USA > New Jersey > Biographical, genealogical and descriptive history of the first congressional district of New Jersey, Volume I > Part 53
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JOEL G. LANGLEY.
Joel G. Langley, of Willow Grove, Salem county, New Jersey, was born on the farm upon which he now resides in Lower Pittsgrove township, on March 20, 1849. He is a son of Richard and Keturah (Garrison) Langley and a grandson of John Langley, one of the first settlers of this neighbor- hood who came from Langley's Hollow, England, and settled near Millville. Richard Langley followed the occupation of farmer and miller, owning a mill at Millville and at one time one thousand acres of land. He operated a mill at Willow Grove for several years, after being similarly employed for ten years at Millville. He was a local minister in the Methodist Episcopal church, and although he had but a limited education he was a forceful and convincing speaker through whose instrumentality great good was accom- plished. He was a friend of everybody and everybody was his friend, and his death, which occurred on this farm in 1887, was widely and deeply mourned. He was a very capable man of business and gave abundantly of his means to religious and charitable work. He was joined in marriage with Miss Victoria Garrison, daughter of Arthur Garrison, of Cumberland county. She is now in her eighty-second year, a well preserved, hearty woman whose activity and industry would put to blush many a woman of younger years. Seven children were the fruits of this union, six of whom still survive, viz .: George B., a miller at Millville; Hannah, wife of David Hitchner, of Pala- tine, this county; Joel G., our subject; Sarah G .. wife of Milford Haynes, of Wyoming; Mary, wife of Robert Christey, of Millville; and Jemima, Mrs. John D. Collins, of Camden; Rebecca, who became Mrs. Harris, of Elmer, died in 1888.
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Joel G. Langley attended public school in his boyhood and spent his spare time in the mill and about farm work. He became thoroughly familiar with every department of both lines of work, and after completing his school- ing took up the occupation of farmer, which he has since followed in a pro- gressive and up-to-date manner. He has been very successful in his busi- ness and owns one hundred and fifty acres of fine land, eighty of which he has under a high state of cultivation, and is tilled under his personal super- vision. He is regarded as one of the leading men of Salem county and is quick to advocate and push to completion any project that tends to build up the community. It was through his influence that the old, destructible bridges were displaced by the neat, durable structures of stone, of which the county is justly proud. He is a Democrat in politics and takes an active interest in the success of his party, keeping well posted on all current topics and giving excellent reasons for his views. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Willow Grove, in which he has served as trustee and steward, is a class-leader in their meetings and the able and efficient super- intendent of their Sunday-school.
April 15, 1871, he led to the altar Miss Sally Creamer, a daughter of Jacob Creamer, of Union Grove, who has been to him a faithful and loving wife, sharing his trials and joys and encouraging him by word and example when his path was beset by difficulties. Five children were born to them, namely: Albert F., who married Miss Lethea, a daughter of Jacob Hitch- ner, and has a son, named Ashton Hitchner; Pauline is the next in order of age; then Mrs. Russell, Achsah and George B. The four younger are still living with their parents.
Mr. Langley is one of the most respected and upright men of the county, while his family are prominently connected with the religious and social life of their neighborhood.
BENJAMIN M. FERGUSON.
Benjamin M. Ferguson, a retired business man of Alloway, Salem county, New Jersey, is among the venerated residents of the county and has worked with untiring zeal for the success that has crowned his efforts. He was born in this village September 6, 1828, to William and Mary (Maul) Fer- guson, and has seen great advancement here during his seventy-odd years of life. His grandfather, Joseph F., was a farmer of Upper Alloway town- ship and reared several children, of whom William, the father of our sub- ject, was the youngest and only son. William Ferguson resided at Allo- way Creek and carried on extensive farming operations until his death, at
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the age of seventy-eight years. He was a Democrat and a member of the Alloway Baptist church. He was twice married, his first wife being the mother of five children, viz .: Joseph, deceased, a farmer; Benjamin M .: Smith, a farmer; William and Mary Ann. The mother died in her fifty-fifth year and the father at the more advanced age of seventy-eight.
Benjamin M. Ferguson remained on the farm with his father until he was grown and then became connected with the firm of Reeves & Brothers, ship-builders, working for them as long as they continued in business. His next venture was in the butcher business, which was commenced in a very moderate, unpretentious way, his first delivery of meats being made in a wheelbarrow. He butchered his own meat and was careful in its selection so that his customers might have only the choicest article. His novel man- ner of delivering his goods was continued until a horse and wagon were purchased and the wheelbarrow displaced for the more convenient and modern conveyance. He continued in this business for a period of twenty years and met with a remarkable degree of success. He then ran a stage between Greenwich and Philadelphia and Chesterton and Elkton, a dis- tance of fifty-two miles, and took the contract to carry the mail for four years. His next venture was as the landlord of the Haverford Hotel, at Cape May Court House, which he conducted for five years, when he came to Alloway and for eight years was the popular and obliging landlord of the hotel in this village. This house when he purchased it was known as the American House but is now called the Horsemen's Inn. As a hotel- keeper he was a decided "success" and was in very great favor with his guests and the traveling public. There is nothing so conducive to man's comfort and happiness as well cooked and neatly served food, a fact which was well understood by Mr. Ferguson; and the feasibility of establishing a house where everything is clean, neat and inviting and presided over by pleasant, affable attendants, was proved by the American House receiving the "cream" of the trade. His menu was all that could be desired and most inviting to a hungry person, and the reputation of his hotel soon spread among the traveling men as a resort where they would receive courteous treatment and the best service. In 1896 he disposed of this property and retired from active life, taking possession of his handsome residence in this village. He has extensive timber lands in this county, owning some five hundred acres in Alloway township besides a small farm which is under cultivation.
Mr. Ferguson was married in 1852 to Miss Hannah Donnell, by whom he had one child, Ida W. His second marriage was contracted in 1872, with Mrs. Mary A. Garrison, who died in 1887. He has been a lifelong Demo-
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crat and was named for the assembly in 1877, but was defeated by a small majority. He has been justice of the peace for the past twenty years and still holds that office, the duties of which have been performed in the same careful and conscientious manner as his own business. He is one of those public-spirited citizens who do a town good and his influence and enter- prise have been of inestimable value to Alloway.
V. M. D. MARCY, M. D.
In studying the lives and characters of prominent men we are naturally led to inquire into the secret of their success and the motives that prompted their action. Success is oftener a matter of experience and sound judgment and thorough preparation for a life work than it is of genius, however bright. When we trace the career of those whom the world acknowledges as suc- cessful and of those who stand highest in public esteem, we find that in almost every case they are those who have risen gradually by their own efforts, their diligence and perseverance. These qualities are undoubtedly possessed in a large measure by the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch, and added to these is a devotion to principle that may well be termed the key- note of his character. It is this which commands the confidence and respect so uniformly. given him, and it is this that has secured him his liberal pat- ronage as a member of the medical fraternity of southern New Jersey.
Dr. Virgil Maro Dow Marcy is now a well known practitioner of Cape May, and is numbered among the native sons of Cape May county, his birth having occurred at Cold Spring, January 5, 1823. He is a representative of one of the oldest American families and traces his ancestry back to John Marcy, of whom the first written notice appears in Elliot's Church Record in Roxbury, Massachusetts, as follows: "John Marcy took the Covenant. March 7, 1685." Among his descendants many have gained positions of distinction, including William Larned Marcy, once secretary of state, and governor of New Jersey; General Randolph B. Marcy and Dr. Erastus E. Marcy. John Marcy, the original American ancestor, was the son of the high sheriff of Limerick, Ireland. He was born about the year 1662, and in April, 1686, joined a colony that took possession of Quatosett, now Woodstock. Connecticut. He married Sarah Hadlock, a daughter of James and Sarah (Draper) Hadlock, of Roxbury, Massachusetts. . She was born December 16, 1670, and they spent the greater part of their lives in Woodstock, where John Marcy died December 23, 1724, at the age of sixty-two; his wife May 9, 1743, at the age of seventy-three. They were the parents of eleven children.
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Virgil M.D. Marcy
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James Marcy, their third child, was born in Woodstock, Connecticut, February 26, 1691, and married Judith Ainsworth, who was born January 25, 1722, a daughter of Edward and Joanna (Hemmingway) Ainsworth. His death occurred January 29, 1765.
Of his eight children, Reuben, the third, was the great-grandfather of our subject. He was born in 1732 and married Rachel Watson, of Barring- ton, Rhode Island. As a life work he followed farming in Ashford, Connec- ticut. He had four children, the third being Reuben, Jr., who was born in 1768 and married Hannah Sumner, of Roxbury, Massachusetts. She was born in 1770, and died in Berlin, Connecticut, in 1843. His life was spent as a farmer in Willington, Connecticut, where his death occurred in 1824. They had four sons and four daughters. The sons were: Edward, who died in Will county, Illinois; Samuel Sumner; Matthew, who served as the judge of Cape May county; and William W., who was born in November, 1805, and married Martha Knowlton.
Samuel Sumner Marcy, the father of the Doctor, was born in Willington, Ashford county, Connecticut, about 1798 or '99, obtained his literary edu- cation in the public schools of his native state, and then prepared for the practice of medicine in the office and under the direction of Dr. Palmer, of Ashford, and in Yale College, being graduated in the medical department of that institution about 1820. Throughout his business career he engaged in the practice of his chosen profession and won distinction as one of its most able representatives in southern New Jersey. From 1820 until 1830 he served as a surgeon in the New Jersey militia. He took up his abode in Dennisville, New Jersey, soon after his graduation, afterward removed to Cold Spring. Cape May county, and in 1849 went to Cape May City, where he continued in practice until his death. He held a number of local offices, discharging his duties with marked promptness and fidelity, and his political support was given the Democracy. He was a valued member of the County Medical Society and the State Medical Society, and always kept abreast with the profession in its advancement in various lines of medical research. He died at the advanced age of eighty-nine years, and his wife passed away at the age of sixty.
This worthy couple were the parents of eight children. Virgil M. D. is the eldest. Harriet Matilda married John K. F. Stites, who in early life fol- lowed farming but later became a Sunday-school missionary and traveled throughout New Jersey, organizing Sunday-schools in behalf of the Presby- terian church. He has made his home in Cape May and Camden, and by his marriage he had four children-Samuel, who died in childhood. John, Win- field Scott and Alva Freeman. Martha Maria Coburn became the second
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wife of Rev. Augustus Theodore Dobson, a Presbyterian minister, of Long Island, New York, who afterward removed to Chester, Pennsylvania. They had three children-Augustus T., Jr., and Samuel and Elizabeth, who died in childhood. Sarah Mckean, the fourth of the family, died in childhood. Hannah Elizabeth was the first wife of Rev. Augustus T. Dobson and had two children-William A., who was in the employ of the government for a time and is now a draftsman in the Cramps shipyard, of Philadelphia; and Mattie, the wife of James Hargan. Alexander, the sixth child, died in early boyhood. Alexander (2d), a physician, married Hannah Ann McCray, and they have two children-John W., a member of the medical fraternity, and Mary A. Thriphena Edmunds is the widow of James Gass, who was a merchant, and they had two sons and two daughters, Robert, Samuel S .. Harriet M. and Mary Jane.
Dr. Marcy, whose name introduces this record, was educated in private schools, in Cold Spring and in Berlin, Connecticut, thus gaining a good pre- liminary education. In 1840, when seventeen years of age, he matriculated in Yale College and was graduated with the class of 1844. He was a mem- ber of the Phi Beta Kappa, an honorary society to which only about one- third of the class was eligible. He received the degree of Bachelor of Arts upon his graduation, and two years later the degree of Master of Arts was conferred upon him. He prepared for the medical profession within the classic walls of his alma mater and in the University of Maryland, at Balti- more, and after his graduation in the latter institution, in 1846, he located in Gloucester county, Virginia, where he engaged in practice for three years. On the expiration of that period he returned to Cold Spring to become his father's successor and in 1849 the father removed to Cape May, where they continued practice together until 1876, when the father retired. Dr. Virgil Marcy has since been alone, and for many years he has occupied a position of marked prestige among the representatives of the medical fraternity in this part of the state. He is also engaged in the drug business in connection with his practice, and finds it a profitable source of income. He is a member of the County and State Medical Societies, and is a physician of rare skill and ability, whose large practice is an indication of the position which he occupies in the public confidence and regard.
On the 19th of November, 1848, Dr. Marcy was united in marriage to Miss Mary Jane, a daughter of Abraham Bennett, who was a seafaring man and a pilot. Seven children have been born of their union: Samuel Sum- ner, who is engaged in the drug business, wedded Mary Moody, and they have two children, Samuel Sumner and Martha Grant. Henry Bennett, a farmer and stock dealer, married Jennie Alzina Walter, and they have three
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children,-Virgil M. D., who is named for his grandfather, Fred W. and Martha D., besides Frederick Avery, who died in childhood. Sarah Ben- nett is the wife of William H. Nelson, a grocer, of Chester, Pennsylvania, and they have had five children,-Joseph, Jennie, deceased, Mary, William Henry and Marguerite. Alexander studied medicine with his father and also in the University of Pennsylvania, where he was graduated. He is now en- gaged in practice in Riverton, New Jersey. He married Mary Ann Marcy, and their children are Alexander, deceased: Alexander, the second of the name, also deceased; Hannah A., Margery and Reuben Sumner. Jennie is the wife of James E. Taylor, and they have two children,-Mary Marcy and Logan B. Alvin Parker married Lizzie Fox and is a machinist in the Pavonia Car Shops, in Camden, New Jersey; his children are Sallie, Benja- min, Margaret, Virgil and Alexander; the home of the family is in Roseville. New Jersey. Fred Williamson, the youngest, studied medicine in the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania, and is now practicing in Camden, New Jersey.
In his political views Dr. V. M. D. Marcy has always been a stanch Demo- crat, unswerving in the principles of his party. He has served as township clerk, but has never been an aspirant for official honors, preferring to devote his time and energies to his professional duties and the enjoyments of social life. He is a valued and exemplary member of the Masonic fraternity and for eleven consecutive years was master of his lodge. He is a man of strong personality, self-contained, with a quiet and persistent determination that overcomes obstacles and makes possible the attaining of the desired goal. In manner he is at once genial and kindly, yet bearing the impress of that dignity which is noticeable in men who feel that they have an important life work to perform and who are exerting their best energies to that end. He is admired throughout the country, has won respect among the medical pro- fession of the state and has made many warm personal friends at home and abroad.
HARRY T. FORD.
This well-known and popular citizen of Swedesboro, who succeeded his father, George T. Ford, as the landlord and proprietor of Ford's Hotel. was born in the hotel January 20, 1872. He attended the public schools in his boyhood, later became a pupil in Miss Halsey's private school at Swedesboro, and completed his education in Dixon College. at Carlisle, Pennsylvania. On his return home he became his father's assistant in the hotel, and also attended to the business of the farm. Mr. Ford is thoroughly familiar with all the details of hotel management, and, being naturally en-
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dowed with a fine physique and a genial, obliging disposition, he makes an ideal landlord, as is attested by the high regard in which the Ford House is held by the traveling public and the people in general of southern New Jersey. For a short time he conducted a livery, sale and exchange stable in connection with the hotel, and being a great admirer of fine horses, he generally has one or two on hand which are good traders and "will take no man's dust."
Mr. Ford was married September 19, 1894, to Wilhelmina C. Rode, a daughter of William Rode, of Swedesboro. They have one child, Helen Thompson. Mr. Ford is a Republican in his political views, and takes an interest in local affairs, but does not aspire to be a politician in the ordinary acceptation of the term. He attends strictly to business, and his friends predict for him success in whatever enterprise he may undertake. He does not belong to any fraternity, with the exception of the Heptasophs.
In this connection it may be interesting to note something of the family history of Mr. Ford. His father, George T. Ford, was a son of Thomas and Rebecca (Paul) Ford, and was for many years engaged in farming and butchering at Paulsboro, and later at Swedesboro. In 1869 he purchased the hotel at the latter place, and in 1875 rebuilt and refitted it. He was one of the leading citizens and most highly respected men of the community, and served his county as a member of the Board of Freeholders. He died October 29, 1893, at the age of sixty-eight years. He was married three times, his sec- ond wife, Elizabeth Miller, being the mother of our subject. Mary M. Ford. a sister of Harry T., is the wife of Dr. Oliver Grimshaw, of Swedesboro. whose sketch will be found on another page.
JOHN. T. FRENCH.
Investigation into the history of many of the most prominent men of the country will show that they have risen from lowly position; that mer- chant princes of our land once occupied humble clerkships; that the man- agers of our leading industries began their career as apprentices at a trade which now annually returns to them thousands of dollars, etc. The possi- bility of advancement which our country offers to her ambitious young men is her crowning glory. Here individuality has full scope and success offers its rewards in return for continued and honorable effort. Mr. French is one who has worthily gained the proud American title of a self-made man. and to-day he is accounted one of the leading business representatives of At- lantic county, being extensively engaged in the manufacture of paints in Hammonton, where he is also proprietor of the Hotel Royal.
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A native of the neighboring state of Pennsylvania, he was born in Dela- ware county, March 2, 1851, and is a son of William W. and Ann (Airy) French. The father was born in Philadelphia, but removed to Trenton, New Jersey, and was a representative of an old French family of this state who came to New Jersey early in the seventeenth century, his birth occurring in 18II, and after attaining to years of maturity married Miss Airy, who was born in Bordentown, New Jersey, in 1815, and died in 1864. The father's death occurred in October, 1897. The religious faith of the family was that of the Society of Friends, and different male representatives of the name possess superior mechanical genius.
John T. French is one of eleven children, six of whom yet survive. He spent his early boyhood days on his father's farm, and at the age of twelve years began working for wages, being employed as a farm hand till he began learning the painter's trade, completing his apprenticeship in 1867. He then commenced work as a journeyman painter, being an expert grainer, was eventually made a master painter, and to him was given all the responsible and particular work intrusted to his firm. This brought him excellent wages and eventually enabled him to engage in business on his own account. He took up his abode in Hammonton in 1877 and engaged in the painting business under contract for five years, taking large contracts and receiv- ing an extensive patronage. In 1882 he became a manufacturer of paints, erecting a factory forty by thirty feet. He commenced operations on a small scale, expecting only to supply his own wants in that direction and to sell to some extent in his locality, but from the beginning the business in- creased and in course of time he was forced to enlarge his capacity in order to meet the growing demands of the trade. His sales now amount to fifty thousand dollars annually and the output is shipped to all sections of the country. The plant is controlled and managed by himself and his sons, all of whom are practical manufacturers. The quality of their goods is unsur- passed, and this, combined with their honorable dealing, has secured to them a very large trade. Mr. French also does a large contracting business in furnishing paints, not only in New Jersey but also in Philadelphia and other points in that state. He also owned and operated a store in Atlantic City for four years and there sold large quantities of his paint. The methods of manufacture which he follows are equal to any in the country, and his business has assumed extensive proportions, bringing to him handsome financial returns.
Mr. French has erected a number of buildings in the town and thus con- tributed to the upbuilding and improvement of the place. In 1897 he erected the Hotel Royal, the finest hotel between Camden and Atlantic
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City. It was built with special regard to sanitary arrangements, being well ventilated and lighted and equipped with all the modern improvements and accessories. It is personally conducted by Mr. French and is one of the favorite resorts with the traveling public in this section of the state.
In 1872 occurred the marriage of Mr. French and Miss Jennie R. Alex- ander, a daughter of William and Amanda (Morgan) Alexander. They have five children living: John T., who is associated with his father in business; Ida F., Mrs. Wilson S. Turner; Howard C., Walter and Wilbert.
In his political views Mr. French is a Democrat and for twenty years has taken an active part in promoting the interests of that organization. He was a member of the county commissioners for many years, has served as a member of the city council, as assessor and as a member of the county board of elections. He is now a member of the Democratic state central commit- tee from Atlantic county and has frequently been a delegate to the state, county and congressional conventions, where his counsel carried weight. During President Cleveland's second administration he served as post- master, and at all times has labored earnestly and patriotically to advance the welfare of the party which he believes contains the best elements of good government. Socially he is a representative of the N. G. Taylor Lodge, No. 141, F. & A. M .; Winslow Lodge, No. 40, I. O. O. F .; the Improved Order of Red Men, and Hammonton Council, of the Artisans' Mutual Pro- tective Association. He is a man of broad humanitarian principles, to whom the cause of justice and right appeal very strongly, while oppression and wrong receives his earnest condemnation. In manner he is kindly and al- ways willing to aid those who are willing to help themselves. Charitable and benevolent, he gives generously but unostentatiously to those in need. and his social qualities are such as to win him friends wherever he goes.
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