History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II, Part 102

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 102
USA > New Jersey > Essex County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II > Part 102

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).

He was placed on Governor Bedle's staff, and commis- sioned as an additional aid-de-camp, with the rank of colonel. and is a member of the American Bar Asso- ciation. He is an indefatigable worker, and enjoys the confidence of the community, and has many warm friends.

AtorsTIS ZABRISKIE, youngest son of the late ChanceHor Zabriskie, was born at Hackensack, N. J., March, 1843. He received an academic education, entered the College of New Jersey, at Princeton, and graduated there in the class of 1863, and in due course he received the degree of A.M. He entered the Law School at the University of Harvard, and graduated there in 1866 with the degree of LL. B.

He also studied law in the office of his father, and was admitted to the bar as an attorney at June term 1×66, and as counselor at June term. 1869.

He resides in Jersey City, and has been a practi- tioner at the Hudson County bar for the last eighteen years ; is a member of the firm of L. & A. Zabriskie, and transacts a considerable part of the business of that firm, being a well-read lawyer. He is a director in the Hudson County National Bank.

ABEL 1. SMITH is descended from one of the oldest families of Hudson County. His great-grandfather. Abel Smith, purchased a tract of land at Secaucus in 1752, and is described in the deed as " a gentleman." lle had a son, John, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, and his father was Abel I. Smith.

The subject of this sketch is the fourth genera- tion of the Smith family atter they settled in this county, and was born June 12, 1843, on the Smith homestead at Secaucus. He attended school and then June term, 1869, and settled in Jersey City, where he | was for eight years under the tutorship of Rev. Wil- liau V. V. Mabon, D.D., now a professor in the New Brunswick Theological Seminary. He entered the junior class at Rutgers College, and graduated there in the class of 1852. He then entered the law-office of J. Dickinson Miller, Esq., in Jersey t'ity, and studied his profession with him, and was admitted to the bar as an attorney at June term, 1866, and as a counselor at June term, 1873. Upon coming to the bar he opened his office in Hoboken, and con- tinues to practice there, although he has resided in Jersey City for nearly ten years.

In the fall of 1869 he was elected, as a Republican. to the House of Assembly from the Eighth Assembly District, and served during the session of 1870. lle was the first Republican elected from that district. Hle declined a renomination, because he preferred the work of his profession.

Mr. Smith is an able lawyer. His practice is in all the highest courts at Trenton. As a citizen he is kind and amiable, publie-spirited, and has a large circle of warm friends.

WILLIAM PESHINE DOUGLASS was born at Duanes- burgh, Schenectady Co., N. Y., Aug. 7, 1844. lle was educated at Trinity School and graduated at Columbia College, in the city of New York, in 1863; was admitted to the bar as an attorney at February term, 1867, and as a counselor at February term, 1870. T'pon coming to the bar he commenced the practice of the law in Jersey City, and is now in active practice there.

He was corporation attorney of Jersey City from May, 1873, to May, 1876, and was a member of the Board of Education of Jersey City from May, 1872, to May, 1874. and was chairman of the connnittee which organized the Jersey City High School in 1872. In polities he is a Republican.

JJOR HILLIARD LIPPINCOTT belongs to the well- known Lippincott family of West Jersey. He was born near Mount Holly, N. J., Nov. 12, 1842. He received

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BENCH AND BAR OF HUDSON COUNTY.

a common-school education, and was for three years under the tutorship of Mr. John G. Herbert (a gradu- ate of Yale College), at Vincentown, N .I. He then became a student at the Mount Holly Seminary, conducted by the Rev. Samuel Aaronson, where he remained as student and teacher from 1861 to 1863. when he entered the law-office of Elward Merritt, Exq., as a law student. In September, ING3, he en- tered the Harvard Law School, at Cambridge, Mass .. and remained as a student in that institution for two years, taking therefrom, upon graduation, a degree of Bachelor of Laws. He was achinitted as an attorney at February torm 1567, and as counselor at one term, 1870. Upon being licensed he removed to Hudson County, opening his office at the court-house, where he has remained ever since.

He succeeded Jacob Weart, E-q., as counsel to the Board of Chosen Frecholders of Hudson County in May, 1874, and has held that office for the last ten years, and now holds it.

Mr. Lippine ott is a good lawyer, an able advocate, and has a large practice. In polities he is a Democrat, but he has not been an office seeker, although he is one of the leaders of his party, often presides at Democratic conventions, and could have gone to l'on- gress, but always refused to allow his name to go before the Democratic conventions, upon the ground that he could not afford, at his early age in life, to give up his law practice for the hazards of party politics. He was a member and president of the Board of Education ot old Hudson City for about three years, before its consolidation with Jersey City.

JOSEPH F. RANDOLPH, JR., ason of Joseph F. Ran- dolph, late justice of the Supreme Court, was born at New Brunswick, N. J., Dec. 1, 1843. Great pains was taken by his father in his education ; he received his academie education at the Trentou Academy, gradua- ted at Yale College and Columbia College Law School, and his father sent him abroad, and he studied at Berlin, Heidelberg, Paris and Göttingen. lle was admitted to the bar of New Jersey at November term, 1867, as an attorney, and as e amsel at Novemberterm, 1870, and has practiced in Hudson County since IMix. He married a daughter of the late William H. Talcott, who was the secretary of the Morris Canal, and formind a partnership with his brother-in-law, William Tal- cott.

Randoph & Talcott edited the fifth American edi- tion of "Jarman on Wills" in Iss1, which was fully annoted by them with the American decisions, and is regarded as an able and valuable edition, and has met with a large sale.

Mr. Randolph is now engaged in writing a book which will be known as " Randolph on Commercial Paper."

Mr Randolph is an able lawyer, a good advocate, and has practiced considerably in the higher courts of the State.

He partakes of the kindly disposition of his father,

and his hospitable home is now at Morristown, where he has resided for -ome time.

ALEXANDER T MeGiHt, JR., son of Prof. Alex- asder T. MeGill, ot Princeton Theological Seminary, was born at Alleghanny City, Pa .; way olocated at Princeton, N. J. and was admitted to the bar of New Jersey as an attorney at November term, 1967, and as counselor at November term, ISTO ; resides in Jersey City, and practice law is Hudson County siner 15G8.

Mr. McGill graduated at the College of New Jersey in Ist-h, with degree of A. B., and received the degree of A.M., in 1867 ; graduated at Columbia Law School in June, 1866, studied law with Judge Edward W. Scudder, of Trenton, N. J., and upon being admitted to the bar became associated with ex-Attorney -General Robert Gilchrist as assistant and partner until Sept. 1876; he then practiced alone until 1578, when he formed a partnership with Isaac S. Taylor, and isstill his partner.

Mr. Metiill was corporation attorney for the city of Bayonne from May, 1872, to May, 1875; was member of the House of Assembly from First District of Ilud- son County for the years 1871 and 1875; was proce- entor of the plate for Hudson County from April, 1876, to April, Iss3, when he was appointed president judge of the Hudson Common Pleas, which office he now holds. In every position Mr. Metill has con- ducted himself with the courtesy of a gentleman, and with the ability of a trained and able lawyer.

ELIJAH STRONG COWLES, of the firm of Williams & Cowles, was born at Coventry, Vt .. April 30, 1836; he was educated at St. Johnsbury Academy, Vt; studied law and was admitted to the Vermont bar in IM; removed to Jersey City and was admitted in New Jersey as an attorney at February term, Is, and as counselor at February term, IST1. He has been a practitioner here since I868; he is a well-read lawyer, very attentive to business, presents his causes to the court with clearness and with much energy, being quite an able advocate.

As a citizen he is much respected, and takes an ac- tive interest in the work of the church.

PETER BENTLEY, JR. (he having now dropped the junior since his father's death ). is the only son of Peter Bentley. a sketch of whom appears in this chapter. He was born in Jersey City Der. 5, 1845. He was early put under the tutorship of Rev. R. D. Van Cleek, D. D., who prepared him in the classics and mathematics for entering college ; but instead thereof, he entered the office of his father as a student-at-law, and was aduntted as an attorney at the June terin, Ists, and as counselor at the June term, 1871. He immediately took a good rank at the bar, and suc- reeded to the large practice of his father, who was then in failing health, and upon his death succeeded him as trustee and counsel of the Provident Institu- ion for Savings. He is also a director in the Hudson County National Bank. His father having accumu-

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HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

lated a large estate, the protection of which and bis spirit for the general welfare made him very active to see that the city of Jersey t'ity and the county of Hudson were properly governed, as a sequence these traits followed down to the son, and the subject of this sketch has taken a deep interest in all public matters that pertained to this community.

In 1874, when the measure was pending for the building of a boulevard at a time when Jersey City was staggering under a heavy load of debt, Mr. Bentley was very active in its defeat, and probably entitled to its final overthrow, which proved very ad- vantageous in the light of future events.

When the constitution was amended equal and uniform rules of taxation were established. The act kuown as the Five County Aet, which exempted mortgages from taxation, was in peril, and the prin- ciple was maintained mainly through the efforts of Mr. Bentley and Governor Abbett. The rate of taxa- tion being nearly three per cent. in Hudson County, if mortgages had been taxed that form of security would suddenly have disappeared.

When it was agreed by the Board of Chosen Free- holders of Hudson County to purchase the Harrison estate for a court-house site, at a cost of over three hundred thousand dollars, which was believed to be a scheme to sell some barren lands to the county, Mr. Bentley was one of the active meu who engaged in the defeat of the scheme. He argued the cause in the Supreme Court, in connection with the Hlou. William Brinkerhoff, and filed the bill in the United States District Court by which the contract was finally cancelled.

Mr. Bentley is a good lawyer. He ranks well as an advocate, has a large clientage, and is highly es- termed as a citizen.

JOHN FLAVEL MCGEE is descended from distin- guished parentage, paternally and maternally. His paternal grandfather, Patrick McGee, came to this country from the county Down, Ireland, in the year 1812, and settled at Paterson, N. J., where he en- gaged in the manufacture of Irish linen, which he continued until he was unable to compete with the power-loom, when he relinquished business, and died at Paterson between 1850 and 1860. His son, Wil- liam C. McGee, the father ot the subject of this sketch, was born at Paterson in 1816, graduated at Princeton ''ollege in 1836, at Princeton Theological Seminary in 1×40 or 1841, and in the year 1841 was called to the pas- torate of the Presbyterian Churches of Hardwick and Marksboro'. The Hardwick Church stood on the line between the counties of Sussex and Warren; the pulpit was in Sussex and the pews in Warren. The other church was in Warren. He enjoyed a very suc- cessful pastorate there for twenty-six years and until his death, on May 25, 1867.

His maternal great-grandfather was Rev. Joseph ('lark. At the breaking out of the Revolutionary war he was a student in Princeton College. He en-

listed as a private, rose to the rank of an adjutant, and after the war returned to the college and gradu- ated, and afterwards graduated at the Princeton Seminary. He was a tutor in the college many years, a trustee, and after the college was destroyed by fire he traveled and collected considerable sums of money for rebuilding the same. He was settled for a short time at Allentown, Monmouth Co., but a greater part of his life he was pastor of the First Presbyterian Church at New Brunswick, N. J. His son, and the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was Rev. John Flavel Clark, a celebrated divine, and brother of Peter 1. Clark, of the New Jersey bar, who resided at Flemington, and was once a candidate for tiover- nor. His daughter, Anna Sherrerd Clark, and the mother of the subject of this sketch, was a sister of Dr. Samuel §. Clark, of Belvidere, and she died in Belvidere in 1883.

The subject of this sketch was born in the town- ship of Frelinghuysen, Warren Co., April 6, 1844. Hc received his academic education at the Presbyterian Academy at Blairstown, entered the junior class of the College of New Jersey, and graduated in 1865. Hle took the first prize for debate in the class of 1865 in Clio Hall. In the spring of 1865 he was ap- pointed principal of one of the public schools in Belvidere, which he held one year. Studied law first with John M. Sherrerd, Esq., and afterwards with J. G. Shipman, Esq., both of Belvidere, and was ad- mitted to the bar as an attorney at June term, 1868, and as counselor at June term, 1871, and at the same term argued two causes in the Supreme Court and one in the Court of Errors and Appeals, and this probably cannot be said of any other member of our bar

Upon coming to the bar he removed to Jersey t'ity, and entered into a business arrangement with Stephen B. Ransom, Esq., and afterwards formed a partnership with William Muirhead, and later ex-Governor Joseph D. Bedle was added to the firm, and the firm is now Bedle, Muirhead & Mettee, and they conduct a large and extensive practice. Mr. McGee married, first, Francis Eureka Harris, daughter of the late Dr. Henry S. Harris, of Warren County, and upon her death he married Julia F. Randolph, daughter of the llon. Bennington F. Randolph.

Mr. McGee has inherited many of the qualities of his distinguished ancestry. Ile is a sound lawyer, an able advocate, and a kind, genial and warm friend.

M. T. NEWBOLD is a son of Thomas Newbold, now residing at Mount Holly, N. J., at the advanced age of eighty-two years. While he would never hold office, he was one of the clectors in New Jersey in 1x40, and voted for Gen. Harrison for President.

The subject of this sketch was born at Springfield, Burlington Co., N. J., May 11, 1843. He received an academic education, entered Yale College and grad- uated there in 1865, and took the degree of A.M., in

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BENCH AND BAR OF HUDSON COUNTY

INGS. After graduating he entered the law-office of Frederick Voorhees. Beq., at Mount Holly, and studied with him, except that portion of the time when he was at the Albany Law School, where he graduated with the degree of 1.1.B., in Its. He was admitted to the bar as an attorney at June term, Ists, and as counselor at June term, 1871.

Upon coming to the bar he opened his office at Jersey City, and is now engaged in practice there. He is a well-read lawyer, excel as an able advocate. and is a rising roan at the Hudson har.

WILLIAM TALCOTT is a son of the late William H. Talcott, who resided at Jersey City the latter part of his life, and wa a distinguished civil engineer 1. was secretary of the Morris Canal Company, and erected the inclined planes on the canal which have made the same so successful in later years.

The subject of this sketch was born at Fort Plains, Montgomery Co., N Y., on the 3d day of May, 1843; was educated at Phillips Academy, at Andover, graduated at Williams College and at the Columbia College Law School, and was admitted to the bar in New Jersey as an attorney at November term, 1868, and as counselor at November term, 1877. He has practiced law in Hudson County for ton years, and now resides at Paterson. Mr. Talcott was admitted to the bar of Illinois in February, 1871, and lived and practiced law in Chicago for six years. He was admitted to the bar in New York in January, 1882, and now practices law both in Now York and New Jersey. Mr. Talcott is an occasional contributor to law magazines, and has recently, with Joseph F. Randolph, Esq., issued the fifth American «lition of "Jarman on Wills," with American notes, which is highly regarded by the profession.

THIBERT COLLINS, the present mayor of Jersey V'ity, was born at Stonington, in the State of Connec- tient, Ang. 26, 1516. He was educated at Stoning- ton, under the tuition of Dr. David S. Hart, A.M., an eminent mathematician and classical scholar, who devoted his life to study and taught a few pupils or- casionally. lle studied law with Jonathan Dixon, Jr., now a justice of the Supreme Court, and was ad- mitted as an attorney at the February term, 1869, and as a counselor at February term, 1872.

Upon coming to the bar he entered into a partner- ship with Mr. Dixon, which continned until Judge Ixon took his seat on the beach. Mr. Collins Judge Blair i- ranked as a sound lawyer, a good ad- shortly after formed a partnership with Charles F'. 'vocate, and is a fine classical scholar, and his address forbin, and a little later William H. Corbin was taken in, and these three persons now constitute the law- firm of Collins & d'orbin, who are conducting a large legal business.

Mr. Collins has taken a high rank as a lawyer, and but few men at the New Jersey bar have won as much distinction as he so early in their professional career. The case in which he has won the most dis- tinction is that of Smith and Bennett, who were in- dieted for the murder of Mrs. Smith's husband, and

who were convicted for warder and afterward ne- quitted Mr. Colline taking one of the labering party through all the various trials, and the case was twi e tried in the Inten Oyer and Terminer anl was twice in the Court at Errore and Appeals. Mr. Col- lins is now practicing in all the higher courte of the State.

In politics he is a Republican, and ran for Congress on the Republican to ket in 1542, but the district be - mg largely Democratic, he was defeated. He has be n in sympathy with every good mov ment in Jer- My City, and when, in the spring of lost, it was felt that the interests of Jersey City should in a measure be taken out of party politie , a citizens' association was organized, compared of the best men of all politi- cal parties, who nominated Mr. Collins for mayor, and elected him by a large majority for a term of two years, until the spring of 18 6. In office Mayor Collins has sunk the spirit of a partisan, and is exercising the powers of his office for the general welfare of all. Individually he is very courteous, kind and consider- ate, and has many warm friends.

JOHN A. BLAIR belongs to the distinguished Blair family of Warren County, and was born at Knowelton, Warren Co., N. J., July s, 1843; was educated at Blairstown Presbyterian Academy, where he was pre- pared for college, and entered the College of New Jer- soy, at Princeton, and graduated there in the class of 1866. After graduating he entered the law-office of 1. c. Shipman, Esq., at Belvidere, as a student-at-law, and was admitted as an attorney at June term, 1869, and as a counselor at June term, 1572. In January, 1570, he opened his office in Jersey City, and has re- sidled and practiced law there ever since. On the passage of the law creating the District Courts in Jer- sey l'ity, tiovernor Bedle appointed the Hon. Ben- nington F. Randolph and the subject of this sketch to fill the positions. Judge Blair presided over the Second District Court, and discharged its duties to the satisfaction of all. He was a very upright and impartial judge, and retired from the bench with the confidence of the public.

Judge Blair is Republican in politics, and while he takes n very active part in political affairs and fre- quently presides at Republican meetings and conven- tions, he is not an office-seeker and has never held any political office.

on the death of President Garfield, published in the " Garfield Memorial Volume of Jersey t'ity," is ad- mitted to be one of the most scholarly productions in the book.

Repofre F. RABE. - The parents of Mr. Rabe were Charles L. and Wilhelmina Rabe, who were residents of Otterndorf, at the mouth of the River Elbe, in Hanover, where the former was by trade a watchmaker. Their son Rudolph, the oldest of live children, was born Ang. 4, 1541, in Otterndorf, and

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HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

educated at the gymnasium of the city, where he re- mained until fifteen years of age, when, having a de- sire to follow the life of a sailor, he shipped on board an American vessel, and after various vicissitudes not tending to confirm his early enthusiasm for a mar- iner's career, landed in New York. Having aban- doned all idea of a seafaring life and decided upon a mercantile career, he entered the store of a relative in the eity, and continued five years in his employ. At the expiration of this period, and in 1864, he deter-

the same year, under the firm-name of Rabe & Keller. Mr. Rabe as a lawyer has, from the beginning of his practice, been successful, and retained an extensive clientage, but as a legislator has won more distin- guished honors. He was. in 1873, elected as an inde- pendent Democrat from the district embracing the city of Hoboken to the State Legislature, and re- clected in the years 1874-75-76. During the begin- ning of the latter term, in the year 1877, one of un- usual political excitement, the election for Speaker of

mined to make the law his profession, and entering the office of Conable & Elliott, attorneys, remained until his adnrission to the bar, in 1869, meanwhile having become a student of the Columbia College Law School, from which he graduated in the class of 1869. Hle at onee began the practice of his profes- sion, and formed, in 1870, a co-partnership with Hon. Edward Browne, who, on his election, in 1883, to the position of judge of the City Court, retired from the firm, and F. W. Keller was admitted as a partner

the House resulted in a tie, and after several days balloting, Mr. Rabe, by virtue of seniority of member- ship, won the suffrages of the members. His official career was characterized by ability and fairness. He manifested a thorough knowledge of parliamentary laws, was prompt in the dispatch of business, quick in his perceptions, and in the most trying periods of the session manifested a firm yet courteous bearing which won for him the regard of the House, irrespective of party. In the fall of 1877 he was elected to the State

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BENCH AND BAR OF HUDSON COUNTY

Senate, and served for the term of three years, itt which time he has retired from politics and devoted his time to his profession. Mr. Rabe, having made Hoboken his realden e in 1963, was, three years later, married to Mine Lizzie Lusby, of New York, In Rev. Morgen lix of Trinity Parish, in the latter city. Their children were Carrie and Rudolph F. Mr Rabe participated activer as a delegate in the National Democratic Convention which nominated Samuel I. Tilden for President in 1976. He is keenly alive to the interests of the city of his resi- deuce, more especially those pertaining to education, bring a member of the board of trustees of the Ho- boken Academy.

CHARLES KINSEY CANNON is descended from one of the distinguished families of New Jersey. His grandfather, Rev. James Spencer C'annon, was pro- fessor of theology in the Dutch Reformed Theological Seminary at New Brunswick for thirty years, and hekt for a long period the chair of metaphysics in Rutgers College. His father, Garret S. Caonon, is still living and is a distinguished member of the Burlington County bar. He has served as a member of the As- sembly, was for fifteen years prosecutor of the pleas of Burlington County and was I'mited States district attorney for the State of New Jersey, under the ad- ministrations of Presidents Pierce and Buchanan.

The subject of this sketch was born at Bordentown, N. J., Nov. 12, 1546. His early education was at Burlington, N. J. ; he graduated at Yale College in 1867, and from the Columbia College Law School in 1870, and was admittel as an attorney at November term, 1970, and as counselor at November term, 1873. He opened his office in Hoboken, and was corporation attorney for the city of Hoboken iu 1877-75. He is attentive to his professional duties, and is regarded as a rising lawyer.

CORNELIUS S. SHE is a son of the Rev. John Is Sie, D.D., corresponding secretary of the Board of Educa- tion of the Reformed Church in America, The sub- jeet of this sketch was born in New Brunswick, N. J., sept. 29, 1547. 11 received an academic education, and entered hutgers College, and graduated in the class of 1867. He entered the law-office of Hon. A. V. Schenck, now State Senator from Middlesex County, and completed his course of legal studies with him, and was admitted to the bar as an attorney at November form, 1870, and as counselor at Novem- ber term, 1873. l'pon coming to the bar he removed to Jer ey City and opened his office there, and has since continued to practice at that place.

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History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II, Part 102

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