USA > New Jersey > Biographical, genealogical and descriptive history of the first congressional district of New Jersey, Volume II > Part 40
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M. B. Cassaday spent his boyhood days not unlike other farmer boys, working on the farm in summer and attending the district school in winter. In 1857, at the age of twenty, he began farming operations on his own ac- count near Monroeville, and two years later, in 1859, he purchased the farm upon which he now resides, two hundred and thirty acres, where he has since carried on general farming. Besides this he owns two other farms.
Mr. Cassaday, while he has never sought public office, has been called upon to fill such positions as overseer of the road and member of the town- II-X
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ship committee, to which he has given his careful attention, serving in the latter capacity three years.
He was married in September, 1858, to Miss Mary Ayers, daughter of Samuel Ayers, of Salem county; and they have had six children, three of whom are deceased. Those living are: Rebecca, wife of Robert Cornell, of Glassboro, New Jersey; Albert, of Elmer, New Jersey; and Linda, wife of Rogers Gruff, of Campletown, New Jersey.
LEWIS H. MILLER.
The profession of medicine has drawn to its service some of the brightest and most efficient men of every generation, and it has more than kept pace with other professions in the rapid advancement which has given the nine- teenth century a place of honor in the history of the world. New Jersey has many promising young physicians, but none of more brilliant promise than Dr. Lewis Hitchner Miller, of Woodstown, some account of whose antecedents and whose career it will be attempted to give in the succeeding paragraphs.
Dr. Lewis H. Miller was born at Friesburg, Salem county, New Jersey, July 13, 1868, a son of William A. and Sarah M. (Hitchner) Miller. Joseph Miller, his grandfather in the paternal line, was a native and lifelong resident of Stone Church, Northampton county, Pennsylvania, where he died, at the age of seventy-six years. He was a weaver and farmer, a successful and prominent citizen. William A. Miller, father of Dr. Lewis H. Miller, died March 23, 1899, aged sixty-two years. He began a noteworthy career as a teacher at the age of seventeen years and pursued it without interrup- tion for eight years, until August, 1862, when he enlisted for nine months as a member of Company C, Twenty-fourth Regiment of New Jersey Volun- teer Infantry. He took part in the battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia, May 2 and 3, 1863, and in the first battle at Fredericksburg, Virginia, December 13, 1862, after which he was made orderly sergeant. At the expiration of his term of enlistment he was proffered the office of com- missioned officer and declined it to return to New Jersey and resume school- teaching, which, though he had won credit as a soldier, he preferred to further warfare.
In 1865 he married Sarah M., a daughter of Lewis and Elizabeth Hitchner, and bought a store at Centerville, Northampton county, Penn- sylvania. In 1866 he disposed of his mercantile interests in Pennsylvania and removed to Salem county, New Jersey. From the spring of 1868 to
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1875 he was in charge of his father-in-law's farming interests. In 1875 he bought a farm near Friesburg, Salem county, where he lived during the remainder of his life. He was a diligent reader of instructive literature and was a lifelong student, taking an active interest in the political, educational and religious work of his community. Possessing social qualities which endeared him to all whom he met, he had many warm friends among lead- ing men throughout this part of the state. He was especially devoted to the interests of the Lutheran church.
Lewis Hitchner, grandfather of Dr. Lewis H. Miller in the maternal line, died in March, 1899, aged seventy-nine years. His widow survives him, aged seventy-eight. Five brothers and two sisters of William A. Miller are living: Lavinia, Kate, Jacob, John, James, Theodore and Albert. Three brothers and one sister of Elizabeth (Hitchner) Miller are living: Jacob, Scott, Lewis, and Elizabeth, wife of Thomas Peacock.
Dr. Lewis H. Miller entered upon the active duties of life at the age of sixteen, as superintendent of his father's farm, the elder Miller's time being devoted to teaching. Under his father's instruction and in the public school he had already acquired a good primary education. In the winter he attended Benjamin Ames' private school and under that enthusiastic educator made good progress. Later he spent two years as a teacher in the public schools of his native township and attended the West Jersey Academy for one year. In September, 1891, he entered the University of Pennsylvania for a four-years course in medicine, and was graduated in 1895. After one year of preliminary experience he located at Woodstown, New Jersey, where his success has brought him an extensive practice.
On February 16, 1898, Dr. Miller married Martha C. Cooper, a daughter of Joseph W. and Elizabeth (Kirby) Cooper, natives of Salem county, this state. Mr. Cooper has been active and influential in every public relation. He represented his county two terms as assemblyman, and was one of the founders and directors of the Delaware River Railroad. As a fruit-grower and truck farmer he achieved a notable success, retiring from this business in 1890. Mrs. Cooper died in 1884. Mrs. Miller is one of seven children, five of whom are living,-Howard G., William R., Maria (Cooper) Fogg, Elizabeth (Cooper) Borton, and Martha (Cooper) Miller. Mrs. Miller is a member of the Society of Friends, while Dr. Miller is a member of the Lutheran church, zealous in all its good works and active and generous in the furtherance of all its important interests. Dr. Miller is a citizen of much public spirit and has in many ways shown that he has a deep interest in the progress and prosperity of Woodstown. Though not a politician in the ordinary acceptance of the term, he takes an earnest interest in every
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question affecting the public welfare and, as a patriotic citizen, takes such a part in the work of his party as he deems most promising for the good of the people of his town, county, state and country.
EDWARD BRADWAY.
Any one who has heard of Salem county, New Jersey, is familiar with the name of Bradway and knows that members of the family here referred to were among the earliest settlers in this part of the state and assisted in trans- forming the wilderness of early uncivilized times into fields of fertility and verdure.
The gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch was born in Morris River township, Cumberland county, June 19, 1819, and is a son of Adna and Lydia (Baner) Bradway. He traces his genealogy back through five generations in direct line from Adna, Edward, Jonathan, William, to Edward Bradway, who came with his wife and three children, Mary, Wil- liam and Susannah, together with three servants, to this country, in 1677. They embarked from London in March of that year on the ship Kent and landed at Salem in July, after a voyage of four months. He had previously purchased a town lot and one thousand acres of land of the proprietor before John Fenwick came here with his colony. He purchased sixteen acres lying adjacent to Broadway and extending from the wharf to Fenwick creek. In 1691 he erected the large, handsome building which is still standing and has become famous as the Governor's house from the fact that it was the residence of the governor of New Jersey after the death of Edward Bradway. It is a large brick structure, rivaling in size and architecture the homes built by William Penn and Samuel Carpenter in Philadelphia, and is still in possession of his lineal descendants. He received as his allotment from John Fenwick a large tract of land on the south side of Alloway creek and on this land founded the Bradway family in America. His children were: Mary, who married William Cooper, in the year 1687. He was the first blacksmith in Salem. They had three children: Mary, born in 1688; Sarah, born in 1690; and Hannah, born in 1692. William, the second child of Edward Bradway, married Elizabeth White, a daughter of Christopher White, who was born in London in 1669; they had three children: William, who died young; Jonathan, born in 1699, and Elizabeth, born in 1701; Susannah was the third child; and Hannah, the youngest, was born after the family reached this country.
Jonathan Bradway was born in 1699 and was twice married, his first wife
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being Mary Daniels, a daughter of James Daniels, Sr. They had three children,-William, born in 1728, Rachel and Jonathan. For his second wife he chose Susannah Oakford, daughter of Charles Oakford, Jr., and by her also had three children,-Edward, born in 1741, Sarah and Nathan.
Edward Bradway was born April 31, 1741, in Lower Alloway Creek township, Salem county, where he grew up to become one of the best farm- ers in that section. He was a member of the Society of Friends, attending the Alloway Creek meeting and was known as a God-fearing, upright man. His wife, Elizabeth, was a daughter of Jonathan and Mary Ann Waddington and was born February II, 1740. Their children were David, born Novem- ber 27, 1761, and died December 28, 1820; Hannah, born March 1, 1764, and died December 16, 1795; Edward, born December 22, 1867, and died September 24, 1777; Waddington, born January 15, 1770, and died Decem- ber 20, 1834; Elizabeth, born January 22, 1774, and died December 3, 1808; and Adna, born February 16, 1777, and died April 24, 1860. Edward Brad- way died October 25, 1813, at the age of seventy-three years; and his wife died January 20, 1796, at the age of fifty-six years.
Adna Bradway was a native of Lower Alloway Creek township and com- bined the vocations of farming and pump-manufacture. He subsequently moved to Morris River township, Cumberland county, and there engaged in farming and milling. He was a Republican and made one of the best overseers of roads ever known in the county. He belonged to the Society of Friends and lived in Stow Creek township at the time of his death. He was united in matrimony, in 1801, to Miss Sarah Baker, by whom he had one son, John, who was born August 13, 1802, and died October 5 of the same year. He also lost his wife and then placed at the head of his household Miss Lydia Baner, to whom he was joined November 10, 1808. She was the daughter of Elisha Baner, who was born October 3, 1748, and died July 9, 1782. He lived at Cape May, this state, and was a farmer and fisher all his life long. He was a Quaker in his religion and a good man. His children were Jacob, born March 2, 1775, and died July 11, 1859, at the age of eighty- five years; Mark, born December 26, 1776, and died December 6, 1857; Elisha, born December 2, 1778, and died November 29, 1862; Hannah, born November 8, 1780, and died January 7, 1853; and Lydia, born November 10, 1782, and died December 8, 1856. Lydia Bradway presented her husband with the following children, viz .: Sarah, born November 29, 1809, and died January 26, 1895, at the age of eighty-five years, one month and twenty-six days; Elisha B., born November 1, 1811, died December 11, 1853; Adna, born August 3, 1814, died July 4, 1886: he was married to Mary M. Gray on February 22, 1844; Jacob, born November 30, 1816, died December 9, 1898;
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Edward, our subject; Lydia, born. November 30, 1821, and died in 1859; Jonathan J., born March 14, 1824; and Elizabeth, born November 20, 1827, and died January 24, 1895.
Edward Bradway received his education in Port Elizabeth and Morris River and Stow Creek townships, and from the school-room went at once upon the farm. He owned a small farm which he cultivated for many years, prospering in his business and laying up a competency for the shadowy days of life. In 1899 he retired from active business and moved to the city of Salem, where he is respected by every one. He is a Republican and a member of the Society of Friends, formerly attending at the Greenwich meeting-house, of the Hicksite division.
CHARLES R. WHITESELL.
Charles Reeves Whitesell, of Salem, has won more than a local reputa- tion as a carpenter and builder, being one of the most reliable and skillful members of the craft in the county. His parents were John and Eliza (Curry) Whitesell. His father was a native of Philadelphia, who moved to Salem county in the early part of his life and worked at his trade, which was that of contractor and builder. He was a good workman and received a generous patronage from the residents of the county. His political sym- pathies were with the Democrats, while in religion he affiliated with the Methodists, to which church he united in early life. He had seven chil- dren, three sons and four daughters, namely: Harriet, Josiah, Abigail, Marietta, Charles Reeves, John C., and a daughter that died in infancy. The father was called from his labors in 1879, in his fifty-ninth year. The mother was sixty-five at the time of her death.
Charles R. Whitesell was born October 30, 1860, in Pennsville, Salem county, attended the schools in Salem, was apprenticed for three years to learn the trade of carpentering, and the following fifteen years worked at the trade as a journeyman. At the expiration of this time he began to make contracts and build, and also took contracts in brick work, employing six men to prosecute the work, and has succeeded in establishing a business that is at once flattering to his workmanship and gratifying as a source of income.
Mr. Whitesell was married December 24, 1883, to Miss Rose A. Balles, a daughter of Jacob Balles, who resides in Salem and is an oil-cloth manufac- turer by trade. One child, a son, Norman J., was born of this union. Mr. Whitesell is a Democrat but takes little active part in political measures, as his business occupies his entire attention. He is a stockholder in the Frank-
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lin Building and Loan Association, is a prominent member of the order of the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is a member of the board of directors. He has a membership in the Memorial Baptist church, in which he holds the office of trustee, and is one of those trusty, sturdy men whose stability and enterprising spirit go far toward promoting the best interests of a community.
JOHN L. DOWNS.
A native of Downstown, New Jersey, born March 17, 1845, J. L. Downs, a well known merchant of Newfield, Gloucester county, is a son of Ira Downs and grandson of John Downs, both of whom were well-to-do farmers and lumbermen. The father of our subject, a native of Downstown also, departed this life when in his early prime, twenty-eight years of age. He was a member of the Methodist church and enjoyed the genuine respect of all with whom he was associated. His widow, whose name in girlhood was Margaret Lashley, and who is a daughter of John Lashley, is still living, now being in her seventy-ninth year. Of the four children born to Ira and Marga- ret Downs all but one survive: Elizabeth, the wife of Benjamin C. Downs; John Lashley and Stephen A. Mrs. Margaret Downs married secondly, James C. Jones, and resides in the old Lashley homestead, formerly her father's home. Of the two children of this marriage William J. Jones sur- vives and lives near the "lake."
In his youth J. L. Downs received small advantages in the way of an education save those afforded by the public schools of his district, but the power of observation, which he possesses in a marked degree, has broadened and liberalized his mind, more, perhaps, than a collegiate course might have done. Having been reared to the various duties pertaining to the manage- ment of a farm, it is not strange that he followed in the footsteps of his forefathers and made agriculture his means of gaining a livelihood. How- ever, in 1887, when he had arrived at his prime, he removed to Newfield and opened a store, which he has carried on up to the present time, with suc- cess. He owns a house and lot here and is prospering, as he justly deserves to do.
On the 3d of July, 1873, Mr. Downs married Sally E. Souder, a daughter of Charles Souder, of Downstown. They became the parents of three chil- dren, of whom two are living: Howard, who lives at Newfield; and Mary, who resides at home. For twelve years our subject has been the treasurer of the local lodge of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, and
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for a like period he was a steward in the Methodist Episcopal church. He also has served efficiently as a school trustee and as an overseer of the poor, and in each of these varied offices has discharged his duties in a manner reflecting great credit upon his sagacity and fidelity to the best interests of the people.
WILLIAM B. JONES.
W. B. Jones belongs to the younger class of citizens whose enterprise and push have placed them on a basis equal to that of older and widely experienced men, and has brought the village of Elmer to be ranked among the prosperous commercial towns of the state. It is gratifying to a high degree, to the citizens there, that Mr. Jones has embarked in the mercantile business; and while hustling for his own prosperity he also promotes the interest of the entire community.
He was born in Aldine, Alloway township, this county, June 5, 1873, and is a son of Samuel V. and a grandson of Joseph Jones, both natives of Elmer. The family came from Wales and settled in this village, where Joseph grew to manhood and engaged in the mercantile business, conduct- ing two stores in the village of Elmer, one at each end of the town. He was a freeholder and received the nomination for sheriff at one time. Samuel V. moved to Aldine in 1864 and opened a store, which he conducted for several years. He has been the postmaster since 1886 and has held all the town offices.
William B. Jones completed a good common-school education, supple- menting it with a course at the Philadelphia Business College and taking the entire business course in six months. He then returned home and for eighteen months was with his father in the store. A place was offered him on the traveling force of B. S. Janney, Jr., & Company, of Philadelphia, large wholesale grocers, for whom he worked some time, and then resigned to accept a similar position for Thomas Roberts & Company, of that city, who also were in the wholesale grocery business. He traveled for them eight years and made many friends along his route whose orders always awaited his coming. On mature deliberation he decided to venture into the commercial field for himself, and on February 4, 1899, he opened a general store in Elmer, in which he carries a complete line of goods and is almost sure of meeting the wants of his patrons. He has been success- ful from the start in establishing his business on a firm basis, and has dis- played an energy and enterprise seldom found in one so young. His trade is rapidly increasing and brings patrons from all over the surrounding
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country to the village, where his courteous and affable treatment compels their approbation and good will. Aside from his mercantile business, he has also a canning establishment at Daretown, where he cans apples, toma- toes and pears, packing above nine thousand cases in 1899.
Mr. Jones was united in marriage February 7, 1896, to Miss Mattie Reeves, of Alloway, a daughter of William Reeves. They have one child, Samuel, who is the light of their home. Mr. Jones is a member of a num- ber of fraternal orders, belonging to the Masonic fraternity, the Odd Fellows and the Red Cross. He is rapidly forging his way to the front of successful business men and a brilliant career lies before him.
JAMES B. NICHOLSON.
James B. Nicholson, one of the leading farmers of Elsinboro township, Salem county, was born in New Castle, Indiana, July 18, 1856, and is a son of William T. and Elebeta S. (Baker) Nicholson. His father was a native of this county and removed to Indiana in 1853. During the civil war he enlisted in the Forty-first Indiana Volunteers, first in ninety-day service and later in three-year service, became sergeant and died in a hospital in 1863. He had eight children, two of whom are living,-James B .; and Capi- tola, who married Augustus Opel, of Massillon, Ohio.
January 13, 1865, Mr. Nicholson returned to New Jersey and received his education in the public schools of Salem county and at the Collegiate Institute at Salem. He lived with his uncle, William Thompson, until 1881, and subsequently followed the butchering business in Salem for six years, after which he returned to the farm. This farm was occupied for forty-two years by the late William Thompson, who died in 1889. He built the pres- ent residence, set out the trees, which are now large and beautiful, and brought the farm to a high state of cultivation. A portion of the farm was bequeathed to Mr. Nicholson, who later became sole owner.
In December, 1881, Mr. Nicholson was married to Miss Anna D., daughter of Peter Breece, who for many years was a merchant in Salem. They have three children,-Elsie Breece, Jennie Dumont and William Thompson. Mr. Nicholson has always been a Republican and has been township clerk, a member of the township committee four years, of which he is now chairman, and was a trustee of the county almshouse in 1898. He was also chosen a member of the board of education and president of the board, but could not act on account of holding other offices.
Mr. Nicholson's grandfather, Daniel Nicholson, was one of three broth-
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ers, English Quakers, who settled in Salem county. The present genera- tion, however, are connected with the Methodist Episcopal church.
HOWARD E. MOORE.
Among the many enterprising young business men of Swedesboro who have taken up the work that their fathers have laid down, and are bending their energies to carving out a successful career for themselves, and at the same time promoting the growth of their town, may be mentioned the sub- ject of this sketch. He was born in Swedesboro, May 23, 1877, and is a son. of George Franklin and Ella (Waters) Moore. His paternal grandparents were Ezekiel and Keziah (Justice) Moore. He is a great-grandson of John Moore, and a great-great-grandson of the pioneer of the family who came from Germany and settled in Gloucester county at an early day. The mater- nal grandfather of our subject, who married Rachel Brick, is a native of Woodstown, New Jersey, but was a prominent farmer in Gloucester county for many years, and one of the leading merchants of Swedesboro, from 1856 to 1890. He has for several years filled the office of justice of the peace. The maternal great-grandparents, Ephraim and Elizabeth (Campbell) Waters, were natives of Woodstown and Glassboro, New Jersey, respec- tively.
Howard E. Moore attended the public schools of Swedesboro, and from early boyhood assisted his father in the livery business, to which he suc- ceeded in 1898. On August 17, 1898, he was united in marriage with Mamie B., daughter of John Johnson, of Repaupo, New Jersey. Mr. Moore is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and in politics advocates the views of the Republican party. He has one sister, Miss Elsie Moore.
WILLIAM HEBENTHAL.
Cape May can boast of no more worthy citizen than William Hebenthal, a grand type of the German-American, one who has fought under the ban- ner of his adopted country and has loyally upheld her institutions in days of peace. His record, both in public and in private life, is above reproach and is truly worthy of emulation.
The father and paternal grandfather of our subject were both named Christian, and both were farmers by occupation. The younger man was one of two children, he having a sister, Mrs. Wagner. For a wife he chose Dora Molhennick, and to them five children were born, namely: Peter,
-
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Martin, Harry, William and Elizabeth. The latter became the wife of a Mr. Littebrandt, a teacher and minister. He removed to the United States and when the war with Mexico broke out he volunteered his services to the land of his adoption and proved himself not only a devoted soldier but an un- usually wise and brilliant officer, for he was raised from the ranks, where he was serving as a private, until at length he bore the insignia of a brigadier general. Tendering his resignation at the close of the war, he was return- ing home on one of the army transports, when death came to him in the guise of yellow fever. Christian Hebenthal, Jr., died when in the prime of life, but thirty-three years of age; but his widow survived him many years, her death taking place when she had reached three-score and ten years.
The birth of William Hebenthal occurred June 24, 1824, in Sickemberg, Germany. His youth was passed in Osbach, Hesse-Cassel, and in 1846 he determined to seek his fortune in the United States. Coming to these hos- pitable shores on the good ship Philadelphia, he landed in the city of the same name, and thence went to Salem county, New Jersey, where, as pre- viously, he was employed at agricultural pursuits for some time. Then, going to the town of Malaga, this state, he drove a team for the Jackson Glass Works and followed various lines of business until 1849, when he came to Cape May. During the ensuing twelve years he drove a stage be- tween Philadelphia and this city, having six relays of horses, and conveying both passengers and mail. It was not until 1861 that he finally abandoned this enterprise, which the construction of the West Jersey Railroad rendered practically useless, and the next few years he devoted to farming in the vicinity of Seaville, also being employed upon the railroad mentioned.
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