USA > New Jersey > Mercer County > Genealogical and personal memorial of Mercer County, New Jersey > Part 66
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Dr. Ivins married Elizabeth A. Foskett, a daughter of James C. and Elizabeth (Pugh) Foskett, and of this marriage was born a son, William C. Ivins, Jr., November 28, 1900.
WILLIAM JOHN WALSH, well and favor- ably known as an attorney in Trenton, Mercer county, New Jersey, who resides at No. 821/2 Pennington avenue, in that city. is a descendant of an old Irish family, from whom he has in- herited many excellent traits, among them being his ready and eloquent tongue.
Captain John E. Walsh, father of William John Walsh, was born in Ireland, August 1, 1848. He has a brilliant record as a soldier, having fought as one of the Papal Zonaves during the papal war in Italy. He emigrated to the United States in 1867, and decided to make the city of Trenton, New Jersey, his home, and has resided there since that time. He is a potter by occupation, and is still actively engaged in his trade. He was cap- tain of Company D, old Seventh Regiment Na- tional Guard, and rendered good service in that office. He married Margaret Cantwell, who was born on the ocean while her parents were cross- ing to this country, daughter of Peter and Johan- na (Buckley) Cantwell. Her father was born in Tipperary county, Ireland, and was one of the first school teachers in Trenton, New Jersey. Later he taught in St. John's School in that city. His wife was also a native of Ireland. Among
the children of Mr. and Mrs. Walsh was a son, William John, of whom see forward.
William John Walsh, son of Captain John E. and Margaret (Cantwell) Walsh, was born in Trenton, New Jersey, August 18, 1874. His preliminary education was received in St. Mary's School, and he then took a course in Rider's Busi- ness College. He commenced the study of law in 1894, finding employment at the same time in the law office of Robert S. Woodruff, and three years later was admitted as an attorney to the bar. He was admitted as counsellor at law in 1901, and has now (1906) for some time been connected with the firm of James J. Cahill, with commodious offices on East State street. He is a powerful, eloquent pleader, and has the happy faculty of presenting his arguments in a clear, convincing and forcible manner. He has a remarkable com- mand of language, yet his thoughts are always expressed in such a manner that even the ignor- ant and unlettered comprehend them. His polit- ical support is given to the Democratic party, and he is a junior member of the common council, from the fifth ward, having been elected in 1904. A year later he served on the following com- mittees : Laws and order, parks, minutes and records, and poor. He is a consistent member of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church. He is first sergeant of Company D, Second Regiment ; is a member of the Jeffersonian Democratic Club ; of the National Union ; and of the Trenton Coun- cil.
Mr. Walsh married Anna M. Zisgen, born in Trenton. New Jersey, daughter of John B. and Mary Zisgen, the former a baker for many years, and they have had children : Anna M., John E., William.
GARRETT DORSET WALL VROOM, judge of the court of errors and appeals, is descended from the early Dutch and French Huguenot settlers in the state of New Jersey. The extensive Vroom estate that was occupied by his ancestors from the early part of the seven- teenth century until the following century, on the banks of the Raritan river, is now partly included in the Duke estate. He was born in Trenton, New Jersey, December 17, 1843. a son of the late Governor Peter Dumont Vroom, and grand- son of United States Senator Garret D. Wall.
He prepared at the old Trenton Academy for Rutgers College, from which he was graduated in the class of 1862. He studied law with his
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father, was admitted to the bar as an attorney in 1865, and at once began the practice of his pro- fession at Trenton, where he has since resided. He was elected city solicitor in 1866, held the of- fice until 1870, and was again elected to the same office in 1873, serving until 1876. In 1868 he was admitted as a counselor to the New Jersey bar. He was appointed prosecutor of the pleas of Mer- cer county, New Jersey, in May, 1876, to suc- ceed the late General C. K. Hall, which office he resigned in December, 1873, on being appointed reporter of the supreme court. From 1881 to 1883 he was mayor of the city of Trenton, and discharged his onerous duties with fidelity and conscientiousness. When the board of public works in the city of Trenton was created he was made its president and presided during the ex- istence of that body. In addition to his excellent work as reporter of the supreme court, which po- sition he has held for thirty-three consecutive years, he has prepared, in conjunction with the late Judge John H. Stewart, a "Revision of the Statutes of New Jersey, in 1877, under the di- rection of the commission, which publication in- cluded the statutes revised as well as the entire body of the statute laws of the state, and in 1887, in conjunction with Judge William M. Lanning a supplement to the above, and in 1894 these gen- tlemen were authorized to prepare a new revi- sion in three volumes, entitled "The General Statutes of New Jersey." This included the body of the laws to January 1, 1896. He was ap- pointed to his place on the bench of the court of errors and appeals in 1901 by former Governor Voorhees, to fill the vacancy caused by the ap- pointment of Judge Hendrickson to the supreme court bench, upon which Judge Vroom had de- clined to accept a seat in the previous year. He is a member from New Jersey of the National Commission to promote the uniformity of laws throughout the United States. He is president of the commission for the revision of the stat- utes, a member of the Board of Pardon and Ap- peals, of the New Jersey Historical Association, of the Trenton Battle Monument Association, of which he is president; of the Trenton Saving Fund Society, of which he is president ; and of the Board of Managers of the New Jersey Hos- pital for the Insane. He was a prominent factor in the founding of the Society of the Sons of the Revolution in New Jersey, and is vice-president of the general body.
Judge Vroom is an enthusiastic lover of the
best literature and his library, which is the finest private one in Trenton, contains many works of rare value, not only in their contents but in their fine artistic finish. For him the characters por- trayed by Shakespeare are living persons and his extensive biographical works bring him face to face with their subjects. He is especially inter- ested in Napoleonic literature, having a splendid collection of French memoirs. He also has a fine collection of Jerseymen. One of his favorite pur- suits along the line of book collecting is the ac- quirement of volumes with extra illustrating. He also has a valuable collection of manuscript let- ters and is recognized as an expert on handwrit- ing, his judgment in this direction having proved to be of value in many legal matters. He is al- so an authority on the history of law, a fact that has made his contributions to legal literature of great value. He is charitable in marked degree, but without ostentation, contributing largely to various institutions. He is a man of peculiarly strong domestic tastes, and finds his greatest pleasure and relaxation in his home life. He has a summer home at Como. In the garden at his Trenton home on West State street, which is a historic place, he has a magnificent collection of choice varieties of roses, and his table and closets contain many specimens of rare pottery.
JOHN TALMADGE VAN CLEEF was born July 9, 1849, in Coxsackie, New York, to which place his father, the Rev. Paul Duryea Van Cleef, was called on November 10, 1846, to take charge of the Reformed Dutch Church. On De- cember 30, 1849, his father received a call to the First Reformed Dutch Church of Van Vorst township, now a part of Jersey City, and was duly installed. The corporate limits of Jersey City at that time extended only as far west as Grove street, and on the north as far as Har- simus Cove, not far above Morgan street. There were only five churches in Jersey City at that time, and two in Van Vorst township, the one in question was located on Wayne street, and still remains there as a church edifice. About a year after his settlement in Coxsackie his father was married to Catalina Onderdonk, on November 17, 1847.
The subject of this sketch was about five months old when brought by his parents to Jer- sey City. His early education was received at Dr. Hasbruck's school on Mercer street, where he prepared for college. When only twenty years
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old he graduated from Rutgers College, New Brunswick, New Jersey, in the class of 1869. His father at that time and for many years after- ward was an honored trustee of that institution. During his college course he stood high in his class, and was a general favorite among the students, serving as president of his class for his junior and senior years. During his sopho- more year he was awarded the Myron W. Smith first prize for elocution, consisting of a gold medal of the value of eighty dollars, the second prize being awarded to his classmate William Griffiths, the author of "Brave Little Holland." He also prepared the class prophecy, which in after life proved by its correctness his knowl- edge of human nature. Upon graduating he was selected by his classmates, with the approval of the faculty, to deliver the Master's Oration, which he delivered at the appointed time in the old Dutch Church on Nelson street, New Bruns- wick, where in former years the graduating ex- ercises of the college were held.
After graduating he studied law for three years in the office of Washington B. Williams, and was admitted to practice as an attorney-at- law in 1872, and in 1876 was admitted as a counsellor. He soon afterward joined in form- ing the well known law firm of Fleming Van Cleef and Van Horn, who had for many years a large general practice.
During the years 1874 and 1875 he represented the Sixth ward of Jersey City in the board of aldermen, serving as chairman of the committee on streets, and as a member of other important committees. Upon his retiring from the board of alderman he was appointed as secretary of the board of finance and taxation, and served in that capacity until the state board of assessors was created in 1884, when he was tendered and accepted the secretaryship of that board, remain- ing in that position for eleven years. At the time of accepting this position he was residing in Somerville, New Jersey, where he took an active part in all the social and political affairs of that place.
In 1893 he left Somerville to take up his resi- dence in Trenton, and has lived in the latter place ever since. On August 14, 1888, Governor Rob- ert S. Green appointed him an aide-de-camp on his personal staff, with the rank of colonel. He had previously served, while residing in Jersey City, for three years as a private in Company G, Seventh Regiment National Guard of New
York. His commission on the staff of Governor Green expired January 20, 1890, and on January 21, 1890, he was appointed colonel and aide-de- camp on the staff of Governor Lean Abbott. This commission expired January 16, 1893, and on April 18, 1893, he was appointed as colonel and aide-de-camp on the staff of (iovernor George T. Werts, serving until May 7, 1895. He was always prominent in the annual Sea Girt encamp- ments, and incorporated the New Jersey Rifle Association, of which he was afterward made secretary.
Colonel Van Cleef was married September II, 1873, to Mary Emma, daughter of Wesley W. Jones, late of Rahway, New Jersey. By this mar- riage two children were born: Catalina Van Cleef, July 1, 1875; and Waller J. Van Cleef, September 24, 1876. Waller J. died August 10, 1907.
Colonel Van Cleef is at present engaged in the practice of law in Trenton, New Jersey. He is also interested in a number of corporations, and is secretary of the West State Street Realty Company, the Delaware River Improvement Company, the Yardleyville Delaware Bridge Company, and the Windsor Hotel Company.
He is a descendant of Holland Dutch ancestry. The first emigrant from Holland was Jan Van Cleef, born 1628, married Engeltie Louwerens, a daughter of Louwerens Pieterse-prior to 1659 he settled in the town of New Utrecht, Long Island, and is on a list of members of the Dutch Church of that place, 1677-1685. He owned a plantation of twenty-four morgans and other plots of land in the village of New Utrecht, and also two and one-half lots at Yellow Hook (now Bay Ridge), which he appears to have disposed of in 1691. A few of his descendants reside in New Utrecht and Gravesend, Long Island, but most of them removed to New Jersey.
Jan Van Cleef, the first emigrant, had eight children : Catharine, Benjamin, Joseph, An- gelica, Ceytie, Isbrant, Nelka, Cornelius and Rebecca. The line of descent of the subject of this sketch came through
Benjamin, born November 25, 1683, and mar- ried, 1711, Hendrikje Sutplien. He was of Mon- mouth county, New Jersey. Benjamin Van Cleef had twelve children, viz: Lyrbeth, Johannes, Derick, Marike, Derike, Benjamin, Nelke, Lourens, Helena, Joseph, Elsje and Antje. The line of descent of Colonel Van Cleef continues through
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Lourens, who married Fannetie Laan. He died about the year 1780. Lourens Van Cleef had six children, viz: Jacob, Femmetje, Lawrens, Jan- netje, Isaac and Jacob. The line of descent of Colonel Van Cleef, the subject of this sketch, continues through
Isaac Van Cleef, who was born at Freehold, New Jersey, October 24, 1742, and married Dorcas Pennyra. They had nine children, viz : John, Laurence, Peter, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Van Mater, Jane and Polly. The line of descent continues down through
John Van Cleef, the grandfather of Colonel Van Cleef, who was born in Millstone, New Jersey, and married Jane Ann Duryea, who de- parted this life not many years ago at the age of ninety, at New Brunswick, New Jersey. The last named John Van Cleef had seven children, viz : Paul D., John V. N., Isaac, Whitney, Jane D., Elizabeth and Theodore F. Jane D. is the only one living of these children, residing 011 Albany street, New Brunswick, New Jersey. The line of descent continues through
Paul Duryea Van Cleef, the father of Colonel Van Cleef, born July 31, 1821. His first wife and the mother of Colonel Van Cleef was Cata- lina Onderdonk; his second wife was Amelia Lent, of New York City. Amelia Lent Van Cleef, the widow of Paul D., is still living at Barrow street, Jersey City, New Jersey. Paul D. Van Cleef had four children: John Tal- madge Van Cleef, the subject of this sketch: Sarah Taylor Van Cleef, Annie Duryea Van Cleef and James Paul Van Cleef.
John Talmadge Van Cleef had, as before stated, two children, Catalina and Waller J. Sarah Taylor is unmarried and residing at Barrow street, Jersey City, with her mother. Annie Duryea Van Cleef married Charles Dodgshem, of England, and is now residing in Chicago, Illi- nois. James Paul Van Cleef is unmarried, re- siding with his mother and sister in Barrow street, Jersey City.
Paul Duryea Van Cleef, D. D., the father of Jolın Talmadge Van Cleef, was born near Mill- stone, Somerset county, New Jersey, on July 31, 1821. His parents were John Van Cleef and Jane Ann Duryea. His mother's parents were Paul Duryea and Arietta Van Harlingen. It was from his mother's father that he received his christian names. His mother's mother was a daughter of Rev. John M. Van Harlingen, who was the pastor of the churches of Neshanic and
Harlingen, New Jersey, from 1762 to 1795. This Van Harlingen came from a long line of minis- ters in Holland, stretching back for two centuries. In his early life he lived on a farm between Millstone and Weston. He attended the Mill- stone Church, then under the pastoral care of Rev. Jolin Lansing Labriskie, who was its minis- ter for about forty years. When fourteen years of age Paul D. Van Cleef left home to become a clerk in a store in New Brunswick. He re- mained there for two years. During this period in New Brunswick occurred a revival hardly equaled by any of modern times. The way had been partly prepared by the severe visitation of the cholera a few years before, and by a dread- ful tornado which swept over New Brunswick on June 19. 1835. This destroyed several lives, and laid whole streets in ruin. Property was destroyed to the amount of $150,000. This, at that time, and in a town of only four or five thou- sand inhabitants, was an immense loss.
Soon after that revival, Paul D. Van Cleef re- solved to study for the ministry, and returned home to Millstone to begin the necessary studies. He entered Rutgers College in 1839, and in 1843 entered the Theological Seminary in New Brunswick, and graduated from the Seminary in July, 1846. As before stated he was first called to Coxsackie in 1846, and in 1849 took pastoral charge of the Wayne Street Reformed Dutch Church in Jersey City, (then the township of Van Vorst), and remained as pastor and pastor-emeritus of that church for fifty-three years. At the time of his death the general synod's committee on necrology in its memorial resolutions had this to say of him:
"Dr. Van Cleef was a preacher of rare excel- lence, and, as a man and a Christian and a minis- ter he was amiable and affectionate, courageous and sincere. He was trustee of Rutgers College : he was a member of the Board of Domestic Missions for forty-seven years of continuous service, since 1891 its president, and accorded the unusual honor of honorary president when grow- ing infirmity made it impossible for him to serve longer actively in the office, which thus he re- tained until his death. For many years he was clerk of the Board of Superintendents and was permanent clerk of the general synod for a period covering eighteen years, until 1895. Beloved by his fellow-workers in the church, he has passed out into the full enjoyment of eternal life and
Rhas. It. Baker
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the service on the other side, 'while his works do follow him'."
Surely a parent in whom the subject of this sketch may very justly take pride.
J. BRAISTED ROE SMITH, assistant secre- tary of state of New Jersey, was born in Branch- ville, Sussex county, New Jersey, March 24, 1869, a son of Samuel and Letita W. (Roe) Smith.
He comes from an old and honored New Jer- sey family. His paternal ancestor, George Smith, in 1795 came from Sandyson township, Sussex county, to Northampton township, same county, and there bought a farm which has remained in the family to the present day, descending in turn from him to Jacob, Daniel, and Jacob J., and is now held by a cousin of the immediate subject of this narrative. Jacob, son of the ancestral George, married a Miss Freutchie, and their son Daniel, born in Centreville, married Barbara Smith. Of the latter marriage were born children: Jacob J., married Elizabeth Teel; Samuel, of whom further ; Amanda, married Elisha Snover ; Sus- anna, married Henry Van Horn.
Samuel Smith, second son and child of Daniel and Barbara (Smith) Smith, was born at Flat- brookville, Walpack township, Sussex county, New Jersey, February 21, 1829. He received an ordinary common school education, and took up farming, which he followed until 1868. In that year he engaged in a mercantile business in Branchville, in association with his father-in-law, James Roe, the store having been established by the Roe family in 1837, and to which James Roe had succeeded in 1852. Samuel Smith held vari- ous local offices, in which he rendered efficient service. In 1895 he retired from active pursuits, and with his wife is now living in pleasant retire- ment in Branchville. He has always been an act- ive member of the Presbyterian church, in which he has long been an elder. He married Letitia Roe, daughter of James Roe, and to them were born children : I. J. Braisted Roe Smith, of whom further. 2. Elizabeth J., unmarried. 3. Daniel J. B., married Sarah J. daughter of Will- iam and - (Ackerson) Hiles, and they have one child, Ruth, born February 1, 1896.
J. Braisted Roe Smith, eldest child in the fam- ily last named, obtained his preliminary education in the Branchville public schools, and took an academic course in the excellent Wyoming Semi- nary at Kingston, Pennsylvania. On leaving the
academy he engaged in business with his father as junior member of the firm of S. Smith & Son, and was so occupied until January 1, 1893, when he retired from the firm, being succeeded by his brother, Daniel J. B. Smith. In 1893 he pur- chased the "Warren Tidings," a newspaper of which he has been editor and proprietor to the present time. While directly engaged in its con- duct, he not only made for himself a creditable record in the journalistic field, but he was at the same time industriously reading law under the preceptorship of Oscar Jeffrey, of Washington, Warren county, and was admitted to the bar as an attorney in June, 1900. In the following year he was called to the office of the secretary of state, in Trenton, under George Wurts, and was ap- pointed clerk in charge of work in the court of error and appeal. His service in this station was so efficient that in 1902 Secretary of State S. D. Dickinson promoted him to the post of assistant secretary of state, and which he has since occu- pied to the entire satisfaction of his chief and to his own great credit. Mr. Smith is a stanch Republican, and an earnest and capable advocate of the principles and policies of his party. He is a member of the Presbyterian church. He mar- ried, July 11, 1905, Anna L. Myers.
CHARLES HENRY BAKER, who has for many years been prominently identified with the manufacturing, commercial, financial and politi- cal interests of New Jersey, and who is at pres- ent filling the responsible position of county clerk with efficiency and ability. is a descendant of one of the oldest families in the state of New Jersey, the pioneer ancestors of the Baker family having come from England.
(I) Timothy Baker, in the early part of the eighteenth century, purchased a homestead on the Lawrenceville road, New Jersey, and there all the subsequent generations have been born. He was a farmer by occupation.
(II) Samuel Baker, son of Timothy Baker (1), was also a farmer.
(III) William Baker, son of Samuel Baker (2), was born in 1778. He married Mary Hend- rickson, daughter of Philip Hendrickson, and among their children was a son, Timothy.
(IV) Timothy Baker, son of William (3) and Mary (Hendrickson Baker, was born June 4. 1799, died August 31, 1835, and is buried in Lawrenceville. He also followed agricultural pursuits. He married Sarah Reeder. daughter of
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Charles Reeder, a farmer of Lawrenceville ; granddaughter of Isaac and (Scudder) Reeder, the former a soldier during the war of the Revolution, and great-granddaughter of John Reeder. Among the children of Timothy and Sarah (Reeder) Baker was a son, Charles Reeder. (V) Charles Reeder Baker, son of Timothy (4) and Sarah (Reeder) Baker, was born on the Lawrenceville road, January 24, 1835, died March, 1878, and is buried in Riverview cem- etery, Trenton, New Jersey. He was a merchant, engaged in business on State street for many years, and was an influential factor in the councils of the Republican party in his day. He married Mary C. Hutchinson, born in Trenton, New Jer- sey, September 30, 1834, who is at present resid- ing with her son, Charles H. She is the daugh- ter of George W. and Martha T. ( Miller ) Hutch- inson, the former having large manufacturing interests out west; and granddaughter of Israel Hutchinson. Among the children of Mr. and Mrs. Baker was a son, Charles H., see forward.
(VI) Charles Henry Baker, son of Charles Reeder (5) and Mary C. (Hutchinson) Baker, was born in Trenton, Mercer county, New Jer- sey, August 13, 1862. His education was an ex- cellent one, received in the State Model school and in the Trenton Academy, both in his native city. He entered the employ of Randall Rickey in 1878, at the same time attending lectures at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, from which he was graduated in 1882, with honor. During the next six years he attained a promi- nent position in his profession, and then for a period of two years conducted a local express busı- ness. He then associated himself with Claude E. Fell, under the firm name of Fell & Baker, and engaged in the manufacture of bricks. In 1891 he organized the Egyptian Pottery Com- pany, for the manufacture of sanitary ware, and is now (1906) the proprietor. He was formerly the treasurer of the Crescent Brass Company, and is also the manager and part owner of the John L. Murphy Publishing Company ( The Trenton Gazette).
He has rendered great and efficient service in various public departments. He is a stanch sup- porter of the Republican party, but was ap- pointed by ex-Mayor Joseph B. Shaw (Democrat) as one of the Republican members of the fire commission to take charge of the paid fire de- partment. He was elected receiver of taxes April 9, 1895, and was elected to the position of county
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