USA > New Jersey > Genealogical and memorial history of the state of New Jersey, Volume III > Part 79
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maining in this office for a short time. In July, 1882, he entered the employ of F. Berg & Company in their office, where he remained until February, 1884. During this period he was appointed deputy warden of the Essex county penitentiary at Caldwell, New Jersey, occupying this office until September 10, 1886, when he resigned to accept a position in the hat manufacturing firm of Cummings, Matthews & Company, remaining in their employ and their successors, Frederick Cummings Son & Company, up to September, 1906, when he ac- cepted the position of superintendent of E. V. Connett & Company, hat manufacturing plant on Richmond street, Newark, New Jersey, leaving this position in February, 1910, to become associated with the Essex Hat Manufacturing Company of Newark, New New Jersey, as manager, and later becoming president of the corporation. Mr. Williams and family attend the First Presbyterian Church of Orange. In political affairs he may be counted as an Independent, with a tendency towards the Democratic side. He is a mem- ber of Union Lodge, No. II, A. F. and A. M., having received his degrees in Caldwell Lodge, No. 59, in January, 1885. He is a member of Hillside Council, No. 1329, Royal Arcanum, having served this body as secretary for twen- ty-five years. He is also a member of the Loyal Association, and of the Zeta Psi fraternity.
He married, at Caldwell, New Jersey, De- cember 9, 1884, Ella Jacobus, born February 13, 1863, daughter of John S. and Mary Eliza- beth (Husk) Jacobus, of Caldwell. John S. Jacobus was a cigar maker by trade. Chil- dren: Arthur Francis, born September 18, 1885 ; Carrie Louise, November 14, 1887 ; Will- iam Nathan (2), April 13, 1892; Marjorie, February 25, 1895.
WILLIAMS (VIII) Albert Squier Will- iams, son of Jonathan Squier Williams (q.v.), was born on the old Williams homestead, on Mt. Pleasant Place, in the West Orange Valley, January 2, 1834. He acquired the usual district school edu- cation, supplemented by a select course at Orange. Before and after school hours he assist- ed his father on the farm, and learned the trade of shoemaker, doing work in the attic of the old homestead. About the age of sixteen years he was apprenticed until of age to the trade of jeweler with Durand & Company, on Franklin street, Newark, where he learned the art of watchcase making, stone setting and gen- eral jewelry manufacture. For three years,
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until twenty-four years old, he worked for them as journeyman, when he became engaged in the same line with Hunting Earle, in New York. He was master in the art of stone set- ting and fine special work, and did much of the fine work for Tiffany & Company and other leading concerns in New York. After about five years he became foreman in the dia- mond department of Hunting Earle, where he remained four years. Owing to a general depression in business he went to Brooklyn, where he was engaged as foreman for Jaenott & Sheibler, on State street, taking charge of their watchcase department. During his serv- ice for the firm his system became poisoned from inhaling the fumes of quicksilver used in the process of smelting, though he still worked two years in this condition. His system was so thoroughly permeated with this poison that he was obliged to resign, and for ten years suffered from the effects. During this period he engaged in the paper supply. business at Paterson, New Jersey, in his own name, on Van Houten street, where he remained one year, but was obliged to give up on account of his condition, disposing of his stock to his brother, J. Edgar Williams. He returned to Orange and in course of time his health seem- ingly improved, and he again entered the em- ploy of Daniel Fitzgerald, a manufacturing jeweler in New York, where he remained as journeyman two years, subsequently accepting a similar position in the Crescent Watch Case Factory at Roseville, New Jersey, working there fourteen months. While on a vacation he was suddenly stricken at his home, and after a few hours died from a stroke of paral- ysis, December 18, 1892. He was a man of rare excellent qualities, and possessed of gen- erous impulses. He was greatly domesticated, and while devoted to his home and family he brought his children up to respect and revere the church. He was a deep reader and thinker, and a student of the Holy Scriptures. He held strongly to the principles of temperance through life, and it is said of him that he never used liquor in any form. He was a strictly moral man, and his uniform courtesy and agreeable manners made him many friends. He was a Republican in political principles, but never accepted office in the gift of the citizens, believing that to attend to his home and family was the first and highest duty of a citizen.
He married, January II, 1851, Abby Fran- ces Townley, born July 13, 1836, daughter of Calvin and Jane Salyer (Ward) Townley, of
Orange, New Jersey. Calvin Townley was a shoemaker. Children: I. Albert Durand, born August II, 1852, died May 25, 1892; married Henrietta Walker ; children: i. Sarah Frances, married George Ruby; children: Edwin and Emma; ii. Charles Frederick, married Eliza- beth Watson ; child, Albert; iii. Harriet, mar- ried Charles Butte; vi. Albert Valentine. 2. Charles, born November 29, 1855, died No- vember 23, 1862. 3. Clara, born March II, 1854, died February 1, 1857. 4. Clara Louise, born December 27, 1857; married, November 14, 1884, William Rainard Henderson, born July 28, 1859, son of William Henry Hender- son and Louisa Sommers Henderson ; children : i. Albert Squier, born February 20, 1886; ii. Ethel Frances, born April 16, 1891, died March 14, 1892. 5. Frank Elwood, born October 8, 1859, mentioned below. 6. Emma Augusta. born June 24, 1862. 7. Mary Frances, born January 18, 1867; married (first) September 31, 1891, Charles Brewster Boies, who died July 31, 1897 ; children: i. Mary Hazel, born July 28, 1892, died July 6, 1897; ii. Ethel El- vina, born January 16, 1895; married (sec- ond) June 2, 1906, Henry Ward Bucher. 8. Charles Edwin, born November 19, 1870, men- tioned below.
(IX) Frank Elwood Williams, son of Al- bert Squier Williams, was born at Newark, New Jersey, October 8, 1859. His elementary educational training was limited to the public schools of Newark until eleven years of age, when he removed with his parents to Brooklyn, New York, where he attended the Meadow street school for two years, removing then with his parents to Bergen, New Jersey, where he attended the public schools for two years. He possessed thrift and enterprise, and like many boys with an idea of getting a start in worldly goods, conducted a prosperous busi- ness in the selling of newspapers, an experi- ence which he never regretted. At thirteen years of age he practically left school and be- came clerk for Peter Lee in his grocery store at Cedar Grove, New Jersey, remaining for a year, when he removed to Orange with his parents and was clerk in the stationery store of Thomas Bayse a year, and subsequently clerk in a grocery store for a like period. After a year as clerk for Joseph Hardwick, a butcher, he entered the hat manufactury of Damon F. Stocker, to learn the trade of hatter as an ap- prentice, and was for three years in the finish- ing department, after which time his energy and strict attention to business in all its de- tails and his probity gained for himself such
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favor with his employer that he was promoted to a position of greater responsibility and re- muneration, that of foreman of the finishing department, where he remained one year. He subsequently accepted a position in the hat factory of John B. Stetson in Orange Valley. After a year there he was employed six months by Austin Drew as finisher. He subsequently entered the employ of F. Berg & Company, where for four and one-half years he attended to the bookkeeping of the concern. He later accepted a position from Austin Drew & Com- pany as buyer and salesman, where he remain- ed five years. He then became traveling sales- man for Abegg & Rusch, makers of hat bands and satins, and was in their employ eleven years, when he became salesman in the same line for Pass & Company, in 1903, which posi- tion he now holds. Mr. Williams is first among his equals in this particular line of trade, hav- ing attained a high success as a salesman, com- manding the confidence and regard of those with whom in business relations he is brought i11 contact. He has a high regard for the in- stitution of harmony, having been a member of Markwith's Fifth Regiment Band. He is a member of Grace Episcopal Church of Orange, and has taken an active interest in the work of the Sunday school, as has also Mrs. Will- iams. Mr. Williams was among the founders of the church at Lake Hopatcong, Morris county, New Jersey, where his family reside during the summer season. He is a Repub- lican in politics, and has served as justice of the peace. He is a member of Hillside Council, No. 1529, Royal Arcanum, and served that body as secretary five years. He erected his residence on Park place, Orange, in 1903. Mr. Williams married, at Orange, New Jersey, No- vember 15, 1881, Augusta Heick, born there April 14, 1861, daughter of John and Eliza Jane (Hull) Heick, of Orange. John Heick was a hat manufacturer. Children: I. Ethel Augusta, born September 6. 1882, died July 28, 1883. 2. Donald Elwood, born February 8, 1886, mentioned below. 3. Lucy Evelyn, born May 26, 1887. 4. Verna May, born May 25, 1888. 5. Frank Everett, born February 4, 1893. 6. John Albert, born January 27, 1896. 7. Roger Augustus, born January 27, 1901. 8. Judson, born July 6, 1903.
(X) Donald Elwood Williams, son of Frank Elwood Williams, was born on Williams street, near Day street, Orange, New Jersey, Febru- ary 8, 1886. He attended the schools of Qrange, including the high school, and after a two years course in the latter entered the South Orange
high school, from which he graduated in 1904, president of class. He spent the year following at Betts Academy, Stamford, Connecticut, and the year following in Syracuse University. At the age of sixteen, upon entering his third year in the high school at South Orange, he accept- ed the position of physical director in the Young Men's Christian Association at Madi- son, New Jersey, in which capacity he served for two years. He served as a sub-master in Betts Academy, taking his studies in the nature of a student and earning his way by teaching the classes in physical culture. He was active in athletics, serving as pitcher of the baseball team and fullback of the football team. In October, 1906, he accepted the position of physical director of the Young Men's Chris- tian Association at Butler, Pennsylvania, and in February, 1907, left. this work to enter the auditor's office of the Standard Steel Car Com- pany, from which he resigned in February, 1008, at the request of his father-in-law, in order to assist him in his work, managing his farms, etc., in Greenwich, New York. While residing in Greenwich he became interested in the work of the Methodist Episcopal church, and the following February ( 1909) decided to enter the ministry at the recommendation of the pastor at Greenwich, the Rev. P. O. Grieves. The quarterly conference of the Greenwich church voted that he be given a license to preach. In April, 1909, the annual meeting of the Troy con ference held at Glovers- ville, New York, placed him in charge of the work centering in Johnsburg, New York, in which charge there are four churches to sup- ply. His political principles incline him toward Republicanism, but he casts his vote for the inan best suited for office, irrespective of party affiliations. While in college he joined the Orange Club, which in 1907 became the frater- nity of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, of which he is now a member. He married, September 13, 1906, Ellen Clarinda Rich, born October 31, 1885, daughter of Dr. Jacob Astor and Franc ( Pierce) Rich. Child, Ruth Augusta, born October 17, 1909. ~
(IX) Charles Edwin Williams, son of Al- bert Squier Williams, was born in Willow Place, Brooklyn, New York, November 19, 1870. When an infant his parents removed to Bergen and later to Paterson, New Jersey, and when five years of age they removed to Orange. He attended the St. Marks public school on Valley road until nine years old, when he re- turned to his native city, Brooklyn, with his parents, where he passed through the several
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grades of the grammar school and for a time attended the high school. For a short time after completing his schooling he was asso- ciated in the advertising department of the New York World, subsequently accepting a position of assistant bookkeeper under his brother, Frank E. Williams, in F. Berg & Company, hat manufacturers, at Orange, New Jersey, where he remained a year. He subse- qently passed through a period of illness, and later accepted a position with F. Berg & Com- pany as assistant salesman in their New York office. In 1891 he became their traveling sales- man for Boston, Philadelphia, and surrounding New York towns. In 1892 he accepted a posi- tion as salesman with McGall Brothers, the largest hat makers of the Orange Valley, his territory being as far west as the Mississippi and through the south, remaining for a period of two years. He severed his connection with this house on account of financial difficulties, and accepted a similar position with A. Fitch & Company, of Newark, where he remained a year, going then with Abegg & Rusch, of 90 Grand street, New York City, importers and makers of hat bands and satins, where he remained as salesman eleven years. On October I, 1905, he became asso- ciated with the well known firm of Edelhoff & Rinke, 22 Washington Place, New York City, in the same line. In 1907 this firm changed to Robert Müller & Company, Mr. Williams being retained as traveling salesman, where he is now located. In politics he is strongly Repub- lican ; he is a member of Bedford Council, No. 273, Knights of Columbus, and of the order of Alhambra, Caravan "Ab Der Rahman." He resides at 1405 Dean street, Brooklyn, New York. He married at Brooklyn, New York, April 26, 1898, at the Church of Our Lady of Victory (Catholic), Mary Margaret Burns, born at Brooklyn, New York, September 23, 1872, daughter of William Augustine and Mar- garet (Kerrigan) Burns, of Brooklyn. Mr. and Mrs. Williams attend the Church of Our Lady of Victory.
(VIII) Samuel Augustus WILLIAMS Williams, son of Jonathan Squier Williams (q. v.), was born on the old homestead farm of his ances- tors, in the West Orange Valley, September 3, 1824, and died in August, 1893. He was edu- cated in the nearby district school, and at an early age was apprenticed to William Bodwell to learn the hatter's trade, serving a seven years apprenticeship. He followed his trade
up to the time of his enlistment in the army in the civil war, working for George Harrison, a hat manufacturer in Essex avenue, living for a time with his employer. He enlisted Sep- tember 8, 1864, in company H, Thirty-ninth Regiment New Jersey Volunteers, for a period of one year under Lieutenant Peter Clute, who commanded the company during that time. His regiment left Newark early in October, 1864, arriving at City Point, Virginia, where it was temporarily employed on the fortifications, moving thence to Poplar Grove Church, on the left of the Weldon railroad, a few miles south of Petersburg, where the regiment was attach- ed to the First Brigade, Second Division, Ninth Army Corps, and he participated in the move- nient against the Southside railroad. The command was subsequently encamped until November, when the Ninth Corps relieved the Second Corps, then holding the center of the Union line, and Williams with his regiment moved into position before Petersburg, later going into camp until February, 1865, when it was placed in Fort Davis, which it garrisoned until the night before April 2d. He took part in the charge upon Fort Mehone, his regiment thrice entering the works, and finally holding them, with much loss of men. To his regiment belongs the credit of capturing one of the most formidable rebel works around Petersburg, afterward joining in the pursuit of Lee's army, after its retreat from its stronghold. The last important service of Mr. Williams's regiment was provost duty for two weeks at Farmville, and after the surrender of Lee proceeded to Alexandria, Virginia, remaining in camp there until June, when the regiment was ordered home, and was mustered out at Newark, June 17, 1865.
.Mr. Williams returned to his trade of hat making, and followed it for the active remain- der of his life. He resided on Glibe street, where he died in August, 1893. He was thor- oughly respected in his community, as a man of good moral character and strong in his prin- ciples.
Mr. Williams married, September 30, 1847, Francis Harrison, born February 12, 1828, died November 23, 1869, daughter of Abraham P. and Rhoda (Tichenor) Harrison; her father was a shoemaker. Children: I. Frances Au- gusta, born May 29, 1849, died May 25, 1861. 2. Abraham, born September 6, 1851, died Sep- tember 20, 1851. 3. Harriet Alida, born Feb- ruary 12, 1854. 4. Daniel Harrison, born March 14, 1857 ; married, June 29, 1887, Mary Mead ; children: Harrison Edward, born September
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18, 1888; Frances Louisa, August 9, 1890; Margaret Elizabeth, April 4, 1893. 5. Joseph- ine, born June 1, 1859; married, June 18, 1877, George Milton Tyler ; children : Harriet May, born April 9, 1878; married June 6, 1899, Sam- uel Joseph Doupe. 6. Herbert Wallace, born January 22, 1862 ; married, December 23, 1884, Antoinette Boese, children: Helen Henrietta, born March 13, 1886; Herbert Kenneth, De- cember 26, 1888, married August 5, 1907, Nettie Louise Bradshaw, and had Helen Idonia, born March 30, 1908; Marguerite Harrison, born March 26, 1898; Henry Boese, June 30, 1893. 7. Helen Frances, born January 12, 1868; married, November 19, 1890, Michael Buckley, born November 19, 1850, son of John and Bridget (Silk) Buckley ; child, Lida May, born September 12, 1892.
WILLIAMS (VI) John Williams, son of Zenas Williams (V-q. v), was born at West Orange, New Jersey, at the foot of Eagle Rock avenue, on the old Williams homestead, December 3, 1798, died at West Bloomfield ( now Montclair), November, 1866. He was brought up on his father's farm, acquiring the usual common school education of a farmer's son at that period. He remained with his father in the conduct of the affairs of the farm until after his marriage, when he moved with his bride to land given him by his father in West Bloomfield, comprising about thirty acres, this being a part of the legacy to come to him. He started under rather adverse conditions. In early manhood he learned the trade of shoemaker, but never followed this, choosing the occupation of farmer, which he followed through life. He cultivated his lands, raising general crops. He was an honest hard worker and highly respected in the neighbor- hood. He was retired in his manner and fond of a good joke. He was an ardent Whig and in later years a Republican. He never accept- ed office in the gift of the citizens, feeling like many others that to attend to the comfort of his family was the first duty of a citizen. He was reared an Episcopalian, although he attended the Methodist church. He married, Septem- ber 26, 1827, Martha Hopping Carter, born November 1, 1805, died April 24, 1901, daugh- ter of Philander and Lydia (Stiles) Carter. Children : 1. Lydia Ann, born July 16, 1828; married, January 14, 1854, Asher Durand Ward, son of Caleb and Eunice (Taylor) Ward; children: i. Walter Williams, born October 26, 1855; ii. Mary Ann, born Febru- ary 15, 1857 ; married, December 25, 1877, Au-
gustus Eichhorn; children: a. Martha, born October 16, 1878; married, July 17, 1907, Chauncy Irving Norris, child, Walter Irving, born July 31, 1908; b. Anna Daisy, born No- vember 21, 1879; c. Maria Augusta, born Sep- tember 10, 1881; d. Mary Ward, born Sep- tember 13, 1883; married, September 6, 1905, Edward Benedict Lowden; children: Mary Ethel, born September 15, 1906, and Evelyn Alice, August 8, 1909; e. Robert Job, born Jan- uary I, 1886; f. Joseph Whipple, born Sep- tember 7, 1889; g. Thomas Harold, born De- cember 8, 1891 ; h. Edgar Lindsay, born June 2, 1897 ; iii. Laura Matilda, born November 26, 1859, died November 4, 1901 ; iv. Asher Au- gustus, born August 17, 1860; married, No- vember 13, 1886, Ella Alles; children : a. Frances, born June 10, 1888; b. Florence, No- vember 17, 1889; c. Joseph, August 18, 1892; d. Elsie, October 18, 1894; v. Alonzo Clifford, born September 17, 1864; married, October 23, 1886, Charlotte Alles ; children : a. John Clif- ford, born April 11, 1890; b. Frank Edmund, October 4, 1894; c. Matilda Alles, June, 1899 ; vi. John, born February 19, 1866, died July 25, 1866. 2. Edmund, mentioned below. 3. Hiram Smith, born July 27, 1833 ; he now resides at Rockledge, Florida, and extensively engaged in cultivating orange groves ; married, Novem- ber 7, 1870, Cornelia Coates ; children: i. Ed- mund Sidney, born August 19, 1871; ii. Myra Gray, born December 3, 1877. 4. John Cald- well, mentioned below.
(VII) Edmund, son of John Williams, was born in West Bloomfield (now Montclair), May 14, 1831. Early in life he became deeply interested in the production of flowers and fruit, and studied closely the best methods of caring for and cultivating trees, shrubs and plants. He carried his investigations and re- searches far beyond the average horticulturist, and his discoveries and comprehensive knowl- edge of the subject gained him marked prestige in this department. He became known through- out the country as a prominent horticulturist, and was instrumental in introducing the Kitta- tinny blackberry ; also was the first planter of the noted Japan or Oriental plum in this local- ity. His forte was fruit culture, particularly grapes and strawberries, and he was also the originator of the Montclair raspberry. Being a ready and lucid writer, he contributed freely to the horticultural press of the country, and what he wrote had sterling practical value as the expression of a wide experience and a singularly clear insight. He took deep inter- est in the arts and sciences allied to his pro-
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fession, and was one of the founders of the New Jersey State Horticultural Society, serv- inig as secretary the first fifteen years of its existence, and afterward as president for two years. He married Maria L. Saul, February 22, 1876, daughter of Jane Saul, of Brooklyn, New York. He died July 12, 1894, and at the twentieth annual session of the New Jersey State Horticultural Society, held at Trenton, January 2 and 3, 1895, the following memorial was read:
"Nineteen years ago, on the 17th of August, 1875, a few men, earnest and enthusiastic hor- ticulturists of this state, met and organized the New Jersey State Horticultural Society, num- bering among them men from all sections of the state, noted for their love and interest in horticulture, the object being mutual inter- course and promoting the interest of this science so intimately interwoven with our daily life, many of whom have gone to join the silent hosts, and conspicuous among whom was our former secretary and for the last two years president of this society.
"Edmund Williams, chosen to occupy the position of secretary of the society at its organ- ization, ably discharged-and how ably we all know-the duties devolving upon him for a number of years until incapaci- tated by bodily disease and intense suf- fering, when he was obliged to relinquish the active duties pertaining to the office, but still retained his interest in the affairs and pros- perity of the society. Two years ago he was chosen to preside over the society as its presi- dent, and retained his interest in it to the last.
"Edmund Williams was in many respects a unique man. Starting in life in an entirely different calling, his tastes and inclinations led him to adopt the profession of horticulture, and in this he was certainly the right man in the right place. Combined with his ardent love for his chosen profession, he was in all respects 'the noblest work of God-an honest man.'
"In his investigation of all things he was thorough, active, conscientious and true, and gave to the public his honest convictions, but not without thorough investigation and careful study. He was a large and popular contributor to the horticultural journals of the day, and. his opinions regarding the merits of the new fruits and the modes of cultivating generally, as well as older varieties, were sound and reli- able, and anything over the signature of 'E. W.' secured careful attention. We recognized, in
addition to his services to the cause of horti- culture, the benefit he conferred upon the gen- eral public by his timely and unsparing criti- cisms and exposure of many of the horticul- tural humbugs of the day.
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