Genealogical and memorial history of the state of New Jersey, Volume IV, Part 30

Author: Lee, Francis Bazley, 1869- ed
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: New York, N.Y. : Lewis Historical Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 620

USA > New Jersey > Genealogical and memorial history of the state of New Jersey, Volume IV > Part 30

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Mr. Van Winkle married, August 15, 1900, Sama Le Roy Batdorf, daughter of John William Batdorf. She was born June 24, 1879, and is the mother of a daughter, Sama Gertrude, born July 30, 1904.

VAN WINKLE

Thomas Jefferson Van Winkle, the first mem- ber of this family of

whom we have definite information, lived in Brooklyn, New York. He married Eleanor Underhill. Children: 1. William Alexander. 2. George Washington, referred to below. 3. Thomas Jefferson (2). 4. Samuel E. 5. Eliz- abeth, married Lupton; two sons- Henry, conductor on Erie railroad, living in Jersey City, New Jersey ; and Mervin, engi- neer on Pennsylvania railroad, living in Jer- sey City. 6. Eleanor. 7. Caroline, married Wygant.

(II) George Washington, son of Thomas Jefferson and Eleanor (Underhill) Van Win- kle, was born in Brooklyn, New York, about 1812, and died there at his home on St. Mark's Place, May 11, 1880. He was edu-

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cated in the Brooklyn public schools, and then learned the carpenter's trade in a shop that stood on the present Myrtle avenue, Brooklyn. Having served his apprenticeship he became a journeyman carpenter for several years, and in the early 30's formed a partnership with his brother-in-law, James E. (later Major-Gen- eral) Underhill, for manufacturing oil cloths, the factory being located at the corner of the present Vanderbilt avenue and Boyden street. The firm was very successful for some time, but the plant having been destroyed by fire, Mr. Van Winkle became superintendent of J. & S. Engle's Naval Store in Williamsburg, where he remained until 1862, when owing to the blockading of the southern ports the busi- ness was abandoned. In 1863 he removed to Plummer, Venango county, Pennsylvania, where he became superintendent of the Hum- bolt petroleum works. Three years later he retired from active business and returned to Brooklyn. In early life he was a Democrat, but later became a Republican, and an ardent admirer of Abraham Lincoln. He was a mem- ber of the Dutch Reformed Church of Brook- lyn, and an Odd Fellow. He married, in Brooklyn, in August, 1836, Leah Suydam, born in June, 1816, died April 10, 1885. Chil- dren : I. Eleanor, born May 19, 1837 ; died November 13, 1848. 2. George Washington (2), referred to below. 3. James, born Feb- ruary 22, 1843; married (first) September 25, 1866, Ella M. Templeton ; (second) June 21,

1900, - - ; children, by first marriage: Louis, born July 10, 1869, married, June, 1909, Anna Doty; and Nellie, born September 9, 1871, married June 28, 1900, Alfred G. Bishop, child, Alfreda L. Bishop, born December I, 1904. 4. Eliza Hinckle, born October 28, 1845 ; died August 14, 1875. 5. William A., born April 27, 1848; died January 28, 1889. 6. Samuel, born September 29, 1850; married July 3, 1880, Elvina Loretta Charron ; chil- dren : i. Leah May, born April 2, 1881, mar- ried December 22, 1900, Henry Marsland Frecker; children: Henry Marsland Frecker, born March 9, 1904, and Margorie Estelle, born June 14, 1907. ii. Cyril, born June 5, 1883. iii. Elsie Elmira, born August 9, 1886; married March 16, 1904, John Stone Berry, of Cincinnati, Ohio; child, John Stone Berry (2), born March 23, 1907. iv. Lester Hubert, born November 5, 1890; died May 3, 1897. v. Eva Estelle, born December 10, 1893.

(III) George Washington (2), son of George Washington (1) and Leah (Suydam) Van Winkle, was born in Brooklyn, New

York, March 9, 1840. He was educated in Brooklyn public school No. 9, and at fifteen years of age, owing to ill health, left school and entered the office of J. & S. Engle, distill- ers, as clerk. Shortly afterwards he was transferred to the distilling department, where he remained three years. In 1861 he removed to Plummer, Pennsylvania, where he became engaged with James Faulkner in building the oil plant of the Humbolt oil works, and later became purchasing agent of this firm. In 1866 he went to Oleopolis, Pennsylvania, to build the plant of the Solar oil works, of which he became business manager. In 1870 he became manager of the refining works of Easterlee & Davis, of Titusville, Pennsylva- nia, and when the Acme Oil Company pur- chased this firm in 1876, Mr. Van Winkle was retained in the same position by them. When this company came under the control of the Standard Oil Company, Mr. Van Winkle was transferred in March, 1877, to Baltimore, Maryland, as manager of the Camden Oil Company, and the following May was retrans- ferred to Bayonne, New Jersey, as manager of the refining plant there. In 1895, owing to impaired health, he retired from active busi- ness. He was for many years a director of Bayonne Building Association, No. 2. He is. a Republican in politics, and has been a dele- gate to many of the party conventions. He is an associate member of the Bayonne Fire De- partment, since October, 1883; a member of Oil Creek Lodge, No. 303, F. and A. M., Titusville, Pennsylvania; and a member of Bayonne Council, No. 695, Royal Arcanum, and of the Neighborhood Club of Bayonne. He was for a long time trustee, secretary and treasurer of the First Presbyterian Church of Bayonne, and is now a member of the Fifth Street Reformed Church. He erected his beau- tiful residence on the corner of West Fifth street and Newman avenue, Bayonne, in 1894. He married, in Brooklyn, New York, March 9, 1868, Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Michael and Elizabeth (Miller) Soth, a German family that came to America in the first half of the nineteenth century. She was born March 22, 1844. Children: I. George Edward, born January 9, 1869; married, June 14, 1894, Ada. Bettes ; children: Dorothy, born November 9, 1896; Irma, May 25, 1900; George Wash- ington, March 9, 1902. 2. Minnie May, born November 4, 1871 ; married March 15, 1899, John Moore Coward; children: John Morti- mer Coward, born January 1, 1900; Miriam Van Winkle Coward, July 14, 1907.

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Amzi Dodd, LL. D., the first vice-

DODD chancellor of New Jersey, and since 1882 president of the Mutual Life Insurance Company of Newark, was born in what is now the township of Montclair, then part of the township of Bloomfield, Essex county, New Jersey, March 2, 1823, second son of Dr. Joseph Smith Dodd and Maria Grover, and a lineal descendant of Daniel Dod, an English Puritan, who emigrated to Amer- ica about 1646, and in company with other immigrants helped to form a settlement at Sagus-now known as the city of Lynn-a thriving seaport on Massachusetts Bay. This early American progenitor died prior to 1665, leaving four sons, all in their minority, the eld- est of whom was named Daniel, after his father. While yet under age he joined the colony of Rev. Abraham Pierson, who found- ed the town of Newark, in 1666, and to him a home lot was assigned in the neighborhood of what was for so many years known as the "Stone Bridge." He was a good mathematic- ian, a surveyor by profession, and 1692 a mem- ber of the colonial general assembly. His son John, his grandson John, and his great-grand- son John, were all in a direct line ancestors of Dr. Joseph Smith Dodd, father of Amzi Dodd, and in their times were all men of mark. Dr. Dodd was born in Bloomfield, New Jer- sey, January 10, 1791, was graduated from Princeton College in 1813, and commenced the practice of medicine in his native place in 1816. He was a skillful physician, and a man widely esteemed and respected. He was elect- ed to the state senate in 1842, and was largely instrumental in establishing the State Lunatic Asylum. He died September 5, 1847.

Amzi Dodd was carefully educated at home and at the Bloomfield Academy, and in 1839 was so well advanced in his studies that he found no difficulty in securing admission to the sophomore class in the College of New Jersey, his father's alma mater. In 1841 he was grad- uated with the highest honors, being chosen to deliver the Latin salutatory at the com- mencement in September that year. Among his classmates who have risen to distinction may be mentioned Rev. Theodore Cuyler, the eminent Brooklyn divine; Rev. Dr. Duffield, of Princeton University ; General Francis P. Blair, late of Missouri ; John T. Nixon, United States district judge ; Edward W. Scudder, of the New Jersey supreme court ; Rev. Dr. Pot- ter, of Ohio ; Prof. A. Alexander Hodge ; Hon. Craig Biddle ; and others in legal and minis- terial life.

During the ensuing four years after leaving college, Mr. Dodd was engaged in teaching, principally in Virginia, but intending to be- come a lawyer, read law diligently and gave his vacations to acquiring a practical insight into its intricacies by service in the office of Miller & Whelkley, prominent lawyers at Morristown, New Jersey. In January, 1848, he was licensed as an attorney and admitted to the New Jersey bar, and afterward became associated in business with Hon. Frederick T. Frelinghuysen, then an eminent practitioner at the bar, and later secretary of state of the United States. In 1850 Mr. Dodd severed this connection to devote himself to the duties of the office of clerk of the common council of Newark. For three years he held this position, maintaining his own law offices, and attending to such practice as came his way. This finally grew to such volume that he resigned his office, the more fully to devote himself to professional work. Early connection with corporation and fiduciary affairs led him largely into legal de- partments calling for judicial rather than forensic powers. Although occasionally tak- ing part in litigated cases in court, he was far less inclined to jury trials than to arguments to the bench, in which his intellect and also his temperament found more congenial exer- cise.

Mr. Dodd early developed ability as a public speaker. His first effort of importance was a Fourth of July oration delivered in the First Presbyterian Church in Newark in 1851. "His panegyric upon Washington fell from the tongue deep into every heart, and for many a day the young orator's name was on every lip." Later efforts about this time were a literary address at the commencement at Princeton College, and a discourse before the Essex County Bible Society, of which he was presi- dent. Opposed to the extension of slavery into the territories, he was one of that resolute little band of anti-slavery men who raised their voices in loud protest against the movement in its favor, and as a Freesoiler he aided in the formation of the Republican party and became an active champion of its principles. In 1856 he was selected to lead the fight in Essex and Hudson counties, being chosen as the Repub- lican nominee for congress. In this campaign, as well as in that of 1860, which resulted in the election of President Lincoln, he won new laurels as an orator. In 1863 he was elected by the Republicans of Essex county to the New Jersey legislature, but declined a second term. Brilliant, logical and powerful as an

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orator, he might, had he so willed, have achieved forensic distinction equal to that of his most gifted contemporaries. There was that in his nature, however, which inclined him to the role of counsellor rather than to that of advocate ; and while graceful yielding to the calls made upon him to deliver lectures before lyceums and institutions of learning, and to greet his old classmates at Princeton in an anniversary oration, he gradually relinquished his public oratorical efforts, the more com- pletely to devote himself to the demands of professional work. In 1871, when the busi- ness of the court of chancery became so press- ing that Chancellor Zabriskie was obliged to ask for the appointment of a vice-chancellor, Mr. Dodd was selected for the position. In the delicate and important work thus assigned to him he was engaged continuously until 1875, when he resigned. In 1872 he was nominated by Governor Parker and confirmed by the senate as one of the special justices of the court of errors and appeals, the highest judicial tribunal in the state. In 1878, towards the close of his term as justice of the court, the governor, General George B. McClellan, wrote him a flattering recognition of his services, accompanied by so earnest a suggestion that he accept re-appointment, that Judge Dodd returned an affirmation reply, whereupon Gov- ernor McClellan made the appointment, send- ing with his commission a most complimentary letter.

In 1881 Judge Dodd was again called to serve the state as vice-chancellor, taking the office at the request of Chancellor Runyon ; but in the following year he resigned this posi- tion and also his seat upon the bench of the court of errors and appeals, being moved to do so by the pressure brought to bear upon him to accept the presidency of the Mutual Life Insurance Company of Newark, a corporation with which he had been officially connected as mathematician for nearly twenty years. In

this office he succeeded his friend, Lewis C. Grover, who had resigned. In 1875 Judge Dodd was appointed a member of the New Jersey Board of Riparian Commissioners by Governor Bedle, and held that position until April, 1887. In 1876 the supreme court of the state appointed him one of the managers of the New Jersey Soldiers' Home. In this serv- ice-a gratuitous one-he has continued with zeal and scrupulous fidelity in the interests of these veteran wards of the state. It is a note- worthy circumstance that, though of pro- nounced Republican political views, the several

public offices he has held have been by appoint- ments received from Democratic administra- tions, and, it is to be added, unsolicited on his part.

Judge Dodd's opinions as an equity judge are to be found in the New Jersey Reports, volume 22-34, inclusive ; and as a member of the court of errors and appeals, the court of last resort for the review of the supreme chan- cery, and inferior courts, his opinions being in volumes 36-42, inclusive. They are regarded by lawyers as possessing superior merit and belonging to the best class of judicial produc- tions. Some of them have become authorita- tive cases in important questions. One of the most notable is that of the Pennsylvania Rail- road Company vs. National Railway Company, decided in 1873, and recorded in volume 7, C. E. Gr., 441. The decree of Vice-Chancellor Dodd in this case was supported by a train of argument so clear and conclusive that no ap- peal was taken, though great property interests as well as public questions of great importance were involved. The result of the injunction issued against the defendant prohibiting the construction of the proposed road was the passage soon after of the general railroad law of the state, in pursuance of the suggestions in the opinion that such a law was the neces- sary means for obtaining what the judicial tribunals under existing laws could not assume to supply.

In 1874 he received the degree of LL. D. from his alma mater. Judge Dodd's active and useful life has been absolutely free from sensational attempts to arrest public attention and singularly devoid of ostentation, yet no man in the state is better known, more highly respected, or more popular. His entire career has been marked by uprightness and sincerity of purpose ; devotion to duty and zeal in the public interest have signalized every step of his advance.

Judge Dodd married, in 1852, Jane Frame, daughter of William Frame, of Bloomfield. He resided in Newark until the summer of 1860, when he removed to his present home in Bloomfield. His domestic life has been de- lightful, and the social position of his family has been second to none. Of his nine chil- dren of the marriage three daughters and three sons are living. The eldest, Julia, is wife of Rev. H. B. Frissell, D. D., principal of the Hampton (Virginia) Normal and Agricultural Institute, the able successor of General Arm- strong, its famous founder. One of his daugh- ters, Caroline, is wife of Leonard Richards, a

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New York merchant, and the third, unmarried, resides with her parents. One of the sons, William S. Dodd, is a lawyer. Another, Ed- ward Whelpley Dodd, is in business. The third, Joseph Smith Dodd, is a practicing phy- sician.

Lawrence Walfel, father of John

WOLFE George Wolfe, was a native of Walkers Shrunn, Byron, Bavaria, Germany. He was a prosperous farmer and weaver by trade. His farm of considerable area was situated on the mountain side, and he depended largely on the cultivation of the crops, the raising of sheep, cattle and horses, and during the winter months did weaving of cloth. Walkers Shrunn is a prosperous farm- ing district, surrounded by mountains, many of the farms being on the side of the moun- tains. His homestead was of stone, situated on the outskirts of the village, and is now in an excellent state of preservation. He and his wife were members of the Lutheran church. Lawrence Wolfe and his first wife had twelve children; one of his sons was murdered by mistake, having been waylaid while going with grist to the mill. He married (second) Mar- garet Wimmer and among their children were Lawrence, Margaret, and John George, men- tioned below.

(II) John George Walfel (Wolfe), son of Lawrence Walfel, was born at Walkers Shrunn, Byron, Bavaria, Germany, August 28, 1814, died at Roseland, July 10, 1889. His educa- tion was gained in the schools of his native village up to thirteen years of age, at which time he received confirmation in the Lutheran church in the same parish. He worked for his father and nearby farmers, and during the winter months was engaged at cloth weaving in the home. At the age of twenty-one he entered the army, serving three years, as was the custom. After his army service he resumed farming. He had a share of his father's estate, both real and personal. In 1845 he emigrated to the United States, coming with his wife. He began work for William H. McCreary, dealer in beef tallow, remaining for a time. About 1850 he removed to Pleasantdale ( West Orange township), where he bought a portion of the old Simeon Williams farm, comprising twenty-five acres. This farm compared favor- ably with the best in the section, and with the assistance of his sons it was made to yield a handsome yearly income. He was the old time farmer, sold butter and fruit, kept a team of oxen, and did much work in carrying for

the neighborhood. He was a just and upright man in all his dealings, almost to a fault, in- dustrious and frugal, possessed a quiet nature, and had many friends. He was a member of the Pleasant Dale Presbyterian Church, with his wife. He was a Republican in politics. He married, about 1846, Margaret Bommer, born March 26, 1815, died at Pleasantdale, Janu- ary 6, 1900. She and her husband are buried in the Pleasantdale burial-ground. Children : I. George, born May 29, 1847, mentioned below. 2. Frederick Washington, born Feb- ruary 22, 1849; married, July 4, 1880, Mary Werner. 3. John Freeman, born October 8, 1851 ; married, May 13, 1880, Caroline Sipple ; children : i. Nettie Margaret, born March 14, 1881 ; married, October 8, 1902, Eugene Straub; children : Vera, born July 1, 1903; Etta Caroline, born August 28, 1905; Alice, born January, 1907; ii. Lillian Elizabeth, born January 13, 1883; married, April 17, 1904, Charles Beam; children: Freeman Charles, born July 28, 1905, and Everett John, born De- cember 9, 1907; iii. Etta Annie. born Febru- ary 9, 1885 ; iv. Arthur, born March 9, 1888; married, July 4, 1905, Mary Hahn ; child, Vio- let, born February 18, 1907. 4. Margaret, born July 29, 1854; married George H. Noll.

(III) George, son of John George Walfel (Wolfe), was born in New York City, May 29, 1847. At the age of three years he moved with his parents to Laurel avenue, West Orange, New Jersey, now Pleasantdale. He attended the nearby district school until twelve years of age, assisting his father on the farm in the meantime. He early began to learn the trade of shoemaking with Robert Baxter, who lived on the crest of First Mountain, and fin- ished his trade at eighteen with Daniel Conk- lin. He followed his trade for twenty-five years, working for Wilbur De Camp, and later with John Sigler, at Roseland. He also worked for Charles Graft and John Freeman, manu- facturers at Newark. He later worked for his former employers, De Camp & Sigler and Clark Anderson, of Caldwell, all prominent makers in their time. Mr. Wolfe retired from his trade about twenty-five years ago and en- gaged in farming on his father's homestead farm, having purchased a part from his father and the remainder from his heirs. He has about twenty-one acres of the best tillage and is successful in raising the common crops. He is a member of the Roseland Methodist church, and is a Democrat in politics. He married, March 6, 1867, Esther Ann Williams, born at Roseland (Livingston township), March 4,

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1847, daughter of Levi and Phebe Ann ( Kent) Williams. Levi Williams was a farmer at Roseland. Children : I. Levi Aaron, born July 1, 1868; married Ella Georgie Brown; children: i. Esther Ellen, born August 27, 1891 ; ii. Margaret Phebe, born June 21, 1893 ; iii. Almira, born April 27, 1895; iv. Dora Grace, born April 21, 1897, died November 23, 1897 ; v. Mabel. 2. John George, born Feb- ruary 15, 1870 : married Dora Sidell ; children : John George Jr., Dora and William. 3. Fred- erick Jeptha, born August 26, 1872, mentioned below. 4. Margaret Phebe, born August II, 1877, died aged seven weeks. 5. William Mar- tin, born September 17, 1878; married, March 22, 1899, Mabel Adams Waite; children: i. William Raymond, born December 14, 1899, died February 25, 1900; ii. Mina, born Janu- ary I, 1901, died same day; iii. Thelma May, born December 5, 1904.

(IV) Frederick Jeptha, son of George Wolfe, was born on the old Abner Williams homestead, Laurel avenue, West Orange, New Jersey, August 26, 1872. When an infant he removed with his parents to Roseland, New Jersey (Centerville), where he early attended the public school, continuing up to the age of sixteen years, assisting his father on the farm. Later for two years he worked on different farms in the nearby neighborhood. He sub- sequently came to East Orange and served an apprenticeship with George H. Tucker at the trade of carpenter, continuing until he was of age. He then entered the employ of John Berryman as a journeyman, remaining in his employ seven years. In 1900 he formed a partnership with Clark V. Jilson in the con- tracting business `and general building, with headquarters at Main street, West Orange. The business after a year was removed to Oakland avenue, where they remained three years subsequently buying property at 268- 370 Valley Road, to more commodious quar- ters. April II, 1906, a company was formed under New Jersey state law, and at this time Thomas A. Douglass was admitted into the company, the firm name being Wolfe, Jilson & Douglass Company-Mr. Douglass, presi- dent ; Mr. Jilson, vice-president; Mr. Wolfe, secretary and treasurer, each being a director of the corporation. The firm is engaged in general contracting and building, with main offices on Valley Road, branch office at Maple- wood, and planning department at Milburn. The firm has filled many notable contracts among which are the residences of Charles H. Tracy at Llewellan Park; F. M. London on

Harrison street, East Orange ; Dr. Henry Mat- thews, Hillside avenue; residences in Roose- velt Park, Maplewood, and many in and around the Oranges. They contracted and built forty- one residences in Maplewood for Edward C. Balch, a number for T. B. Ackerson in Roose- velt Park, and has also erected residences for speculation. Mr. Wolfe is a member of the Master Builders' Association of the Oranges, director of the First National Bank of West Orange, and is on the investment board of this institution. He is a member of Union Lodge, No. II, F. and A. M., Orange. He was for- merly a member of Sterling Lodge, No. 236, I. O. O. F., Newark, served a term as noble grand, and sat in the Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows. A few years ago he transferred his membership to Lafayette Lodge, No. 12. Orange. With Mrs. Wolfe he attends the Methodist church. He is a Republican in poli- tics, having served his party as delegate, and as councilman of the town of West Orange at present time (1910).

He married, at Orange, New Jersey, March 21, 1894, Minnie Freeman, born March 12, 1867, daughter of Samuel Morris and Elma (Lyon) Freeman, of Orange. Samuel M. Freeman was a shoemaker. Children: I. Frederick Augustus, born July 7, 1895. 2. Elmer Freeman, born May 23, 1897, died Oc- tober 2, 1897. 3. Walter Edwin, born August 13. 1898, died February 21, 1900. 4. Charles, born February 27, 1900, died March 2, 1900. 5. Hazel Minnie, born October 8, 1902. 6. Florence Eva, born July 29, 1904. 7. Albert Lewis, born November 17, 1905.

TROTTER Daniel Trotter, the first mem- ber of this family of whom we have definite information, was the father of two sons who married sis- ters: I. Joseph, referred to below. 2. Nathan, born 1787, died 1853; married, October 28, 1813, Susan, daughter of Samuel and Susanna (Newbold) Hough, who was born March 13, 1785, and died July 31, 1867.

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Genealogical and memorial history of the state of New Jersey, Volume IV, Part 30

Author: Lee, Francis Bazley, 1869- ed Publication date: 1910 Publisher: New York, N.Y. : Lewis Historical Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 620

Author: Lee, Francis Bazley, 1869- ed
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: New York, N.Y. : Lewis Historical Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 620