USA > New Jersey > Genealogical and memorial history of the state of New Jersey, Volume II > Part 10
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the position offered him in 1864 by Chancellor Green, but after issuing two volumes of re- ports he was obliged to resign on account of his increasing practise. Prior to the civil war, Mr. McCarter was a pronounced Democrat, and as such was elected a member of the gen- eral assembly from Sussex county. The fol- lowing year, however, he declined a renomina- tion and subsequently abandoned the party be- cause of its opposition to the war. In 1864 he advocated the re-election of President Lin- coln and since that time was a staunch Re- publican. He was twice a candidate for pres- idential elector, once on the Douglass ticket in 1860, and once on the Hayes and Wheeler ticket in 1876. He was also one of the com- mission appointed to settle the boundary line between New York and New Jersey. He was a trustee of Princeton University which con- ferred upon him the honorary degree of LL. D., in 1875, for a time was one of the trustees of Evelyn College, was an organizer and the only president of the old Citizen's Law and Order League of Newark, was an honorary in- corporator of the Dickinson law school at Car- lisle, Pennsylvania, a fellow of the American Geographical Society, vice-president of the Scotch-Irish Society of America, and a member of the Princeton Club of New York. December 4, 1849, Thomas Nesbitt McCarter married Mary Louise, daughter of Uzal C. Haggerty of Newton. He died June 28, 1896, leaving six children: I. Fanny A., wife of Charles S. Baylis. 2. Jane Haggerty, wife of Edwin B. Williamson. 3. Eliza Nesbitt. 4. Robert Harris. 5. Uzal Haggerty. 6. Thomas Nesbitt Jr., see forward.
(IV) Thomas Nesbitt (2), son of Thomas Nesbitt (I) and Mary Louise (Haggerty) McCarter, was born in Newark, New Jersey, October 20, 1867, and now resides at Rumson, Monmouth county, New Jersey. He began his early education in private schools, and then attended the preparatory school of Dr. Pingry, in Elizabeth. He then entered Princeton University, from which he was graduated in 1888, at the age of twenty-one. He read law under the masterly direction of his father, and further pursued his professional studies in the Law School of Columbia University, New York City. He was admitted to the New Jersey bar as attorney in June, 1891, and as counsellor in June, 1894. From the time of his admission to the bar he was a member of the firm of McCarter, Williamson & McCar- ter, (of which his father was the senior part- ner) until May 1, 1899, when he withdrew to
Elias& Heller
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carry on practice alone. He has occupied various positions of importance, both within and without his profession. On April 1, 1896, he was appointed by Governor Griggs, to the position of judge of the first district court, and in which he served acceptably for three years, resigning in April, 1899. In the autumn of the same year he was elected to the state senate. At the close of his senatorial term he was appointed attorney general by Gov- ernor Murphy, and served as such until 1903, when he resigned to accept the presidency of the Public Service Corporation of New Jersey, a most important body holding the ownership and management of nearly all the electric railways and lighting properties, both gas and electric, in the state. He is also connected with the Fidelity Trust Company and the Union National Bank, both of Newark. He is a member of the University Club, the Princeton Club, and the Raquet and Tennis Club, all of New York City. Mr. McCarter married, in Baltimore, Maryland, February 9, 1897, Madeleine George, fourth child of George and Ellen (Schaefer ) Barker, of that city. The children of this union are: I. Ellen George, born May 9, 1898. 2. Thomas Nes- bitt, November 29, 1899. 3. Uzal Haggerty, October 15, 1901. 4. Madeleine Barker, Sep- tember 20, 1904.
HELLER The Heller family, members of which have been prominently and actively identified with the industrial prosperity of the city of Newark, New Jersey, along their special line of busi- ness, numbers among its ranks men of integ- rity and character, who have served as the best types of citizenship and whose example is well worthy of emulation.
(I) Elias Heller, the founder of the fam- ily in the United States, was a native of Darmstadt, Germany, and in order to avoid the conscription for his son at the time of the Napoleonic wars he gave up his farm and brought his wife, Laura, and his son, Elias, to this country, settling in West Orange town- ship, Essex county, New Jersey, where he es- tablished a home, winning and retaining the respect and confidence of his fellow citizens.
(II) Elias (2), son of Elias (I) and Laura Heller, was born in Darmstadt, Germany, and there received a practical education. At the age of about twenty-five years he accompanied his parents to the United States, settling with them in Essex county, New Jersey, from whence he removed to Paterson, same state, ii-4
subsequently to Newark, and in 1837 to West Orange, where he spent the remaining years of his life. He married, after his emigration to this country, Mary Laegle, a native of France, daughter of George and Catherine Laegle, also natives of France, from whence they came to the United States about the year 1832. Children : I. Elias George, referred to below. 2. Peter, married Elizabeth Baldwin. 3. Emily, married John Morrow. 4. George Elias, referred to below. 5. Lewis, married Ellen 6. John J., referred to below. 7. A child who died in infancy. After a long and useful life, Mr. and Mrs. Heller passed away at their home in West Orange and their remains were interred in Fairmount cemetery. She lived to the age of ninety-six years.
(III) Elias George, eldest child of Elias (2) and Mary (Laegle) Heller, was born in Newark, New Jersey, April 27, 1837. He at- tended the public schools, acquiring a practi- cal education, and at the age of sixteen went to the city of New York and secured a position with Tiffany & Company, with whom he re- mained until 1860, when he became a clerk for Paul A. Brez. In 1863 he accepted a po- sition with his father, who was engaged in the manufacture of files and rasps, and possessing great mechanical ability he became an expert in that line of work. In 1865, two years later, he joined his brothers, Peter and Lewis, in the founding of the firm of Heller Brothers, and the following year they built a plant in the centre of the business district of Newark. Lewis withdrew about 1870 from the firm, and Peter withdrew in 1880, and the brothers George and John were made members of the firm. Their trade steadily and rapidly in- creased until at length they were obliged to seek more commodious quarters. Conse- quently, in 1872, Mr. Heller purchased a large plot of land on Mount Prospect avenue, fac- ing the Greenwood Lake division of the Erie railroad, in the northern district of Newark, at that time only a farming district, now known as the suburb of Forest Hill. Here they erected a large factory with all the facil- ities at that time available, and extended their operations by adding to their other enterprise the manufacture of steel and a complete line of farriers' tools. From time to time ad- ditions have been made to the plant until the present time it is one of the largest in the coun- try. In 1880 Elias G. Heller formed the North Newark Land Company, which later became the Forest Hill Association, and they pur- chased a tract of land near his manufacturing
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plant and the station on Verona avenue, con- sisting of fifteen acres devoted to farming purposes, and thereon built many residences, some of which were sold and others rented. The company purchased most of the land bounded by Mt. Prospect avenue, Ballantine Parkway and the Greenwood Lake branch of the Erie Railroad, which included the Sidman farm of one hundred acres, the estate of Fred- erick Smith and lands owned by Messrs. Weeks, Kean and others. This was divided into city blocks, streets were curbed and flagged, water and sewer connections were made, all within a few years. Mr. Heller opened Heller Parkway, a fine boulevard two hundred feet wide, parked in centre, which is one of the handsomest thoroughfares in that section of the state. Forest Hill, the name given to this section, has an elevation of over one hundred and sixty feet above tide water, commands an extended view in every direc- tion, and as the soil is sandy and dry it is an exceeding healthful place to reside in. Land all sold under all restrictions. It has all the city conveniences with the delightful country surroundings. It has ample police and fire protection, excellent mail, express, telegraph and telephone service, churches of all denom- inations, public and private schools of the highest type, golf links, tennis courts, base ball and foot ball grounds, a well-equipped club house, and the Forest Hill Field Club is located on the property. In 1873 Mr. Heller erected a fine house on Mt. Prospect avenue, where he made his home until 1891, when he erected his present elegant residence facing Elwood avenue, equipped with every modern appliance for the comfort of its inmates, the grounds embracing three city blocks.
Mr. Heller has been a firm adherent of the principles of the Republican party since the days of Fremont and Lincoln, having cast his first vote for President Lincoln, and has taken an active part in the affairs of the same, serv- ing as a member of the board of education for four years and a member of the common council of Newark for three years. He at- tends the Forest Hill Presbyterian Church, serving as president of the board of trustees for twenty-five years. He is president of the Woodside Building and Loan Association, of the Forest Hill Association and the Forest Hill Land Company, being a founder of the two latter named, and is president of Woman's and Children's Hospital of Newark. In 1886 he was chosen president of the File Manufact- urers' Association of the United States, in
which capacity he has served ever since. He is a member of Bellevue Lodge, Free and Ac- cepted Masons, and has been its treasurer for four years, member of the North End Club, Northern Republican Club and the Forest Hill Field Club.
Elias G. Heller married, in Newark, New Jersey, October 14, 1867, Sophie C., born in New York City, June 5, 1843, daughter of Nicholas C. and Frances (Doclow) Geoffroy, who were the parents of four other children, among whom were : Hortense, married Munroe Doremus; Lucy, married Jefferson Doremus, of Madison, New Jersey; Ernest, married Elizabeth Eagles. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Heller: I. Paul E., referred to below. 2. Arnaud G., referred to below. 3. Reuben Arthur, an attorney-at-law in Newark, New Jersey.
(IV) Paul E., eldest child of Elias George and Sophie C. (Geoffroy) Heller, was born in Newark, New Jersey, February 6, 1869. He graduated from the Newark Academy in 1887, engaged in his father's business, and is now serving in the capacity of vice-president and treasurer. He attends the Forest Hill Presbyterian Church, and is a Republican in politics. He is a member of the Essex County Country Club, Forest Hill Field Club, Deal Golf Club, Troy Madison Fish and Gun Club and the New Jersey Automobile Club, of which he is president. He resides with his father at 242 Elwood avenue. He is un- married.
(IV) Arnaud G., second child of Elias George and Sophie C. (Geoffroy) Heller, was born in Newark, New Jersey, August 2, 1871. He graduated from the Newark high school in 1890, and then entered his father's busi- ness, continuing to the present time, now serv- ing in the capacity of director in the firm of Heller Brothers. He attends the Forest Hill Presbyterian Church, and is a Republican in politics. He is a member of the New Jersey Automobile Club and the Forest Hill Field Club. He married, February 8, 1897, in New- ark, Harriet J., daughter of Lewis and Isa- belle (Voorhees) Jackson. One child, Elaine Jackson, born in Newark, November 24, 1901.
(IV) Reuben Arthur, the third and young- est child of Elias George and Sophie C. (Geof- froy ) Heller, was born in Newark, New Jersey, March 22, 1873, and has always lived in that city. For his early education he was sent to the Newark Academy and afterwards to a private school in New York City. He then entered Columbia College, from which he grad-
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uated in 1894. After his graduation he entered the office of Coult & Howell in Newark and read law, and was admitted to the New Jersey bar as attorney at the February term, 1895, and as counsellor at the same term, 1898. Since that time he has been engaged in the general practice of his profession in Newark, having his office at 788 Broad street. Mr. Heller is a Republican, but has always been identified with the reform faction of said party. He is a member of the University Club of New York, of the Lawyers' Club of Newark, and of the Forest Hill Golf Club. He married, March 21, 1899, at Oyster Bay, Long Island, Adele E., only daughter of George and Ella (Sarvent) Courvoisier, of Oyster Bay. Chil- dren: 1. Arthur, born April 15, 1900. 2. Frances, July 6, 1902. 3. Ruth, September 7, 1904. 4. Wren, August 15, 1906.
(III) George Elias, fourth child and third son of Elias and Mary (Laegle) Heller, was born in West Orange township, Essex county, January 26, 1848, and is now living at Lake street and Delavan avenue, Newark. He was educated in the public schools and until he was eighteen lived at his father's residence. He then went into the file manufacturing shops of his brother, Elias George Heller, where by close application and resolute pursuit of his purpose he mastered the business, and in 1873 became a partner in the enterprise, together with his brothers Elias George and Peter. Since then he has been continuously identified with the firm of Heller Brothers, in the manu- facture of rasps and files. He is widely known as a man of excellent business and executive ability, and has been connected with the Heller Tool Company, the Corey-Heller Paper Com- pany, and the New Jersey Wick Company. He is a Republican. His one club is the Wood- side Social Club. His family attend the Pres- byterian church. He married (first) January 26, 1872, Caroline, daughter of Jacob and Mary Greeney, a family of German descent, who died August 20, 1875, in giving birth to a son George, born that same day. He married (second) in Newark, September 6, 1876, Emma C., born June 10, 1855, in Newark, daughter of Louis and Mary (Becker ) Pfeiffer. Her mother was born in 1820 and died in 1893, after bearing her husband five children: I. Emma C., referred to above. 2. Ida, married John Millwood, and has three children. 3. John, whose wife's name is Katharine, and has two children. 4. Louis, Jr., who has two children. 5. Lena, who married John J. Heller, brother to George Elias referred to here. The children
of George Elias and Emma C. (Pfeiffer) Heller are: I. Lucy, born November 28, 1878, married Bount Johnson. 2. Alfred, July 19, 1880, married Edna Burkhardt, and has one son George. 3. Emma Lyda, February 28, 1882, married George Somden. 4. Walter, October 3, 1884. 5. Gertrude, December 8, 1886. 6. Mabel, September 2, 1888. 7. Leo, April 21, 1893. 8. Viola, October 2, 1898.
( III) John J., son of Elias and Mary (Laegle) Heller, was born in West Orange township, Essex county, May 20, 1850, and is now living in Newark. For his early education he went to the public schools, and lived at home with his parents until he was twenty years old, when he moved to Forest Hill, Newark, and entered the employ of his brother, Elias George Heller, the well known manu- facturer of rasps and files. In 1873, with his brothers Elias George and George Elias, he formed a partnership, which has ever since been known by the name of Heller Brothers. Mr. Heller is a Republican. Hemarried, April 4, 1874, Lena, daughter of Louis and Mary ( Becker) Pfeiffer, and the sister of Emma C. Pfeiffer, the wife of his brother, George Elias Heller. They have eight children: I. Ida Mary, born December 25, 1874; married Joseph Benson Stewart and has one child, Helen. 2. Lucy, April 21, 1877, died July 14, 1877. 3. John Walter, who is referred to below. 4. Florence Helena, March 13, 1881, died November 5, 1906; married Stockton Barnett and has one child, Gordon. 5. John Elias, November 12, 1885, died February 28, 1889. 6. Benjamin Harrison, April 14, 1889. 7. Russell Mill- wood, March 29, 1891. 8. Naomi, December 27, 1894.
(IV) John Walter, third child and eldest son of John J. and Lena (Pfeiffer) Heller, was born in Newark, August 29, 1878, and is now living in that city. For his early educa- tion he was sent to the public schools of New- ark, graduating from the high school in 1897. He then went to Cornell University, from which he graduated in 1901, and since then he has turned his attention to civil engineering. From 1901 to 1903 he was with the Erie rail- road; from 1904 to 1906 he was one of the assistant engineers of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company ; during 1906 and 1907 he was the superintendent of the Church Con- struction Company ; and since then he has been in business for himself, as engineer and con- structor. He is a Republican and a member of Kane Lodge, No. 55, F. and A. M. His clubs are the Cornell University Club of New
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York City, the Cornell Club of Northern New Jersey, of which he is the vice-president, the Civil Engineers' Club of New York, the Brook- lyn Engineers' Club, and associate member of American Society of Civil Engineers. He mar- ried, April 26, 1906, at Lynn, Massachusetts, Bertha, born in East Wellington, Connecticut, February 5, 1882, only child of Charles Ash- ley Ryder, D. D. S., and Sarah Elizabeth (Eldredge) Ryder. Her father practiced in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and in Newark, New Jersey, and she was educated in Lynn, Swamp- scott and Newark. The only child of John Walter and Bertha (Ryder) Heller is Ruth Elizabeth, born in Newark, October 14, 1908.
Early records of this old Bur- HARBERT lington county family are not found in any of the local or general genealogical reference works.
(1) George Harbert, the earliest ancestor of the family of whom there appears to be any definite knowledge, lived in Burlington county, but the period of his life is not known. It is known, however, that he married and had three children, Anna, John and George.
(II) George (2), son of George (1) Har- bert, was born in Southampton township, Bur- lington county, New Jersey, in 1802, and died in Northampton or Mt. Holly in 1881. As near as is known, during the early part of his business life, he was in charge of a transporta- tion vessel running from Lumberton to Phila- delphia, and also through the Raritan canal to New York City. On these trips his cargo was chiefly charcoal. The later years of Mr. Har- bert's life were spent on a farm near Mt. Holly, where now stands the Children's Home. He also bought and sold timber lands and dealt in lumber and wood. He married Mary, daugh- ter of William Troth, of Gloucester county, New Jersey, and their children were: Sarah, Thomas, George Frank, the latter the only survivor.
(III) George Frank, son of George (2) and Mary (Troth) Harbert, was born at Lumber- ton, New Jersey, June 3, 1838. His young life was spent on his father's farm, and after attending the township public school he was sent for a time to the tuition school kept by William W. Collum in Mt. Holly. After leav- ing school he learned the trade of a blacksmith, and later set up a shop in Mt. Holly, where he carried on a general blacksmithing and horse- shoeing business until 1887, in which year he was elected high sheriff of Burlington county, serving three years in that capacity. From
1890 until about 1900 he conducted a farm in Lumberton, which he still owns, and in 1899 was elected by popular vote steward of the Burlington County Almshouse, which office he is filling at the present time (1909), serving on his fourth term. In 1877 Mr. Harbert was appointed United States gauger for the coun- ties of Burlington, Monmouth, Mercer, Ocean, Atlantic, Cumberland, Salem, Camden and Cape May, under the administration of Presi- dent Hayes ( William B. Tatum, collector). He also served under the administration of Presi- dents Garfield and Arthur. Upon the election of Grover Cleveland to the presidency, he ten- dered his resignation, but it was not accepted ! until eighteen months later. He was again ap- pointed upon the election of William H. Harri- son to the presidency, and resigned upon the second election of Grover Cleveland. During this period of time Isaac Moffitt acted as collector. Mr. Harbert was a member of the board of freeholders of Mt. Holly in 1876-77 and 1879-80. He is a member of Mt. Holly Lodge, No. 19, I. O. O.F .; New Jersey Lodge, No. I, K. of P., and is an attendant of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Mr. Harbert married, February 10, 1863, Mary T., daughter of Zachariah Rogers and Mary Ann (Carlisle) Reeves, of Mt. Holly. In December, 1868, they removed to Crystal Springs, Copiah county, Mississippi, where on June 27, 1869 Blanche R. Harbert was born. In January, 1870, they returned to Mt. Holly, New Jersey. Blanche R. was graduated from Mt. Holly high school, 1885, and from Borden- town Female College, 1888. She married, March 9, 1892, Edgar G. Allen, and their children were: Barclay H., born February I, 1894, and Mary E., May 1, 1896. Mr. Allen died from the effects of a railroad accident, January 3, 1909. The second child of George Frank and Mary T. Harbert was Eugene, born in Mt. Holly, New Jersey, May 22, 1875; he attended Professor Walradt's Academy in that town, afterwards spent two years at Peddie Institute, Hightstown, New Jersey, graduat- ing with the class of 1897. He entered the medical department of the University of Penn- sylvania, and received his degree of M. D. in June, 1899. He was associated with Dr. Enoch Hollingshead, of Pemberton, New Jersey, and in 1900 was appointed physician of Burlington County Almshouse, and when the insane asylum of the county of Burlington was completed in 1901, he was the first physician appointed to that institution. He married Cora, daughter of Garrett Logan, of Beverly, New Jersey,
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October, 1902. In May, 1903, removed to East Orange, New Jersey, and there practiced his profession very successfully, removing to Beverly, New Jersey, in 1908. Children : Gar- rett Logan, born in Orange, January 5, 1905, died July 26, 1907. Eugenia, born in Orange, September 8, 1908.
GROBLER The German mechanic, notably the workers in wood and those accustomed to the various pro-
cesses of vaneering, inlaying and the deft art of coloring and shading by the use of the light or dark colored woods, have almost invariably made in America quiet, home-loving and in- dustrious citizens. They could possibly find behind them an ancestry worthy of note and preservation, but the spirit of the immigrant from Germany has been generally to depend on the future rather than on the past and to look ahead and not backwards. On leaving the fatherland, they cut loose from tradition and, with their first American ancestor as their starting point, are making name and fame dur- ing their first, second and third generations in America.
(I) Augustus William Grobler was born in Germany, in 1835, where he attended school according to law, and when fourteen years of age, with his brother William came to America. (His sister Willimetta remained in Germany). They landed in New York City in 1849. Au- gustus William worked on a farm in Vin- centown, Burlington county, New Jersey, when he first landed, and then was an apprentice to the cabinet making business at Elizabeth- town, and subsequently at Juliustown for Joel Mount, in Burlington county, New Jersey. He worked at his trade of cabinet making in Pem- berton in the same county for Edward Dob- bins, cabinet maker and undertaker. At the breaking out of the civil war his inherited love of military life and desire to aid the country he had adopted as his own, prevailed on him to raise a company of volunteers and the Union army in the defense of the United States against disruption by secession. The sentiment that most strongly appealed to him, as it did to most foreign born citizens, was the freedom of the negro from enforced slavery. He found but little difficulty in gathering one hundred recruits who agreed to join him in forming a company, and on August 26, 1862, he was commissioned captain of the company, which was made Company E, Twenty-third Regi- ment New Jersey Volunteers, of which Ed- ward Burd Grubb, of Burlington, New Jersey,
. was lieutenant-colonel. The regiment enlisted for nine months service, and was mustered into the United States service, September 13, 1862. On February 23, 1863, Captain Grobler resigned on account of disability, and re-enlist- ed August 25, 1863, and was mustered into service September 21, 1863, and commissioned second lieutenant of Company C, Thirty-fourth New Jersey Volunteers, enlisted for three years service. He soon received promotion to first lieutenant, and served with the regiment and participated in all its battles up to the close of the war, when he was mustered out and honorably discharged, his last duty being at the United States Navy Yard, Philadelphia.
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