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 60
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JAMES H. O'NEILL was born in New York City on October 18, 1853. His parents removed to Hoboken before he was two years old, and he attended the public schools in that eity, and later in Jersey City and Hudson City, graduating from the High School in the latter. His first business venture was as clerk in a hardware store in New York. He remained in this position two years, leaving it on March 1, 1869, to accept a clerkship under his father, William O'Neill, who was surro- gate of Hudson County. He was the only clerk employed in the office at the time his father died in 1870. He was retained as clerk by Surrogate Robert McCague, Jr., until 1880, and reappointed 1 chief elerk by William MeAvoy, who was surro- gate from 1880 until his death in 1886. Governor Abbett appointed Mr. O'Neill as surrogate to fill the unexpired term. He was elected by the people during the same year, and re-elected again JAMES H. O'NEILL .. in 1891, and his term as surrogate will expire in November, 1896. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum, the Legion of Honor, Foresters, Hudson County Democratic Association, New Jersey and Berkeley clubs, and other social and political organizations. He was married in 1887 to Miss Agnes Fitzgerald, of Brooklyn.
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HISTORY OF JERSEY CITY.
MARTIN FINCK was born in New York City on January 8, 1846. His family removed to Jersey City in 1853. He was educated in old School No. 2 on South Fifth Street, and in private schools and a private college in Brooklyn. In 1862 he became a clerk for an importing stationery firm in Maiden Lane, New York, and continued in their employ until 1865. He was a member of the New York Schuetzen Corps, and with his com- pany visited Germany to participate in the na- tional shooting festival held at Bremen in July. 1865. He enlisted in Company A, Fourth Regi- ment, New Jersey Rifle Corps, on May 20, 1868, and rose through all the grades until he was adjutant of the regiment. He resigned in the winter of 1874. He became a member of the Pa- vonia Club in the spring of 1871, and was an active worker for republican party success. In the spring of 1871 he became a clerk in the city tax collector's office, and resigned two years later to accept the clerkship of the board of education, a position he held six years. He was elected a justice of the peace during this period. In 1880 he was elected a member of the board of education MARTIN FINCK. and served two years. In 1887 he was elected clerk of the board of public works, and retained the position until June, 1889, when the board was removed by a new city charter. In 1890 he was appointed to a position in the United States internal revenue service, and remained in it until May 1, 1893, when he resigned to accept the elerkship of the Jersey City board of finance, a position he still retains. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Royal Areanum and Foresters. He has been an efficient public officer in all the capacities to which he has been ealled.
JOHN J. NEVIN was born at Summit, N. J., August 31, 1868. He is the son of Patrick Nevin, who was for twenty years connected with the Jas. A. Dixon Crucible Company of this city. Young Nevin received his rudimentary education in private schools. He afterwards entered St. Peter's College of Jersey City, and was graduated from that institution in 1889 with honors, receiving the degree of B. A. In July of that year he was tendered the position of clerk to Mayor Cleveland. When Mayor Wanser suc- ceeded Mr. Cleveland, Mr. Nevin was retained on account of his efficieney, and has held the position ever since. While serving under Mr. Cleveland he devoted his spare time to his studies at St. Peter's College, and has since then received the 1 degree of Past-Graduate. So thoroughly is he posted in the official affairs of Mayor Wanser that the entire clerical duties of the office are trans- acted by him.
Mr. Nevin is a member of the Berkeley Club and the Arion Society of Jersey City. He is president of St. Peter's College Alumni Associa- tion. He has filled the position of treasurer of the Newark Diocesan Union of Young Men's JOHN J. NEVIN. Catholic Associations, and was the representative of the Union of Lyceum at the national conventions of that organization held at Washington and Philadelphia in 1890 and 1891,
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HISTORY OF JERSEY CITY.
respectively. Mr. Nevin was the Jersey City correspondent of the New York Morning Adver- tiser, and was employed in that capacity during the existence of the New York Star and the Daily Continent.
JAMES E. CONNOLLY was born in Jersey City, October 8, 1856. He was educated at Public School No. 1, and at graduation secured a position with the drug brokerage firm of Dickinson & Rogers, 76 William Street, New York. In 1877 he was appointed a clerk in City Collector James H. Love's office, which position he held until April 9, 1885, when he resigned to accept the clerkship of the circuit court of Hudson County, the late Judge Manning MI. Knapp presiding. As clerk of this court his record was a brilliant one. He made many warm friends among the bar of the State, and was the recipient of many com- pliments from the bench, who presented him with many appreciative tokens of esteem.
In 1887 he was elected clerk of the county board of equalization of taxes, a position he has filled ever since, and two years later was elected reading clerk of the house of assembly. Later in that year JAMES E. CONNOLLY. he was appointed clerk of the board of tax com- missioners of Jersey City, which position he still holds. There are few gentlemen holding public offices in the State that have a larger circle of friends than Mr. Connolly. It is on ac- count of his efficiency that he has been retained in office by the republican city government, although he is a democrat in politics, and much of the success of the offices where he has served has been due to his intelligent and faithful services, largely supplemented by his thorough knowl- edge of the work, his honesty of purpose and his untiring energy. He is a trusted friend of men of every creed and party, and all who have been associated with him, either socially, politically, or in a business way, speak of him only in the highest terms.
GEORGE A. STEVENS.
GEORGE A. STEVENS was born in Kingston, Ulster County, N. Y., in 1855. His parents removed to Jersey City in 1860. He was educated at Public School No. 3, Jersey City, the public school at Poughkeepsie, and graduated from Eastman's Col- lege in 1874. He was employed by the drapery and trimming firm of C. A. Schmidt & Co., 85 Chambers Street, New York, C. H. Parsons & Co., 85 Water Street, New York, and the Keep Manu- facturing Company, being sent by the latter to take charge of their Philadelphia branch. He left them on account of failing health, and took employment later with H. C. F. Koch & Co., in New York. In 1870 heentered business as a haberdasher in Jer- sey City. He is a member of Iroquois Lodge, I. O. O. F., Mt. Sinai Encampment, a trustee of the Emory M. E. Church and superintendent of the Sunday-school. He is also a member of the Jersey City Young Men's Christian Associa- tion, and treasurer of the Business Men's Associa- tion of Jersey City.
TIMOTHY J. CARROLL. was born at Piermont, Rockland County, N. Y., June 10, 1858, and is a clerk. He attended both the public and parochial schools, and has lived in Jersey City since
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HISTORY OF JERSEY CITY.
1860. He was clerk to the committee on municipal corporations in the assembly, session of 1889. He was elected a member of assembly from the sixth Hudson district in 1891-92-93. He is a clerk in the street and water board.
WILLIAM HELLER was born at 115 Montgomery Street, Jersey City, May 12, 1857. He was
1
1
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-
TIMOTHY J. CARROLL.
WILLIAM HELLER.
- educated in Public School No. 1. and Hasbrouck Institute. He was clerk of the board of public works in 1884, and in 1889 was appointed water assessor. In 1893 he was elected a member of the board of freeholders, and in 1894 was chosen as presiding officer of that body.
ARCHIBALD CROSSMAN was born at Ellenville, Ulster County, N. Y., on October 30, 1847.
ARCHIBALD CROSSVAN.
HENRY BYRNE.
He received a common school education, and was engaged in mercantile pursuits until 1890, when he removed to Jersey City, and engaged in his present business in the Fuller building. He is a member of the Robert Davis and Dennis MeLanghlin associations, and is popular wherever known.
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HISTORY OF JERSEY CITY.
MICHAEL J. RUSSELL. was born in Jersey City, July 14, 1849. At twelve years of age he was apprenticed to a marble-cutter, and for several years supported himself by that and other branches of business. He decided to be- come a machinist, and entered the employ of Kemp & Falkner. He remained with this firm nine years, rising to be foreman of the shop. After filling similar positions in other large establishments, he engaged in business for himself in 1880. In com- pany with other well-known machinists he organized the firm of Davis & Co., the other members being : Martin Davis, MI. J. Russell, James McCullock and James Heavey. In 1881 he purchased the inter- ests' of McCullock and Heavey, and the firm became Davis & Russell. In May, 1885, he bought his partner's interest, and has since carried on the business alone. In September, 1885, his plant at 40 Morris Street was destroyed by fire. Thirty days later he had a new shop under way at 47 Essex Street. In October, 1892, he was - again burned out. In December of the same year he began the erection of his present shops at 42 and 44 Morris Street. He is the inventor of Russell's automatic steam piston packing, now in general use. He is a member of the Order of Foresters, and president of the Thomas J. Kelly MICHAEL J. RUSSELL. Association. In 1870 he married Miss Brennan, of Jersey City, and seven children, four of whom are still living, was the result of the union. 1
JOHN D. GORMAN was born in Jersey City, Decem- ber 25, 1860. He was educated in the city schools, and has been engaged in the manufacture of inineral waters for a number of years. His bottling establish- ment is one of the largest in the State, and is pro- vided with elaborate machinery, including a plant for the purification of water. He was elected a
member of the board of freeholders in 1889. He was appointed a member of the Jersey City tax commis- sion before his term expired, and he made an efficient member of the board for a number of years. In 1886 he married Miss Jennie O'Mara, of Jersey City. One child was the result of the union. His wife and child have since died.
PATRICK NEVIN, who died at his home, No. 15 Bost- wick Place, this city, on December 7, 1893, was an old and respected resident. He came to Jersey City in 1852, and entered the employ of William Gross, who held the government contract of carrying the JOHN D. GORMAN. mails over the Hudson River. He continued in this work until 1858, when he went West, locating in that section of Missouri where the city of St. Joseph is now. He acquired a large tract of land, which he subsequently left in the charge of his sister and her husband, and returned to Jersey
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HISTORY OF JERSEY CITY.
City. In 1866 he entered the employ of ex-Mayor Cleveland, who was for many years presi- dent of the Joseph Dixon Crucible Company, and remained with him until the summer of 1886, At that time he secured a position under the Jersey City board of street and water commissioners, and held it until his death. He was fifty-nine years of age, a kind father and husband. He afforded his children all the advantages of a most liberal education. Two of his sons are graduates of St. Peter's College, Jersey City. The oldest entered the office of Mayor Cleveland in 1889 as clerk, and a few days prior to his father's death was made private secretary to Mayor Wanser, who continued him in the office. For many years Patrick Nevin was a trustee of St. Bridget's R. C. Church, and his death was sincerely deplored by all who knew and loved him on account of his affectionate disposition and readiness to help the afflicted.
RICHARD LAHEY was born in New York City, August 21, 1851. His father was William Lahey, and his mother, Fanny Kilroy, both being natives of County Cavan, Ireland. His early days were spent on a farm. When he was eighteen years of age he worked as a clerk in a ยท country store at Chicopee, Mass. In 1870 he located in Jersey City, where he obtained a posi- tion in the grocery of Mr. W. Love and with Mr. McDonald, with whom he remained nine years. In 1880 he decided to engage in that business on his own account, and, with his brother, estab- lished the grocery firm of Lahey Brothers, of which he was the senior partner. In 1884 he erected a building at 620 Newark Avenue. The original establishment was then removed from 572 Newark Avenue. A few years thereafter he sold the building to the North Hudson County Elevated Railroad Company. He erected a building on the adjoining lot, in which he continued to do business until 1890, when he decided to retire from active life, leaving the grocery business in the hands of his brother. He began to confine his time to real estate trans- actions, and to him is due a number of fine improvements in Jersey City. He has erected a number of the finest apartment houses in the city.
In 1892 Mr. Lahey received the republican nomination for alderman to represent the fourth district. The district is largely democratic, but he was elected by a good majority. In 1894 he was appointed a member of the Jersey City tax commission.
Mr. Lahey is a member and is president of the Mutual Coal, Flour and Feed Company of Jersey City, and is prominently connected with the Star Building and Loan Association.
In the fall of 1889 Mr. Lahey married Miss Elizabeth Adams, of Jersey City. Two sons and a daughter have been born to the happy union. He resides in a charming home at 121 Palisade Avenue.
Mr. Lahey is a member of Farnsworth Lodge, I. O. O. F .; Rathbone Lodge, K. of P., and is also a member of and is steward of the Simpson M. E. Church, Central Avenue. He was for several years treasurer of that congregation. He is also a member of the Fremont Repub- lican Club and several other organizations.
ABRAHAM L. WILSON was born in New York City, but has lived all his life in Jersey City. He is a painter and decorator by trade. He was elected to the board of aldermen from the sixth district in April, 1894.
PIERCE J. FLEMING was born in Jersey City, December 2, 1863. He was for a number of years engaged in the express business. He was elected alderinan from the second district in 1893.
PATRICK NORTON was born in Ireland. December 29, 1856. He came to America in 18;7. and has resided in Jersey City for some years. He has served two terms as a member of the board of aldermen from the second distriet.
ANDREW J. WITTER was born in New York City, October, 10, 1839. He has resided in Jersey City since 1868, and is engaged in the painting and decorating business. He was elected alderman from the first distriet in 1894.
PATRICK CONNELLY was born in Ireland, July 31, 1847. He came to America in 1867, and has resided in Jersey City since 1870. He has for many years been engaged in doek and bridge building business. He is a member of the board of aldermen from the second distriet, hav :... been elected to that office in April, 1894. He is married, and has a family of five children.
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HISTORY OF JERSEY CITY.
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JOHN MITCHELL. was born in Jersey City, December 28, 1857. When he was seven years old his parents removed to St. Mary's, Pa .; after residing in that place three years they returned to Jersey City, where young Mitchell learned the painter's trade with an uncle. In 1883 he established his present business. In the spring of 1894 he was elected alderman from the third district. Mr. Mitchell married Miss Rosa Bischoff, of Jersey City. Two children, both of whom are still living, were born to the marriage.
JOSEPH T. MCCOOBERY was born at Piermont, N. Y., October 7, 1859. Since 1864 he has been a resident of Jersey City. He graduated from Manhattan College, June 27, 1880, and took a post-graduate course while serving as a tutor. He received the M. A. degree in June, 1881, and in October, 1881, entered Columbia Law School, but was compelled to abandon the study of law on account of ill health. In 1882 and 1884 he taught school in New York City. In 1884 and 1886 he was manager for Messrs. Carroll & Sweeney, coal merchants. In 1887 and 1888 he was secretary of the Cockburn Barrow and Machine Co. In 1888 he established a real estate and insurance business. In 1891 he was elected a member of the Jersey City board of aldermen, and re-elected in 1893. He is a Past Grand Chief Ranger of the Order of Foresters, a member of the Royal Arcanum, president of the Pavonia Improvement Association, and a director in the Security Building Loan Association.
JOHN PEARSON was born at Castle Eden, Durham County, England, April 14, 1843. He came to Jersey City when eight years of age, and has lived here ever since. He is a florist, and has been in his present place of business for the past thirty years, He was elected a mem- ber of assembly in 1886, and was the first democrat elected from the fifth Hudson district. He served two terms. He served in the War of the Rebellion, and is a member of Van Houten Post, G. A. R. He is president of the commission that is now building the new city hall for Jersey City. He is treasurer of the Carteret and Bergen No. 3 Building Loan Associations. He was married in 18So to Miss Jane Elliott, and they have two children, a boy and a girl.
JAMES BURKE was born in Ireland, October 19, 1846, and came to America when a young man. He has been a resident of Jersey City since he was thirty-two years of age. In 1890 Mayor Cleveland appointed him a member of the city hall commission.
EMIL E. DATZ was born in New York City, June 1, 1851. He has resided in Jersey City since he was seven years old. By profession he is a designer and engraver. He has filled several important public positions, having been a member of the board of aldermen, board of finance, commissioner of appeals, commissioner of finance and taxation. In 1890 he was made a member of the commission on the new city hall, now in course of construction. He is a member of several social organizations of Jersey City.
WILLIAM D. TALLMAN was born in New York City, June 26, 1838. He has been a resident of Jersey City since 1856. For ten years he was an inspector of buildings in New York. He was appointed inspector of the new city hall, now under construction in Jersey City.
RICHARD W. ENGLISH was born in Ireland. In1 1853 he was apprenticed to the mason and builder's trade. In 1858 he established a business for himself, and is one of the most extensive contractors in Hudson County. He has constructed a number of the handsomest buildings in Jersey City, notably among which is the new city hall.
GEORGE F. FARRELL was born in Jersey City, July 3, 1863. He was educated at St. Aloysius Academy of Jersey City, and afterwards took a collegiate course in Buffalo, N. Y. He was appointed clerk to the city hall commissioners, February 10, 1892.
JOHN KIERNAN was born in Jersey City on August 11, 1852. He was educated in the pub- lic and parochial schools. He is a carpenter and builder, and has been very successful. He is a director in the Excelsior Building and Loan Association, and was appointed by the court to serve as a commissioner on the fourth section of the County Road, known as the Boulevard. He has never sought political preferment, and is unmarried.
TIMOTHY C. LONG was born at Piermont, N. Y., July 2, 1851. His parents removed to Jersey City in August, 1863, and he attended the public schools. He served his time as a ma- chinist, but was compelled to give up the trade on account of failing health. He was appointed city marshal on November 10, 1875, and retained the position until 1883, when the politics of the board of aldermen changed. He was reappointed in May, 1885, and remained in office until June, 1894, when the board again became republican, and he was retired.
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HISTORY OF JERSEY CITY.
JOHN GRAHAM, though of Seoteh parentage, was born in Birkenhead, England, December 16, 1857. He is a son of the late Prof. Peter Graham, well known as a lecturer and phren- ologist. Coming to America in 1869, he received his education in the publie schools of Jersey City. In August, 1878, he joined the Fourth Regiment, N. G., N. J., and served successively as private, first-lieutenant and captain, until October, 1893, a period of more than fifteen years. He was appointed sergeant-at-arms of the senate investigating committee on elections, which unearthed and exposed the ballot-box frauds in Jersey City in 1890, serving again in the same capacity in the election investigation of Gloucester City, Camden County. He was employed by Gen. E. Burd Grubb during all the trials of the ballot-box stuffers, and ably assisted the prosecutor of pleas, C. H. Winfield. Mr. Graham figured prominently in the raids on the book- makers at Guttenberg race track, and on the 16th of January, 1892, the date of the first raid, arrested twelve of them. His indomitable courage on this occasion excited comment and ad- miration. He was appointed city marshal of Jersey City in June, 1894. He is a member of Hiram Lodge, No. 17, F. and A. M .; Garfield Lodge, No. 65, I. O. O. F .; Jersey City Lodge, No. 15, Knights of Pythias, and Liberty Council, No. 35, R. S. of G. F .; also a member of Local Union, No. 31, National Brotherhood Electrical Workers. He is president of the Indian Republican Club, and belongs to the Wanser Republican Club of Jersey City, and to Lafayette Battery, and has been recently elected a member of the Union League Club.
MYLES F. MCCARTIN was born in Jersey City, May 6, 1850. He received a careful educa- tion in private and public schools, after which he entered St. Francis Xavier College of New York City, completing his education at Seton Hall College in South Orange, N. J. After fin- ishing his college course he accepted a position in the hardware business in Jersey City, and later as a traveling salesman for Russell & Erwin Manufacturing Co., extensive wholesale hardware house of New York. He was but twenty-three years of age at that time, and was so successful that he remained in the employ of that firm until 1876. On account of bad health he was forced to resign his position, much to the regret of his employers. He was tendered the position of permit elerk to the board of public works, June 2, 1877, and so satisfactory was his work in that department, that on the death of John B. Haight, who was then registrar of the water-works, Mr. McCartin was made his successor to that office, October 28, 1879. He officiated in that capacity until July 12, 1886. On October 4, 1889, he was appointed deputy city collector, a position he retained until 1894. Mr. McCartin is a prominent member of the Palma Club and the Hudson Democratic Society. .
LOUIS BAUMANN, M. D, was born at Jersey City, March 17, 1863. He was educated in the public schools, and was graduated in 1880. In 1881 he entered the medical department of the University of the City of New York, from whence he was graduated in 1884 with honors, re- ceiving the degree of M. D. During his course at college he was for two years under private tutorship. After graduating, he spent one year at the Connecticut State Hospital in New Haven, where he acquired valuable experience in his chosen profession. In 1886 he located in Jersey City, where he has resided ever since. He has established a large and lucrative practice among many of the more wealthy and influential families of the city. He is a member of the Hudson County District Medical Society ; is district examiner for the Order of Chosen Friends and Knights and Ladies of Honor, and is a prominent member of the Palma Club and the Hudson County Democratic Club. On April 27, 1886, Dr. Baumann married Miss Letitia Cald- well, of Jersey City. One child, a daughter, has been born to the union.
DR. EDWARD MULVANEY was born at Bangor, Me., March 13, 1867. His father, James Mul- vaney, is a prominent merchant of that city. He received his education in the publie schools of his native place. When he was eighteen years of age he left his home and located in New York City, where he began the study of pharmacy at the New York College of Pharmacy, and from which he is a graduate. After graduating he accepted a position in the drug store of George H. White, of Jersey City. While holding this position he was induced to take up the study of medicine by Dr. Rae. In 1888 he entered the medieal department of the University of the City of New York, and was graduated therefrom in 1891, and has been actively engaged in the practice of medicine in Jersey City ever since.
Dr. Mulvaney is a member of Jersey City Lodge, 1. O. O. F .; Jersey City Lodge, F. and A. M., and the Royal Arcanum. He married Miss Emma Carrick, and has a pleasant home at 71 Wayne Street, where he also retains his office.
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