USA > New Jersey > Cyclopedia of New Jersey Biography > Part 40
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Among the financial institutions he served as attorney, was the Half Dime Savings Bank of Orange, his service beginning with its organization in May, 1870. Twelve years later he was elected president of the bank, an office he held until his death, twenty-five years later. At a special meeting of the di-
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rectors, the following resolutions were adopted :
"The board of managers of the Half Dime Savings Bank of Orange hears of the death of Wilberforce Freeman, late president, with regret and believe that his loss to the bank is almost irreparable. He was connected with the bank officially from the date of its organization in 1870, when he was elected counsel, until 1882, then was annually elected president until the date of his death. His efforts were untiring in pro- moting the interests of the institution, managers and depositors being indebted to him more than to any other man for its present prosperity. His judgment as to value was excellent, and invest- ments made under his supervision were safe with- out question. Guided by the same principles of strictest integrity, as in his private business, he considered his position one of the greatest trusts, and so directed its affairs as to absolutely pro- tect the interests confided to his care. Conserva- tive to a fault, leaning at times to a seeming depreciation, he never wavered in his insistence that no suggestion of the slightest enhancement of values, should be used for appearance sake. His clearly considered guidance will be missed in our consultations and this tribute is ordered entered on our records as an evidence of our appreciation of his valuable and sustaining per- sonality and his usefulness to the public as a citizen and associate."
Resolutions of respect and appreciation were also passed by the Essex County Bar Association, and out of respect for his mem- ory the District Court adjourned the after- noon of his funeral. The Half Dime Bank closed its doors that afternoon, as did the store of Hindle & Williams, a business founded by Alexander Hamilton Freeman.
Mr. Freeman was a member of the New England Society, from 1871, served as vice- president, counsellor, and chairman of the committee on amendments. He was an ac- tive member of the New Jersey Historical Society, the Princeton Alumni Association, and the Washington Association. He was actively interested in the welfare of the Re- publican party, and served as a presidential elector for McKinley and Roosevelt in 1900. His clubs were the Essex County Country and the Lawyers.
ROMEYN, Rev. Theodore Bayard,
Revered Clergyman.
The Rev. Theodore Bayard Romeyn, D. D., late of Hackensack, New Jersey, a noted divine of the Reformed Church in America, comes of a family which has been dis- tinguished in professional life for many gen- erations, and more especially in the ministry. A brief review of the earlier generations, appears appropriate here.
Prior to the middle of the thirteenth cen- tury, Giacomo de Ferentino, an Italian gentleman, settled at Rongham Manor, Nor- folk, England, married Isabella de Rucham, a lady of that place, by whom there were two sons: Peter and Richard or Thomas They were sent to Rome to be educated, and after their return, Peter at least, took the surname of Romaeyn, Peter the Roman. Al- though educated for the priesthood, he mar- ried the daughter of Thomas de Leicester, whose wife was Agatha de Cringleford, of Norfolk. Peter Romaeyn devised property, made out leases, granted "charters," many of which still exist over the name assumed by him. His widow sold the property at Rongham in that name. In the third year of Edward II., 1387 A. D., Thomas Ro- Mayn was lord mayor of London. His arms ( foreign) not granted in England, were described in the Register : "Argent on a fesse gules three crosses or. Crest : A deer's head erased." Soon after the above date, troubles broke out between the king and the House of Leicester, and many of this family and their adherents were obliged to flee the country. Some of them went to the "low countries." The name is spelled Romaine in France, Romain in England, and Ro- meyn in Holland. Jan Romeyn, of Amster- dam, Holland, was a descendant of the Eng- lish'Romeyns. He had three sons : Simon Janse, Christoffel, and Class or Klass. In "Valentine's Manual of the Common Coun- cil of New York, 1863," we find the fac- simile signature of Simon Jansen Romeyn,
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1661; in the Dutch church records of New York is the marriage, 1668, of "Simon Jan- sen Romeyn, young man from Amsterdam, and Sophie Jans, maiden from the Hague." Christoffel and Claus sailed from Rotter- dam for Brazil with the expedition of Prince Maurice. When Brazil was ceded to Portugal, they sailed for New Netherlands, and settled on Long Island, either in 1654 or 1661, then removed to Hackensack, New Jersey, remaining about ten years, then to Greenwich, on the Island of New York. Claus married Christianje or Styntie Albertse Terhune, May 2, 1680, of Ams- fort, now Gravesend, New York, and died at Greenwich, New York.
John Romeyn, son of Claus and Chris- tianje Albertse (Terhune) Romeyn, mar- ried at Hackensack, New Jersey, in 1699, Lammatje Bougeart, and had seven chil- dren.
Nicholas Romeyn, son of John and Lam- matje (Bougeart) Romeyn, married (first) Elizabeth Outwater, and (second) Rachel Vreelandt. One of his grandsons, by his second wife, was the Rev. Theodoric Dirk Romeyn, D. D., who is largely quoted, and was among the most prominent American theologians of the earlier days.
Rev. Thomas Romeyn, son of Nicholas and Elizabeth (Outwater) Romeyn, was graduated from the College of New Jersey in 1750, and then studied theology. After preaching on Long Island a few times, he went to Holland for ordination, and then settled on Long Island, at Jamaica, until 1860. He died at Fonda, New York, and was buried under the pulpit of his church. He married (first) Margarita Freelinghuy- sen, (second) Susanna Van Campen.
Rev. James Van Campen Romeyn, son of Rev. Thomas and Susanna (Van Camp- en) Romeyn, after proper preparation, studied theology under the Rev. Theodor- ic Dirk Romeyn, mentioned above. He was a trustee of Rutgers College, and had several charges, the last of which was the Reform- ed churches of Schraalenburg and Hack-
ensack. He married (first) Susanna, a daughter of Maus Van Vranken; (second) Mrs. Elizabeth Pell.
Rev. James Romeyn, son of Rev. James Van Campen and Susanna (Van Vranken) Romeyn, was born at Blooming Grove, New York, in 1797, and died at New Brunswick, New Jersey, in 1862. He was graduated from Columbia College in 1816, and from the Theological Seminary at New Brunswick in 1819, and declined the title of Doctor of Divinity which was offered by Columbia College. He had charges in sev- eral places, and was a trustee of Rutgers College in 1842. He married Joanna Bay- ard Rodgers, daughter of John Richardson Bayard Rodgers, M. D., a leading physi- cian and professor at Columbia College, New York.
Rev. Theodore Bayard Romeyn, D. D., second son of the Rev. James and Joanna Bayard (Rodgers) Romeyn, was born at Nassau, New York, October 22, 1827, and died in Hackensack, New Jersey, August 18, 1885. His early education was acquir- ed in the schools of Catskill, Claverack ( New York), Hackensack, and various other places, and he then became a student at Rut- gers College, from which he was graduated in the class of 1846, and had the distinction of delivering the honorary oration. He then matriculated at the Theological Sem- inary at New Brunswick, New Jersey, from which he was graduated in the class of 1849. The degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him by Rutgers Col- lege. Immediately after his graduation he was called to preach at the Reformed Church at Blawenburgh, Somerset county, near Princeton, New Jersey, and remained in charge there from 1849 to 1865, when he was called to the First Reformed Church at Hackensack, New Jersey, and ministered there until his death, a period of twenty years. His death occurred after an illness of only a few hours, and was deeply de- plored not only by his relatives, friends and the members of his congregation, but by a
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much wider circle, for it was only after he had passed away that the full extent of his broad minded charity became known. He had the broad religion of humanity, which believes that many roads lead to God, and that suffering should be relieved irrespec- tive of religious creeds. In a memorial volume published by the Consistory, we find the following interesting passage : "It is also worth a passing notice to observe the large ministerial circle of which he was a mem- ber by family ties. His maternal great- grandfather was Rev. John Rodgers, forty- four years pastor of the Wall Street Pres- byterian Church, New York City. His pa- ternal grandmother was a sister of Rev. Nicholas Van Vranken. In these several branches of relationship there are found nearly or quite forty names of those who have devoted themselves to the ministry of the Gospel, and of this number three-quar- ters belong to the Romeyn family." Dr. Romeyn married Amelia Augusta Letson, daughter of Johnson and Eliza (Shaddle) Letson, of New Brunswick, New Jersey, and they had children: Mary Letson, who died in infancy; James A., at one time a member of the law firm of Romeyn & Grif- fin, in Jersey City, since 1894, editor of "The Evening Record," published in Hack- ensack. He married Flora M. Cochran, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, by whom he had two children ; married (second) Susie B. Conover, of Newark.
In the pulpit, Dr. Romeyn presented a rare combination of the intellectual and the emotional type of preaching. He delighted in the discussion of the great fundamental doctrines of our faith, and when these themes fully engaged him in public dis- course, he rose to veritable heights of elo- quence and power. His style was chaste, vigorous and incisive. Exquisitely sensi- tive to suffering, he entered into the sor- rows of other men with keen and sympa- thetic appreciation which, expressed in words, often healed the wounds of the stricken by their very gentleness and grace.
Men of learning sought his companionship and found him a peer, yet he had a heart that reached out to the humblest and a ready sympathy quick in response. He was a man great and able, true and kind, and his life was as white as the sunlight.
RHOADS, Charles,
Man of Lofty Character.
"The path of the just is as a shining light which shineth more and more unto the per- fect day." The life of Charles Rhoads, of Haddonfield, was remarkable in his ability to combine noble Christian character and devotion to duty, with eminent success as a man of business in a great metropolis. His religious nature began its development when a very young boy and seventy years later the last entry in his journal, written but a few weeks prior to his death, shows truly the consecrated spirit of the writer : "I have been quite sick, and at times seriously so, but am now able to be about the house and am regaining my normal vigor gradually. It has been a season of deep proving as to my foundation on the only Rock, which will stand in the day of account. There seemed at one time but a narrow step between me and death ; and fervent have been my petitions that the work of sanctification might be completed before the day of probation is ended, and that an entrance might be grant- ed me, an unworthy servant, through the atoning blood of Jesus and the washing of regeneration by his Holy Spirit, into the mansions of rest, when the spirit should va- cate the earthly tenement. Truly I can say with the Psalmist, 'How excellent is thy loving kindness, oh God; therefore the chil- dren of men put their trust under the shad- ow of thy wings.' Some assurance was felt in these times of trial that He would receive me for his mercies' sake."
A birthright Friend, he never yielded to unbelief or to any disloyalty to the faith of Friends. In his sixtieth year he wrote: "I believe that the Society of Friends as an or-
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ganization of Christian People has been a blessing to thousands who have been brought within its influence. I feel it to be the highest privilege of my life to have had my birth and education in a God fearing family and among pious people of our Soci- ety. The doctrines and principles maintain- ed by Friends since their rise and in which I was educated became early in life those of my conviction and deliberate judgment." He felt that he had received a call to the ministry, and engaged in it in 1866. His natural abilities, which were above the aver- age, were sanctified to the Master's use and that humility which marked his character was deepened as the sense of his Saviour's loving favor was heightened in his soul. His memoranda, however, refer repeatedly to the need he felt of spiritual food from Christ and the cleansing of His atoning blood.
His character as a business man was marked by sterling integrity, coupled with intelligence and experience, excelling many of his profession, which caused him to be sought by friends and neighbors for advice, to whose application he ever gave a ready response. Referring to his success in bus- iness for several years previous he writes : "What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits? Grant, Oh Heavenly Father, that these blessings may not prove a snare to my soul and rob Thee of that devotion of heart, soul, and time, which is Thy due."
Those who were in trouble found in him a truly sympathizing friend. In 1866 he wrote in his journal : "It has been a subject of great concern with me in carrying on my business lest I should lose that delicate sense of responsibility to the Most High for all my time and powers through the engrossing character of my avocations. My religious obligations are clearly paramount to all oth- ers, and my mind has often been greatly straitened to arrive at a just discrimination of my duty in all respects. Truly, Oh! Father, naught but thy wisdom can direct ; no less a power than Thine can keep me
from temptation and failure to duty through over anxiety about the care and support of my family."
In 1872, after concluding to retire from active participation in business, he wrote, in regard to this step: "It is a relief of mind to think of being more free from the close attention which seems necessary to carry on a successful one in a large city; and it is my earnest desire and prayer that being so favored by the great Author of all our mercies, I may more assiduously devote the remainder of my time to His service." From that date until his last illness, thirty years later, Mr. Rhoads devoted himself to ministerial work, traveling and local, to Friends' schools and to the Friends' Book Store, and in combatting public forces for evil, that of intemperance claiming his earn- est efforts for the prohibition of the liquor traffic and he was a potent factor in sup- pressing the race track evil at Gloucester, New Jersey.
Calmness and dignity, tempered by cheer- fulness and affability, marked his inter- course with others. Firm in his convictions and fearless in their expression, yet with tenderness he found a place in the hearts of those with whom he came into contact. His reverential attitude in times of worship was most impressive. His ministry was clear, sound, and edifying. In vocal supplication his utterance was often in much brokenness and self distrust. Richly endowed with gifts, natural and Divine, he was a faithful steward of his Lord's goods. Using the talents bestowed, their gain was manifold. Advancing years and impaired health form- ed no excuse for neglect of the Master's work. In 1877 he wrote: "Pay thy vows unto the Most High. A sense of obligation is present with me. Oh, that it may be at- tended with his grace and strength to ful- fil it. We may be sensible of our duty but not devoted enough, not unselfish enough, to carry it out. To love him and adore in Spirit and in Truth we require to be trans- formed by the renewings of the mind, an
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infusion of Christ's spirit. And shall we not have this? Yes. He has said his Fath- er will give the Holy Spirit to them who ask him for it." In Haddonfield, so long his home, he was greatly beloved and rever- ed for his beautiful life, gentle spirit, firm advocacy of the right, and his zeal for the cause of righteousness. From one not of his faith, who yet sat under his teachings as a girl, comes this tribute, "He was a good man," and in all the wide circle of his acquaintance no other verdict was ever rend- ered concerning the pure life and Christian character of Charles Rhoads.
He was of English forbears of Ripley, Derbyshire, England, the ancestral home of John Rhoads, the founder of the family in America. He came to Pennsylvania with his children in 1682, his wife, Elizabeth, having died in England prior to that date. He settled in Darby ( Philadelphia), where he lived until his death, August 27, 1701. For several years he was a member of the Governor's Council. His youngest child, Joseph, upon attaining his majority became the owner of a good farm of two hundred and fifty acres in Marple township, Dela- ware county, Pennsylvania, established a tannery thereon and there resided until his death in 1732, at the age of fifty-two years. He married, July 2, 1702, Abigail, daughter of Richard Bonsal, who survived him eighteen years.
James Rhoads, of the third American generation, son of Joseph and Abigail Rhoads, was born and grew to manhood on the Marple township homestead, of which he became the owner at the age of twenty- eight years. He improved the estate and extended its area, there residing until his death in 1798. He was of refined, gentle nature, loving and generous, doing unto others as he would be done by. As a bus- iness man he was very successful. He mar- ried, in 1745, Elizabeth, daughter of John and Hannah Owens. She died in 1795.
The line of descent was through Joseph, son of James Rhoads, a great-grandson of
John Rhoads, the founder, who married Mary Ashbridge, and their son, Joseph, who married Hannah Evans, of Philadel- phia, and resided on the homestead farm in Marple, and there his children were born. Hannah Evans and a twin brother, James E. Evans, were born in Marple. Joseph and Hannah (Evans) Rhoads were devot- ed members of the Society of Friends and reared their children among the refining in- fluences of a truly Christian home.
Charles Rhoads, son of Joseph and Han- nah (Evans) Rhoads, was born in Marple township, Chester county, Pennsylvania, first month 21, 1828, died in Haddonfield, New Jersey, first month 25, 1903. His early home training prepared him for at- tendance at Friends' School at Springfield, nearby, and several years later he complet- ed his studies at Westtown Friends' board- ing school. He was an apt scholar, and re- ceived from his instructors words of com- mendation for his accuracy and progress. At the age of sixteen years he left school, and for a year or two engaged with his father in labor on the home farm. He then decided to become a conveyancer, and began study in the law office of Andrew D. Cash, quickly evincing a great aptitude for legal study. At about the age of twenty years he began business in Philadelphia, making his home with his maternal uncle, Charles Evans. He became well known in the bus- iness world, was a thorough master of the intricacies of real estate law and convey- ancing, and especially gifted in the writing of wills and legal papers. He was much sought for as an advisor on his specialties, such lawyers as John G. Johnson and other eminent attorneys being numbered among those who availed themselves of his skill. He continued a very successful business man until 1872, then withdrew and there- after devoted himself largely to ministerial and philanthropic work.
He fully realized his call to the ministry, and according to Friends' usage was so rec- ognized in 1866. As his gift in the ministry
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became more and more apparent by renew- ed calls to service, the elders of the Month- ly Meeting in ninth month, 1872, decided to propose official recognition of his gift. In connection with this he wrote: "It is now nearly seven years since I first felt an obli- gation laid upon me to speak in the way of public ministry. During the intervening spirit of probation my spirit at times has almost fainted by the way, and I have been ready to exclaim with the prophet, 'Oh Lord God, behold I am a child, I cannot speak, yet I feel bound to acknowledge the un- bounded goodness of Israel's Shepherd.' It is no small relief to my faltering spirit that those Friends who are constituted the judges of such affairs by our church dis- cipline are so satisfied with the genuineness of my commission to the high and holy call- ing of a minister of the Gospel of Christ. And now my hope is in him alone who is able to guide and keep his servants. And my prayer is unto the God of my life, that I may be endued with the armor of faith and humility, and not seek great things for myself."
In 1877 he became greatly concerned over the unsettled state of affairs of the Society in Kansas, and receiving the approv- al of his Monthly and Quarterly Meeting spent nine weeks in Kansas, visiting Friends and holding meetings at some of the agen- cies in Indian Territory. On this visit he was accompanied by John Sharpless. In 1886, accompanied by his brother, Joseph Rhoads, he made a general visit to Friends of North Carolina. Before and after this period he was frequently engaged in min- isterial labors within the limits of his Year- ly Meeting, served on committees, was a true friend of Westtown Friends' school, and a member of the committee visiting it, was a member of the book committee, the meet- ing for sufferings, and was for many years a member of the New Jersey State Tem- perance Alliance, attending its meetings and using the opportunity to explain the relig- ious views of Friends. Among public of-
fices he held that of secretary and treasurer of the Apprentices' Library of Philadelphia, was president of the Camden (New Jersey) Home for Friendless Children, was a direc- tor of the Haddonfield National Bank, and was often chosen by his fellow citizens of Haddonfield as counsellor and arbitrator of borough affairs, they relying upon his knowledge, spirit of justice, and benevo- lence to safeguard them, free from entangle- ment.
Charles Rhoads married, in 1856, Anne H., daughter of Samuel and Rebecca Mor- gan Nicholson, of Haddonfield, New Jer- sey, and through that influence Haddonfield became his home. Anne H. Rhoads died in 1864, the mother of four daughters-Mary, died in 1867; Catherine, single ; Eleanor, married William T. Elkinton; Anna, mar- ried George G. Williams ; and a son, Samuel N. Rhoads, now a resident of Haddonfield.
Mr. Rhoads married (second) in third month, 1870, Beulah S. Morris, daughter of Samuel Buckley and Hannah (Perot) Morris, who survives him, a resident of Haddonfield. Their only child, a daughter, died aged nine months. Mrs. Rhoads was always her husband's co-worker in spirit- ual things, in philanthropy and charity. An active charity was ever maintained toward colored people, and personal visits were made to their homes, schools, and religious meetings.
On his seventy-fifth birthday Mr. Rhoads was rapidly reduced by ill health, and on the following January 25, 1903, his life ended with the voice of praise to Him who had redeemed him to Himself. "There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus," were his last words.
JACKSON, William,
Enterprising Citizen.
In the analyzation of the character of a citizen of the type of the late William Jack- son, of Belleville, New Jersey, for many years a well known business man of New-
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ark, we find all that is required to make a biographical sketch interesting to those who have at heart the good name of the com- munity honored by his residence, because it is the honorable reputation of the man of standing and affairs, more than any other consideration, that gives character and sta- bility to the body politic and makes the true glory of a city or State revered at home and respected abroad. In the broad light which things of good repute ever invite, the name and character of Mr. Jackson stand reveal- ed and secured and, though with no ambi- tion to distinguish himself in public position his career has been signally honorable and useful and it may be studied with profit by the youth entering upon his life work. At this point it seems eminently appropriate to devote a few words to the ancestral history of Mr. Jackson.
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