Genealogical and personal memorial of Mercer County, New Jersey, Part 55

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 55


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on their own property, they purchased a piece of land on the Delaware & Raritan canal, and com- menced operations in the spring of 1857. They added to the manufacture of hardware trimmings a general assortment of earthern or Queensware. The following year Messrs. Millington and Ast- bury withdrew and the firm was reorganized, Mr. Young associating himself with his sons- Edward, John and William-under the firm name of William Young & Sons. He retired from the active conduct of business matters in 1870, but the firm name was retained until his death. John Young having died, his brothers purchased the entire interests of the concern and carried on the business until February, 1879, when they disposed of it to the Willits Manu- facturing Company. Mr. Young died July 23, 1871.


He was of fine physique and remarkable strength of character, his great perseverance be- ing shown in the fact that he carried to a suc- cessful issue everything he undertook, and this in the face of almost insuperable difficulties. In business matters he was exceedingly strict, and he was honored and respected by all his em- ployes. He was a good husband, a kind and in- dulgent father, and a faithful friend. He claimed to be the pioneer manufacturer of white ware in Trenton, New Jersey, and probably made the first white earthernware entirely of American material in this country. The first pro- duction was a large order of bowls to be used as substitutes for strawberry boxes, and as the second firing of these was done in the pottery of Speeler & Taylor, this fact led to their claim as the first producers. Mr. Young received a first premium silver medal in 1854 at the Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, for his exhibit of white porcelain door furniture and hollow ware. He was awarded a diploma at the next exhibition of the same institute for his "general assortment of porcelain, cream color, blue-edged, and dipped wares," this being the highest prize awarded at that exhibition. At the International Exhibition in 1876 the firm received a diploma and bronze medal, the highest award, for their exhibit of "white granite table wares, 'C. C.' wares." Mr. Young married, in England, Mary, and had children : Edward, John, and William, Jr., see forward.


William Young, Jr., was the youngest son of William and Mary Young. His business career was closely connected with that of his father.


He married Eleanor Kelley, daughter of James Kelley, and they had children: 1. Charles H., see forward. 2. Fanny G., married David V. Bellerjeau, and had children: William Y., Ella V., Marie, Elizabeth and Charles H. Y. 3. James K., who served with gallantry during the Civil war as a member of the Eleventh Regi- ment, New Jersey Infantry. He married Mary Wilson, and had children, William and


4. Mary E., married William M. Raisch, has one child, Le Roy.


Charles Henry Young, eldest child of William, Jr., and Eleanor (Kelley) Young, was born in Trenton, New Jersey. His education was ac- quired in the public schools and he then learned the potter's trade in the pottery organized by his grandfather. He was thus occupied from 1876 until 1882, and was then for a short time in the employ of the Trenton China Company. Hav- ing come to the conclusion that the drug business was more to his liking, he became a student at the College of Pharmacy in Philadelphia, and was graduated from that institution with honor. He also successfully passed the examination of the board of examiners of the state of New Jer- sey. He established himself in the drug busi- ness at his present store in 1884, and has con- ducted this successfully since that time. . He takes an active interest in public matters, and is now ( 1907) serving his fourth term as a member of the board of water commissioners, having been first elected in 1877. His political affiliations are with the Republican party, and he is a member of the Presbyterian church. He is also a member of Lodge No. 105, B. P. O. E., and of the R. A.


Mr. Young married Matilda G. Case, daugh- ter of Joseph B. and Hettie ( Wright) Case, who were the parents of the following named chil- dren: I. Enoch, married Roxalina Coombs, and had children, Harry and Garfield. 2. Emma, married Thomas Golding, had children: Joseph, Elizabeth, Mabel, Warner, Hettie and Florence. 3. Rachel, married William Halton, has one child, James C. 4. Matilda G., mentioned above. 5. Joseph, married Mary Perrine, has children, Frank, Jennie, Charles, Paul and Harry.


CHARLES PARKER WOOLVERTON, one of the leading business men of Trenton, proprie- tor of the City Hay Market, at No. 519 Center street, represents the present generation of one of the old families of the state of Pennsylvania, his grandparents being William H. and Amanda


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(Lewis) Woolverton, and his paternal great- grandfather, Job Woolverton.


Philip Rockefeller Woolverton, son of William H. and Amanda (Lewis) Woolverton, married Emma Francis Parker, daughter of Joseph M. and Elizabeth (Snyder) Parker, and had chil- dren : Charles Parker, see forward; Bessie, un- married; George, married Mabel Barwis; Ber- tha, died in her third year ; Maud, married Frank Miller; Anna, William, Ella and Grace, unmar- ried.


Charles Parker Woolverton. eldest child of Philip Rockefeller and Emma Francis (Parker) Woolverton, was born in Titusville, Pennsyl- vania. For a short time he went to the public school at that place, and at the age of ten years was sent to Trenton, New Jersey, and worked in what is now ( 1907) the United & Globe Rub- ber Company. His readiness to do all that was required of him, and the aptitude which he dis- played, enabled him to make many friends at the very outset of his business career. At the end of one year he returned to school for a year, and then resumed his work in the rubber factory, alternating these two occupations until he had attained the age of eighteen years, when by his industry and application he had obtained a fair education. He was then apprenticed to learn the trade of sash and blind making with A. K. Lenckel & Son, remained with them for a period of three years and then accepted a po- sition with the Wilson & Stokes Lumber Com- pany. He continued in the employ of this firm for five years, and then established himself in business, taking over the hay and grain business of the Trenton Mills and Elevator Company. This was in a very much neglected condition for a number of reasons, but the patient and sys- tematic labor of Mr. Woolverton, combined with his enterprise and remarkable natural executive ability, has brought this to an extraordinary high standard, it having a capacity for distributing fifteen thousand tons per year to the consumers, and of better quality than they had obtained pre- viously. He had the contracts for the greater part of the hav and straw product of three coun- ties, and handles considerable quantities of feed in bulk. His political principles are those of the Republican party, and he is a member of the Baptist church, in whose work he takes a great interest. He is a member of the F. and A. M., having attained the thirty-second degree in the


ranks of the Scottish Rites, and is also a mem- ber of the J. O. U. A. M.


Mr. Woolverton married Ida L. Bibbins, born in England, daughter of Simeon and Mary (Bur- ton) Bibbins, who emigrated from Kent county, England, in 1866. Mr. Bibbins is one of the ex- pert mechanical engineers of this country. When he arrived in the United States he ac- cepted a position with the New Jersey Iron & Steel Company, and later entered the employ of the American Bridge Company, by whom he is employed at the present time as a consulting en- gineer. He is a member of the Republican party, and of the Baptist church, and is connected with the following organizations: F and A. M., S. of St. G., I. O. H. and I. O. O. F. The chil- dren of Mr. and Mrs. Bibbins were: 1. John, married Elizabeth Cleary, has one child, Harry S., married Edna Chandler. 2. Albert E., mar- ried Emma Cochran. 3. Annie P., married H. J. Foehl. 4. Ida L., mentioned above. 5. Fred- erick W., unmarried.


JOHN SCHENCK NEARY, steward of the State Normal School, a position he has filled with efficiency for a number of years, is a descendant of an old English family and is a representative of the third generation in the United States.


William Neary, grandfather of John Schenck Neary, was born in England, January 7. 1799, and died in this country, April 19, 1866. He emigrated to America from Buckinghamshire, England, in 1833, with his wife and three children. They were five weeks in making the voyage and were landed at the city of New York, from whence they came to a place near New Bruns- wick, New Jersey, and later to Kingston, where he was employed for many years by John Rue, a farmer. He married Martha Small, born Feb- ruary 28, 1801, died June 15, 1867, and they were the parents of children: Thomas, Maria, died in infancy; James, William, Hiram Whit- tington, see forward; Lucy, born May 7. 1836; Edward, born May, 1838; Susan, born July 1, 1840; Caroline, born June 2, 1842.


Hiram Whittington Neary, fourth son and fifth child of William and Martha (Small) Neary, was born February 22, 1834, being the first child of this family born in the United States. He was engaged in the contracting business and resided with his family in Kings- ton. He married Sarah Elizabeth Schenck, and they had children: 1. Edward, died in infancy.


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2. Frederick, married Ella Gifford, has one child, Edna. 3. John Schenck, see forward. 4. Emma R., married G. Harry Cook, has children : Gladys and -. 5. Mary Eliza, married Eu- gene S. Carrigan, has children : Ruth, Margar- et and Eugenia.


John Schenck Neary, third son and child of Hiram Whittington and Saralı Elizabeth (Schenck) Neary, was born in Princeton, New Jersey, February 14, 1863. He was educated in the public schools of the township, and later at a business college. Upon the completion of his education he served as a clerk in a confectionery business in Princeton for a time, then held a sim- ilar position in a grocery store, where he re- mained for two years. He next went to Asbury Park, New Jersey, where he had charge of boats on one of the lakes for one year, and from there to Point Pleasant, where he learned the car- penter's trade with his father and remained five years. After a time spent in New York City he returned to Point Pleasant, and from there to Trenton, New Jersey, where he was asso- ciated with Albert Clayton in the grocery busi- ness from November 12, 1885 until November 12, 1898. At this time he received his appoint- ment as steward of the State Normal School in Trenton, a position to which he has devoted his entire time and attention since that time. He is a stanch supporter of the principles of the Repub- lican party, and a consistent member of the Methodist church. He is also connected with the following fraternal organizations: N. U., K. G. E., Ashlar Lodge, No. 76, F. and A. M., T. C. of L.


Mr. Neary married Martha W. Clayton, daugh- ter of John E. and Lydia A. (Van Note) Clay- ton, and granddaughter of Zebulon and Eliza Clayton, and they have had children : Walter C., John S., Jr., and Robert C.


ASHER WILSON, a well known business man of Trenton, wholesale dealer in dairy pro- ducts at No. 249 Spring street, is a descendant of one of the oldest families of the state of New Jersey. The Wilsons emigrated from the north of Ireland as early as 1740, and settled in Hunt- erdon county, New Jersey. There they were ac- tive in agricultural pursuits and became very prosperous. At the same time they took an im- portant part in the public affairs of the com- munity, and were noted for their efforts in the development of the new country. He is a great


grandson of Walter Wilson, grandson of John and Martha ( Hoagland) Wilson, and son of John H. and Catherine (Holcombe) Wilson.


John H. Wilson, son of John and Martha (Hoagland) Wilson, was apprenticed to learn the trade of carpentering, and in addition to fol- lowing this occupation cultivated a farm of one hundred and ten acres. Politically he affiliated with the Democratic party, and took a leading part in the public affairs of his township. He held a number of public positions, among them being that of assessor of the township, and free- holder for several years. His religious views were those of the Presbyterian church. He mar- ried Catherine Holcombe, who was one of twelve children, and they had children: 1. Richard H., married Jane Holcombe, and had children: George H., married Emma Atchley ; Francis M., married Phillips, and Matilda mar- ried Edward Bright. 2. John H., married Keziah Phillips, and had children: Orville; Kate mar- ried Charles Johnson, and has one child, Mi- nerva; Keziah. 3. Asher, concerning whom see forward.


Asher Wilson, third and youngest son and child of John H. and Catherine (Holcombe) Wilson, was born in Hunterdon county, New Jersey, 1866. He was educated in the public schools of his native township, and at a suitable age commenced to assist his father in the culti- vation of the farm of the latter. This occupa- tion he followed until 1891, when he came to Trenton, New Jersey, and engaged in the coal business in partnership with George N. Packer. Subsequently Mr. Packer withdrew from this business, and Mr. Wilson formed another part- nership with Thomas E. Raub, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. This business relation was dissolved in 1893, and the Wilson Coal Company was organized and operated with success for a period of three years, when it was sold to F. T. Eppelle, a sketch of whom is also to be found in this work. During this time Mr. Wilson had also been conducting and managing a wholesale milk business, and this had grown to such proportions that it required all of his time and attention. Under his continued careful management it continued to increase to such an extent that in 1903 he sold a half to the Mercer Dairy Company, which is now in control of that part. In the meantime Mr. Wilson commenced dealing actively in butter and eggs, and in this wholesale line of business he is engaged at the


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present time (1907). His political views are liberal and independent, and he casts his vote for the man whom he considers best fitted for the office, regardless of party. He is a consistent member of the Presbyterian church, and is prom- inent in the Masonic order, being connected with several of the local fraternities.


Mr. Wilson married Anna E. Lambert, only child of Elias and Mary (Smith) Lambert, and granddaughter of Zephaniah and Anna (Wilson) Lambert. Mr. and Mrs. Asher Wilson have children : Edgar H. and Charles A.


WILLIAM MATHEWS, a veteran of the Civil war, serving with bravery and distinction during almost three years of that terrible con- flict, and participating in the principal battles and engagements, is now leading a retired life, at- tending only to the raising of truck gardening and fruit on a farm of two acres in Ewing town- ship, which he purchased in the spring of 1868.


William Mathews was born in Ocean county, New Jersey, May 15, 1840, and is a son of James and Sarah (Britton) Mathews, whose family consists of eight children, as follows : I. Eliza- beth, married George Worth, six children; Ed- ward, Jackson, Sarah Elizabeth, Hester, Salina and Anna. 2. Furman, married Abby Rogers, four children : Joseph, Frank, Furman and Flor- ence. 3. Charles, married Sarah Rogers, two children : Charles and William. 4. Taylor, mar- ried Camelia Britton, five children : Sarah, Lem- uel, Nettie, Frank and Marcus. 5. Jackson, un- married. 6. James, unmarried. 7. William, see forward. 8. John, married Melissa Britton.


William Mathews attended the public schools adjacent to his home until fourteen years of age, and then went to work with Charles Waters, of Ewing township, to learn the trade of black- smith. He spent five years thus, becoming thor- oughly proficient in all its branches, and followed that trade until the breaking out of the Civil war. He enlisted as private in Company C, Fourth New Jersey Regiment, September 5, 1861. This regiment was attached to the Sixth Corps, First Brigade, First Division. For a time they were under General Taylor, then Phil Kear- ny and so through the line to joining the Army of the Potomac under Generals McClellan and Grant. He received his honorable discharge from. the service of the government February 10, 1864. He then returned to Ewingville and worked for Scudder Phillips at his old trade of blacksmith.


In the spring of 1868, after a short service with Mr. Phillips, he purchased two acres of ground and erected thereon a shop, wherein he con- ducted a general business of repairing and shoe- ing on his own account. In this he was success- ful and conducted the same until 1904, a period of thirty-six years, during which time he accu- mulated a sufficient competence to keep him from want in his declining years. Mr. Math- ews adheres to the tenets of the Presbyterian church, gives his allegiance to the candidates of the Republican party, and belongs to the I. O. O. F., J. O. U. A. M., and Aaron Wilkes Post, No. 23, G. A. R., the meetings of which latter organization he attends with regularity.


Mr. Mathews married Rebecca Furman, who bore him three children : James, unmarried; Ralph, unmarried ; Laura, married Martin Luther Simmons, and their children are: Wil- liam, Florence, Elizabeth, Ada, married Charles Deacon Shields, one child, Dorothy; John, mar- ried Gabrielle De Frisco, one child, Sidney ; Tillie, married William Shelley, one child, Alice ; Helen, Georgianna and Helen. Mrs. Mathews is a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Riley) Furman, the former of whom was a son of An- drew and Virginia Furman, and grandson of Joshua Furman, and the latter was a daughter of Daniel and Rebecca Riley. William and Eliz- abeth (Riley) Furman were the parents of five children, namely : I. Daniel, married Louisa Beach, six children : Lillian, married James Drake, two children : Eugene and Bessie ; Grant, married Anna Hinley, four children: Lila, Da- vid, Daniel and Dennis; Louisa, married in Cali- fornia, and has two children; Beach, married Tillie one child ; Sarah, married Charles Shinnick, three children ; Bertha, unmar- ried. 2. Rebecca, wife of William Mathews. 3. Sarah, married John Blackwell, seven children: Elijah, married Hattie Van Kirk, one child ; Sadie ; Lizzie, married Charles Maple, two chil- dren, Althea and Carl; Almina, married George Van Kirk, two children; Mina, married Walter Shields, two children: Edna and ;


Edgar and Edna, twins; Louis. 4. David, mar- ried Martha Broadhurst, five children : Deborah, married Daniel McMurphy, one child, Lila : Will- iam, married three children: Ed- ward, Helen and Josephine ; Edward, unmarried ; Daniel, married ,and has three children ; Sarah, unmarried. 5. George, unmarried.


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MERCER COUNTY.


WILLIAM TENANT MACMILLAN, of Hightstown, one of the eminent and highly suc- cessful members of the medical profession in that thriving city, is a native of Columbus, Ohio, and a descendant of a Scotch ancestry.


John MacMillan, grandfather of Dr. William T. MacMillan, emigrated to this country from his native land, Scotland, after his marriage to Anna W. Breaufaut, also a native of Scotland, and they were the parents of three children: I. John, married Annie Mayhew, who bore him four children ; they moved to Virginia. 2. Rev. George Whitfield, see forward. 3. Anna, un- married.


Rev. George Whitfield MacMillan, second son of John and Anna W. (Breaufaut) MacMillan, and father of Dr. William T. MacMillan, mar- ried Anna Josephine Aiken, second daughter of Aaron and Anake (John) Aiken, who were the parents of four other children, namely: Ma- tilda, married William Hamey; Catherine, mar- ried James Cullens; William, unmarried; John, married Amy Cullens. Ten children were born to Rev. George W. and Anna J. (Aiken) Mac- Millan, one of whom died in infancy, and the surviving members were: I. John K., married Aurelia Clayton, two children, Earnest and Mabel. 2. Iola, married William Sherman, one child, Ida. 3. George W., Jr., M. D., married Lillian Miller, two children, Louise and Doris. 4. William Tenant, see forward. 5. Charles H., married Catherine Murphy, one child, Louise. 6. Edward C., unmarried. 7. James A., mar- ried Annie Murphy, no issue. 8. Anna, unmar- ried. 9. Grace, unmarried.


William T. MacMillan, at the age of two years was taken by his parents to the state of Illinois, and after a residence of two years they removed to Butler, Bates county, Missouri, where the Rev. George W. MacMillan (father) served as president of the Board of Home Missions. One year later they moved to Osceola, remaining for a year, and when William T. was seven years of age took up their residence in Perrineville, New Jersey, and since then William T. has been a resident of that state. The early educational advantages enjoyed by William T. MacMillan were by attendance at the public schools, and he was prepared for college under the watchful care of his father. In 1885 he entered Princeton Col- lege, but before completing the course unforseen circumstances compelled him to leave the in- stitution. Later he matriculated at the College


of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore, Mary- land, graduating therefrom in 1888. He then came to New Egypt, New Jersey, engaged in a general practice of medicine and surgery, in which he was successful, and two years later, 1890, removed to his former home, Perrineville, and with a short intermission of nine months spent in the City Hospital at Louisville, Ken- tucky, in 1892, remained there until 1906, when he located at Hightstown, his present residence, occupying at present (1907) the office formerly occupied by Lloyd Wilbut & Son, William L. Wilbur, the present sheriff. Dr. MacMillan is skillful in his treatment and. diagnosis of dis- ease, keeping well informed along the lines of his chosen profession by study and experience, is of an agreeable personality, so essential in a physician, and therefore has a large clientele among the best families of that section of Mer- cer county. While a resident of Millstone town- ship he served as medical inspector, and was chairman of the examining committee for five years. He is a Presbyterian in religion, and a Democrat in politics. He holds membership in the I. O. O. F., J. O. U. A. M., I. O. R. M., K. G. E., O. U. A. M., P. O. S. A. and O. C.


Dr. MacMillan married Mary E. Allen, eldest child and only daughter of Edward E. and - (Tantum) Allen, the former of whom was a son of John E. and Anna (Webb) Allen, and grandson of Edward E. and Anna ( Perrine) Allen, and the latter was a daughter of Thomas Tantum. Mr. and Mrs. Allen were the parents of three other children, namely: Edward E., Jr., Samuel, married Lida Taylor ; Howard, mar- ried Rey Bean, two children. One child has been born to Dr. and Mrs. MacMillan, Edward Allen MacMillan.


HARVEY FISK was a well-known banker of New York and in addition owner of one of the finest farms in Ewing township, Mercer coun- tv, New Jersey. He was a descendant of old New England stock, his ancestors having em- igrated from England to Wenham, Massachu- setts, in 1637. !


He was the son of the Rev. Joel and Clarinda ( Chapman) Fisk and was born in New Haven, Vermont, April 26, 1831. Most of his boyhood was spent at Essex, New York, on the shores of Lake Champlain, where his father had a church. In 1848 he went to Trenton, New Jersey, where he started his business career. In 1852 he moved


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to New York to take a position in the Mechanics Bank. The following year he went to the Bank of the Commonwealth where he remained until, in 1862, he started a banking business of his own. He was a man of unusual ambition and energy and the banking house which he estab- lished is still successfully carried on.


Mr. Fisk purchased in 1869 about one hun- dred acres of the old Green farm in Ewing town- ship, overlooking the Delaware river, near Scud- der's Falls. This he beautified in every possible way, erecting a modern house, and planting fine trees and shrubbery, and it is now one of the most finely cultivated places on the river. He married, December 13, 1853, Louisa Green, born August 8, 1834, daughter of Alexander B. and Mary Ann (Chambers) Green, and they had chil- dren: 1. Harvey Edward, married Mary Lee Scudder and has children : Harvey Edward, Jr., and Kenneth. 2. Charles Joel, married Lizzie Richey, has children: Louisa, married Lewis E. Waring, has one child-Louise; Augustus, married Edith Collings; Charles W .; Harvey ; Annie G. 3. Pliny, married Eleanor Hepburn Small has children : Eleanor and Gwendolyn. 4. Alexander G. 5. Wilbur C., married Julia Her- rick Allen. 6. Mary Louisa. 7. Bertha, married Dr. Samuel W. Thurber, has children : Evelyn, Louise Wood, and Gerrish. 8. Evelyn Louise.


Harvey Fisk died on November 8, 1890, and his wife on April 3. 1905.




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