History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I, Part 70

Author: Shaw, William H
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: [United States :]
Number of Pages: 840

USA > New Jersey > Essex County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I > Part 70
USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I > Part 70

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Mr. Gifford made a valuable contribution to the legal literature of New Jersey in his " Digest of the Statutory and Constitutional Constructions, etc., with an Index to the Statutes at Large." The work shows a vast amount of labor and painstaking. Although nowise an office- secker, he was, in 1×36, appointed by President Jackson, collvetor of customs for the port of Newark, N. J., which office he held for twelve Years and in 1843 he was elected a member of the Common Council. For many years he was a promi- nout member of New Jersey Historical Society, and made numerous valuable contributions to its collec- tions. Of Trinity Church he was, for more than twenty years, senior warden, and his interest in re- ligious matters is shown by a work written and pub- lished by him entitled " Unison of the Liturgy." During the greater part of his life he was a man of robust health, and seemed to enjoy nothing better than a walk from Newark to Trenton, a distance of fifty miles, which he often accomplished in going to and from the sessions of the Supreme t'ourt. The even- ing before his death he supped cheerfully with his family, and retired as usual ; but early the next moru- ing, May 13, 1559, in the sixty-fourth year of his age, lie died.

ASA WHITEHEAD was born in the township of Livingston, Essex Co., N. J., in 1793. Here he spent his early years upon a farm owned and occupied by his father, Mr. Silas Whitehead. He became a law student in the office of Hon. Theodore Freling- huysen, at Newark, and in IsIs was admitted to the bar. His father, who was at that time clerk of the county of Essex, died the following year, and the son was commissioned by the Governor to fill the vacancy. At the meeting of the Legislature in 1519, he was regularly appointed clerk, and being reap- pointed in 1824, he held the office for the period of ten years. t)n retiring from the elerkship he devoted himself entirely to the practice of his profession, and soon took rank as a judicious counselor and an able advocate.

260

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

In the years 1833 and 1834 he was a member of the General Assembly, and in 1848 was elected a member of the State Senate for three years. In 1840 he was one of the delegates from New Jersey to the Whig Convention in Harrisburg, which nominated Gen. Harrison for the Presidency. Although on that occasion his vote was given for Gen. Scott, he cordially supported tien. Harrison at the election, and aided materially in securing for him the vote of New Jersey. He died May 26, 1860, and at a meet- ing of the bar of Essex County, on the 29th day of that month, the following, among other resolutions, was adopted :

" Resolved, That sound legal acquirements, great industry, untiring zeal for his clients, uniform courtesy to opponenta, habitual respect to courts, large conscientioustiess, spotless integrity and blameless life were the traits of our friend, and we cherish their memory as precious proofs et rare and upright character."

ELIAS VAN ARSDALE, JR., was born in Newark, N. J., in ISO1, and was graduated from the College of New Jersey, at Princeton, in 1819. After reading law in his father's office, he was admitted to the bar in 1822, and immediately commenced the practice of his profession. In 1827 he was appointed clerk of Essex County, and continued to perform the duties of that office until 1839, when he resumed his practice. In 1846, on the death of his father, who was president of the State Bank of Newark, Mr. Van Arsdale was death, which occurred January 27, 1854. The following resolution, adopted, among others, at a meeting of the bar of Essex County, shows the esteem in which he was held :

" Resolved, That the integrity of purpose, acuteness and discrimination of mind which illustrated the life of our deceased brother, and rendered him a safe and reliable counselor, indicate his professional career as one worthy of emulating by every earnest lover of truth and faithful prac-

titioner in the courts of New Jersey, and that his engacity and sound | Railroad and Transportation Company, and as soon judgment in matters of public interest gave his opinions great weight in the community in which he resided ; and his gentlemanly deportment in hut- intercourse with his fellows by kindnew of heart and sympathy for the pour will long remfer his memory cherished and established."

HENRY ROGERS was born in Newark, N. J., Janu- ary 27, 1800. In that city he received his preparatory instruction, and was graduated from the College of New Jersey in 1819. Soon after he entered, as a stu- dent, the office of Joseph C. Hornblower, Esq., subse- quently chief justice, and in 1822 was admitted to the bar. Ile opened an office in the city of Newark, but more for the transaction of his own private business than for the practice of law. Mr. Rogers was a great student, very fond of reading, unmarried, and in easy circumstances. Hle died December 30, 1858.

CALEB II. ANDRESS was born in Newark, N. J., in 1500, and was the chlest son of Gen. Isaae Andruss, of that place. In 1820 he was graduated from the College of New Jersey, at Princeton, and soon after entered, as a student-at law, the office of Hon. Theodore Freling- huysen, at Newark. In 1823, having been admitted to

the bar, he began the practice of his profession in his native place. In 1842 he was appointed a police justice, a position which he held for many years. lle was also judge of the Court of Common Pleas, the duties of which office he discharged with so much satisfaction that at the expiration of his term every lawyer of the city signed a petition for his reappoint- ment. Mr. Andruss was well versed in the law, and was held in high esteem by the members of the legal profession. Ile fell a victim to the cholera August 26, 1854, one of his grandchildren lying dead in the house at the time, and, what rendered the event still more sad, his estimable widow died of the same disease on the following day.

ASHBEL WHEELOCK COREY was born in Cald- well, Essex Co., N. J., February 12, 1798. His father was from Connecticut, and his mother was Lydia Harrison of Caldwell. He applied himself, at a very early age, to reading and study, showing a remark- able aptitude to mathematics. His earnest desire to improve his mind attracted the attention of the pas- tor of the church which his parents attended, Rev. Stephen R. Grover, who gave him every encourage- ment, and even became his instructor in the Greek and Latin languages, in both of which he made con- siderable advances. In time he became a student in the office of Hon. Silas Whitehead, clerk of the county of Essex, and having read law during the elected to that office, and held it to the time of his | prescribed term, applied for an examination, and

was admitted to the bar in February, 1826. He now established himself as a practitioner in Newark, N. J., and soon, by reason of his remarkable intelligence and energy, gained a high reputation as a lawyer. In the spring of 1827 he became associated in practice with the late John P. Jackson, a partnership which continued for a short time. Mr. Corey took a great interest in securing the charter of the New Jersey

as that charter had been granted, in 1832, by the Leg- islature, he took an active part, as one of the com- missioners in obtaining subscriptions to the capital stock. This was accomplished by the 3d of May of the same year, and on the 4th of the following month he was elected one of the board of direc- tors of that corporation. His great activity did not allow him to be a mere looker-on in this enterprise. Although as early as September, 1834, regular trips were made upon the road between Newark and New York, yet the Bergen Cut was not completed until January, 1838. The rapid furtherance of this work seemed to absorb all the time and attention of Mr. Corey. He left nothing undone to bring this important undertaking to a speedy and successful termination. Scarcely a day passed that he was not upon the ground hastening the operations by his ad- vice and presence. It is supposed that in this way he laid the foundation of the disease under which he suffered during the latter years of his life. Hoping that a Southern climate might restore his health, he

261

THE BAR OF ESSEX COUNTY.

spent, with his family, two successive winters in the West Indies, but with no good result, and he finally died of consumption, May 9, 1839. He was fond of agriculture, and upon his settlement in Newark pur- chased some farms in fine locations which upon the growth of the city were occupied by some of the most elegant buildings in the State. In 1827 he married AAnna Elizabeth, daughter of Caleb W. Bruen, by whom he had two sons and two daugh- ters, of whom the two daughters only survive. The elder, Anna Elizabeth, is the wife of Mr. George T. Baldwin, of Newark, N. J.

without exception, of integrity unquestioned and unquestionable, and telings habitually kind and generous, the State A citizen of pure life und unwavering honesty, distinguished at once by his justice and liberality, always ready at the call of the public to amune trusts for their Iw.nefit, all nevor in theme frusta ford wanting , his friends and family uno when short life has been so passed as to justify them in pride at their connection with him, and love and wlmiratton for hus private virtues, while his douth myone and calm in the confidence of a certain faith, in the comfort of a remainable, religions and holy hope, in favor with his Girl, and in perfect charity with all men, is to them indeed a lens, but to him the highest gain."

JOHN P. JACKSON was born in Aquackanonck, Passaie Co., in 1805. He received a good preparatory «duration and was graduated from the College of

Artikel W. Gowy

ORANGE W. Ktx, a highly respected lawyer of Newark, N. J., died in that city October 17, 1813, at the age of forty years. He was admitted to the bar in 1826, and practiced many years in that city, where he also took a prominent part in public affairs. In 1837 he was a member of the Common Council, and also served in other positions of honor and trust.

At a meeting of the bar of Essex County held on the day following his death, Chief Justice Horn- blower presiding, the following among other reso- lutions, was adopted :

" Resolved, That In the death of Orange W. King, Esq., of this city, the bar, the State and his numerous personal friends are ulike called to mourn,-the har a round and able practical lawyer, of dementor courteous

New Jersey, Princeton, in 1823. In 1>27 he was admitted to the bar, and soon after became engaged in a successful practice, in partnership with the late Ashbel W. Corey and Amzi Armstrong. In 1831, at the early age of twenty-six, he was elected a mem- ber of the General Assembly of the State, and the following year was re-elected and chosen speaker of that body. In 1839 he was appointed clerk of Essex County, and thereupon retired from the practice of his profession. Reappointed in 1844, he continued to hokl the office for another term of five years, and soon after was chosen vice-president and manager of the New Jersey Railroad. The advancement of this already successful enterprise at once absorbed

262

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

all his time and attention, and to his great energy and sagacious management, that company is largely indebted for its great prosperity. Its interests seemed to be so thoroughly identified with his own that in the State Council, and was for some years one of it was not unusual to hear it spoken of as "John P. the judges of the Court of Errors and Appeals. Hle died April 16, 1845, at Petersburg, Va., where he was at the time a sujourner for the benefit of his health. At a meeting of the bar of Essex County soon after his death, the following, among other reso- Jutions, was adopted : Jackson's Road." It is believed that the great anxi- ety and excitement to which he was subjected amid the legislative aud legal controversies attending the establishment of a new route between Newark and New York did much to occasion the malady of which he died. December 10, 1861.

Notwithstanding the continual draft upon his time and energies, Mr. Jackson did not neglect his duty as a good citizen and a Christian man. He was a leading member of the First Presbyterian Church, and superintendent of its Sabbath-school for several years, and during the latter part of his life filled a similar position in the South Park Presbyterian Church, of which he was one of the founders. Ile was at one time a truster of the State Normal School, and was appointed one of the visitors to the West Point Academy at one of its examinations.

PHILIP KINGSLEY was born in Brattleboro, Vt., March 28, 1799. lle was admitted to the bar of New Jersey in 1828, and settled as a practitioner in Orange, Essex Co., N. J. For many years he was the only lawyer in the neighborhood, and was highly respected for his legal abilities and strict integrity. Hle died May 24, 1852.

THOMAS D. JAMES Was born at Newark, N. J., March 17, 1806, and wasgraduated from the College of New Jersey in 1826. Ile began the study of law soon after in the office of Elias Van Arsdale, Sr., and was admitted to the bar in November, 1829. On obtaining his license he immediately entered upon the practice of his profession in his native city, where he remained until 1840, when he removed to Alhany, N. Y. Ilere he was engaged in practice until 1868, at which time he retired from professional life, and made his residence at Nassau, Rensselaer Co., N. Y., where he died December 2, 1883. Mr. James mar- ried, March 15, 1836, Mary Ford, daughter of Pruden and Maria Alling, of Newark, N. J.

ROBERT VAN ARSDALE, son of Elias Van Arsdale Sr., was born in Newark, N. J., in 1807, and was graduated from the College of New Jersey in 1826. After spending the time prescribed in the study of law, he was admitted to the bar in the November term of 1829. For several years he continued to practice in his native place, but his tastes being rather for literary and scientific pursuits, he gave up his practice some years before his death, and passed a considerable portion of his time in European travel. He was regarded as an able lawyer and a trusty counselor. His death occurred in the city of New York, Derember 24, 1873.

AMZI ARMSTRONG was born in Mendham, Morris Co., N. J., in 1807, and graduated from the Col- lege of New Jersey in 1826. He entered soon after,

as a student, the office of Hon. Theodore Freling- huysen, and, in 1830 was admitted to the bar. From 1838 to 1840, inclusive, he represented Essex County

" Resolved, That in the public life of Mr. Armstrong as a member of Council of this State for the county of Essex, and one of the Court of Errors and Appeals in the lust resort, we are called upon to admire his unflinching integrity and firmness of purpose in adhering to the right, his clearness of apprehension and statement, his extension and compre- bensiveness of view, his reference to principle without regard to bins of private and local ends, the never absent labor and finish of ull his pro- ductions, and his careful and well-judged investigation of all matters which passed within the range of his official duties."

WILLIAM S. FAITOUTE was born in Newark, N. J., in 1808. After receiving a good education he entered, as a student, the office of William Pennington, Esg., subsequently Governor, and in 1830 was admitted to the bar. Ife began at once the practice of his profes- sion, and continued therein until the year 1833, when he married a daughter of the late Sheldon Smith, the senior partner in the firm of Smith & Wright, pro- prietors of a very extensive saddle and harness manu- factory in the city of Newark, N. J. Mr. Faitoute find- ing his health insufficient for the arduous duties of his profession, was induced to give up his practice and enter the house of Smith & Wright as their office manager. Here, during the financial crisis of 1836 and 1837, he first exhibited the remarkable business talents which distinguished him throughout all his life, and which did much to preserve the credit of that firm during those trying years. Afterwards, as a director of the Mechanics' Bank, he was largely in- strumental in carrying that institution through its financial embarrassments. From the firm of Smith & Wright, of which he had become a member, he re- tired in 1855, with a competency which he afterwards greatly increased. Though an earnest politician, and devoted to the Whig and subsequently the Republican party, he held no public office, except that of alder- man in 1848-50.

Mr. Faitoute was a man of good education and of more than ordinary culture. At the time of his death he was a prominent manager of the Howard's Savings Institution, and President of the Newark Gas-Light Company, to which in his last years he gave much of his time and attention.

JOSEPH CLAY WALLACE, son of William Wallace, elsewhere spoken of in this volume, was born in New- ark, N. J., in 1808. Having been graduated from Columbia College, he entered, as a student-at-law, the office of John P. Jackson, Esq., and in 1831 was nd- mitted to the bar. In consequence of deafness, he never entered upon the practice of his profession, and this affliction probably kept him from taking an active

263

THE BAR OF ESSEX COUNTY

part in public affairs, for which his education and mental qualities would have eminently fitted him. He always led a quiet, unostentatious life, and died in his native city, December 27, 18%1, in his seventy- fourth year.

JOHN RUTHERFORD, son of Robert Walter Ruther- furd, and grandson of John Rutherfurd, a lawyer of New Jersey and a United States Senator, was born at the residence of his maternal grandfather, Lewis Mor- ris, at Morrisania, Westchester Co., N. Y., July 21, 1810. At the age of two and a half years he went to live with his paternal grandfather at Edgerton, Hudson Co., N. J. At nine he was sent to the Newark Academy, and subsequently to Basking Ridge, where he attended the classical institute of Dr. Brownlee. Having completed his preparatory course, he entered Rutgers College, New Jersey, and thence graduated in 1829. Soon after, he became a law student in the office of Elias Van Arsdale, in Newark, and in 1832 was admitted to the bar. His grandfather, now well ad- vanced in age, needing some one to assist him in the care and management of his large landed estate, Mr. Rutherford gave up the practice of the law, in which he had been for two years engaged, and went to Edgerton, where he re- mained until his grand- father's death. The im- mense property of which he now became the sole manager en- gaged all his time and attention, and in every direction he was called upon to take a part in the further- ance of railroad companies and other organizations in which his large landed interests were more or less involved. He became a prominent manager in the Pequest Valley Railroad, and a direetor in the Mid- land Railroad; he was president of the Tuckerton Railroad, in Ocean County; president of the New Jersey Coal Company; president of the Council of Proprietors for the Eastern Division of New Jersey ; director of the Sussex Railroad and of various other enterprises of a similar character. But notwith- standing the labor incidental to these important trusts, he gave much attention to matters which grati- fied his tastes and called forth his scholarly attain- ment. As a director of the New Jersey Agri cultural

Society, he did all in his power to increase its efli- ciency. As a member and vice-president of the New Jersey Historical Society, he left nothing undone to advance the objects for which it was created, and its shelves and cabinets give abundant evidence of his generosity and excellent judgment. He was a regular attendant at its meetings, and an earnest and eloquent speaker whenever the occasion demanded.

Laden with responsibilities so great, Mr. Ruther- furd was, nevertheless, always cheerful and always at care. He was, in the best sense of the word, a gentle - man. No offensive word ever escaped his lips. The proudest found in him an equal, and the humblest found in him a friend. Of vigorous body, as he was of vigorous mind, it was natural to believe, even in his last sickness, that he had, comparatively speak- ing, many years of life yet before him; but this sick- ness seized upon him far away from home, and the desire to return and the long, trying journey that was inevitable proved too much even for his grand constitution. He reached his home in Newark only to die, and this painful event took place on the 21st of November, 1872. Ilis remains were buried close by those of his father and mother, in the yard of Christ Church, Belleville, N. J.

ALEXANDER C. M. PEN- XINGTON, brother of Dr. Samuel 11. Pennington andof Jabez P. Pen- nington, Esq., was born in Newark, N. J., July 2, 1810. His father was Sam- uel Pennington, a brother of Governor William S. Pennington, all being descendants of Ephraim Pen- nington, who came from England and settled in New Haven in 1643.

At the age of sixteen young Alexander entered the United States Military Academy, at West Point, but at the expiration of two years resigued his cadetship, and entered upon the study of law. In 1833 he was admitted to the bar of New Jersey, and soon after began to practice in Newark, N. J. Iu 1837, 1838 and 1840 he was a member of the Common Council of that city. During the year> 1537 and 1838 he was a member of the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey. In 1852 he was elected to the United States House of Representatives, and in 1854 was re-

264

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

elected to the same office. For a number of years he" was brigadier-general, commanding the Essex Bri- gade. In 1857. Gen. Pennington removed to New York City, where he continued in the practice of his profession until the time of his death, which occurred Jannary 25, 1867. His remains were buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Newark, N. J.

WALTER RUTHERFORD. younger brother of John Rutherford, elsewhere noticed in this volume, was born at the residence of his grandfather, Senator John Rutherford, at Edgerton, Hudson Co., N. J. With a goud preliminary education he entered Rutgers College, and was graduated from that institution in 1831. Soon thereafter he studied law with Abra- ham O. Zabriskie, Esq., subsequently chancellor of New Jersey. In 1834 he was admitted to the bar as an attorney, and in 1836 as a counselor-at-law. Al- though a resident of New Jersey, his practice was chiefly in the courts of New York. Mr. Rutherford was prominently identified with the interests of his native State, and especially with those of the city of Newark, where he spent the latter portion of his life, and where he died. Originally a Henry Clay Whig, he naturally became a Republican, and a recognized leader of that party in the State. While he never held, or even sought, public office, he used every effort to place suitable men in the public service. Ile was the framer of the present registry law, and of many legislative acts of local importance. Trinity Church of Newark numbered him among its most useful members, and frequently sent him as a delegate to the Diocesan Convention.

Mr. Rutherfurd died January 10, 1868, and the fact having been announced in the Court of Common Pleas of Essex County, that body adjourned after ap- pointing a committee to draft appropriate resolutions. One of the resolutions, reported and adopted a few days after, is as follows :

" Resolved, That in the death of Walter Rutherford, New Jersey has lost a citizen, and her har a brother where long cannot adequately bn mourned ; though his professional life was mainly spent elsewhere, his affiliations were with the State of his birth and lineage, of whowe welfare he was always thoughtful, and he lalwred for it with a constancy of pur- posse, a zeal and industry which showed that he was not happy unless striving to be useful. Hence his intercourse with the public men of New Jerry, and eggs cinlly with her har was active, although he was more frequently engaged in the courts of New York than in our own. But when among us professionally it was not difficult to recognize his activity, his indefatigable research, his learning, skill, nud the high tone of his character. In private life, where we of the lar saw him most, he was beyond praise ; none could know him without appreciating his geniality ha kindness of heart, manner and act, his generosity and the liberality and loftiness of his opinion. " An Israelite, indeed, in whom was no guile, " he adorned the profession of the religion of the Gospel by the monat exhibition of all its virtues. Such men as he are none the fra to be mourned because in daily life their unassuming worth in so Inadequately valued."

JOHN IL. WOODHULL was born about 1812 and was a'lmittel to the bar in 1834. Ile established himself as a practitioner in Newark, N. I., where he died November 12, 1839, at the early age of twenty-seven.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I, Part 70

Author: Shaw, William H Publication date: 1884 Publisher: [United States :] Number of Pages: 840

Author: Shaw, William H
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: [United States :]
Number of Pages: 840