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 71
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 71
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103
These testimonials substantially bound are cherished with honest pride as a diploma for the faithful per- formance of responsible duties, and far more accept- able than the retention of any official or political position. They are remarkable for containing the autographs of nearly every member of the bar, the entire judiciary, and every Union editor of the State at an exceedingly interesting period of her history. Their presentation to the Governor was followed by a single interview, and that by renomination and unanimous confirmation. The Republican party now had control of crery branch of the State government. It was emphatically at the zenith of power, and under ordinary circumstances the supremacy might have been indefinitely prolonged. The chairman of the State Executive Committee, after repeated and dis- heartening efforts to discharge his duty to regular gubernatorial and congressional candidates, against not only entire lack of co-operation, but positive ob- struction on the part of those who assumed to control the influence while they avoided the responsibilities of the party, repeatedly but ineffectually tendered his resignation. In no manner is he to be held re- sponsible for the disasters which subsequently en-ued.
fully carried out. Gen. Grant then and there unques- tionably received his first nomination for the Presi- dency. It is unnecessary to follow the subject of this sketch through a period of subsequent efforts to main-
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CITY OF TRENTON.
tain the success and integrity of the party. His term as clerk of the Supreme Court having expired in 1872, he gladly relinquished the position (the duties of which had increased fivefold) to a Democratic successor, thus yielding to the fate of war, but not to injustice. Every department of his intricate and re- sponsible office was left in perfect order.
The passage of the act for compulsory education, and the last and seemingly impossible vote requisite to sustain Governor Bedle's veto of a bill involving the unnecessary expenditure of several millions of dollars, are due to Mr. Smith's efforts. He was also appointed to succeed Governor Olden as one of the commissioners to enlarge the State-House. Although the appropriation was exceedingly small, the edifice was not only substantially constructed, but an uncx- pended balance of appropriation returned to the treas- ury. The commissioners received no compensation, but were commended by the Governor in his annual message. He also participated in the Centennial celebration in Trenton ; the plan, and with incidental aid, most of the details (except those especially per- taining to the ladies) were entrusted to him. The affair was regarded as the most brilliant and success- ful of the kind ever attempted in the State.
Mr. Smith's early editorial training wedded him to the pen, and in his leisure hours he gladly turns to literature. Besides contributing to the press, he has achieved literary reputation in this country and Great Britain. Among flattering recognitions may be mentioned his election as a member of the distin- guislied Powysland Historical Society of Wales, cor -; responding member of the New England Historie and Genealogical Society of Boston, and honorary mem- ber of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Many of the principal colleges and public libraries solicited and received copies of his historical, genealogical and biographical works. He visited Wales in re- sponse to cordial invitation from the secretary of the Powysland Society, and was entertained and con- ducted through the most attractive portions of that beautiful and historically interesting country. Hc has been remembered as a friend by the soldiers, who have made him honorary member of several of their associations, and decorated him with their badges ; and on personal grounds he was tendered the position of aide-de-camp by the Governor. Of late he has offici- ated as foreman of the United States grand jury. Since retiring from office he has twice made extensive tours through the most interesting portions of Europe (of which he published accounts), and also various journeys in his own country and Canada. He has ever been fond of aquatic life, and on board his yacht cruised ten summers through the sounds and bays and along the Atlantic coast, thereby becoming familiar with the sea in all its phases. Mr. Smith is domestic in his habits, of late rarely taking part in public affairs unless impelled by sense of duty. Ilis fondness for art has induced him to decorate his
home with many specimens, and an extensive library affords a resource of pleasure he is loath to relinquish. He has long been a member of the Protestant Epis- copal Church, and for some years past a delegate to the Diocesan Convention. That he is an attentive observer of events his history of forty years' political experience abundantly proves. It is from this his- tory we are enabled to condense the merest summary of an earnest life.
WILLIAM YOUNG.
William Young was born at Longnor, county of Staffordshire, England, on the 5th of December, 1801. His youth was spent in farming, and at the age of twenty-one he was apprenticed to a potter's printer. Having applied himself steadily and conscientiously during his apprenticeship, he became foreman of the printing department in John Ridgeway's, Cauldon- place, Shelton, Staffordshire potteries, which position he held until 1842, when, his health failing, he set sail for America. He remained in America until October of that year, when he returned to England with the firm intention of returning the following spring. His wife, however, strongly opposed this movement, and he consented to stay at home and pursue his business till such time as his plans could be realized. Here he began the manufacture of yel- low ware, and prospering in this, he entered upon the production of white earthen and queensware. His snecess in this undertaking was so encouraging that he was induced to form a partnership for the further extension of the work, known as the firm of Clem- entson, Young & Jemison. The firm sct out with the brightest prospect of success, but finding it un- profitable, after four years' experience, he withdrew.
His desire for America still continuing he set sail, hoping in the new country to retrieve his losses, and landed in Philadelphia in the spring of 1848.
After spending some time here experimenting he moved to the Fish House, four miles from Camden, on the Camden and Amboy Railroad, where, in the wilds, they dug the clay, made the brick, and built the kiln, with the intention of making yellow and Rockingham ware.
After a varied experience, thic lack of funds, un- healthfulness of the situation, and many insur- mountable difficulties compelled him to abandon the undertaking.
In the mean time, however, he had been solicited by Mr. Charles Fish, of South Amboy, to build a ' potter's kiln for Parkes & Moore. laving construc- ted the kiln to their entire satisfaction, the firm offered the whole family work, and they removed to South Amboy. Here he continued his experiments on the production of white ware exclusively from American material.
A little later a better position was offered him as manager for Mr. Charles Cartilage, a manufacturer of
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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
door poreclain, ete., and he accepting, they removed to Greenpoint, L. I. Being desirous of entering into this business for himself, he purchased a prop- erty at Astoria, L. I., with this intention.
In the mean time Mr. Charles Hattersley had built a small pottery, with a kiln six feet in diameter, at the present site of the City Pottery, corner of Perry and Carroll Streets, Trenton, N. J. At the solicita- tion of Mr. Hattersley, Mr. Young, in October, 1853, took a lease on the same for five years, and formed a copartnership of the following persons: William Young, Sr., Richard Millington, Edward Young, John Astbury, John Young, and William Young, Jr.
The business of the firm was prosperous from the outset, but the firm, preferring to expend their means on their own property, purchased a piece of land on the Delaware and Raritan Canal, at the present site of the Willits Manufacturing Company, and com- meneed operations in the spring of 1857.
In this new undertaking they added to the manu- facturing of hardware trimmings a general assort- ment of earthen or queensware.
In 1858, Messrs. Millington and Astbury withdrew, and the firm was reorganized, Mr. Young associating himself with his sons, Edward, John, and William, the firm-name being William Young & Sons.
In 1870 he retired, leaving the management of the extensive concern to the junior partners.
Mr. John Young having died, his brothers, Edward and William, purchased the entire coneern, and eon- tinued the business till February, 1879, when they disposed of it to the Willits Manufacturing Company. After Mr. Young's retirement, the firm-name re- mained the same till his deeease, when it became Wm. Young's Sons.
William Young died July 23, 1871.
Mr. Young was a man of very fine physique and remarkable character. His great perseverance was shown in carrying everything he undertook to a sue- cessful issue in the face of almost insurmountable difficulties.
The trials of early potting in this country (un- known at the present time) never daunted him, and the sueeesses which he afterward achieved in this line found him as modest and persevering as ever.
In business matters, especially of a financial ehar- aeter, lie was strict and exaet. He was a good hus- band, a kind father, was loved by all his acquaint- anees, and honored and respeeted by his employés.
i
Mr. Yourg elaimed to be the pioneer manufacturer of white ware in Trenton, N. J., and perhaps made the first white earthenware entirely of American material in this country. The first production was a large order of bowls to be used as substitutes for strawberry boxes. The second firing of these was done in Specler & Taylor's pottery, which fact, he thought, has led to their claim as the first producers.
In 1854 he received for his exhibit of white porce- lain door furniture and hollow-ware at the Franklin
Institute, Philadelphia, a first preminm silver medal. He was also awarded a diploma at the succeeding exhibition of the same institute for his "general as- sortment of porcelain, eream color, blue-edged. and dipped wares," the highest prize awarded at the see- ond 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."
WILLIAM BAKER.
William Baker was born in Lawrenee township, Mereer Co., N. J., Oet. 24, 1828, on the homestead where his great-grandfather, Samuel Baker, with a bachelor brother Timothy, resided and died, and where his grandfather William and father Timothy also spent their lives as farmers. William, the grand- father, born May 25, 1778, married Mareia Hendrick- son, born May 22, 1778, by whom he had ehildren,- Timothy, Mary, Charity, Elizabeth, and Sarah A., the widow of Stephen Brearley, of Lawrenceville.
Timothy, father of William Baker, born June +, 1799, died Aug. 31, 1835. His wife, Sarah Reeder, born Feb. 25, 1807, died Ang. 4, 1836, and bore him the following children : William, subjeet of this sketel ; John E., died young ; and Charles R.
William Baker remained on the homestead until ' sixteen years of age, where he spent his time in the routine of farm labor and attending the sehool of his native place. At that age he beeame a elerk in a dry-goods store at Princeton, where he remained for eiglit years and beeame thoroughly eonversant with that business. He then established a general mer- eantile business on his own account at that place, which he continued until 1857, when he removed to Trenton, and under the firm-name of Baker & Bro- ther earried on a sueeessful dry-goods trade until the death of his brother, Charles R. Baker, in 1878, since which time he has been in business alone. Mr. Baker is one of the leading and largest dry-goods merchants in Trenton, and has devoted thirty-eight years of his active business life to this one pursuit. He is a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Trenton, and interested in the various enterprises and pros- perity of the city. His wife, Mary E. Keeler. a native of New York, whom he married Feb. 9. 1859, is a daughter of Nathan Keeler, who was a grocery merchant in Trenton for several years prior to his decease. Nathan Keeler's wife was Sarah A. Chur- nar, whose father was a native of Franee, and settled in Monmouth County, N. J.
The only child of William and Mary E. Baker is Frank S., in business with his father.
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CITY OF TRENTON.
JOSEPH McPHERSON.
His father was Joseph MePherson, who resided at ! an early day at New Hampton, Hunterdon Co., N. J. He was a shoemaker by trade, and died about 1813. Hle married Maria, daughter of John Brown, who left New York City upon its occupation by the British during the Revolution, and located at Quakertown, Hunterdon Co., where he passed the remainder of his days. He was also by trade a shoemaker. The
he assisted in the organization of the Greene Street Church, and was a member and trustce of that body for more than twenty years.". He was one of the first members of the State Street Methodist Episcopal Church, and has been a member of the board of trus- tees since its organization.
Mr. McPherson's first wife was Rebecca Sitman, of Burlington County, whom he married in 1835, and who died in 1857. The children were four in numi- children of Joseph and Maria McPherson were six in . ber, namely, Maria, wife of William S. Middleton, of the First National Bank, Trenton; William, a prae- tieing physician of Patterson, now dead ; Rebecca, deccascd; and Charles, deccased. Mr. MePherson for fifty years cashier of the Mount Holly Bank, who is his present wife.
number, viz .: Sarah, who married Joseph Bowlby, of New Hampton; Elizabeth, who married George P. Apgar, of Hunterdon County; John; George, who resides in New York City ; Thomas, living in Tren- , married, in 1859, Elizabeth, daughter of John Beatty, ton ; and Joseph, the subject of this sketch. Mrs. McPherson died in 1837, aged fifty-seven years.
Joseph, our subject, was born at New Hampton, N. J., Feb. 17, 1810. He passed his earliest years on a farm near his native place, receiving ouly a common- school edneatiou. In May, 1821, he removed to the city of Trenton, and about the age of fourteen be- came an apprentice to the trade of a harness-maker with John C. Bellerjeau, of that eity. He remained with Mr. Bellerjeau until he attained his majority, when he embarked in business on his own account in a small shop on State Street (then called Market or Second Street), that stood where his present building now is, at No. 63 State Street. After two years of close labor Mr. McPherson, with the assistance of friends, purchased the lot occupied by his shop, and erected thereon the present structure, with the exeep- tion of such alterations as have since been made. For eighteen years he occupied it as a residence, as well as a place of business.
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Mr. MePherson has remained upon his present site during the past fifty years, and is one of the oldest and best known of the staid, substantial business men of Trenton. His business now ineludes the wholesale hardware and trunk business, as well as saddlery and harness-making. He has been intimately related to the growth and development of the city of Trenton for more than half a century, and is held in universal respeet. He was one of the originators of the First National Bank of Trenton, and has been a member of the board of directors since the organization of that institution. He was also one of the projectors of the People's Fire Insurance Company of Trenton, and one of the early directors of that corporation." He was one of the charter members of Concordia Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Trenton, and is a Past Grand of that body, and an ancient Odd-Fellow. He is one of the owners of the Trenton Terra-Cotta Works, and is in- terested in other local institutions and enterprises.
JOHN R. DILL.
His father, George Dill, a noble-hearted and thor- oughgoing business man of Trenton two generations ago, was president of the Mechanics' Bank for many years, and served that institution officially without fee or reward save the satisfaction of knowing that he had done his duty. He lived to be over eighty years of age, and his wife, Ann Redinger, also passed fourscore years.
John R., son of George Dill. spent his life in Trenton, where he died Oct. 17, 1880, in the seventy- seventh year of his age. He was a retired gentleman, living upon an ample inheritance, and therefore had time to devote himself largely to matters that benc- fited the city. In the earlier part of his life he was quite an active politician, and in 1823 he was an ardent supporter of Gen. Jackson. Upon the organization of the old Whig party he bceame an active member of it, and served frequently on important committees. He was one of the three representatives of the county of Mercer in the house of Assembly in 1849, and in 1861 and 1862 represented the First Ward of the city in the Common Couneil. Upon the organization of the Republican party in 1855 and 1856 he took an active part. During the latter part of his life he gave very marked attention to the church of his choice,-the Trinity Protestant Episcopal,-and for several years was officially identified with it as vestry- man and warden. He was known to the people of Trenton as a man of high moral sentiment and strict integrity in all his business relations, and a contrib- utor to the worthy enterprises of the city, in one of which, "The Children's Home," he took an espee- ially lively interest. One brother, William, died at the age of forty; one sister, Elizabeth, died in Ln- zernc, Switzerland; and one sister is widow of the late Ogden Wilkinson, of Trenton.
Mr. McPherson has always been a zealous and active supporter of the temperanee causc, and in church and evangelical work has always felt a deep John R. Dill was nnited in marriage May 30, 1850. to Catherine, daughter of Pearson Yard and Ann dry-goods merchant of that eity for fifty years, and interest. When a young man he was a member of the board of trustees of Bethesda Methodist Episcopal , Cook, of Philadelphia. Her father was a well-known Church, Greene and Academy Streets. Subsequently
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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
died in 1869, aged about eighty-two years. Her mother died in the cighty-fifth year of her age. Mrs. Dill's paternal ancestors were of English origin, were early settlers on Long Island, and subse- quently in New Jersey.
She was one of the founders of the Children's Home, and treasurer and manager of it for twenty years and until the death of her husband. She was one of the founders of the "Widow's Home" in Trenton, and is one of the managers, and contributes liberally of her time and means to the support of kindred objects.
DR. CHARLES L. PEARSON.
The progenitor of his family came from Wales in the latter part of the seventeenth century, and settled in Delaware County, Pa., and a portion of the Pearson property upon which he settled has remained in posses- sion of the family since, and is now (1882) owned by the subject of this sketch. The Pearsons are Qua- kers, and the ancestors were close adherents to their religious belief.
brother was Aaron D. Woodruff, onee an attorney- general for the State of New Jersey. Their children are Charles L. and George W. Pearson.
WILLIAM WOOD.
Robert Wood, a eloth manufacturer of Halifax, England, set on foot a movement to raise a small colony and settle in America, and preparations were nearly completed for sailing when the war for the in- dependenec of the colonies broke out and thwarted his plans. His wife Elizabeth Ingham bore him children,-Aaron, Moses, John, Robert, Bathsheba (died in Baltimore), Mary, and Hannah. His property was entailed and left to his eldest son, Aaron.
Moses, father of our subject, born in Halifax, Eng- land, in 1765. married Jane Bielby, and in 1819, with his wife and eight children, sailed in the ship " Mary Ann Isabella," landed at Philadelphia, after a voyage of nine weeks and four days, and settled at Wilkes- barre, Pa. There he purchased some three hundred acres of land, over one-third of which has been made a part of the city, and the remainder developed into valuable coal lands. Moses Wood was a man of su- perior business ability, and brought with him three thousand dollars in gold, which he deposited in a Philadelphia bank upon his arrival, but while pros- pecting in the valley of the Wyoming for land the bank failed, and Mr. Wood was obliged to depend upon home resources to complete his purchase at Wilkesbarre. In the settlement of the affairs of the bank he, however, realized a part of the value of his money, which made him the owner of some two thou- sand aeres of land in Bradford County, Pa. Moses
Isaae Pearson, grandfather of Dr. Pearson, resided in Philadelphia; was a merchant. He was patriotic and zealous in the cause of the independence of the col- onies, although shut in the city when in possession of the British. He died about 1818, aged seventy years. His wife's mother was a Miss Cresson, whose ances- tors came to this country in 1604. His only surviving son was Isaac L., who after his father's death con- tinucd mercantile business for a short time, and in 1850 settled in Trenton, N. J., built the residence now the homestead of Dr. Pearson, and there resided until his death in 1864 at the age of eighty-two years. He ' Wood resided on his farmi at Wilkesbarre for many was a man of strict integrity, retiring in his ways, years after his settlement there, and educated his sons and of correct habits. His wife, Abigail Cooper, a in habits of industry, economy, and a knowledge of farming, and spent the latter part of his life in the native of Monmouth County, died in 1857, leaving one surviving child, the subject of this sketch. Dr. . city, where he died in 1853, at the age of eighty-eight Charles L. Pearson, a native of Philadelphia, was years. His wife died about 1852, at the age of seventy- two years. He inined coal on his own lands and shipped it down the Susquehanna River in arks as early as 1823. and was among the first miners of coal about Wilkesbarre, although then it was an unprofit- able business. His property was divided at his death among his children, and all of his sons became sue- cessful merchants and business men of Wilkesbarre. educated at the Moravian school at Nazareth Hall, near Bethlehem, Pa., and in the schools in Philadel- phia. He studied medicine with the late Dr. James B. Coleman, of Trenton, attended lectures and further prosecuted his studies in the Medical Department at Yale College, and received an honorable diploma from the State Medical Society of New Jersey in 1844. Dr. Pearson has since lived a retired life in Trenton, The children are Sarah, deceased ; John B., born in 1803, was a wealthy merchant and banker, and died at tlic age of seventy five years; Moses, de- ecased ; William, born July 5, 1807 ; Abrain, died in Trenton, N. J .; Mary, wife of Sanford E. Parsons, of Wilkesbarre, deceased; I-aac, a merchant, settled in Trenton about 1868; Matthew, died in Wilkesbarre, in 1875; Anna MI., became the wife of James Jones, cashier of the Wyoming National Bank of Wilkes- barre ; and the youngest, Esther E., residing in Tren- ton. and never practiced his profession, although he has given much attention to reading and study. He is a director of the Trenton Banking Company, one of the managers of the Trenton Savings Institution, a direc- tor of the Star Rubber Company, and he was one of the originators of the Dundee Manufacturing Com- pany at Passaie, N. J., of which he is a director. His wife, Mary, whom he married in 1844, is a daughter of the late George Woodruff, a native of Ewing town. ship, an eminent lawyer of Georgia, and once United States district attorney of that State, and whose i William, son of Moses Wood, received a fair edu-
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Charles Le. Pearsonf
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Usase Hoode
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CITY OF TRENTON.
cation and thorough business training during his boy- hood. In 1826, at the age of nineteen, he married Jane, daughter of Edward Parkinson, a native of England, who came to Wilkesbarre subsequent to the settlement of the Woods. Seemingly inheriting the enterprise of his father, in common shared by his brothers, immediately after his marriage he purchased eight acres of land adjoining the city of Wilkesbarre, laid it out into lots and streets, disposed of them, thereby founding the village of Woodville, christened by that name at a public meeting of the citizens called for the purpose by the eminent writer and his- torian, Charles Miner. Subsequently Mr. Wood en- gaged in the mercantile business in the city, but after two years he, in 1836, removed to Mount Carmel, III., traveling the entire distance in a private carriage, the journey taking six weeks. There he engaged in mercantile business on a large scale for a new coun- try, established several stores, and near there founded a post-office. He continued business there for ten years, taking large quantities of the produce and pork of the country in exchange for his goods, which he shipped to Eastern and Southern markets.
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