USA > New Jersey > Biographical, genealogical and descriptive history of the first congressional district of New Jersey, Volume II > Part 39
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Jonas Steelman, the father of him whose name begins this review, was born in Weymouth township and became a glass-blower by trade. He also engaged in farming and built a number of vessels, being very successful in his business operations. He resided in his native township for many years, and spent the last ten years of his life in Tuckahoe, where his death occurred. His marked energy and diligence were crowned with the very highest degree of prosperity, and he became one of the wealthiest men of his county. In the Methodist Episcopal church he held membership and contributed lib- erally to its support. He gave twelve hundred dollars toward the erection of the house of worship in Tuckahoe, and held many official positions in the church. In the early days when training companies were organized he was an active member of one of those societies. He married Rachael Cham- pion, and they became the parents of nine children: Anthony; Martha, wife of David Tomlin, a farmer of Cumberland, New Jersey, by whom she had four children, Smith, Rachael, Emma and Elizabeth; Sarah, wife of Franklin Horner, a pine dealer of Bridgeton, New Jersey, by whom she has a daugh- ter, Maud; Phoebe, wife of William Tomlin, a farmer, their children being Jonas, Emma and Edward; Samuel, a merchant, who married Eliza Jane Marshall, who was killed in 1899, leaving four children, Clara Ogden, Jonas, Joseph and Phoebe; and Roxanna, who became the wife of Ward Still, a farmer and merchant of Tuckahoe, by whom she has two children, Harry and Ward. The mother of these children was called to her final rest April 3, 1873.
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In the district schools Anthony Steelman obtained his education, and then turned his attention to the wood business. He entered the forests in order to cut timber, but determined to devote his energies to other pursuits and gradually came to Tuckahoe, where he sought and obtained a clerkship. He had worked for his father for sixty-two and a half cents per day and thus he had accumulated eighty dollars. Selling a cow for twenty dollars, he invested his capital of one hundred dollars in the mercantile business, and for a half century was engaged in conducting a general store. His enter- prise, reasonable prices and earnest desire to please his customers brought to him a liberal patronage, and he conducted a large and constantly growing business, from which he derived a good income. In 1894, however, he sold his business to George L. Parsons, and since that time has been engaged in cedar-lumber and insurance business. He has also conducted a grocery and provision store, and in these three departments he has met with credit- able success. He cuts over two hundred thousand feet of cedar timber annually, and owns fourteen hundred acres of cedar timber, cord wood, oak and pine land, besides considerable farming land. He was one of the pro- moters and stockholders of the Seashore Railroad, served as its director for five years and then sold his interest to the Reading Railroad Company.
On the 26th of February, 1849, Mr. Steelman was united in marriage to Emeline Van Gilder, a daughter of Thomas Van Gilder, who died September 14, 1878. Mr. Steelman was then called upon to settle up his father-in-law's estate, valued at fifty-two thousand dollars. He also settled the estate be- longing to his brother-in-law and of many other parties, probably having done more of this business than any other man in the county. His honesty and reliability are proverbial and every trust reposed in him is faithfully ful- filled. To Mr. and Mrs. Steelman have been born four children. Cordelia, the eldest, died at age of sixteen months. Harry married Jeannette Beebe, and their children were Ida Rae, Edna Bertha, John, Harry Moore and Elihu. Rachel was the wife of Dr. Randolph Marshall. A. Lincoln married Ann Moore.
Mr. Steelman is a stalwart advocate of Republican principles, and has been an active worker in the interests of the party. He was the sheriff for three years, elected in the fall of 1868. He served as a freeholder for ten years, was township committeeman for several years, and has held various other township offices, discharging his duties with the prominence and fidelity that have won him high commendation. For several years he was the president of the Tuckahoe Building & Loan Association. For fifty-five years he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and has held all the offices in that organization, having been a trustee and steward of the
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church in Tuckahoe for half a century. He was a charter member of Tucka- hoe Lodge, No. 67, I. O. O. F., which was organized in 1846, and is the only survivor of the thirty-three members who instituted the lodge. His life has been one of activity, and at all times has been honorable and upright. His example is in many respects worthy of emulation, and all who know him entertain for him respect and honor. He seems to possess the vigor of a man of younger years, and it is the wish of his many friends that he may long be spared to take his part, as he has always done, in the promotion of commercial activity and in the advancement of all the various enterprises that have contributed to the welfare and advancement of Cape May county.
IRA ISZARD.
Ira Iszard, who is engaged in farming near Glassboro, was born in the vicinity of Clayton, December 31, 1832. He obtained his education in the common schools and throughout his business career has carried on agricul- tural pursuits and worked at the glass-maker's trade. The production of glass is one of the leading industries of this section of the state and to that business he devoted his energies for a short time. He is now the owner of a farm of one hundred acres and its well tilled fields indicate his careful super- vision. He has good buildings upon the place and the neatness and thrift which characterize everything indicate him to be a progressive and enter- prising agriculturist.
In May, 1853, Mr. Iszard was united in marriage to Miss Sarah C. Shule, a daughter of Isaac Shule, of Penn's Grove. They became the parents of twelve children, of whom only five are living: Elmer, who aids in the opera- tion of the home farm; John H., who is at home; Susan, the wife of Albert Johnson, formerly of Millville but now of Bradford, Pennsylvania; and Rose and Bertha, still at their parental home. Mary, the eldest daughter, became the wife of George A. Green and died September 2, 1899.
Mr. Iszard has been very active in public affairs and has served as town- ship committeeman, having been in the office altogether for twelve years. He was also a surveyor of highways, and his political support is given to the Republican party. He holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, with which he has long been officially connected and in which he has acted as a class-leader for some time. For twenty-five years he was a member of the Odd Fellows society, and during that period served as the treasurer of his lodge. The salient points in his character are diligence and fidelity, qualities which have won him success in business and gained him the confi- dence of his fellow men in public life.
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FRANK R. NICHOLS.
The chief executive officer of Clayton is Hon. F. R. Nichols, who in his administration of the affairs of the city displays a most progressive and public-spirited interest in the general welfare. He exercises his official prero- gatives to advance all measures for the public good and withholds his support and co-operation from no movement which he believes will prove of general benefit. In a prompt and business-like manner he performs his public duties and has therefore won the commendation not only of his own party but also of many of the opposition.
Mr. Nichols is a native of New Hampshire, his birth having occurred in Newton, that state, on the 3Ist of July, 1824. His father, Franklin Nichols, was born in Haverhill, Massachusetts, and in 1860 removed to Oswego, New York, where he engaged in merchandising as the proprietor of a shoe store, and employed several shoemakers. After four years passed there he took up his abode in Cape May county, New Jersey, in 1864, and also con- ducted a store there for five years. He subsequently spent a short time at Millville, and in 1872 came to Clayton, where he has since made his home. He is a leading and influential member of the Baptist church, in which he is holding the office of deacon, and his aid is ever given to those interests which tend to uplift humanity. He married Nancy David, a daughter of Reuben David, of New Hampshire, and in 1896 he was called upon to mourn the death of his wife, with whom he had long and happily traveled life's jour- ney. They have had seven children, of whom the following survive: Harriet, the wife of Captain Ludnum, of Ocean City, Maryland; Charles, who is the county sheriff and resides in Cape May Court House; Frank R., of this review; and Minnie, the wife of Captain Jesse Price, of Cape May Court House.
Fred R. Nichols was a child of only six years when he left the old Granite state and removed with his parents to New York. He obtained his educa- tion in Oswego and in the schools of New Jersey, and after leaving the school-room learned the shoemaker's trade, working for his father in that capacity for two years. Since 1872 he has been a resident of Clayton, still following the same business.
In March, 1892, he was elected to the mayoralty and is the present incum- bent in that office, his faithful service having caused his re-election. He is a Democrat in his political affiliations and gives his support to the men and measures of the party, keeping well informed on the issues of the day. Socially he is a valued member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and for a quarter of a century has belonged to the Knights of Pythias fraternity.
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He was married in February, 1873, to Miss Belle Wolf, a daughter of Gaud- loup Wolf, and they now have two daughters, Lizzie and Josephine. Widely known in Clayton, the family hold an enviable position in social circles, and the hospitality of the best homes of the city is extended them.
WILLIAM ROBBINS.
Probably few of the agriculturists of Salem county can justly boast of a better kept farm than that owned by the subject of this article, who is in every sense of the word a wide-awake, enterprising man. He is well and . favorably known to many persons throughout this state and in other parts of the country as a raiser of and dealer in fine thoroughbred horses, several excellent specimens of which may be found at all times upon his farm.
The parents of William Robbins were, like himself, tillers of the soil. The father, Van Room Robbins, a native of Monmouth county, this state, removed to the vicinity of Swedesboro in 1837 and there engaged in farm- ing. He departed this life in 1887, when in his eighty-fifth year. His wife, whose maiden name was Margaretta Blackwell, was born in Monmouth county, also, and at the time of her death was but fifty-four years of age. They were the parents of five sons, namely: Henry, Benjamin C., William, Frank and Harrison, of whom the last named is deceased.
William Robbins was born on the old homestead near Swedesboro, Gloucester county, March 4, 1839. He was reared to the life of a farmer, becoming thoroughly familiar with every department of agriculture. Upon starting out for himself he rented a farm near the parental home and carried it on successfully for a period of five years. At the end of five years spent in this manner he removed to Salem county, where he leased the home- stead of James Sharp, and in 1874 he located upon his present place, com- prising one hundred and three acres, which he purchased of Charles Clark. He has brought the property under a high state of cultivation, reconstruct- ing all the buildings which stood upon the farm and making here a model country home. During the '6os this place was commonly known as the "great hog farm of Jersey," owing to the fact that the largest hogs ever raised in the state were then developed here. Mr. Robbins has been en- gaged in dairy farming to some extent, shipping his products to Phila- delphia, where he finds a ready market. But perhaps he is most widely known in connection with the fine horses which he has raised. Every one has heard of the famous Goldsmith Volunteer and Yorktown Belle, with records of 2:203, for which animals Mr. Robbins received seven thousand
William Robbins
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dollars. He also owned Young Volunteer by Goldsmith Volunteer. Re- cently he sold another pair of fine horses of the same stock for one thousand dollars. At the time that the seven thousand dollars just mentioned was placed in his hands, he concluded to invest it in a valuable farm of one hundred and sixty-five acres, adjoining his own homestead, and this prop- erty is now managed by his eldest son.
In 1866 William Robbins and Miss Mary F. Tolman, of Gloucester county, were united in marriage. They became the parents of six children, four sons and two daughters, namely: Van Room, William, Alberta, Blanche, Harry and Leon. Mrs. Robbins' parents were Joseph and Eliza- beth Tolman, of whom the former is deceased, while the latter is still living, now in her seventy-eighth year.
JAMES BUTCHER.
Hon. James Butcher, ex-senator, of Salem, is the proprietor of a profit- able butchering business and has clearly demonstrated the fact that in order to be a successful business man it is not necessary to be a man of one idea, as he has succesfully prosecuted several lines of business and has shown himself the master of each. In connection with his other business he fills the office of county collector for Salem county, and is widely known and esteemed for his many noble attributes. He was born March 30, 1849, in Lower Alloway Creek township, this county, and is a son of Robert and Mary (Patrick) Butcher.
His grandfather, also James Butcher, was born in the same locality No- vember 7, 1783, and was an agriculturist of that district. He was a man of wisdom and was at one time judge of the court of this county, and for several years was a justice of the peace, being familiarly known as "Judge" Butcher. His official business requiring his presence in Salem he moved there and made that his home for the remainder of his life. He was one of the leading Democrats of the county. He was united in the holy bonds of matrimony with Miss Hannah Sayre, who was born July 21, 1781. Their children were as follows: Elizabeth, born July 16, 1807, is now the widow of John Lambert, who was born March 25, 1826, and was a merchant at Hancock's Bridge, a member of the legislature and later a farmer in the vicinity of Quinton, where he died. Job E., born November 18, 1809, died September 12, 1813. Ann, born January 9, 1812, died the following Septem- ber. Hannah, born May 7, 1813, was married in 1832 to John Lindsey, a farmer of Penn's Neck township. James B., born December 10, 1816, mar-
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ried February 25, 1841, Barbara Carll, and was a farmer of Lower Allo- way and died May 14, 1845, as a result of a kick received from a horse. Robert, the father of our subject, was born December 20, 1819. Lydia Ann, born March 20, 1823, married William E. Scudder, a merchant residing at Hancock's Bridge. James Butcher, born December 26, 1843, was left a widower, his wife dying at the age of sixty-five years, five months, and five days. Five years later, on April 26, 1848, he led to the altar Miss Mary B. Shimp. One child, Mary, was born to them April 13, 1849, and is now de- ceased. Mr. Butcher is well remembered by many of our older citizens as a man of strict integrity and genial disposition.
After he had left the district schools Robert Butcher settled on a farm comprising one hundred and sixty acres in Lower Alloway Creek town- ship, which he kept in a high state of cultivation. He was a Democrat and held a number of township offices, being respected by every one. He was married to Mary Patrick and reared several children, namely: Elizabeth P., born September 20, 1842, and wife of Robert Griscom, merchant and coro- ner at Hancock's Bridge; Arabella, who was born May 14, 1844, and died the January following; Phoebe M., born May 20, 1847, and died September 26, 1853; James, our subject; Hannah, born May 13, 1851, deceased, mar- ried J. Harvey Robinson, a merchant; Theodore, born January 13, 1854, died December 13, 1862; and A. Linda, born August 25, 1857, married William R. Kelly, a merchant of Salem, who died January 9, 1879: she died November 15, 1887. The father of the above children died July 28, 1881, while the mother passed away May 25, 1864.
Hon. James Butcher attended school until he reached his twentieth year, first a pupil in the district schools and later in the Friends' school at this city and at Shiloh, Cumberland county. Leaving school he spent two years farming with his father, when he married and took entire charge of the farm for a few years. Not being satisfied to make this the occupation of his life, he moved to Hancock's Bridge and for eight years was most suc- cessfully engaged in the mercantile business. About this time he was elected sheriff of Salem county and disposed of his stock of goods to take charge of that office. Soon after this he engaged in the manufacture of glass, taking charge of the Elmer Glass Company's plant and making window glass. He operated this factory three years and during that time purchased the plant of the Molloge Glass Manufacturing Company and operated both plants until he was appointed revenue collector, when he sold out and retired from the business.
Mr. Butcher chose as his bride Miss Lydia C., daughter of Peter Harris, a prominent farmer of Lower Alloway Creek township. Five children have
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been born to him, viz .: Hannah A. (Mrs. F. Petrick); Benjamin E., who married Rachel Carll; Lydia C .; Ann Elizabeth (Mrs. James W. Carll). Of the four children born to our subject, Mary A., the eldest, was born July 7, 1873, and died April 15, 1889; J. Clifford was born in 1876 and is the effi- cient bookkeeper for the Ayers Medicine Company; Elizabeth G. attended school in this city and Bridgeton, graduating at the latter and has been one of the most successful instructors in the Canton public schools; while Robert, the youngest child, is yet a student. Mr. Butcher is one of the lead- ers of the Democratic party in Salem county, always attends the conven- tions and is perfectly at home in managing a campaign. He was elected to the office of sheriff in 1888 and served for three years, when he was elected to the senate and took his seat in the legislative halls of the state of New Jersey. From 1890 to 1893 he looked carefully after the interests of his constituents and received many commendations for the stand he took on all questions of importance to Salem county. In 1894 he was appointed revenue collector for the first district and held the office four years, and was then elected county collector. He is at present engaged in the butcher business and is making the success he did in the other enterprises in which he was engaged.
GEORGE HITCHNER.
George Hitchner was born July 22, 1835, at Friesburg, Salem county, where he still resides, and is a son of John and Sarah (Johnson) Hitchner, a grandson of Major John Hitchner, and a great-grandson of Jacob Hitchner, who came to America from Germany and reared two or three daughters and four sons. One of these sons, Matthias, was a carpenter and was unmarried; one settled in Daretown and one in Friesburg.
Major John George Hitchner was born in Friesburg and was a farmer of that vicinity. He opened and conducted the Hitchner tavern, now the residence of John Van Leer, and was a most popular host. He was indus- trious and frugal and was thought to be a man of considerable means. He was a Democrat and a major in a military company. He worshipped in the Lutheran church. He was twice married, his union with Miss Miller, the grandmother of our subject, resulting in the birth of Jacob, George, Martin, John and two daughters: Mary, wife of John Koats; and Margaret, who first married a Mr. Young and later Adam Wintzell. His second wife bore him five children: Mary Ann, wife of Jonathan Wood; Sarah Ann, wife of Daniel Johnson; Lydia Ann, wife of Jacob Walter; Samuel and Levi.
John Hitchner was born in 1793 on the old farm in Friesburg, where
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he grew to manhood and passed his entire life, the one hundred and twenty acres furnishing him a pleasant home and comfortable income. Like his father he was a Democrat in politics and was honored with a number of township offices besides acting as committeeman. He united with the Lutheran church and took an active part in the building up of the work of that organization and for many years was one of its most efficient officers. He was married to Miss Sarah Johnson, by whom he had twelve children, six sons and as many daughters, namely: Johnson, a farmer, now deceased, married Mary Colvin and had seven children,-Daniel, Gould, Ed, George, Samuel, who is in the Bridgeton National Bank, Neal, and Mary, who died and left three children. Lewis, a farmer who died in 1899, married Isabel Moore, by whom he had several children,-Jacob, Scott, Lewis, Lizzie Pea- cock, Sallie'Miller and Ruth. Susanna, deceased, married Isaac Van Lear; Christina became the wife of William Remster, a miller, and had one daugh- ter, who married Scott Grice and is the mother of two children,-Clayton and one other. Matilda married Jeremiah Watson, a farmer and miller, and their children are George, Jeremiah, Wilfred, Sarah Dunham, and Mary, who married William Kenzell. Mary Ann, deceased, married Benjamin Garrison, a farmer, now deceased, and they were the parents of five chil- dren,-Lewis, William, Caroline, Anna and Ella. Eli Pallen married Mrs. Theodosia Pierson, and their children are William, Frank, Philip, Mrs. Zaiser, Mrs. Hamilton, Ella, Erbin and Charles. Sarah is the wife of John Mickle, a farmer. John and George are the next members of the family. Margaret is the wife of Samuel Batton Jones, and they have three daugh- ters,-Catherine, Phoebe, and Ella; Charles, now deceased, was the young- est. He married Lizzie Timberman and had four children,-John, Maggie, Bert, and Geneva. The father of this family reached the age of eighty-three years before his earthly career was ended, and a noble, generous nature was called to its reward.
George Hitchner grew to manhood in Friesburg and was educated in the public schools of that vicinity. He has an acquired as well as natural talent for agriculture and for forty years tended one hundred and thirty acres of land. He takes a great interest in everything that affects the inter- est of the farmer, and united with the Grange, as he believed it would be the means of bringing great good to the farmer. He is a general farmer and keeps a number of cows, selling the milk, from which he receives a neat income, while the animals at the same time are the means of enriching and building up his farm. He realized that his crops if marketed in the usual manner would bring but a medium price, while if fed to cows and their product disposed of he would be sure of a steady market and would realize
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much more for his labor. It is such farmers who use their brains as well as their muscle to whom Salem county owes much of its prosperity.
He was united in wedlock to Miss Mary, daughter of Henry Johnson, a farmer. They have the following named children: . Amanda, wife of David Shrimp, a farmer, and the mother of three children,-George, Eddie, and an infant; Ellwood, a farmer, who married Lizzie Snellbecker, by whom he has one child, Esily; Benjamin, a resident of Philadelphia; Hattie, who married Dr. Frank Harris, of Canton, New Jersey; Lizzie Mary, wife of John May, a blacksmith, by whom she has one child, Carrie; Sallie, wife of Harris Carll, a farmer; George, a farmer, who married Addie Hitchner, by whom he has one child, Addie; and the others are Clayton, Anna, Laura, Stephen and William.
Mr. Hitchner is a Democrat, but has never been a politician. He is a member of the Lutheran church, in which he has been an elder for more than thirty years and in which he has been an active worker, giving liberally toward its support.
MICAJAH B. CASSADAY.
Prominent among the leading farmers residing in the vicinity of Monroe- ville, Salem county, New Jersey, is found the gentleman whose name intro- duces this review, Micajah B. Cassaday. He is a native of Salem county, New Jersey, born near the town of Elmer, August 5, 1837, a son of Job Cassa- day, who was a native of Gloucester county, this state, and a representative of one of the early families of New Jersey. Job Cassaday, when a young man moved from Gloucester to Salem county, where he passed the rest of his life and where he died in 1887. He was a prosperous farmer and an honor- able and upright man, respected by all who knew him. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Stevenson, was a native of Burlington county, New Jersey. She also died in 1887. Of their six children three are now living: Rebecca, wife of Robert Brock, of Burlington county; Micajah B., the direct subject of this sketch; and John, who resides on a farm near Elmer.
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