USA > New Jersey > Biographical, genealogical and descriptive history of the first congressional district of New Jersey, Volume II > Part 17
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64
152
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE FIRST
GEORGE HORNER.
The idea was once popular that any one could farm successfully. This theory was long ago exploded, however. Good farmers are "born and not made" as truly as any other class of workers; and if it is true that special and technical knowledge and training are essential to the professional man, it is no less true that they are indispensable to the farmer, and the farmer who makes farming pay should be perhaps dignified with the appellation of professional farmer. South Jersey has been a great agricultural university, in which good farmers have been graduated during many successive genera- tions. It is to detail something of the busy career of one of these that this brief sketch of the life of George Horner, of Woodstown, is here incor- porated.
George Horner is a native of Harrison, formerly Woolwich, township, Gloucester county, New Jersey, and was born June 22, 1825. His parents, Elijah and Elizabeth (Coles) Horner, were natives and lifelong residents of Gloucester county. Elijah Horner was born in 1790, and died in 1872, at the age of eighty-two years. His father, George Horner, was also born in Gloucester county, in 1764, and died in 1847. Thomas Coles, the maternal grandfather, was prominent in his native county as a farmer, a mill-owner and influential citizen of Harrisonville. Elijah Horner was an extensive farmer and owner of considerable real estate. Elizabeth (Coles) Horner died at the age of eighty-six years. The following facts concerning her children will be found interesting in this connection: Susan is dead, as are also Martha, who married Robert Kirkbride; and Caroline, who married Samuel Gaunt. Alice is the widow of Joseph Harker. Eliza is dead. George is the immediate subject of this sketch. Mary Ann married Jacob Kirby. Elma, who is deceased, was the wife of Chalkley Duell.
The education of George Horner was acquired in the common schools near his home and his early employment was upon his father's farm, where he gained a practical knowledge of agriculture. His first undertaking on his own account was in the spring of 1847, when he rented the farm of Jacob Moore for one year. In 1848 he returned to his father's farm, which he con- trolled three years under lease. In 1851 he leased another of his father's farms for six years, and in 1857 he bought a farm of one hundred and thirteen acres in Harrison township. He sold this place soon afterward, however, and bought another, containing two hundred acres, in the same township, which he operated until 1891 and which he still owns.
Mr. Horner was a successful farmer, who loved the soil which yielded up its wealth to him under his scientific farming and added honor to a pursuit
I53
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY.
ancient and through all ages useful and praiseworthy. To farming he ap- plied the same good judgment. the same degree of special knowledge and the same measure of application and perseverance which would have been essential to his success in any other field of human endeavor. When he gave up active life he removed to Woodstown and took a prominent place in a coterie of retired farmers who rank with the very best citizens of Salem county. He has taken an interest in the affairs of Woodstown, and his public spirit was recognized in his being elected a member of the borough council. He is a member of the Friends' meeting of Woodstown, and in all relations of citizenship is characteristically liberal and helpful.
In 1847 Mr. Horner married Hannah Moore, daughter of Asa Moore, a prominent farmer and politician of Gloucester county. Mrs. Moore, who died in 1858, aged twenty-seven, had two sons,-Asa and Elijah, the latter being deceased. Asa is a resident of Colorado. In 1860 Mr. Horner married Hannah Lippincott, a daughter of Samuel Lippincott, who married Lydia Iredell, and was a well known citizen of Woodbury, New Jersey, where he died in 1887. Hannah (Lippincott) Horner bore her husband a son, Frank- lin Horner, and died in 1863, at the age of thirty-one years. In 1865 Mr. Horner married his present wife, who was the daughter of John and Mary Ann (Garrett) Kirk, late of Delaware county, Pennsylvania, and she bore him the following children: George, Jr., Mary Kirk, Lewis D. and Elma. Dr. Lewis D. Horner was born at Harrisonville, Gloucester county, May I, 1872, was educated in the public schools, at the West Chester, Pennsylvania, Normal School, and was graduated in veterinary medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, June 9, 1898. He is now practicing his profession at Woodstown with signal success.
HORACE P. STRICKLAND.
At an early period in the development of New Jersey Samuel Strickland, the grandfather of our subject, became a resident of Burlington county, and Samuel Strickland, the father of Horace, was a native of that county. Hav- ing arrived at years of maturity he chose as a helpmeet and companion on the journey of life Miss Abigail Smith, who was born in Swedesboro, and they became the parents of four children: John, the eldest, was an engineer and for many years served in that capacity on the "Ed Forest," running between Philadelphia and Trenton; later he purchased a home in Repaupo, where he died when about seventy years of age; Anna resides with her brother, Horace; Charles, a tailor by trade, died in Camden, at the age of
I54 .
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE FIRST
twenty-three years; and Horace Pennington completes the family. The last named pursued his studies in the public schools of Berkley, New Jersey, where he spent his time until twelve years of age. In starting out upon his business career he worked as a farm hand by the month and later engaged in gardening. Since 1869 he has rented his present farm and is now quite extensively engaged in producing garden vegetables, for which he finds a ready sale in the city markets. He was born in Morristown, on the 21st of June, 1841, and in early life came to Gloucester county.
In 1871 Mr. Strickland was united in marriage to Miss Mary Brewer, a daughter of Ivans Brewer, by whom he has three children: Melissa, the wife of Louis Sharp, of Bridgeport, by whom he has a daughter, Ethel; and Ada and Sarah, who are under the parental roof. Mr. Strickland exercises his right of franchise in the support of the men and measures of the Republican party, but has never sought official return therefor. His life is in a manner quiet and uneventful, as is that of most of our representative American citizens, for, giving their attention exclusively to business, they are slightly connected with the events which form sensational paragraphs for the news- papers. It is the reliable business men, however, who form the bulwark of the nation and who deserve to be mentioned in the pages of history.
RUFUS W. SMITH.
Every community is the better for having in its midst men of recog- nized business ability who attract trade and make friends in a legitimate way, thus building up the commerce of all while they are looking after their own interests; and Elmer, Salem county, New Jersey, is especially fortunate in this respect, as the gentleman whose sketch it is our pleasure here to present not only is a wide-awake, energetic business man who pushed his own business to the fullest, but is also a large-hearted and public-spirited citizen, and is equally energetic in advancing the interests of the village and thereby the surrounding country. Rufus W. Smith, the leading dealer in agricultural implements, coal, feed, etc., in this part of New Jersey, is a product of the village of whom the citizens are justly proud, and lives in the same house in which he was born, April 9, 1858, and occupies the room in which not only he but his children as well were introduced to this mundane sphere. His father was David V. M. Smith, a son of John Smith, who came from England and settled near Shirley, this county.
David V. M. Smith was a blacksmith by trade and settled in Elmer in 1852, opening a blacksmith shop and carrying all kinds of farm implements
Mutuelle Smith
I55
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY.
for sale. He married Miss Elizabeth Heighton, whose father was a prom- inent editor of Philadelphia and a speaker of considerable ability. Mrs. Smith is now in her seventy-second year and has had three children, two of whom are living: Anna, the wife of John J. Burleigh, of Merchantville, Camden county, this state; and Rufus W. Mrs. Smith was put in charge of the post-office when her husband entered the army and in connection with it conducted a small store. Mr. Smith was postmaster at the time of the civil contest and was exempt from draft, but he was patriotic and felt that his country needed him in the ranks. Accordingly he enlisted in the Twelfth New Jersey Volunteers and went forth to do battle for the cause of freedom. He was wounded at the battle of Gettysburg and laid down his life for the cause he loved,-not dying amidst friends and family, but meeting a soldier's death in the midst of war.
Rufus W. Smith attended the public schools when a lad and as soon as he was old enough assisted his widowed mother in the store and post- office. He continued this until about 1885, when he began business for himself, opening a small stock of coal, seed and feed in a building now replaced by his large agricultural depot. He has pushed his business to the front and in a few years after he began showed his competitors that he was there to stay. He has added to his original stock a complete line of agricultural implements of all descriptions, and it is an unusual thing for him to fail to supply any article in his line when called for. From doing a local business he has extended his trade out to the surrounding country and now has the largest business in his line of all merchants in Salem county, sending large bills of goods to all parts of southern New Jersey, Clayton, Atlantic City, Port Elizabeth, etc. Each week sees a surprisingly large sale of carriages and buggies from his house, each customer acting as an incidental advertisement of the merits of the vehicle. He believes in advertising, and in this lies much of the secret of his extraordinary success, as he understands perfectly the best means to be employed and what method to adopt to attract public notice and patronage.
As the lady best suited to preside at his home, Mr. Smith chose Miss Elizabeth Brill, a daughter of Conrad Brill, of this village. Their nuptials were celebrated November 18, 1879, and the home then founded by them is to-day one of the brightest and most cheerful spots in the village of Elmer. They still reside in the old home rendered especially dear to him from childhood's associations; and while this has been improved and en- larged the former building was preserved and is the nucleus around which his magnificent new residence was built, and the room in which he was born and in which his children first opened their eyes to the light of day is the
156
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE FIRST
one still used by Mr. and Mrs. Smith. There are three children who have added an additional charm to the home: Charles C., a youth of special promise who graduated at Temple College, Philadelphia, as the valedic- torian of his class, and is now enteretl at Princeton University; Anna and John Burleigh. The residence is situated opposite the Methodist church and is one of the finest in South Jersey. It is complete and modern in every detail. One of the most pleasing features of the place is the large green- house, in which he takes special pleasure and where he raises about two thousand magnificent chrysanthemums every year. Here he finds his rec- reation from toil. and his flowers are the envy and delight of all who see them. many visitors coming from distant parts of the state to view their beauties.
Mr. Smith is a very busy man, one of the brightest, most wide-awake business men in the county, and he is also a man who loves to linger around his own fireside and offer hospitality to his friends, yet withal he is a man of public spirit and enterprise, and has done a great amount of good in pro- moting and encouraging infant industries and improvements. As the chairman of the building committee, he was a prime mover and one of the largest subscribers toward the erection of the Methodist church and par- sonage. This is a magnificent structure, costing thirty thousand dollars. and would do credit to a town much larger than the modest little village of Elmer. Mr. Smith had a stained-glass window built in the church, and it adds in a great measure to the pleasing effect. He is the secretary of the official board of the church, of which he has for years been a prominent member. He has been active in securing new industries for the village, and went personally to bring Mr. Bassett here, with the result that the S. M. Bassett Glass Company was located at this place. He has been the chairman of the Republican county convention and has been frequently importuned to allow his name to be used for office, but the petty emoluments of office have no attraction for him and he has refused to be drawn into the whirlpool of politics.
D. WILSON MOORE.
D. Wilson Moore was born in Cedarville, Cumberland county, New Jer- sey, September 23, 1830, and is of Irish descent, his ancestors having come to the New World from the Emerald Isle at an early day. Enoch Moore. the grandfather of our subject, was a tailor and farmer. His son, William Moore, the father of Wilson, also followed the same pursuits. Both were natives of Salem county, and in 1825 William Moore removed to Cumber- land county, locating in Bridgeton, whence he subsequently went to Cedar-
157
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY.
ville. When a man of twenty-five years he made a long trip on horseback with a missionary party that traveled from Cincinnati, Ohio, to the section of the country then inhabited by the Cherokee Indians. He was a member of the Presbyterian church and a most earnest Christian gentleman, whose upright life exemplified his faith. He was noted for his cheerful disposition, and his uniform good nature could not fail to have its effect upon those with whom he came in contact. As a companion and helpmeet on life's journey he chose Miss Eunice Mayhew, a daughter of John Mayhew, a prominent citizen of Salem county, and at one time a member of the state legislature. Mr. and Mrs. Moore became the parents of five children, of whom four are living: John M., of Clayton; Anna E., who resides with her elder brother; D. Wilson; and Sarah, who also makes her home with her brother John.
D. Wilson Moore acquired a practical knowledge of the English branches of learning in the schools of Cedarville, and at the age of sixteen began clerk- ing in a store at Millville, where he remained for twelve years. He then came to Clayton, where he entered into partnership with his brother, John M. Together they operated the glass factory at that place, their business con- stantly growing and bringing to them an excellent income. In 1896, how- ever, our subject retired, selling his interest to his sons, David, Howard and Charles.
In 1858 Mr. Moore married Anna Pierce, a daughter of Andrew Pierce, of Clayton, and to them were born nine children, namely: David, Mary, Marion, Howard, Charles, Anna, Ethel, and two who are now deceased. Mr. Moore has long been a faithful member of the Presbyterian church and for many years served as its elder. He may justly be called a self-made man. He had no capital or influential friends to aid him as he started out upon his business career, but depended entirely upon his own efforts. He has met some difficulties and obstacles, yet has overcome these by determined purpose and has steadily worked his way upward to a position of affluence so that he is now numbered among the substantial citizens of his county.
JAMES S. WHEELER.
James Simmons Wheeler, a jeweler of Salem, has the largest store of its kind south of Trenton and is one of the most popular young business men in this part of the state. He is a son of Caleb and Clarissa (Swing) Wheeler and was born January 20, 1861, and grew to manhood in this city. His grandfather, Rev. George Rose Wheeler, was born in Olney, Buckingham- shire, England, where he received his education. He learned the trade of
158
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE FIRST
jeweler and watchmaker and was the superintendent of a watch factory in England. He was also a preacher in the Seventh Day Baptist church. He arrived in America June 4, 1844, with his wife and nine children, and located in this city, where he opened a jewelry store, which he conducted in con- nection with his son Caleb, under the firm name of Wheeler & Son. He also had charge of a church, where he preached the gospel and comforted the sorrowing. He married Hannah Robinson and reared the following child- ren: Joshua, deceased, who was a large stock-raiser of Kansas, where he owned a ranch of six or eight hundred acres; he was a member of the legis- lature and later a senator; Bethia, who married Alpheus Davidson, a printer by trade. but now connected with the pension department at Washington; Samuel is a prominent minister in the Seventh Day Baptist church at Boul- der, Colorado; Joseph was a soldier in the war of the rebellion and served through that conflict; he is now engaged in business in Elwood, Illinois; Mary married Charles Watson, a farmer of Greenwich, this state; Caleb, the father of our subject, and three daughters, who are married and living in the west. The Rev. George R. Wheeler reached the age of eighty-two years and his wife was even older, having passed her ninety-fourth year.
Caleb Wheeler was born and educated in England. He was an omnivor- ous reader and became a man of intelligence and discernment. He learned the trade of watchmaker of his father and followed that business, being asso- ciated with his father until the death of the latter, when he conducted the store alone. He was always interested in public enterprises and was a prime mover in establishing the public library of Salem, of which he was a director and treasurer and took an active interest in it. He was also connected with the Salem Historical Society. He possessed great force of character and his approval of an enterprise or movement for the betterment of the municipality made it a safe winner. He was a member of the board of education and the board of trade, and was especially interested in benevolent work, having been one of the fathers of the Y. M. C. A. in Salem. He was a member of the Presbyterian church and was on the board of trustees for several years and filled other offices in the church. He married Clarissa Swing and had six children, namely: George Rose, a jeweler with J. E. Caldwell & Com- pany, of Philadelphia, occupies a responsible position and resides at German- town; his wife was Anna Briggs, a daughter of Judge William Briggs, of Yates county, Pennsylvania, and they have two children,-Victor and Ruth. Edgar. who is a jeweler and resides at Paterson, married Maggie Lloyd, of Salem. James S. is the subject of this sketch. Ella is the next in order of birth. Han- nah is the wife of Samuel Gilmore, who is employed by Hires & Company. of Philadelphia, and resides at Merchantville. Arthur A. is a traveling sales-
159
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY.
man for Louis W. Hraba, a manufacturer of fine leather goods of New York. Their father died February 3, 1896, in his seventy-first year, and their mother died September 15, 1898, aged sixty-eight. Their lives had been so unselfish and honorable, filled with deeds of kindness to others less fortunate than they, that many a heart bears willing tribute to their worth and goodly deeds.
James Simmons Wheeler was educated in the public schools of Salem and learned the trade of jeweler of his father. He soon became a proficient work- man and assisted his father in the business until the latter's death, when he pur- chased the entire stock and now conducts the store by himself,-the same store established so many years ago by his grandfather. He has the largest store of the kind in southern New Jersey and employs four men to carry on the business. He is a member of the board of trustees of the First Presby- terian church, and united with Forest Lodge, No. 7, Knights of Pythias, eight years ago. He was married October 12, 1892, to Miss Elva Wilson, a daughter of John Wilson, who is a farmer of Delaware. One child, James Otis, has been born to Mr. Wheeler and wife. At their cozy hearthstone their guests are always sure of a hearty welcome.
THOMAS W. DAVIDSON.
Thomas W. Davidson, one of the best known and most reliable produce shippers of Swedesboro, was born in Clarksboro, New Jersey, on the 15th of January, 1837, and is a son of Rev. John and Ann (Justice) Davidson. His father is now deceased. Thomas Walker Davidson was educated in the public schools of Greenwich township. and of Swedesboro, and throughout his youth, when not engaged with school duties, assisted his father in the work of the home farm. After his marriage he began farming on his own account, carrying on agricultural pursuits near Swedesboro for three years. Subsequently he conducted a farm on Oldman's creek for nine years, when, in 1876, he removed to Swedesboro, where for almost a quarter of a century he has been engaged in shipping produce. He has built up a large and prof- itable business, and now enjoys a liberal income therefrom. He was one of the pioneers in this line, and his success has been both creditable and satis- factory.
In 1881 Mr. Davidson erected a pleasant dwelling on Railroad avenue, and the household is noted for its hospitality. He was married March I, 1860, to Miss Elizabeth Ann Shute, a daughter of Atley Shute, of Harrison township, Gloucester county. Three children were born to them, namely: Susanna, Atley and Helen; but all died in childhood. Mr. and Mrs. David-
I60
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE FIRST
son are faithful and consistent members of the Swedesboro Methodist Episco- pal church, of which he was formerly a trustee, while for fifteen years he has held the office of steward. He does all in his power to promote the growth of the church and to advance the cause of Christianity among men. He has been for many years a member of Osceola Lodge, No. 75, I. O. O. F., has passed all of the chairs five times and has been representative to the grand lodge. He is a charter member of the Coeur de Lion Council, No. 36, K. G. E., and in his political affiliations he is a Republican and loyally advo- cates the principles of the party.
HENRY CLAY CLARK, M. D.
The successful physician must possess in a marked degree certain charac- teristics, and knowledge and experience, however necessary and invaluable, are not the sole requisites. The successful practitioner is usually found to have noble, broad-minded intelligence, ready sympathy, a cheerful, opti- mistic view of life and keenness and accuracy in the analysis of the main- springs of action in those with whom he is brought in contact. These qualities are marked in Dr. Henry C. Clark, a prominent member of the medical profession of Gloucester county, and recognized to be one of the distinctively representative citizens of Woodbury.
His father, Charles French Clark, a son of John V. Clark, was born in Paulsboro, Gloucester county, in 1800. His primary education was ob- tained in his native place, and later he entered the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, where he was graduated. Subsquently he practiced his profession in Paulsboro until 1836, when he came to Wood- bury. Here he soon established a large and remunerative practice, to which he devoted himself for the succeeding forty-one years. In 1867 he retired from the active duties which had so long occupied his time and earnest attention, and, locating in Camden, he passed the remaining years of his life there, his death occurring in 1875. While a resident of Paulsboro he served as a justice of the peace for some time and for five years he held the responsible office of treasurer of the funds of Gloucester county.
The faithful companion and helpmate of Charles F. Clark bore the maiden name of Mary V. Hughes. Eleven children were born to them, namely: John T., of Chicago, Illinois; Henry Clay; Thomas M., who died in Philadelphia in 1861; Sarah E., the wife of C. Clement Whitall, a resident of the neighborhood of Woodbury; Mary B., the widow of the late Theo- dore Buck, and now living in Woodbury; Ada L., the widow of E. Bradford
benny & Clark
16I
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY.
Clarke; Anna R., who became the wife of Joseph Carter and died while journeying to her home in New Jersey after a trip to the west; Charles R., deceased; Edwin Forrest, who was accidentally drowned in 1860; Evelyn, the widow of the late Dr. Randall Morgan, of Camden, New Jersey; and Caroline, who died in infancy.
The birth of Dr. H. C. Clark occurred in Paulsboro, Gloucester county, November 24, 1832. As a boy he pursued his elementary studies in the private school of Woodbury, and at Hopewell Academy, Hopewell, Penn- sylvania, completed his literary education. Then, deciding to take up his father's profession, he read medicine under his guidance, and later attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he was graduated in 1853. Return- ing to Woodbury, he immediately opened an office and entered upon a professional career which has been unusually long and prosperous. For forty-six years he has been in uninterrupted practice, with the exception of the three years which he gave to his country during the civil war. It was in October, 1861, that the Doctor offered his services in the Union army, being mustered into the Second Regiment of New Jersey Volunteers and appointed assistant surgeon. At the close of three years he was honorably discharged and returned home. The greater part of his service was with the Third New Jersey Regiment, though at the time he was mustered out he was the surgeon of the Thirty-seventh New Jersey Volunteers. He served in the Army of the Potomac through all its campaigns and was taken prisoner at the second battle of Bull Run, at which time he was acting brigade surgeon. Was again captured, at the battle of Salem Church. He gained broad and practical experience as a practitioner of medicine and surgery, and his labors were of great benefit to the "boys in blue" who suffered wounds upon the battle-fields of the south. The same spirit of patriotism which animated him during the terrible crisis in our nation's his- tory has been manifested by him in times of peace. He is genial and cour- teous to one and all, and the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens is his in a marked degree.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.