USA > New Jersey > Biographical, genealogical and descriptive history of the first congressional district of New Jersey, Volume I > Part 54
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SAMUEL SALISBURY.
Samuel Salisbury, a retired farmer living in Swedesboro, was born on the farm near Pedrickston, in Logan township, Salem county, March 12, 1844. and his parents were Samuel and Elizabeth (Stansbury) Salisbury. The fam- ily was of English lineage and was founded in America by the great-grand- father of our subject. who left his native England and crossed the Atlantic to the New World, taking up his abode in Woodstown, New Jersey, at an early period in the development of this state. He had two children, Joseph and Samuel. The former was for many years engaged in agricultural pursuits in Woolwich township, Gloucester county, where his death occurred. He married Miss Hannah Noble, a daughter of William Noble, who was of Irish
Samuel Salisbury
.
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extraction, and they have the following children: Benjamin; Joseph; Samuel; Charles; Noble; Sarah, the wife of Samuel Leap; Hannah, the wife of John G. Smith; and Caroline, the wife of Joseph Gamble.
Of this family Samuel Salisbury was married in 1838, to Miss Elizabeth Stansbury, a daughter of James and Sarah Stansbury, by whom he had seven children: Hannah and Elizabeth, both deceased; Samuel of this review; Benjamin, who has passed away; Charles, who resides in Paulsboro, New Jersey; Kate, the wife of the Hon. Harry Londenslager, of Paulsboro; Melis- sa, deceased, in her life-time the wife of Frank Green; and Caddie, who died at the age of two years. The mother of these children was called to her final rest in 1862, and in 1865 Mr. Salisbury was again married, his second union being with Miss Susanna W. Egee, who died in 1876. He was married in 1883 to Mrs. Maria Nolan, who is still living. Though left an orphan at an early age, Mr. Salisbury overcame all the difficulties and obstacles in his path and worked his way upward to success, becoming a prosperous agricul- turist. In 1856 he purchased a farm which he operated until 1880, when he retired from active life. He died in Paulsboro in 1886, at the age of sev- enty-three years, and in his death the community lost one of its valued citi- zens. In his political affiliations he was a Democrat and held several town- ship offices, discharging his duty in a most capable manner. Both he and his wife were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church and were people of the highest respectability.
Samuel Salisbury was educated in the public schools of Paulsboro and assisted his father on the home farm until 1868, when he began farming on his own account. He engaged in the operation of a farm for Henry Allen, his father-in-law, between the years 1874 and 1880, and at the latter date purchased a tract of land a mile north of Swedesboro on the Woodbury pike. There he remained until 1891, when he removed to Swedesboro and erected his present beautiful residence.
On the 23d of March, 1880, Mr. Salisbury was united in marriage to Miss Maria F. Allen, a daughter of Henry and Catherine (Fish) Allen, of Cloumell. They have had two children: Henry A., who is now a student in Bucknell Uni- versity, and Samuel S., who died at the age of five years. Mr. Salisbury is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and his wife belongs to the Protestant Episcopal church. In politics he is a Democrat, but has never been an aspirant for political honors or emoluments. He is a man of strict integrity, well and favorably known in Gloucester county, and his life illustrates what can be accomplished through determined effort, perseverance and good management. Such men form the bulwark of the nation.
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R. J. BYRNES.
The marvellous growth of Hammonton, New Jersey, largely stands as a monument to the enterprise and progressive spirit of Judge R. J. Byrnes; for through his efforts in its behalf its commercial and industrial interests have been advanced and many measures for the public good have been pro- moted. Gratitude is certainly due to the man who gives of his means to adorn and beautify a locality, and he may well be termed a benefactor who promotes business activity, for thereon rests the happiness and well-being of the people. No name is more inseparably associated with the growth and substantial development of Hammonton than that of Judge Byrnes, and his life history is certainly an interesting one, for it exemplifies the truth of the statement that success is not a matter of genius, but is the outcome of the faithful pursuit of a laudable purpose.
He was born in Philadelphia, on the 22d of February, 1830. His ma- ternal grandfather, Robert Fleming, the emigrant, on crossing the Atlantic to America, took up his abode in Trenton, New Jersey, where he worked at the cabinet-maker's trade. His wife was a native of Philadelphia and his daughter Sarah was the mother of the Judge. The father of Judge Byrnes was for many years a clerk in a bank in Philadelphia, owned by Stephen Girard. He assisted in the survey made for the Girard College of that city and superintended his employer's commercial interests, but gave his time mostly to the banking business.
Judge Byrnes attended the grammar schools of his native place, but at the age of ten years entered the office of the Pennsylvania Freeman, a publishing house in Curtis alley conducted by Merrihew and Thompson. At that early age he assisted in reading proof for John G. Whittier, who was publishing a number of his poems. Subsequently our subject attended the St. Augustus schools, entering the preparatory for orders in the Catholic church, but abandoning that plan he was graduated in the Philadelphia high school, at the age of sixteen years, and then entered a law office, devoting his time to the mastering of jurisprudence. At a later date he secured a position in the Mechanics' Bank of Philadelphia, and while in that institu- tion he served as individual and general bookkeeper, as discount clerk and teller, winning promotion to the last named position within six years. At the expiration of that period he entered into partnership with C. K. Landis in the real-estate business and also became a stock and note broker of Phila- delphia. While thus engaged he purchased extensive tracts of land in At- lantic, Burlington and Camden counties belonging to the Richard, Cooper, Charlotte Cushman and other estates. In 1858 he turned his attention to
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the development of the towns of Hammonton and other places, and the progress therein made is largely due to his efforts.
On the Ist of March, 1879, he was appointed by Governor Beadle to the position of judge of the court of common pleas of Atlantic county, and by three consecutive appointments he was continued in that office for the long period of twenty consecutive years. In 1870, on the organization of the Hammonton Building & Loan Association, he was made the president, and still fills that office. He is also the president of the People's Bank of Ham- monton, which he was instrumental in organizing, and for which he has acted as the head since its formation. He is the secretary of the Hammonton Cranberry & Improvement Association, and was one of the founders of the electric-light plant. His business interests have been varied and extensive, yet under his able control they have been successfully carried forward.
Judge Byrnes was married in Newburyport, Massachusetts, in 1869, to Miss Fannie G. Atkinson, a native of Boston, and they have an extensive acquaintance. Judge Byrnes is a man of strong individuality and intellect- uality, and on account of his broad general knowledge is numbered among the scholarly men of the state. He has been and is in control of extensive business interests which in their management demand commercial ability and executive force. He displays keen discrimination in dealing with his fellow men and in carrying on these enterprises, and to-day he occupies an eminent place as a leader of commercial interests. His reputation is unassailable, for in the conduct of his extensive affairs he has ever manifested the most marked loyalty to the principles of justice and integrity.
EDWARD WADDINGTON.
This leading citizen and prominent farmer of Elsinboro township was born in this township March 23, 1839, a son of Richard and Mary Ann (Bowen) Waddington. He was reared on a farm and received his education in the public schools of his native township and of Salem. Continuing in the line of his early training, he has always pursued the vocation of farming and has occupied the farm on which he now resides since 1864. He has a well- tilled farm of one hundred acres, keeps a large dairy and does a general farm- ing business. Mr. Waddington is a Democrat in his political views, has been a member of the township committee and is now a trustee of the county almshouse.
In February, 1864, he was married to Mary, daughter of Daniel Hood. of Cumberland county. Mrs. Waddington died July 4, 1888. They had five children: Harry, born October 17, 1864, is a live-stock dealer; Anna K.,
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born September 12, 1866, died November 11, 1890; Phebe H., born July 27, 1869, married Joseph English, of Mannington township, by whom she has one child, Edward Waddington English; Rachel Butcher, born March 5, 1876, died in infancy; and Mary Ann, born May 25, 1882.
H. D. BECKETT.
H. D. Beckett, the chief engineer at Moore Brothers' glass works, at Clayton, New Jersey, forms the subject of this memoir. Mr. Beckett's father's name was William F. Beckett, and his father's name was Johnson Beckett. Much connected with the history of the Beckett family appears in the sketch of Postmaster R. T. Beckett, which will be found in this volume; hence need not be repeated here.
Our subject was born in Glassboro, New Jersey, March 28, 1853. After he had attended the common school and while looking about for something in which to engage for a livelihood, the civil-war cloud made its dark and horrifying appearance in the sky of our Union, and good young men were demanded; hence it was that our subject entered the Twenty-fourth New Jersey Volunteers, enlisting in September, 1861. He was in the Second Army Corps, the Army of the Potomac, and under General French. He saw hard service and was discharged after ten months. He re-enlisted, how- ever, in February, 1864, in the Ninth New Jersey, and was with Sherman on his famous march "to the sea." He remained in the army, after peace had been declared, to gather up the arms, etc., and was finally honorably dis- charged July 29, 1865. Upon his return he immediately went into the em- ploy of Moore Brothers as a carpenter; later he became the chief carpenter, and finally became the chief engineer, and now has charge of the works, power and buildings.
With reference to his private life, let it be said that he is liberal toward the churches and is a member of the Knights of Pythias order and the Grand Army of the Republic. He has been commander of the latter. He was united in marriage to Hannah Hand in the month of January, 1867. Carl D. is their only child. Mrs. Beckett's father was the first postmaster and station agent at Clayton.
Mr. Beckett has ever been a loyal, true citizen and may justly be proud of the part he took, and the sacrifice he made, that the union of states might be preserved. He begrudges not such service, but does not care to go through those long and weary marches again, or even to know that any American will be compelled to do as he, with hundreds of thousands of the brave men, did from 1861 to 1865.
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B. V. VAN HORN.
One of the leading representatives of the building interests of Wildwood is B. V. Van Horn, whose extensive business has contributed largely to the material development of the town in which he makes his home. He is a man of marked enterprise, executive force, sound judgment and keen discernment, and these qualities have gained him a position among the substantial citizens of Cape May county.
Mr. Van Horn is one of the native sons of the Empire state, his birth hav- ing occurred in Sing Sing, New York, March 1, 1861, and his parents being David and Mary L. (Atchison) Van Horn. The paternal grandfather, Berger Vandervetter Van Horn, resided in Sing Sing and was a wheelwright by trade, but in the latter part of his life he engaged in the manufacture of hand- sleds. His political support was given to the Republican party. He was twice married, and by his second union has several children, but David Van Horn was the only child by the first marriage. The grandfather died at the age of seventy-seven years. David Van Horn was born in Sing Sing and obtained his education in the Military Academy at that place. In early life he engaged in the bakery business at Haverstraw, New York, and then learned the trade of manufacturing pianos, but did not follow it, devoting his energies to contracting and building. He died in Portland, Oregon, while selling pianos on the Pacific coast, his death occurring when he had reached the age of fifty-nine years. His wife passed away when fifty-three years of age. In their family were six children: George T. Hutchinson, deceased; B. V .; Virginia, the wife of H. L. Woolcott, a druggist of Philadelphia; Mae E., the wife of Rev. Eldredge, a Baptist clergyman of Hatboro, Pennsyl- vania, by whom she has one child, Raymond; David Mellville, a carpenter and builder of Providence, Rhode Island, who married Ida Van Horn, and had a daughter, Victoria Virginia; and Katie, who died at the age of eighteen months.
Mr. Van Horn, of this review, obtained his education in the public schools, pursuing his studies at the high school of Vineland, New Jersey. At the age of eighteen he put aside his text-books to take up the duties of the farm, and later he learned the carpenter's trade. He then engaged in con- tracting and building in Vineland, New Jersey, for seven years, and in 1890 came to Wildwood, since which time he has erected two-thirds of the build- ings in this place. Among the structures which stand as monuments to his skill and enterprise are the Marine Hall Hotel, the Aetna Hotel, Edgerton Inn, the Ryan store buildings, the Trenton boarding house, Cedar Craft, The Pines and the Baptist church. He employs fifteen men through the summer
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season and ten men throughout the winter, and now has six residences under contract. He erected the largest private residences in the place,-a palatial home of twenty-two rooms located at the corner of Pacific and Pine streets, and constructed on architectural plans of his own design. Mr. Van Horn is also engaged in the plumbing business and in lumber and mill work, own- ing and conducting a lumber-yard at Wildwood. He is a member of the Laborers' & Mechanics' Building & Loan Association and is a man of re- sourceful business ability. who carries forward to successful completion what- ever he undertakes.
In July, 1889, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Van Horn and Miss Ella, daughter of Christian and Ella (Eilenburg) Kemmerer, of Vineland, New Jersey, where her father is now living retired. Mr. and Mrs. Van Horn have two children,-Pauline Virginia and Stella Marguereta.
Mr. Van Horn has been quite actively connected with the varied social and public interests of southern New Jersey. He gives his political support to the Republican party, has served as collector of Wildwood, was treasurer for three years and was assessor for three years. He holds membership in the Hoba Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Vineland, is a member and foreman of the Wildwood Hook and Ladder Company, and for six years was a member of Company K, Sixth Regiment, New Jersey National Guards, and also belongs to the First Baptist church and is one of its trustees. His life has been a busy and useful one, in which fidelity to duty, honorable dealing and inde- fatigable energy have won him gratifying success and gained him the respect of all with whom he has come in contact.
JOHN RACHOR, JR.
John Rachor is the proprietor of the Newton House at Woodbury, one of the most noted hostelries of southern New Jersey, and to the traveling public he is widely and favorably known. Not only does he possess the business ability which enables him to successfully conduct his enterprise, but has a genial, courteous mien which everywhere wins him consideration and regard and has gained for him many warm friends.
A native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Mr. Rachor was born July 20, 1859, and is a son of John Rachor, who is now and has been for thirty-four years a resident of Woodbury, where during the greater part of the time he has been engaged in the grocery business. He is a native of Germany and is an enterprising, progressive citizen, loyally devoted to the best interests
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of his adopted land. His son John was a lad of seven summers when he ac- companied his father to Woodbury, where he was reared to manhood, attend- ing the schools of the city. At an early age he learned the barber's trade, which he successfully followed for many years, and to-day a first-class tonsorial parlor is conducted in connection with the Newton House. In 1890 he secured a hotel license, the only third license ever granted in Woodbury. He established a hotel in South Woodbury and managed the same until 1891, when he purchased the Newton House from M. W. Newton, manag- ing the same until 1897, when he sold it to the former owner. In 1899 he again became its proprietor and its now successfully conducting the hotel, giving all of his time to its management. He strives earnestly to please his patrons, and his well appointed establishment has found favor with the trav- eling public. (See further sketch after the close of this biography.)
Mr. Rachor is a leading citizen of Woodbury, well liked and highly respected for his able management of the hotel.
THE NEWTON HOUSE.
The Newton House is one of the old historic hotels in southern New Jersey, having been built more than a century ago. It was then of a very advanced style of architecture, but the de- sign now has a quaintness and antiquity that renders the place one of the pictur- esque portions of Woodbury. It has been owned and managed by many leading hotel men, and in the early days when stages were the means of transportation and railroads had not then been built, the !ALL Newton House was a famous stage station. The hotel is always kept in good repair and its furnishings are modern and taste- ful. It contains fifty-five rooms, which are large and conveniently arranged and THE NEWTON HOUSE. everything about the place is conducted with a view to the comfort of the guests. For fourteen years the hotel was owned by M. W. Newton, who sold it to the present proprietor, Mr. Rachor. Mr. Newton is now the owner of the well known Green's Hotel, in Philadel- phia. The clerk of the Newton House is Major Charles F. Salkeld, one of the best known hotel men in the country, having been connected with lead- ing hotels in various parts of the United States, including the Grand Pacific
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of Chicago and a number of leading hotels in Philadelphia and New York city. He was a, soldier in the war of the Rebellion and served his country well as a member of the Third New Jersey Infantry.
William O. Williams, who for over twenty years has been in charge of the bar, is also well known in connection with the hotel business. He is a man of gentlemanly demeanor and has many friends. The Newton House is certainly one of the most popular in southern New Jersey, and well deserved is the prosperity which is enjoyed by the proprietor, Mr. Rachor.
In politics he is independent. Socially he is a Mason, has taken the various degrees of the order and is a member of Lulu Temple of the Mystic ยท Shrine, of Philadelphia. He also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Woodbury, to the encampment of the same organization, to the Knights of Pythias fraternity and to the Improved Order of Red Men. He is also a member of the Republican Club.
Mr. Rachor was united in marriage to Miss Schowenland, of Mantow, near Woodbury, and they have a daughter who is now a student at St. Mary's Hall, in Burlington, New Jersey. They attend the Presbyterian church and have a wide acquaintance in Woodbury, where they enjoy the hospitality of many of the best homes.
THE GOFF FAMILY.
The name of Goff has long been known in Cape May county in connec- tion with the business interests and public enterprises which have formed the history of the community. The first of the name of whom we have record was David Goff, and his wife was Mary Goff. Among their children were John, who wedded Rhoda Corson; Daniel, who married Sarah Bishop; Sus- thena, who became a minister and died in early manhood; William, who went west; and David.
The last named was the grandfather of Mrs. Bishop. He was born at Tuckahoe, New Jersey, October 22, 1776, made farming his life work and was also a local minister of the Methodist Episcopal church of Tuckahoe, and he spent his last days at Eldora. His wife bore the maiden name of Ellen Corson, and their children were: David, who followed farming at Eldora, Cape May county, married Rebecca McCarty, and their daughter Sarah married Joseph Powell, of Eldora, by whom she had four children,- Franklin, Rachel, Rebecca and Anna. David Goff married Abigail Stites, who had one child, Emma Dawson. Samuel, now deceased, married Deborah
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Smith and their children were Willis, Achsah, Adelia, Walter, Harriet, Ella, Howard and Deborah. . He was a carpenter and builder by trade. Ashbury, a farmer, married Henrietta Christian and had five children: Mary, the wife of Walton Grace; Isaiah, who married Lucinda Bishop; David E., who mar- ried Lizzie Town. Stacy, a teacher, married Martha Goff. Walter, a contractor and builder, married Emeline Swing, of Fairton, New Jersey, and their children were Louisa, who married Dr. Bateman; Harriet, who married Horace Van Dorn, of Red Bank; Julia, the wife of Lloyd Smith; Charles, William and George. James, a farmer, mar- ried Sarah McKaig and had five children,-Ephraim, Garner, Harry, Rebecca and Jennie. Caroline became the wife of William Christian, by whom she had three children,-Elizabeth, David and Charles. Lydia, the youngest of the family, became the wife of Charles Crawford, a sea captain, and both are now deceased. Judge Goff was the eldest, and David next, whose father was David.
In the family of David Goff were the following children: Judge Joseph Goff, who wedded Hannah Stevenson, lived at Eldora, was a farmer by occupation and also served as judge and justice of the peace. His children were Ellen, the wife of David Pearson; Lydia, the wife of Charles Crawford; Phoebe, the wife of James Hand; William, who wedded Anna Zilla Steelman; Charles, who married Hannah Hummell; Elbridge, who married Sarah God- frey; Edward, who married Kate Elmer; and Eli, who married Catherine Chambers. William, the next of the family, married Margaret Wilson first and afterward Martha Nicholson, and followed blacksmithing in Eldora. He had three children: Ruth, who became the wife of James Randolph and had two children,-Albert and Ida,-the latter a teacher; Joseph, who married Eliza Perry and had three daughters,-Martha, Ellen and Eliza; and Rich- ard, who married Eliza Elliott at Bryn Mawr and had three children,- Gertrude, Louis and Ethel. Rachel, the third of the family, became the wife of Walter Spicer, a teacher who resided at Tuckahoe. John was the youngest of that family.
John Goff was born at Eldora, October 31, 1807, pursued his education in Eldora and learned the blacksmith's trade at Woodbury, New Jersey. He followed that pursuit until seventy-five years of age and also carried on farm- ing until ninety years of age. He lived for many years at Chew's Landing, Gloucester county, but after his marriage removed to Eldora, where he pur- chased a farm and carried on agricultural pursuits and blacksmithing. He also dealt in wood. Although very young at the time of the war of 1812, he can remember many incidents concerning the struggle, recollecting how on one occasion he climbed a tree to get a glimpse of the firing on Delaware
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bay. He married Hannah Eldridge and their children were: Deborah, the eldest, became the wife of Thomas Roberts, of Philadelphia, and they had four children, William, Walter, John and Maybella. Matilda, the second, never married. Margaret became the wife of Eleazer Crawford, a merchant of Dennisville, and they had three children,-Irene, Margaret and Eleazer. Susan never married. Hester Ann became the wife of Ludlam Hand, a merchant at Cape May Court House. They had three children,-Dr. L. L. Hand, Ray E. and Helen L. Harriet became the wife of Captain Herbert Carroll and had five children,-Maurice, Paul, Louis, Helen and J. Herbert. Rae Ellen was married in 1875 to Samuel Bishop, a merchant and farmer of Eldora, and they have one daughter, Lulu Lee. William E. married Eliza- beth Garrison, by whom he had two children,-Sarah and William,-and after her death he married Kate Barley, by whom he had two children,- Hannah and Jacob. He is a ship broker and resides in Philadelphia.
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