USA > New Jersey > Biographical, genealogical and descriptive history of the first congressional district of New Jersey, Volume II > Part 26
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SAMUEL J. DUBOIS.
The subject of this sketch, Samuel Johnson DuBois, who resides near Daretown, New Jersey, a short distance from the old DuBois homestead, where he was born, is a representative of one of the old families of this part
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of the state. They trace their origin back to the French Huguenots who came to America nearly two and a half centuries ago, seeking religious free- dom. Louis DuBois, the progenitor of the family in America, came from France, his native land, to this country in 1660, and acquired a large tract of land in Salem county, New Jersey. From him was descended in direct line Jacob DuBois, born in New York state, October 16, 1661; Louis DuBois, who also was born in New York state in 1695, and who married Margaret Jansen, May 22, 1720; Mathew DuBois, who was born in 1722, and who married Jacominta Newkirk; Louis DuBois, who was born in Pittsgrove, New Jersey, in 1755, and who married Rebecca Craig, December 22, 1777; and Samuel DuBois, the father of the subject of this sketch. Louis DuBois, the great-grandfather of Samuel, gave one hundred and sixty acres of land to the Presbyterian church at Daretown. He was a soldier in the Revolu- tionary war under Washington and held the rank of colonel in the army.
Samuel DuBois was a farmer all his life, owning and cultivating two hun- dred acres of land; was born, lived and died on the farm, a portion of which his son S. J. now owns and occupies. His death occurred in May, 1873. January 24, 1824, he married Miss Mary Johnson, a daughter of Commo- dore Isaac Johnson, a large land owner and a prominent man and a veteran of the war of 1812. She died in 1876. Seven children were born to them, namely: Rebecca, the wife of C. M. Streeper, Atchison, Kansas; Adaline, the widow of Jacob Keeley, also of Atchison; Mary Jane, the wife of Bloom- field Wall, Fairfield, Iowa; Louis P., who married Sarah J. Jones, of Elmer, New Jersey, but now of Atchison, Kansas; Emeline, the wife of Daniel Hitchner, of Kansas; Eliza, the wife of Harmon Hitchner, of Elmer, New Jersey; and Samuel J., whose name introduces this sketch.
S. J. DuBois spent his boyhood days on his father's farm, working on the farm in summer and attending the public schools in winter. In 1864 he went to Atchison, Kansas, where for some time he was in the employ of the Wells-Fargo Express Company. Later he engaged in the cattle business with Governor Glick. In 1869, returning to New Jersey, he bought sixty acres of the home farm, and here he has since resided, conducting the farm and making a specialty of the stock business, raising registered Guernsey cattle and commanding the highest market price for his dairy products.
Mr. DuBois married, March 18, 1869, Miss Emily Harding, a daughter of Thomas Harding; and they are the parents of five children, namely: T. Harding; Fannie, the wife of George J. Ware; Emma, the wife of Thomas E. Brooks; and T. H. and Lou Ella DuBois. As a citizen Mr. DuBois is much respected.
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BENJAMIN F. WOOD.
One of the most familiar figures in Salem is Benjamin Franklin Wood, who for more than two score years has served the public in official positions of responsibility and trust. He also has been associated with numerous local industries and enterprises, in every possible manner advancing the interests of his town and locality.
On the paternal side the ancestors of Mr. Wood were Germans; but the family has been represented in this county for several generations. His grandfather, Henry Wood, cultivated a farm of one hundred and fifty acres in Mannington township, Salem county. In his politics he was a Whig, and in religion a member of the Presbyterian church, but friendly also to all other Christian societies. Death claimed him when he was about sixty years of age, and all of his twelve or thirteen children also have passed away. Wil- liam W. was the principal of one of the Philadelphia public schools for many years. Benjamin F., who was drowned in the Mississippi river, was a leading merchant of Bloomington, Illinois, owning a general store and speculating extensively in land. Richard and John, farmers, died in early manhood in this county. Ann became the wife of William A. Baker, a farmer of Mannington township, this county. Rosanna married George Githens, a blacksmith of Canton, Salem county. Joseph was the father of our subject, and the other brothers and sisters died when young.
The birth of Joseph H. Wood occurred in the opening year of this cen- tury, and throughout his life he was a farmer of Mannington township, cul- tivating a fine homestead of one hundred and fifty acres. He died in the prime of manhood, in 1839, and was survived some years by his wife, Hannah V. (Brown) Wood, who was summoned to the silent land August 14, 1863, when she was sixty years of age. They were devoted members of the Presbyterian church and were loved and respected by every one. Their six children were as follows: Richard, who was drowned at sea about the time that he attained his majority; Joseph, a blacksmith, of Bridgeton, New Jersey, whose wife was formerly Matilda Ogden; Emily Anna, who died in May, 1894, and whose husband, Alexander Dubois, has been connected with the Philadelphia Ledger for the past forty-five years; Phoebe, the wife of Charles M. Bisbing, who at present is engaged in the manufacture of cigars in Philadelphia; John, who died at the age of ten years, as the result of an accident; Hannah and Rebecca, who died in infancy.
Benjamin F. Wood was born on the old homestead in Mannington town- ship, Salem county, August 13, 1837, and was educated in the common schools and Salem Academy. After leaving school he engaged in farming
Benjamin Y Wood
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for a year and then learned the blacksmith's trade, at which, however, he worked only two years, then turning his attention to other pursuits on account of his poor health. Obtaining a clerkship in a store, he continued in that capacity for three years, after which he accepted a position in the office of the county clerk, where he was employed for several years. Next he took up the study of law, with F. L. McCollough as his preceptor, but at the end of two years was obliged to abandon this undertaking and in its stead became interested in conveyancing, and has followed this ever since.
For twenty-one consecutive years, from 1858 to 1879, he served as a deputy sheriff. In May, 1868, he was elected to the office of justice of the peace, and acted in that capacity for seven terms. In 1873 he was elected engrossing clerk of the senate and served for three years, and for forty-two years has transacted most of the legal business connected with the sheriff's office, besides holding numerous minor positions connected with the county offices. For a period he was a clerk in the post-office, and for five years was in the internal revenue service; was deputy collector in that department for eight years, and for seven years was in the surrogate's office. Active in the ranks of the Republican party, he has given special attention to local poli- tics, and in 1869 was elected as a member of the common council of Salem and served three years. In 1879 he was honored by election to the mayor's chair, which position he filled with credit for three years, and following that he was a member of the council again for six years. On all matters pertain- ing to the business of the county and town, he is justly considered an au- thority, and no one could well be more vitally interested in the subject than he.
When the Franklin Building & Loan Association was organized, April I, 1861, he was made one of its first directors, and from that time until the present he has been actively connected with it, now being the only one of the original board of directors left. For thirty-five years he was the chair- man of its loan committee, and for the past four years he has held the office of secretary of the company. For many years he has been engaged in the real-estate and insurance business, and through his patriotism and zeal some of our best citizens have been induced to locate their homes or business here. He is a member of the local board of trade, and is connected with the Knights of Pythias.
The marriage of Mr. Wood and Miss Margaret D. Conover was solem- nized March II, 1857. She is a daughter of Henry R. Conover, who was engaged in the milling business at Cedarville, Cumberland county, this state. Five children were born to our subject and wife: Benjamin F., Jr., an enter- prising young man, assists his father in his numerous business enterprises;
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and Alice M. and Elsie A. Alice M. is unmarried and at home; Elsie A. Wood was married, October 28, 1899, to Robert S. Faris, who is the in- dustrial editor of The Pittsburg Times; while the two youngest children died in infancy.
WILLIAM MORRIS.
. This gentleman belongs to a family whose ancestral tree has spread its influential branches in Salem county, having been planted here at a very early day, when the country was entirely unsettled. It has grown and flourished for generations, until the present day, when its younger members are among the most influential and esteemed residents of the county. Christopher Morris, who was William Morris' great-grandfather, was one of the public men of Sharptown during the early days of the village and occupied a prominent place in the community. He had three children,- William, Rachel and Martha. William was for many years a merchant and general trader of that village and also carried on farming. He was a man of strong force of character whose influence in that section was almost unlim- ited. He married Elizabeth Humphries, by whom he had eight children, and of these John H., the father of our subject, was the eldest. Then came Lydia, Elizabeth, Josiah, William, Samuel, Amanda and Emma Jane.
John H. Morris was born in Penn's Neck township, this county, July 21, 1814, and engaged in farming in Mannington township until 1863, when he moved to Salem and was not actively engaged in business for several years. In 1877 he purchased the business of W. R. Hunt, successor of Hall, Dunn & Hunt, manufacturers of oil-cloth in this city. Two years later he purchased the Fenwick Oil Cloth Works and subsequently built the Salem Oil Cloth Works and continued in that business there until his death, when he was succeeded by his son. He possessed energy, decision, industry and per- severance to carry to a successful termination any project which he espoused, and his prosperous business career was but the result of these qualities. He was economical and quiet in his tastes and unpretentious in his manner. He was in close sympathy with the Republican party and filled some of the township offices, although he was not an aspirant for political honors. He married Mary H. Stretch, a daughter of Mark Stretch, by whom he had four children, only one of whom grew to adult years.
William Morris is a son of John H. and Mary H. (Stretch) Morris, and was born in Mannington township, Salem county, February 5, 1847. He was reared on a farm and followed agricultural pursuits for several years, cultivating one hundred and twenty-five acres of land in Quinton township,
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until 1880, when he moved to Salem and was associated with his father in the manufacture of oil-cloth. After the death of his father, September 17, 1879, he succeeded to the entire business and has had an extensive and profit- able trade. The plant occupies about ten acres and is a large brick and frame structure, where one hundred men found constant employment, at good. wages, until recent years, when, in 1898, dull business caused it to be dis- continued. Mr. Morris still owns the plant, together with a considerable estate. He has amassed quite a fortune and can afford to take life easy for the remainder of his days if he is so disposed. He is a member of the Republican party. is a prominent member of the Country Club and of the Fenwick Club, and also of the Art Club in Philadelphia. He is of a social, genial disposition.
His marriage to Miss Lydia K., a daughter of Joseph Waddington, in 1880, has been honored by the birth of two children: Mary H., now attend- ing college; and W. Hermann Morris.
JOHN SCOTT BATTEN.
About 1700 Sir Francis Batten came to America from England, and, probably by sailing up the Delaware river, reached a point about three miles from Swedesboro on the Franklinville road, where he settled and took up a large tract of land, the greater part of which has since been occupied by his descendants. His son Thomas, born January 9, 1738, was married, March 24, 1766, to Jane Ann Scott, who was born January 12, 1744, and who lived for some years in Burlington county, New Jersey. The fruits of their union were the following named children: Zillah, born August 29, 1767, married Thomas Flich, of Logan township, Gloucester county, New Jersey; Ann, born April 16, 1769, married John Gill, of Woolwich township, Gloucester county; Jane, born February 19, 1771; Joseph, May 9, 1773: Thomas, August 5, 1775: Zebulon, August 28, 1778; Mary, born October 22, 1780, married Nicholas Justice, of Logan township; and John, born May 2, 1787. The last named, John, married Lydia Hendrickson, by whom he had the following named children: Sarah, who married Leonard Paul; Mary G., who died at the age of forty-five years; William W., who died at the age of fifty years; John Scott, whose name introduces this article: Lydia, the widow of Jeremiah Adams, of Woolwich township, has three children; Emeline, deceased; and Isabella (twin of Emeline), who has been twice mar- ried, first to Augustus sailor and after his death to Samuel Groff, of Swedes- boro.
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John Scott Batten was born August 12, 1823, in Woolwich township, Gloucester county, New Jersey, and was reared and educated in his native township, receiving his education in the common schools and the Swedes- boro Academy. He remained on the farm with his father until his marriage, and after that occupied an adjoining farm, which his father owned and which 'his son Jonathan now owns. Our subject still owns the old homestead. In 1885, however, he retired from the farm, purchased and remodeled the resi- dence he has since occupied in Swedesboro, and for the past fourteen years has been retired from active life. His home is one of the best appointed and most pleasant ones in southern New Jersey.
Mr. Batten was married February 15, 1849, to Miss Elizabeth V. Atkin- son, a daughter of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Allen) Atkinson, of Mount Ephraim, New Jersey. They have had five children, viz .: Amanda, who died at the age of seven years; Jonathan A., who owns and is farming a part of the old homestead, married Kate H. Moore, a daughter of Dayton and Martha (Weatherby) Moore, and they have two children,-May H. and John Scott, Jr .; Emeline, at home; Elizabeth, who married Carlton E. Rulon, a farmer near Swedesboro, and they have two children,-Isabella and Florence; and Isabella, deceased, was the wife of George Jones, a harness- maker of Swedesboro.
Mr. Batten and family are members of the Episcopal church, of Swedes- boro, of which he has been a member since 1856, a vestryman since 1858, and senior warden from 1880 to 1898, when he resigned. Mrs. Batten has been a teacher in the Sunday-school for nineteen years. Mr. Batten has for several years been a member of the Swedesboro Grange. He is a stanch Republican, but has refused rather than sought public office.
PAUL DEHNER.
The subject of this biography, one of the honored citizens and worthy agriculturists of West Deptford township, Gloucester county, is a descend- ant of sterling German ancestors, and possesses many of the leading and best characteristics of the Teutonic race. Following in the footsteps of his father and many preceding generations, he has given his attention to the tilling of the soil and has won success and a competence by hard, persistent labor. His homestead is a model of neatness, well cultivated fields, sub- stantial buildings and fences, and he has just cause to be proud of what he has achieved.
In tracing his history, it is learned that Mr. Dehner was born in the
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township in which he is still making his home, the date of his nativity being October 13, 1865. His parents, John and Frederica Dehner, were born and reared in Germany, and several decades ago they decided to cast in their fortunes with the inhabitants of the United States. Coming to these hos- pitable shores, they located in this state, and carried on a farm with the untiring energy and application to purpose, which their children early sought to emulate.
From boyhood, therefore, Paul Dehner was trained in the principles of business which, followed out with innate perseverance, ultimately brought success and influence. An important move made in his early manhood was his marriage to Anna Barnaby, a daughter of Levi and Ellen Barnaby, at Woodbury, September 10, 1889. Four children bless their happy home, named respectively Milford, Freda, Paul and Hellen. The family attend the Baptist church and contribute liberally of their means and influence to the promotion of religion, education and charitable enterprises. Mr. Dehner is a member of the Improved order of Red Men, and is a stanch Republican in his political attitude. He thoroughly merits the deep respect and genuine esteem in which he is held by his neighbors and associates, and, as far as known, he has no enemies.
EVAN D. PEARSON.
Evan Davis Pearson, who conducts a wagon and blacksmith shop at Hurffville, Gloucester county, New Jersey, will form the subject of this biographical notice. He was born of English parentage in the same section in which he now lives, March 4, 1843, a son of Sampson and Judith (Engle- man) Pearson, who were the parents of eleven children. The four still living are: Charles, of Blackwoodtown; Jerry, of Hurffville: our subject; and Rhoda, the wife of M. Turner, of Woodbury. Our subject's father came from England in 1823, settled in Ohio, and in this township in 1830. He kept a large store at Creesville, and also did a large business in charcoal. He was finally murdered, in Philadelphia, in 1848, and his body was thrown into the Schuylkill river. His wife died in July, 1864.
At the age of fourteen years our subject left the common schools and went to learn the blacksmith's trade under David Ward. In 1866 he went into partnership with Mr. Ward, and the partnership was only ended by the death of Mr. Ward. Since that time-1874-our subject has operated alone. He has made a large number of wagons, light and heavy, and makes a spe- cialty of horse-shoeing.
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Always a Democrat, he is public-spirited and has been favored with local offices, including township committeeman, president of the school board, etc. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and one of the trustees. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity, which he joined twenty-five years ago, and was a charter member of Jefferson Lodge at Hurffville. He has served his lodge as the keeper of the exchequer and has passed all the chairs. He also belongs to the Junior Order of American Mechanics, the Knights of the Mystic Chain and the Grange Society. He has been a hard worker and has been repaid by the accumulation of a hand- some property.
In 1865 he married Sarah A. Wadsworth, also a native of England, but then of Hurffville. Of their six children, the four living are as follows: Joseph and Clarence C., who, having learned their father's trade, are aiding him in his business; Frank and Estella, at home. Our subject has, by reason of his honor and industry, formed a large circle of friends, thus proving that it pays to live a correct life.
J. CLARK HELMS.
Mr. Helms, of this review, is one of the most extensive dealers in Glou- cester county, and the volume of his business has made him one of the sub- stantial residents of the community. He makes his home in Repaupo, and was born on the farm near the town, now occupied by Henry Shoemaker. His natal day was June 13, 1854, and his parents were John S. and Mary (Clark) Helms. His paternal grandfather, Hance Helms, resided near Re- paupo, and his maternal grandfather, Joseph Clark, was a resident of Bridge- port, New Jersey. John S. Helms, the father of our subject, died on the 9th of February, 1893, at the age of seventy-two years, and his mother now re- sides in Bridgeport. In their family were five children: Sarah, the de- ceased wife of Henry Shoemaker, of Repaupo; Meribah, who lives with her mother: Hannah, the deceased wife of E. H. Turner, of Harrisonville, New Jersey; Joseph Clark, of this review; and Mary Ella, who is successfully engaged in teaching.
J. Clark Helms acquired his preliminary education in the public schools of Repaupo and Woodbury and later was a student in Wyoming Seminary, of Kingston, Pennsylvania. On the completion of his education he turned his attention to farming, which he has since followed with great success. For twenty-one years he has resided upon his present farm, which he purchased in 1878, and the improvement of which he has superintended. The place
J. Clark Hoelink.
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comprises sixty-five acres, all of which are under a high state of cultivation. He has erected thereon a fine residence and good out-buildings, and by the addition of other improvements has added to its value and attractive appear- ance. In addition he owns another farm, of seventy-five acres, near Bridge- port. He has also dealt in poultry for many years, and since 1890 has been accounted one of the most extensive dealers in this line in the state. He raises fine varieties and his excellent care of them makes them particularly valuable upon the market. He is a man of resourceful business ability whose efforts have not been confined to one line alone; and now, in addition to farming and poultry-raising, he is serving as one of the directors of the Swedesboro National Bank, in which he holds considerable stock.
On the 7th of November, 1877, Mr. Helms was united in marriage to Miss Valinda M. Sheets, a daughter of John Sheets, of Bridgeport. They have four children: Bertha R .; Sarah S .; Valinda, who died at the age of three years; and John C. In 1888, Mr. Helms was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died in July, of that year. On the 4th of Decem- ber, 1890, he was again married, his second union being with Ellen B. Sharp. Mrs. Helms was born in Bridgeport, February 19, 1860, a daughter of George S. Sharp, of that place. At the age of eighteen years she became a teacher, following the profession in Bridgeport, Center Square and Martin- ville, and was very popular, teaching the most of the time in her native town. She is a lady of many fine qualities and an active brain, assisting her husband in carrying on his extensive business, as she has a fine business ability.
Since 1867 Mr. Helms has been a member of Repaupo Methodist Epis- copal church, has taken a very active part in its work, contributes largely to its support and was for several years president of its board of trustees. He is a member of Osceola Lodge, No. 75, I. O. O. F., of Swedesboro, and is also a member of the Swedesboro Grange. In politics he is an independent voter, unswerving in his support of his principles. He was assessor of Logan township from 1889 until 1897, his long continuance in the office well in- dicating his fidelity to duty. He is a man of keen discernment in business affairs, of sound judgment and of marked industry, and his success may be attributed entirely to his own efforts.
BENJAMIN F. BURT.
Among the former residents of Whig Lane, Salem county, New Jersey, who took a prominent part in the development of the county and are espe- cially worthy of mention as enterprising and reputable citizens, was Benja-
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min F. Burt, now deceased; and it affords us great satisfaction to pay a tribute to the memory of so good a man.
He was born May 14, 1819, near Barnsboro, Gloucester county, this state, a son of Richard Burt, of Cedarville, Cumberland county, and a grand- son of Richard Burt, of Cedarville, whose father, John, was a native of the same neighborhood. The father moved near Pole Tavern, where his last days were spent. Benjamin F. Burt received a common-school education and began farming at an early age. He moved upon the farm now occupied by his widow, in 1845, and there made his home until he entered the home everlasting May 17, 1873. He was endowed with exceptional business quali- fications, was a hard worker and a very prosperous farmer, having the love and respect of his neighbors for his many admirable qualities. He was mar- ried November 13, 1845, to Miss Experience Richman, a daughter of Jona- than Richman, and their union was blessed by the birth of four children, two of whom-Charles R. and Francis A .- are at home.
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