USA > New Jersey > Genealogical and memorial history of the state of New Jersey, Volume IV > Part 11
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had been nominated the vice-presidency would have, beyond any doubt, falled on Joel Parker. There was no other eastern man with his war record; and, in fact, no eastern man was a candidate. Many of the delegates from Jersey who had professed such friendship for Parker now ridiculed his aspirations and would not listen to the nomination of Hendricks, or any other western man. The vote of New Jersey cast firmly for Hendricks at the beginning, would have, in all probability, changed the re- sult. Parker never had the ghost of a chance for the nomination as president. The Repub- lican party had for years nominated western men, knowing that the political power lay there and not in the eastern states. The Democratic party could have nominated a western man like Hendricks, and then Joel Parker, in all probability, would have been nominated as vice-president. This ticket would have been elected, and the Republican politicians would never dared to count them out. This want of all deliberation, the stifling of discussion, and unfair management, changed Mr. Beekman's opinions on the subject of "Democracy." Then and there, on the west side of the Mississippi river, and in the centre of the United States, he resolved never to take part in another Dem- ocratic convention in the county or state under party call. All his former ideas of Democracy were revolutionized and upset.
In 1878 Holmes W. Murphy was a candidate for the nomination of state senator by the Dem- ocratic county convention. He had held the profitable office of county clerk for two terms of five years each, and also had been clerk of the board of chosen freeholders of Monmouth county for many years. The nominations of the Democratic party for county offices had been equivalent to their election ever since Ocean county had been set off in 1850. The majority of the Democrats in the county ranged from one thousand to two thousand, or anywhere between. The county clerk's office was the most profitable office, and supposed to be worth some $20,000 yearly. At all events Mr. Murphy had become a rich man from this office. At this time there was a bitter feeling in the shore townships, which now had the greater population, against the continued mo- nopolization, by a ring of politicians at Free- hold, of all the profitable and honorable offices. This feeling was an old one, and there was good reason for it, Mr. Murphy, especially, had held one of the most profitable offices for a decade and now asked for an office of high honor. George W. Patterson had become a
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resident of Asbury Park, and come up with a lot of his friends from Ocean and other shore townships. Perceiving the then bitter feeling against the "Freehold ring," as it was called, he was proposed as a candidate, in the midst of intense excitement. "Down with the Free- hold ring" was the cry. In the midst of it the vote was taken. "Anything to beat the Free- hold ring," and George W. Patterson received a majority of the votes and was declared the regular nominee of the Democratic party of Monmouth county for the honorable office of state senator. Mr. Beekman has taken no part or any action in the conventions of the Demo- crats since his trip to St. Louis. He had then publicly declared he was no longer a party man of either party, but an independent voter. Mr. George W. Patterson's nomination excited great wonder and perplexity. The Republican convention was called to meet at Freehold, October 12, 1878, or about three weeks before the election. Many of the old Democrats, all native born Monmouth county men, were dis- gusted with the nomination of a former Re- publican and an official who had let his friends and sureties suffer for his defalcations. They arranged to hold a meeting in the grand jury room at Freehold on the same day the Repub- lican convention met. At eleven o'clock a. m. many old whiteheaded men, who had been Democrats all their lives, gathered from all over the county in the grand jury room. Men who bore honorable names and who were re- spected by all who knew them. The names of many of these men were printed in the Free- hold newspapers of that week. The conven- tion was opened with prayer by the venerable Rev. Garret C. Schenck, on unprecedented things in political conventions of Monmouth county. After organization, on motion of Ed- ward Hartshorne, a committee of seven were appointed to draft resolutions expressing the views of the conventions. Mr. Beekman was named as chairman of this committee, and drew the resolutions, which after due delibera- tion were reported and unanimously adopted :
Ist. In substance, they strongly condemned the meddling with or control of government and legislation by railroad and other corpora- tions as destruction to justice, the interests and rights of the people.
2nd. They demanded a system of taxation which would fall equally on all property, whether owned by corporations or by the in- dividual.
3rd. Payment of fixed salaries to all public
officers, instead of fees, which should go into the public treasury.
4th. Abolishment of all sinacures and un- necessary offices.
5th. Repeal of act directing the publication of the session laws in the newspapers at annual cost to the state of New Jersey of some seventy thousand dollars.
6th. Simplification of our judicial system, so that justice could not be delayed or juggled. 7th. Amendment of the bribery laws, so that either the bribe giver or bribe taker could be convicted and punished.
8th. Sale of lands by the sheriff advertised in one newspaper, nearest to the premises, and by a general description, so that the poor debtors could be saved from this outrageous newspaper graft.
The committee appointed to select candi- dates reported Chillian Robbins, a lifelong Re- publican and an able lawyer, for state senator ; William Segoine, a land surveyor, for county clerk; and Vanderveer Dubois, a farmer, for sheriff. The two named last were lifelong Democrats. Both conventions were well satis- fied with these candidates, but Mr. Robbins was undecided, and wished to consult some of his party friends like ex-Governor Newell, who was present in the Republican convention. This took time and it was getting along in the afternoon before Mr. Robbins decided not to accept. The nomination was then offered to two other Republicans in turn-Mr. William Vredenburgh and John J. Ely, who also de- clined. The majority of the delegates in both conventions were from the shore townships and obliged to leave on the last train, which went out at 4:30 o'clock p. m. If no nominations were agreed on it would be impossible to get the Independent Democrats together in an- other convention before election day, now only three weeks off, nor was it likely that another Republican convention would assemble. The great majority of the men in the Independent convention had been lifelong Democrats, and belonged to families which had resided for many generations in Monmouth county. They felt a pride in the good name and welfare of their county. They knew that Monmouth had been represented in the senate, or "council," as it was called prior to the new constitution of 1844, by many of their most honored citizens. Col. Nathaniel Scudder, of revolutionary fame, was their first senator. He had been followed by such men as Col. Asher Holmes, James Schureman, Daniel Holmes, William L. Day- ton, Judge Vredenburgh, and others.
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Their anxiety, lest no action should be taken, increased as the hour of adjournment drew near. The intense feeling and excitement in the crowded grand jury room could almost be felt like a hot fire. At this moment, Gen. Haight sprang to his feet and in a brief but fiery speech exclaimed, "My allegiance to the Democratic party stops at the jail door. I nominate George C. Beekman for senator, George Sickles for clerk and Charles Allen for sheriff." Wild shouts and cheers greeted this speech, and the nominations were con- firmed without a dissenting voice. Before Mr. Beekman could speak or be heard, a motion to adjourn sine die was put and carried. The majority of the delegates from shore townships hurried away to the depot to catch the last train. None of the candidates had been con- sulted or even knew of this action. Sickles was a Republican, Allen a Democrat. Neither of them had been in Freehold that day, or had the least intimation that they would be nomi- nated. In the meantime the news of these nomi- nations had been carried to the Republican convention, which adopted the same ticket, al- though some twenty odd votes were cast against Mr. Beekman for senator, by delegates from Shrewsbury township. Sickles and Allen re- sided many miles away from Freehold, and could not be heard from, until next day. Both conventions adjourned without knowing whether the men nominated would accept. The whole responsibility rested on Mr. Beekman. If he refused the two conventions could not be convened again in time for election. He fully realized the trouble, abuse, and hostility of the corrupt and ignorant elements of the party, which had ruled Monmouth county a whole generation. He was a partner of Holmes W. Murphy in the law business, under firm name of Beekman & Murphy. This partnership was formed in January of 1874, and had been in existence ever since. Mr. Murphy was a strong party Democrat, but had been defeated for the nomination of senator by Patterson. Mr. Murphy had been previously greatly favored by the Democratic party. They had given him the office of county clerk twice. It was the most profitable office in the county. He had also been clerk of the board of chosen free- holders of Monmouth for many years. It was the strong feeling against the monopoly of public office by the same man which precipitated the nomination of Patterson.
After the two conventions adjourned and the majority of the delegates had taken the train for home, a general mass meeting of the peo-
ple in Freehold was held in Shinn's Hall. Mr. Beekman was invited to address this meeting. He did so in a brief speech which was pub- lished as part of the campaign literature. Al- though fairly nominated by the Republican convention, the majority of the Republican townships, like Shrewsbury, Eatontown, etc., where they have large majorities, cast their vote for the Democratic candidate, who had been a party worker in their ranks the greater part of his life. Money was freely used to purchase votes against Mr. Beekman. Even in Freehold township, where he resided, he detected a saloon-keeper voting an ignorant foreigner who could hardly speak English, and paying him two dollars. Mr. Beekman made complaint to a justice of the peace, and had the saloon-keeper arrested, and bound over to next grand jury. This action to some extent checked the purchase of votes, but did not en- tirely stop it. The saloon-keeper was indicted for bribery. He plead "not guilty." He was defended by Charles Haight and Hon. John S. Applegate. The evidence showed that this voter did not receive the money until after he had voted. He did not know who he voted for. After depositing his ballot in the box, he went over to the saloon and received two dollars from the proprietor. The judge charged the jury "that as the money was not paid until after the man had voted, it was not bribery, under the laws of New Jersey." The political friends of the saloon-keeper had publicly threatened, that if he was convicted and sent to prison, they would expose to the public the corporations and men who had furnished the corruption fund. Nevertheless, in spite of their sinister influences, Mr. Beekman was elected by a majority of over five hundred. For the first time since the year 1850, the regular nominee of the Democratic party in Monmouth county was defeated. The senate journal of New Jersey and other legislative documents for years 1879-80-81 show that he faithfully carried out to the best of his ability the plat- form of the convention.
He was invited by representatives of both parties to take part in their caucus, but he re- fused to enter either. Mr. Garret Hobart, who served as senator from Passaic county and was afterwards elected vice-president of the United States, wrote to some of his Repub- lican friends in Monmouth county some years after Senator Beekman's term had expired, that no one during his term could have deter- mined by his votes what party he belonged to.
In the year 1879, bills were introduced in the
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Jersey legislature to give the justices of the supreme court and secretary of state a fixed yearly salary instead of fees. This was the beginning of that legislation which finally did away with the fee system in New Jersey. It was opposed bitterly, and nearly twenty years passed before it could be extended to all the state and county offices. There is now no great fortunes in any of the clerical positions to tempt men to desperate efforts. The fight, however, was hard and bitter. Mr. Beekman was obliged to draw himself all the reform bills he introduced. He had no one to help or advise him. The first year he got through an amendment to the bribery act, allowing one of the parties to the crime to testify against the other, and if he told the truth granting him immunity. He also introduced a bill to repeal the act requiring the session laws to be publish- ed in the newspapers of the state, at an annual expense of some $70.000 to the taxpayers. It amounted to about one thousand dollars yearly to every newspaper favored by the statesmen or politicians of New Jersey. None of these newspapers were inclined to criticise the men in power, who handed out this "graft" to them. Mr. Beekman made a speech on the subject in the senate, but only one newspaper in the state published it. This was a paper published at Elizabeth City, by a Mr. Leonard. All the rest passed it over in "silent contempt." A com- mittee of five newspaper men or editors were kept constantly at Trenton, during session of the legislature. Mr. Babcock, editor, I think, of the Fredonian, a paper published at New Brunswick, was one of the leaders of this committee. A senator could hardly turn around in his chair but what he would find one of these editors behind him. They had no kind words for the senator from Monmouth. This bill passed the senate because such men as Senators Vail, Hobart, John C. Schenck, of Somerset county, and some others, knew it was right. The editors, however, understood it should be killed in the house, as was done each of the three years. Mr. Oviatt, a native of Ohio, had removed to Monmouth county a few years previous, and taken up his residence there. He had been elected to the assembly from a district embracing Freehold and adjacent town- ships, as regular nominee of the Republican party. He was also pledged to support of the platform of the Independent convention. He was a young man, and had no experience in legislation, and was a comparative stranger to the Trenton politicians. He was, however, bright of intellect, and quick to learn. Such iii-32
bills as Senator Beekman got through the upper house, he earnestly supported in the lower house. He was the only friend in this branch. By dilatory tactics, such as holding in com- mittee, amendments, recommitting, etc., they contrived to hold back several of these from a final vote. On one occasion Mr. Oviatt was so worked up and excited that he almost broke down. He, however, by his energy and perse- verance made a good deal of trouble for the crafty managers in the lower house. The next year this young and almost unknown man in the state was elected speaker of the house, to the great surprise of his constituents. This removed him from all activity on the floor of the house. The Monmouth senator had no one to push such bills, as he got through in the house. Mr. Bodine, senator from Gloucester county, had warmly supported the bill to abolish newspaper graft in printing the session laws in 1879. The next year Senator Beek- man asked him to introduce this same bill in the senate, and also try and get the Republican caucus to take it up as a party measure. This he did, but was unable to get the caucus to adopt it. Senator Sewell, of Camden, a promi- nent officer of the Pennsylvania railroad, op- posed it, as he wished to retain the favor and support of the newspapers. It, however, pass- ed the senate, only to be slaughtered in the house. The third year, Mr. Beekman intro- duced it only to meet the same fate. The people of the state, however, had began to take notice of this gigantic graft. A few years later Mr. Voorhees, senator from Union coun- ty, procured its repeal. Another bill Senator Beekman introduced, to repeal act requir- ing sheriff's sales of land to be published in two newspapers, and expense of the printing paid out of the property of the debtor, who is sold out. These sales are advertised by a long description of the land, by chains and links, such as no man would do in making a sale of his own lands. This compulsory payment was taken from a poor wretch, so poor that he could not pay his debts. The printing fees of two papers will average about ten dollars each, or twenty in all. There is nothing right or just about it. The man is so poor and broken that he cannot cry out against this graft. Figure up what this has amounted to in New Jersey, during the last twenty years. This bill also passed the senate, only to be held back in the assembly. Mr. Beekman also introduced sev- eral bills, concerning his own county, which became laws, such as the act creating the "Township of Neptune." The act to ap-
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propriate $10,000 toward erecting a monu- ment on the battlefield of Monmouth. This also passed. It was the first monument erect- ed in New Jersey to honor the memory of our revolutionary fathers. He also voted for the law, giving justices jurisdiction of civil suits to amount of $200. Also the law forbidding suits on bonds in law suits, when mortgage given to secure the same, was being foreclosed in the court of chancery. He also drew and intro- duced a bill cutting down costs of the fore- closure of mortgages one-half, when the amount due did not exceed five hundred dollars. Garret Hobart, senator from Passaic county, came to him and said, "If you will fix the amount at $300, I will help you get it through." Knowing that he would have great difficulty alone, and thinking that "half a loaf was better than noth- ing," he agreed, and it became a law of the state. The chancellor, however, decided later that the taxed costs of foreclosure should also be deducted, which cut it down to less than two hundred dollars. Senator Beekman drew and got through the law relieving the mort- gage debtor to the counties for school money, etc., from paying tax on this indebtedness as had formerly been the case.
In 1880 Mr. Hobart was president of the senate, and he appointed Mr. Beekman chair- man of the joint committee of the two houses on state library. He carefully examined the books and found it was almost wholly a law library and used principally by the Trenton lawyers and judges. He drew a report recom- mending the purchase of standard works use- ful to other professions and occupations, also the collection of all local histories, pamphlets, etc., relating to any part of New Jersey. This report was agreed to and signed by the other members. (See "Report of Joint Committee on State Library for year 1880," among the legislative documents ).
Mr. Oviatt's term ended in year 1880. The Democratic leaders were anxious to get this district back. Without knowledge of Senator Beekman they induced his partner in the law business, Holmes W. Murphy, to accept the nomination for the assembly on the regular Democratic ticket. Mr. Murphy had always been a staunch party man, and was indebted to that party for the fortune he had accumulated while county clerk for two terms. The only salary for member of the senate or lower house was $500 a year. Mr. Murphy had no experience in legislation, and as one of the minority party could not expect to accomplish
anything. What inclined him to take this office Mr. Beekman could never understand. It made it very awkward and unpleasant for him as senator. It took both partners away to Tren- ton as members of the two houses, and closed to business their law office at Freehold. It also brought their law firm, Beekman & Mur- phy, in the limelight of party abuse and malice. Holmes W. Murphy was the same man Patter- son had defeated for the nomination of senator in the regular Democratic convention of Mon- mouth county two years previous. Then the unexpected had happened, the regular nominee had been defeated, something which was re- garded as an impossibility. The law partner of Mr. Murphy had been elected on a stump ticket. The partisans of Patterson were not only chagrined, but bitterly hostile over their disappointment. Now they saw the same can- didate whom they had turned down, nomi- ated by the Democratic party and elected to the New Jersey legislature. Neither did the Re- publicans like the result. The same district which Mr. Oviatt had represented for two years is now represented by a regular party Democrat. As a partner of Senator Beekman in law business, it made them doubt his inde- pendence. Yet the whole thing had been planned by the shrewd Democratic politicians, to make trouble and perplexity. Mr. Murphy had no experience in legislation, and his party was in a hopeless minority. Why he accepted this office, worth only five hundred dollars yearly, was difficult to understand. Mr. Beek- man's term as senator ended in 1882. Mr. Murphy served in the lower house one term. In 1882 the partnership of Beek- man & Murphy was amicably dissolved, after an existence of eight years. From this time until he removed from Freehold to Red Bank, in 1903, Mr. Beekman conducted the law business alone. For forty years he prac- ticed law at the county seat of Monmouth and during this time, as the court records will show, he never sued any one on his own ac- count. If his clients failed to pay, he let the claim go. During those years he contributed to the Monmouth Democrat and Monmouth Inquirer, then the only newspapers published in Freehold, many articles on political ques- tions, some tales founded on local tradition, and also facts relating to the early history of Monmouth county. These last he gathered from the old records in the county clerk's office and from old documents and papers which had been treasured up in some of the old fam-
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ilies of the county. James S. Yard, owner and editor of the Monmouth Democrat, included part of these contributions in the book com- piled and published by him entitled "Old Times in Old Monmouth." Mr. Maxey Applegate, owner and editor of the Monmouth Inquirer, at one time, talked of putting these contributions to his paper in book form, but has never carried it out. This work was purely a "labour of love," Mr. Beekman never asked or expected any compensation. The Inquirer, however, has ever since been sent to him through the mails as a free gift for the rest of his life. At a later date the Freehold Transcript, a third newspaper, was established at Freehold. A series of articles on some of the "Early Hollanders" who settled in Monmouth county was publish- ed in the weekly issues of this paper, and ex- tending through some two years. The owner and editor of the Transcript also issued one hundred and twenty-five copies in book form, for which he charged five dollars per copy. He generously turned over one-half of these re- ceipts to the compiler. This was the only pecuniary reward Mr. Beekman ever received for his literary efforts.
Mr. Beekman married, at Freehold, Novem- ber 6, 1877, Laura B. Alston, a descendant of the Alstons who resided at or near Wood- bridge, Middlesex county, New Jersey, prior to the revolutionary war. During the war or after one of this same family resided on Staten Island. His son, David Alston, with his wife and two sons, removed from Staten Island, by way of Tottenville, over to New Jersey, in 1815. He took up his residence at Spotswood. Here he remained several years, having two more sons and three daughters born at this last place. From here he removed to Julius- town, Burlington county, New Jersey, where he lived the remainder of his life. One of his sons, Abraham D. Alston, married, in 1839, Caroline Bareford, and had ten children-five sons and five daughters. His fourth daughter, Laura B., was born March 2, 1852, and mar- ried Mr. Beekman, as above stated. Three sons -- Alston, Jacob Ten Broeck and Edwin Laurens,-and one daughter, named Anne Crawford, have been born. The last died Decem- ber 16, 1902, at Freehold, was buried in Beek- man plot, at Fairview cemetery. The eldest son married Matilda, daughter of John Craig, and is engaged in practice of law at Red Bank. The second son, Jacob Ten Broeck, resides with his parents. The third and youngest son, Edwin Laurens, resides on Beekman's farm, at
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