Genealogical and personal memorial of Mercer County, New Jersey, Part 27

Author: Lee, Francis Bazley, 1869-1914
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: New York : Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 698

USA > New Jersey > Mercer County > Genealogical and personal memorial of Mercer County, New Jersey > Part 27

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When he was but six years old his father died and he was received into the household of Sam- uel James, a farmer of the neighborhood. The struggle of the boy to obtain an education was long and hard, but with indomitable energy he persisted in his efforts and in the course of time his perseverance was rewarded with success. He has prospered also in material things, having applied to the conduct of his affairs the same principles which guided him in his quest for an education. In 1893 he went to Windsor and leased a farm on the outskirts of the town. In a very short time he had attracted to himself many friends, not only by his genial social qual- ities, but by proving himself an earnest worker and a man of genuine ability as an agriculturist. He belongs to the Grange and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in politics affiliates with the Democrats. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Mr. Woodward married, October 25, 1886, Anna E. Hobbs, and they have been the par- ents of the following children: Edwin H., born June 3. 1888. Henry Cooper, born July 17, 1889. William M., born February 4, 1891, died young. Eva May, born December 1, 1891. Charles Richardson, born October 14, 1893. Elizabeth, born September 26, 1894. Howard, born June 11, 1896. Allen, born June 13, 1897. Alice, born June 11, 1898. Rowland P., born July 7, 1900. George, born February 20, 1906. Mrs. Woodward is a daughter of George W. Hobbs, of Florence, New Jersey, a prominent citizen and a man of liberal education. He mar- ried Elizabeth Wilkinson, and the following chil- dren were born to them: William C., Elizabeth, George, Julius, Charles, Anna E., wife of George Edwin Woodward; Mary, Alice, El- mira, and Virgenie.

JOHN ROGERS SHANGLE, serving at the present time (1907) in the capacity of mayor of Hightstown, discharging the duties of this re- sponsible office in a highly creditable and effi- cient manner, and to the entire satisfaction of his constituents and the public at large, was for many years the head of a large business enter- prise, which was established in Hightstown,

Jahre R. Shangle

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New Jersey, by his father. He is a son of Ser- ing and Rachel S. (Rogers) Shangle, grandson of Frederic H. and Elizabeth (Crater ) Shangle, great-grandson of Frederick and Marie (Pat- rey) Shangle, and great-greatgrandson of Hein- rich Schenkel, who came from Strasburg, Ger- many, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in ship "Robert S. Oliver," from Rotterdam, Septem- ber II, 1738. He married three times; third wife' in America, maid of honor to Queen Anne. He died in 1769. His eleventhi child, Frederick, born March 8, 1770, died 1832. Mar- ried, January 8, 1793, Marie Patrey, at Potter- ville, New Jersey, died September 16, 1834.

Frederick Honnel Shangle, fifth child of Frederic and Marie (Petrey) Shangle, was born in Morris county, New Jersey, but a considera- ble portion of his life was spent in West Wind- sor township, Mercer county, where he followed farming as a means of livelihood. He married Elizabeth Crater, and their children were: I. Sering, see forward. 2. Philip, born Septem- ber 26, 1828, married Phoebe Hutchinson ; they are both deceased : they had two children: Amos and Ellison. Amos had two sons, Milton A. and Amos. 3. Mary, born September 20, 1830, married John Hunt. Both are now deceased. 4. Susan, born April 20, 1832, deceased, was the wife of Gideon Hutchinson, also deceased. 5. Amanda, born December 20, 1833, mar- ried Hon. John D. Rue, a sketch of whom ap- pears elsewhere in this work ; they have one child, Gilbert, married Annie Mount, one child, John Rue. 6. Frederick, born March 15, 1836, died September 1, 1889. Married (first) Amanda Updyke, two children: Sarah E., born August 16, 1859, married David D. Bergen, has one child; Carrie, born October 6, 1864, married Hiram Augustus Cook, has seven children. Frederic Shangle married (second), January 2, 1873, Elizabeth Hulse, had one child, Frederick, born July 14, 1881, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work.

Sering Shangle, father of John R. Shangle, born March 1I, 1827, died November 1, 1899. He established a foundry in Hightstown, New Jersev, for the manufacture of agricultural im- plements, also parts of same, and subsequently admitted his son, John Rogers Shangle, into partnership. Sering Shangle was a prominent man in the affairs of Hightstown, and held manv important public offices, including those of justice of the peace and mayor, serving in the

latter capacity for a period of three years. He was a charter member and elder of the Presby- terian church, a Republican in politics, and a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His wife, Rachel S. (Rogers) Shangle, bore him three children, namely: John Rogers, see for- ward. Caroline, unmarried. Elizabeth, mar- ried Charles Applegate, three children: Emily, Charles Milton, and Edmund Buel Applegate, who was drowned December 30, 1903, at Glas- borough, New Jersey, at the age of seven years.

John R. Shangle was born in Edinburg, Mer- cer county, New Jersey, September 16, 1848. He attended the public schools in the vicinity of his home and the Classical School of John E. Alexander in Hightstown, New Jersey. He then entered his father's foundry in Hightstown for the manufacture of agricultural implements, thoroughly learned the business in all its branches, was admitted to partnership upon at- taining his majority, and at the death of his father purchased the plant and continued the business until 1905, when he retired from active business pursuits. During the period when the foundry was in operation it was an important factor in the development and upbuilding of Hightstown, giving steady employment to a number of skilled workmen, and in addition to the manufacture of farmers' utensils they manu- factured' machines for an export trade. Since at- taining his majority Mr. Shangle has taken an act- ive interest in the work of the Republican party, and has been elected on that ticket to the offices of assessor of the borough, township collector, 1885, serving for eleven vears, and mayor of Hightstown, elected in 1906 for two years. He is equally prominent in fraternal circles, holding membership in the order of Free and Accepted Masons, Improved Order of Red Men, Pawnee Tribe, No. 70, Junior Order United American Mechanics, No. 70, of which he is a charter member, and the Knights of Pvthias, No. 22. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and succeeded his father to the position of elder. Mr. Shangle has just returned from an extended tour of California, having visited all the points of note and interest along the Pacific coast. Mr. Shangle has recently disposed of considerable of his real estate holdings, but is still the owner of a beautiful home on one of the principal streets of the borough, which is equipped with everything needful to the comfort of its inmates,

Vol. II-10

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including a plant for the heating of the same, electric lights and all modern improvements, and for a long period of time this was the only house in the vicinity supplied with steam or hot water heat.

John R. Shangle married, December 21, 1881, Mattie A. Alexander, born November 26, 1849, who bore him two children : Clifford L., Decem- ber 4, 1882, and Frank A., died in infancy, aged nine months, 1888. Mrs. Shangle attended for three years the female seminaries at Lawrence- ville, New Jersey, and Norristown, Pennsylva- nia, after which she engaged for some time in teaching. She united at an early age with the Presbyterian church in Hightstown, New Jersey.

Hugh Alexander, the pioneer ancestor of the family of which Mattie A. (Alexander) Shan- gle is a representative, was the eldest son of John of Lanark, and was born either in Scotland or in County Armagh, Ireland. He was probably a lad of twelve years when his father's family emigrated to America, 1736. Hugh Alexander learned the trades of wheelwright and carpenter, and practiced these trades in West Nottingham, Chester county, on the Octorara, in connection with agricultural pursuits. Prior to his resi- dence in Nottingham, in 1757, he was the owner of land in Tyrone township, Cumberland county (now Perry county), in Sherman's Valley, Pennsylvania. There is a reliable tradition that Mr. Alexander and his wife fled several times from Sherman's Valley back to their old home on the eastern shore of Maryland from Indian raids, and returned to

find their habitation burned. About 1758 he established himself per- manently on his farm in Sherman's Valley. His tract contained eleven hundred acres. In 1777 he acquired tracts of land in Lost Creek and Kishacoquillas Vallevs, and on the north branch of the Susquehanna. Hugh Alexander was one of the deputies from Cumberland county to the Continental congress, and this conference of deputies issued an address to the Associators or Patriotic Volunteers of Pennsylvania, made a declaration in favor of Independence, passed res- olutions for raising six thousand troops for the "Flying Camp" of ten thousand, and made ar- rangements for the election of delegates from the counties to a constitutional convention. Hugh Alexander, William Clarke and James Brown were the first assemblymen from Cum- berland. Mr. Alexander took his seat in that body January 13. 1777, and January 27, he was.

on a committee which reported a bill on excise, license and taxes, which passed into a law. His labors in the assembly were destined to a speedy termination, as his death occurred either in February or March, 1777.

Hugh Alexander married, 1752, Martha Ed- miston, born 1733-34, of Lower West Notting- ham, Cecil county, Maryland, daughter of David and Margaret (Donnel) Edmiston, the former of whom was born in 1700, died November 2, 1771. Their children were: Margaret, John, see forward; Mary, David and Hugh. Hugh Alexander married (second) Mrs. Lettice Thompson, about 1773, who bore him three children : James, William and Emily, twins.

John Alexander, eldest son of Hugh and Mar- tha (Edmiston) Alexander, was born either in Nottingham, Chester county, or in Sherman's Valley, then in Cumberland, but now in Perry county, Pennsylvania, about the year 1756. His childhood and youth were spent on his father's farm in Sherman's Valley, near Landisburg, on the waters of Sherman's creek. He hastened with other volunteers to reinforce Washington's army on the Delaware in December. 1776, and participated in the capture of the Hessians at Trenton, December 26, which turned the tide of victory and revived the desponding spirit of the nation. After the death of his father, in 1777, the settlement of his estate and the care of the younger children fell upon John and his step-mother, who were named as executors. In 1787, accompanied by his wife and three chil -- dren, John Alexander removed to a tract of about one thousand acres in Little Valley, Penn- sylvania, which lay four miles northeast from Lewistown, the county seat of Mifflin county, and one mile east of Freedom Iron Works. He was one of the founders of the Little Valley church, and for many years and until his death was an active ruling elder.

John Alexander married, about the year 1780, Margaret Clark, of Sherman's Valley, who bore him the following children: Frances, Hugh, Samuel Edmiston, see forward; Martha, Tho- mas Clark, Margaret, Mary and John. The father of these children died November 23, 1816, aged about sixty years and his wife died No- vember, 1834, and both are buried in the grave- yard of the Stone (now Brick) Presbyterian Church in East Kishacoquillas. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Alexander lived a widow

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for eighteen years in the homestead with her youngest son, John Alexander.

Hon. Samuel Edmiston Alexander, second son of John and Margaret (Clark) Alexander, was born in Sherman's Valley, January 17, 1785. He was called after Dr. Samuel Edmiston, of Ches- ter county, Pennsylvania, who was a brother of his maternal grandmother, Martha Edmiston. He was two years of age when his parents removed to Little Valley, near Lewistown. Besides farm- ing, he also learned in his youth to use the tools of the smith and carpenter, but employed this skill only for private purposes. After his mar- riage he established himself on a portion of his father's tract, which was mostly a forest, and this he cleared and improved, making of it one of the best cultivated farms in that section of the country. He sought no public offices, yet his fellow-citizens entrusted him with those of county commissioner and associate judge. He was an active and efficient elder of the Presby- terian church for forty years, taking an interest in all that pertained to its temporal and spiritual prosperity, giving liberally, attending punctually, and delighting to entertain the clergy, who often enjoyed his generous hospitality.

Hon. Samuel E. Alexander married. Decem- ber 28, 1809, Mary Alexander, daughter of James Alexander, of West Kishacoquillas; they were second cousins. Their children were: Be- linda, born November 16, 1810. Jane Adams, January 12, 1813. John Edmiston, June 2, 1815, see forward. Margaret Ann, September 22, 1817. James Hamilton, November 19, 1819. Emily, January 22, 1822. Mary Elizabeth, March 25. 1824. Frances Martha, February 14, 1826, died September 22, 1846. Samuel Hugh. January 27, 1828. William Annan, August 19, 1830. Milton Clark, September 28, 1832, died September 5. 1840. Harriet Rosanna, Decem- ber 15. 1834. Henry Price, September 22, 1837. David Bingham. July 27, 1838. Thomas How- ard. July 2. 1841. Mr. and Mrs. Alexander celebrated their golden wedding, December 28, 1859, and there were present a number of chil- dren, grandchildren, other relatives, friends and neighbors, who enjoyed the ceremonies and fes- tivities. Samuel E. Alexander died January 17, 1862, on his seventy-seventh birthday. His wife died December 9, 1869, in the seventy- seventh year of her age, and was buried with her husband and children in the graveyard of the Little Valley Presbyterian Church.

John Edmiston Alexander, eldest son of Hon. Samuel E. and Mary (Alexander) Alexander, was born June 2, 1815, died April 4, 1902. His early youth was spent on his father's farm in Little Valley, Pennsylvania. Manifesting a fond- ness for study he became a pupil at Lewiston Academy, and later entered Jefferson College, where he graduated under the presidency of the elder Dr. Brown, 1839. Having become a Christian in the second year at college, he changed his choice of a profession from law to divinity, and entered Princeton Theological Seminary, 1839. and graduated under Drs. Arch- ibald Alexander. John Miller, Charles Hodge, and Joseph Addison Alexander, 1842. After being licensed by the Huntingdon Presbytery in June of the same year, he supplied the Presby- terian church of Indiana, Indiana county, Penn- sylvania, for four months. In the autumn of 1843 he received a unanimous call to the pastor- ate over the churches of Washington and Sene- caville, Guernsey county. Ohio, containing an aggregate of three hundred and twenty commu- nicants. He served this large and laborious charge for ten years, with gratifying success, until compelled, by severe bronchial disease, to resign his pastorate and to seek the benefit of a milder climate, in Florida, 1852. Having re- turned from the south improved in health, but still disabled for the pulpit, he was appointed principal of the Miller Academy by the Presby- tery of Zanesville, 1853, in which he had good success until the school was closed, 1862, by the effects of the Civil war. In the spring of 1863 Mr. Alexander removed from Ohio to New Jer- sev, and founded the Hightstown Classical In- stitute, over which he presided for nine years. Here he made a specialty of aiding and educat- ing young men preparing for the ministry. July 8. 1872, he removed to Elkton, Maryland, and conducted the academy there for two years, and April 1, 1875, moved to Ridley Park, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, and for six months taught in Ridley Park Academy and preached to a small congregation gathered at that place. Hav- ing received a call from the Presbyterian church of Greeneville, East Tennessee, he removed to that place Octobr 15, 1875, taking charge of the church. He was also principal of Washington College at Greeneville, Tennessee. In july, 1876, he composed and published a "Historical Sketch of Greeneville Church," one of the first organized wes' of the Alleghanies.

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Rev. John E. Alexander married (first), No- vember 22, 1842, Mary, born October 22, 1820, in Kishacoquillas Valley, died December 5, 1854, daughter of Robert Milliken, an elder of the East Kishacoquillas church. Their children

were: I. Samuel Milliken, born in Ohio, March 29, 1844, married Emma Norris, of Hightstown, has five children: Benjamin Franklin, born January 27, 1867; Mary Ann, July 12, 1868; James Norris, May 8, 1871 ; Sarah Blanche, December 18, 1872; Raymond, Janu- ary 8, 1875. 2. Anna Mary, born in Ohio, November 28, 1847, died August 17, 1868, buried in the cemetery at Hightstown, New Jer- sey. 3. Robert Wilson, born April 14, 1846, married Helen Phelps, two children: Albert Wilson and Mary Milliken Alexander. 4. Mar- tha A. ( Mattie), born November 26, 1849, a- forementioned as the wife of John Rogers Shan- gle. 5. John E., born April 26, 1854, died at his father's residence in Elkton, Maryland. Rev. John E. Alexander married (second), Decem- ber 28, 1858, Catherine Milligan Potter, of Steu- benville, Ohio, daughter of Daniel Potter, son of the Rev. Lyman Potter, who had emigrated from Vermont to Ohio in 1800. Her father was long a ruling elder in the first Presbyterian church in Steubenville. Her mother was Mary (Milligan) Potter, a daughter of John and Catherine Milligan, and a native of Cecil county, Maryland. Mrs. Alexander was a member of the Presbyterian church of Steubenville, and a graduate of the Female Seminary under Dr. and Mrs. Beatty. Their children were: Katie, born in Washington, Ohio, May 20, 1861. Daniel Potter, born in Washington, Ohio, March 5, 1863. Susan, born in Hightstown, New Jer- sey, June 5. 1865. William, born in Hights- town, New Jersey, September 18, 1868.

JOHN BURK KIRBY, one of Yardville's public-spirited citizens, is a son of Samuel Hart- horn Kirby, and a grandson of Israel Kirby. The Kirbys are an old New Jersey race, some, at least. of the earlier generations having lived in Burlington county.

Samuel Hartshorn Kirby married Martha A., daughter of John and Mary (Cottrell) Burk, and their children were: Oscar, married Annie Delzell. children: Sadie, Oliver, Harry, Oscar, Tohn, Chester, and Martha. John Burk, of whom later. William, married Sally Hutchinson, chil- dren: William, Stanley and Milton. Eliza, de-

ceased. George H., married Carrie Shreeves, one child, Elvin. Samuel H., married Clara Jackson, children: Myrtle, Lida, Samuel and Harvey. Howard, married Irene Frake, chil- dren: Lizzie, Lillian, Howard, Grace and Elsie L. Annie, wife of Harvey A. Hooper, one child, Howard.

John Burk Kirby, son of Samuel Hartshorn and Martha A. (Burk) Kirby, was born in Bor- dentown, September 26, 1857, and attended the public schools, at the same time working for his father on the farm. After leaving school, in 1876, he acquired a knowledge of the milling business under the instruction of Josiah Buzby, of Cross- wicks, with whom he worked for the space of a year and a half. Shortly after he went to Med- ford, where he was employed for a time in the Medford mill, after which he spent three years at Cream Ridge, two years at Cookstown and one year at Yardville, following the same busi- ness. In 1885 he took the Hutchinson mill near Yardville, and for twenty-one years operated it for general milling business, closing out this business April 1, 1906, having previously pur- chased the Steward farm of one hundred and ninety-two acres, one hundred and fifty-two acres of which he sold and now cultivates the residue. He belongs to the Junior Order of United Amer- ican Mechanics, No. 47, of Yardville, the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, No. 248, of Yardville, and Rusling Hose Company, of Broad street Park; also Patriotic Sons of America of Broad Street Park, near Trenton, New Jersey. His political principles are those advocated by the Republican party, and he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Mr. Kirby married Catharine Tantum, and they are the parents of the following children: Laura, wife of Frank Norton. Emma. Lizzie, wife of the Rev. Rememberance Ford Bresnahan. Ida. Louisa. Bertha. John B., Jr. Mrs. Kirby is a daughter of William Tantum, and a granddaugh- ter of Joseph Tantum. William Tantum married Eleanor Newell, who bore him the following chil- dren: Addison, married Mary Dennis ; children : Ada, Dennis, Grace, Anna and Carrie. Louisa, wife of Elmer Grooms. Newell, married Mary Johnson, children: Nellie, William, Newell and Mabel. Catherine, wife of John Burk Kirby.

WILLIAM KIRBY, a representative citizen of the village of Etra, East Windsor township, was born August 14, 1860, in Millstone town-

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ship, Monmouth county, New Jersey, son of Samuel H. Kirby.

Samuel H. Kirby was a native of Burlington county, New Jersey, where he spent his early life. Upon completing his education he became an apprentice to the carpenter's trade, and after serving his time followed this calling for a live- lihood, working in his native county, and also at Bordentown, New Jersey. He subsequently engaged in agricultural pursuits in Mercer, Mon- mouth and Burlington counties, and later re- moved to Michigan, where he passed the re- mainder of his life. Mr. Kirby married Martha A. Burke, and their children were: Oscar, of Freehold, New Jersey. John B., of Yardville. Eliza, deceased. George H., of Allentown, New Jersey. Samuel H., deceased. Howard, de- ceased. William, of whom later. Annie P., wife of Harvey Hooper.

William Kirby, son of Samuel H. and Martha A. (Burke) Kirby, received his education in the public schools of Monmouth and Burlington coun- ties, and passed his boyhood upon the homestead farm. He afterward learned the milling busi- ness, and since 1882 has engaged in business on his own account and since 1902 has operated his present mill at Etra. He has filled the office of township committeeman in Upper Freehold township, Monmouth county, and is now serv- ing on the board of education of East Windsor township. He belongs to Patrons of Husbandry and affiliates with Allentown Lodge, No. 146, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a stanch Republican, takes an active part in political matters, and has frequently been a delegate to both state and county conventions.

Mr. Kirby married, January, 1883, at Hamilton Square, New Jersey, Sarah H., daughter of Wil- son and Rose (Stuttz) Hutchison, and the fol- lowing children have been born to them : Will- iam W., Stanley H. and Milton C.

ROBERT NARROWAY PAUL, Sr., a pros- perous farmer of Robbinsville, Mercer coun- ty, New Jersey, and who has been identified with various business interests, is a descendant of an old family and traces his maternal ancestry to England.

William Paul, the grandfather of Robert Nar- roway Paul, was a resident of Sullivan county, New York, and was known to all as "Captain Paul of Revolutionary fame." He married Grace Jane -- , and had children: William,

Miflin, Jane, Harriet, Matilda, Richard, Mary Ann, and Joseph C., concerning whom see for- ward.

Joseph C. Paul, youngest son and child of William and Grace Jane Paul, was born January 2, 1818. He was a farmer by occupation, and was also engaged in the wholesale and retail ice business. He married, September 25, 1844, Eliz- abeth Narroway, who was born in England, and they had children: 1. Joseph Miflin, married Maggie Case, and had children: Harriet, Ethel and Raymond. 2. Harriet, married Clarence

Miller, and had children: Elizabeth, Donald, Marguerite and Achsha. 3. Miriam, married Henry D. Bender, and had two children: A. Paul and Albert D. 4. Robert Narroway, see forward. 5. Achsha, married Alon H. Twining, and had no children. 6. Samuel A., married Ida Eggert, had children : Almina, Hattie, Joseph and Howard.

Robert Narroway Paul, second son and fourth child of Joseph and Elizabeth (Narroway) Paul, was born in Trenton, Mercer county, New Jer- sey, September 25, 1859. His education was ac- quired in the public schools of his native city, and at quite an early age he began to assist his father on the home farm. He followed this oc- cupation for a short time, and then established himself in the ice business in association with his father. After a time he accepted a position in the freight yard of the Reading railroad, was transferred to the yard and served as brakeman for the period of one year. He subsequently re- turned to Trenton, where he engaged in the re- tail ice business, buying in quantities from his father, who at the end of three years sold his busi- ness interests to Hiram Weller's Sons. Robert N. Paul then went to Florida for one year, on ac- count of the ill health of his wife. Upon his re- turn he commenced the cultivation of his father's farm at Lawrenceville, New Jersey. This farm consisted of one hundred and five acres, and Mr. Paul remained in charge for four years. He pur- chased the Edgebrook farm, of forty-eight acres, in 1892. This is located in Hamilton township. and he has since that time been very profitably engaged in the raising of fruit, garden truck and berries for the market, where he always finds a ready sale for his products. He gives his sup- port to the Republican and Independent parties, and takes a great interest in educational matters, having served as a member of the school board for a period of six years. He is a member of

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Genealogical and personal memorial of Mercer County, New Jersey, Part 27

Author: Lee, Francis Bazley, 1869-1914 Publication date: 1907 Publisher: New York : Lewis Publishing Company Number of Pages: 698

Author: Lee, Francis Bazley, 1869-1914
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: New York : Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 698