USA > New Jersey > Biographical, genealogical and descriptive history of the first congressional district of New Jersey, Volume II > Part 57
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On March 10, 1874, Mr. Wilson was united in marriage with Annie A., a daughter of Ephraim Dunham, of Monroeville, New Jersey, and four children have been born to them, namely : Thomas L., who assists his father on the farm; Mabel C., who married Edward Black, and has two children,- Harry L. and Mabel C .; C. Howard and Ethel Ray. Mr. Wilson is a member II-HH
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of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, is an adherent of the Republican party, was elected freeholder in 1897, and has also been overseer of roads for several years, and many good roads in the vicinity of Swedesboro are largely due to his care and knowledge of road construction.
CHARLES H. RUTHERFORD.
No soldier on the field of battle is called upon to perform more heroic service than are the brave men connected with the life-saving stations, nor do the inspiring strains of martial music encourage them in their efforts. Battling with the wind and waves, their lot is one demanding at times the greatest exertion as well as bravery, and he who wears the uniform of a soldier is no more entitled to the praise and gratitude of his fellow men than he whose service is with a life-saving crew. Such a position is occupied by Charles Henry Rutherford, who has been connected with the Cape May station as surfman No. 2 for twenty-two years.
His entire life has been passed in Cape May county, his birth having occurred in Lower township, June 12, 1846, his parents being William and Jane W. (Foster) Rutherford. His paternal grandfather, John Rutherford, was a native of Ireland, whence he came to America in 1812, locating at Cold Spring, Cape May county. He was a butcher by trade, but afterward en- gaged in general merchandising at Cold Spring, where he carried on a busi- ness amounting to one hundred thousand dollars annually. He also specu- lated in real estate to some extent and built and sold a number of cottages in Cape May. He was likewise interested in the lumber business, in the manufacture of lime and was the owner of three vessels,-two sloops and a schooner, the Jane McQuinn. He possessed indefatigable energy and per- severance, and although he entered upon his business career in a humble capacity, receiving but fifty cents per day, he steadily worked his way upward to a position of affluence. He was three times married, his first union being with Mary Rutherford, a lady of English descent, and their children were Jane, Ann, Francis, William and John. For his second wife he married Sarah Mckean, and he at length had a third wife. In his political views John Rutherford was a Democrat, and in religious relations belonged to the Presbyterian church at Cold Spring, in which he served as an elder for many years. Charitable and benevolent, he was very generous to the poor and needy in his county, and was very popular among all classes. His death occurred in 1871, when he had reached the age of seventy-three years, and the community thereby lost one of its most valued and honored citizens.
William Rutherford, the father of our subject, was born at Cold Spring
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in 1827 and engaged in farming in Lower township, Cape May county, where he owned and cultivated one hundred acres of land. He also took contracts for building roads and sea walls and was an enterprising, energetic man. Like his father, he gave his political support to the Democracy, and in religious faith was a Presbyterian, his membership being in the church of that denomination at Cold Spring. During the war of the Rebellion he manifested his patriotism by serving for nine months in Company H, New Jersey Infantry, and participated in the battles of Fredericksburg and Williamsburg. He entered the service as a private but was mustered out as a commissary. Always fond of horses, and knowing much about their dis- eases, he acted as a veterinary surgeon during his connection with the army. When only twelve years of age he rode running races at Tuckahoe and was always the possessor of some fine specimens of the noble steed. William Rutherford married Jane W. Foster, and they became the parents of eleven children. Charles is the eldest; George, a farmer, wedded Mary Teel, and their children are Elmer, Ida and Eli; William, an agriculturist living at Cold Spring, and now serving as the assessor of Cape May county, married Mary Russell and has two daughters,-Clara and Emma; Clara, the fourth child of the father's family, is the wife of Joseph P. Henry, the leading painter of Cape May, and their children are Charles, Jane and Bessie; Eliza- beth is the widow of Daniel Godfrey, a seafaring man, who died leaving a son, Ralph. Rhoda is the wife of Charles Horam, an upholsterer and paper-hanger of Atlantic City; Jane was twice married, her present husband being Alfred Driver, a retired cigar manufacturer, of Philadelphia; Frank, a farmer of Lower township, married Kate Finos, by whom he had three children,-Ethel, Eva and Emma,-and after her death he wedded Amelia Springer, by whom he has two children; Sarah died at the age of twenty-six years; Anna is the wife of William Allen, a butcher; and Joseph married Anna Nolan, and they have a son, named Charles. William Rutherford, the father of these children, died in 1871, at the age of forty-four years, but the mother is still living, now in her seventy-fourth year.
Mr. Rutherford, of this review, pursued his studies in the public schools of Cape May county until eighteen years of age and then began business on his own account, following farming and fishing. When twenty-two years. of age he purchased a farm of fifty acres, and has since carried on agricultural pursuits. His land is now under a high state of cultivation and is improved with all the modern accessories and conveniences found upon a model farm of this period. Interspersed with his labors in the fields is his duty as a member of the life-saving crew. For twenty-two years he has performed this service both bravely and well. He participated in the rescue in the ever
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memorable blizzard on the 12th of March, 1888, and has taken part in many other rescues with the crew, which now consists of one keeper of the station, James W. Eldredge, and seven surfmen.
On the 20th of December, 1869, Mr. Rutherford was united in marriage to Miss Louise Bennett, a daughter of Stephen Bennett, and to them have been born eight children: Ocie, the wife of James Cail, proprietor of a boarding-house in Philadelphia; Lida, who is now the wife of Thomas Van Winkle, a surfman of the life-saving crew; Loretta, the wife of Lafayette Miller, a merchant by whom she has a son, Lafayette, Jr .; Cora, Edith, Lida and Albert and Susie, twins,-all at home. Mr. Rutherford and his family attend the Presbyterian church at Cold Spring, of which he is a member. In his political affiliations he is a Democrat, but has never been an aspirant for public office, preferring to devote his time and energies to his business interests.
FREDERIC A. REX.
Frederic A. Rex, Esq., one of the brightest and keenest lawyers of Camden, was born in Norristown, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, March 20, 1850. He was the son of John and Sarah (Lentz) Rex, who was a farmer in moderate circumstances, had eight children, Frederic A. being the youngest.
Frederic A. Rex spent his early boyhood on the home farm. When about thirteen years of age he entered the Central high school of Philadel- phia, at which he graduated, at the age of seventeen .. Immediately upon leaving school he obtained the position of clerk in the National State Bank of Camden, where he remained five or six years, and then established a mer- cantile business of his own in the same city. While building up a pros- perous trade, Mr. Rex gave his free time to the study of law, for which he was remarkably qualified by nature. On being admitted to the bar as an attorney in 1888, he sold out his store, opened an office at 25 Market street, and thereafter devoted himself to the legal profession. He was admitted as a counsellor in the June term of 1891. At this time he moved to the office which he now occupies, at 106 Market street, where he attends to a very large practice.
Mr. Rex has been retained in some of the most famous cases of the day. He was associated with the counsel for the Pennsylvania Railroad in the land condemnation proceedings arising from the construction of the Delaware river bridge. In addition to his natural quickness, his experi-
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ence as a bank clerk and merchant gives him an advantage over his fellows who have followed the ruts of professional study.
Actively interested in politics, he is a member of the Republican Club of Camden. He was a member of the city council for nine years, city comptroller for three years, and clerk of the district court for a like period. At present he is the treasurer of the board of education, which office he filled for ten years.
In 1877 Mr. Rex was married to Louisa, a daughter of William Few- Smith, of Philadelphia, and has two children,-William F. and Elizabeth R. William F., who has recently graduated at the Penn Charter school of Philadelphia, read law under his father's instructions, was admitted to the bar and is now engaged in the practice with his father. Mr. Rex belongs to Camden Lodge, No. 15, A. F. & A. M., and to the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks, No. 293, both of Camden. Though not a church member, he contributes liberally to the support of various religious enter- prises. Mrs. Rex is an esteemed member of the Presbyterian church .
GEORGE W. JESSUP.
George W. Jessup, one of the foremost citizens of Camden, New Jer- sey, where he does a large business as a conveyancer and real-estate dealer, was born at Jessup's Mills, Gloucester county, this state, December 18, 1849, a son of George W. and Beulah (Hilliman) Jessup. Both his father, George W., Sr., and his paternal grandfather, James Jessup, were natives of Gloucester county. The last named, who was a farmer by occupation, resided in that section all his life. His wife, Abigail Fisher, lived to the age of eighty-five.
Their son, George W. Jessup, Sr., was brought up to farming, and in due time came into possession of the old homestead. Most of his life was devoted to agricultural work, but for a short time he was the landlord of the Woodbury Hotel. He died at the early age of thirty-six years. His wife, Beulah, was a daughter of Theophilus Hilliman, an old settler in Gloucester county, whose family numbered six children. She is still liv- ing, being now seventy-two years old, and resides with her grandson, Charles G. She is a member of the Protestant Episcopal church at Clarks- burg, as also was her husband.
George W. Jessup, the direct subject of this sketch, spent his boyhood at home, and later, for the usual elementary studies, took a two-years' course at Bridgeton Academy. He began his business career as a clerk in
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a dry-goods store in Philadelphia, where he remained two years. His next employment was in the service of Smedley Brothers, hatters, of the same city, with whom he stayed for a like period. About this time he mar- ried; and shortly afterward he went to York, Pennsylvania, where he re- mained for a year and a half, following the same occupation. In 1877 he returned to Philadelphia and accepted a position as a traveling agent for C. H. Gardner & Company, large hat dealers there. He was "on the road" eleven years, during which time he visited every state in the Union, besides making two trips to Europe. He then resigned, and in 1890 went into the real-estate business in this city, in company with George H. Fairfield. Subsequently purchasing Mr. Fairfield's interest, he took his son, Charles G., into partnership, December 1, 1895; and the firm has since been known under the name of G. W. Jessup & Son.
Mr. Jessup has been interested in some of the largest real-estate tran- sactions in Camden in recent years. He was one of the incorporators of the Masonic Temple on Market street, in which he has an office and of which he was secretary three years. Among the many large and impor- tant sales made by him were the land for the site of the Sixth Regiment Armory and that for the new First Methodist church, the E. N. Cohn and the Markley property, the George H. Munger property, and the property for the Camden Electric Light & Heating Company. Mr. Jessup has been the secretary of the Board of Trade since 1892, and he is also a director and the vice-president of the Provident Building & Loan Association. In politics a Republican, he has taken an active part in public affairs; and with a watchful eye for the interests of the people he was among those who were instrumental in effecting a reduction of the city tax assessments from thirty-three million dollars to twenty-five million dollars, which latter fig- ure has obtained for the last three years.
Mr. Jessup was first married in 1873 to Abigail M. Bishop, by whom he had one son, Charles G., who is now in business with him. His first wife dying in January, 1874, at the early age of twenty-four, he married for his second wife Lizzie M. Hogan, of Mount Holly, who died in 1883, aged twenty-seven years. On June 1I, 1895, Mr. Jessup married his present wife, who was before marriage Miss Esther A. Carr .. She is a native of Trenton, and daughter of the late Charles Carr. Her father was a promi- nent citizen of Trenton, where at the time of his death he was the proprietor of the Phoenix Iron Works.
Mr. Jessup is a Mason in good standing, being a member of Camden Lodge, A. F. & A. M., No. 15, of Camden; and he also belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen. In religion he is an Episcopalian, being a communicant of St. Paul's church of Camden.
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HENRY W. MITCHELL.
Henry William Mitchell, one of the leading citizens of Swedesboro, New Jersey, was born in Woolwich township, the township in which he now lives, March 30, 1842, and is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Zern) Mitchell. Henry Mitchell was born in this same township in 1811, and died here under a surgical operation in 1876. His father, William Mitchell, came from England and was one of the early settlers of Woolwich township. William Mitchell's children were Samuel, Charles, Henry, William, Edith and another daughter, who removed to Illinois in early life. John Zern, who was a major of militia for many years after the Revolutionary war and kept a hotel in Bridgeport, New Jersey, was our subject's maternal grand- father. The children of Henry and Elizabeth (Zern) Mitchell were George Zern, of Swedesboro; Henry William, whose name introduces this article; Susan, who married Joseph B. Green of Salem county; John B., a farmer in Atlantic county, New Jersey; Charles F., a painter in Philadelphia, Penn- sylvania; and Edith, who married Robert Moore of Swedesboro, New Jersey.
Henry W. Mitchell, the direct subject of this review, was educated in the public schools of his native town, and has followed farming all his life. He came to Swedesboro about twenty years ago and occupies the substan- tial home built by his father. He still continues farming by tenant, and is a stockholder in the Swedesboro Heat, Light & Power Company.
Mr. Mitchell was married December 10, 1865, to Miss Elizabeth Black Hurf, a daughter of the late Henry Huri, of Woolwich township. Frater- nally, Mr. Mitchell is identified with the A. O. U. W. and the Grange, and politically is a Republican.
THOMAS S. GOSLIN.
This is distinctively an era in which the young man is active and prom- inent. This is true of the young man in every field of endeavor or enter- prise. Gray hairs are honorable, but they no longer imply a monopoly of all worthy knowledge and ability. The history of building in the last decade emphasizes this fact. A majority of the successful architects and builders are of the younger generation of active men. Their ideas are fresh and virile and they push forward work in hand with a dash and celerity that are a wonder to the old school builders. One of the most prominent young
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contractors and builders in New Jersey is Thomas S. Goslin, of Woods- town, who has erected at Woodstown, Salem and other near-by places, structures that are fitting monuments to his enterprise and ability.
Thomas S. Goslin was born at Richmondtown, Piles Grove township, Salem county, New Jersey, August 5, 1869, a son of Richard and Susan C. (Stratton) Goslin, who married in 1847. The American family of Goslin is of English extraction and the name was formerly spelled Gostling. Richard Goslin began in 1839 to learn the carpenter's trade at Woodstown. Later, when he had acquired some little experience at his trade, he located at Richmondtown, where he became prominent as a citizen and is still living, quite advanced in years. An industrious man of mature judgment, he has taken a leading part in the business and public affairs of the village and won an enviable reputation for every quality that makes for uprightness and good citizenship. His wife is a daughter of the late Thomas and Mary Stratton, of Mullica Hill, Gloucester county, New Jersey. Thomas Stratton was a prominent farmer and lived until his eightieth year. His widow sur- vived him but a short time. The Strattons have constituted one of the representative families of Salem county for more than a hundred years. Following are some items of interest concerning those children of Richard and Susan C. (Stratton) Goslin who are living: Samuel lives at Glassboro, Gloucester county, New Jersey; Mary is the wife of Henry Foster of Rich- mondtown; George lives at Woodbury, Gloucester county; Laura is Mrs. Henry Champion; Priscilla married Frank Renter of Daretown, Salem county; and Charles C. lives at Richmondtown. Five of their children are dead: Joseph, Emma, Rebecca, Sally and Minnie.
Thomas S. Goslin gained his education in the public schools of York- town, Salem county, and from the early age of twelve years applied himself in the intervals between school terms to acquiring a practical knowledge of the carpenter's trade under his father's able instruction. In 1876, at the age of seventeen years, he went to Ashmore, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, and was for a time in the employ of R. J. Dobbins, a con- tractor who erected some of the Centennial exposition buildings in Fair- mount Park, Philadelphia. The experience he obtained in connection with those important contracts was a valuable and a memorable one. Returning to his home in New Jersey he continued his school course during the winter seasons and worked at his trade the remainder of the year, until he had attained the age of nineteen years. He then went back to Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, and was employed at carpentering for three years, first by George Goodfellow & Son, contractors and builders, later by Samuel G. Cripps. Severing his relations with Mr. Cripps, he returned to Rich-
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mondtown and for a year and a half assisted his father in his building opera- tions.
In 1849 Mr. Goslin took up his residence in Woodstown and soon estab- lished himself as a contractor and builder. His first important contract was for the erection of the city building at Woodstown, a model in design and workmanship which has attracted much attention from builders and municipal authorities in all the country round about. Among his numerous other successful enterprises were several modern residences in Woodstown and Salem. The residences of Henry Guest, Smith Hewitt, Charles Horner, L. E. Mack, Thomas Newkirk, Gray Brothers, Joseph Barton and John Wiggins are especially conspicuous as fine examples of Mr. Goslin's work.
Mr. Goslin is a man of much public spirit and takes great interest in the growth of Woodstown and the prosperity of her people. There is no move- ment for the advancement of the public interests which commends itself to his good judgment as practical and adequate that does not command his active and generous co-operation. He is a well known Odd Fellow and is a member of the Ridgley Association Baptist church.
He was married in 1891 to Hattie E. Loucson, a daughter of Ira B. and Mary Loucson, and has two children,-Claire and H. Foster Goslin. Mrs. Goslin's family were formerly residents of Salem county. Her mother died in 1884, at the age of forty years. Her father is now engaged in business in Philadelphia. Mr. and Mrs. Loucson had four children: Millie, the wife of Samuel Gibson; Lizzie, the wife of Thomas U. Clark; Hattie E., wife of Thomas S. Goslin; and Joseph, who married Bertha Bee, of Woodstown.
CAPTAIN JAMES WARE ELDREDGE.
One of the most prominent citizens of Cape May county, and certainly one of the most invaluable to the state and government, as well as to humanity in general, is Captain Eldredge, who is at the head of the Cape May Life Saving Station, which as is well known, is eclipsed by few of our Atlantic stations in importance, on account of the position it occupies on this dangerous coast. Owing to the heroism, coolness and rare good judg- ment exercised by the captain and his devoted men, scores of lives have been saved during the past decade and a half, and their names, though already written indelibly in the hearts of grateful thousands, deserve to be placed upon the rolls of the good and great of our nation.
His family has been identified with Cape May county for several genera-
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tions, his paternal great-grandfather, William Eldredge, coming here from Long Island, New York, in his boyhood. When he arrived at manhood he became a pilot on Delaware Bay, but his home was at Cape May. He served as a justice of the peace and took great interest in local affairs, but death claimed him when he was in his early prime, but thirty-two years of age. He had married Hannah Corson, and their children were Enoch, who died at the age of sixty-two; William, who died during the cholera epidemic of 1832; John and Thomas, pilots; Mary, who became the wife of Richard Hughs; Mrs. Hannah McCray; Judith, who was the second wife of Richard Hughs; and Mrs. Samuel Richardson. The parents were Presby- terians, and were thoroughly conscientious, worthy people.
Thomas Eldredge, the grandfather of our subject, was born and reared at Cape May, learned the trade of shoemaker, and for a period was employed on the East End Light ship. He was a stanch Whig, at one time was a member of the militia, with the rank of colonel, and served in the war of 1812. His home was at Cold Spring, where he held membership in the Presbyterian church. He was called to his reward when in his fifty-third year, but his wife lived to be sixty-two. She was a Miss Deborah Ware in her girlhood. Their daughter Harriet became the wife. of a carpenter. Colonel H. W. Sawyer, who won his title in the Civil war, and was famed on account of his terrible experiences in Libby prison, where he was held a captive for over a year, finally being condemned to death, and reprieved only at the last moment before the time set for his execution. Louisa, the second daughter, married Francis K. Duke, a carpenter, who enlisted in the war of the rebellion and was the captain of a company of Delaware men for three years. Joseph, Judith and Thomas, the next of the family, died when young. Thomas, the second of the name, is a pilot on the Delaware, at present located at West Cape May. Deborah married Reuben Hoffman, a carpenter of the place last named; and Judith is the widow of Captain William Hoffman, of Cold Spring.
Daniel C. Eldredge, the father of our subject, was born in Lower township, this county, March 3, 1829, and was educated in its schools. For more than forty years he was actively engaged in building and contracting, also conducting an undertaking business, and, though now well along in years, he continues in the last named occupation, and is extensively inter- ested in real estate at Cape May. For years he was the leading builder and contractor of this region, affording employment to as many as thirty hands during the busy season. Numerous specimens of his handiwork are to be seen throughout this locality, and among others he built the Cape May Point light-house, the Baptist church and Cape May House, and the wing
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of the Cold Spring light-house, also many fine cottages. Formerly, he commanded all of the local business of gravel roofing, also, and other enter- prises have received his attention, with profit to himself.
As a citizen he is justly popular, frequently being urged to accept public offices. He is serving as the coroner at present, having been elected for a second term, his time to expire in 1900. Besides having been a member of the township committee and freeholder, he has occupied other minor offices with credit, and has been a lifelong Whig and Republican. For a quarter of a century he took an active part in educational affairs, serving during that long period as a member of the Cape May school board, and aiding materially in placing the school system upon a sound basis. During the Civil war he was drafted for the army twice, but was not able to leave his home on account of pressing business matters, and proved his patriotism in other ways as commendable. For a quarter of a century he has been a Mason, associated with Cape Island Lodge, No. 30, and for fifteen years he has been identified with Evening Star Lodge, No. 65, I. O. O. F. For a long period he acted in the capacity of a trustee of the Presbyterian church, with which he holds membership. He married Miss Mary A. Hoffman, a daughter of James Hoffman, a ship-builder. Their eldest child is the sub- ject of this article, and the others are: Anna, who married Joseph Springer, of Cold Spring, and has three children-Mary, Alice and Elsie; Daniel F., a carpenter, who married Elizabeth Stevens, and their children are named Marion, Charles, Bessie, Mary and Linda; Clementine is unmarried and at home.
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