USA > New Jersey > Cyclopedia of New Jersey Biography > Part 10
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Justice of the Supreme Court, and was re- elected, extending his judicial service to a. period of eight years, meantime (in 1883) declining a third nomination for the gov- ernorship.
To Governor Parker is due the distinc- tion of setting afoot the movement result- ing in the erection of the Battle Monument on the Monmouth battlefield, and of being among the foremost in carrying the work on to a successful consummation. The pro- ject had its inception in an oration which he delivered on the ground, in Freehold, on June 28, 1877, the ninety-ninth anni- versary of the battle. Committees to so- licit funds were appointed on the spot, State and National aid was procured, and the completed monument was unveiled No- vember 13th, 1884, on which occasion ex- Governor Parker delivered an admirable oration, which, as a contribution to history, is valuable for all time. He received the honorary degree of LL.D. from Rutgers College in 1872; and he was an honorary member of the New Jersey branch of the Society of the Cincinnati. He married, in 1843, Maria M., daughter of Samuel M. Gummere, of Trenton, New Jersey. He died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, January 2, 1888.
WHELPLEY, Edward W.,
Brilliant Lawyer, Jurist.
It has been said of Mr. Whelpley that he was distinguished at the bar as a forci- ble and convincing orator in public assem- blies and in trials before juries, and as an able advocate, with great force of intellect and strong grasp of legal principles in ar- guments; that judges listened to him with the profoundest respect, and never failed to award him their greatest admiration, even if they did not agree with him.
He was born in 1818, in Morristown, New Jersey. He was the son of Dr. Wil- liam A. Whelpley, a practicing physician in that place, of high repute; his mother
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E, W, Stoddard
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was a daughter of John Dodd, of Bloom- field, who was an uncle of Vice-Chancellor Amzi Dodd. He was prepared for college in Morristown, and was graduated from Princeton College, in 1834, at the age of sixteen. After teaching school for two years, he took up law studies under the pre- ceptorship of his uncle, the elder Amzi Dodd, and afterward under Amzi Arm- strong. He was licensed as an attorney in 1839, the year in which he attained his majority, and as counsellor three years later. He practiced in Newark for a year or two, and then went into the office of Jacob W. Miller. The latter had been sent to the United States Senate, and Mr. Whelpley entered into a good deal of his practice, and soon made for himself a place at the bar, among lawyers of great ability. Earnestly devoted to the work of his pro- fession, he gave the whole force of his in- tellect and will to the preparation and ar- gument of his cases; was eminently suc- cessful in jury trials, and was a trusted ad- viser and wise counselor in legal and bus- iness affairs.
Mr. Whelpley made excellent use of his ability as an orator at political meetings. and took an active part in the political con- tests that characterized the stirring cam- paigns of a day when questions of concern were little discussed by the press, but main- ly by recognized leaders in their political party. In 1847 he was elected to the As- sembly, serving in the sessions of 1848 and 1849, and as Speaker of the House in his second year. In 1858, at the age of forty years, he was appointed an Associate Jus- tice of the Supreme Court, and less than three years afterward he was advanced to the chair of Chief Justice. His promo- tion was generally approved, and it was hoped that he would stand at the head of the court for many years. He was appar- ently a strong man, in vigorous health ; but after a little more than two years he was stricken with an insidious disease, and died in 1864, at the early age of forty-six years.
His brief period of service came between the long terms of two great chief justices, and he maintained the high standard set by Henry W. Green and carried on by Mer- cer Beasley. His associates were jurists of the highest ability,-on his appointment as puisne judge in 1858 were Chief Justice Henry W. Green, Elias B. D. Ogden, Luci- us Q. C. Elmer, Stacy G. Potts, Daniel Haines and Peter Vrendenburgh; and as Chief Justice, his associates were William S. Clawson, John Van Dyke and George H. Brown. His services as Chief Justice were during the greater part of the Civil War period, and certain of his decisions were of great import, as bearing upon the taxation of United States bonds, and State bonds expressly exempted from taxation.
Justice Whelpley married Eliza Wood- ruff, daughter of Dr. Absalom Woodruff, of Mendham. They left four children : Edward, who died unmarried; and three daughters : Sarah, wife of William Whelp- ley Thomas ; Edwina, wife of Rev. Sanford Smith ; and Joanna, wife of Eugene Terry Gardiner. There is a portrait of Justice Whelpley in the Supreme Court room in Trenton.
STODDARD, Rev. Elijah W.,
Early Educator, Distinguished Divine.
While there is no doubt that the world is struggling upward, there are not many who reach the heights attained by the late Rev. Elijah Woodward Stoddard, D. D., of Succasunna, New Jersey. He was a man great and able, true and kind, and his life was as white as the sunlight. The soul of honor himself, he could not endure duplic- ity and equivocation. For ignorance, weakness, and even waywardness, he had compassion and tenderness; but bigotry, narrowness, and insincerity awaken- ed in him an honest loathing. His style was chaste, vigorous and incisive ; he train- ed his congregation like a master, and gave to the people a solid and invigorating phil-
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osophy of life which developed in them a deeper intelligence and a more robust faith. No just appeal to his humane spirit ever failed of a quick and generous response. Those who were associated with him and came to know the full worth of his nature speak of him in words of the highest praise. The family from which he was descend- ed was an ancient and honorable one, and a few words regarding his forbears appear appropriate at this point.
The name Stoddard is derived from the office of standard bearer, and was ancient- ly written De-la-Standard. The coat of arms of the Stoddard family of London is : Sable three estoiles and a bordure gules. Crest : Out of a ducal coronet a demi horse salient, ermine. Motto: Festina Lente. In the office of Heraldry, England, the follow- ing origin of the Stoddard family is found : William Stoddard, knight, came from Nor- mandy to England in 1066 with William the Conqueror, who was his cousin. Of his descendants there is record of Rukard Stoddard, of Nottingham, Kent, near El- tham, about seven miles from London Bridge, where was located the family es- tate of about four hundred acres which was in the possession of the family in 1490, how much before that date is not known, and continued until the death of Nicholas Stoddard, a bachelor, in 1765. The line is as follows: Thomas Stoddard of Royston ; John Stoddard of Grindon; William Stod- dard of Royston; John Stoddard of Roy- ston; Anthony Stoddard of London; Gid- eon Stoddard of London; Anthony Stod- dard of London; William Stoddard of London.
Anthony Stoddard, son of William Stoddard of London, was the immigrant of Rev. Elijah Woodward Stoddard, D.D., and came to Boston, Massachusetts Bay Colony, about 1639. His death occurred March 16, 1686-87. He was admitted a freeman in 1640; was deputy to the Gen- eral Court in 1650-59-60, and during twenty successive years from 1665 to 1684.
He married (first) Mary Downing, daugh- ter of Hon. Emanuel and Lucy Downing, and sister of Sir George, afterward Lord George Downing. He married (second) Barbara, widow of Captain Joseph Weld, of Roxbury. He married (third)
Christian -
Rev. Solomon Stoddard, son of Anthony and Mary (Downing) Stoddard, was born October 4, 1643, and died February II, 1729. He was graduated from Harvard College in the class of 1662, was later elect- ed fellow of the house, and was the first librarian of the college, being the incum- bent of this office from 1667 to 1674. His health having become impaired about this time, he accompanied the governor of Mas- sachusetts to the Barbadoes as chaplain, and for almost two years preached there to the Dissenters. He received a call from the church at Northampton in 1669, and settled there as minister, September II. 1672. Jonathan Edwards, his grandson, was elected his colleague in 1726. Rev. Stoddard was the author of many books on religious subjects, and many of his ser- mons were published. He married, Esther (Warham) Mather, widow of Rev. Eleazer Mather, his predecessor at North- ampton. Among his children was a daugh- er, Esther, who married Rev. Timothy Ed- wards, and became the mother of the Rev. Jonathan Edwards, mentioned above.
Rev. Anthony Stoddard, son of Rev. Solomon and Esther (Warham) (Math- er) Stoddard, was born August 9, 1678, and was graduated from Harvard College in the class of 1697. He settled as a min- ister at Woodbury, Connecticut, where he was in active service for a period of sixty years. His death occurred September 6, 1760. He married (first) Prudence Wells ; (second) Mary Sherman.
Eliakim Stoddard, son of Rev. Anthony and Prudence (Wells) Stoddard, was born April 3, 1705, and died in 1750. He lived in Woodbury, Connecticut. He married Joanna Curtis.
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CYCLOPEDIA OF NEW JERSEY
John Stoddard, son of Eliakim and Jo- anna (Curtis) Stoddard, was born January 26, 1730, and died January 22, 1795. He was a resident of Watertown, Connecticut, and married Mary Atwood, who died in Charleston, Montgomery county, New York.
John Stoddard, son of John and Mary (Atwood) Stoddard, was born in Water- town, Connecticut, July 1, 1763, where he married Sarah Woodward in 1785. They removed to Coventry, Chenango county, New York, in 1802, when that section of the country was primeval forest.
Rev. Elijah Woodward Stoddard, second son of John and Sarah (Woodward) Stod- dard, was born in Coventry, Chenango coun- ty, New York, April 23, 1820, and died Oc- tober 29, 1913. During all his boyhood days, and until he attained his majority, a part of his daily toil was the labor attend- ant upon clearing a forest farm and assist- ing in its cultivation. The schoolhouses of those days were of the most primitive kind, being constructed of logs, and the furni- ture was of such a kind as could be manu- factured at the least expense. The school benches were thick planks of pine wood, with a strong supporting pin of oak at either end. A smooth board fastened against the wall served the purpose of a writing desk, and the user of this was obliged to turn his back to the school while writing. Individual recitation was the rule, and class recitation the exception. A black- board was an unknown quantity, and for the older pupils there were only sessions for three or four months during the winter, when outdoor farm work had to be suspend -. ed. The very young children were taught during the summer months by a woman teacher, as even the half-grown children were necessary to accomplish the work of the summer months on the farm. As books were scarce and very expensive, the suc- cess which Mr. Stoddard achieved argues a natural aptitude for study not often met with. Every moment that could be spent
from his incessant and arduous labors was devoted to the acquisition of knowledge and, while he devoured every book in the neighborhood which he could borrow or acquire for his own, it is a self-evident fact that, at that period, his chief means of study was the Bible. Owing to this he was but twelve years of age when he became a church member.
Six years later he had acquired a suffi- cient amount of learning to enable him to pass an examination which permitted him to become a school teacher. While there were many hardships to be contended with in this calling at that time, it was one of the privileges of this estate to be permitted to "board around," a custom now fallen into disuse, but which united teacher, pu- pils and their parents in bonds of closest fellowship. Five winters were spent profit- ably in this occupation, and during the sum- mers of these years he assisted on the homestead farm as he had previously done. By this time he had fully decided to enter the ministry, and he prepared for college at Norwich and Oxford Academies. Ma- triculating at Amherst College in Septem- ber, 1845, he was graduated from this in- stitution in June, 1849, and then became a student at the Union Theological Semi- nary, from which he was graduated in May, 1852. He was delegated by the American Home Missionary Society to Momence, Kankakee county, Illinois, but the climate there having impaired his health he was, after a short time, removed to Hawley, Pennsylvania, where he re- mained in charge three years. In Novem- ber, 1856, he answered a call from the Pres- byterian church at Amenia, Dutchess coun- ty, New York; in May, 1860, he went to the Presbyterian church in Angelica, New York; and May 1, 1864, responded to a call from the Presbyterian church at Suc- casunna, New Jersey, where he remained until his death. During his ministry hun- dreds were added to the church member- ship; he performed four hundred and
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eighty-eight marriages; and officiated at eight hundred and ninety-seven funerals. His sermons were both eloquent and force- ful, compelling his hearers to ponder and think on the Life Eternal and to lead lives of piety and usefulness, he himself setting an example well worthy of emulation. In September, 1880, Maryville College, of East Tennessee, conferred upon him the unexpected degree of Doctor of Divinity, while those who knew him best felt that it was an honor given where honor was due.
Rev. Dr. Stoddard was also an enthusi- astic Christian Endeavor worker, attend- ing the national and international Christian Endeavor Conventions, bringing from them inspiration to the societies at home. He stood on the platform at Atlantic City, New Jersey, with Fanny Crosby, who claimed him to be her "twin brother," as there was but one month's difference in their ages. Dr. Stoddard was made a life member by the Morris County Christian Endeavor Union. His later years were a remarkable demonstration of Longfellow's maxim that "Age has its opportunities, no less than youth." In all the walks of life he exhib- ted characteristics which compelled respect and won admiration. He was an example of a man whose life was his creed. No taint ever touched his stewardship. His manhood and lofty character won and mag- netized all true hearts. His life was beau- tiful and complete in its symmetry, and was a benediction and benefaction. Every act of his daily life was made to accord with the highest standards, and never fell short of the highest ideals of Christianity. His work, viewed from different angles, was a noble and inspiring achievement. As a Sunday school teacher and organizer he had but few peers. In all his commerce with the world the predominance of his ecclesi- astical character was manifest. The
preacher, the useful minister, was the pic- ture which he kept constantly be- fore his eye. He never forgot the ermine which he wore, "Behold
an
Israelite in whom is no guile." He was a humanized interpretation of the Golden Rule, an incarnation of the Sermon on the Mount. Charity for every human weakness was the dominating element in his character, and mercy the controlling force in every judgment. Among all his quali- ties none was more engaging than his posi- tive genius for making friends. Rev. Dr. Stoddard married (first) July 16, 1852, Eliza West Concklin, born in New York City, April 26, 1829, died in Succasunna, New Jersey, October 23; 1874, a daughter of Jonas W. and Eliza (West) Concklin They had one son : George Henry, born in Hawley, Wayne county, Pennsylvania, June 7, 1853, died July 30, of the same year. The mother and son were buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Nyack, New York, in the family plot of Jonas W. Concklin. He married (second) November 28, 1877, Mrs. Eliza A. (Platt) Stoddard, born in New York City, June 15, 1838. She is a daughter of George W. and . Eliza Platt, and widow of Professor John F. Stoddard, the mathematician. By her first marriage she had a daughter, Eliza Platt Stoddard, born July 21, 1869, died May 19, 1886, who was a member of the household at Succa- sunna parsonage for eight years. Hers was a bright, intellectual and beautiful Christian character. The Memorial Chap- el standing near the Presbyterian Church, erected by Mrs. Stoddard in 1887, is her most fitting monument. So long as this chapel can do service in the worship of God, it will emphasize her words: "You need Christ and Christ needs you to work for him." "I want to do real work for Christ."
The work of Dr. Stoddard lives invisi- ble but mighty in the souls of those whom he influenced, and "although dead he yet speaketh." It is pleasant to reflect that in his later years he was surrounded with all that should accompany old age-honor, love, troops of friends-and that he wore the crown of all men's good will around his
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Haumbal Goodwin. 1
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brow, and we are confident that he shall hear the words of the Master : "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."
GOODWIN, Rev. Hannibal,
Clergyman, Man of Inventive Genius.
The Church, from the earliest times, has wielded a power superior to that of the State, for the reason that the spiritual per- vades and moulds and, sooner or later, dominates the temporal. That the influ- ence of the Church has steadily increased in recent years is questioned by few thoughtful and penetrating observers. While, perhaps, less obviously and institu- tionally exerted, it is for that very reason more pervasive and powerful. Especially is this the case when the Church's leaders are men of broad minds and liberal senti- ments, quick to discern "the signs of the times," men of the type so forcibly repre- sented by the late Rev. Hannibal Goodwin, of Newark, New Jersey. His earlier years were passed in the country, and he never lost his love for the simplicity of rural life.
Rev. Hannibal Goodwin was born April 21, 1822, on a farm at what was then called Goodwin's Point, now Taughannock Falls, Cayuga Lake, New York, and at a suitable age began his attendance at the district school in that vicinity. He was a leader among his schoolmates, in mischief as well as in the more serious business of school life, and was in trouble on more than one occasion by reason of the boyish pranks which he instigated. His mischief, how- ever, was never of the kind to work seri- ous harm to any one, and he was very gen- erally beloved, even in those early days. Later he became a student at Union Col- lege, Schenectady, New York, from which he was graduated, and then entered Yale College in order to pursue legal studies. Feeling himself better fitted for religious work, he turned his efforts in that direction, and entered the Union Theological Semi-
nary, New York, to prepare himself for the duties of a minister of the Methodist Church. Having paid a visit to Old Trinity Church, he was so deeply impressed with the beauty of the Episcopal service that he matriculated at the General Theological Seminary, and there prepared himself to serve as a minister of that denomination. He graduated in the class of 1851, and in 1852 he married Miss Rebecca Allen, eldest daughter of Joseph Allen of New York City. Immediately after his marriage he accepted a call to Christ Church, Borden- town, where he remained three years. In 1855 he became rector of St. Paul's Church, Newark, New Jersey, where he officiated about five years. His next field of usefulness was Trenton, and while min- istering there he developed a bronchial trouble which threatened to become of so serious a nature that it was deemed advis- able that he be removed to a more suitable climate, for a time at least. Going to Cali- fornia in December, 1859, he was sent to Napa Valley by Bishop Kip, and there or- ganized the first Episcopal church in that section. Marysville was his next home, and there the climate, which was much drier and warmer, was of great benefit to him. He spent about three years there, during this time taking charge of St. John's Church. Yielding to the solicitation of Bis- hop Kip, Rev. Goodwin then went to San Francisco, where he organized a church school for girls, in connection with Grace Cathedral, and later was in charge of this cathedral for a number of years while the Bishop was absent. The rectorship of the House of Prayer, in Newark, was next of- fered him, in 1867, and he discharged the duties of this office for a period of twenty years.
Even in boyhood, Rev. Goodwin had been noted for the keeness of his inventive faculties, and in later life this bent was more fully developed. Had he not chosen the ministry as his calling, and devoted all his attention to inventions, in all probabil .
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ity he would now be classed in the same plane as Edison, Marconi, and others of like caliber. As it is, the invention which brought his name prominently before the public was the Kodak film, an invention which has made possible many wonders in the photographic world. A better discrip- tion of it cannot be given than in extracts from an interview with a representative of "The Newark Sunday Call." Rev. Good- win said in part :
"Yes, my invention-but I don't like to be call- ed an inventor. A priest of the church is my title, and of that I am proud, and I am glad to state that at the very time I happened to make this invention, I was exercising a certain feature of my ministerial profession. It was in this wise: Prior to the time I invented the kodak film I had often preached, and had written not a little upon the religious education of the young. The importance of impressing the minds of the young by means of pictorial or stereopticon illustra- tions of Scriptural events and scenes had often occurred to me. I had imparted these views to Jabez Hayes, a layman of Grace Church, and soon afterward I received a check of one hun- dred and fifty dollars to be invested in stereop- ticon apparatus. The next thing to be done was to secure a proper series of Biblical subjects, but these were not readily procurable, and I de- termined to make my own selections, and make the photographs on glass. During the course of my experiments at my own home, I became con- vinced of the necessity of having a substitute for glass, which should have the qualities of greater durability and less weight. My idea was to have a long strip of some transparent material, which could be wound on a spool, and would be light enough to be carried about by the traveling pho- tographer. Research convinced me that it was a longfelt and sorely needed article in the art of photography, and, utilizing the knowledge of chemistry I had acquired during my collegiate studies, I commenced a series of experiments, at first with collodion, then with other materials, until success crowned my efforts. Early in 1887 I applied for a patent, but as the subject matter was one which had never been presented in any form at the Patent Office prior to this time, there was a considerable and unnecessary delay. In the meantime, while my claim for a patent was pending, H. Reichenbach, a chemist in the em- ploy of the Eastman Company, applied for a patent on a film of a similar kind, and this was
the cause of long investigation, my patent not being granted until September 13, 1898."
Later the Goodwin Film and Camera Company was formed by Mrs. Goodwin, widow of Rev. Goodwin, and subsequently the Ansco Company, of Binghamton, bought up the Goodwin Film and Camera Company, and brought suit against the Eastman Company, in December, 1902, for infringement under the Goodwin patent. This gave rise to prolonged litigation, a settlement being finally reached in March, 1914, when the Eastman Company agreed to pay a substantial sum to the owners of the Goodwin film patents.
Rev. Goodwin made a number of other important inventions. One is a photo- graphic screen and plate holder for process half-tone work, planned on entirely new principles. Many operators in the field of photo-engraving regard him as the father of the many fine processes which have done so much for illustrating and the education of the masses. He is credited with having discovered the basic methods upon which the half-tone work is being done to-day, and with teaching young men who are now at the head of this industry in this country. He took no profit for himself from his im- portant discoveries, but freely gave his knowledge to young men who desired to go into business, and who have grown rich from the knowledge he instilled in them.
Mr. Goodwin left a widow, and three adopted children, a son, Francis M. Good- win, and two daughters, Eleanor H. Good- win and Mrs. Mary Beckwith. His death left a void in the community which can scarcely be filled, so manifold were his ac- tivities and so great was his influence for good. No better estimate can be given of the love and veneration in which he was held, than in the following extract from the "Church Porch," of January, 1901 :
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