USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > Jersey City > History of Jersey City, N.J. : a record of its early settlement and corporate progress, sketches of the towns and cities that were absorbed in the growth of the present municipality, its business, finance, manufactures and form of government, with some notice of the men who built the city > Part 31
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JAMES B. VREDENBURGH was born at Freehold, N. J., October 1, 1844. He was graduated at Princeton in 1863, and studied law with Aaron R. Throckmorton at Freehold. He was ad-
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mitted to the bar at the June terin, 1866, and became a counselor in 1869. He located in Jersey City and speedily attracted attention. In 1872, when Hon. I. W. Scudder was elected as a con- gressman, he formed a partnership with the rising young lawyer, giving him an equal share in an ex- tensive and lucrative practice. This partnership was continued until the death of Mr. Scudder, in 1881. In 1883 Judge A. Q. Garretson became a member of the firm and the partnership still con- tinues. Mr. Vredenburgh is counsel for the Penn- sylvania Railroad Company, having succeeded Mr. Sendder in that position. He has been interested as counsel in all the important cases in which the railroad company and allied corporations have been engaged during the past score of years. He was placed on the staff of Gov. Bedie, with the rank of colonel, and he is a member of the Ameri- can Bar Association. He is a member of one of the oldest families in New Jersey. His great- grandfather was a merchant in New Brunswick and one of the most influential men in Middlesex County. He was a justice of the peace in 1780 and a member of assembly from 1;90 to 1795, and was collector for Middlesex County forty-one years, from 1782 to 1823. He had two sons, Rev. John JAMES B. VREDENBURGH. S. Vredenburgh, a celebrated divine, and Peter, who was a well-known physician. The doctor €
had one son, also Peter Vredenburgh, who graduated at Rutgers College, studied law at Somerville and located at Freehold, where he became prosecutor of the pleas, served in the legislature as a member of the senate, when it was known as the coun- cil. He was associate justice of the Su- preme Court fourteen years, and many of his decisions still remain as oft-quoted precedents. James B. Vredenburgh is the third son of Judge Vredenburgh, and has maintained the high reputation which has marked his family for generations.
JUDGE ABRAM Q. GARRETSON was born in Somerset County, N. J., March 11, 1842. He received his education in the common schools of his native place, and at the age of thirteen years he entered Trenton Acad- emy, at Trenton, N. J. After taking a special preparatory course under well- known tutors, he entered Rutgers College in the sophomore class of 1859, and was graduated from that institution in 1862. After reading law for one year in the office of the late Chancellor Zabriskie, he at- ABRAM Q. GARRE ISON. tended Harvard Law School, where he also spent one year, after which he returned to Mr. Zabriskie's office, where he remained for one year. In November of 1865 he was admitted to the bar as an attorney, and in 1868 as counselor. In February of 1869 Gov. Randolphi appointed him Prosecutor of the Pleas for a term of five years, and he vas re-
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appointed in 1874 by Gov. Parker. He served four years of his second term, and resigned in April of 1878 to accept the appointment of President Judge of the Common Pleas, as tendered him by Gov. MeClellan. He served five years in that position, and at the expiration of his term he entered into a partnership with James B. Vredenburgh, Esq., which has existed ever since that time.
Judge Garretson is a member of the Palma and Carteret clubs, and also of the Democratic Society of Hudson County. In 1879 he married Miss Josephine Boker, of Philadelphia. Three children have been born to the union.
As a judge Mr. Garretson was always conscientious and upright in his decisions, which were always clear and convincing. He is president of the New Jersey Title Guarantee and Trust Company, and was one of the original directors. He is one of the directors of the Third National Bank and of the Jersey City and Bergen Railroad Company, of Jersey City, and is a commissioner of adjustment for Jersey City under the Martin act.
JOSEPH F. RANDOLPH, a son of J. F. Randolph, who was an associate justice of the Supreme Court in 1845-52, was born in New Brunswick, December 4, 1843. He was educated at Trenton Academy, Yale College and the Columbia Law School, with post-graduate studies at Berlin, Heidelberg, Paris and Gottingen. He was admitted to the bar in 1867, and became counselor in 1870. He has published an American Jarman on Wills, and Randolph on Commercial Paper. He is an able lawyer, and has a large practice, being counsel for a number of foreign nations in New York.
AUGUSTUS ZABRISKIE, youngest son of Chancellor Zabriskie, was born at Hackensack in 1843. He was educated at Princeton College and the Harvard Law School. He was admitted to the bar in 1866, and became a counselor in 1869.
WILLIAM BRINKERHOFF was born in the city of Bergen, July 19, 1843. He was educated at Rutgers, and studied law with Jacob R. Wortendyke in Jersey City. He was admitted in 1865, and became counselor in 1869. He was president of the common council of Bergen in 1867, and became mayor ex-officio when the mayor resigned. He was a member of assembly in 1870 and a member of the constitutional convention of 1873. He was a member of the democratic State executive committee from 1880 to 1883. He was senator from Hudson from 1884 to 1887. He was Corporation Counsel for Jersey in 1884, and for several years. He was Counsel to the Board of Chosen Freeholders from 1868 to 1872. He was a director in the First National Bank for a number of years.
WILLIAM TALCOTT is a son of W. H. Talcott, the engineer who built the inclined planes on the Morris Canal, and was secretary of the canal company for a number of years. William was born at Fort Plains, Montgomery County, N. Y., May 3, 1843. He was educated at Philips Academy, Williams College and Columbia Law School. He was admitted in 1877, and prac- tised in Jersey City until 188;, when he removed to Paterson. He, with Joseph F. Randolph, edited an edition of Jarman on Wills, with American notes.
RODERICK BURT SEYMOUR was born at Newark, Kendall County, Illinois, on Sunday, May 21, 1843. His father, Ephraim Sanford Seymour, was a native of Vermont, and was a graduate of Middlebury College. He took up the profession of law and practised in Chicago and other places in the State of Illinois. He was a great friend of Col. E. D. Baker, and at his solicita- tion joined him in the construction of the Panama Railroad. His grandfather was born at Norwalk, Connecticut, where the family originally settled in 1660. His mother was a daughter of Dr. Bestor, who lived and had a large practice at Wilmington, Vermont. She was a de- scendant from the Foote family of Massachusetts and Connecticut.
The subject of this sketch came East at an early age, and after pursuing his studies at the Lyceum on Grand Street, under Prof. William L. Dickinson, and at Monson Academy and Yon- kers Military Institute, he entered the freshmen class of Columbia College, New York, and was graduated in 1865 with the degree of A. B. The college conferred upon him the degree of A. M. in 1868. After graduating he studied law, and was admitted to practice by the Su- preme Court of this State in June, 1869. He was afterwards admitted as a counselor-at-law, and was also admitted to practice in the United States courts. The motion for his admission to practice in the United States courts was made by the late ex-Gov. Bedle. He has a large
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general practice in all the courts of this State, and has had charge of a number of important cases. He has an extensive admiralty practice, equal to that of any lawyer in this State.
In 1862 he enlisted as a private in Company A, Twenty-second Regiment, N. Y. S. M., and took part with that regiment in the campaign at Harper's Ferry and the Shenandoah Valley. At the expiration of his term of service he received an honorable discharge. In 1864, in re- sponse to a call for troops by Gov. Parker, he raised a company of 100 men, which was mustered in as Company A, Thirty-seventh Regiment, N. J. Volunteers, and he was commissioned cap- tain. With his regiment he took part in the campaign of the Army of the James, in Virginia. under Gen. Butler, and afterwards in the siege of Petersburg, under Gen. Grant. He was honorably discharged with his regiment at Trenton upon the expiration of their term of service. He was one of the first members of the G. A. R. of this State, and was a member of Joe Hooker Post and Edwin M. Stanton Post, and is now a member of G. Van Houten Post, No. 3. He has held the position of post commander, has served in the council of administration, and as delegate to the national encampment, and as Judge Advocate of the department during several terms.
In 1869 he became a member of Enterprise Lodge, No. 48, F. and A. M., of Jersey City. He was master of the lodge two years. He is also a member of Enterprise Chapter, No. 2, R. A. M., Hugh de Payens Commandery, No. 1, K. T., and of Warren Council, No. 5, R. and S. M., of which he was master five years. He is also a member of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, in which he has received the thirty-second degree. He is a mem- ber of all the Jersey City bodies in this rite, and has held important positions in all of them. In 1871 he was appointed police justice of Jersey City, which position he held for three years. In 1883 he was elected a member of the board of chosen freeholders ; in 1885 he was elected a member of the legislature, and was one of the committee who revised the Martin act, and took a promi- nent part in securing its passage. In 1882 he was elected a member of the board of finance and taxa- tion in Jersey City for the term of two years. In 1885 he was appointed Corporation Attorney of Jersey City, which position he held several years.
He has always been a member of the republi- can party, and taken an active interest in public affairs. He has been a member of the republican RODERICK BURT SEYMOUR. county committee and the republican city committee almost continuously since 1868. For ten years he was chairman of the city committee. In 1889 he was appointed a member of the repub- lican State committee, and has continued a member of that committee up to the present time.
He is a member of the Palma, the Union League and Crescent clubs, and of several polit- ical clubs. He is also a member of the Alumni Association of Columbia College, and of the Medico-Legal Society, of New York, and of the Society of the Army of the Potomac, and of Compass Lodge, No. 35, . O. U. W., of Jersey City.
MICHAEL T. NEWBOLD was born at Springfield, Burlington County, N. J. He was educated at Yale University and the Albany Law School. He was admitted to the bar in 1868, and be- came counselor in 1871. He built up a lucrative practice.
WILLIAM PESHINE DOUGLASS was born at Duanesburgh, Schenectady County, N. Y., August 7, 1844. He was educated at Trinity School and Columbia College. He was admitted to the bar in 1867, and became counselor in 1870. He was Corporation Attorney of Jersey City from 1873 to 1876, and a member of the board of education from 1872 to 1874. He was Judge-Advo- cate of the Fourth Regiment, and District Court Judge in Jersey City. He is now one of the Police Justices of Jersey City.
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JOHN A. BLAIR was born near Blairstown, N. J., July 8, 1843. He belongs to the distin- guished Blair family of New Jersey. His rudimentary education was obtained in the public sehools of his native place, and later on he pre- pared for college at the Blairstown Presbyterian Academy, and entered the College of New Jersey ; at Princeton, and was graduated from that institu- tion in 1866. At the elose of his college term he began the study of the law in the office of the Hon. J. G. Shipman, at Belvidere, N. J. He was admitted to the bar as an attorney at the June term, 1869, and as a counselor at the June term, 1872. In January, 1870, he came to Jersey City, where he has ever since resided and been engaged in his profession.
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JOHN A. BLAIR.
On the passage of the law creating district courts in Jersey City, Hon. Bennington F. Ran- dolph and Mr. Blair were appointed the first judges thereof by the Hon. Joseph D. Bedle, who was at that time governor of the State. In May of 1885 Mr. Blair was appointed Corporation Coun- sel of Jersey City, which office he held until his resignation in 1889. He was reappointed in 1894, and still retains the position.
Judge Blair is a sound lawyer, an attractive and eloquent speaker, a man of fine classical acquirements, and the possessor of a large and choice library. He is a prominent and active republican in politics, although never seeking office, his name has been frequently mentioned in connection with some of the most prominent positions in the State. He is a regular attendant of the First Presbyterian Church of Jersey City. He is a member of the Palma and Union League clubs, and has been president of the latter organization since the first year of its existence.
FLAVEL MCGEE was born April 6, 1844, in Frelinghuysen Township, Warren County, N. J. His ancestors on both sides were natives of New Jersey and graduates of Princeton College as far back as the family records go.
His maternal great-grandfather was an officer in the Revolutionary War and served with distine- tion. With the exception of his paternal grand- father, who was a manufacturer on a large scale for his time, all his ancestors for a century have been Presbyterian clergymen.
Mr. McGee was prepared for college at the New- ton Collegiate Institute and Blair Presbyterian Academy and entered Princeton College in the junior class in 1863. While in college he took the first prize for debate in Clio Hall.
He graduated in 1865, and immediately entered upon the study of the law at Belvidere, N. J. He was admitted to the bar at the June term, 1868. That fall he stumped the county of Warren on the republican side in the national and gubernatorial campaign which occurred that year. In Novem- ber of that year he came to Jersey City and FLAVFL M'OFF. began the practice of his profession, where he has ever since remained. During that time he has been in partnership with the late William Muirheid and ex-Gov. Joseph D. Bedle until their respective deaths, and with Messrs. Joseph D. Bedle, Jr., and Thomas F. Bedle, with whom he is still associated.
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Mr. McGee early acquired a reputation for energy, industry and forensic ability, and soon acquired an enviable position at the bar.
He was admitted to the degree of counselor-at-law at the June term, 1871, and at the same term argued two cases in the Supreme Court and one in the Court of Appeals, two of which have since become leading cases. He has for many years been employed in many of the most im- portant cases tried in the higher courts of the State.
On the death of Judge Bradley he was unanimously recommended by the Bar Association of Hudson County, and largely by the bar of the whole State, for the position of Associate Jus- tice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Mr. McGee is a hereditary member of the Society of the Cincinnati and of the Sons of the American Revolution.
In politics he is a consistent republican and rarely allows an important campaign to pass without his voice being heard in the councils of his party and on the stump. In the recent campaigns of this city and county, which have resulted in the overthrow of ring rule, he has been especially active.
He is a member of the Union League, Palma and Carteret clubs of this city. In religion he is a Presbyterian and a ruling elder in the First Presbyterian Church of Jersey City.
Mr. McGee has been married twice. of the late Dr. H. S. Harris, of Belvidere, N. J. His present wife was Miss Julia F. Randolph, a daughter of the late Judge Bennington F. Ran- dolph, of this city.
Mr. McGee is a man of strong will, but of good judgment, affable manners and kindly disposition, and may safely be said to have no enemies and many friends. As a citizen he is public-spirited and ready to assist with his voice and purse in every work which is calculated to better the con- dition of his city or fellow-men.
His first wife was Miss Frances E. Harris, a daughter
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HENRY SIMMONS WHITE Was born at Red Bank, N. J., July 13, 1844. He is a son of Isaac P. White. who was a prominent citizen and lumber merchant of that place. He received his early education in Red Bank, and in 1860 entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York, graduating in 1864, before he could legally receive his di- ploma. He entered the United States army as assistant surgeon, and was assigned to duty in the Army of the James, where he remained until the HENRY SIMMONS WHITE. close of the war. He returned to Red Bank and practised his profession two years. He decided to adopt the legal profession. He removed to New York and began his legal studies. He was admitted to the bar of that State as attorney and counselor on June 7, 1870. He removed to Jersey City, and was admitted to the New Jersey bar in 1872, becoming a counselor in 1875. Soon afterwards he was made a Special Master-in-Chancery. On November 3, 1876, he was appointed United States commissioner. In 1888 he was a dele- gate to the national republican convention at Chicago, at which Benjamin Harrison was nominated. On August 22, 1890, he was appointed United States District Attorney for New Jersey. When the death of Hon. Roscoe Conklin occurred, plans were being perfected whereby a law partnership was to have been formed between that gentleman and Mr. White. He has been concerned in a number of notable legal contests, among which one of the most important was in connection with the Hudson River Tunnel Company, for which he was counsel. On November 19, 1878, he married Anna H., daughter of ex-Judge McLean. One child, a daughter, has been born to the marriage. He was a resident of Jersey City for thirteen years, but at present has his residence at Red Bank.
ABEL I. SMITH was horn at Secaucus, June 12, 1843. He was graduated at Rutgers in 1852, and studied law with J D. Miller in Jersey City. He was admitted to the bar in 1866, and
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became counselor in 1873. He was a member of the assembly in 1870. He ranks high as a lawyer, and has a lucrative practice.
GILBERT COLLINS was born at Stonington, Conn., August 26, 1846. His great-grandfather, Daniel Collins, was a Revolutionary officer of the First Connecticut Line Regiment, and was engaged in agricultural pursuits. His grandfather, Gilbert Collins, was also a farmer, and was several times a member of the Connecticut legislature. Daniel Prentice Collins, father of the subject of this sketch, was a prominent manufacturer at Stoning- ton. He died in 1862.
Mr. Collins was prepared for Yale College, and was about to enter that institution when his father's death occurred. Owing to an impaired fortune he abandoned his object. A short time thereafter he received a federal appointment in New York, and in 1863 removed to Jersey City, where his father had had extensive business inter- ests. After locating in Jersey City, Mr. Collins began studying law in the offices of Judge Jona- than Dixon, and was admitted to the bar in Febru- GILBERT COLLINS. ary of 1869. He has practised here continuously ever since, first under a partnership arrangement with Judge Dixon, and later on with Charles I .. and William H. Corbin.
In 1884 Mr. Collins was nominated and elected mayor of Jersey City, and filled that posi- tion with dignity and honor for two years.
Mr. Collins is a member of the Union League, Palma and Federal clubs of Jersey City. He is a member of the board of managers of the Society of Sons of the Revolution of New Jersey. He is a staunch republican, and has always been a hard and earnest worker for the success of his party. He has established a large and luerative law practice, and is at present a member of the firm of Collins & Corbin. Mr. Collins resides at 312 York Street. In June, 1870, he married Miss Harriet, daughter of John O. Burk, Esq., of Jersey City. Three children have been born to the union, one, a son, now studying law.
WILLIAM D. EDWARDS was born in Greenpoint, Long Island, N. Y., December 17, 1855, and re- moved to Jersey City in 1860, his parents having settled in that part of the eity known as Lafayette. He obtained his rudimentary education at the pub- lie schools, and in 1867 entered llasbrouck Insti- tute. In 1871 he entered the University of the City of New York, and was graduated therefrom in 1875. He immediately thereafter took a course at the Columbia Law School of New York City, and was graduated from there in 1878. During his term at the latter named institution he was in the office of William Brinkerhoff. In 18;8 he was admitted to the har of New Jersey. In 1879 he entered into partnership with Hamilton Wallis under the firm name of Wallis & Edwards. In 1888 Mr. G. Bumsted was admitted, the firm now being Wallis, Edwards & Bumsted.
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W11.11AM D. EDWARDS.
Mr. Edwards has always taken an active interest in politics. In 1879 he was secretary of the Hudson County democratie committee, and in 1880 and 1881 was chairman of that organi-
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zation. In 188t he was elected Corporation Attorney of Bayonne, and held that office for five years. In 1886 he was elected State senator from Hudson County to succeed William Brinkerhoff. During his senatorial term he framed the bill which gave Jersey City its new charter. In 1889 he was appointed Corporation Counsel of Jersey City, and held that position until the spring of 1894. In 1889 he received the unanimous nomina- tion of his party for a second term as senator, but declined the honor.
JOHN W. BISSELL was born at Matawan, Mon- mouth County, N. J., January 6, 1847, and came to Jersey City in June, 1873. Early in life he adopted the legal profession, and for one year was connected with the law office of Messrs. Scudder & Vredenburgh, of Jersey City. After severing his connection with that firm he began practice on his own account in Jersey City, and has continued at it ever since.
CORNELIUS S. SEE, son of Rev. John L. See, corresponding secretary of the Reformed Church in America, was born in New Brunswick, Septem- ber 29, 1847. He graduated at Rutgers in 1867, JOHN W. BISSELL. and read law in the office of A. V. Schanck. He was admitted to the bar in 1870, and became counselor in 1873. He was clerk of the Jersey City board of finance four years, and for a number of years was chairman of the republican county committee. He was elected to the assembly in 1883 and 1884. He removed to Kansas several years ago.
JUDGE JOHN A. MCGRATH was born in Ireland, December 16, 1847. His parents removed to this country when he was two years of age, and he received his education in the public schools and Cooper Institute. He was intended for a civil engineer, but the death of his uncle, who was killed in the United States service in 1864, changed the plan. In March, 1864, he enlisted in the First United States Artillery and served six . months, when he was discharged for disability. He is a prominent member of the G. A. R., and was adjutant of Stanton Post in Jersey City. In 1872 he entered the law office of Capt. Albert Cloke as a student. One year later he was ap- pointed a member of the Jersey City board of edu- cation. He was also elected a Justice of the Peace, but he resigned for fear it might affect his admis- sion to the bar. He remained fifteen months in Capt. Cloke's office, and accepted a position in the office of Rowe & Wood, where he remained eight months, completing his studies in the office of A. Q. Garretson. He was admitted in 1878, and be- came a counselor in 1881. In 1884 he succeeded Hon. William McAdoo as Counsel to the County Board of Health. In 1887 he was appointed Coun- sel for the County, a position he still retains. In JOHN A. M'GRATH. March, 1891, he was appointed Judge of the Sec- ond District Court of Jersey City to succeed Hon.
Albert Dayton. He has had many important cases for the county during his incumbency as Counsel for the County, including suits against Jersey City and other municipalities for arrears
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of county taxes, and the series of suits growing out of the boulevard act and condemnation proceedings.
In 1876 he married Matilda J., daughter of the late Hon. August Ingwersen. He is a mem- ber of the American Legion of Honor, the Arion Society, the Hudson County Democratic Society, and a number of social and political organizations.
ROBERT. O. BABBITT was born at Morristown, November 5, 1848. He read law with Fred- erick G. Burnham at Morristown, and moved from there to Jersey City, where he entered the office of Potts & Linn. He was admitted to the bar in January, 1873, and became counselor in 1878. U'pon coming to the bar he entered the firm, which then became Potts, Linn & Bab- bitt. At the end of a year Potts retired, and the firm of Linn & Babbitt continued seven years. About a dozen years ago Mr. Babbitt formed a new partnership with Robert L. Lawrence, which still exists.
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