USA > New Jersey > Biographical, genealogical and descriptive history of the first congressional district of New Jersey, Volume I > Part 42
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"In the death of Mrs. Arvilla J. Ellis, of Newfield, New Jersey, on July
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18, 1899, there passed away another of those patient workers to whose fidelity science owes so much. Not known as a botanist, not a member of a scientific society, nor the author of a scientific paper, she nevertheless con- tributed more to the advancement of our knowledge of the fungi than many of those whose names are frequently appended to scientific articles in the journals. Many years ago she began aiding her husband, Mr. J. B. Ellis, in the arduous labor of preparing and mounting the specimens for the 'North American Fungi' and later for the 'Fungi Columbiani,' and with her own hands bound the books in which these were delivered to subscribers. Had it not been for her help the first of these great distributions-numbering 3.600 specimens-would have been suspended early in its history, and the second- numbering 1,400 specimens-would never have come into existence. To her deft fingers, which wrought so patiently, botanical science is indebted for the more than two hundred thousand specimens of the fungi which Mr. Ellis distributed to the botanists of the world."
From 1876 until 1879. not having at that time the books and exsiccati collections necessary for independent work, many specimens were sent to Dr. M. C. Cooke, who determined and published them in Grevillea. Since 1880 Mr. Ellis has been associated with Benjamin M. Everhart, who has freely placed at his friend's disposal his splendid botanical library and exten- sive mycological collections, and to whose aid and counsel Mr. Ellis feels greatly indebted. Mr. Ellis made a very complete collection of fungi, said to be more complete than any other private collection in the country, and sold it to the Columbia College, of New York city, on May 9, 1896. He had collected and named over two hundred thousand specimens, which were se- cured from all parts of the country.
In July, 1878, Mr. Ellis was elected a corresponding member of the Acad- emy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. In August, 1882, he was elected a corresponding member of the Cryptogamic Society of Scotland, and in December of the same year was elected corresponding member of Die Kaiser- lich-Königliche Zoologisch-Botanische Gesellschaft in Vienna. Mr. Ellis leads a quiet, retired life, well suited to his studious, sensitive nature. A thorough scholar and linguist, he is familiar with Latin, Greek, German and French, and has also a good practical knowledge of Polish, Swedish, Italian and Spanish. He has labored in the face of adversity; having not only been financially hampered in his early years, but also having to contend against a delicate constitution, yet nevertheless he has probably done more than any other man in America to advance the knowledge of our native fungi and to stimulate the ardor of every student of mycology.
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CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY.
THOMAS BORTON.
This gentleman was connected with the agricultural interests of Glou- cester county for a number of years, but has retired from farming and is now devoting his energies to the real-estate business, his office and home being in Mullica Hill. He was born on the 15th of November, 1836, in Piles Grove, Salem county, and is a representative of one of the oldest families of America. Early in the seventeenth century representatives of the name left England and crossed the Atlantic to the New World, taking up their residence in Bur- lington county, New Jersey. William Borton had a son, Caleb, who was the great-grandfather of our subject. His son, Joel Borton, was the father of Aaron Borton, who was born in Burlington county, near Morristown, in the year 1810. He became a farmer and took up his residence in Salem county in 1852, locating on the tract of land near Mullica Hill. He successfully con- ducted his farm and at the same time labored earnestly for the advancement of the Society of Friends, being one of the ministers of that organization. His life was upright and honorable and his memory remains as a blessed reminiscence to all who knew him. For thirty-five years he was an honored resident of Gloucester county, his death occurring in 1887. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Lydia Flitcraft, was a daughter of Isaiah Flit- craft, and belonged to one of the oldest families of Salem county. Her death occurred in 1873. She was the mother of nine children, eight of whom survive her: Martha, wife of Charles Heritage, who is living near Mickle- ton; Thomas, of this review; Elizabeth, the widow of Asa Engle, of Wood- bury; David, of Mullica Hill; Lydia, the wife of George H. Duell, a resident of this locality; Sarah, the wife of Charles L. Peterson, of Woodstown; Aaron W., who is also a resident of Gloucester county ; and Edward, who makes his home in Kansas. One son, Richard, was killed while fighting for the Union in the civil war.
Thomas Borton pursued his education in the common school and in a boarding school and for seven years successfully engaged in teaching, through the winter months. He followed farming during the summer season and was identified with the agricultural interests of the county until 1891, when he took up his abode in Mullica Hill, where he is now engaged in the real-estate business and in surveying. He has also settled a great many estates and his business interests are conducted so honorably that he has the unquali- fied confidence of all with whom he has been brought in contact. He owns a farm of one hundred and twenty-two acres, on which is a valuable marl bed. He also handles property for others and is well informed concerning real- estate values in the county.
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Mr. Borton has taken a very prominent part in public affairs and for twenty years was an assessor and committeeman. He has been spoken of as a candidate for the legislature and in public positions has discharged his duties with marked promptness and fidelity. In his religious connections he is a Friend. His home relations have been very pleasant and for a third of a century he has traveled life's journey with Anna E. Gaunt, a daughter of Samuel Gaunt, of Gloucester county, their marriage having been celebrated February 9, 1865. They have three children: Elizabeth B., the wife of Harry Ridgeway, of Philadelphia; Samuel G., who is a resident of Gloucester county; and William H., who makes his home in Philadelphia. Mr. and Mrs. Borton are widely and favorably known in the community and have a large circle of friends.
ROBERT C. CHEW.
R. C. Chew was born at Glassboro, Gloucester county, New Jersey, Au- gust 14, 1846, but has been a resident of his present property near Cecil since 1873. His parents were Thomas E. and Elizabeth (Miller) Chew, who re- sided in this county many years. The father was of English descent, but was himself a native of Marsh Lake, where his early life was spent. He manu- factured the first brick that was made at Clayton, during the year 1850, and twenty years later purchased a farm of two hundred and twenty acres near Cecil, where he lived and had a fifteen-acre cranberry bog. He operated a sawmill on this property and it was in this mill that he met his death from an accident in April, 1872. He was united in wedlock with Miss Elizabeth Miller, who presented him with eleven children, six of whom with the widow survive him. He was a man of noble character and highly esteemed by all who knew him. The living children are Susannah H., the widow of Mascal Bates; Robert C., Sallie N., William H., M. M. and Thomas.
Robert C. Chew was educated in the common schools of Glassboro and worked on his father's farm until he attained his majority. He then pur- chased a cranberry bog in this vicinity and engaged in the cultivation of that berry for the markets, finding is quite a profitable business. In 1873 he purchased his present farm of one hundred and four acres, which he has since made his home. In 1889 he built a sawmill on the property and has since operated it on a very successful basis. His wife was formerly Miss Ruth Smith, a daughter of Nathaniel Smith, one of the most prominent men of Glassboro. Six children have blessed their union, all of whom reside with their parents. They are Mathias, Blair, Alice, Lillian, Ralph and Claude.
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Thomas Wbrew
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY. 389
Mr. Chew is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and is a very popular man in his community. For more than twenty years has he served as a school trustee and has always been a friend to education.
HENRY W. MARTS.
The name of Marts is of Swedish origin and the family which bears it was planted on American soil at an early day. Jonathan Marts, the grand- father of him whose name heads this sketch, was a farmer of Cumberland county, New Jersey, residing at Black Neck, and in the war of 1812 he loyally served his country. His children were as follows: Eliza; Charles, who was twice married and followed farming: Jonathan, who married Sarah Whittaker and engaged in the lumber business in Bridgeton. New Jersey, for fifty years; Jane, the wife of Lewis Dangerbaker; and Susan, the wife of Daniel Platt, a farmer of Hopewell township, Cumberland county, who was the supervisor of streets for a number of years.
The maternal grandfather of our subject was William Whittaker, who was born July II, 1787, and was married. December 23, 1807, to Rebecca West- cott. He was a farmer of Cumberland county, New Jersey, and also dealt in glass sand. His death occurred in 1829. His wife was born in 1789. Their children were Dayton, who was born in 1808, and died June 22, 1811 ; Susan, born March 28, 1810; Nathaniel, who was born June 7, 1812, and died the following day; Eunice, who was born June 20, 1814, and married David Fith- ian, of Millville; William H., who was born in 1816, and died in 1846: Re- becca, deceased, who was born in 1821 and married David Powell and after his death became the wife of Ephraim Harris, a merchant; Joseph, who was born August 4, 1826, and died in childhood; and Mary Maria, who was born November 2, 1828, and married Captain Westcott.
The parents of our subject were Elija B. and Susan ( Whittaker) Marts, . the former born December 26, 1807, the latter in 1810. They resided at Fairton, Cumberland county, and Mr. Marts followed agricultural pursuits throughout his business career. He owned and operated a farm until the inauguration of the civil war, when he removed to Fairton, New Jersey. where he lived retired. In his political affiliations he was a Democrat and in religious belief a Methodist, holding the office of trustee for a number of years in the church to which he belonged. He was married, March 3. 1832, to Susan Whittaker, and to them were born seven children. Mary Jane, born June 12, 1834. married John N. Taylor and removed to Kansas, where Mr. Taylor engaged in farming. Their children were: Elizabeth, the wife of
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Howard Willis; Rhoda, the wife of Captain Lewis Campbell, of Bridgeton, New Jersey; Rebecca, who was born April 11, 1836, and died August 25, 1837; and Samuel. Jonathan died August 23, 1848. William, the twin brother of Jonathan, was married July 27, 1838, to Anna Collins, of Philadel- phia, and their children are Henry T., Harry F., William, Julia, Emma and Susan. The father of these children engaged in the oyster business in Fair- ton, but is now deceased. Henry, the subject of this review, is the fourth child of Elija B. Marts. Joseph, born in 1843, died on the 24th of June, of the same year. David, born in 1845, married Lattie Allen, and they had two children,-Araminda and Alice. After the death of his first wife he wedded Addie Stratton, and he is now assistant light-keeper on the Ship-John light- house. Elizabeth, the youngest of the family, was born October 19, 1853. and died May 13, 1854. The father of our subject died October 16, 1872. at the age of sixty-two years, and the mother passed away in her eighty- seventh year.
Henry Whittaker Marts was educated in the public schools and in sub- scription schools, which he attended three terms. At the age of thirteen, however, he put aside his text-books and has since been dependent upon his own exertions, so that he deserves great credit for the success he has achieved. He first worked in an oyster house in Fairton, but when the civil war broke out he put aside all personal considerations and offered his ser- vices to the government, enlisting in Company F, Third New Jersey Infantry, originally called the Cumberland Greys. The command was attached to the Army of the Potomac and proceeded to Washington, where it was assigned to the First Division of the First Corps. Mr. Marts was mustered in May 28, 1861, participated in the occupation of Arlington Heights, the battle of Bull Run, Cloud's Mills, the reconnoiter to Lewisville, Virginia, Spottsylvania, Springfield Station, the seven days' battle of the Wilderness, Gaines' Farm, Charles City Cross Roads. Malvern Hill, Bull Run, Manassas, Chantilly, Antietam, Fredericksburg, the second campaign against Fredericksburg, Salem Heights, Gettysburg. Fairfield, Rappahannock, Mine Run and the Wilderness. At Spottsylvania on the 9th of May he was wounded in the right thigh, by a musket ball which passed through the leg. He was confined in a hospital in Washington, D. C., for a time, and then transferred to the Chest- nut Hill Hospital, in Philadelphia. On the 23d of June, 1864, he was must tered out at Trenton, New Jersey. After being wounded and remaining in the hospital for some time, he was granted a furlough to return home, and before his wound had healed his term of enlistment had expired. He returned with an honorable military record, for on many a field of battle he had dis- played his loyalty and his fidelity to the Union cause. He now maintains a
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CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY.
pleasant relationship with his old army comrades through his connection with A. L. Robeson Post, No. 41, G. A. R., at Bridgeton, New Jersey.
After returning from the south Mr. Marts was engaged in the oyster business for a time and later went to sea as mate and second officer on the Emma L. Porter, a vessel engaged in trade with the West Indies, on which he spent two and a half years. He was afterward on the Ella Amsden for two years and for eight years sailed on other vessels in the West India and coast-line trade. He subsequently learned the carpenter's trade, at which he served a five-years apprenticeship. He then engaged in contracting on his own account. He was, however, at one time night boss of the works of the Rio Grande Sugar Company, at Rio Grande, for seven years, and afterward represented the interests of the company as superintendent of their extensive possessions in Osceola county, at St. Cloud, Florida, where the company owned large plantations and had mammoth interests. There he remained for two years, superintending the constructing of their extensive sugar mills. At the end of that time he located in Wildwood, New Jersey, where he has made his home since 1890. He is one of the leading contractors and builders in his section of the county and took the contract for the con- struction of the Wildwood Casino, the largest and most important building of the place. He also built the addition to the Dayton Hotel, and has erected fully two-thirds of the cottages at Wildwood, employing as many as sixty men at one time. He is also engaged in the real-estate business as a member of the firm of Reeves & Marts, the senior partner remaining in charge of the office. which is located at No. 203 Walnut street, Philadelphia. They buy lots, build and sell houses, and their real-estate transfers have been many and have brought to them fair returns upon their investments.
In his political views Mr. Marts is a stalwart Republican, and was ap- pointed postmaster of Wildwood in March, 1897, so that he is the present incumbent. He has always taken a deep interest in the success of his party and has done all in his power to promote its growth. Socially he is a member of Hereford Lodge, No. 108, I. O. O. F., is a member of the Dias Creek Re- lief Association and was a member of the Board of Health at Anglesea, while at the present writing he is serving on the city council of Wildwood. Such in brief is the history of his connection with the public interest of the com- munity. At all times he is public-spirited and an advocate of progress and improvement, and his efforts in behalf of the city have been effective and beneficial.
On the 27th of April, 1870, Mr. Marts was united in marriage to Miss Christiana, a daughter of John W. and Elizabeth (Clark) Davis. Her grand- father, Joel Davis, was born near Broadneck, Salem county, was a farmer
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by occupation and spent his last days in retirement in Bridgeton. He served his country in the war of 1812 and was ever a loyal citizen. He married Priscilla Coombs and to them were born ten children: Mary, Ruth, Joshua, Esther, Benjamin, Joel, Jesse, Smith, Jane and Sallie. The grandfather died at the age of seventy-seven years, and the grandmother passed away when about seventy years of age. John W. Davis, the father of Mrs. Marts, was born in Cumberland county, New Jersey, September 16, 1820, was a farmer by occupation, but spent the latter years of his life in business in Millville, where he lived for ten years. In politics he was a Democrat. He married Elizabeth Clark, a daughter of Benjamin Clark, and they became the parents of four children: Christiana is the eldest. Benjamin, who married Anna Epley, by whom he has two children, William and Lewis, was formerly en- gaged in the livery business in Millville, but is now residing in New York city. Sarah married E. S. Hann, a clothier and dyer of Camden, New Jer- sey, and they have one son, Warren D., who married Julia Ransom and has a son, named Warren Everett. Her father is Hiram Ransom, who served in D Troop, Third Cavalry, in Texas, was through the Garza campaign when the Texans tried to break the neutrality laws by crossing over to assist the Mexicans in 1891-2. He was in the skirmishes of Red Ranch and other en- gagements of a similar character, and spent two years in that section of the country. He captured the Mexican Santevol with thirty of his men at Fort Caridas, Mexico, where the Mexicans had one man killed, while the Ameri- cans lost two men killed and six wounded. They had thirty men in all. For one week Richard Harding Davis was with them as press correspondent. While in that section of the country Mr. Ransom and his command made a march of one hundred and twenty-seven miles in twenty-four hours. The younger son of Sarah (Davis) Hann, is John Wesley, who is now general service clerk in the recruiting department. He served one term on the school-ship Saratoga and afterward entered the regular army. Benjamin C., the youngest son of Sarah (Davis) Hann, is a window-glass blower.
Mr. and Mrs. Marts have three children: Lizzie, the wife of Nelson S. Hays, the superintendent of the water works at Wildwood; Walter, at home; and Helen W. The parents are widely and favorably known and the hospi- tality of many of the best homes in this locality is extended them. Mr. Marts is a self-made man who, without any extraordinary family or pecun- iary advantages at the commencement of life, has battled earnestly and ener- getically, and by indomitable courage and integrity has achieved both char- acter and competence. He well deserves mention among the leading citizens of the community and we are pleased to present the record of his honor- able career to our readers.
Samuel LeCroy
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CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY.
SAMUEL LE CROY.
Samuel Le Croy, the genial and accommodating proprietor of one of the most flourishing general stores to be found in Pennsville, Salem county, New Jersey, is a self-made man whose career is a credit to himself and the city in which he has labored. He was born in Woodstown, February 21, 1837, to Abner B. and Mary (Wallace) Le Croy, both of whom were well known in this county where they spent the greater part of their lives. Abner B. Le Croy also was born in Salem county and was one of three children. His sister Anna married Richard Dubois, of Lower Alloway Creek township. while his brother Daniel is a resident of Philadelphia. Their father was a farmer of this county and was of French extraction, the name having origin- ally been spelled De la Croix. Abner Le Croy was engaged in various kinds of employment and for a time made his home in Woodstown. His marriage to Miss Mary Wallace was honored by the birth of five children: John; Clem- ent, deceased; Samuel; Annie and Artemesia. The mother died in 1896, at the age of eighty-five years.
Samuel Le Croy received a common-school education in the village of Woodstown and then accepted a position in the store of Joseph B. Yonker, of Pennsville. Following this he engaged in fishing for a short time and then opened his present store, which he has enlarged at various times until now he has one of the largest stocks in the city. embracing dry goods, groceries, coal. hay, grain, etc., while he also operates a mill for grinding corn, and supplies twine, etc., to the fishermen. He is a shrewd business man and has accumu- lated considerable property. At one time he dealt extensively in real estate in connection with his son-in-law, Clarence L. Sinnickson.
Mr. Le Croy was married August 25, 1861, to Miss Emeline Dubois, a daughter of Jacob Dubois, and two children have blessed their union: Verna, the wife of Clarence L. Sinnickson, of Salem, a lumber merchant and real- estate dealer; and Lena, the wife of Dr. William H. James, a physician of Pennsville, by whom she has one child, Le Croy James. Mr. Le Croy is in- dependent in his politics and advocates the principles of prohibition. He has held the offices of collector and assessor for twenty years and honorably discharged the obligations of these offices. He has always been a prominent and progressive worker in the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is a member, a steward and a trustee. He has made a most satisfactory superin- tendent of the Sunday-school, holding that position for the past twenty years. He was formerly a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. He was a stockholder of the Salem Building & Loan Association and the Swedesboro and the State Mutual Building & Loan As-
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sociations of Camden. He is a man of true worth, and his honest, upright dealings have won him the universal respect of all who have had business transactions with him.
THOMAS W. CHEW.
This gentleman is widely and favorably known not only in Williamstown where he resides but also throughout Gloucester county. He was born at Clayton, March 12, 1852, the son of Thomas E. and Elizabeth (Miller) Chew. previously prominent residents of that place. Thomas E. Chew was born at Marsh Lake, where he lived until he was twenty-one years of age, when he located in Clayton and engaged in the manufacture of brick. He continued there twenty years. In 1870 he moved upon a farm of two hundred and twenty acres near Cecil, now owned and occupied by his son, M. M. Chew. Fifteen acres of this land he changed into a cranberry bog and was very successful in the raising of that fruit. He also conducted a sawmill, in which he was finally killed, in April, 1872. His wife, Elizabeth Miller, sur- vives, and is now in her seventy-sixth year. He was a man of sterling worth and high ideals, incapable of wrongdoing and remarkably shrewd and clear- sighted. Of his eleven children six are still living, viz .: William H., a resi- dent of Hurffville, this state; M. M., of Cecil, New Jersey, who is represented on another page of this work; Susannah H., the widow of Mascal Bates; Robert C., who operates a sawmill near here: Sallie M., of Girard College, Philadelphia; and Thomas W., our subject.
Thomas W. Chew spent his earlier years in attendance at the local schools and later entered the academies at Glassboro and Williamstown. Leaving school, he learned the trade of mason, at which he was employed continuously until about five years ago, when he purchased a tract of land and became a farmer. He has a fine cranberry bog and derives a neat profit from its culture. He is at present operating also a sawmill at his home, and in future will make sawing and lumbering his chief business.
In February, 1878, he married Miss Julia, a daughter of Richard P. John- son, of Mount Holly, by whom he has had four children, three of whom are living and are at their parental home, namely, Cora B., Thomas E., and Mary. Mr. Chew has been a prominent member of the Odd Fellows' order since 1872, and of the Masonic fraternity ever since 1874, and he is highly esteemed by a wide circle of friends. As a mechanic he has few equals, and he has left monuments of his labor in several states. For seven or eight years of his life he was engaged in fire-brick work in New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
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