USA > New Jersey > Biographical, genealogical and descriptive history of the first congressional district of New Jersey, Volume I > Part 48
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JACOB HOUSE.
Jacob House, a substantial and wealthy resident of the village of Alloway, is a son of Jonathan and Frances (Blackwood) House and was born January 7, 1836, in Alloway Creek township, this county, on the same land and in the same house in which several generations of the family were born and which he now owns. His great-grandfather was Jacob House, who came here at an early day and was an expert glass-worker, employed in the first factory operated in Salem and built by a Mr. Wistar. The name is a contrac- tion of Houseman, common usage changing it to the shorter name, House. He was a soldier for American liberty, as was his brother Jonathan, and lived to the ripeness of age, dying December 21, 1786. He also engaged in agri- cultural pursuits and married Mary Oakford, who was born August 5, 1740,
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a daughter of William Oakford, a large land-owner of this township. Their children were Anna, born April 8, 1765; Margaret, born January 27, 1768; William (Ist), born July 18, 1770; and William (2d), born November 27, 1771. William House, the grandfather, was born in the little brick house which was erected by his father and became a farmer of some means, owning some two or three thousand acres of land in Upper Alloway Creek town- ship, which was divided among his two children at his death. He was an influential man of his time and held many offices of trust. He was married May 29, 1796, to Miss Sarah Wood, who was born July 14, 1772, and bore him two children: Jonathan, the father of our subject; and Mary, who was born January 2, 1801, and was the wife of William Sherron. Both parents died in 1802, at an early age, the mother being in her thirtieth year and the father three years older.
Jonathan House, the father, was born September 25, 1798, in the little brick house on the old homestead and was a child in his fourth year when he was deprived of his parents. His uncle, John Wood, took both little ones to his home and cared for them until they went to homes of their own. Jonathan grew to manhood and became a tiller of the soil and also operated a sawmill and built a number of ships. He owned a large acreage and his last days were spent on his farm. He was a warm sympathizer with the Democ- racy and served on town committees for several years, was a lay judge of this county, and was a member of the Society of Friends. His chief pleasure was derived from his own fireside and as a business man he had few superiors. His wife was Miss Frances Blackwood, who bore him three sons and two daughters, viz .: William, who was born in 1822, was a merchant and sur- veyor of this village, where he died in his fifty-eighth year: his wife was Eliza- beth Carll, by whom he had one son, John, now deceased; Mary H. married David Ewen, of Alloway; Ann was born in 1852 and married Edward White, since deceased, a surrogate of Cumberland county, and a resident of Bridge- ton: their children are Fannie and Mary; Jacob, our subject; and Jonathan, who is elsewhere represented in this work.
Jacob House attended the public schools at Alloway, Union Academy, Shiloh, and at the age of twenty years entered a large wholesale grocery house at Philadelphia, where he clerked for some time. He then returned home and became a farmer, moving on the farm in 1860 and remaining there forty-eight years on the old homestead which had come into his possession, before he retired from active work and took up his residence in the village of Alloway. He owns one hundred acres of fine land there and considerable timber land: one of the largest tracts of first-growth timber in the county belongs to him. He operates a sawmill and makes large quantities of lum-
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ber, which finds a ready sale. He has been director of the Salem National Banking Company for several years and is a careful business man.
Mr. House was married September 6, 1860, to Miss Sarah A. Shimp, a daughter of John Shimp, a merchant of Alloway. They have four children: Oakford, born March 17, 1861, is a clerk for the Salem Banking Company. married a Miss Fox and has one child, Beryl; Harry was born April 10, 1864, and is a clerk in a store at Mantua: he married Margaret Bell and has four children,-Leon, Herbert, William and an infant; Mary, born April 1, 1866. married Harry Pettit, a traveling salesman of Salem, and has one child, Mary; and Sarah Viola, born November 3, 1873, and lives at home. Mr. House is a Democrat but has never dabbled in politics. He is a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and has been the secretary of his lodge since its organization twenty-five years ago in Alloway, and he is a member of the Knights of Pythias. His religious views are indicated by the fact that he is a member of the orthodox Society of Friends.
William Oakford married Rebecca Mott and was a large land-owner of Alloway township. He was a farmer and took an active part in local affairs and died in a small brick house which he had erected in 1736, on his farm of one hundred acres, which is now in possession of our subject. He had two children, Letitia (Mrs. Noblet), of Wilmington, Delaware; and Mary, who married Jacob House, the great-grandfather.
CHARLES C. JESSUP.
One of the busiest, most energetic and most enterprising men of Wood- bury, New Jersey, is Charles Clark Jessup, who occupies the position of president of the First National Bank. His has been an honorable business career, in which he has steadily worked his way upward to a place of promi- nence in financial circles. Banking institutions are the heart of the com- mercial body, indicating the healthfulness of trade, and the bank that follows a safe, conservative policy does more to establish public confidence in times of widespread financial depression than anything else. Such a course has the First National Bank of Woodbury followed under the able management of its president, whose reliability and trustworthiness, combined with busi- ness sagacity, have made him one of the most successful as well as leading representatives of financial interests in this section of the state.
Mr. Jessup is also a representative of one of the oldest and most promi- nent families of Gloucester county. He was born in Harrison township, March 14, 1847, his parents being Joseph and Mary (Clark) Jessup. The
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John S. Jessup 12
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family is of English extraction and was founded in America by John Jessup, the great-great-grandfather of our subject, who, in 1737, located in Glouces- ter county, taking up his abode near the village of Woodbury, in what was then the township of Deptford. Little record remains concerning his life, but it is generally supposed that he engaged in agricultural pursuits. He married Margaret Witticer and unto them were born two children, John and Mary, whose descendants are now living in many sections of this country. The daughter became the wife of Samuel Mifflin, of Virginia, and the son. who was born in 1743, married Elizabeth Ballinger, by whom he had three children: James, born November 6, 1769; Sarah, born September 29, 1771; and John, born, November 16, 1773. Sarah Jessup became the wife of Joshua Lord and had a family of six children, namely: Mary, James, John, Elizabeth, Hester and Benjamin. John was twice married, his first wife being Deborah Wilkins, whom he wedded November 15, 1798, and by whom he had four children,-Isaac Wilkins, Sarah, William and John. The second wife bore the maiden name of Sarah Wood and her children were Elizabeth and Charles. James Jessup, who belonged to the same family, was one of the ancestors of the subject of this sketch. He married Sarah West, and unto them were born five children,-John, James, Joseph, Mary and West. The first named, John Jessup, was twice married, and by the first union had two children, Sarah and Hannah Ann. For his second wife he chose Mary Reeves, and they had one daughter, Mary. James married Abigail Fisher. and their children were George, Rebecca, Mary, Abigail and two who were accidentally drowned in early life. West, the youngest child of James and Sarah (West) Jessup, married Martha Cooper, and their children were John W .; Cooper; Hannah; Sarah, now deceased; James; David, deceased; Louis; and James, who died in childhood. Joseph Jessup was the father of our sub- ject and is represented elsewhere in this volume.
In taking up the personal history of Charles Clark Jessup we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely and favorably known in west- ern New Jersey. He attended the district schools of his native place and later completed his education by a three-years course in the West Jersey Academy at Bridgeton, this state. On laying aside his text-books he embarked in general merchandising and in the lumber business at Mantua, Gloucester county, forming a partnership under the firm name of Scott & Jessup. He was thus engaged when he retired from the firm and went to Philadelphia, where he engaged in dealing in house furnishings at the corner of Ninth and Market streets. That venture proved to be a very successful one. Mr. Jes- sup disposed of his business and returned to Woodbury, where his well known ability caused him to be appointed a director of the First National Bank on
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the 3d of February, 1888. Three years later, on the 3Ist of March, 1891. he was made the vice president of the institution, and on the Ist of October, 1895. was chosen the president, which position he has since acceptably filled. He is a man of keen discrimination, of sound judgment and resolute purpose. qualities which are ever essential to the successful conduct of a financial in- stitution.
On the 5th of August, 1880, in Woodbury, Mr. Jessup was united in mar- riage to Miss Abbie T. Reeves, a daughter of Thomas and Isabella M. Reeves. Their union has been blessed with two children, Isabella K., born November 25, 1882, and Edward C., born October 24, 1887. The mother is a lady of kindly heart and gracious disposition, who holds membership in the Presby- terian church, the services of which her family attend, contributing liberally to the support of the church in its various branches of Christian work. Mr. Jessup is quiet and unassuming in manner, yet at all times courteous and pleasing, winning friends by his genial disposition and honorable character, which commands the respect of all. He is public-spirited in an eminent de- gree, and during the years of his residence in Woodbury has given his aid to whatever is calculated to promote the general welfare. In every relation of life he has been true and faithful, and over the record of his active career there falls no shadow of wrong, and no suspicion of evil darkens his pathway.
R. CURTIS ROBINSON.
R. Curtis Robinson is a representative of the two branches of business which have contributed most largely to the upbuilding of towns and to the ad- vancement of their progress and prosperity,-real-estate and journalism. The man who handles the property interests can largely make or mar the place. The improvements which he institutes may be attractive, but he must also exercise care in his sales so that a desirable and substantial class of citi- zens will form the population of the town which he represents and thus insure its future growth along lines of material, intellectual and social progress. The real-estate dealer who follows these principles will thus lay the founda- tion for the establishment of a city which will be a power in the state, its ever widening circle of influence being manifest in the formation of the public policy of the commonwealth.
It has also been said that there is no surer indication of the character of a town than its newspapers. The bright and enterprising journal, of pure tone, is an unmistakable evidence of the character of the people who give it its support and whom it represents. At the same time the editor is in a
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position where he can mold public opinion in a way that few others can do, and his support of a measure will usually secure it a large following, so that great responsibility rests upon him in shaping the public mind.
In both departments of labor Mr. Robinson has promoted the interests of Ocean City, and no record of this attractive town would be complete without mention of him whose name introduces this review. He was born March 28, 1862, in what is now Pleasantville, Atlantic county, New Jersey, a son of Captain R. A. and Hannah (Conover) Robinson. His paternal grandfather resided at that place. His father, also a resident of Pleasantville, was a sea captain, and died at Delaware Breakwater, Pennsylvania, when our subject was only nine years of age. During the civil war he was drafted for the service but furnished a substitute. In the family were but two chil- dren, the daughter being Ida V., who married Daniel B. Mason, a farmer and painter, by whom she had three children, William B., Luana W. and Curtis. After the death of her first husband she became the wife of Harry C. Barnes, a roofer by trade, but now in the employ of the fire department. They have two children,-Reba and Eddie. The father of our subject died July 26, 1871, at the age of forty-two years; but the mother, who was born October 26, 1836, is still living.
Mr. Robinson, of this review, attended the public schools of Atlantic county until fourteen years of age, but in the months of vacation he con- tributed to his own support by working at anything that he could get to do. From the age of nine years, when his father died, he cultivated habits of in- dustry and frugality and thus laid the foundation for his present creditable . success. When a youth of fourteen he became a clerk in a dry-goods store in Philadelphia, but finding that occupation uncongenial he studied civil engineering, to which he devoted his energies for a short time. He after- ward learned the printer's trade, entering upon his apprenticeship in the office of the Banner, of Beverly, New Jersey. He later accepted a position in the employ of A. L. English, of the Atlantic Review, at Atlantic City, and continued in his service for six years. During that time he was the edi- tor and manager of the May's Landing Record and the assistant editor of the Philadelphia Journal Over the Mountains and Down by the Sea. In 1885 he came to Ocean City to accept the position of editor of the Sentinel, and in July of that year, in connection with W. H. Fenton, he purchased that paper. In October of the same year he bought his partner's interest and has since been sole proprietor.
The Sentinel is a weekly journal, having a large circulation; but during the summer months of July and August Mr. Robinson publishes a daily paper, and the large patronage which this receives indicates the demand
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for such a publication. It is called the Ocean City Daily Reporter. The Sentinel is a Republican sheet of four pages, of eight columns each, and the newspaper plant is complete in all its appointments, being equipped with Cottrell & Sons' presses and Gordon job presses. The papers which he issues are neat and attractive in appearance, and their entertaining reading matter has been the means of bringing to him a large and constantly increas- ing business. Their extensive circulation makes them a good advertising medium, and this branch of the business therefore adds materially to the income of the editor and proprietor.
Mr. Robinson also owns considerable real estate in Ocean City and has been engaged in the purchase and sale of property as an investment since 1893. He is also an insurance agent, representing the Norwich Union and the Ger- man-American companies. His political support is unwaveringly given to the Republican party, and he does all in his power to promote its growth and insure its success. In 1888 he was elected a freeholder from Ocean City, but the following year resigned in order to accept the position of postmaster. to which he was appointed by President Harrison, and he held this office for four and a half years. In November, 1893, he was elected one of the cor- oners of Cape May county for a term of three years, and upon the incorpora- tion of Ocean City as a city he was selected the superintendent and secretary of the board of education, and has served in the latter capacity continuously since. He has always been a warm friend of the public schools, laboring ear- nestly and effectively in their behalf. He is also a member of the Ocean City · volunteer fire department.
On the 8th of November, 1888, Mr. Robinson was united in marriage to Miss Addel Corson, a daughter of Youngs Corson, a flour and feed merchant and real-estate dealer of Ocean City; and to them was born a son, Richard S., but they lost the little one in infancy. Of various fraternal organiza- tions Mr. Robinson is a representative, holding membership in Ocean City Lodge, No. 171, F. & A. M .: Iota Council, No. 126, J. O. U. A. M .; and Ocean City Council, No. 10, Daughters of America, a branch of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics. He was also at one time a member of the Red Men. A member of the Methodist Episcopal church, he has long served on its board of trustees, and was its president for several years. It is the character of the man which determines his position in life; and that Mr. Robinson is regarded as one of the leading and influential citizens of Ocean City is due to the principles which permeate his life and control his actions. He is a man of sterling worth, well worthy the uniform confidence which his friends have in him.
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CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY.
ALEXANDER B. HEWES.
The firm of Hewes & Mitchell holds an important place in the business interests of Swedesboro, these gentlemen being proprietors of the large grist and saw mill at that place. The senior member of the firm was born in Woolwich township, Gloucester county, January 10, 1858, and is a son of Thomas B. and Rebecca (Black) Hewes. The father, who was also born in Gloucester county, was a carpenter by trade, but for many years before his death was successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was a stanch Republican, and a man who stood high in his community. He died Decem- ber 2, 1897, at the age of eighty-one years, his wife surviving him until the spring of 1899, when she passed away, aged eighty-three years. The family of this worthy couple comprised nine children, as follows: Marietta, who became the wife of I. H. Vanneman, and resides in Swedesboro; Samuel, who was killed during the civil war; Frank, who went to Philadelphia, and was never heard of afterward; Anna; William, residing in the state of Washing- ton; Thomas B., a farmer; George, who died when seven years old; Alex- ander B., and one who died in infancy.
Alexander B. was educated in the Union and Oak Grove schools of his native place and Bridgeport, and in a private school at Swedesboro. For many years after arriving at manhood he carried on farming to a large extent. In 1897, in company with George B. Mitchell, he purchased the grist and saw mill at Swedesboro. This mill was built in 1757, and was once owned and operated for a number of years by ex-Governor Stratton. Since coming into the hands of Hewes & Mitchell it has been thoroughly refitted and supplied with modern machinery, and turns out excellent work. Its water power equals eighty-horse power and its steam power is sixty-horse power, and besides running the mill supplies power for the Swedesboro electric- light plant. The property includes considerable land adjoining the mill, and also a strip embracing water privileges for some distance up the coun- try creek, in all about sixty-six acres. The firm do a general milling, flour, feed and grain business, chiefly of a local nature, but also imports a large amount of grain.
Mr. Hewes and Sarah Hurff, the latter a daughter of Aaron Hurff, of Swedesboro, were married June 8, 1898, and have had one child, Sarah Anna, who died January 29, 1900. They are members of the Episcopal church, of which they are generous supporters, and are ever ready to assist not only in church work but also in any project which has for its object the upbuilding of the town in which they live. In politics Mr. Hewes is an independent Republican.
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LAWRENCE LOCKE.
Long years of active business should be followed by an honored retire- ment from labor that one may enjoy the fruits of former toil and the rest that is truly earned. Mr. Locke is one to whom this has been vouchsafed, and to-day he is numbered among the respected and retired farmers of Woolwich township, Gloucester county. He was born April 8, 1820, on the farm which is now owned by George M. Hall, and is a son of John S. and Hannah (Tay- lor) Locke. His father was a native of Woolwich township, Gloucester county, where he followed farming throughout his entire life, and was a colonel of militia during the days that military organization had existence. The paternal grandparents of Mr. Locke were Jonas and Sarah (Sparks) Locke. The former was born March 8, 1757, the latter May 3, 1762, and their marriage was celebrated March 5, 1783. Their children were as fol- lows: Christian, who was born April 2, 1784, and died March 5, 1801; Benjamin was born August 23, 1785, and died March 19, 1825; Thomas, born December 13, 1787; John, born March 23, 1790; Jonas, who was born April 2, 1792, and died March 5, 1801; Charles, who was born July 20, 1794, and died October II, 1798; and Sarah Ann, who was born June I, 1800, and married Thomas Platt.
John S. Locke, the father of our subject, devoted his energies to agricul- tural pursuits, and arriving at the years of maturity he married Miss Hannah Taylor, a daughter of Samuel and Naomi (Fisher) Taylor, who died Sep- tember 23, 1798, and January 12, 1842, respectively. After the death of her first husband Mr. Taylor married a Mr. Miller. Her father was a captain in the Revolutionary war and owned a large tract of land lying between Swedesboro and the Delaware river. Unto John S. and Hannah (Taylor) Locke were born the following children: Joseph H., who was born Septem- ber 18, 1814, and died in St. Louis, Missouri; Samuel T., who was born Feb- ruary 23, 1817, and died at Tom's River, New Jersey; Sarah E., who was born October 22, 1818, and is the wife of Asa Roberts, a resident of Mullica Hill, this state; Lawrence, of this review; Rebecca Ann, who was born De- cember 7, 1821, and is now deceased; Naomi, who was born December 29, 1823, and is deceased, formerly the wife of James Chatten, a resident of Mullica Hill; Harriet, who was born August 15, 1826, and died in childhood; John S., who was born July 26, 1828, and resides in St. Louis, Missouri; Cath- erine, who was born March 20, 1830, and is the wife of James Chatten; Ara- bella, deceased, who was born January, 1832, and was the wife of John R. Gill, of Woolwich township, Gloucester county; Felix F., who was born Au- gust 21, 1834, and is now deceased; and Enoch, who was born July 28, 1836, and has also passed away.
Laurence Locke
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CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY.
Mr. Locke, of this review, was educated in the common schools in his native township and assisted his father on the home farm until twenty-five years of age, when he began the operation of one of his father's farms, near Repaupo, and cultivated this tract for three years. He then went to Louis- ton, Pennsylvania, where he engaged in the poultry business for six months, after which he returned to the old homestead, where he farmed for nine years. He then removed to Hardingville, New Jersey, where he carried on agricultural pursuits for six years, and in 1865 he purchased his present farm of eighty-five acres, near the drawbridge on Raccoon creek, below Swedes- boro. In 1876 he built his residence, and all of the other buildings upon the place stand as monuments to his thrift and enterprise. His progressive farm- ing methods, his unfaltering energy and his capable management brought to him success, which now enables him to live retired.
Mr. Locke was married on the 17th of March, 1847, to Miss Anna Mariah Paul, a daughter of Adrian Paul, of Paulsboro. She died in March, 1879. In their family were six children: Anna, who became the wife of William String and died at the age of thirty-three years; Mariah, Howard V., who now oper- ates his father's farm; Adrian, of Swedesboro; John, who was killed by a train at Salt Lake City; and Emma. Mr. Locke and his family are members of Trinity Episcopal church, of Swedesboro, of which he has been for many years a vestryman. He is a Republican in politics and was a member of the New Jersey legislature in 1877, 1878 and 1879. On the expiration of his term he declined a re-election, although his official service was such that his constitu- ents wished to return him to the office. He has served as a member of the township committee of Clayton township and has been the surveyor of high- ways in the township where he now makes his home. For long years he has been regarded as one of the leading and influential citizens of the community, for his opinions on matters of public moment are usually characterized by calm deliberation and sound judgment and colored by marked loyalty to the public good. He is now well advanced in years, having almost reached the eightieth annual milestone in life's journey, and in the evening of life he is crowned with the veneration and respect which should ever be accorded an honorable old age.
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