William; Edgar; Bessie; Samuel E. and Joseph N. (twins), both deceased; Eldridge; Annie; and Ruth, deceased. All of the surviving ones except Howard are at home.
ALBERT COLLINS.
Throughout his entire life Mr. Collins has been connected with the agri- cultural interests of Gloucester county. He resides at Cross Keys, and was born on the farm which he still makes his home, on the 28th of June, 1855. The public schools of the neighborhood afforded him his education and his time was passed amidst play and work in the usual manner of farm lads. As soon as old enough to handle the plow he began to assist in the work of the
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fields, and throughout his business career he has carried on farming. being now the owner of a rich tract of land of fifty-seven acres. He is engaged in general farming and his well directed efforts are bringing to him creditable success.
Mr. Collins was united in marriage, in 1883, to Miss Annabel Endicott, a daughter of Nicholas Endicott, of Port Republic, Atlantic county. One child blessed this union, named Hansford G. Mr. Collins holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, and also belongs to the Grange. He is widely and favorably known in the community where he has always made his home and has a large circle of warm friends here.
JOHN W. THOMPSON.
This gentleman is a prominent representative of the business and political interests of Cape May, and possesses that force of character and individual worth that well fits him for leadership in any walk of life. Marked enter- prise and executive ability have gained him a prominent place in business circles, and in official positions he has displayed keen discrimination, com- bined with fidelity to duty.
John West Thompson was born June 17, 1857. in the city of Cape May, a son of Richard R. and Anna S. (Hand) Thompson. He attended the pub- lic schools in his native town until eighteen years of age, and then worked for eighteen years at the printer's trade. For one year he had charge of the publication of the Vineland Independent, and at different times has worked in Philadelphia in the office of Spangler & Davis, job printers, also in the of- fices of C. S. McGrath, of the Cape May Wave, and on the Cape May Star. Called to public office, he put aside his journalistic duties and has filled vari- ous positions of public trust. From 1893 until 1897 he served as the post- master of Cape May, during President Cleveland's second administration, and in 1898 was elected city recorder, in which office he is now serving. He was appointed by the city council superintendent of the waterworks, city clerk and recorder of bonds. He has ever discharged his duties in a prompt and able manner, fully meeting the public confidence and trust. He has served as delegate to several senatorial and state conventions, and at all times takes a deep and active interest in his party, doing all in his power to pro- mote the growth and insure the success of the Democracy.
With one of the leading business interests of the city Mr. Thompson is also connected, being president of the Cape May Transportation Company, which was organized in 1896 and is the successor of the Cape May & Dela-
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ware Bay Railroad Company. They own and control the Cape May Beach trolley road, extending from Sewell's Point to Cape May Point, a distance of eight miles, and carrying half a million people annually. Under the presi- dency of Mr. Thompson this is proving a profitable investment, yielding a good return to the stockholders. He is also a member of the board of trade and of the Cape May Building & Loan Association.
In March, 1892, Mr. Thompson married Miss Mary, daughter of Enoch and Louise B. (Shaw) Schillinger, and to them have been born three chil- dren: Louisa, Fannie and Marie. Mr. Thompson is a member of Cape Island Lodge, No. 30, F. & A. M., the Cape May Relief Association, the Improved Order of Heptasophs and the Masonic Relief Association, and at- tends the First Presbyterian church. His is a well rounded character, sym- metrically developed because the interests to which he has given his time and attention have been varied. Attention concentrated on one thing alone brings an uneven development, but our subject is one whose sympathies are broad and whose interest in social, religious, political and material enter- prises have been manifest in his active co-operation therewith. In business he carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes and is therefore one of the prosperous citizens of Cape May.
ROBERT S. FOGG.
Among the most important industries of southern New Jersey are the many canning factories, situated throughout Salem and Cumberland coun- ties, which furnish employment to hundreds of men, women and children and a market to the farmers who raise acre upon acre of tomatoes each year to keep the factories running. No name has been more closely identified with the canning industry than that of Robert S. Fogg, who, in conjunction with Lucius E. Hires, owns and conducts three of the most successful plants in operation in the state and is one of the best known and most respected residents of Salem.
The family were originally from England, although several generations of them have made their home in this county and have figured among the promi- nent and substantial residents. His immediate ancestors are Aaron A. and Mary (Sheppard) Fogg, to whom he was born in this county on July 3, 1847. The great-grandfather, Aaron Fogg, was a farmer of Lower Alloway Creek township and a member of the Society of Friends. He married Hannah Allen and reared a family of eight children, namely: Elisha, David, Rebecca, Ebenezer, Sarah, Aaron, Thomas and Samuel. David Fogg, the grandfather,
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was born in Lower Alloway Creek township, where he grew to manhood and in early life devoted his energies to husbandry on the old homestead in Allo- way Creek township. He afterward moved to Mannington township and later to Elsinboro, where he resided at the time of his death. He met with considerable success in his chosen occupation. He was a Republican in politics and a member of the Society of Friends. He married Hannah Hil- dreth, daughter of Jonathan Hildreth, of Alloway Creek township. Salem county. The fruits of this union were Lydia, who married Jonathan Grier, Joseph, Aaron, David A. and Hannah and Joanna, who were twins. David Fogg was permitted to spend a long life of usefulness before he was called to his reward, in the year 1874, aged eighty-five years. His venerable wife almost rounded out the century of her life, living to the extreme age of ninety-two years.
Aaron A. Fogg was born March 14, 1820, in Alloway Creek township, and at the age of twenty-two years located on a farm in Mannington town- ship and became a prosperous farmer of that section. In 1871 he moved to Salem, where he lived a retired life during his remaining years. He died at the age of seventy-nine. He belonged to the Society of Friends and was a consistent Christian man. He married Mary Sheppard, who bore him eight children: Jonathan H., who is a farmer of Mannington township and mar- ried Elizabeth Waddington; Mary Emma, who married Casper Wistar, for- merly a farmer but since 1876 a resident of Philadelphia; Robert S., our subject; Aaron, who died in infancy; Anna F., a resident of Salem: Hannah J., who died at the age of twenty-eight years; David S., who married Carrie M. Thompson and is a farmer of Mannington township; and Charles M., who is associated with the Keystone Watch Company, of Philadelphia. The mother of these children is still living, a widow, now in her seventy-eighth year.
Robert S. Fogg was educated at the Salem Friends' School and Salem Academy and then went on the homestead farm in Mannington township, where he lived until 1884. He was a methodical worker and met with un- qualified success in the fields of agriculture, where he was recognized as a leader. In 1884 he engaged in the canning industry at Quinton, with Lucius. E. Hires as a partner, under the firm name of Fogg & Hires, and at once built up a large trade in their superior brands of canned tomatoes. The firm was changed to Fogg & Hires Company in 1895, and the business has increased until it now requires three factories to supply the demand for their goods. The factory at Quinton employs two hundred and fifty hands during the canning season; a similar number is required in the factory at Pennsville; and the factory purchased by them in 1897 at Hancock's Bridge gives em-
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ployment to two hundred hands,-making in all about seven hundred per- sons who obtain employment through this enterprising firm. the largest in southern New Jersey.
Mr. Fogg was married March 2, 1871, to Letitia, a daughter of William F. Lippincott, formerly a farmer of Mannington township and afterward a dealer in agricultural implements, coal, lumber, etc., at Woodstown, where he died in April. 1894, in his seventy-first year. Two children have been born to Mr. Fogg. Elizabeth Lippincott, the wife of Hershel A. Norris, of Woods- town, Salem county, and Anna Frances, the wife of Charles R. Hires, who is a farmer of Mannington township. elsewhere represented in this work. Mr. Fogg resided in Quinton until 1896, when he purchased the old historic resi- dence of Benjamin Acton, deceased, on Market street. This is one of the oldest residences in Salem and four generations of Actons have lived and died within its walls, but it is a commodious, comfortable structure and has been converted by Mr. Fogg into a modern home.
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