USA > New Jersey > Biographical, genealogical and descriptive history of the first congressional district of New Jersey, Volume II > Part 38
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T. C. Allen was early inured to the labors of the farm, for as soon as old enough he began work in the fields and aided in their cultivation until the harvests were gathered in the autumn. He then entered the com- mon schools of the neighborhood, where he pursued his studies for about three months in each year. With the coming of spring it again became his duty to take his place behind the plow. In his early manhood he assumed control of the home farm, which he cultivated until 1872, when he entered upon his present line of business. He began buying poultry and shipping it to the city, and now covers a section of country extending twenty-five miles in each direction. He employs three men to assist him in making purchases and is now carrying on an extensive business. In 1898 he shipped five hun- dred and fifty tons of poultry, valued at two hundred thousand dollars, and sells to the New York, Boston and Philadelphia markets. His well directed efforts have brought to him a very gratifying success, and in addition to his dealing in poultry he is a stockholder and director in the First National Bank of Glassboro.
On the 27th of November, 1872, Mr. Allen married Miss Emma Zimmer-
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man, a daughter of Abraham Zimmerman, of Glassboro, and they now have a daughter, whose name is Elsie M. They also lost one child. Theirs is a beautiful home, noted for its hospitality, and their worth is indicated by the fact that their friends are numbered among the best citizens of the com- munity. In his political views Mr. Allen is a stanch Republican and for twelve years he has served as township committeeman. He is also a steward in the Methodist Episcopal church, contributes liberally to the support of the church and has been an active factor in all branches of its work. Socially he is a very prominent Mason, having attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish rite. He is the treasurer of the blue lodge, and is also a member of the order of Knights of Pythias. In the Sunday-school .he is serving as assistant-superintendent and is most regular in his attendance on church and Sunday-school. He cheerfully gives his support to all measures calculated to uplift and benefit humanity and to promote the welfare and progress of his community. When Mr. Allen left home he had only five dollars in his pocket, but he possessed an honest and a resolute purpose and unfaltering energy and resolved that he would win success, if it could be done through straightforward, honorable dealing. His labors have been diligently prose- cuted and his close application to business has enabled him to realize his hopes, his beautiful home being an indication of the success which he has achieved.
GEORGE HIGGINS.
George Higgins, a young but successful merchant of Glassboro, New Jer- sey, was born in that village, on November 7, 1871, the son of Joseph Higgins, a native of Philadelphia, whose personal history appears near the close of this sketch. George attended school in boyhood, but when old enough entered the store of his father, who is now deceased. George now carries on the business for his mother and sisters. He is a member of the board of education, taking much interest in the welfare of the schools, which institution he highly prizes. Aside from his many business cares, he finds time to do his part to maintain the following lodges with which he is affil- iated: Junior Order of American Mechanics, Knights of the Golden Eagle, of which he is a past chief; and the Daughters of Liberty, of which he is a trustee. January 9, 1897, he was married.
Our subject's father, Joseph Higgins, was a son of Joseph Higgins, Sr. Joseph, the first named, was reared in Burlington, New Jersey, and became a wheelwright. In 1854 he moved to Glassboro and engaged in merchandis- ing. He died March 8, 1899. In his political views he was a strong believer
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in Democratic ideas. He was the postmaster three terms, a township com- mitteeman, and freeholder for ten years. He was a Christian gentleman and prominent in the Methodist church. At one time he was a candidate for the assembly. He married Avalinda Lowden, the daughter of George Lowden, of Riverside, Burlington county, New Jersey. She is now seventy-five years of age. They were the parents of eight children, six of whom are living at this time: W. R., of New York; Frank, at home; Samuel L., of Glassboro; Marion P., the wife of Joseph J. Seddon, of Glassboro; Avalinda, at home; and our subject, George Higgins.
Our subject's father was an active man in whatever he undertook. He was a true citizen; a faithful friend to all who sought to do the right; was ever ready to do his part, politically; and he held many of the important places of trust and honor in the communities in which he lived and labored. For over forty years he was an active Methodist. He imparted much of his true manliness to our subject, who as a business man is certain to take front rank. In these times, to be in a legitimate business and have the good will of a rich and prosperous trading community, is to be in a fortunate position.
CLAYTON B. TICE.
Clayton B. Tice was born in Williamstown, New Jersey, November 19, 1830, and is a son of Richard H. Tice, who was a native of Camden, Gloucester county. His father, John Tice, was a soldier of the Revolution and was a son of Cornelius Tice, whose ancestors came from Germany. John Tice moved to Williamstown at a very early day and became possessed of a great deal of land in this vicinity. Richard H. Tice was a prominent politician and took a leading part in township affairs. He was one of the founders of the Presbyterian church and much credit is due him for the assistance he gave toward the building of the edifice for which he donated the ground. He was a progressive farmer who took pride in his work. He was married to Miss Hannah, a daughter of John Ware of Sicklertown, and ten children were born to them, four of whom survive their parents, viz .: Clayton B .; Richard; Charles F., both of whom reside in this vicinity; and Hannah, the wife of Walter R. Thomas, of Philadelphia. The father died in 1864 and the mother eleven years later.
Clayton B. Tice attended the public schools in his youth and later en- gaged in farming. He has a fine piece of land, consisting of thirty-five acres, which is kept in a high state of cultivation. He was one of the originators of the manufacture of glass of Williamstown, associated with
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William C. Nicholson, Jacob De Hart and others, in 1835. The panic of 1836 crippled their operations and Mr. Tice returned to his farming. He has always affiliated with the Republican party and has taken an active part in their campaigns. He has served as judge of election a number of times and from 1860 was freeholder four years in Camden county. Coming to this county he held the same office from 1869 for nine consecutive years, and was township committeeman for a number of years. He was elected assessor in 1893 and is still an incumbent of that office. He was a commis- sioner of deeds from 1859 to 1865, and has always taken a deep interest in the success of his party.
He chose as his partner through the vicissitudes of life, Miss Catherine Eldridge, a daughter of J. D. Eldridge of this village. Ten children have been born to them, six of whom are living, viz .: Millard F., of Philadel- phia; R. Howell, now the principal of the school at Merchantville, New Jersey; Nelson, of Philadelphia; Mabel, the wife of Dunlevy Loughlin, of Williamstown; Amy, now teaching at Janvier; and Clayton, at home.
Mr. Tice is liberal in his religious views and is a man of exceedingly bright intellect, who keeps thoroughly abreast of all topics of importance. He is honorable and upright to a fault and is universally esteemed.
M. JONES LUFFBARY, M. D.
Dr. Luffbary, one of the successful medical practitioners of Glassboro, New Jersey, was born in the town in which he now resides, July 25, 1862. His father, Samuel Luffbary, was a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is a glass-blower. He has the honor of being the superintendent of the Methodist Sunday-school and class-leader of the Methodist class at Glassboro for the past twenty-five years. He is a celebrity in another matter, that of having instituted the Masonic lodge, at Glassboro, as well as the Odd Fel- lows' lodge. He married Eliza Becket, daughter of William Becket, of Cumberland county. Samuel Luffbary is now sixty-five years of age, and his good wife three years younger. Of their six children only two survive: Daisy, the wife of George Randall, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and our subject.
After having attended the public schools, our subject graduated at Jef- ferson Medical College, in 1884, with the rightfully earned degree of M. D. He at once began to follow his favorite profession, at Glassboro, and has remained there ever since.
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Having the natural endowments of a successful physician and being well schooled in professional studies in one of the leading medical colleges of the land, Dr. Luffbary has built up a very extensive practice.
Dr. Luffbary belongs to the Masonic order, the Red Men, the Junior Order of American Mechanics and the Independent Order of American Me- chanics, and has been through all of the chairs of these orders. In 1881 he married Lindia, a daughter of Brazilla Abbott, of New Jersey. To this esteemed couple have been born four children: Roscoe, Wilber, Daisy and Florence. With his bright and interesting family, the Doctor has the good will and esteem of all within the scope of their acquaintance.
JOSEPH M. GREEN.
Among the well-to-do and enterprising citizens of Williamstown, Glou- cester county, New Jersey, will be found the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He was born in Swedesboro, October 6, 1849, and dates his ancestry in this country back to 1600, at which time members of the family settled in the place of his nativity. His father, Chester Green, was a son of Jacob Green and followed the trade of shoemaking. He married Hannah A. Madera, of a well known family of Swedesboro, and three children were born to them: Joseph M., Edward F., who lives at Atlantic City; and Anna, the wife of William Treadwell, a resident of Williamstown.
Mr. Green obtained his education in the public schools of his native place and in 1879 purchased the farm of one hundred and eight acres on which he now resides. Here he carries on general farming, in which he is very successful, and in addition does a large business in farming machinery, windmills, etc. He is a very active, enterprising man and with characteristic energy, and thrift inherited in part from his forefathers, who were noted people in their own land, has made for himself a name and a place in his community. In politics he is a stanch Republican, and while not an aspirant for office he works for the success of his party, believing it to be in harmony with the principles which underlie the best form of government that the sun shines on.
Mr. Green was united in marriage to Miss Katurah, a daughter of Chris- topher Knisel, of Hardingville, Gloucester county, May 6, 1871. Of this union eight children have been born: Sarah F. (Mrs. George Galbraith), Hannah M. (Mrs. Charles Young), Carrie V. (Mrs. Frank Giberson), Mar- garetta N. (deceased), William. J., Mattie K., Anna G. and Leroy C.
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SAMUEL L. SERAN.
This well known farmer and old settler of Aura, Gloucester county, was born at that place September 16, 1838. His father, Samuel Seran, also a native of Aura, was a son of David Seran and a descendant of a family who emigrated from Germany and settled at Swedesboro at an early day. Samuel enlisted for the war of 1812 and was engaged in active service. About 1825 he removed to the farm which his son now occupies and which was willed to him by David Seran, and there died in 1870. His wife was Eunice Langley, a daughter of Silas Langley, and she was the mother of five children, of whom Samuel L., our subject, is the only survivor. She died in 1872.
The subject of this sketch has spent almost his entire life on the farm. As a boy he attended the district school and later assisted his father in harvesting the crops, looking after the stock and the numberless duties which fall to the lot of a farmer's lad. When the civil war broke out he gladly offered his services to sustain the government, and on September 14, 1862, enlisted at Woodbury in the Twelfth New Jersey Infantry. He took part in a num- ber of hard-fought battles and was wounded on the field of Gettysburg. At the close of the war he returned to Aura and since that time has been engaged in farming on the old homestead of one hundred acres. He is a Republican in his political belief and is loyal to his principles. He has held the office of clerk to the school board for six years and takes a deep interest in the cause of education.
Mr. Seran was married to Elizabeth, a daughter of Isaac Clark, of Frank- lin, and their family comprises five children: William D., of Vineland; May E., the wife of H. E. Essler, residing at Clayton; Maud; Edna; and Samuel Langley Seran, who bears his father's name.
SAMUEL L. HIGGINS.
Samuel L. Higgins, of Glassboro, New Jersey, whose business is that of a liveryman, is a native of this place, and was born June 8, 1859. His father, the well known late Joseph Higgins, a native of Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania, settled here in 1855, and was in business here forty-four years. He was born September 20, 1823, and died March 8, 1899. He belonged to the Meth- odist church and was connected with the K. of P. and Odd Fellows' orders. A more extended sketch of his life will be found appended to that of his son, George Higgins, elsewhere in this volume.
S. L. Higgins, after attending the common schools of his section, went
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to the Kennet Square Academy. After his school days, he came home and learned the watch-maker's trade, and followed the jewelry business for eighteen years at Camden, Philadelphia and Glassboro. In 1893 he em- barked in the livery business. He does the chief livery business of the town, and is noted for his fair treatment and fine turn-outs.
August 25, 1880, he was united in marriage to Achsah, the daughter of John W. Thomas, of Sewell, New Jersey. One child blesses their home, named Sarah.
The Higgins family are well and favorably known in this part of New Jersey, by reason of the father's long business career, as well as the promi- nent part he always took in public matters.
J. ELLIS PAULIN.
J. Ellis Paulin, a justice of the peace, magistrate and notary public of Glassboro, New Jersey, will form the subject of this notice. He was born in the above named place, August 26, 1853. When he attained the proper age he attended the common schools during the winter season, and in the sum- mer worked on the farm, thus developing the muscles as well as the brain. From the time he was twenty-one until he was twenty-six years old, he farmed "on shares." One year of his life was devoted to the butcher busi- ness, and for ten years he was the road supervisor.
Politically Mr. Paulin is a Republican. In 1894 he was elected as tlie justice of the peace in his township, and in the spring of 1899 was re-elected for a term of five years. In 1895 he was appointed as a magistrate. He also served three years as coroner, and had more cases before him than any one before his time in office or since his term expired. He is a member of the O. U. A. M .; has been the financier of the lodge, and secretary for nine years. For the past eight years he has been the master of records for the Knights of the Golden Eagle. In lodge and political matters he is unusually active.
The date of his first marriage was 1879, when he was wedded to Ella Chard, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Chard, of Millville. This lady died in 1885, leaving three children: Annie M., now the wife of Jacob Leisse, of Philadelphia; Willard B. and Edith B., both at home. For his second companion our subject married, in 1895, Adina E. Turner, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Turner, of Harrisonville.
Concerning our subject's ancestry, it may be said that his father was Joseph T. Paulin, born in Woodstown, New Jersey, and his father, our sub-
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ject's grandfather, was a native of the same locality. His name was David Paulin, and he was a soldier of the war of 1812. Joseph T. Paulin learned the butcher's trade, and moved to Glassboro about 1847, running the busi- ness for five years, after which he farmed. In 1853 he was elected sheriff, serving three years, with acceptability. He died in 1886. In his religious faith he was a "Friend." He married Zillah Batten, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Batten, of Swedesboro. The good wife died in 1891. Of their six children only three survive, our subject being the eldest. The other two are named David and William S. David lives in Glassboro and William S. in Philadelphia, where he is engaged in manufacturing.
CHARLES B. GRIER.
Woodstown, New Jersey, has always been fortunate in the possession of numerous citizens of prominence who were self-made men in the best sense of that often abused term. Among such in the present generation none is more prominent than Charles B. Grier, one of the town's leading merchants and business men, whose career has been most creditable and whose achieve- ments have been won honestly and by that earnest endeavor that is almost certain to bring success.
Charles B. Grier was born November 1, 1867, at Deerfield, Cumberland county, New Jersey, a son of George B. and Sarah A. (Wallace) Grier. His parents are both living, and George B. Grier is a prominent general mer- chant at Woodstown. George B. Grier is a son of Jonathan Grier, who was long a resident of Salem county, New Jersey, and who died there at the age of eighty-two years. During his early life Jonathan Grier was a contractor and builder, in which lines he acquired a creditable reputation in Philadel- phia, but late in life he retired to Salem county, New Jersey, where he be- came a leader among the successful farmers. George B. Grier was born in Mannington, Salem county, New Jersey, and until 1876 was a farmer well and widely known in Cumberland county, where he located early in life. His wife, Sarah A. Wallace, was a daughter of Allen Wallace, a native and lifelong resident of Piles Grove township, who died there, aged sixty-eight years, leaving an enviable record as a successful farmer and high-minded, progres- sive citizen.
Charles B. Grier gained a thorough high-school education, and in 1883, at the age of sixteen years, began to assist his father in his then well estab- lished mercantile business, in which he was employed for twelve years, until 1895. Under his father's careful and practical instruction he acquired an
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intimate knowledge of the local trade and its demands, which was of great benefit to him in the establishment and upbuilding of his own later enter- prise. In 1895 he formed a partnership with George Boone and opened a clothing and furnishing-goods store. The partnership existed until May II, 1898, when it was dissolved by mutual consent. Mr. Grier continued the business and removed it to its present quarters on Main street, where he has built up a large and successful trade and has a growing patronage, which extends into all the rich country tributary to Woodstown.
In every relation Mr. Grier has proven himself a public-spirited citizen who has the best interests of Woodstown at heart and is willing to work and to contribute liberally of his means to the enhancement of the general good. He is not a politician in the ordinary acceptation of the term, but, believing that politics is business and business is politics, he has pronounced views upon all questions of public import and exerts an influence which is always felt for the local and general interests of the great political party with which he affiliates. He is identified with Woodbine Lodge, No. 158, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is well known as a devoted member of that order.
WILLIAM P. BUCK.
William P. Buck, one of the most important business factors, and a successful undertaker, at Williamstown, New Jersey, is a native of the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, born December 21, 1849. His family his- tory is closely interwoven with many of the early-day, important events of this country. Our subject's father, John Buck, was a native of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, which subdivision of the Keystone state was named in honor of his family. William Buck, the grandfather, was born in the same location and it was his father, our subject's great-grandfather, who came from Bucks county, England, to America with William Penn, the celebrated Quaker, colonist and statesman. John Buck was a manufacturer of shoes in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and was a birthright member of the Friends' Society. He was hastened from the scenes of life by that dread disease, smallpox, in 1851. Mary Ann, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Bleyler, of England, became his wife, by whom she became the mother of two children,-Louis and William P.,-and died in 1863.
The subject of this notice had a fair common-school education and at an early date in his career began to cultivate the soil. He first came to Will- iamstown in 1866 and his farm life extended to 1870. In that year he went to Trenton, New Jersey, to learn the printer's trade, but abandoned
William To Buck
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it after some months on account of his eyes. For nine succeeding years he was employed at the State Lunatic Asylum. He then took an examina- tion as a nurse at the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Philadelphia and was registered as such. He was at the head of the Southern Illinois Asylum at Anna, Illinois, in 1874. In 1875 he was for some months at the State Hospital at Morris Plains, and then was again employed at the State Hospital at Trenton for five years. In 1884 he began the undertaking and furniture business at Williamstown. His patronage extends to a great dis- tance, and he is highly successful in his operations financially and otherwise.
He was united in marriage to Miss Mary W. Eldridge, a daughter of Joshua and Amy Eldridge, of Williamstown. She died in 1880. For his second wife he married Alice McCambridge, the daughter of Richard and Mary McCambridge, of Philadelphia. This marriage took place August 4, 1881. Their five children are William A., deceased; Joseph L., deceased, R. Edwin, Anna M. and Livinia H.
In political belief Mr. Buck is an ardent Republican. He has been long on the school board, served for five years as justice of the peace and in 1899 was elected to represent Gloucester county in the state assembly. In every sense he of whom we write is a strong, manly man, of whom the county and state could justly be proud in any place of honor and trust. Mr. Buck is a Royal Arch Mason and is the past master of Williamstown Lodge, No. 166, F. & A. M. He is also a member of the Junior Order of American Mechanics, a past councilor of Silver Star Council, No. 26, of Williamstown, and is also a past sachem of Choctaw Tribe, No. 112, Independent Order of Red Men, of Williamstown. Socially he is an affable gentleman and a self- made man whose success has been attained by hard, honest work.
ANTHONY STEELMAN.
This gentleman has now attained the age of seventy-six years, yet is actively connected with the business interests of Tuckahoe, and his enterprise and energy should put to shame many a younger man, who, grown tired of the burden and strife of business life, has relegated to others the cares and responsibilities which they should bear. Mr. Steelman has always been noted for his industry and ability in business affairs, and to this may be attributed his success in life.
A native of Atlantic county, New Jersey, he was born in Weymouth township December 23, 1823, his parents being Jonas and Rachel (Cham- pion) Steelman. The family is of Swedish lineage, and Charles Steelman,
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the first of the name to seek a home in America, crossed the Atlantic and became a resident of Weymouth township, his home being on the bank of the Tuckahoe river. He was a farmer by occupation, and some of his de- scendants have since resided in the locality where he made his home. Jonas Steelman, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was born in Weymouth township, Atlantic county, and in connection with agricultural pursuits dealt extensively in wood. At the time when this republic engaged in the second war with England, he entered the service and loyally defended the stars and stripes until peace was once more proclaimed. He met his death at the age of sixty years, while engaged in fishing in the Tuckahoe river. His wife passed away at the age of sixty-five years. Their children were: James, who was twice married, his second union being with Mary Scull; Nathaniel, who married Sarah Steelman, and had the following children: Sarah, Nathan, William, Azilla and Sallie; and Jonas, the father of our subject. After the death of his first wife the grandfather was twice married, his third wife being Elizabeth Jane, by whom he had four children: Mary, Jeremiah, Experience and Harry.
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