USA > New Jersey > Biographical, genealogical and descriptive history of the first congressional district of New Jersey, Volume I > Part 49
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HENRY PANCOAST.
Henry Pancoast resides in Woolwich township, Gloucester county, upon a farm which he has made his home since 1890. The place comprises ninety- five acres of arable land, the greater part of which is under a high state of cultivation and therefore indicates to the passers-by the enterprising and
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progressive spirit of the owner. The farm is improved with excellent and substantial buildings which stand as monuments to his business ability and skill. Though he began life empty-handed, he has overcome all the difficul- ties and obstacles in the road to success and to-day is accounted one of the prosperous residents of this community.
Henry Pancoast is a native of Pilesgrove township, Salem county, New Jersey, his birth having occurred on the 28th of November, 1843. He is the eldest of the seven children of Charles and Elizabeth (Hackney) Pancoast, also natives of Salem county, and is a cousin of Edward Pancoast, who was a farmer in that county. His brothers and sisters are Hannah, the wife of Charles Pierpont, of Salem, New Jersey; Joseph, a farmer of Camden county ; Elizabeth, the wife of Allen Hedley, of Swedesboro; Sarah; Isaac, a farmer of Clayton, New Jersey; and Charles, who is engaged in the bakery supply business in Philadelphia.
Henry Pancoast was educated in what was then known as Dutchtown, now Poplar Grove, school in Woolwich township, Gloucester county, for although born in Salem county he came to Gloucester at the age of eleven years to make his home with Benjamin Owen. He further pursued his edu- cation in a private school in Woodstown and then put his knowledge to a practical test on a farm. Throughout his business career he has carried on agricultural pursuits and his property is one of the best developed farms in southern New Jersey.
On the 10th of March, 1875, Mr. Pancoast was united in marriage to Miss Martha, a daughter of David Warrington, of Burlington county, New Jersey, and they have two children,-B. Owen and Ethelda Pancoast,-who are still at their parental home. Mr. Pancoast is a member of the Swedes- boro Grange and has served on the school board, yet has never been an office- seeker, content to devote his energies to business interests.
CAPTAIN CHARLES P. LORD.
Captain Charles Phineas Lord, the mayor of Vineland, New Jersey, was born in the town of North Berwick, Maine, October 14, 1831. His earliest American ancestor was Nathan Lord, who settled in South Berwick, that state, in 1632. Thus it happens that the family has for more than two and a half centuries been associated with the local history and tradition of the old town. Humphrey Lord, the grandfather of Charles P. Lord, lived at Old Fields, South Berwick; and it seems a singular fact that the generations of this family remained for so long a period in the same region of the country.
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Here also Jeremiah Lord, the father of Vineland's mayor, was born. He was a general merchant in North Berwick up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1862. Though an ardent Whig, and a stanch Republican after the formation of the latter party, he was never an aspirant for any office in his town or county.
Jeremiah Lord married Miss Mary Ann Varney, of Rochester, New Hampshire, the daughter of Phineas Varney, the representative of a promi- nent New England family. Mrs. Lord, who was born in 1809 and has wit- nessed many changes in her long life, still survives her husband. Charles' Phineas was the eldest-born of her nine children. The eight brothers and sisters were respectively: Albert J., of Charlestown, Massachusetts; Henry W., who died; Sarah J., who lives at the old home; Sophia, who died of small-pox, contracted during the war by coming in contact with some "Rebel" clothing sent into Boston, presumably with the object of spreading the horrible disease; an infant who died without a name; Mary Ann, who died; Jeremiah E. and John R., both residents of North Berwick. The parents were both in church fellowship, the mother being a Congregation- alist, while the father was a Universalist. Jeremiah Lord was a cousin of Miss Sarah Orne Jewett, the popular writer whose stories of New England life have made the old town of South Berwick and the surrounding country so full of interest to her readers.
Charles P. Lord was educated in the grammar school of North Berwick and at Lowell, Massachusetts. Directly after his graduation at the North Berwick high school he became a clerk in a store, where he remained until eighteen years of age. Going then to Lowell, he served an apprenticeship of three toilsome years in acquiring proficiency in the machinist's trade. This calling he followed until the breaking out of the civil war, when he enlisted in a company of the Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry known as the Lowell Mechanics' Phalanx. He had joined the Phalanx, which was a state militia organization, in his youth, and had served his full term, receiving honorable discharge from duty. Part of the time while thus engaged he served as a sergeant and company clerk. At the time of President Lincoln's inauguration, when portentous war clouds hung over the political heavens, Sergeant Lord rejoined his company; and wisely, too, for the Mechanics' Phalanx was destined to take a prominent part in the national struggle soon to follow. Foreseeing the needs of the situation, Charles P. Lord made a motion that very evening to tender the services of the Phalanx to the government. As the result of this action a meeting of the officers of the Sixth Regiment was held January 21, 1861, and an offer of the regiment made to the commander in chief of the state. This resolution was carried
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to Boston by General Butler, who was at that time a member of the Massa- chusetts state senate. The legislature of Massachusetts now tendered the services of the state troops to the government, and active life began for the men, who were soon to be soldiers in good earnest, although even before Lincoln's inauguration the company had been drilling. Senator Wilson, of Massachusetts, was in Washington when the first call for troops was made, on the 15th of April, 1861. About four hours previous to the issue of the proclamation President Lincoln had requested Mr. Wilson to have four regi- ments of Massachusetts militia sent to Washington on duty. The Sixth was now ordered to muster on Boston Common preparatory to marshaling their ranks for a march to the national capital. The men of the Phalanx had very soon after an actual experience of warfare, for they had to fight their way through Baltimore in the memorable secession riot of April 19, 1861. The Sixth was mustered with the United States service, and was quartered in the senate chamber for about ten days, after which they were ordered from Washington to the Relay House.
After doing duty in this vicinity for about three months, Sergeant Lord returned to Massachusetts, and in August, 1861, enlisted in Company F, the Eighth Maine. As first sergeant he went to Washington and Annapolis, and was a participant in the battles of Port Royal, Jacksonville, Florida; the siege of Charleston, and the capture of Pulaski. It was while at Port Royal with Sherman that he was promoted to the second and first lieutenancy, the last office carrying with it the acting capacity of a captaincy, as his papers read "First Lieutenant Commanding Company." While participating in en- gagements mentioned above, Captain Lord was also doing guard and pro- vost duty until he joined the Army of the Potomac under General Grant. His health began to fail under the strain of army life, and, after being detailed with forty men to cut a way through the malarial southern swamps, he be- came physically disabled, and was discharged from active service. The three weeks' work in the swampy lowlands was accomplished at a great cost. Only six men out of the forty who had made the party survived.
On the 22d of February, 1866, Captain Lord came to Vineland, where he purchased a farm; but he was too shattered in health to bear the strain of such exertions as a successful farmer must endure, and was compelled to give it up. For a number of years he was the head clerk in the grocery of Brown & Lorin; but even that occupation proved too much for his enfeebled constitution, and he resigned the position. Finding himself in a measure re- cuperated after a complete rest, he entered the arena of public life, and in 1877 was elected the mayor of Vineland. He filled the office seven one-year terms, and in 1895 was re-elected for a term of three years. During his ad-
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ministration as mayor the town of Vineland has been provided with wide sidewalks, which would be creditable to any city, and which display both taste and judgment on the part of the executive force. In 1891 Captain Lord was also elected a justice of the peace, and he does a great deal of business in that court. He is also by government appointed the commissioner of deeds and a notary public. In politics Captain Lord has been a stanch Republican since the foundation of that party, serving on committees and always voting the Republican ticket. He was the first post commander of Lyon Post, No. IO, Grand Army of the Republic, and one of the charter members of the organization. The year following his command he was the officer of the day, and he was subsequently chaplain of the post for eighteen years. He is now a past grand master of Hobart Lodge, No. 122, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and an active member of Vineland Lodge, No. 69, F. & A. M.
Captain Lord married Miss Martha L. Field, a native of Lowell, Massa- chusetts. Mrs. Lord died October 12, 1883, leaving no children. A Univer- salist in faith, Captain Lord is connected by membership with the Unitarian church in Vineland. Both as a citizen and soldier he has deservedly won the appreciation and recognition of services which his state and country have accorded him.
JOHN W. DuBOIS.
John Du Bois is proprietor of the leading livery stable of Swedesboro, and was born near Penn Grove, New Jersey, on the 10th of November, 1856, his parents being Josiah and Abigail (Straughen) DuBois. His father died in 1892, at the age of eighty-four years, and the mother passed away in 1887, at the age of seventy years. The paternal grandfather, Samuel DuBois, was one of the early settlers of Penn Grove township, Salem county. John Wes- ley DuBois was the seventh in order of birth in a family of eight children, namely: William, who is now living retired in Harrisonville, New Jersey; Mary E., the wife of John Banks, of Paulsboro, this state; Josiah, a merchant of Camden, New Jersey; James, who is living on the old homestead farm; Emily, the wife of Joseph K. Shultz, an oil dealer of Penn Grove, New Jersey; Samuel, who died at the age of six months; John Wesley; and Isaac, who died at the age of six years.
Mr. DuBois, of this review, obtained his education in the public schools and assisted his father on the home farm until nineteen years of age, when he began the operation of a threshing-machine, carrying on business in that way for five years. Subsequently he engaged in agricultural pursuits in Salem and Gloucester counties for fifteen years, after which he spent two
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years in Swedesboro as the proprietor of a livery stable. He was then for three years engaged in the butchering business, and for a similar time con- ducted a steam thresher. On the 25th of October, 1899, he took possession of the livery stable in Swedesboro which he now owns, and has here con- ducted a good business.
On the Ist of January, 1879, Mr. DuBois married Miss Elizabeth, a daughter of Samuel Justice, of Pedricktown, New Jersey, and they now have three children: Morris and Wilmer, the sons, follow farming, while Mary Ann, the only daughter, died at the age of six months. The mother passed away February 13, 1886, and Mr. DuBois was again married, January 12. 1888, his second union being with Miss Rebecca Yourison, a daughter of John Yourison, of Swedesboro, and they have two children, Walter and Percey V. Mr. DuBois is a member of the Ancient Order of United Work- men of Swedesboro, and is a Republican in his political affiliations, but though he casts his ballot for the men and measures of the party and is earnest in the advocacy of its principles, he has never sought official preferment, de- siring rather to give his energies to his business.
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COLEMAN F. LEAMING, JR.
Honored and respected by all, there is no man in Cape May county who occupies a more enviable position in financial circles than J. Coleman Leam- ing, of South Dennis, not alone on account of the brilliant success he has achieved but also on account of the honorable, straightforward business pol- icy he has ever followed. He possesses untiring energy, is quick of percep- tion, forms his plans readily and is determined in their execution; and his close application to business and excellent management have brought to him the degree of prosperity which is to-day his, and which now enables him to live a retired life. It is true that he became interested in a business already established, but in controlling and enlarging such an enterprise many a man of even considerable resolute purpose, courage and industry would have failed; and he has demonstrated the truth of the saying that success is not a matter of genius but the outcome of a clear judgment and experience.
Mr. Leaming is a native of South Dennis and a son of Richard S. and Amelia (Ludlum) Leaming. His great-grandfather. Persons Leaming, was a son of Aaron and Mary Leaming, and after attaining his majority he mar- ried Charlotte Eldredge, a daughter of Aaron Eldredge. They became the parents of seven children: Aaron, Furman, Mary, Persons, Jeremiah. James Raney and Charlotte. Jeremiah Leaming. the grandfather of our subject.
Coleman J. Leamingfr.
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was born May 26, 1792, and died April 26, 1839, of heart disease, brought on by over exertion in fighting a fire on his plantation. He was then in the prime of life and in the midst of a successful business career. He possessed great business capacity, managed his interests most ably, was a man of sterling in- tegrity and enjoyed the confidence of the people to a high degree. He was frequently sought to act as administrator and executor in the settling of estates. He was married October 31, 1814, to Abigail Falkenburg, who was born February 16, 1796, the only child of Joseph Falkenburg, who was born April 24, 1769, and came to Cape May county in 1790. He was then a poor boy, but at the time of his death, which occurred April 30, 1846, when he was seventy-seven years of age, he was the wealthiest man in the county.
Jeremiah and Abigail Leaming became the parents of nine children. Joseph F., who was born September 23, 1815, and died October 7, 1861, was a graduate of Princeton College, studied law and afterward practiced in New York city. He was married, July 7, 1858, to Bell Thompson, and their chil- dren were: Joseph, who died at the age of five years, and Isabella, wife of Professor Forman, professor of music in Cornell University. Coleman F., born June 6, 1818, practiced medicine in early life in New York city and now resides in Cape May Court House. Abigail, born November 21, 1820, is the wife of Robert K. Matlock, who practiced law in Woodbury, New Jersey, and their children were: Elizabeth; Mary; Leaming, a lawyer; Nellie; Robert, a civil engineer; and Charlotte. Ellen, born April 11, 1823, is the deceased wife of Mr. Dietrick. Charlotte, born January 1, 1826, married J. W. Mc- Knight, who is now living retired in Bordentown, New Jersey, and to them has been born a son, John L., now deceased. Richard S., the father of our subject, was the next of the family. Jeremiah, born January 20, 1831. was graduated in Princeton College and is a prominent lawyer of Chicago. He married Miss Harriet Scoville, and their children are Joseph, Anna and Ellen. Mary, born December 27, 1833, died in 1837. Susan F., born July 8. 1836, became the wife of Redman Abbott, a dry-goods merchant of Philadelphia, and their children are Ellen, Dr. William L., a naturalist, and Gertrude.
Richard S. Leaming, the father of our subject, was born July 16, 1826, in the old homestead in South Dennis. This is an old brick residence, which was erected in 1805 by Joseph Falkenburg and is now occupied by Coleman Leaming, Jr., of this review. It has been remodeled in the meantime. but the rear part, which was erected by Richard S. Leaming, is still covered by the original white-cedar shingles which he put upon it. They were dipped in oil, which accounts for their remarkable preservation. Not only is Coleman Leaming the owner of the old homestead, but he also has in his possession a set of six vases, which were imported by Daniel Smith, one of the earliest
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china merchants of Philadelphia and which were brought to this country by the father of Commodore Decatur.
In the common schools Richard S. Leaming acquired his preliminary education, which was supplemented by study in an academy at Woodbury through one term. At the age of sixteen, however, he put aside his text books to engage in farming on his own account, and throughout his entire life he was identified with the agricultural interests of Cape May county. He also became an extensive dealer in cedar lumber, purchasing land from which he has cut the timber, and then in his own saw and planing-mill trans- forming it into finished lumber. He owned large tracts of swamp land on Dennis creek and Tuckahoe river and did a very large and profitable busi- ness. Later he became engaged in ship-building on Dennis creek and was one of the leading representatives of that industry in this part of the county. He built a schooner at Dorchester, New Jersey, and also built there the bark- entine which was lost with all its crew on its first trip, when carrying a cargo of grain from Philadelphia to Lisbon. Mr. Leaming also built many other vessels, including the Susan F. Abbott, Amelia H. Leaming, Ella Mathew, C. B. Wood, J. K. Manning, William L. Elkins, the schooner Frank Leam- ing, the Providence, the William E. Lee, Sallie Young, William L. Abbott, John B. Adams, Richard S. Leaming, Gertrude Abbott, Isaac H. Tilyier, Lizzie Babcock, Thomas F. Pollard, Douglas Gregory and John M. Moore. In all of these he retained a one-fourth or three-eighths interest. Many of the first vessels which he constructed are still in use, which indicates the superiority of the workmanship and of the materials used in their building. Mr. Leaming also dealt extensively in cord-wood and had over one thousand cords on hand at the time of his death. His farming property in Cape May county aggregated four hundred acres of land, and returned to him a good income. He was a man of great industry, of determined purpose and of sound judgment, and carried forward to successful completion whatever he undertook. Charitable and benevolent, he gave freely of his means to various organizations and was very generous to the poor and needy, but most he believed in that practical charity which furnishes employment to those who need it and thus enables a man to help himself and retain his self-respect. A stanch Republican, he was prominent in the councils of his party and was very earnest in his advocacy of its principles. For eight years he served as a member of the board of freeholders, and in 1870 he was elected a member of the general assembly, serving during the sessions of 1871, 1872 and 1873. He received large majorities, polling an especially large vote at the election of 1873, a fact which indicated his personal popularity and the confidence reposed in him by his fellow townsmen. Elected to the senate, he was a
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recognized leader of the Republican forces in the upper house, and in 1876 he was made a delegate to the national convention which nominated Ruther- ford B. Hayes for the presidency. During the civil war he was appointed by the board of freeholders as paymaster to pay bounties to the soldiers who had gone to the front.
Although his business interests were very extensive and his official duties varied and responsible, Mr. Leaming yet found time to devote to the holier duties of life which concern man's relation to his fellow man and to his Maker. He held membership in the Memorial Baptist church, of South Dennis, was the president of the board of trustees and treasurer of the church, and largely through his efforts the church organization was con- tinued. He organized the Sunday-school, served as its superintendent for many years and was instrumental in bringing many young people into the church, a number of whom are now devoting their lives to Christian work as representatives of the ministry. Not only by precept but by example did he tell his fellow men of the principles of Christianity, for his life was ever upright and honorable, his manner kindly and his dealings just. He was mar- ried, December 8, 1849, to Amelia Ludlum, a daughter of Jeremiah and Emma Ludlum, and three children were born to them: Emma L., who was born December 13, 1851, and died December 31, of the same year; Coleman F .; and Frank, who was born March 10, 1857, is identified with the farming interests of Middle township, Cape May county, and was married February 9, 1888, to Anna Edwards, a daughter of Lewis and Abbie Edwards. The father of these children died May 25, 1895, and on the 8th of November of the same year the mother was called to her final rest.
Coleman F. Leaming, Jr., whose name introduces this review, pursued his education in the public schools, and also attended boarding schools in Vineland and in Cape May Court House. At a comparatively early age, however, he put aside his text-books, as his father needed his services in the management and control of his extensive business interests. The relation between father and son in their industrial and commercial interests continued until the death of the former, the enterprise and progressive spirit of the younger man forming an excellent complement to the experience and ma- ture judgment of the elder. Our subject had charge of the work of securing the materials for ship-building and he worked upon the greater number of the vessels mentioned above. They abandoned their business in that line of industrial labor in 1892, when the father retired to private life, for the sail- boats had been succeeded by barges for the carrying trade. Mr. Leaming is also living retired save for the demands made upon his time and attention by his investments. The capital which he acquired in former years had been used
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in the purchase of real estate and personal property, which brings to him a handsome income. He is also interested in a number of boats.
On the 6th of July, 1878, Mr. Leaming was united in marriage to Miss Huldah Cresse, a daughter of Lewis Cresse, who was a farmer of Cape May county, and they now have two children: Richard S., who was born Febri- ary 17, 1882, and is now a student in the Lawrenceville Preparatory school; and Lewis C., who was born November 13, 1883, and is at home. The family attend the Baptist church, of which Mr. Leaming is a leading member. He is serving as its treasurer and as a member of the board of trustees, and his liberal contributions and effective labors have resulted greatly to the benefit of the organization. His political support is given the Republican party, but he has never been an aspirant for public office, preferring to devote his time to the management of his business interests. The career of Mr. Leam- ing has ever been such as to warrant the trust and confidence of the business world, for he has ever conducted all transactions on the strictest principles of integrity and honor. His devotion to the public good is unquestioned and arises from a sincere interest in the welfare of his fellow men. Helpfulness may well be termed a keynote of his character, and in all circles of society it has won him admiration and regard.
HANCE HELMS.
Hance Helms was born in Bridgeport, New Jersey, May 20, 1849, and is a son of James E. Helms, who resides near Repaupo. He was educated in the public schools of Logan township, in Gibbstown, Penn Grove and in Wyoming Seminary of Kingston, Pennsylvania, and then engaged in teach- ing in the Repaupo school, where he continued as assistant for four years, and for eight months held the position of principal of the Gibbstown school. On the expiration of that period, however, he began farming, which he has since followed. For eight years he was engaged in the cultivation of a farm near Swedesboro. Since 1882 he has occupied his present farm of one hun- dred and sixteen acres, which property belongs to his father. He is an enterprising agriculturist, and his well tilled fields yield to him a golden trib- ute in return for the care and labor he bestows upon them.
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