USA > New Jersey > Biographical, genealogical and descriptive history of the first congressional district of New Jersey, Volume I > Part 51
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Mrs. Muhlbaier preceded her husband to this country about six months. Her maiden name was Christina Schlag, and she was a daughter of Peter Schlag. She also is a native of Waldorf, Baden, where she became slightly acquainted with her husband. It was through her brother, a friend of Mr. Muhlbaier, then living in Philadelphia, that the acquaintance was extended until stronger ties were formed. On the 27th of November, 1855, they went from Bridgeport to Philadelphia and were married in St. Peter's Cathe- dral, of the latter city. Five children came to bless their union: Elizabeth, now the wife of Joseph Schmidt, a farmer of Woolwich township; Caroline, the wife of John Goulegowski, a farmer of Logan township, by whom she has three children,-Elizabeth, the wife of Matthew Groppenbecher, Mary and Philip; Lena, the wife of Martin Shorn, an agriculturist of Woolwich town- ship, by whom she has four children,-Joseph, Christina, Florentine and John; Philip, who owns the old homestead, and married Miss Mary Laux, by whom he has four children,-Matthias and Sebastian, (twins), Walter and Clarence; and Peter, a farmer of Logan township, who married Elizabeth Woelk, of Philadelphia, and has a son, named Edward.
Mr. Muhlbaier and his family are well devoted members of St. Joseph's Catholic church, of Swedesboro, and contribute liberally to its support. Hewas one of the earliest representatives of that denomination who located in that
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY. 469
section of Gloucester county and frequently walked from Raccoon island to the home of Daniel Kenney, south of Swedesboro, in order to attend mass, which was occasionally celebrated there by a priest from Salem. When the erection of the first church in Swedesboro was undertaken he was the largest contributor to the enterprise, the amount which he gave being five dollars,- at that time being considered a very large sum. Mr. Muhlbaier has always taken a deep interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of the commun- ity and has given his political support to the Democratic party. He came to this country a poor man, dependent upon each day's toil for the means of livelihood, and without even a knowledge of the English language. By persistence in his work, economy and fair dealing he has steadily advanced and his life indicates most clearly the opportunities which are afforded the ambitious young man in this free republic.
SAMUEL M. PARKER.
For many years Samuel Matlack Parker, who is now deceased, was con- nected with the agricultural interests of Gloucester county, owning and cultivating a fine farm in Woolwich township. He was born in Haddonfield, New Jersey, on the 3Ist of October, 1837, and was a son of Jonathan G. and Mary Ann (Matlack) Parker, and his grandparents were William and Susanna (Peacock) Parker, whose marriage was celebrated December 28, 1809, the former having been born October 25, 1788, while the latter was born June 19, 1791. They had twelve children, namely: Isaac, born September 29, 1810; Joshua P., born February 14, 1812; Jonathan; Rachel, born July 4, 1818; Louis, who was born January 28, 1820, and died November 3. 1820; Samuel, born September 17, 1821; Hannah, born June 20, 1823; Eli, who was born October 3, 1824, and died December 10, 1885; Amos, born June 16, 1827; Charles E., who was born October 22, 1830, and died July 8, 1831; Elizabeth, born February 27, 1832; and Chalkley W., born December 12, 1833.
Jonathan G. Parker, the father of our subject, was born February 2, 1814, and after arriving at years of maturity married Mary Ann Matlack, whose birth occurred August 10, 1807. He died November 20, 1875, and his wife passed away May 7, 1864. Their children were Susan P., born September 5, 1836, and died March 29, 1880; Samuel M .; Albert, born August 16, 1839, and died April 17, 1894; and Caroline K., who was born September 7, 1841, and died on the 19th of November, 1855.
Samuel M. Parker was for many years recognized as one of the leading
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and influential citizens of his community. In business he was a man of re- sourceful ability, who carried forward to successful completion whatever he undertook. For a time he ran the steamboat Falcon from Swedesboro to Philadelphia. and after six years spent in that way purchased and occupied a farm near Swedesboro. He owned that property until his death and was very successful in its cultivation. In 1893 he removed to Swedesboro, where he occupied a well appointed home. spending the last few years of his life in an honored retirement from labor save the management of his property interests.
On the 31st of October, 1861, Mr. Parker was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Eastlack, a daughter of Samuel Eastlack of Timerereek, Gloucester county. They became the parents of six children, but Katie S. and Harry both died when about a year old. The others are Caddie J., the wife of Wesley B. Gill: Albertus S., who wedded Keziah Fish and has four children, -Marion G., Sarah F., Alberta S. and Howard S .; S. Russel, who married Emma Adams and has a son, Harry R .; and Gertrude S., who completes the family.
Mr. Parker was a charter member of the Swedesboro Grange and in his political affiliations was a Republican, who firmly upheld the principles of the party and filled a number of local public offices with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. He passed away July 24, 1899, and in his death the community lost one of its representative and honored men. He was always reliable in business, faithful to his duties of citizenship and to the home, and his sterling worth commanded the respect of all with whom he came in contact. The family attend the Trinity Episcopal church and are highly esteemed in Woolwich township.
ISAIAH S. ALDERMAN.
This progressive and substantial agriculturist of Gloucester county was born October 31, 1847, in Pittsgrove township, Salem county, New Jersey, and was reared there. His father, John Alderman. was a son of John Alder- man. After the death of the last mentioned his widow moved to Pittsgrove from their old home at Woodstown, and her support was greatly aided by the willing hands of her son John, the father of our subject. She passed the most of the remainder of her life there. dying, however, at Woodstown. John was a farmer by occupation and was esteemed as an honorable, upright man. The many offices of trust to which he was chosen showed the confi-
Roberto Vilim
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dence reposed in him, while the careful and conscientious discharge of the duties thus imposed evinced the general character of the man. He was a member of the Presbyterian church and was a member of the committee who built the present church edifice at Pittsgrove. He married Miss Anna Strat- ton, by whom he had four children, namely: Oliver, who resides on the Pittsgrove homestead; Isaiah S., whose name heads this sketch; Anna, the wife of Dr. J. E. Jaquett, of Woodstown; and Sarah, who became the wife of William Sellers, the proprietor of the iron works near Wilmington, Delaware. Mr. Alderman survived his wife some years, dying in 1893, at the close of a long and useful life.
I. S. Alderman received a common-school education and was for a short time a pupil at the state school at Trenton. He spent four years with his brother Oliver at Woodstown, in the store which had been opened by their father some time previously. In 1883 he moved to his present location, where he owns a fine farm and has devoted his attention to agriculture. Mr. and Mrs. Alderman have considerable landed interests in this vicinity and in Salem county. They both take an active interest in all questions that affect the farmer, and he is a member of the Grange. They are closely identified with the Presbyterian church.
As his companion throughout life Mr. Alderman chose Miss Mary Wilson, to whom he was joined in matrimony March 29, 1883, and the names of their children are Elizabeth, John and Anna. Robert Wilson, the father of Mrs. Alderman, was born in 1809, in county Antrim, Ireland, and came to America when a young man, with no capital but a stout heart and willing hands. He was industrious and economical and soon had a neat sum saved up, which was deposited in the bank for safe keeping. The bank failed, and he, with hundreds of others, were in a day's time defrauded of money which represented years of toil and privation. Still hopeful for the future, he once more bent his energies to his task and again saved his earnings until he had a goodly sum; but this time he profited by his previous lesson and purchased large tracts of timber land and engaged in making charcoal. He operated a sawmill at Fries' Mill, and engaged in farming and lumbering, soon acquir- ing a large property and becoming one of the foremost men of his day. He was a strict churchman, an elder of the Presbyterian church and a trustee for many years. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth McCaughan, was a native of the same place as was he, and her demise occurred in 1872. He survived her nine years, when he, too, laid down the burden of life and entered into that peaceful sleep which ends at the final resurrection. Of their six children the following survive: Mary, Mrs. I. S. Alderman; John, who resides in New York; and Jennie, Mrs. Simon R. Wilson, of Philadel-
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phia. A son, Robert F., left this state about 1885 and was heard from after- ward when he was in California.
S. STANGER ISZARD.
Among the practitioners of the New Jersey bar whose ability entitles them to a position of distinction in the profession is S. Stanger Iszard, who resides in Woodbury, but practices there and in Camden. He is one of the leading real-estate and corporation lawyers of this section of the state, and as advancement at the bar depends solely upon individual merit his position stands in evidence of his comprehensive knowledge of the principles of juris- prudence and his accuracy in applying them to the points in litigation.
Mr. Iszard was born in Swedesboro, January 7, 1860, began his educa- tion in the common schools and took a college preparatory course in Pen- ยท nington Seminary. In 1884 he matriculated in Princeton College, and on the completion of a thorough four-years' course, was graduated with honors in the class of 1887 and received the degree of M. A. in 1890. With a broad general information and classical knowledge to serve as a foundation on which to rear the superstructure of professional learning, he entered upon the study of law and was graduated in the law department of the University of Pennsylvania in the class of 1889, with the degree of LL. B. He studied in the office of C. Stuart Patterson Esq., then dean of the law department of the university. He was admitted to the bar of the Keystone state in that year and licensed to practice in the supreme court of Pennsylvania in 1892. He was admitted to the bar of New Jersey in 1891, but had entered upon his professional career in Pennsylvania in 1889. He took up his residence in Woodbury, in November, 1894, and in 1896 opened an office in Cam- den, where he has secured a large clientage. He is well versed in the law in all its various branches, but makes a specialty of corporation and real estate law, and is legal counsel for the Glassboro Bank, the West Jersey Real Estate Company and other corporations. He has conducted several important bank cases and real-estate suits, and has won some notable tri- umphs in the courts, where his sound arguments and logical deductions always carry weight and seldom fail to convince.
In June, 1892, Mr. Iszard was united in marriage to Miss Mary E .. daughter of William S. Zane, a representative of a very old family of New Jersey. They have one child, Miriam. In his social relations Mr. Iszard is a Mason and is past master of Glassboro Lodge, No. 85, F. & A. M. He was at one time quite actively interested in Sunday-school work. In poli-
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S. Alanger
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tics he is a zealous Republican and keeps well informed on the issues and questions of the day, both political and otherwise. A public-spirited citizen, he manifests a commendable interest in everything pertaining to the general welfare and withholds his support from no movement for the public good.
WILLIAM J. HELMS.
William J. Helms is numbered among the merchants of Bridgeport, New Jersey, where he is conducting a well-appointed establishment, stocked with a large line of general mercantile goods. He was born on a farm in Logan township, Gloucester county, near Repaupo, November 6, 1851, and is a son of James Ellet and Hannah (Justice) Helms, of Repaupo.
The family is of Swedish lineage and was founded in America by Hans Helms, who came from Sweden to the New World prior to the Revolution- ary war and was the owner of a rich tract of land in New Jersey. James Ellet Helms is one of the most prosperous and influential farmers of Gloucester county. He was born in this locality August 1, 1818, and has resided at his present place of residence since 1853. Through continuous industry and economy he has accumulated a handsome fortune and now owns several fine farms. His life demonstrates the possibilities which lie before those of de- termined purpose, keen discrimination and untiring enterprise, for it is these qualities which have brought to him marked prosperity in the business affairs of life. He is a stanch silver Democrat and has had a life-long aversion to banks, with which he refuses to transact any business, even to the extent of making deposits in such institutions.
On the 13th of March, 1845, he was married to Miss Hannah Justice, a daughter of William and Mary (Perkins) Justice. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Helms: Elizabeth, the wife of Henry Shoemaker, who follows farming near Repaupo; Hance, who also carries on agricultural pursuits in that locality; William Justice; Emma; and John, who occupies one of his father's farms. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and all who know them respect them for their many excellencies of charac- ter.
William J. Helms pursued his preliminary education in the public schools of Logan township and subsequently matriculated in Wyoming Seminary at Kingston, Pennsylvania. While under the parental roof he was taught the various branches of farm work and on putting aside his text-books he re- turned home to assist his father in the labors of the farm, his energies being thus occupied for nine years. In 1886 he came to Bridgeport, where he has
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since engaged in general merchandising, his commercial efforts being attended with excellent success. He carries a large line of goods, such as is demanded by a general trade; and his reasonable prices, thorough reliability, and earnest desire to please have gained to him a very liberal patronage.
On the 27th of November, 1877, Mr. Helms was united in marriage to Miss Emily W. Gill, a daughter of Stineman Gill, of Logan township. They are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Bridgeport, take an active part in its work and are very active in advancing its interests along the various lines of Christian activity and effort. Mr. Helms was formerly the Sunday-school superintendent and is now serving as a steward of the church. In politics he gives his support to the Prohibition party, for he is in deep sympathy with the temperance movement. Socially he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the American Order of United Workmen and enjoys the high regard of his brethren in those frater- nities.
MATTHIAS M. CHEW.
Matthias M. Chew, of Cecil, Gloucester county, New Jersey, is one of the most highly esteemed citizens of this part of the state and has gained more than a local reputation as a successful grower of cranberries. He has won his success by patient industry and the application of sound common sense to his business interests. He was born February 22, 1842, at Marsh Lake, near Malaga, this county, and is a son of Thomas E. and Elizabeth (Miller) Chew. His grandfather, Robert Chew, was of English birth and was one of four brothers who came from that country and located in America, one in Philadelphia, one in Maryland and two in this state.
Thomas E. Chew was born at Marsh Lake and resided there until he had attained his majority, when he moved to Clayton and there in 1850 he made the first brick manufactured in that town. In 1870 he moved to Cecil, where he owned two hundred and fifty acres of land, fifteen of which he planted to cranberries, as it was admirably adapted to the raising of that fruit. He was a man of exemplary character, incapable of a mean action, and possessed of a remarkably bright intellect. His death was the result of an accident in the mill, from which he died in April, 1872. His wife, who survives him and is in her seventy-sixth year, was in her maidenhood Miss Elizabeth Miller. Eleven children were born to them, six of whom are still living, namely: William H., of Hurffville; Matthias M., our subject; Susannah H., widow of Mascal Bates; Robert C., who operates a sawmill near Cecil; Sallie M., of Girard College, Philadelphia; and Thomas W., who resides near Cecil.
matthias m. Chew.
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY. 475
Matthias M. Chew attended the public schools in his boyhood but added greatly to his knowledge by a private course of study at night. In this man- ner he mastered the intricacies of the legal profession and also familiarized himself with surveying and conveyancing. Before he was twenty-one he en- listed at Glassboro in the Twenty-fourth New Jersey Regiment and was in the battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. The spring following the death of his father, 1873, he purchased the home farm and has since added to that property until now he has one thousand acres of land. He has one hundred acres in cranberries. He has given to the subject of cranberry cul- ture the closest attention and study and has had his care rewarded by bounti- ful crops of the finest berries. He markets five thousand crates of berries an- nually and no man knows better than he the dangers and difficulties which menace the growing crop. The gathering in of the crop has always been a source of trouble and annoyance to the grower, and to do away with this difficulty he has placed on the market a cranberry picker, an invention of his own fertile brain, which meets the requirement fully and will do the work of six or eight ordinary pickers. He has a fine farm and everywhere does it show the evidence of his care and ingenuity. He had some wild chestnut trees on his farm and as they were too beautiful to be destroyed he decided to try to make them profitable and grafted them with the Japan chestnut. The experiment proved successful, and he now has some of the finest chest- nuts to be obtained.
Mr. Chew was married in 1864 to a lady of the same name and a distant connection. She was Miss Mary Etta, a daughter of Thomas A. Chew. Of the seven children born to them, four attained maturity:
Abbie, who first married Horace Wise, of Williamstown, and afterward Frank Clark, of Piny Hollow and is now deceased; Edward D., who resides at Cecil; Samuel, a resident of Williamstown; and Lizzie M., who married Charles T. Allen, of Pleasantville, this state.
Mr. Chew is independent in his political affiliations but has been very active in local political work. He was a director in the board of freeholders when the present court-house was built-from 1883 to 1888-and was chair- man of the board for four years. He was a candidate for the nomination for state senator in the Republican party at one time under the Crawford system. but did not receive the nomination, although he received a very flattering vote. He has been a commissioner of deeds for twenty years; justice of the peace fifteen years and notary public for the past six years. He has often been a delegate to state, congressional and other conventions and has ever been a forceful advocate of the principles he held. He is the postmaster of Cecil post-office, which was established through his suggestion and influence.
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He is affable, energetic and pleasing in his address and is well liked by every one. He has been connected with the Odd Fellows' organization and also with the Knights of Pythias and the Junior Order of American Mechanics. and is an important factor in the meetings of the Grand Army of the Re- public. He has been post commander of Howard Fisher Post, No. 106, G. A. R., of Williamstown, of which he was the principal organizer and a charter member.
SAMUEL P. SMITH.
Samuel Patrick Smith, one of the leading farmers of Elsinboro township. Salem county, New Jersey, was born in Lower Penn's Neck township, July 24, 1834, and is a son of Peter Smith and Elizabeth, nee Ellett, and a grand- son of Washington Smith and Mary, nee Patrick. In his father's family there were six children: James W., born September 27, 1829, and died August 31, 1849; Jessie P., born February 3, 1832, and died July 8, 1833: Samuel Patrick; Ephraim, born November 24, 1835, and died October 15. 1898; Thomas Jefferson, M. D., of Bridgeton, New Jersey, born April 21. 1841; and Peter Elmer, born September 23, 1842, a farmer of Mannington township.
Mr. Smith was educated in the public schools of Salem county and in the Friends' school. He has always followed farming except during the two years, 1870-1, when he was in the hardware business in Bridgeton. Mr. Smith was married in February, 1855, to Priscilla, a daughter of Samuel Kelty, of Quinton township, by whom he had two children: Elizabeth, who died at the age of six months; and James W., who is now deputy keeper of the state prison at Trenton. He was married July 29, 1857, to Lydia Sayre. a daughter of David Finlaw and Elizabeth, nee Fogg, of Lower Alloway Creek township, the youngest of four children. By his second marriage Mr. Smith had five children: Lizzie Ellett; David Finlaw, who married Ruth J. Richman, a daughter of William Richman, of Greenwich, and lives in Lower Alloway Creek township; Fannie P .; Phebe C .; and Frank Peter. who married Harriet, a daughter of Henry Bassett, of Mannington township. and who occupies his father's farm in Elsinboro township.
Mr. Smith is a Republican, was a trustee of the almshouse from 1887 to 1898, and has been a trustee of the schools and a member of the township committee of Elsinboro. With his family he affiliates with the Society of Friends at Salem.
Tradition furnishes the historical incident that Samuel Fogg, the great- grandfather of Mrs. Smith, was buried in the Friends' cemetery in Salem
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on the day the town was occupied by the British. Those attending the funeral were on horseback, the widow, Elizabeth Fogg, riding a small black horse. The officer commanded that all the horses be seized; but, to the credit of humanity, he said, "Except the widow's horse," and she rode unmo- lested back to her home in Lower Alloway Creek township.
WILLIAM C. CATTELL.
William C. Cattell, the surveyor and civil engineer of Wenonah, New Jersey, was born in Deptford township, Gloucester county, this state, Octo- ber 14, 1867, a son of Joseph S. Cattell and Anna D. Clark. His great- grandfather, Amos Cattell, was a native of New Jersey, and was born prob- ably in Gloucester county. The grandfather, George Cattell, was born and spent his entire life in Gloucester county, where he married Elizabeth Shus- ter, who was of Dutch and German ancestry, and their children were William S., Hiram B., deceased; D. Copper, Sarah L., who married John D. Shute, both deceased, and Joseph S. His father, Joseph S. Cattell, was born in Deptford township, where he was a tiller of the soil, and where he spent his entire life. He held various township offices, was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he held the office of steward, and was a member of I. O. O. F., K. of G. E., Patrons of Husbandry and Hepta- sophs.
On the maternal side the Clark family is of English ancestry. The great- grandfather, Benjamin Clark, was one of the earliest settlers in Deptford township, became a prosperous and progressive farmer, and lived to the advanced age of 86 years. Among his children were: William W., born January 18, 1822, still surviving; and Abram P., who died in 1894. He was three times married and his children were Josiah, Charles and Mary. Will- iam W. Clark, Mr. Cattell's maternal grandfather, was born in Deptford township, where he has always engaged in agricultural pursuits. He repre- sented his county in the legislature during 1866 and 1867, and filled various township offices. By his marriage to Mary W., a daughter of James and Priscilla Dilkes, both natives of Gloucester county, New Jersey, were born Anna D., the mother of Mr. Cattell; Benjamin C., who married Adeline, a daughter of Joseph and Sarah Norris, both deceased; Harriet C., who mar- ried Rand J. Hurff, a son of Thomas and Hannah Hurff; Emma Mary, who married Dr. Paul S. Heritage, and both are now deceased; and Fannie C., who married Howard C. Hendrickson.
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