USA > New Jersey > Cyclopedia of New Jersey Biography > Part 9
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Dick, who died February 16, 1817. Their daughter, Lydia Ann, married James Wright Mecum.
(The Dick Line).
1
Isabella Stuart Dick was a daughter of Dr. Samuel Dick, and granddaughter of Rev. John Dick, son of a minister of the Presbyterian church in the North of Ire- land. Rev. John Dick married Isabella Stuart, of Scotch birth, a lady of culture and education. They came to America be- tween the years 1735 and 1740, as in the latter year they were living at Nottingham, Prince George county, Maryland. On No- vember 12, 1746, he was ordained pastor of the Presbyterian church at New Castle and Drawyers, Delaware, serving that and neighboring churches until his death in 1748.
Dr. Samuel Dick was born at Notting- ham, Prince George county, Maryland, No- vember 14, 1740, died at Salem, November 16, 1812, after a most distinguished pub- lic career as surgeon, physician, scholar, politician, and patriot. He was educated un- der the highest class of private tutors, spoke and wrote five languages besides his own, Hebrew, Greek, French, Spanish, and Lat- in, and was educated for the medical pro- fession in a Scotch university. He served as assistant surgeon with the colonial army in Canada in 1760, was with Wolfe at Que- bec, and in 1770 came with his widowed mother to Salem county, New Jersey, and there established in medical practice. His home, built in 1730, was a brick dwelling on the corner of Walnut and Fenwick streets, which he purchased and there end- ed his days. In 1776 he was elected a mem- ber of the Provincial Congress of New Jer- sey, and was one of a committee of five ap- pointed to prepare a draft of a constitution for the State. He was commissioned col- onel and rendered efficient service during the Revolution. In 1780 he was appointed surrogate of Salem county by Governor Liv- ingston, an office he held for twenty-two
years. In 1783 he was elected to Congress, and was a member of the Congress that ratified the treaty of peace with England, January 14, 1784, that gave to the world a new nation-the United States of America. He served as Congressman in 1783-84-85, and was closely associated, in the construc- tive legislation of those sessions, with Jef- ferson and the leading men of his day. He died in Salem, November 16, 1812, and is buried in St. John's Cemetery, his grave- stone testifying that "he spake evil of none." His virtues were many, his deeds worthy.
Dr. Dick married, in 1773, Sarah, young- est daughter of Judge Andrew and Sarah Sinnickson. She died May 3, 1827, aged seventy-one years, the mother of five chil- dren : Sarah, Isabella Stuart, Anna, Samuel Stuart, and Maria. Isabella S. married Cap- tain Josiah Harrison, in 1804. Their daugh- ter, Lydia Ann, in 1841 married James Wright Mecum, of previous mention. The descendants of Isabella S. Dick are the only living descendants of Dr. Samuel Dick, with one exception.
MECUM, Miss Ellen,
Leader in Benevolent and Patriotic Work.
Descended from a long line of honorable ancestors, many of them renowned in Church and State, Miss Mecum inherited from her sires the virtues that made them conspicuous in public life, while from the gentle ladies of her ancient families came that tender side of her nature that endeared her to all and compelled admiration while winning universal love and respect. A child of patriotic sires, she gloried in their achievements and reverenced the relics left behind as evidence of their prowess. This appreciation of their patriotism and that of others of their day led her into the patriotic order, Daughters of the American Revolu- tion, a society in which she won the high- est State and national honors. She was a true daughter of the Church, for years a pillar of strength to St. John's, of Salem,
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her sphere the musical services, of which for years she was in charge. She was charming in her personality and a social favorite, combining in her character the de- voted earnestness of the striver after high ideals and the charming womanhood that brought her into general favor far beyond the confines of her own city and State. A truly consecrated woman,
"The world is richer that she lived And Heaven that she died."
Ellen Mecum, born July 1, 1846, died January I, 1912, second daughter of James Wright and Lydia Ann (Harrison) Me- cum. She was well educated, especially in music, talent for which she possessed to an unusual degree, her voice a beautiful, sweet, and true soprano. This led her early to the church, and from the age of ten years, when she first entered the choir of St. John's, of Salem, she was a devoted member of that church, consecrating her musical talents to that best of all purposes, Christian service. She trained, taught, and managed the choir, and for many years was in complete charge of the music at St. John's, freely giving to that work all her energy, enthusiasm, and zeal.
Second only to her love for the church and her compassionate and helpful interest in God's unfortunates, the work of the wo- men's patriotic societies most appealed to Miss Mecum. Through her patriotic for- bears she gained admission to the Daugh- ters of the American Revolution, joining Nassau Chapter, of Camden. Her ability and interest resulted in her election as re- gent of that Chapter, but later, after organ- izing Oak Tree Chapter (named in honor of Salem's mighty oak, now over three cen- turies old) she withdrew from Nassau to become the first regent of Oak Tree Chap- ter. Devoted to the order, her fame spread abroad, and soon the State order availed itself of her wise executive ability by elect- ing her vice-regent of the New Jersey Daughters of the American Revolution.
Soon afterward she was elected State re- gent, serving two years. She had now be- come a national character in the order, served on important committees, was chos- en vice-president general for New Jersey of the National Society, and at the time of her death was holding that high office, was a member of the executive board of gover- nors, and was chairman of the national com- mittee on patriotic education. She was deeply interested in the work of the last named committee of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and through her ef- forts much was accomplished in the matter of patriotic teachings in the public schools. Broad in her sympathy, energetic and ca- pable, loyal and true, she achieved results valuable to State and National Societies of the American Revolution, none excelling her in devotion or usefulness. She gave one- fourth of her life to the service of that or- ganization, loved it with all the intensity of her strong nature, and found in it pleasure and happiness, her sisters lovingly bestow- ing upon her many honors. She was also a Colonial Dame, member of the board of governors of the New Jersey Society, Co- lonial Dames of America, and but shortly prior to her death had been elected histo- rian. She was president of the Women's Club of Salem, one of the oldest women's clubs in the country. The first panel dedi- cated in the "Roof of the Republic," in the Memorial Chapel of Valley Forge, present- ed by Mrs. Erastus Gaylord Putnam, con- tains a bronze tablet commemorative of Miss Ellen Mecum, whose memory was further honored in the dedicatory address.
Her sympathies were ever with the un- fortunate and afflicted. She constantly plan- ned for their relief and included in her plans not only the betterment of individuals but the improvement of civic conditions. The blind particularly appealed to her warm and loving nature, and in addition to her work in their behalf, in which she was foremost, she used her influence to the last in secur- ing legislation which has immeasurably bet-
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tered the conditions under which the blind must live and has reduced the cause of blindness in young children. All forms of of charitable work had her approval and support, and no subject affecting the pub- lic good was without interest to this no- ble, public-spirited woman, who stood in her community for all that was purest and best, who, never weary in well doing, consecrated all of her talents to the glory of God and the good of her fellows.
"She is not dead, this friend, not dead, But in the paths we mortals tread Got some few trifling steps ahead And nearer to the end. So that you, too, once past this bend Shall meet again, as face to face, this friend. You fancy dead."
RUTHERFURD, John,
Historian, Leader in Community Affairs.
Hon. John Ruther furd was born July 21, 1810, at the home of his maternal grand- father, Lewis Morris, of Westchester coun- ty, New York. His parents were Robert Walter and Sabina (Morris) Rutherfurd. His paternal grandfather, after whom he was named, was a country gentleman and large landholder, living on his estate at Edgerton, on the Passaic river, known as Rutherfurd Park ; he was a public-spirited citizen, and served in the Congress of 1793; he married a sister of Lewis Morris. The paternal great-grandfather was a colonel in the British army, prominent in the French war; he married a sister of Lord Stirling.
John Rutherfurd became one of his grandfather's family when he was about two and a half years old. As a child he gave evidence of precocity beyond his years, as shown by his diary. At the age of sev- en he was reading Rollins' "Belles Lettres," Goldsmith's "Abridged History of Greece," and began Goldsmith's "History of Rome." When nine years old he was sent to the Newark Academy, under Adam Smith, a noted that
teacher of
day, but as the academy was at
too great a distance from his grandfather's home, he was boarded by his teacher. Leav- ing this school, he was fitted for college at the famous institute of Dr. Brownlee, at Basking Ridge. He was intended for Prince- ton College, his father's alma mater, but on visiting that institution he conceived a dislike for what he deemed undignified con- duct on the part of the students with whom he would need associate. Entirely upon his own motion, without consultation with any one, he went to New Brunswick, and after a two hours examination was admit- ted to the sophomore class of Rutgers Col- lege, being then in his fifteenth year. He graduated at the age of eighteen, and took up law studies with Elias Van Arsdale, in Newark, and was admitted to the bar in due time. He practiced his profession but two years, when he abandoned it in order to assist his grandfather in the care of his estate. After the death of his grandparents, he married, and took up his residence at the palatial home of his aunts, Mary and Louisa Rutherfurd, some two miles from Newark, where he lived a life of gentlemanlike com- fort, interested in his books, and at the same time taking a leading part in further- ing the enterprises set on foot for the de- velopment of the resources and interests of the surrounding region. In these labors he displayed executive ability of a high order, and it was said of him that "his great self-control, his tact in management of all embarrassing questions, his whole- souled generosity, and his slowness to sus- pect anything wrong in the motives of oth- ers, caused him to be almost worshipped among his tenantry, and there was probab- ly no one in the entire county of Essex who had equal popularity with him." Transportation questions had a remark- ably strong hold upon him. Conceiving the desirability of connecting the Delaware and Hudson rivers, he originated the War- wick railroad, having its beginning at Chester, on the Erie road, and continuing to the State line, a distance of ten miles ;
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was largely interested in the construction of the Pequest Valley railroad; was a di- rector and able worker in the Midland rail- road; and as president of the Tuckerton railroad, in Ocean county, was largely in- strumental in converting large areas of the "pine barrens" into cultivated lands. He was also a director in the Sussex railroad, and president of the New Jersey Coal Company, in which capacity he was the prime factor in coal development.
Aside from the beforementioned inter- ests, he was deeply interested in others out- side commercial lines but of great public importance. He was an hereditary member of the Council of Proprietors for the East- ern Division of New Jersey, and for many years its president ; "his influence in that body was so great, and the confidence in his inflexible uprightness and sound judg- ment so general, that he never failed, by expressing his opinion, to control the ac- tion of the board, no matter how divided the sentiment might be." He was a direc- tor in the New Jersey State Agricultural Society, and was a leader in the advance- ment of its usefulness to the State at large. He was a prominent member of the New Jersey Historical Society, serving as vice- president and president. His devotion to this institution was constant and fervent, and he brought to its service that versatil- ity of talents that made him invaluable. Many of the priceless manuscripts, docu- ments and literary curiosities in its library are the gifts of Mr. Rutherfurd and his family.
He died November 21, 1872, aged sixty- two years, after a long illness beginning with malarious fever. The funeral took place from Trinity Church, Newark, and the burial in Christ Church graveyard, Belleville, where are also interred the re- mains of his parents, aunts, and one of his children. He had grown up in that church, and was for many years one of its vestry- men, and frequently represented the parish
in the diocesan conventions of the Protest- ant Episcopal Church of New Jersey.
BOGGS, Charles Stuart,
Distinguished Naval Officer.
Rear Admiral Charles Stuart Boggs was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, Jan- uary 28, 1811. His mother was a sister of the heroic Captain James Lawrence, whose utterance, "Don't give up the ship," is as famous as Nelson's "England expects every man will do his duty." It is said of Boggs that the impression made upon his mother and transmitted to him, concerning the brilliant career of Captain Lawrence, had much influence in turning his mind to naval affairs.
When quite young he was sent to Cap- tain Partridge's celebrated military school at Middletown, Connecticut, but his school days were few. In 1826, at the early age of fifteen, he was appointed from New Jer- sey to a midshipman's berth in the sloop- of-war "Warren," of the Mediterranean Squadron, then engaged in protecting American commerce against the Greek pi- rates who swarmed in those waters. Young Boggs was on this duty three years, a part of the time in the ship-of-the-line "Dela- ware." For two years following he was on duty in the schooner "Porpoise," in the West Indies. In 1832, having just come of age, he was appointed passed-midship- man, and with that rank served one year in the sloop "Falmouth," in the West In- dies, and three years in a receiving ship in New York. In 1836 he was made master of the ship-of-line "North Carolina," which had been ordered on service in the Pacific, but on arriving at Callao he re- ceived appointment as acting lieutenant, and was ordered to the schooner "Enter- prise," as master, in which capacity he saw much active service. In 1837 he was made full lieutenant, and in 1839 returned home in the "North Carolina," which was now
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made a school ship, and in which he served in New York as lieutenant in charge of apprentices, and in which capacity he dis- played his fine capacity for command, com- bining mildness and courtesy of manners with absolute strictness as a disciplinarian. In 1842-1843 he was in the sloop "Sara- toga," on the African coast, and took an active part in the bombardment and closing of certain slave ports. During the war with Mexico, in the steamer "Princeton," he took part in the bombardment of the castle of San Juan de Ulloa, and Tampico, and commanded a hazardous boat expedi- tion from the "Princeton" and which de- stroyed the U. S. brig "Truxton," after her capture by the Mexicans; in this affair the capture of his party was only averted by his singular tact and courage. In 1851 he was executive officer of the frigate "St. Lawrence," sent to London by the govern- ment to convey American contributions to the World's Fair. On his return he was promoted to first lieutenant, and for three years was on duty at the New York Navy yard as inspector of clothing and pro- visions. From September 15, 1855, he was for three years in command of the U. S. mail steamer "Illinois," in the service of the California Steamship Company. In 1860 .he was made inspector of lights on the California coast, in the steamer "Shu- brick," and was on that duty when the Civil War opened. He at once asked the Navy Department to give him active ser- vice, and was given command of the steam- er "Veruna," which was ordered to Farra- gut's fleet below New Orleans. His was the first vessel to pass the batteries, and he did much damage to the enemy's gunboats, but his ship was finally rammed by the iron- clad "Stonewall Jackson," whereupon the "Veruna" was run ashore, in a sinking con- dition, and firing her guns as long as they were above water. For his gallantry on this occasion he received beautiful swords from his State and native town. On July 16, 1862, he was commissioned captain and
given command of the "Sacramento," on blockading service off Cape Fear, and here constant exposure and fatigue wore upon him so seriously that he was obliged to ap- ply for leave and return home to recruit his health. In 1864-1865 he was on duty at New York, superintending the building and outfitting of steam picket boats planned by himself, one of these being the torpedo boat in which the gallant Cushing attacked and destroyed the Confederate ram "Albe- marle." In 1866 he commanded the "Con- necticut," cruising in the West Indies. On this service he overtook the iron-clad "Stonewall," in Havana harbor, and de- manded her surrender, whereupon she was turned over to the Spanish authorities. In 1867-1868 he commanded the "De Soto," of the North Atlantic Squadron. On July I, 1870, he was promoted to rear admiral, and appointed lighthouse inspector. In 1873 he was placed on the retired list. He; died April 22, 1888.
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TEN EYCK, John Conover,
Lawyer, Jurist, Publicist.
The training and education of John Con- over Ten Eyck was particularly well suit- ed to the part in life he was destined to play, and very probably exercised no small influence in determining what that part should be. Possessed of a large degree of learning, an extensive knowledge of the his- tory of the world and knowledge of its achievements in literature and art, besides a thorough understanding of his profession, he was eminently fitted as an advisor in the difficult task of framing for a great State a constitution adapted to new conditions, whereby her governmental and political re- lations should be guided, and which should exist as the paramount law in all domestic affairs. It was in this invaluable function that Mr. Ten Eyck made for himself his greatest and most lasting claim for fame and the gratitude of his fellow-citizens.
He was born in Freehold, Monmouth
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county, New Jersey, March 12, 1814. His classical education was conducted under private tutors and in an unusually thorough manner. When he finally turned from his general studies to those of his chosen pro- fession, the law, he placed himself under the tutelage of the Hon. Joseph F. Ran- dolph, Justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey, whose qualifications as precep- tor, together with his pupil's unusual apti- tude, so prospered matters that Mr. Ten Eyck was admitted to the bar in 1835, hav- ing just attained his majority. In 1838 he was made counsellor. He began practice in Burlington, where he formed a partner- ship with the Hon. Garret D. Wall, then United States Senator from New Jersey. With such an auspicious association and his own gifts, natural and acquired, his suc- cess was assured, and he soon won for him- self a leading place at the bar. In 1839 he was appointed Prosecutor of the Pleas for Burlington county, and he occupied this position for ten years, performing the ard- uous duties of that office in a most credit- able manner. It was in 1844 that a conven- tion was assembled for the purpose of drafting a new constitution for New Jer- sey. Mr. Ten Eyck was next to the young- est of the members of that distinguished body, and his service was so conspicuous- ly useful as to attract the favorable atten- tion of his confreres, with the result of still further advancing his political fortunes. In 1859 he was elected to the United States Senate, and in that body he came at once to positions of usefulness and distinction, and was a well regarded member of the com- mittees on commerce, patents, and the ju- diciary. 1873 he was once more called to take part in the revision of the State con- stitution, and acted as chairman of the commission appointed to prepare a com- prehensive series of amendments, and which in due time were ratified by the people. Mr. Ten Eyck was a Whig, until the dis- ruption of that party, when he became a Republican, and during the Civil War per-
iod he gave hearty and unflagging support to the cause of the Union. He died at Mount Holly, New Jersey, August 24, 1879.
PARKER, Joel,
Lawyer, Jurist, Governor.
Hon. Joel Parker, Governor for two terms, a Supreme Court Justice for a like period, and then declining a third nomi- nation for the gubernatorial office, was born near Freehold, New Jersey, November 24, 1816, son of Charles and Sarah (Coward) Parker; grandson of Thomas and Sarah (Stout) Parker and of Captain Joseph Coward, of the Continental Army; and a descendant of Joseph Parker, who settled in Monmouth, New Jersey, about 1668. His father settled in Trenton in 1821, and was a member of the State Assembly, and later State Treasurer.
Joel Parker was prepared for college at Trenton Academy and the Lawrenceville High School, and then entered the College of New Jersey, from which he was gradu- ated A. B. in 1839, receiving the master's degree in 1842. He was fortunate in hav- ing for law preceptor Hon. Henry W. Green, Chief Justice of New Jersey. He was admitted to the bar in 1842, and en- gaged in practice in Freehold, and in which he was actively employed until 1880, bar- ring such interruptions as were incident to his political and official life. A Demo- crat in politics, he soon became interested in political affairs, and in 1840 made an ac- tive canvass for Van Buren for the presi- dency, and four years later for Polk and Dallas. He made a pleasing popular im- pression as a speaker and leader, and in 1847 was elected to the State Assembly, in which he remained for four years. Front 1852 to 1857 he served as Prosecutor of the Pleas. He was a presidential elector in the campaign of 1860, and cast his vote for Stephen A. Douglas for the presidency. He had been a brigadier-general of militia
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since 1857, and when hostilities began be- tween the North and the South, he was advanced to the rank of major-general. At the outset, he believed the war to be avert- able, and held aloof for a time. But, as soon as the conflict actually began, with the firing on Fort Sumter, he warmly espoused the Union cause and held to it resolutely until the end. His service as Governor was from 1863 to 1866. He was constantly active in support of the administration of President Lincoln; he not only provided New Jersey's full quota of troops at the various times they were called for, but on the invasion of Pennsylvania he supplied Governor Curtin, of that State, with sever- al regiments of emergency volunteers. At the same time he directed the financial af- fairs of the State with such sagacity that during his entire administration not a single bond was marketed at less than its face value, and at the close of the war, in the final summing up, instead of having a de- ficiency to provide for, as was so common with sister States, there was a surplus of $200,000 in the treasury of New Jersey.
His admirable conduct of State af- fairs during his governorship, with his tal- ents for leadership and as an orator, gave him national prominence. In 1868, in the Democratic National Convention, he re- ceived the undivided vote of the New Jer- sey delegation for the presidential nomi- nation, and similar action was taken in the conventions of 1876 and 1884. In 1872 he was the candidate of the National Labor Reform Convention for Vice-President, on the same ticket with Hon. David Davis for President, but declined. In the same year he was again elected Governor, and while his incumbency of the office was unmarked by any such stern requirements as attended his first administration, his conduct was most meritorious. On retiring from the executive office, he was made Attorney- General of the State. In 1876 he was a presidential elector on the Tilden and Hendricks ticket. In 1880 he was made a
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