USA > New Jersey > Mercer County > Genealogical and personal memorial of Mercer County, New Jersey > Part 13
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Smith) and they had three children: Harry A., see forward, Anna May and Barton H.
Harry A. Wood, eldest child of James and Amanda (Smith) Wood, was born in Trenton, Mercer county, New Jersey. He was educated in the public schools of Trenton and in the Stew- art Business College. Upon the completion of his education he entered the employ of the Tren- ton Lock and Hardware Company, where he re- mained for three and a half years and obtained a mastery of the business in all its details. He then entered into an engagement with the Hamilton Rubber Company and had charge of the mixing department for a period of three and a half years. At the end of this time he entered the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, remaining with them for nine years, his work taking him on the road for the greater part of the time. At the same time he continued his studies in various branches, and when the first civil service examination was held for govern- ment appointments in the city of Trenton he took it and was at the head of the list of those eligible for appointment. He was appointed to a substitute position in the post office, held this for five months and was then appointed to a regular route. His faithful and conscientious per- formance of the duties which fell to his share met with well merited commendation by his superiors, and at the expiration of five years he was ap- pointed to an important route in the heart of the business section of the city, where he is now completing his twelfth year of continuous service. He has made many friends in the course of his business career and is highly esteemed in the community. His political opinions as far as his city is concerned are those of the Independent party, but in national politics he is an adherent of the Republican party. He is a member of the Methodist church. He is associated with the following organizations : Trenton Council, No. 90, Junior Order of United American Mechanics, is the financial secretary and past counsellor ; Vigilant Council, No. 1039, National Union ; Pythias Council, No. 61, Knights of Pythias ; sec- retary of the Sick Fund of Branch No. 380, Na- tional Association of Letter Carriers ; past master of Mercer Lodge, No. 50, Free and Accepted Masons.
He married Ida H. Neff, daughter of William Neff, of Ulm, Germany, who was the mayor of the city of Ulm, granddaughter of William Neff, who had three children: William, Charles
and Henry. William Neff ( father) emigrated to America and located in Trenton, New Jersey, when he was twenty years of age. He learned the trade of shoemaking, but his eyesight becoming impaired he was obliged to seek other employ- ment. He entered the employ of Coxon Broth- ers, manufacturers of pottery, became one of their most expert kilnmen, and remained in their em- ploy for a period of twenty years. His political affiliations were with the Democratic party, and he was a member of the Lutheran church. He was past grand of Schiller Lodge, No. 80, Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, and the head of a German society, now out of existence, called The Seven Wise Men. He married (first) Dorothea Caterina Walker, by whom he had children : Joseph, married Mary Scudder and had children -Hale and Dora. Conrad, married Kate Smith, and had children-Ethel and Ida. William, Jr., who died at the age of eight years. He mar- ried (second) Elizabeth, widow of George Henck- in, who had children by her first husband. John H., married Carrie Smith and had children- Gertrude, Cora, William, Elizabeth, Caroline and Grace. George D., married Ida Claspie and had children : Ada, Raymond, Robert, and Julia. The children of William and Elizabeth (Henckin) Neff were: Ida H., who married Harry A. Wood, as previously stated, and William S., who married Catherine Weaver and has one child, Hazel. Harry A. Wood and his wife, Ida H. (Neff) Wood, have one child, Harry James Wood.
HARRY FISH AUTEN, one of the head men in the claims department of the Pennsylvania Rail- road Company, who resides at No. 541 East State street, Trenton, Mercer county, New Jersey, traces his paternal ancestry to Holland, and his maternal to one of the old families of Trenton.
Frederick Auten, grandfather of Harry Fish Auten, was a member of the common council of Trenton from 1849 to 1858. He was a man of considerable influence in the community of his time.
Frederick Augustus Auten, son of Frederick Auten, was born in Trenton, New Jersey, and was a traveling agent for the Pennsylvania Rail- road Company. He married Emily A. Fish, daughter of Jonathan Fish, and granddaughter of Benjamin Fish, who was born in Trenton. Mr. and Mrs. Auten had children: Harry Fish, of whom see forward. Frederick P., junior mem-
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ber of the common council from the second ward or Trenton, having been elected in 1903. He is a part owner of the Merchant's Express and is a member of the following organizations. Ma- sonic fraternity, thirty-second degree; Royal Ar- canum, National Union, Sons of the Revolution, and the Holland Society.
Harry Fish Auten, son of Frederick Augustus and Emily A. (Fish) Auten, was born in Tren- ton, New Jersey, June 20, 1864. He was edu- cated in the public schools of his native city, and upon the completion of his education obtained a position as clerk in the freight claims department of the Pennsylvania railroad. Here his executive ability and conscientious performance of the duties which were assigned him did not fail to meet with well deserved commendation and re- ward, and he lias advanced steadily step by step until he is now ( 1906) one of the chief men in this department. He is an adherent of the Den- ocratic party, and a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, of which he has been vestryman for several years. He is connected with the follow- ing organizations: Past master of Mercer Blue Lodge, No. 50, thirty-second degree mason ; Order of the Mystic Shrine; Knights Templar ; and the Holland Society.
Mr. Auten married Clara Mary Parker, daugh- ter of Lewis and Lydia A. ( Mulford) Parker, the former late treasurer and secretary of the Tren- ton Savings Fund Society, the latter a daughter of William P. Mulford. Mr. and Mrs. Auten had one child, Margery Parker, who died at the age of nine and a half years.
ALBERT EDWARD DEARDEN, one of the most prominent citizens of Trenton, Mercer coun- ty, New Jersey, holding the responsible position of overseer of the poor of the city, and manager of the printing department of the Cook potteries, is a descendant of an old English family.
Joseph Dearden, grandfather of Albert Edward Dearden, was born in Oldham, Lancashire, Eng- land, and was a machinist by occupation. He had a son Joseph.
Joseph Dearden, son of Joseph Dearden, was born in Preston, Lancashire, England, April 8, 1827. He still resides in England, where he follows the occupation of a mechanical engineer. He married Elizabeth Reeves, born in Stoke-on- Trent, Staffordshire, England, May 29, 1819, died February, 1890, and is buried in the family plot in the Stoke cemetery. Among the children of
this couple was a son, Albert Edward, of whom see forward.
Albert Edward Dearden, son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Reeves) Dearden, was born in Stoke- on-Trent, Staffordshire, England, September 16, 1862. He was educated in the parochial schools of Stoke, and after having served his apprentice- ship in the profession, commenced teaching school. He was assistant master under the Han- ley school board for four years, and then deter- mined to emigrate to America. He came to Trenton, New Jersey, in 1886, and his first posi- tion was in the decorating shop of Burroughs and Mountford, where he remained in various capacities for a period of eight years. He then entered into business relations with the Boston Glass Company, at Sandwich, Massachusetts, and at the end of two years returned to Trenton, where he became associated with the Cook pot- teries, became manager of the printing depart- ment. a position which he still retains and for which his excellent business qualifications and executive ability have eminently fitted him. Since . his first arrival in the city of Trenton he always took a keen interest in the public affairs of the city, and was an ardent worker in the ranks of the Republican party. He has held a number of public offices, performing the duties which they entailed with credit to himself and benefit to the public. and among them may be mentioned the following: Borough clerk for the borough of Wilbur for a term of two years in 1894; tax col- lector and treasurer for the same borough in 1896; when this borough became what is now (1906) known as the twelfth ward of Trenton he was elected to represent it in the common council; re-elected to this office without opposi- tion in 1900; again elected to the same office in 1902; was elected to serve the unexpired term of office of R. D. Vandenburgh, October 4, 1904, as overseer of the poor of Tren- ton, and at the expiration of this period was elected to serve the full term, which will terminate in 1908. He is a member of the following organizations: Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks, in which he is serving his second term as exalted ruler ; Fraternal Order of Eagles, of which he has been financial secretary for four years; Knights of Friendship, has been the recording secretary for almost seven years and district deputy for one year ; also a member of the Republican Club.
Mr. Dearden married Anna Paine, born in
Charles H. Fax.
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the city of New York but educated and brought up in Trenton, New Jersey, daughter of William Paine, of German descent, who has been promi- nently identified with the shoe trade in Trenton for about eighteen years. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Dearden are: Albert E., aged fifteen years ; William J., Frederick S. and Anna. The three last named still attend school.
CHARLES HINCKLE FOX, a prosperous merchant of Trenton, Mercer county, New Jer- · sey, engaged in the book binding and blank book manufacturing business at No. 146 East State street, is a representative of two old families of this country.
Samuel M. Fox, father of Charles Hinckle Fox, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1812. He established himself in the tin and sheet iron business in Bordentown, New Jersey, after- ward removing to Trenton, New Jersey, and en- gaged in the same business until his death, July, 1857. He married, in 1836, Adaline P. Derth, born in Trenton, New Jersey, 1817, daughter of Thomas and Lydia (Havens) Derth; the former was born in England, and the latter was born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island; she died May II, 1854. They had seven children: George W. born in Bordentown, New Jersey, February 24, 1838, served in the Civil war in Company A., Fifth Regiment, New Jersey Volunteers, and Company E., Eighth Regiment New Jersey Vol- unteers ; he was engaged in the tin and sheetiron business until 1902, now retired. Samuel M., Jr., born in Bordentown, New Jersey, February 27, 1840, served in Civil war in Company B., Sixth Regiment, New Jersey Volunteers, died at Fort Lyon, Virginia, September 23, 1862. Edward D., born in Bordentown, New Jersey, August 25, 1842, served in Civil war in Company E, Fifth Regiment, New Jersey Volunteers ; he is executive clerk of state of New Jersey, which position he has held for over forty years. Charles H. and Anna . H., born in Bordentown, February 6, 1845; Anna H. died March 17, 1862. Joseph K., born in Trenton, New Jersey, July 24, 1848, was engaged in tobacco business until time of death, February 4, 1892. Adalade H., born in Trenton, New Jersey, April 17, 1853, died April 8, 1860.
Charles Hinckle Fox, fourth son of Samuel M. and Adeline P. (Derth) Fox, was born in Bordentown, Burlington county, New Jersey, February 6, 1845, and removed with his parents
to Trenton, New Jersey, at a very early age. He received his education in the public schools of Trenton, and upon its completion was appren- ticed to learn the trade of book binding. This he learned partly under the instruction of William T. Nicholson, and completed it in Newark, New Jersey. In 1865 he returned to Trenton and entered the employ of Murphy & Bechtel, a printing and bookbinding company. In 1870 he engaged with the True American, taking charge of the bookbinding department; he held this posi- tion until 1883, when he established himself in the bookbinding and blank book manufacturing business in this city, and is carrying on the same at the present time (1907), and is the owner and manager of a very flourishing business. He has always been ambitious, enterprising and progres- sive in his ideas, and his reliability has gained for him a numerous clientele which he has no difficulty in keeping when once acquired. He is a stanch supporter of the Democratic party, and is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, was a member of the Volunteer Fire Department from 1866 to 1892.
Mr. Fox married, November 7, 1867, Emma Thomas, born in Pulaski, Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, February 17, 1851, daughter of Joseph and Mary ( Priest) Thomas. Her father was born in Pennsylvania, 1810, died 1858. Mother born in Trenton, New Jersey, October 10 1820, died April 21, 1891. Mr. and Mrs. Fox had four children: Adaline D., born October 10, 1868, married William Woodhouse, Jr., of Tren- ton, New Jersey ; they have two children : Edith, born May 8, 1896, and Wilfred, born July 16, 1877. Joseph T., born August 28, 1871, died April 30, 1896, unmarried. Mary E., born March 1, 1876, married William J. Davison, of Albany, New York; they have three children : Marion, born May 24, 1896; William T., born August 30, 1899; Donald, born May 15, 1904.
MARTIN CARLMAN RIBSAM, of Tren- ton, was born February 18, 1861, at St. Joseph's, Missouri, son of Carlman Ribsam, who was born August 15, 1836. in Saxe Weimar, Sphal, Ger- many, and at the age of nineteen emigrated to the United States, settling in Fallsington, Bucks county, Pennsylvania. For four or five years after his arrival in this country he was employed by Maylor Mahlon, after which he married and went to St. Joseph's, Missouri, where he became a farmer and remained a year and a half. When
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the Civil war broke out he lost heavily and moved to Trenton, New Jersey, where he was employed during the winter of 1861-62 by the William Speeler Pottery Company. He then rented the farm above the poor-house and occupied him- self in raising vegetables for the market. In 1868 he purchased the green-houses of William Donohue, in Wall street, and established him- self as a florist. In 1876 he opened a flower and seed store in State street, and after a time moved to Broad and Hanover streets. In 1887 he established a nursery on Hamilton avenue, later moved to South Broad street and thence to D. In 1894 he erected the Ribsam Building on the corner of South Broad and East Front streets which is now occupied by the firm. Each of these removals has marked an upward step in Mr. Ribsam's progress as a florist, and is a testi- mony to his perseverance and ability. In 1904 lie retired from active business, his son, Martin Carlman, assuming charge. Mr. Ribsam, Sr., however, is still active in the nursery and florist establishment.
Carlman Ribsam married, in 1859. Margaret, daughter of Nicholas Goeller, of Zweibrige, Ger- many, and they are the parents of four sons and two daughters: Martin Carlman, of whom later. Nicholas Jones, florist in Pittsburg, mar- ried Anna Eisenbach, of Trenton. Joseph, flor- ist in Trenton, married Louisa Kuser, of that city. Anna, married A. Rink, of Brooklyn, New York. Charles and Margaret, deceased.
Martin Carlman Ribsam, son of Carlman and Margaret (Goeller) Ribsam, received his educa- tion in the schools of Trenton, and after leaving school entered his father's establishment, serv- ing as assistant until his father's retirement. Since that event, while relieving his father of the care of the business as a whole, he exercises a special supervision over the seed and imple- ment department. He was at one time a men- ber of the board of trustees of the State Home for Girls, and is now manager of St. Michael's Orphan Home, Hopewell, New Jersey. He at- tends the Roman Catholic cathedral of Trenton.
Mr. Ribsam married Charlotte, daughter of Philip Maas, who in the 'zos was a well-known wholesale stock dealer of Trenton. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Ribsam consists of the follow- ing children: Carlman, at high school. Philip, at business college. Margaret, at normal school. Martin, at primary school. Charlotte.
GEORGE SCOTT MORRISON, the present freight agent for the Pennsylvania railroad at Trenton, New Jersey, was born November 9, 1862, at Broad Top City, Pennsylvania.
His paternal grandfather emigrated with his family from Ireland, in 1840, landing at Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania, when the father of George S. Morrison, Joseph Morrison, was but thirteen years of age. At a very early age Joseph had to "shift for himself" and soon found employment with Earle, the guilder and picture dealer of Philadelphia. Later he was employed by Barnum, the hotel man. Subsequently he became proprietor of hotels at Huntingdon and Kane, Pennsylvania. While yet a young man, in 1870, he was killed by a railroad accident. He married Hannah E., daughter of Major George Tate, of Virginia. She died August 23, 1898. Their children were: Emma, Bertha, Dollie, Thomas, Mary and George Scott Morrison. All are deceased except George S., and Dollie, who is the wife of A. S. Williams, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
George S. Morrison entered Gerard College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June 27, 1872, and graduated in 1880. After leaving college he was engaged by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and has been constantly in their employ ever since, in various capacities. Politically Mr. Mor- rison is a Republican, but has never sought or held political office. He is a member of the First Baptist Church of Trenton. In society matters he is connected with Pennsylvania Lodge, No. 380, Free and Accepted Masons, at Philadelphia; Royal Arch Masons, at Trenton, New Jersey; is past master of this lodge; past high priest of Signet Chapter. No. 251, Royal Arch Masons, at Philadelphia, demitted to Tren- ton, New Jersey.
Mr. Morrison married, October 26, 1892, Cora May Rodgers, of Philadelphia, daughter of John and Mary C. Rodgers. By this union was born George S. Morrison, Jr., born August 6, 1901. Two daughters died young, Ethel W. and Doro- thy E. Mrs. Morrison descended from General Lattimore, of the Revolutionary period.
One of the singular circumstances connected with the Morrison family is the fact that four of its members have been killed by railroad acci- dents, including the father and grandmother of George S. Morrison, and their violent deaths have occurred at different times and places.
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GEORGE DILL BOWER, who has for many years held the office of United States deputy marshall in Trenton, Mercer county, New Jer- sey, and who is recognized as one of the finest marksman in the United States, is a descendant of one of the families of old settlers in this country.
Daniel Rouse Bower, father of George Dill Bower, was born in Allentown, New Jersey, in 18II, died in Trenton, New Jersey, 1890, and is buried in Greenwood cemetery in that city. He was at one time closely identified with the tobacco industry of the state, and later was connected with the storage warehouse business in North Warren street. He married Ruth Furman, born in Tren- ton, New Jersey, and among their children was George D.
George Dill Bower, son of Daniel Rouse and Ruth (Furman) Bower, was born in Trenton, New Jersey, August 31, 1842. He had the ad- vantage of an excellent education, attending the public schools of Trenton and the State Model School. He went to his uncle, George S. Bower, in South Carolina, in 1858. This uncle was en- gaged in the furniture and undertaking business, and young George Dill remained with him until December, 1860, when he returned to Trenton. He then became a student at the Criterdon Com- mercial College, from which he was graduated with honor in 1862. He next went to St. Louis, Missouri, where he was employed as bookkeeper by R. Kiler & Company, wholesale clothiers and outfitters. Martial law was proclaimed in the city and he returned to Trenton, being installed as chief clerk in the office of the collector of the bureau of internal revenue under Stephen B. Smith. He remained in this office until 1864, when he purchased an interest in the tobacco busi- ness of his father, which was conducted in the old residence of General Stryker. This partnership was dissolved in 1869, and he continued the con- duct of the business alone for some time and then sold his rights to Charles Y. Beauford. He again associated himself with his father, this time in the storage warehouse business in North Warren street, and continued this until 1882, when he received his appointment as deputy marshal in the United States court, as assistant to W. Budd Deacon, United States marshal, an office which he is holding at the present time. Mr. Bower has been a member for twenty-nine years of Com- pany A. Seventh Regiment National Guard, and was right general guide when he resigned. He
is recognized as one of the finest marksmen in the state of New Jersey, having defeated Dr. Shakspear and Captain Leopold, carrying off the prize, a repeating Winchester. He won the championship of the Second Brigade, donated by General Sewell, and was the first man in the Seventh Regiment of the State of New Jersey to win a marksman's badge. He also won the first silver bar offered by Governor Beadle at the match at Sea Girt, New Jersey, for the Mcclellan colors. He was a member of the Trenton Hose Company of the Volunteer Fire Department for fifteen years, and rendered excellent service. He has been active in athletic sports of every kind, and made the record score for bowling in the Young Men's Christian Association, two-hundred and forty-two points. He is a member of the following fraternal organizations : Mercer Lodge, No. 50, Free and Accepted Masons ; Three Times Three Chapter, No. 5, Royal Arch Masons, and has been a member of Palestine Command- ery, No. 4, Knight Templars, for thirty-nine years, being one of the oldest living members. His early religious training was in the Methodist church, but he is now a member of Trinity Episcopal Church.
Mr. Bower married Martha Elizabeth Acker- man, born in New York city, June 7, 1865, daugh- ter of George A. and Phoebe Bull (Golden) Ackerman, the former born in Haverstraw, New York, and a carriage and truck builder, and the latter born in Trenton, New Jersey. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Bower are: I. Charles T., man- aging decorator for the Sebring Pottery Com- pany, at Sebring, Ohio. He married Cora White, daughter of Frank White, of Eatontown, New Jersey. 2. Edna Enna Mitchell, inarried Will- iam D. Durling, of Raritan, New Jersey, a travel- ing salesman for J. H. Blackwall & Son. 3. Georgia V., married Eli W. Carson, of Morris- ville, Pennsylvania, an engineer on the Pennsyl- vania railroad. Mr. Bower has resided in his present home since August, 1866.
Faithfulness to duty and strict adherence to a fixed purpose in life will do more to advance a man's interests than wealth or advantageous circumstances. The successful men of the day are they who planned their own advancement and have accomplished it in spite of many obstacles and with a certainty that could have been obtained only through their own efforts. Of this class is George D. Bower a representative, and his busi- ness and political career are well worthy of
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emulation and should serve as an example to young men who are striving to attain prominence and influence. At the same time he belongs to that class of representative Americans whose labors result not alone to their individual pros- perity, but are far-reaching in their valuable influence and public aid.
JOHN R. D. BOWER, whose fidelity to duty and strong hold upon the people is attested by his efficient service as coroner of Mercer county, New Jersey, for the long period of eighteen years, is a native of the city of Trenton, born Octo- ber 2, 1847, son of Daniel R. and Ruth (Furman) Bower.
Daniel R. Bower was born in Allentown, New Jersey, a son of Joseph Bower. He was for a number of years one of the leading tobacconists of Trenton, and was at one time a member of the common council. By his wife, Ruth (Furman) Bower, he had eight children: Joseph, Spencer, William, George, John R. D. and Daniel V., twins, Albert and Thomas.
John R. D. Bower began his education in the public schools, and pursued advanced branches of study in the Trenton Academy. After com- pleting his education he took a clerical position, and followed that calling for a number of years. He subsequently engaged in the tobacco business, which he followed with reasonable success for some years. In 1888 he was called to the public service in the capacity of coroner of Mercer coun- ty, and discharged his duties with such efficiency that he has been successively re-elected at the expiration of each three year term down to the present time, being yet the incumbent of the office, a signal recognition of his ability and integrity. In politics he is a Republican. He is unmarried.
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