USA > New Jersey > Genealogical and memorial history of the state of New Jersey, Volume II > Part 71
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(II) Jacob Frederick, eldest son of Fred- erick Jacob and Anna (Weibel) Baer, was born in the village of Beckten, in the canton of Basle. Switzerland, November 27, 1836, and died at Paterson, New Jersey, November 29, 1905. He attended the schools of his native town, and immediately after, while yet a boy, was taught the trade of silk making by his father, who moved from Arburg to Aargau, a nearby hamlet and a part of Arburg. After thoroughly mastering every detail of the trade under his father's careful tutorage, he decided at the age of twenty years to emigrate to Amer- ica with the hope of finding a broader and more remunerative field for his skill and labor. He came to New York, where for a time he
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worked at his trade, and latter became a mem- ber of the firm of E. Walther & Company, of New York City, where he continued up to 1863, when the firm of E. Walther & Company were looking for a new field in which to en- gage in manufacturing to the best advantage. They decided to come to Paterson, New Jer- sey, then the center of the silk industry of the country, and here Mr. Baer finally engaged in the manufacturing business for himself with the little money he had saved by dint of simple and frugal tastes taught by his sturdy and honest ancestors, starting with a half dozen small looms. He began to prosper, and by his careful and conscientious management the plant increased. He introduced the first ribbon loom in Paterson, and was the first in Amer- ica to make satin back velvet ribbons. He was in a fair way to become the largest silk manu- facturer in the country when the disastrous panic of 1873 swept the country, and with a number, of other silk makers he was among those who suffered, his plant being entirely wiped out and his entire savings lost in the failure. At the time he was located in the Crescent mill, on what is now Belmont avenue, and was succeeded by the firm of Sterett Ryle & Mur- phy. Nothing daunted by this failure, Mr. Baer again determined to try his resources of energy, brain and thought, and in the mean- time he secured positions as superintendent of the Pioneer Silk Company and later with Will- iam Strange & Company, which position he held several years. In 1887 he resigned his position of superintendent, and resumed the manufacture of silk ribbons on his own account. and was instrumental in founding and estab- lishing the Helvetia Silk Mill, which company was incorporated in March, 1887, and soon grew into a flourishing concern. He became the head of this concern, with branches on Van Houten street, and Lehighton, Pennsylvania, and which to-day are the most conspicuous of the industrial establishments of Paterson. The success of the firm was due to the untiring energy, honest and executive ability of its founder. The plant has been enlarged at vari- ous times in order to meet the constantly in- creasing demands of its products. About 1904 an addition was made to the plant that in- creased the output about one-third. There are about two hundred and twenty ribbon looms in the mill, and the concern employs about three hundred and twenty-five operatives. The present officers are: Frederick A. Baer, presi- dent, and Ralph Baer secretary. Jacob Fred- erick Baer always enjoyed a reputation for
liberality, especially in his dealings with his employees, and seldom if ever has any differ- ences occurred with them. He was a man of high ideals and probity of character, and noted for his kindness and generosity to all with whom he came in contact. With his friends he was generous to a fault. He was always an energetic and enterprising citizen, actively en- gaged until his death, being the oldest silk manufacturer in Paterson.
Jacob Frederick Baer married, in New York City, 1858, Louisa Blattner, born September 26, 1838, at Küttingen, Canton Aargau, Switzer- land, died at Paterson, New Jersey, July 4, 1904, daughter of Jacob and Anna Blattner. Children: I. Frederick A., born February 16, 1860 ; married Louise Wirz; children: Anna, Bertha, Ralph J. 2. Ralph, born April 9, 1863; see forward. 3. Anna, born August 23, 1865 ; married, June 16, 1887, Carlos D. De Ponthier ; children : Louise, born March 13, 1888, and Blanca, born March 31, 1893. 4. Eugene W., born September 9, 1867; married Cora Tice ; children: Elizabeth, Genivieve, Eugene, Rose, Carlos and Margaret. 5. William August, born March 27, 1870; see forward. 6. Louise, born May 31, 1872, died June 14, 1880. 7. Rose Isabelle, born October 9, 1874; married, November 23, 1898, Adolph Webber ; child, Jacob Frederick, born January 31, 1901. 8. Louis Chileon, born March II, 1882, see for- ward.
(III) Ralph, son of Jacob Frederick and Louisa ( Blattner ) Baer, was born in New York City, April 9, 1863. At an early age he came with his parents to Paterson, New Jer- sey, where he attended the public schools. At the age of fourteen years he began to learn the art of manufacturing ribbons, also direct- ing his attention to designing patterns and cut- ting designs on cards to be used in the Jacquard looms in various of the local silk mills. In 1887, with his father and other representative men, he became one of the incorporators of the Helvetia Silk Mill in Paterson, and since that time, with the exception of the years 1892- 97, has been actively identified with that manu- factory. He is at present secretary of the corporation and a member of its board of directors. He is also prominently identified with city affairs. He was appointed a member of the Paterson school board in 1894-95, and May 21, 1906, was appointed police and fire commissioner for a short term, and January I, 1907, was appointed for a full term, ending January" I, 1908. He joined the Republican party before he attained his majority, and cast
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his first presidential vote for the Blaine-Logan ticket in 1884. He was a member of the Phelps Guard, a political organization of Paterson. He is affiliated with Ivanhoe Lodge, No. 88, Free and Accepted Masons, and is a member of the Hamilton Club, St. Paul's Church Club, Passaic County Bowling Association, Germania Singing Society, Deutsch Amerikanischer Cen- tral Verein, and is an associate member of the Exempt Firemen's Association.
Mr. Baer's family have a unique and very valuable collection of silk samples cut from every pattern of silk goods produced by mem- bers of the family for the past two hundred years, which fact alone gives the collection great historical value. The Paterson Press in a series of illustrated articles entitled "Popular Patersonians in Cartoon" devoted the front page of the issue of August 29, 1908, to Ralph Baer, and it contains the following apprecia- tive characterization of the subject :
"In the Halls of Fame there is many a nam‹ Of men, who are no more deserving
Than this man who we present to you; Who has risen with purpose unswerving. His record is clean-there is no "in between"- Strict, straightforward, honest his aim. Let others tread in this path by him led And they'll find that It's well worth the game. There is great satisfaction in hard work and action For Virtue's its own reward!
We will back our prediction-fame without restric- tion
In the future we'll to him accord."
Ralph Baer married, April 22, 1885, Carrie S. Perry, born July 3, 1867, daughter of Will- iam S. and Amanda (Mathews) Perry. Chil- dren : I. Bessie B., born April 9, 1886. 2. Ralph, Jr., born August 18, 1889, died August 8, 1890. 3. J. Frank, born May 1, 1893.
(III) William August, son of Jacob Fred- erick and Louisa ( Blattner) Baer, was born in the family homestead on Belmont avenue. Paterson, New Jersey, March 27, 1870. He attended the public schools in his district, grad- uating from grammar school, No. 4, at the age of seventeen. He then entered the employ of Jacob Walder, who was engaged in the mill supply business, and remained with him for six months. Subsequently he entered the em- ploy of the Helvetia Silk Mill, on Van Houten street, to learn the art of ribbon making, tak- ing charge of the warping, winding and filling departments for four years, and later was occupied for a period in the weaving depart- ment. He later removed to Lehighton, Penn- sylvania (1887), where for nine years he was
superintendent of the company's annex mill at that place, subsequently returning to the River- side Paterson plant, where for a time he was warping overseer and inspector. Since that time he has charge as superintendent of the Van Houten street branch of the business, now employing from thirty-five to fifty hands, and where every branch of the silk business is under his direct supervision except the finish- ing and blocking, which is done at the River- side mill. Mr. Baer is a Lutheran in religious faith, a Republican in politics, having served his party as delegate to their county convention, and was formerly a member of Knights of the Golden Eagle. He married, at Paterson, New Jersey, June 14, 1890, Marie Deering, born at Paterson, February 5, 1874, daughter of Jacob and Maria (Van Bruge) Deering, the former of whom is a construction contractor. Chil- dren: 1. Jacob Frederick, born February 14, 1891. 2. William, born January 17, 1893, died March 25, 1894. 3. A son, born April 2, 1901. died in infancy.
(III) Louis Chileon, son of Jacob Frederick and Louisa ( Blattner) Baer, was born in the family homestead on Benson street, Paterson, New Jersey, March II, 1882. His education was gained in the public schools, and after completing a two years' course in the Pater- son high school he attended the Paterson Mili- tary Academy. At nineteen years of age he entered the employ of his father and brother, who were then operating a silk mill at Lehigh- ton, Pennsylvania, where he diligently em- ployed himself at learning the business, remain- ing nine months. He then came to their Pater- son plant of the Helvetia Mill, where he was assistant shipper, and continued to learn the making of silk ribbons. After three years, having gained a thorough knowledge of the business in all its details, he was placed in charge of the quill winding, doubling and wind- ing departments. Mr. Baer has the superin- tendency of these branches at the present time, having between sixty and sixty-five employees under his personal supervision. He attends the First Presbyterian Church, of Paterson, is a decided Republican in politics, and is a mem- ber of Paterson Lodge, No. 60, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
He married, June 22, 1904, at Paterson, New Jersey, Jessie Wilson Boyle, born Octo- ber 26, 1884, daughter of William and Jessie (Boyle) Boyle, the former of whom was a boiler maker by trade and machinist with the Erie railroad at Paterson. Mr. and Mrs. Baer
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are the parents of one child, Robert Paul, born September 8, 1905.
CORWIN M. Valerius Corvus, one of the most illustrious men in the early history of the Roman republic. was born about B. C. 371 in the midst of the struggle attending the Licinian laws. Being a member of the great Valerian house, he had an early opportunity of distinguishing himself, and we accordingly find him serving in B. C. 249 as military tribune in the army of the consul, L. Furius Camillus, in his campaign against the Gauls. His celebrated exploit in this war, from which he obtained the surname of Corvus, or "Raven," is like many other of the achievements of the early Roman heroes, mingled with fable. A Gallic warrior of gigan- tic size challenged to single combat any one of the Romans. After obtaining the consent of the consul, Valerius accepted the challenge. and as he was commencing the combat, a raven settled upon his helmet, and, as often as he attacked the Gaul, flew in the face of his foe, till at length the barbarian fell before the sword of Valerius. A general battle then ensued, in which the Gauls were entirely defeated. The consul presented Valerius with ten oxen and a golden crown, and the grateful people elected him in his absence, consul for the next year, though he was only twenty-three years of age. A still more distinguished descendant of M. Valerius Corvus was M. Valerius Messala Cor- vinus, the celebrated Messala, of Cicero, whose wife was Terentia, widow first of Cicero, then of Sallust, and who after Messala's death, mar- ried a fourth time another Roman senator. She bore her husband two sons, Marcus and Lucius, the first of whom was the famous Messalina of the Pannonian wars.
In the middle of the fifteenth century, after the death of Albert of Hungary, the states offered the crown to Wladislaus of Poland ; but shortly afterwards, the widow of Albert had a son called Ladislaus Postumus. This was the cause of much dissension and Amurath of Turkey prepared to invade the country. Wladislaus conquered in the struggle and at this time Johannes Hunyadi Corvinus began his celebrated career as a soldier. His origin is shrouded in mystery, but he was probably the son of George Hunyadi vaywod of Wallachia during the reign of Sigismund. His surname of Corvinus is by some derived from his estate of Piatra de Corvo, but more generally from his ancestors, said to be the Corvini of ancient Rome. Matthias Corvinus, Matthias I., King
of Hungary, 1458 to 1490, was the second son of John "was elected and crowned," says Gib- bon, "by the grateful Hungarians in reward for his father's services. His reign was pros- perous and long. He aspired to the glory of a conqueror and a saint, but his purest merit is his encouragement of learning." His sons were Ladislaus, born about 1465, and John, born about 1470, living in 1540, and a pupil of Anthony Bonfidius. Two Corvini, descend- ants of these two, were the Corvinus, at the Council of Trent, 1540, as a papal legate, and the Rev. Anthony Corvinus, 1501 to 1553, probably son of John and named after his tutor, who became a Protestant in 1526 and a celebrated reformer, preacher and author in Germany. In the next generation we have the Rev. Johannes Corvinus, perhaps the same as the John Corvinus born about 1560 whose son Arnold, born about 1590, was an eminent lawyer, and published Digests of the law in aphorisms at Amsterdam, Holland, in 1649. The evidence points to his being the brother or cousin of the founder of the American family referred to below.
( I) Matthias Corwin, or Corvinus, the first set- tler of the name in America, was born between 1590 and 1600, and died September, 1658. His name appears written sometimes "Curwin," and even "Currin," these last two spellings being erroneous orthographies originating from the traditional Hungarian pronunciation. In 1634 his name appears on the commoner's rec- ord, at Ipswich, Massachusetts, as "Currin," when he receives a second grant of land in that place. The Ipswich record notes that he emi- grated from that place to Long Island. He received a lot of land for a house, directly opposite the present Congregational church in Southold. The new lecture room of that church now stands on the very plot. Here he lived for eighteen years till his death, which occurred between August 31, and September 15. December 11, 1656, together with William Wells, Lieutenant Budd, Barnabas Horton, and William Purrier, he was appointed on a committee to order the town affairs. Decem- ber 5, 1655, besides his house lot and a meadow lot at Accoboack, his property is reckoned at three hundred and twenty-eight acres. His will dated August 31, was proved September 15, 1658, when the inventory of his estate, £313, 8s, was also filed. By his wife Mar- garet, probably a Morton, he had three chil- dren of record: 1. John, referred to below. 2. Martha, born between 1630 and 1640, living in 1698; married ( first ) Henry Case and ( sec-
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ond) Thomas Hutchinson, bearing her first husband two, and her second husband five children. 3. Theophilus, born before 1634, died before 1692; he had by his wife Mary seven children.
(II) John, son of Matthias and Margaret (Morton) Corwin, was born probably about 1630, died September 25, 1702. In 1661 he bought land and meadow at Oyster Pond and Aquebogue, Long Island, and was admitted as a freeman of Connecticut for Southold in 1662. In 1675 he is rated for 2 heads, 21 acres, 16 cattle, 9 horses, 5 swine, 6 sheep, £228, IOS. In 1686 he had four males and one female in his family. His name occurs in a number of deeds as either grantor or grantee between the years 1678 and 1696, and also in the census list of two years later, 1698, together with the names of all his children except Mary and Re- becca, who were already married. His will is dated November 26, 1700, proved October 14, 1702. February 4, 1658, he married Mary daughter of Charles Glover, who died prob- ably before 1690, and had eight children : I. Mary, born December 15, 1659, died probably before 1690. 2. Sarah, born about 1660, mar- ried, before 1690, Jacob Osman and had ten children. 3. Rebecca, born between 1660 and 1670, married Abram Osman and had six chil- dren. 4. John, referred to below. 5. Abigail, born between 1660 and 1670, not married in 1698, and probably died unmarried. 6. Han- nah, not married in 1698 and probably died unmarried. 7. Matthias, born 1675, died March 9, 1769; had by his wife Mary ten children. 8. Samuel, born about 1677, died December 28, 1705 ; had by his wife Anne two children.
(III) Captain John (2), son of John (I) and Mary (Glover ) Corwin, was born in 1663. died December 13, 1729. In 1692 he received from his father a lot of woodland lying west of the town of Southold and on the north side of the road by Nathaniel Terry's land. His name occurrs as both grantor and grantee on many deeds, and in 1712 an exhibit of his lands is found in the Southold town records. By his wife Sarah, whom he married before 1698, he had six children: I. Benjamin, died in 1721, and probably married. 2. John, re- ferred to below. 3. David, born between 1705 and 1710, died before 1782; married Deborah Wells, who bore him six children and perhaps other daughters. 4. Sarah, possibly married Peter Simons. 5. Elizabeth. 6. Hester.
(IV) John (3). son of Captain John (2) and Sarah Corwin, was born July 10, 1705, died December 22, 1755. He lived about a
mile and a half east of Mattituck, in the town of Southold, and he is buried a little south of the centre of the Mattituck graveyard. He was twice married and his second wife sur- vived him many years. His will is dated De- cember 18, 1754, and proved January 7, 1755. According to a book in the possession of Au- gustus Griffin, of Orient, Long Island, his first wife was Hester Clark, but apparently she bore him no children, unless the two children who died, one in 1735, the other in 1738, his "second daughter" who died in 1746, and El- nathan who died in January, 1738, were by her. In 1732 he married Elizabeth Goldsmith, who was still living in 1776, and who after his death married, in 1763, Benjamin Brown, of Oyster Ponds. This may possibly be Elizabeth (Terrill) Corwin, the widow of John, son of Theophilus. John and Elizabeth (Goldsmith) Corwin had five children, unless some or all of those mentioned above were the issue of the first marriage: I. John, born 1735, died De- cember 22, 1817; married (first) Sarah Hub- bard, and (second) Deborah Brown, and had five children. 2. Elizabeth, born between 1730 and 1740. 3. Sarah, born about 1739, possibly the Sarah who married John Penney. 4. James, born August 22, 1741, died November 9, 1791 ; married Mehetable Horton and had nine children. 5. William, referred to below.
(V) William, son of John (3) and Elizabeth (Goldsmith ) Corwin, was born February 21, 1744, died December 1, 1818. He moved from Long Island to Chester, New Jersey, about 1774. He was a soldier in the French and Indian wars, a lieutenant in the revolution, and a representative in the New Jersey legislature. His original homestead, one and one half miles north of Chester, is now in the possession of the Kelsey family. His name is of very fre- quent occurrence on the records. January 14, 1768, William Corwin married Hannah Reeves, of Mattituck, Long Island, born May 23, 1747, died about 1840. They had eleven children : I. John Calvin, born October 21, 1768, died June 6, 1849 ; married (first) Deborah Terry, and (second) Elizabeth Vance, and had six children. 2. Sarah, born January 13, 1771, married Jabez Kelsey, of Chester, New Jersey. 3. Hannah, born March 28, 1773, married Jere- miah, son of William and Elizabeth (Hedges) Woodhull, of Easthampton, Long Island. 4. William, referred to below. 5. James, born April 21, 1779, died October 10, 1844, at Pike- ton, Ohio ; married (first) Margaret Cameron, of Scotland, and (second) Elizabeth Smith, the widow of James Mallory, of New York
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City, and had seven children. 6. Joseph, born July 6, 1781, died September 23, 1800, in Ches- ter, New Jersey. 7. Nathaniel, born Septem- ber 26, 1783, died February 24, 1849, married (first) Elizabeth, daughter of Barnabas and Elizabeth Horton, (second) a Monroe, (third) Adaline Pickle, and ( fourth) Sarah Bell, and had two children. 8. Elizabeth, born Decem- ber 6, 1785, died December 7, 1860, married Henry Halsey, of Morris county, and had six children. 9. Daniel, born April 13, 1788, in Morris county, living in 1870; married (first) Mary Hamill, (second) Elizabeth Hamill, (third) Elizabeth Spinning, and ( fourth) Eliz- abeth Brace, and had six children. 10. Eben- ezer, born October 13, 1790, died April 8, 1851 , married (first) Elizabeth Skellinger, and ( sec- ond) a Hatch, and had three children. II. Joshua Goldsmith, born February 4, 1793, died November 9, 1867 ; married Elizabeth, daugh- ter of the Rev. Lenas Fordham, and had four children.
(VI) William (2), fourth child and second son of William (I) and Hannah ( Reeves) Corwin, was born near Chester, New Jersey, October 9, 1776, died September 30, 1821. In 1817 he was in New York City in partnership with his brother, James Corwin, who from 1805 to 1820 kept a shoe store at 94 Broadway, New York. After this went to live at Sparta, New Jersey. He was apparently twice married but the name of his second wife and the chil- dren of the latter union if any are unknown. December 12, 1801, he married (first) Martha Vance, who bore him three children : I. Joseph, referred to below. 2. William V. 3. Eliza A., born November 28, 1804, married Henry C. Beach and had four children.
(VII) Joseph. eldest son of William (2) and Martha (Vance) Corwin, was born in Sparta, New Jersey, May 17, 1810. He signed his name Joseph A. Corwin, and obtained his early education chiefly in Albany. In 1835 he graduated from the medical department of Yale University, and the following year began practicing in Belleville, Essex county, New Jersey, where he remained until December, 1849, when he removed to Newark, where he lived for the remainder of his life, dying in 1893. For many years he was a member of the Essex District Medical Society, in 1864 was elected its vice-president, and in 1865 its presi- dent. and in 1883 chosen one of its delegates to the State Medical Society. In 1852 and 1853 he was a member of the Newark board of education. Joseph A. Corwin married ( first ) Tarquinia Kenney, who bore him four chil-
dren: I. Francis Nicholas West, born July 4, 1840, married Louisa Westervelt. 2. William Albert, born March 12, 1843. 3. Charles Fred- erick, referred to below. 4. Mary Garette, born February 14, 1850, died September 9, 1851. Joseph A. Corwin married (second) September 18, 1856, Emma Whybrew Bald- win, born July 29, 1831, who bore him two more children : 5. Theodore Wellington, born June 1, 1857. 6. Robert Lowell, born between 1860 and 1870.
(VIII) Charles Frederick, third child and son of Joseph A. and Tarquinia (Kenney) Corwin, was born in Belleville, Essex county, New Jersey, July 25, 1845, died in Newark, July 28, 1908. In 1870 he started the hay, grain, and feed business now run by his son and spent the remainder of his life in its suc- cessful development. For a number of years he was a vestryman of Christ Episcopal Church in Newark. By his wife Anna Jackson, born in 1854, died March 17, 1881, he had two children : I. Frederick Wellington, referred to below. 2. Grace Bartlett, born June 16, 1878.
(IX) Frederick Wellington, only son of Charles Frederick and Anna (Jackson) Cor- win, was born in Newark, New Jersey, June 4, 1876, and is now living in Newark, where he is developing and carrying on the business left to him by his father. For his early edu- cation he attended the public and high schools of Newark, and then entered the employ of the Philip Cary Manufacturing Company, asbestos and roofing manufacturers, where he started as clerk in 1898, gradually rising until, when he left on account of his father's death in 1908, he had become superintendent. Mr. Corwin is a Republican, but has held no office. He is a vestryman of Christ Protestant Epis- copal Church in Newark, of which his grand- father was one of the founders and his father for many years a vestryman. He married Laura Edna Freeman, born in Newark, Febru- ary 23. 1876.
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