USA > New Jersey > Biographical, genealogical and descriptive history of the first congressional district of New Jersey, Volume II > Part 54
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64
He has been twice married. He first wedded Orilla Creese, and after her death married Miss Abbie Sheppard, a daughter of Dr. Sheppard, an old resident of Cape May county. They have one child, Marin Sheppard. Mr. Dunn is a member of Shekinah Lodge, No. 246, F. & A. M., of Phila- delphia, and in his political views is a Republican. He is a man well known in business, political and social circles, and his opinions carry weight in all. His life has been quiet and uneventful, devoted to the duties of business and private life, yet showing forth the intrinsic weight of character that every- where commands respect and stands as an example well worthy of emulation.
JAMES A. PORCH.
James A. Porch, who died April 15, 1900, lived to be the oldest resident of Gloucester county. He was born in Hurffville, this county, September 16, 1810, a son of Samuel Porch and Edith, a daughter of James Abbott. His great grandfather, Samuel Porch, was born in the same county and passed there his entire life, as a tiller of the soil. He was a soldier of the
502
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE FIRST
Revolution and fought in defence of his country under General George Washington. He died in Deptford township and was buried in the old family burial ground at Bethel, New Jersey. He was twice married and had three children: John; Polly, who married Nathan Wetherbee; and Samuel Porch second, the father of James A. Porch, who was born at Hurffville, where he became a prominent farmer, but was prematurely killed by light- ning while working in the harvest field. His children were: Mary, who married John Barker, both now deceased; James A., and Samuel third. Mrs. Porch died at Williamstown, New Jersey.
James A. Porch was brought up on a farm and followed that honorable vocation throughout a long and active life. He was but four years old when his father was so suddenly taken from him, and in consequence was adopted into the family of his grandfather, with whom he resided until the death of the latter. He then succeeded to his present farm, upon which he has re- sided for over seventy years.
He was twice married. By his first wife, Massey Williams, were born two children: Joseph, who married Matilda Heritage and now resides at Dudley, Burlington county, New Jersey; and Mary, the widow of Cooper Orange. By his second wife, Sarah, daughter of James and Annie Springer, his children were : Hannah A., Samuel and James; all now deceased; Martha, the widow of Robert Morgan; and E. Miline, the wife of Augustus Stewart. His second wife died in 1878.
Lewis Warwick, born on the homestead farm October 31, 1847, was adopted into the Porch family, with whom he has lived during his entire life, and now superintends the homestead farm. He married Miss Kate Jones and has one son, James P., who married Annie Cox.
Mr. Porch, the subject of this sketch, served as a freeholder, as an over- seer of roads, was a Republican in politics, and was a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal church for over forty years.
WALTER HERITAGE.
Walter Heritage has for a number of years been prominently connected with the progress of many lines in Gloucester county, and his name is found on the roll of the leading farmers of East Greenwich township. He was born March 21, 1855, on the farm about a mile from his present home, and is a son of Charles Heritage, of Wolferth Station. His preliminary educa- tion, acquired in the public schools, was supplemented by study in the Friends' school at Mickleton and by one year's study in Kennett Square. On
503
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY.
putting aside his text-books he assisted his father on the farm until twenty- one years of age, after which he came to his present home, which is the birth- place of his father and is now owned by his uncle, Benjamin Heritage, of Mickleton. He is a very successful raiser of garden produce and is a stock- holder in the Mickleton Hall. He has made a close study of the methods of cultivating the vegetables which find a prompt sale on the market, and the excellence of the products enables him to dispose of them very readily. His business efforts are now attended with a creditable and satisfactory degree of success.
Mr. Heritage was married on the 5th of March, 1878, to Miss Susan R. Haines, a daughter of John Haines, of Mickleton, and they have two chil- dren,-Howard J. and Charles T. He and his family are members of the Society of Friends, and in social relations he is connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen of Swedesboro, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Clarksboro, and the Patrons of Husbandry of Mickleton. In politics he is a Republican, and since 1897 has been the assessor of his town- ship. He was a member of the township committee for six years, clerk of the board of registrars for several years, and is at present the secretary of the township board of health. He is also a member of the executive committee of the state board of agriculture, and was for many years a trustee of the Mickleton Friends' school. It will thus be seen how closely he has been identified with progress along various lines-social, political, intellectual and material; and at all times he gives his support and co-operation to the move- ments and measures which are intended to promote the general good.
LUKE F. SMITH.
Luke F. Smith, now one of the prosperous business men of Elmer, Salem county, within the past few years has laid the foundations of a fortune, at the same time affording employment to many of his fellow-citizens, thus becoming, in a measure, a public benefactor.
Patriotism, integrity and industry, three essentials in a good citizen, were instilled into the mind of our subject from his earliest recollection. He is a descendant of Peter Smith, who established the family in this country at a very early date. His descendants now form one of the most numerous as well as one of the oldest and most highly respected families of Salem county. We have an account of but one of his children, Captain William Smith, who was an officer of militia in the war for independence, and distinguished him-
504
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE FIRST
self by crossing a creek in the face of the enemy at Quinton Bridge, Salem county, riding his horse over a single plank. He was born December 10, 1742, but the place of his birth cannot be determined .. His wife, Sarah Smith, was born October 24, 1744, and their children were: Lydia, who was born February II, 1764, and became the wife of John Harris, who served in the regular army throughout the Revolutionary war; Oliver, born April 8, 1765; Phineas, born October 17, 1768; Hannah, who was born Sep- tember 14, 1770, and became Mrs. Sims; Millicent, who was born December 25, 1772, and died in childhood; Sarah, who was born October 19, 1775, and became the wife of John Blackwood; Mary, who was born March 18, 1778, and became Mrs. Simpkins; Washington; and Elizabeth, who was born April 27, 1783, and died in childhood. Of this family Washington Smith was the great-grandfather of our subject. He was born June 22, 1780, and married Mary Patrick, who was born July 13, 1784. Their children were Mary Ann, who was born January 3, 1801, and became the wife of Judge Ephraim Carll; Peter; Elizabeth, who was born October 20, 1806, and married Oliver Smith; John Patrick; Abner; Martha, wife of Abner Patrick; Phineas; Lucetta, wife of Richard Mulford; Samuel, who died in childhood; Lydia, wife of John Mills; and Washington. Peter Smith, the grandfather of our subject was born June 17, 1805. He married Elizabeth Ann Elliot, who was born February 28, 1808. His death occurred February 18, 1879, and his wife passed away December 16, 1880. Their children were: James W., who was born May 16, 1829, and died September 27, 1849; Jesse P., who was born February 3, 1832, and died July 8, 1833; Samuel P., who was born July 24, 1835; Ephraim Carll, who was born November 24, 1835, and died Octo- ber 15, 1898; Thomas Jefferson, who was born April 21, 1841, and is a physi- cian in Bridgeton, Cumberland county, New Jersey; and Peter Elmer, who was born September 23, 1842, and is a farmer of Mannington township, Salem county.
Luke S. Fogg, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born Feb- ruary 12, 1813, and died September 25, 1886. He married Ann Harris, December 8, 1836, who was born June 17, 1813, a daughter of Stretch and Rebecca Harris. She died December 17, 1841. They had two children- Hannah H. and John H .; the latter was born December 27, 1840, and died February 2, 1884. For his second wife Luke S. Fogg, March 29, 1854, mar- ried Phebe B. Mulford, who was born February 3, 1832, and died February II, 1884. Both of the wives of Mr. Fogg were great-granddaughters of Captain William Smith.
Ephraim Carll Smith, the father of our subject, was born in Lower Penns Neck township, Salem county, and acquired his education in the schools of
!
505
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY.
his native town, in the Friends' school and in the Academy of Salem. Dur- ing his active business career he was engaged in farming, but in 1885 removed to Salem, where he lived retired. He was a prominent man, a Republican in politics, and a trustee of the Baptist church.
. He was very successful in his undertakings, becoming possessed of a considerable amount of the rich farming land for which southern New Jersey is noted. He was married January 16, 1856, to Miss Hannah H. Fogg, who was born September 7, 1838, a daughter of Luke S. Fogg, and the children born of their union are: Luke F .; Anna Rebecca, who was born February 17, 1859, and is the wife of Joseph S. Buzby, a farmer of Mannington town- ship, by whom she has two children- Luke S. and Hannah S .; Jefferson Warren, a farmer of Lower Alloway Creek township, who was born April 5, 1862, and was married November 17, 1888, to Miss Margaret W. Austin, a daughter of William Austin, of Piles Grove, by whom he has two children --- John Frank and Ephraim Carll; Frank Peter, who was born March 19, 1868, and died March 13, 1870; Phebe Fogg, who was born January 14, 1871, and died October 29, of the same year; and John Fogg, who was born December 4, 1873, and is a graduate of the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania. The family are members of the Baptist church and are people of the highest respectability and worth. The sons give their political sup- port to the Republican party.
Luke F. Smith, who was born in Mannington township, September 19, 1856, received a common-school education, and early learned the details of farming. He worked three years faithfully at his calling after leaving the schoolroom, but at the end of that period decided to undertake a commercial career. In 1883 he went to Sharpstown, where he engaged in the canning business, and three years later he sold his factory there at a good profit. In 1888 he came to Elmer and purchased his present factory, since which time he has devoted his entire attention to the canning of tomatoes, for which product this region is especially noted. The factory has a capacity of from seven to nine hundred thousand cans during the season, and usually the demand of the trade is fully equal to the output. In addition to this flourish- ing business, which he handles with great system, Mr. Smith owns another factory at Alloway, where from five to seven hundred thousand cans of tomatoes are prepared for the public consumption annually. The brand which finds special favor and truly wonderful sale in all parts of the country is known as the "Jersey Red," and, as its flavor is uniformly excellent. it is always demanded by the housekeeper and purveyor to the public, wherever obtainable.
From a humble beginning Mr. Smith has built up a large and constantly
506
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE FIRST
growing business, and thoroughly merits the high regard in which he is held by all with whom he has had dealings. He is a trustee in both the Odd Fellows and Masonic lodges, and is much interested in the welfare of those fraternities. Politically, he uses his right of franchise in support of the Republican party. Socially he is very popular, having a host of friends in various parts of Salem county.
WALTER S. BASSETT.
Walter S. Bassett, one of the leading farmers of Gloucester county and the postmaster of the Bassett post-office, was born in salem county, New Jersey, in 1845. His father was the late David Bassett, an extensive stock dealer and farmer of Salem county. The Bassett family is of English lineage and was founded in America at an early day, representatives of the name locating in Mannington township, Salem county, at an early period in the development of that section. Joseph, Benjamin and Elisha Bassett were brothers and the last named is the grandfather of our subject. He resided on the old Bassett homestead in Mannington township and there followed farming throughout his active business career. His last days, however, 1 were spent in Salem, where he died about thirty years ago, at the age of eighty years. His children were David, Edward, John, Elisha, Albert and Elizabeth. The last named became the wife of Biddle Haines. The family were members of the Society of Friends and the grandfather was a prom- inent man in his church, being regarded as one of the leaders there.
David Bassett, the father of our subject, also resided in Mannington township, Salem county, for many years. He was reared in the usual man- ner of farmer lads, and on entering upon his business career, began farming on his own account. Later he removed to Salem, where he engaged in the stock business, handling stock on an extensive scale. He died in that city in 1880, at the age of seventy-five years. In his political views he was first a Whig and afterward a Republican. He married Mary T. Smith, a daughter of Evi Smith, a Philadelphia merchant, who removed to Salem and made his home there until he was called to his final rest. His daughter, Mrs. Bassett, survived her husband for about two years. She was the mother of four children: C. Edwin, of Pennsville, New Jersey, who died in 1895; Howard, who has also passed away; Mary E., the wife of Henry Hancock; and Walter S.
The last named was born on the old family homestead in Salem county, began his education in the common schools and afterward attended the
507
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY.
Friends' school in Salem and the Friends' school in Race street, Philadel- phia. At the age of twenty-two years he started out in business on his own account, and as a companion and helpmeet in life's journey he chose Miss Emma S. Black, the marriage being celebrated in Salem county, and the lady is a daughter of Alexander and Hannah (Rulon) Black, who re- sided near Swedesboro. The marriage was celebrated January 9, 1872, and has been blessed with six children, namely: C. Rulon, who was formerly connected with the bank of Philadelphia, but is now in Trenton; Alexander B., who is with the Cambria Iron Company of Philadelphia; Lucretia M., at home; David B., an architect of Philadelphia; Ralph E. and Hannah B., who also are with their parents.
In 1873 Mr. Bassett removed to Gloucester county and located on a farm of two hundred acres, carrying on agricultural pursuits and stock- raising. He now has one of the best improved farms in his section of the state, the place being supplied with all modern accessories and conveniences, while the well tilled fields indicate to the passer by the careful supervision and progressive methods of the owner. He has also for some time been a director in the Piles Grove Creamery Company, and in all branches of his business he is meeting with success.
Mr. Bassett has served as the postmaster of the Bassett post-office since 1891, discharging his duties in a capable manner. In politics he is a stalwart Republican, doing all in his power to promote the growth and secure the success of his party. He attends the county and state conventions and is deeply interested in political questions. He is a past master of the Masonic lodge of Swedesboro, and his brethren of the fraternity presented him with a handsome jewel in 1899. He also belongs to the American Order of United Workmen of Swedesboro and is a member of the Grange. He and his family attend the Friends' church and enjoy the high regard of all who know them by reason of their sterling worth.
JOSEPH K. WADDINGTON.
The name of Waddington is one which is ineffaceably traced on the history of Salem county and figures conspicuously on the pages of the records that perpetuate the principal events from early colonial days down to the present time. Through several generations the lineage can be traced, and in each the representatives of the name have been men and women of sterling worth of character and strong intellectual force, typifying in their lives that unassuming industry, loyalty and integrity which have ever con-
508
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE FIRST
served the progress and material prosperity of the nation. From an early colonial epoch the name has been identified with the great basic industry of agriculture, and through well directed and extensive enterprise in this line the various generations have lent new dignity to the time-honored art of industry. It is to be acknowledged unmistakably that no history pur- porting to touch this section of the great state of New Jersey would be complete were there failure to revert in detail to the record of the Wad- dington family.
The original American ancestor was William Waddington, a French Huguenot, who emigrated to the New World about the year 1690, leaving home and native land, as did many others of his countrymen, in order to escape the persecution waged with such implacable animosity and cruelty upon a devoted people after the revocation of the edict of Nantes. In New Jersey he found a home and was permitted to enjoy that freedom to exercise his convictions which had been denied him in France. From Edward Wade he purchased one thousand acres of land, the same being the southern por- tion of the Wade allotment. There he settled and maintained his home until his death, and it is interesting to revert to the fact that this property remained in the possession of the family until within a very few years ago. William Waddington was born January 13, 1779, and died January 30, 1823. He had one son, Jonathan, who married and became the father of the following named children : Jonathan (2d) married a great-grand- daughter of John and Mary (Chambless) Hancock, and he died in 1760, leaving one son, Jonathan (3d). This was at the time of his father's death, the only one left to perpetuate the family name in this country. He married Sarah B. Bradway, the daughter of Aaron Bradway, of Elsinboro town- ship, Salem county, and their children were: William; W. Robert, who married, but died in early manhood, leaving three sons,-Aaron, Samuel and James. Aaron, another son of the foregoing Jonathan 3d, married Sarah, the daughter of Edward Keasby, who was born October 5, 1760, and died November 26, 1805. His children were Joseph, born March 26, 1784; Bradway, born April 26, 1786; Prudence, born May II, 1788; Sarah, born June 17, 1789; Mary, who was born October II, 1791, and died October 7, 1803; Grace, born November 10, 1793; Elizabeth, January 15, 1798; and Edward, June 17, 1801. Aaron and Sarah (Keasby) Wadding- ton became the parents of three daughters and two sons: Sarah Ann, Lydia, Joshua, Bradway and Jane. Thomas, the third son of Jonathan 3d, was twice married, the children by his first wife, Hannah Potts, being Eliza- beth, Sarah, Mary, Jonathan and Thomas, while his second wife, Hannah Davis, bore him two daughters,-Beulah and Jane. Edward W., the
509
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY.
youngest child of Jonathan, 3d, and Sarah (Bradway) Waddington, was the grandfather of the immediate subject of this review.
Edward W. Waddington passed his entire life in Salem county, having been a prominent and influential farmer of Lower Alloway Creek town- ship, where he carried on agricultural operations on an extensive scale, owning a farm of two hundred and fifty acres. He was a man of sterling character, was a Democrat in his political adherency and was highly honored in the community. He was married February 2, 1809, to Prudence Keasby, who was born May II, 1788, and was a daughter of Edward and Lydia Keasby. She was a woman of gentle and noble character, and died January 5, 1867, at the age of seventy-nine years, while Edward Waddington, her husband, died March 2, 1844, at the age of fifty-five years. They became the parents of eight children, of whom we offer record as follows: Richard, born October 23, 1811, was a farmer of Elsinboro township and was twice married; Sarah, born October 23, 1813, married James Smith, a farmer of the same township; Edward, born November 12, 1815, died November 3, 1834, at the age of nineteen years; Prudence, born May 5, 1818, married Ebenezer Barratt; Elizabeth, born March 5, 1820, married John Welch, a farmer of Kansas; Joseph, born May 15, 1821, was the father of the imme- diate subject of this sketch; Lydia Ann, born January 27, 1823, became the wife of Jonathan Bradway, a farmer of Cumberland county, but now of Salem county; and Rebecca, who was born October 13, 1825, became the wife of Samuel Borden, a farmer of Mannington township, Salem county.
The original American ancestor, William Waddington, had but the one son, to whom reference has been made, but in his family were four daughters, concerning whom the following data are extant: Hannah married Maurice Beesley and became the mother of five children: Walker, who was killed at the massacre of Hancock's Bridge, in Salem county, during the war of the Revolution; Hannah married John Beesley, and her two sons, Walker and David, died unmarried, in early manhood; Mary married Peter Town- send, of Cape May, and of this union there was no issue; Benjamin died in early manhood; and Abner married Mary, daughter of John and Susanna Mason, of Elsinboro township, and their children were Mary, William, Benjamin and Thomas. Ann Waddington, daughter of William Wadding- ton, was married in 1750 to John Baracliff. Elizabeth, third daughter of William Waddington, married Edward, a son of Jonathan Bradway, in 1760, and their children were: David; and Hannah, who married Job Stretch and had issue. Jane, the fourth daughter of William Waddington, married Bradway Keasby, she being his second wife, and they had one daughter, Sarah Keasby, who married John, a son of Edward and Hannah
5IO
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE FIRST
Pancoast, and became the mother of six children,-Hannah, John, Israel, Jane, David and Aaron.
Joseph Waddington, the father of the immediate subject of this sketch, was born May 15. 1821, in Lower Alloway Creek township, Salem county, and became a successful and influential farmer of Elsinboro township, where he took up his residence when sixteen years of age. He spent the last fourteen years of his life in retirement, making his home in Salem, and entered into eternal rest September 1, 1895, at the age of seventy-four years, and the community mourned the loss of one of its leading and most honored representatives. He married Ruth Wright Appleton, a daughter of Joseph and Jane (Hewes) Appleton, who was born April 18, 1824, and was one of four children, the others being Sarah, George and Lewis. The father and mother both died many years ago, and Mrs. Waddington is now the only living representative of the family and almost the only one of the name in New Jersey. She is now seventy-five years of age. Unto Joseph and Ruth (Appleton) Waddington were born the following children : Emma, who was born August 22, 1845, and is the wife of Gideon Peasley, of Gloucester county, New Jersey, by whom she has three children,-Ruth, Hannah and Amos; Jane, who was born May 22, 1847, and died at the age of sixteen years; Elmer, who died in infancy; Tacie, born January 20, 1852; Joseph K., born June 4, 1854; and Lydia K., the wife of William Morris, of Salem; and Georgianna, born in May, 1860.
Joseph K. Waddington, whose name heads this article, and who is now a prominent merchant and representative business man of Salem, was reared on the old homestead farm in Elsinboro township, and in his early youth attended the district schools, but supplemented his preliminary educational privileges by a course of study in the Friends' school in Salem. In 1878 he began the management of the old family homestead, and for four years con- tinued its cultivation, after which he removed to a farm in Mannington township, which he conducted until 1888. He then came to Salem and has since been a very active figure in the commercial circles of this place. He purchased the Clement property and store at Salem, and has since carried on mercantile pursuits, enjoying a liberal patronage along that line. He is also engaged in handling coal, grain and seeds, and is con- ducting an extensive business, his sales amounting to one hundred thousand dollars annually. His efforts, however, are not limited to this undertaking alone. He is a man of resourceful business ability and his energies have enabled him to carry on successfully other undertakings. He is a director in the Salem & Philadelphia Transportation Company, owning a steamer on the Delaware river; is a director of the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Com-
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.