USA > New Jersey > Cyclopedia of New Jersey Biography > Part 35
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Charles G. A. Borcherling was born in Berlin, Germany, January 1I, 1827, and died of apoplexy in Newark, New Jersey, February 21, 1912. He was a son of Charles Frederick and Christina (Hell- mund) Borcherling. His father was ex- empted from military service in the Ger- man army as a mark of favor, his brother having fallen under Blücher at the battle of Waterloo. He came to the United States when his son, Charles G. A. Borch- erling, was young, but afterward sent the latter back to Germany to complete his classical education. After finishing his studies in Germany, the then young man began the study of law in Newark, New Jersey, entering the office of the eminent lawyer, Cortlandt Parker. He was admit- ted to the New Jersey bar at the June term, 1860, as an attorney, and at the November term, 1863, as a counsellor. In 1860 he be- gan general practice in Newark, was in turn admitted to all State and Federal courts of the district, and for fifty years was one of the most successful of lawyers, conducting a very extensive, lucrative prac- tice. His professional career was one of honor and strict observance of legal ethics. He was wise in counsel, untiring in the preparation of his cases, and most force- ful in their presentation to court or jury. He depended entirely upon the legal
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Yours truly Charles Borcherling -
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strength and effective presentation of his W. Scudder, was admitted to the New Jer- cause, never by chicanery or inferior prac- tice seeking to befog the issue. He was fair and most considerate of the rights of opposing counsel, but dealt sledge hammer blows in open legal argument. In his later years he surrendered the heavier burdens of practice, but was ever the sound legal adviser of clients and a valuable consultant of many lawyers, who drew largely upon his learning, experience, and wisdom.
Mr. Borcherling was a Republican in politics, and a longtime member of Trinity Protestant Episcopal Church. He was one of the oldest members of St. John's Lodge, No. I, Free and Accepted Masons, and of the Essex Club. He was an old and valued member of the various bar associations of the city and district. He was vice-presi- dent of the American Bar Association for a number of years, and was interested in many societies and organizations of New- ark.
He married (first) August 12, 1869, in Newark, Eliza S., daughter of James M. and Phoebe Quinby, who died in 1875, leaving a son, Frederick Adolph, born Oc- tober 4, 1871, a member of the Essex coun- ty bar and, until his father's death, his law partner. Mr. Borcherling married (sec- ond) July 23, 1885, in New York City, Mary Latimer, daughter of William and Caroline (Barton) Ruxton. The funeral services of Mr. Borcherling were conduct- ed by Right Reverend Edwin S. Lines, Bishop of Newark, after which he was laid at rest in Mount Pleasant Cemetery.
GILCHRIST, Robert,
Lawyer, State Official.
The late Hon. Robert Gilchrist, a lawyer of Jersey City, who attained notable success in his profession, winning a high and hon- orable place among his associates, was a native of Jersey City, born August 12, 1825, died in Jersey City, in July, 1888.
He read law with John Annin and Isaac
sey bar as an attorney in 1847, later be- came a counselor, and subsequently was a partner of Mr. Scudder. Always taking an interest in public affairs, he was called up- on to discharge some high and responsible trusts. Politically he was a member of the Whig party until it was merged into the Republican organization. In 1866 he be- came the Democratic candidate for Con- gress in the Fifth District. The Republi- cans, however, were successful in electing their nominee, George A. Halsey. In May, 1869, he was nominated by Governor Ran- dolph as Attorney-General of the State, to succeed George M. Robeson ; was appoint- ed Secretary of the Navy. In April, 1873, he was appointed by Governor Parker on a special commission to revise the constitution of the State. In January, 1875, he retired from the Attorney-Generalship, and was succeeded by ex-Governor Joel Parker. During the same month his name was brought before the Democratic caucus of the Legislature for the nomination for United States Senator, and he received large support, but the Governor, Theodore F. Randolph, eventually obtained the nom- ination, and was elected.
Mr. Gilchrist was one of the most dra- matic and effective pleaders at the bar ; he made an interesting and brilliant campaign, whenever nominated, and the fight made for Mr. Gilchrist was of such a character as to convince the State House leaders that they had no mean antagonist in the oppo- site leaders who put Mr. Gilchrist in the field. His contemporaries were Theodore F. Randolph, who achieved the office of United States Senator in 1875; Mr. Mc- Pherson, and who also became ambitious for the United States senatorship, desiring to succeed Frederick T. Frelinghuysen.
Attorney-General Gilchrist was an im- posing looking man, very striking in ap- pearance, having the advantage in this re- spect, and in his fine voice, as a speaker, over some of his colleagues, prominent in
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office, and as aspirants for office. The State of New Jersey was represented at that time by General Sewell, Frederick A. Potts, Garret A. Hobart, Jonathan Dixon, of Jersey City, of the Republican party ; Leon Abbett, of Jersey City, William Wal- ter Phelps, of Bergen county, John W. Taylor, of Essex county, John W. Griggs, a lawyer, of Bergen county, and ex-Gover- nor Bedle, all political comrades and op- ponents, with others equally prominent, al- ready mentioned.
Mr. Gilchrist married, late in life, while prominent in office, Fredericka Beardsley. They were the parents of two sons and two daughters.
YOUNG, Edward F. C.,
Financier, Corporation Officer.
The late Edward F. C. Young, who was a man of energy, enterprise, determination, and the ability to recognize and improve opportunities, characteristics which make for success in every undertaking in which they engage, traced his ancestry to the Rev. John Young, a native of England, who left that country for the New World, arriving in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1638, and two years later was one of the founders of Southold, Long Island, and there spent the remainder of his days, died and was buried there, his grave being kept green by each succeeding generation. Another pa- ternal ancestor was Ephraim Young, chap- lain of the State militia during the Revolu- tionary War. On the maternal side he was of Scotch descent.
New Jersey has been the home of the Young family for many years past, the grandfather and father of Edward F. C. Young having been born in the same room, in the old homestead, in Morris county, in which he himself first saw the light of day. At the age of nine years, two years after the death of his father, Edward F. C. Young removed to Jersey City, and was there educated in the public schools. A
rural career was altogether too dull and unattractive for a man of his active tem- perament, and so it was that he moved city- ward. He began his business career with the Hudson County Bank, November I, 1852, where six months previously the late Augustus A. Hardenburgh, who himself achieved distinction in public life, had tak- en a desk. An offer of the tellership tempt- ed him twelve years later to the First Na- tional Bank, which was just then on the eve of absorbing the old Mechanics and Traders Bank. He became assistant cash- ier in 1865, cashier in 1874, and on the death of the late Alexander Hamilton Wal- lis, in 1879, was made its president. Mr. Young knew men at a glance, and by his shrewd business management had, when he was summoned to the front in the guberna- torial campaign, built the bank into the most important institution in the State. His co- operation was sought by many large enter- prises both in New Jersey and in New York, and he was associated with J. P. Morgan, Thomas F. Ryan and other finan- cial leaders in many extensive transactions. At his death he was an officer and director in upwards of thirty institutions. With the late Charles B. Thurston, Mr. Young form- ed the Bergen & Jersey City Street Rail- way Company, and in 1893, with the late B. M. Shanley, organized the Consolidated Traction Company, which acquired many lines in Jersey City, Newark and Elizabeth, and was the first president of the company. In 1896 the traction company was absorbed by the Public Service Corporation, and Mr. Young retired. His connection with the Dixon Company extended over a period of nearly thirty years. He was an officer in the following companies: Acker Process Company, of which he was vice-president and director ; American Graphite Company, president and director ; First National Bank of Jersey City, president and director ; Jo- seph Dixon Crucible Company, president and director; Pavonia Trust Company of Jersey City, president and director ; North
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Jersey Land Company, president and director, and in addition to this was a di- rector in the following: Bankers Trust Company of New York, Bayonne Trust Company, Bergen & Lafayette Trust Com- pany, Jersey City; Bowling Green Trust Company, New York; Brooklyn Annex, Co- lonial Life Insurance Company, Hoboken and Manhattan Railroad Company, Hudson County Gas Company, Liberty National Bank, New York; New Jersey Title Guar- antee & Trust Company, Jersey City ; New York and New Jersey Railroad Company, North Jersey Street Railway Company, Public Service Corporation of New Jersey, People's Safe Deposit and Trust Company and the West Hudson Trust Company, Harrison.
His business lines reached out in every direction, and through them, he had gradu- ally grown, almost without observing it himself, to be an influential political factor. The lines of politics in Hudson county led as unfailingly, as the lines of business, to his ornate little office in the First National Bank building. While attending to his bank duties, he managed to serve as city treasur- er from 1865 to 1870. He was compli- mented by being elected first to the city council, then to the board of freeholders, and was the first director-at-large in the history of Hudson county affairs. In 1880 he was one of the electors who cast the vote of New Jersey for Winfield S. Han- cock for President of the United States, and in 1888 represented New Jersey in the National convention that gave Grover Cleveland his second nomination for the presidency. Mr. Young loomed up for the governorship, but was defeated in the con- vention at Trenton by Senator Werts. He was the New Jersey director of railroads for five years. He was identified with many charitable organizations, and was one of the founders of the Children's Home. His contributions to St. John's Episcopal Church were large, and he also contributed $25,000 to Emory Church, and $1,000 for
a bell for the new All Saints Church, in La- fayette. He was a member of the New Jersey Historical Society, the New Jersey Society of the Order of Founders and Patriots of America, and was entitled to membership in the Sons of the Revolution.
Mr. Young married, July 26, 1854, Har- riet M. Strober, who survives him, as does also a son, Edward L. Young, and a daugh- ter, Hattie Louise, wife of George W. Smith, president of the First National Bank, Jersey City, and they reside on the Heights, Jersey City. Mr. Young passed away at his home, Boulevard and Glen- wood avenue, Jersey City, December 6, 1908.
KUNSMAN, Amos,
Prominent Business Man, Church Worker.
A man of action rather than of words, of business talents and untiring energy, of actual achievements that advanced the wealth and prosperity of the community, is a very fair description of the late Amos Kunsman, of Trenton, New Jersey. He was a man who was always intensely in earnest, and this power of concentration enabled him to accomplish a mass of work which would have swamped one less adapt- ed to a strenuous life.
Amos Kunsman was born in Bucks coun- ty, Pennsylvania, November 9, 1840, and died at his home in Trenton, New Jersey, March 15, 1914. His education, an elemen- tary one acquired in the district schools near his birth-place, was supplemented by home study in his leisure hours, and his keen observation of men and manners throughout his life. He was sixteen years of age when he began his first appearance in business life in Easton, Pennsylvania. Later he was in New Brunswick, and then came to Trenton, New Jersey which was from that time forth to be the field of his mature activities. He made his entrance into the business life of the city as an em- ploye of Baker & Brother, who were the
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proprietors of a dry goods store on East State street. Twenty years were spent with this company, during which time his faith- ful discharge of the duties which fell to his share met with appreciation of a sat- isfactory nature. At the end of this period Mr. Kunsman had amassed a considerable capital, and he decided to engage in busi- ness for himself. He accordingly associ- ated himself in a business partnership with Isaac Cole, the firm name being Cole & Kunsman, and a store was opened on North Broad street which was conducted success- fully for a term of five years, when the partnership was dissolved. Mr. Kunsman continued in the dry goods business for himself, and later took as a partner John Taylor Leigh, the business being conducted under the style of Kunsman & Leigh, in a store located on South Broad street, al- most opposite Factory street. Subsequently this partnership was dissolved and the busi- ness sold to Messrs. Melrose & Lee and Mr. Kunsman retired from active business life, a few years prior to his death. In all, Mr. Kunsman had been identified with the dry goods business more than half a century.
Outside of his business interests, Mr. Kunsman took no part in the public affairs of the city, having no desire for pub- lic office, and deeming that he was best serving the community by furthering its business progress. Much of his time, how- ever, was given to religious work. For a long time he was an active member of the First Methodist Episcopal Church, later joining St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church, his activities being of great benefit to this institution. Patriotism was a strong factor in his character, and this prompted him to offer his services to his country. As a member of a Pennsylvania volunteer reg- iment, at the time of the threatened inva- sion of Pennsylvania by the Confederate troops, he participated in many of the most important battles of the period. Mr. Kuns- man married Adeline Bellerjean, and they had one daughter Leola.
For a long time Mr. Kunsman had been a member of the Official Board of St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church, and at the time of his death the following resolutions were drawn up by this body to testify to the esteem and love in which he was held :
Whereas, God in His inscrutable wisdom having called our beloved brother and co-worker in Christ to his glorious inheritance, and
Whereas, Realizing that in the transition of Brother Kunsman St. Paul's M. E. Church loses a kind and loving friend, one whose Christian in- tegrity and gentleness endeared him to all, whose counsel and judgment were of incalculable value, and whose munificence in all branches of church work was of a quality which could emanate only from a heart imbued with a desire for the ad- vancement of God's kingdom on earth, there- fore be it
Resolved, That the Official Board, representing the constituency of St. Paul's M. E. Church, do hereby extend to the family of Brother Amos Kunsman, in this their great affliction, their most sincere and heartfelt condolence.
"The Lord has given and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord." LEVI H. MORRIS, ELIJAH COLES, ELMA E. SUTPHIN.
HASBROUCK, Dr. Washington,
Leader in Educational Affairs.
Dr. Washington Hasbrouck, who died in 1895, has inseparably linked his name with the Hasbrouck Institute of Jersey City. This school was founded in 1856. For ten years it occupied a small building at Nos. 53-55 Mercer street, was conducted as a private school, and patronized by the lead- ing families of the city. Then the school removed to the Lyceum Building, No. 109 Grand street, and ten years later, in 1876, Dr. Hasbrouck severed his connection with it, the management passing into the hands of Charles C. Stimets, A.M. and Horace A. Wait, A. B., the principals, who built up a large and flourishing school. A fine build- ing was erected on the Heights, named The Hasbrouck Institute in honor of Dr. Has- brouck.
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Dr. Hasbrouck was from Poughkeepsie, New York, originally, belonging to an old aristocratic family. As a promoter of the highest standards of civic achievements and educational developments, Dr. Hasbrouck could not be surpassed. He was a man of rare culture and ability, a leader in col- legiate affairs, and an inspiration to Hud- son county in scientific and cultured lines.
HARDENBERGH, Augustus A., Financier, Member of Congress.
The death of Hon. Augustus A. Harden- bergh, which occurred October 5, 1889, at his late home in Jersey City, removed from that section of New Jersey one of its most widely known men, his activities in Hud- son county, in public and private ways, making his name a household word from Bull's Ferry to Bergen Point. His record in Congress brought him into close and in- timate relations with the chief men of New York and Pennsylvania, who held him in as high esteem as did his fellow citizens.
Augustus A. Hardenbergh was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, May 18, 1830, son of the late Cornelius L. Harden- bergh, LL.D., of New Brunswick, who was during his life time a leading member of the New Jersey bar, and for many years prominently connected with Rutgers Col- lege, of which institution Rev. Jacob R. Hardenbergh, D.D., his grandfather, was the first president, also the founder.
Augustus A. Hardenbergh entered Rut- gers College in 1844, but continued in col- lege only one year, the failing health and eyesight of his father rendering necessary the son's assistance as amanuensis. Two years later he entered a counting house in New York City, and took up his residence in Jersey City, New Jersey. In 1852 he became connected with the Hudson County Bank, and in 1858 was appointed its cash- ier, and in 1878 was elected its president, a position he held up to the time of his decease. For some years previous to his
appointment as cashier he had manifested an interest in politics, and in 1853 was elect- ed by the Democrats to the New Jersey Legislature from Jersey City, and although quite a young man, took an active part in legislative affairs. During the session of 1854 he acquired a favorable State reputa- tion by securing the passage of the general banking act and by opposing the Camden & Amboy railroad monopoly. He was five times elected alderman of Jersey City, in 1857-1862, inclusive, and during the last year he was chosen president of the common council, and also served as chair- man of the war committee. In 1868 he removed to Bergen, and during the first year's residence there was almost unani- mously elected to the town council. · Dur- ing the same year he was elected State Di- rector of Railroads by the New Jersey Leg- islature, and in 1872 represented the Fourth Congressional District as their delegate to the Baltimore National Convention, which nominated Horace Greeley for president, and in the same year was chosen president of the Northern Railroad Company of New Jersey. He again removed to Hudson county in 1873, and ever afterward resided there. His residence in Jersey City was at the corner of Barrow and Montgomery streets, a very beautiful section of Jersey City at that time, near Van Vorst Park. In 1874, at the solicitation of his friends, he became the Democratic candidate for Con- gress, and although the district had gone Republican two years previously by over one thousand majority, he was elected by nearly five thousand majority. He was again elected in 1876, 1878 and 1880, and during this period he succeeded in making Jersey City a port of entry. In 1883 he was appointed a member of the Board of Finance and Taxation, and in the follow- ing year he was appointed by Governor Ab- bett as a trustee of the State Reform School.
Mr. Hardenbergh was a cultivated gen- tleman, and as a representative reflected
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honor on himself and his State of New Jersey. He was a ready and graceful speaker, possessed a large amount of mag- netism, was courteous and courtly, of gen- ial manner, and therefore was very popu- lar, said to be one of the most popular men that Hudson county ever knew. Among his associates were Justice Jonathan Dix- on, William Muirheid, Judge Bedle and Flavel McGee. Mr. Hardenbergh's widow survives him, also his son, John R. Harden- bergh, who is president of the Commer- cial Trust Company, also president of the Hudson County Bank, formerly his fath- er's bank.
LEBKUECHER, Julius A.,
Manufacturer, Financier, Public Official.
Julius A. Lebkuecher was born in the Province of Baden, Germany, February 9, 1844, and died at his home in Newark, New Jersey, May 13, 1913. He was a son of Francis and Louise (Kurz) Lebkuecher, who emigrated to the United States in the year 1848, taking up their residence in Jer- sey City, New Jersey, from whence they removed to Newark, in the same State, in I852.
Julius A. Lebkuecher attended the public schools, completing his studies in the high school of Newark, from which he was graduated in the class of 1860. He at once turned his attention to the mastery of the jewelry trade, and by strict applica- tion and perseverance became thoroughly familiar with the various branches of the trade, and in 1869 was competent to embark in business on his own account, joining George Krementz in the organization of the firm of Krementz & Company, whose business constantly increased in volume and importance year by year, and is now one of the most extensive and most suc- cessful business enterprises of its kind in the City of Newark. In connection with his other interests Mr. Lebkuecher was
vice-president and a director of the Union National Bank, the Franklin Savings In stitution, and was president of the Four teenth Ward Building & Loan Association
In public affairs Mr. Lebkuecher was quite prominent, having been called upor to fill a number of positions of trust and responsibility, but he never consented to accept public office until the spring of 1894, when his name was placed on the Republi- can ticket as a mayoralty candidate in New- ark. He was elected by a majority of al- most five thousand votes, this being an un- mistakable evidence of the trust and con- fidence reposed in him as a man of splen- did business qualifications and unquestion- ed integrity. He entered upon the duties of his office, May 7, 1894, and in the begin- ning of his administration placed the gen- eral business of the city upon a business footing. Extravagances in the purchase of supplies were cut off; the cost of sewers, paving and other improvements was lessen- ed; the business methods of the department were put on a more practical and therefore economical basis; the long outstanding claims due the city from various corpora- tions were collected, including one of $89,000 against two railroad corporations, which money was devoted to the increase of public school accommodations in the city ; and he secured the passage of a State law encouraging street paving. Consider- ing the fact that great improvements were made during his term and that there had been but a slight increase in taxable valua- tions, owing to the depressed conditions of the times, the tax rate of the city was re- duced, rather than increased. Mr. Leb- kuecher, however, was not successful in his candidacy for re-election, although sup- ported by the most substantial and progres- sive citizens, those who had the future wel- fare of the city at heart, as had Mr. Leb- kuecher.
Mr. Lebkuecher married (first) July 20, 1870, Mary Hayden, who died in 1893,
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leaving children, Frank A and Carl Head- ley Lebkuecher. He married (second) Mrs. Louise Buerger.
This brief resume of Mr. Lebkuecher's many spheres of activity proves the broad- ness of his mental vision and, whether con- sidered as employe, employer, business man or executive head of a large and thriving city, he was ever found true to himself and true to his fellows. Through a long period of time he was accounted among those whose enterprise and splendid judgment contributed to the general prosperity and he bore the honorable record of a conscien- tious man who, by his upright life won the confidence of all with whom he had come in contact. His devotion to the public good was unquestioned, and arose from a sin- cere interest in the welfare of his fellow men.
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