History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II, Part 101

Author: Shaw, William H
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: [United States :]
Number of Pages: 830

USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II > Part 101
USA > New Jersey > Essex County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II > Part 101

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William A. Lewis, the subject of this sketch, attended school at Freehold Institute, in New Jersey, receiving an academic education. He then prepared for college and entere l Madison University, at Ilam-

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HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

ilton, N. Y .. in [854, and graduated there in the class of 1859, with the degree of 1.B. He is a charter member of the Mu Chapter of the Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity, and in his senior year was presi- dent of the Adelphian Society, a college literary society.

In the fall of 1559 he commenced the study of law in the office of Hon. James S. Nevius, in Jersey City. late a justice of the Supreme Court, and continued. after Judge Nevins' death, with his nephew, Daniel Voorhies, counselor-at-law, comprising in all a period of one year. In 1860 and 1861 he attended the full course of lectures and study at the Albany Law School, and received the degree of LL.B., and on examination was admitted as attorney and coun- selor to the bar of the State of New York. Thence he returned to Jersey City and completed the course of study requisite in New Jersey in the office of the late Ilon. Isaac W. Scudder, and was admitted to the har of New Jersey as an attorney-at-law at the November term of court, 1862, and as counselor in 1817. Upon admission to the bar of New Jersey, in 1862, he commeneed the practice of law in this State, settling in JJersey City.

In 1863 he formed a partnership with the late Hon. Nathaniel (. Slaight, which continued up tothe latter's death, in February, ISGs, since which time he has practiced his profession alone. In 1863 he received his college degree of A.M. in course.

In 1868 he was appointed attorney and counsel for the city of Bergen, and held the office one year.

In April, 1872, he was elected, in the First District of Jersey City, a member of the Board of Chosen Frecholders of Hudson County, re-elected in 1873, and served two terms as chosen frecholder. During this period important interests of the county came before the board. Mr. Lewis took an active part as member of the board, and by his broad and matured views was a valuable member, and rendered substan- tial service to the county.

In 1872 he was appointed city attorney for Jersey City, succeeding Hon. Jonathan Dixon, holding the office about one year, and was then appointed corpo- ration counsel of Jersey City under the law of 1873. which created the separate offices of attorney and counsel for the city, which law was enacted on recommendation of the "Committee of Twenty-eight," in view of the vast labor devolving on the law depart- ment of the city in the necessary consideration and examination of street and sewer assessments, amount- ing to millions of dollars, then about to be reviewed under the law to adjust unpaid assessments, most of which were claimed to be illegal.

missioners convicted of malfeasance, he was sustained by the Supreme Court and the Court of Errors and Appeals in a written opinion he had given adverse to the opinion of the Attorney-General and the action of the Governor in the premises. The office of eor- poration counsel he held for three years, and resigned in the spring of 1876, and was succeeded by Hon. Leon Abbott.

In June, 1873, he delivered, by invitation, the annual address before the Alumni Association of Madison University, at Hamilton, N. Y. The ad- dress received high encomiums, and was deservedly praised by the Examiner and Chronicle, and the Bap- tist Weekly of that date, in their report of conunence- ment exercises.

In November. 1875, he was elected on the Republi- can ticket a member of the General Assembly from the First Assembly District of Jersey City, then a Democratic distriet, and served as a member of the State Legislature of 1876, the first Legislature held under the amended constitution providing for a sys- tem of general laws. Mr. Lewis devoted all his energies and learning to the important work of that session. Hle drafted and introduced the bill, which passed, making it a penal offense for municipal and other boards to exceed their appropriations, thereby effectively restraining publie boards from a practice which yearly resulted in large deficiencies and accu- mulations of debt. Ile prepared, introduced and advocated the first hill to bridge the "gap " at Wash- ington Street, in Jersey City. On the vital question to Hudson County respecting mortgage taxation, in seeking legislation to relieve mortgages under the amended constitution, Mr. Lewis ably championed the measure on the Hoor of the House, and was styled in the papers the " wheel-horse " of that meas- ure in the Assembly. His legislative services were highly commended. He was spoken of as one of the ablest members of the House, serving with marked credit on several of the most important committees, and occupying a commanding position in the discus- sions on questions of public interest.

In 1XSI he made an address, by invitation, at one of the meetings held in Jersey City on the occasion of the death of President Garfield.

Mr. Lewis is an able lawyer and a good advocate. flis practice is in all the courts, and his clients are numerous.

He is a member of the Baptist Church, and resi- dent of Jersey City.

Ang. 15, 1872, he was married to Virginia H. Post, daughter of Ira Il. and Minerva Post, of Hamilton, N. Y.

JOHN C. BESSON, the subject of this sketch, is descended from French Huguenot stock. His great- great-grandfather on the paternal side was François Besson, one of the first settlers of Hunterdon County, N. .. His son John was an ensign in the patriotic

In the work of sustaining the great bulk of these assessments Mr. Lewis performed very important and valuable public service. The duties of the office of corporation counsel Mr. Lewis discharged with fidelity and marked ability. Notably, on a public question respecting the title to office of police com- army of Washington. He served through the War of

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BENCH AND BAR OF HUDSON COUNTY.

Independence, was honorably discharged, and died on the ancestral homestead at an advanced age.

His son John married Rachel Traut, of Amwell township, Hunterdon Co. Soon after this mar- riage they settled on a farm in Alexandria township, where they reared a family of twelve children, -seven sons and five daughters. Four of The sons John, Jacob, Jeremiah and Theodore-left home at an early age, and making the city of New York their residence, engaged in mercantile pursuits. The re- innining three-Samuel, George and William were farmers, and remained in their native town. Wil- liam, in the year 1835, married Margaret A . daughter of Godfrey and Elizabeth C'ase. To this union were born nine children, four of whom died in infal .y. The death of a daughter, Hannah, occurred after a short illness in September, IsGs. The mother, Mar- garet A., died at nearly the same time. Both were buried on the same day in the church-yard at Mount Pleasant.

William Besson remains active and vigorous at the age of seventy-seven years, still resuling on the farm at Everettstown, Hunterdon Co., which he purchased in the year 1851.

His two living daughters, Mary Elizabeth and Catharine Frances, reside with him. Ilis two sons are John (', the subject of this sketch, and Samuel Austin, also a lawyer of Hoboken, N. J.

John (. Besson was born on the 30th day of April, 1838, in the township of Alexandria, Hunterdon Co., N. J. In early youth he attended the common school, and later enjoyed the advantages of an excel- lent private school, taught by Rev. C. S. Conkling. pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Mount Pleasant, in Hunterdon County. On leaving this school he spent a short time at Cooperstown Seminary. Cooperstown, N. Y., and later one term at Pennington Seminary, New Jersey. He commenced teaching at the age of seventeen years, and continued in that employment about two years, giving general satisfaction to his patrons.

In February, A.D. 1859, he began the study of law under E. R. Bullock, Esq .. and the following year entered the Poughkeepsie Law School, of which John W. Fowler was then president. At the end of the school year he received the degree of LL. B.

During the succeeding two years he continued his legal studies under the direction of Abraham V. Van Fleet, Esq., of Fle mington, then one of the lead- ing lawyers of Hunterdon County, and now senior vice-chancellor of New Jersey.

Both preceptors (Mr. Bullock and Mr. Van Fleet) were men of character and of deservedly high ropu- tation for learning and integrity. Mr. Besson re- members with gratitude their kindness to him, and loves to speak of them in terms of praise.

He was admitted to the bar ns an attorney February term, 1863, and three years later as a counselor-at- Inw.

Immediately after receiving his attorney 's license he began the practice of law at Millville, Cumber- land, Co. N. J.

Charles K. Landis, Faq. the founder of Vineland. was his first chent, by whom he was entrusted with important business as long as he remained in that county. Not satisfied with the business prospects of Cumberland County, in less than a year he returned to his native Hunterdon, and continued the practice of las profession natal April, A. J., If, at which time be removed to the city of Hoboken, in Hudson County.

In this new field, though having few acquaintances, he soon secured a considerable chentage

In May. Ists, he was appointed corporation at- torney of the city of Hoboken, and held the office for six consecutive terms, during which time the city was a party in many important suits.

In the year 1575 he edited and published a collection of law precedents in one volume, adapted to the prar- tive in New Jersey. From the date of his settlement in Hudson Y'ounty to the present time h's civil prac- tive has been constantly increasing.

He is often employed as counsel by the Hoboken Land and Improvement t'ompany.

For several years he has been employed as attorney and counsel by the First National Bank of Hoboken, and also by the North Hudson County Railway Company.

Ou the 22nd day of June, 1868, he married Has- seltine J., daughter of Rev. George P. and Sarah K. Nice, of Baltimore, Md. They have two sons Leonidas H. and John William Rutus.

In politics Mr. Besson has always been a Democrat of the Jeffersonian school.

lle is a member of the Protestant EpiscopalChurch.

ISAAC STUART TAYLOR is a son of the late Rev. Benjamin (.Taylor, D. D., who was pastor of th . Bergen Reformed Church in Jersey t'ity for more than half a century, and one of the celebrated divines of the Reformed denomination. He has two sons, -his eldest, William J. R. Taylor, D.D., is a celebrated chivine settled at Newark ; his younger (the subject of this sketch) was born in Bergen, (now Jersey City) Dec. 14. 1842. He received an academic education. entered Rutgers College, at New Brunswick, and graduated there. He studied law with Hon. A. U. Zabriskie, afterwards chancellor, and was admitted to the bar as an attorney at the June term, 1-64, and as counselor at the November term, 1871. He was engaged in commercial pursuits for four years, and then took up the practice of the law in Jersey City. and has since practiced there, and is now n partier with the llon. A. T. Metiill, Ir. He is a well-rend lawyer, a good advocate and stands well in h's protes- sion, and has a high Christian character.

Mr. Taylor some years since visited Europe for pleasure, and traveled there extensively, and later. under severe mental strain brought on by overwork, his health gave way, and he went to Mexico and d'ali-

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HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

fornia for the recovery of the same, and after return- ing home and engaging in practice for a short time, he felt the necessity for a more prolonged rest, and he re- paired to the Isle of Wight, and spent a considerable time at Ventnor, a celebrated resort on the island. In the winter of 1883, Mr. Taylor gave an illustrated lecture in the lecture-room of the Bergen Reformed Church descriptive of the Isle of Wight, which was highly enjoyed by the congregation. He is now ac- tively engaged in his profession with restored health.

HENRY TRAPHAGEN is descended from one of the original families of Jersey City. Ilis great-grand- father, Henry Traphagen, was a trustee of Queen's College, at New Brunswick, N. J., in 1782; his grand- father, Henry Traphagen, Jr., graduated at Queen's College in the class of 1791, and married a daughter of Cornelius Van Vorst ; his father, Henry M. Trap- hagen, was a gentleman of wide influence in Hud- son County, and participated largely in public affairs.

The subject of this sketch was born June 1, 1842; he received his academie education under the late William L. Dickson, his collegiate education was at Rutgers College. New Brunswick, and at Brown University at Rhode Island. He studied law with the late llon. Isaac W. Scudder, and was admitted to the bar at the November term, 1864, and as a coun- selor at the November term, 1867.

In the spring of 1874 he was elected mayor of Jersey t'ity, and served two years. After retiring from the othee of mayor he was appointed corpora- tion attorney for Jersey City in 1876, and filled that office until 1879. He recently entered into partner- ship with II. M. T. Beekman, under the firm-name of Traphagen & Beckman, and they are now engaged in the practice of the law.

LEON ABBETT. the present Governor of the State of New Jersey, is also a distinguished member of the Hudson County bar. He was born in Philadelphia, Pa., Oct. , 1836. He attended the public schools in Philadelphia. In 1853 he graduated from the High School of that city, and soon thereafter entered the law-office of the Hon. John W. Ashmead, a distin- quished lawver of Philadelphia. He was admitted to the har of the State of New York, and entered into partnership with William J. A. Fuller, and the firm of Fuller & Ableett has been practicing law in New York City for the last twenty-five years. In 1862 Mr. Abbott took up his residence at Hoboken, and was elected corporation counsel of Hoboken in 1863. Hle was admitted to the bar in the State of New Jersey, both as an attorney and counsellor, at June term, 1865.

Assembly, and was re-elected in 1865, and in 1866 be removed to Jersey City. In 1868 he represented the First Jersey City District in the Legislature, and was chosen Speaker of the House. He was returned again from the First District in Jersey City, in 1869, and again chosen Speaker. In the fall of 1874 he was elected to the Senate from Hudson County, and took

his seat in 1875, and served in the Senate for three years. The last year, 1877, he was elected president of the Senate. He was a delegate to the National Democratic Convention at Baltimore in 1872, and was chosen one of its secretaries. In 1876 he was again chosen as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention that convened at St. Louis, and he was again a delegate to the Democratic National Conven- tion which convened at Chicago in July, 1884, and nominated Cleveland and Hendricks for president and vice-president.

Governor Abbett was named during the session of the convention in connection with the vice-presidency. In 1883 he was elected Governor of New Jersey over Jonathan Dixon, a justice of the Supreme Court, the Republican candidate.

Governor Abbett has held several minor offices, he was a member of the Board of Education of Jersey City, and in 1869 was chosen its presiding officer ; he has been corporation counsel for Bayonne City and the town of Union ; in 1876 he was elected cor- poration counsel of Jersey City, and held the office for eight years, and resigned it upon taking the execu- tive chair.

Governor Abbott has taken high rank at the bar of the State, and while he has at the same time been in practice in New York City, he has devoted much of his time to the trial and argument of New Jersey cases in all the courts of the State. He is a sound lawyer and able advocate, and while he has devoted so much of his time to polities and political office, he has always been a lawyer, and has made all his other duties yield to the law, which with him he made the chief avocation of his life, and for this reason he has been so successful at the bar.

ABRAM QUICK GARRETSON, son of Martin Schenck Garretson, was born in Franklin township, Somerset Co., N. J., March 11, 1842. Ile received an academic education entered Rutgers College, and graduated there in the class of 1862. He entered, after gradua- ation, the law-office of the late llon. A. O. Zabriskie afterwards chancellor, and studied with him, except one year, when he attended the Harvard Law School, at Cambridge, Mass. He was admitted to the bar as an attorney at November term, 1865, and as a coun- selor at November term, 1868. He opened his office in Jersey City, and has continued it there ever since.

He was appointed prosecutor of the pleas of Hud- son County by Governor Randolph, Feb. 2, 1869, and was reappointed by tovernor Parker. Feb. 2, 1874, and resigned March 31, 1878, after having held the

In the fall of 1864 he was elected to the House of " office over nine years. It will be observed that Mr.

Garretson had only been at the bar a little over three years when he was appointed prosecutor. The criminal business of Hudson County was very large, and he was to succeed such distinguished lawyers as llon. Isaac W. Seudder and Richard D. Mcclellan, and the question was raised whether it was prudent to put so young a practitioner into so important an

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office. Chancellor Zabriskie wns consulted on this point, and said, " that he is as competent to fill the position as any man of his age in the State." The chancellor's predictions proved true ; upon coming into the office he managed the criminal bu in s with skill and ability, and it can be safely said that he made one of the best prosecutors the county ever had.

He was appointed president judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Hudson County by Governor McClellan, April 1, 1$75, and served a term of five years, resigning (his resignation to take effect at the expiration of lus term) for the purpose of forming a partnership with James B. Vredenburgh, Esg., which firm is still in existence.

Judge Garretson presided over the criminal busi- ness of the county and the business of the Orphans' Court with dignity and dispatch. He was very zealous in upholdling the law for the purpose of punishing crime and protecting the peace of society, and in this he was eminently successful.

It is an interesting historical fact that the ship "Gilded Beaver" brought to this country, in May, 1658, four emigrants, one John Garretson, another William Van Vredenburgh ; it is believe I that these two persons were the ancestors of the members of this law firm.'

WILLIAM BRINKERHOFF is a member of the old Brinkerhoff family of Bergen County. His ancestry resided in that part of Bergen County now embraced in Hudson County. His father, Judge John Brinker- hoff, has been long known for his active Christian work and his public services in Hudson County ; for some time he was a member of the Board of Chosen Frecholders and director of the board, and for the last tourteen years has been almost constantly on the bench as a judge of the Court of Common l'leas.

The subject of this sketch was born in Bergen (now embraced in Jersey City), July 19. 18.13. He received an academic education, and then entered Rutgers College ; he studied law with the late Hon Jacob R. Wortendyke, and was admitted to the bar as an attor- ney at November term, 1565, and as counselor at February term, 1569.

In 1867 he was a member of the Board of Alderrien of Bergen, and was president of that body ; and the office of mayor becoming vacant, he was ex-oficio mayor for the unexpired term. He was a member of the House of Assembly in 1870, and was appointed by Governor Parker a member of the constitutional com- mittee in 1873.

He was a member of the Democratic State Execu- tive Committee from 1880 to 1883. In the fall of 1883 he was elected State Senator from Hudson County for three years, and at the session of 1584 took an active

part in the taxation of railroads and other corpo rations for the benoit of Jersey City and Hudson County In January, 1854, he succce led Governor Leon Abbott as corporation counsel of Jersey City, which office he now holds. He succeeded the Hon Jacob R. Wortendyke as counsel to the Board of Chosen Frechoblers, and hell the office from No- vember, Isiis, to May, 1872 ; and he is a director in the First National Bank. The above -ketch will show that Mr. Brinkerhoff leads a very active and industrious life , he ISa good lawyer, has an extensive clientage, and is highly respected.

ELIJAH T PAXTON was born near Jamesburgh, Middlesex Co., N. J. He wa educated in the pubhe schools of his native county, and at the Englishtown Academy. Hecommenced his legal stud- it's in the office of ex-Governor Joseph D. Bedle, at Frevhold, and completed them at the Harvard Law School at Cambridge, Mass. He was admitted to the New Jersey bar as an attorney at June term, 1866, and has since then been in active practice in Jersey ('ity. He was for several years corporation attorney for U'nion Hill; in 1877 he represented the Fighth District in the House of Assembly. During the lat- ter part of that year he was appointed one of the Common Pleas judges of Hudson County to fill a vacancy raused by the death of Judge John Wiggins. He was elected to the State Senate in the fall of 1850. and took his st at in 1881, and served for Three years. lle is now corporation attorney of Jersey City, and assistant prosecutor of the pleas for Hudson County.

JAMES B. VREDENBURGH is descended from one of the oldest and best-known families in the State of New Jersey. His great-grandfather, Peter Vreden- burgh, kept a store in New Brunswick, and was one of the most influential men in Middlesex County. He was a justice of the peace in 1780, was elected to the Legislature, and served in the Assembly from 17901 (0) 1795, and was county collector of Middlesex County from 1782 to 1823, a period of forty-one years. By Ins industry and high character he elevated his fam- ily to the first position in society, and they have mnin- tained that position ever since.

Peter Vredenburgh had two sons, Rev. John S. Vredenburgh, a celebrated divine, and Peter Vreden- burgh, M.D., who was the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, and who had a son l'eter Vredenburgh, being the third person bearing that name, and who graduated at Rutgers College, studied law at Somer- ville, and settled at Freehold, who rapidly rose in distinction, was prosecutor of the pleas of Monmouth County, served in the Legislature as a member of the council and was associate justice of the Supreme Court for fourteen years, and greatly honored ns a judge, having prepared some of the ablest opinions pronounced in that court while he was upon the bench, and notably the opinion, in the Court of Errors and Appeals, in the case of Proprietors of Bridges ws. Ho- boken Land Company, (2) Beasley R. 504), which per-

1 to the "Gilded Beaver," in May, 100%, comme Charles Van Tien, John Garretson, Cornelius Hun land and Bicam Van Vredenburgh, who was, doubtless, the ancestor of the Vredenburghs who settled along the Raritan. (Early Emigrants to New Nothe land, Itsi 160 ; Doch- mentary History of New York, vol. si., p. 3 )

HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

mitted the Hoboken Land and Improvement Company to bridge the Hackensack and Passaic Rivers for rail- road purposes, the proprietors of the bridges across those rivers claiming a monopoly until Nov. 24, 1 589. Judge Vredenburgh held that the bridge in question was a viaduct for a railway, and not contemplated by the aet of 1790 and the supplements thereto which created the monopoly, and his opinion was sustained by the Supreme Court of the United states.

The subject of this sketch is the third son of Judge Peter Vredenburgh and Eleanor Briukerhoff, his wife, and was born at Freehold, N. J., Oct. 1, 1844. lle was prepared for college and entered the sopho- more class of the College of New Jersey, at Princeton, while he was in the fifteenth year of his age, and graduated in 1863, and immediately took up the study of the law with the late Hon. Aaron R. Throckmorton, at Frecchold, and was admitted to the bar as an at- torney at the June term. 1566, and as a counselor at

soon took high rank as a young lawyer, and so rapid was his rise at the bar that when the Hon. Isaac W. Scudder was elected to Congress in 1872, he selected Mr. Vredenburgh as hi- partner, and made him equal with himself in the profits of the business, and left him in charge of his large and lucrative practice when he had only been seven years at the bar; this partnership continued until the death of Mr. Sendder, in 1ss1, when Mr. Vredenburgh continued the busi- ness, and succeeded Mr. Seudder as counsel to the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. He afterwards took Judge Abram Q. Garretson as his partner, and the partnership still continues. Mr. Vredenburgh Has acted as counsel in many of the most important causes which have gone to the higher courts from this county, both at law and in equity, and when he has not appeared as counsel in the reports, because the rules of the court only allow two counsel on a side, he has assisted in the preparation and trial of the causes, and notably the ease of Sisson vs. Donuelly, the case of Black vs. The United Railroads, being the case in- volving the lease of the railroads of the United Com- panies to the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. He also argued the causes involving the questions of taxing the railroads under the act of 1873.

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History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II, Part 101

Author: Shaw, William H Publication date: 1884 Publisher: [United States :] Number of Pages: 830

Author: Shaw, William H
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: [United States :]
Number of Pages: 830