History of Burlington and Mercer counties, New Jersey : with biographical sketches of many of their pioneers and prominent men, Part 31

Author: Woodward, E. M. (Evan Morrison) cn; Hageman, John Frelinghuysen
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1096

USA > New Jersey > Burlington County > Burlington > History of Burlington and Mercer counties, New Jersey : with biographical sketches of many of their pioneers and prominent men > Part 31
USA > New Jersey > Mercer County > History of Burlington and Mercer counties, New Jersey : with biographical sketches of many of their pioneers and prominent men > Part 31

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In politics Mr. Hageman joined the Whig party when it was first formed, and in 1854 united with the Republican party, and still adheres to it. For forty years he has rendered service in every Presi- dential campaign, and with few exceptions in every annual election as a public speaker, and through the local newspaper. And yet for twenty years past he has taken no hand in the tactics and machinery of party rule. By his wife, who died in 1867, he had three children, two of whom survive, viz. : the Rev. S. Miller Hageman, of Brooklyn, and John F. Hage- man, Jr., a lawyer in Princeton.

CALEB SMITH GREEN, who bears the name of his father, was born in the township of Lawrence, gradu- ated in the class of 1837 in Princeton College, read law with his brother, the late Chancellor Henry W. Green, of Trenton, was admitted to the bar in May, 1843, and opened a law-office in Trenton, where he still resides. He seldom appeared in court as an ad- vocate, but did a large office business. In 1862 lie was appointed one of the managers of the Lunatic Asylum. He has been a director in the Trenton Banking Company for about twenty-five years, and president of the Savings-Fund Association, of Tren- ton, since 1854. In 1873 he was appointed to fill the vacancy of lay judge in the New Jersey Court of Er- rors and Appeals, all of which offices he holds at the present time. Ile is also a trustee of the College and of the Theological Seminary at Princeton, and is one of the executors and trustees under the will of his late brother, John C. Green, of New York. In 1847 he married the youngest daughter of the late Chief Jus- tice Ewing.

admitted to the bar in February, 1844, settled at As- bury, and married a daughter of Gen. Farley. Mr. : Richey is a prominent lawyer, with an extensive practice both in his office and in the courts. He was elected by the Republicans State senator from Mer- cer County in 1863 for three years, and filled the place with honor and ability. He is not a self-seek- ing politician. His sucecss in business has drawn bim into official relations with several financial and industrial institutions in Trenton, and more recently he has become interested in and connected with rail- road corporations as counsel and director. He has been identified with the temperance organization of the State, and as a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church, and with religious and benevolent institu- tions generally. His character, abilities, and success entitle him to a prominent place at the bar of the State as well as of the county.

bar as an attorney in May, 1844, and opened an office in Trenton. His practice was very limited, as he de- voted himself to politics rather than to law. He was through the greater part of his life a Whig and Re- publican, but he became identified with the Demo- cratie party in his last years. He was a sharp stump speaker, and a keen lawyer in the justices' courts be- fore a jury. He was a popular city politician, and held offices under the city government, and also clerk- ships in the Legislature, either in the Senate or As- sembly. He married a daughter of Col. Snowden, of - the Trenton House. He died several years ago, in middle life.

EDWARD WALLACE SCUDDER, son of Jasper S. Scudder and Mary Stillwell Reeder, his wife, was born in the city of Trenton, N. J., Aug. 11, 1822. His paternal ancestors were among the early settlers of Ewing township, formerly township of Trenton, at the " Falls of the Delaware," in 1704, and his mater- nal ancestors still earlier settlers at the same place, about 1696. Both families were large land-owners, and portions of the original homesteads are in their possession in 1882.

IIe was educated at the Trenton Academy, the Law- renceville High School, and at the College of New Jersey, at Princeton, from which latter institution he was graduated in September, 1841, in a class remark- able for the number of its members who have achieved distinction in professional and public life.

He read law in the office of Hlon. William L. Day- ton, was licensed as.an attorney-at-law September, 1844, and continued to practice his profession sue- cessfully in the city of Trenton until March 23, 1869, when he was appointed a justice of the Supreme

19 C

Cuader

AVau sykkel

THE BENCH AND BAR.

567

Court of New Jersey, and by reappointment, March 23, 1876, continnes in 1882 to honorably discharge the duties of that high position.

In 1863 he was elected State senator for the county of Mereer, and in 1865 he was president of the Senate. In 1880 the College of New Jersey conferred upon him the honorary degree of LL. D., and since 1861 he ! has been a member of the board of trustees of the theologieal seminary of the Presbyterian Church at Princeton. He married, in 1848, a daughter of Hon. George K. Drake, of Morrison, N. J., a justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey, and has had six chil- dren, of whom five are still living.

BARKER GUMMERE is a son of Samuel R. Gum- mere, who belonged to a Quaker family in Burling- . ton County, but who was a leading Whig politician of the State, and was appointed clerk in chancery in 1840, as successor to Stacy G. Potts, and held that .

office till 1851. Barker Gummere obtained a good · education in Trenton, and, without going to college, commenced the study of law with Mr. - , and was admitted to the bar in May, 1845. From his youth he took a lively interest in politics, and early served on the county and State executive committees of the Whig and Republican parties. He opened his law- office in Trenton, and married a daughter of Samuel S. Stryker, a well-known merchant in that city.

Mr. Gummere's political services met their reward in his appointment as elerk in chancery in 1861, which office he held till 1871. After he retired from the elerkship he resumed his legal practice, and his familiarity with the chancery practice, his clear hcad, industrious habits, and legal taste and attainments have brought to him a lucrative practice, often en- gaging him in heavy suits, involving large interests of corporations. Mr. Gummere is a Presbyterian, has been president of the Mercer County Bible Society, and takes an interest in the general welfare of the eity, material and moral.

His sister married Governor Joel Parker, and one of his sons married a daughter of Chief Justice Beasley.

:confirmed by the United States Senate, in 1870, to fill the place of judge of the United States District Court, made vacant by the death of Judge Field ; that he is an able and honest judge, an honorable and courteous gentleman, an ornament to the bench and the bar. He is a trustee of Princeton College and a ruling eider in the Presbyterian Church. His wife is a daughter of Judge L. Q. C. Elmer.

FREDERICK KINGMAN came from East Bridge- water, Mass., and taught school at Rahway, N. J. His father was a lawyer, and he was a nephew of Chief Justice Greenleaf. He was an assistant to James Wilson in the Supreme Court clerk's office, and studied law with him, and married his sister. He was admitted to the bar in January, 1847, and commenced practice in Trenton. He was attentive to his business, both at court and in his office, and he acquired a large practice. He was an active Repub- lican, but stood aloof from office. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and died quite suddenly in apparently robust health, in 1881, leaving a wife and several children surviving him.

JOHN POTTER STOCKTON, a son of Commodore R. F. Stockton, was born in Princeton, Aug. 2, 1826, and graduated at Nassau Hall in the class of 1843, read law with Mr. Field, and was admitted to the bar in April, 1847, and opened his office in Princeton. He was chancery reporter under Chancellor William- son from 1852 to 1858, and issned three volumes, known as Stockton's Chancery Reports. In 1858 he was appointed minister to Rome by President Bu- chanan, and returned home in 1861. In 1865 he was elected United States senator, but his election was held invalid, and he resumed his practice at Trenton. In 1868 he was again elected to the United States Senate by the Democratic Legislature as successor to Mr. Frelinghuysen, and he occupied that place till 1875, when he returned to Trenton. In 1877 he was appointed attorney-general of the State, which office he holds at the present time, having been reappointed by Governor Ludlow. He fills this office with the general satisfaction of the bar and the people.

EGBERT H. GRANDIN was admitted to the bar in October, 1847. He lived several years in Trenton, and while there he filled the office of prosecutor of the pleas of Mercer County. When the Rebellion broke out Mr. Grandin went South beyond the lines, and afterwards went to Europe. Mr. Hageman was appointed by Governor Olden to the offiec of prose- cutor, then vacant, in 1862. JOHN T. NIXON, judge of the United States Dis- triet Court for the district of New Jersey, though from Cumberland County at the time of his appoint- ment, may be mentioned as a resident in Mercer County at the present time. He is a member of the New Jersey bar, though sitting on the bench of a United States eourt. His presence here justifies us to state that he is a graduate of Princeton College, in the elass of 1841; that he was admitted to the bar of BENNET VAN SYCKEL was born in Hunterdon County, N. J., April 17, 1830. His father, Aaron Van Syckel, was a business man of remarkable sa- gacity. His grandfather, Aaron Van Syckel, was sheriff of the county, and as member of Council rep- resented the county in the Legislature of the State. The subject of this sketch entered the sophomore class in Princeton College in 1843, and graduated in New Jersey in October, 1845; that he was a member of the Assembly of the State from Cumberland in 1849 and 1850, being Speaker of the House the last year; that he was a member of the House of Repre- sentatives in Congress for several years during the late civil war; that he was a leading politician in the Whig party, and has since that been a decidicd Re- publican ; that he was nominated by Gen. Grant, and . 1846, at the early age of sixteen. He served his elerk-

568

HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

ship in the office of Hon. Alexander Wurts, of Flen- ington, N. J., and was admitted to the bar in 1851, on the day he was twenty-one. He practiced law in Flemington until February, 1869, when at the age of thirty-nine he was appointed a justice of the Supreme; Court of New Jersey by Governor Randolph, and was rcappointed by Governor Bedle in 1876 for a further term not yet expired. He removed to Trenton on his appointment to the bench in 1869, where he still con- tinues to reside. In 1880 the degree of LL.D. was conferred upon him by Princeton College.

ANDREW DUTCHER came to Trenton and was ad- mitted to the bar in July, 1851, as a practitioner from the State of - He was appointed law reporter in 1855, and held that place till 1862, and issued five volumes of " Duteher's Reports." Mr. Dutcher never had an extensive practice in Trenton. He was a Democratic politiciau, and was elected to the As- sembly from the Second District. He removed from Trenton to Elizabeth during the war.

THOMAS G. LYTLE was a son of William Lytle, a school-teacher and surveyor, who came from Ireland to this country when young. He lived for a time in Trenton, but he spent the most of his life in Somerset County and in Princeton. Thomas was born in Ten- Mile Run, in Franklin township. He engaged in teaching a country school for a year or two, and then commenced to learn the printer's trade with John T. Robinson in Princeton. It was not long before he left this and began to study law under James S. Green. After four years he applied and was admitted to the bar in November, 1852. He settled in Princeton, and practiced there till abont the year 1878, when he re- moved to Trenton. After living there for about a year he was found in the canal dead, supposed to have fallen into the water in the night while going from the easterly part of the city to his boarding- house. He was never married.

ROBERT STOCKTON GREEN, son of James S. Green, was born in Princeton, graduated at college there in the class of 1850, read law with his father, and was admitted to the bar in November, 1853. He practiced a few years in Princeton, and then removed to Eliza- beth, where he married and followed his profession, becoming a law judge of the sessions. Afterwards he went to the city of New York and joined a re- spectable law-firm, and has a large city practice.

change in the statute. He is much employed as special master in chancery. He is a Republican, but is devoted to law rather than politics. His industry, integrity, and high Christian character guarantee future success.

EDWARD T. GREEN, a native of Trenton, a son of George S. Green, graduated at Princeton College in the class of 1854. He was admitted to the bar in No- vember, 1858, and opened his office in Trenton. He soon acquired a good practice, and gained numerous clients. He is enthusiastie in every cause he uuder- takes. His mode of speech is rapid. and vehement, and his earnestness gives him influence over the jury. While he was rising in popularity at the bar, he be- came retained as local counsel for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and this great interest has ab- sorbed almost the whole of his professional labors for several years past. His great client gives him an important position and much prominence at the bar, but it very much confines his legal studies and efforts to this one great department of jurisprudence.

Mr. Green has been openly a warm Republican in politics, but has held no political office of inipor- tance, if any whatever. He is president of the Tren- ton Horse Railroad Company, and takes an interest in the prosperity and growth of the city. He has been twice married. His first wife was a daughter of John L. Thompson, deceased, once a merchant in Princeton. His second wife is a daughter of Chief Justice Beasley. Mr. Green is a brother of the Rev. W. H. Green, D.D., of the Princeton Seminary, and a nephew of the late Chancellor Green.

We have now come down the roll through a cen- tury, from 1754 to 1859, omitting only the names of a few attorneys who were admitted to the bar, but who immediately after removed from the county, and those who either never attempted to practice, or abandoned it after a short trial.

Of those who have been above noticed the follow- ing are living and resident in the county, viz. : James Wilson, Mercer Beasley, chief justice, John F. Hage- man, Caleb S. Green, A. G. Richey, Edward W. Scud- der, judge, Barker Gummere, John T. Nixon, judge, John P. Stockton, B. Van Syckel, judge, James S. Aitkin, Edward T. Green.

In addition to the above we append a list of those who have been admitted since 1859, and who coul- plete the roll of the Mercer bar at the present time, with the dates of their admission and places of ad- dress, viz. :

JAMES S. AITKIN was born in Trenton, where his father lives, was prepared for college at Lawrence- ville High School, and graduated at Rutgers College in 1855. He studied law in Trenton, and was ad- 1859 .- Isaae R. Wilson, Edward L. Campbell, James F. Rusling, Trenton. mitted to the bar in November, 1857. He opened an office in Trenton, and applied himself to his profes- 1860 .- E. Mercer Shreve, Trenton ; Joseph J. Ely, sion. He has acquired a large practice and is a safe | Hightstown. counselor. He usually comes into court well pre- ; 1861 .- Lewis Parker, Jr., Trenton. pared. He has been solicitor for the freeholders of 1862 .- Samuel M. Schanck, Hightstown. the county and for the city, and is growing in favor SAMUEL MOUNT SCHANCE, the present mayor of with the business population. He edited a new edi- ; the borough of Hightstown, is the son of Henry tion of "Nixon's Forms," adapting them to the Schanck, a fariner residing in Monmouth County,

Sulchanek

THE BENCH AND BAR.

569

near Freehold, in this State. Samuel was born on the 28th day of April, A.D. 1838, on the farm still owned and occupied by his father. In early life Mount, the name by which he was known among his more intimate friends, had the usual experienecs of a farmer's boy, having been sent to the district school at West Freehold, when not needed at home, until he was placed in a country store at the village last named, the experiences of which were, perhaps, to him better than any school for the same length of time.

While in the store he began to realize the value of books, with which he had before been too indifferent, and as opportunity offered set about perfecting him- 'self in the lower branches of education. After about two years of this experience, having been advised to study law, he left the store and went to the Freehold Institute, of which O. R. Willis was then principal, and there pursued the branches of education offered · by this school until June 22, 1858, when he entered the office of A. R. Throckmorton, counselor-at-law, of Freehold, as a student at law, still pursuing his Latin and Greek studies under the private instruc- tion of the late Charles Walters, one of the teachers of said school, a learned and most excellent man, for whose kindly interest in his behalf Mr. Sehanck has .ever been grateful.

On Oct. 6, 1860, Mr. Schanek entered the law-office of James Otterson, of Philadelphia, and while there attended lectures at the law branch of the University of Pennsylvania. In the November term of the Su- preme Court in 1862 he was admitted to the bar of New Jersey, and began the practice of law at Hights- town, where he has continued to reside and practice his profession. In November term, 1865, he became a counselor-at-law. In his profession he has had a varied and extensive country practice, his tastes and disposition always leading him to avoid litigation when he could consistently with the interests of his clients advise such a course. He was married to Mary Augusta, the daughter of James Lloyd, of Frec- hold, on June 20, 1866, at St. Peter's Church of that place, by the Rev. Wilbur F. Nields, then rector, and has children as follows : Helen Louisa, Edgar Grandin, Henry Lloyd, and Lotta Clerc.

Mr. Sehanek has taken a warm interest in every- thing tending to enhance the welfare of the borough, and has always been zealous to promote harmony and good feeling in all local questions upon which its citizens might differ. He was elected mayor of the borough in 1876, and again in 1882. He was one of those most active in establishing the First National Bank, of which he has always been a director and its attorney. The consolidation of the Central National with the First National Bank, and thus harmonizing financial interests, was strongly advocated by him. He is now actively engaged in the construction of the Pennsylvania, Siatington and New England Railroad, running from Slatington, on the Lehigh River, in

Pennsylvania, through Northampton County, across Warren and Sussex Counties in New Jersey, to Pine Island, in Orange County, in the State of New York, of which road he is now vice-president and treasurer.

Henry Schanck, the father, was the son of Peter Voorhees Schanck, who was a captain of militia and very popular in his day. He was the eldest son of . Keorttenus Schanck, who in the Revolutionary war was in the battle of Germantown under the immediate command of Gen. Forman. He married a Miss Voor- hees, of New Brunswick, Middlesex Co., of a family of high standing there. Keorttenus carried on the tanning and currying business at Marlboro', in Mon- mouth County, in which calling his eldest son Peter was also brought up. Peter married Sarah Shepherd, the mother of Henry. She was the daughter of Elisha Shepherd, of Scotch descent. Elisha took an active part against the British in the Revolution. A re- ward was offered by the British for him, and after a time he was captured and confined by them as a pris- oner for a long time in what was known as the " Old Sugar-House" in New York, while others were ex- changed. Of the force of character of this man as displayed by him in these trying times reminiscences are preserved. Henry Schanek married Mary Ann Mount, daughter of Samuel Mount, who came in early times to this State from Albany, near New York, where two of his brothers were killed by the Indians, and he barely escaped by concealing himself under the barn. He married Rachel, daughter of William Mount, then living on the Kill Deer farm, in the neighborhood of Manalapan, Monmouth Co., now oc- cupied by Samuel R. Ely. Samuel Mount resided on the farm adjoining his father-in-law's, where Mrs. Henry Schanck was born. She was the mother of eight children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the fourth, as follows: Keorttenus, Susan, Darius, Samuel Mount, Elisha, Elizabeth, Rachel, and George, all being now living except Darius, who died young.

This branch of the Schanck family came to this country from Holland at an early date, before the Revolutionary war, and settled in Monmouth County at or near Marlboro'. Its genealogy is traced through the early settlers in this country back many genera- tions in Holland. The Rev. Garret C. Schenck, a minister of the Dutch Reformed denomination, re- siding at Marlboro', in Monmouth County, has in his possession copies of the escutcheons and coat of arms of many of the early ancestors, and has been at great pains and expense in tracing the genealogy and col- lecting valuable information relating to the family. The result of his labor is very valuable, and is with- out doubt the best source for the curious or those di- reetly interested in collecting facts upon this subject.

1863 .- D. Cooper Allinson, Charles Eliner Green, Samuel Meredith Dickinson, Edward W. Evans, Woodbury D. Holt, Trenton.

1864 .-- James Buchanan, Trenton.

570

HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

HON. ALFRED REED .- The ancestors of Judge Reed are of Weish deseent, the earliest representa- tive having been William Reed, who first settled on Long Island, and about the year 1700 purchased in New Jersey of the Indians a tract of land near Tren- ton, and now a portion of the township of Ewing. The date of his advent is not accurately known, though his name appears in a deed of ground then designated as the First Presbyterian Church of Tren- ; ton. ton, and now the First Presbyterian Church of Ewing. This document bears date March 9, 1709. William Reed left two sons,-Joshua and William,-between whom the above-mentioned land was divided. Joshua ! married, and left two sons,-Joshua, who inherited | the land, and Joseph, who resided in Lumberton. The former was born July 7, 1768, and died Sept. 11, 1831. He was twice married, his second wife being Miss Elizabeth Jones. Their two sons were Levi and George ; the birth of the former oeeurred Sept. 29, 1806, and that of the latter Jan. 14, 1809. Their father devised to them this tract of land in common, which they cultivated together until the death of George, which took place Sept. 6, 1849, when by de- vise it became the property of Levi.

George Reed was married to Miss Mary Hepburn, and had children,-Alfred, Edward H., and Amanda. Edward H., who was a practicing physician in Tren- ton, died in July, 1879. Amanda is Mrs. Edward T. Persons, of Marengo, Ill. Alfred, whose life is here briefly reviewed, was born Dee. 23, 1839, on the homestead farm, where the years of his boyhood were spent. When but ten years of age he lost his father, and with his mother removed to Pennington, and for two years pursued his studies at that plaee. At the expiration of this time he returned to Ewing, to the home of his uncle Levi. A short period was spent in attendance upon the Lawrenceville High School, after which he became a pupil of the Trenton Academy and the Model School of the city. He then entered Rutgers College, but left before graduating to become a student at the State Law School at Poughkeepsie, N. Y.

He was married in August, 1878, to Miss Rosealba E. Souder, of Trenton. They have one ehild, a daugh- ter, Edith.

1865 .- Wesley Creveling, Trenton ; Leroy H. An- derson, Princeton ; Garret D. W. Vroom, Trenton.

1866 .- William L. Dayton, Mercer Beasley, Jr., Trenton.

1867 .- John H. Stewart, Samuel D. Oliphant, Tren-

1868 .- Edward G. Cook, William Holt, William G. Johnson, Jolm T. Temple, Robert S. Woodruff, Tren- ton.

1869 .- Moses D. Naar, Trenton ; R. M. J. Smith, Hightstown.

1871 .- Lewis W. Seott, Trenton.

1872 .- Morton R. Coleman, Trenton ; John F. Hageman, Jr., Princeton ; L. L. Howell, Robert F. Stoekton, Trenton.

1873 .- Elmer E. Green, Samuel R. Guinmere, Levi T. Hannum, Theodore C. Maple, Trenton.

1874 .- Joseph W. Pressy, Joseph K. Wells, Tren- ton.

1875 .- Benjamin F. Chambers, Trenton ; William J. Gibby, Princeton ; George S. Grosvenor, Jolin G. Howell, F. C. Lowthrop, Jr., Isaae F. Riehey, Lins- ley Rowe, Trenton.

1876 .- Horatio N. Barton, George W. Savage, Jr., Trenton ; George O. Vanderbilt, Princeton.

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History of Burlington and Mercer counties, New Jersey : with biographical sketches of many of their pioneers and prominent men, Part 31

Author: Woodward, E. M. (Evan Morrison) cn; Hageman, John Frelinghuysen Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 1096

Author: Woodward, E. M. (Evan Morrison) cn; Hageman, John Frelinghuysen
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1096