USA > New Jersey > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, New Jersey, 1664-1920, Volume II > Part 20
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Dr. Raven married, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, May 29, 1894, Elizabeth Grier Strong, born in West Troy, New York, daughter of Rev. Selah W. and Eleanor H. (Van Deurson) Strong. Dr. and Mrs.
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Raven are the parents of a son, Anton Adolph, born October 26, 1895, now an instructor in English at Dartmouth College ; he married Winifred Storrs Perkins, of Hartford, Connecticut. The Raven home is at No. 185 College avenue, New Brunswick.
EMIL STREMLAU .- The brightest minds and the most gifted sons of the nations have ever been called into the circle of the law, and contact with other minds, equally brilliant, have sharpened the naturally keen intellect. The lawyer of ability rises above the ranks of the many, and attains a position among the few who achieve professional prominence. A position of this kind may be predicted for Emil Stremlau, an able young lawyer of Perth Amboy, New Jersey.
Charles Stremlau, father of Emil Stremlau, was born in Alsace Lorraine and died in Meriden, Connecticut, at the age of fifty. He came to America with his wife, Pauline (Lange) Stremlau, and settled in Meriden. They were the parents of nine children : Hulda, now resid- ing in New York City ; Edith, wife of Frank Koch, of Arlington, New Jersey ; Julius, a director of prohibition for the State of Connecticut, and a resident of Meriden; Charles, a cigar manufacturer of Meriden ; William, of New Brunswick, New Jersey; Augusta, wife of Henry Kreh; Fred, chief clerk, in the freight department at New London, Con- necticut ; Emil, the subject of this review; Olga, a resident of New Haven, Connecticut.
Emil Stremlau, son of Charles and Pauline (Lange) Stremlau, was born in Meriden, Connecticut, April 3, 1887. He was educated in the Meriden grammar schools, the Concordia Preparatory School from which he was graduated in 1901, Yale Law School, and New York Law School, from which latter institution he received his degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1908. He was admitted to practice law at the State bar of New Jersey in 1909, and opened an office in Arlington, New Jersey, in 1909, two years later establishing himself in the practice of his profes- sion at his present location in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. In the pre- sentation of a case Mr. Stremlau's manner and language, being quiet and yet forceful, are singularly effective. The papers which he prepares are exceptionally strong and present the matter under consideration in a manner which admits no dispute. He has a comprehensive grasp of all questions that come before him, and is particularly fitted for his chosen work.
As a citizen with high ideas of good government, Mr. Stremlau stands in the front rank. Always a staunch Republican, he has never been conspicuously associated with the affairs of the organization, though taking a keen and helpful interest in every project having for its end the betterment of conditions in his community. During the World War he was secretary of the legal advisory board of Perth Amboy, and in August, 1919, he enlisted in the United States army, and was stationed at Camp Taylor, Kentucky. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, Royal Arch Chapter, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. Like
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many busy men he has a hobby, which is out-door sports, he being par- ticularly fond of hunting and fishing, and in order to satisfy these desires he holds membership in the Raritan Yacht Club and the Perth Amboy Gun Club. Mr. Stremlau is also a member of the local Young Men's Christian Association, and twice a week he attends the gymnasium connected with this organization. In religious belief he is a Lutheran.
Mr. Stremlau married, January 17, 1912, Violet Margaret Cameron, a daughter of John Cameron, chief clerk with the Trageser Steel Com- pany, and Margaret Cameron, both residents of Arlington, New Jersey. Mr. and Mrs. Stremlau have no children.
In the comparatively short space of eleven years Mr. Stremlau has advanced himself to his present position. That the much longer period that is yet to come will be one of still greater achievement there can be no reasonable doubt, for the past is a guarantee for the future.
MULFORD DAY VALENTINE .- The history of the M. D. Val- entine & Brother Company is one of successful business management, the enterprise, executive ability and strong business acumen of the members of the company achieving a wonderful result in placing the products of the company in the markets of the United States and at the same time establishing a considerable export business. Fire brick and drain tile, the company's chief products, were given a new importance in the business world, and the name of Valentine became widely known. As senior member of the firm, Mulford Day Valentine was brought prominently into notice and became known as a capable financier and a man of sterling integrity.
Mulford Day Valentine, son of James and Catherine (Ackerman) Valentine, was born in Woodbridge, New Jersey, October 26, 1843, and died in Syracuse, New York, July 4, 1911. He attended school until eighteen years of age, then enlisted in the Twenty-eighth Regular New Jersey Volunteer Infantry, and went to the front. He enlisted for a term of nine months, but he was not mustered out of the service until July 1, 1863, his record one of soldierly efficiency and hard cam- paigning with the Army of the Potomac. The army service was followed by a course of training at Eastman's Business College, Poughkeepsie, New York, preparatory to accepting position as bookkeeper with the important paper house, L. T. Valentine & Company. Two years, 1864-66, were spent with that house then, deeming the time opportune, he formed a partnership with his brother, J. R. Valentine, and under the firm name, M. D. Valentine & Brother, he established the manufacture of clay products.
The firm at first made a commodity now unheard of-bath brick, used for cleaning and scouring purposes. This product later became an unprofitable article of manufacture, and in 1867 M. D. Valentine & Brother began the manufacture of drain tile, and in 1868 added in a small way the manufacture of fire brick, an industry they developed to the highest degree of productiveness. The company owned their own clay banks and operated two plants, one at Woodbridge, the other at Valen-
M. D. Valentine
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tine Station in Raritan township, Middlesex county, on the Lehigh Valley Railroad. A large force of men were employed at these plants all the year round, and their output was shipped to all parts of the United States, to Cuba, South America and to European ports. Year by year the business of the company increased and Valentine Brothers took rank among the foremost fire brick manufacturers. M. D. Valen- tine was considered an authority on clay and clay products, and his decisions on matters affecting the clay industry carried great weight. The firm bore an unassailable reputation for business integrity and reliability, while the business quality and executive ability of both partners won them the respect of the commercial world in which they moved. M. D. Valentine was of unusually fine business quality, saga- cious, energetic, sound of judgment and clear of vision, and the partner- ship. M. D. Valentine & Brother, which existed for more than forty years was only terminated by the death of the senior partner, Mulford Day Valentine.
A Republican in politics, Mr. Valentine was offered high honors by his party, but steadfastly declined, although his voice was a potent one in party councils. He repeatedly declined the nomination for State senator and congressman, believing he could best serve his people and their interests by devoting himself to his business which meant so much to a large number of employees, while as a worker in ranks he could serve with equal value to his party. Though retired from active par- ticipation in the business through failing health for a year prior to his passing, he was not confined to his residence, and in the latter part of June left his home in Woodbridge to visit his daughter, Mrs. Henry W. Duguid, of Syracuse, New York, and at her home he was suddenly stricken and passed away.
Mr. Valentine married, September 3, 1867, Rachel V. Camp, of Ocean county, New Jersey, who survives him, her residence at No. 151 Green street, Woodbridge, New Jersey. The only daughter of Mulford D. and Rachel V. (Camp) Valentine is Grace, who married Henry W. Duguid and has a daughter Isabel. An only son, Eugene, died in 1877.
This brief review of the life of Mr. Valentine reveals a man of strong business quality and deep, earnest nature. In disposition he was genial and kindly, courteous and considerate, a man who made many friends and always retained them. He was buried in Alpine Cemetery, the funeral services being held from his home in Woodbridge, the services in charge of Rev. W. C. O'Donnell, of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Rev. George Dougherty, pastor of St. Paul's Church, Newark, a former pastor of the Woodbridge church. Thus passed a valuable man, well worthy of the high esteem in which he was held.
GEORGE COOPER INGLING .- Since the inception of his business career, George Cooper Ingling has been identified with the newspaper business, and as editor of the "New Brunswick Times" since 1915 he holds a recognized place among the representative business men of New Brunswick. His interest in all that concerns the community's welfare
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is deep and sincere, and wherever substantial aid will further public progress it is freely given.
George Cooper Ingling was born in Freehold, New Jersey, April 12, 1874, the son of the late William Henry and Elizabeth (Weeks) Ingling. His father was manager for Monmouth County Farmers' Exchange, which disposed of over $1,000,000 worth of potatoes and other produce for Monmouth county farmers in eastern, western and southern markets. The boy George attended the Freehold Institute, from which he was graduated in 1892, when he immediately became engaged in the newspaper business. His first employment was with William F. Richardson on the Monmouth County Press Exchange, which furnished news to Monmouth county newspapers and to the New York and Philadelphia daily papers from Freehold, the county seat of Mon- mouth county. In 1896 he secured a position as reporter on the "New Brunswick Times," which was being issued as a daily paper at that time. In 1916 it became the "Sunday Times." In 1915, in recognition of the ability Mr. Ingling had already shown, he was made editor of the paper, and on January 13, 1921, he completed his twenty-fifth year in the service of one paper.
In politics Mr. Ingling is independent of party restriction in casting his vote, and although he maintains a deep interest in public issues, he keeps strictly aloof from political circles. He affiliates with the Young Men's Christian Association, and in religion is a Methodist, attending St. James' Methodist Church, New Brunswick, where he has served as trustee, president of the Epworth League, and superintendent of the Sunday school. Mr. Ingling's hobby is athletics, and until war inter- fered he was president of the Inter-Church Quoit League, which was conducted for three years and in which teams from ten churches, repre- senting men over twenty-five and those under that age, participated in indoor quoits.
On April 16, 1895, Mr. Ingling was united in marriage with Gertrude Frelinghuysen Scott, daughter of John Charles and Gertrude (Fisher) Scott, both deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Ingling are the parents of three children : George Warren, born February 26, 1896, served in the World War with the 311th Machine Gun Battalion, 79th Division, in St. Mihiel and the Argonne Forest battles; he received his honorable discharge from the service in 1919; Donald Thurston, born March 10, 1898; and Elizabeth Cooper, born April 3, 1901.
WILLIAM STULTS DEY .- Coming to South Amboy with his parents when only six months old, William Stults Dey has lived in that city all his life.
Born in Cranbury, New Jersey, July 22, 1869, William Stults Dey is the son of Asa and Eliza (Paterson) Dey. Asa Dey was born in Cran- bury, New Jersey, in 1837, but in his young manhood he came to South Amboy, where he was engaged as foreman of carpenters at the Penn- sylvania Railroad docks at South Amboy, being occupied in this work during the rest of his life. He died in South Amboy, in 1905, aged
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sixty-eight years. In politics he was a Republican. Mrs. Eliza (Pater- son) Dey was also born in Cranbury, but died in South Amboy at the age of sixty-five years. She was the mother of four children, only two of whom are now living : Lewis, a resident of New York City, connected with the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad as foreman of carpenters; and William Stults, of further mention.,
William Stults Dey obtained his education in the public schools of South Amboy, afterward starting upon a business career. When eighteen years of age he entered the Pennsylvania Railroad shops at South Amboy as a machinist's apprentice, and after learning his trade still continued in the employ of the company. After spending five years in their service he was transferred to the cold storage department at South Amboy, New Jersey, remaining there until 1911, at which time he became master mechanic of the New York & Long Branch Railroad, a position he is still filling.
Connected with various interests in the city, Mr. Dey is much interested in its public institutions ; he is a director of the South Amboy Trust Company, and director of the present board of freeholders; for seven years he was one of the freeholders of Middlesex county. Mr. Dey has taken a very active part in the conduct of city affairs, having represented his ward in the Common Council for six years and after that being elected mayor of the city, holding the office for two terms of two years each.
Equally active in fraternal circles, William Stults Dey is a member of the local lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, having been master of it for four years; he is also affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Order of Red Men, and the Order of United American Mechanics. He and his family are members of the Presbyterian church of South Amboy.
William Stults Dey married, in South Amboy, Martha Jane Rue, born in that place, the daughter of Alfred and Lydia (Reed) Rue. Three children have been born of this marriage: 1. Leo Alfred, deceased. 2. Gerald Paterson, aged twenty-two, a student in the dental college in Philadelphia. 3. Marjorie Stevens, sixteen years old. Mr. and Mrs. William Stults Dey reside at No. 305 Main street, South Amboy.
CHARLES CHAUNCEY HOMMANN, judge of the District Court of Perth Amboy, lawyer, business man, and one of the prominent citizens of Middlesex county, New Jersey, was born at Green Bay, Wisconsin, May 25, 1851. He is a member of a family that was founded in the United States by John C. Hommann, who came to this country from Saxony and settled in Philadelphia, where he followed the profession of music teacher for a number of years and eventually died. He married in London, Constantia Herbert, and among their children was William Hommann, the father of the Mr. Hommann of this sketch. William Hom- mann was a clergyman of the Episcopal church and was rector of the church at Green Bay, Wisconsin, and later at Newtown, Pennsylvania.
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He married Fidelia Smith, and they were the parents of Charles Chaun- cey Hommann.
Judge Hommann was but four years of age when his parents removed to Newtown, Pennsylvania, and it was there that his education was received at the local public schools. As he grew to an age to choose a career, the young man took up the study of civil engineering, and fol- lowed that profession with notable success until 1903. In the mean- time, however, he had also made a study of the law and was admitted to the bar of New Jersey in November, 1880. For a number of years he carried on both professions simultaneously and also took an active part in public affairs. Since 1903 he has devoted himself to the prac- tice of the law, a profession for which he is especially fitted by his natural talents and the character of his mind, his power of close application and hard work, no less than his fidelity and unswerving loyalty to every trust. Judge Hommann is a Democrat in politics and has participated prominently in the life of the city and county where he resides, having held a number of responsible offices in the gift of his fellow-citizens. He was elected a member of the Board of Freeholders in 1894, and has also served as city surveyor, city clerk, superintendent of the public schools and as city attorney. It was in the year 1915 that he was elected to his present office of judge of the District Court of Perth Amboy, a post in which he has added greatly to the reputation already gained by him in his legal practice as a learned jurist and as a just and impartial man. There is hardly an aspect of the city's life in which Judge Hommann is not conspicuous ; he is associated with the manage- ment of the Perth Amboy Trust Company, and has served in the Essex Troop of Cavalry, New Jersey National Guard, and the New Jersey Militia Reserve. He is also a member of a number of fraternal orders and clubs, among which should be named, the Phi Kappa Sigma fra- ternity ; Raritan Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Lodge No. 6, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; the New Jersey His- torical Society ; the New Jersey Society, Sons of the American Revolu- tion ; the Colonial Country Club; the Suburban Golf Club; the Seniors Golf Association; the East Jersey Club; and the Raritan Yacht Club. Judge Hommann is greatly attached to all forms of wholesome outdoor sport and is, especially, an enthusiastic golfer, devoting much of his leisure time to that delightful game. In his religious belief Judge Hom- mann is an Episcopalian and attends with the members of his family the church of that denomination at Perth Amboy.
Judge Hommann has been twice married. His first wife, with whom he was united May, 1886, was Bessie A. E. Elliott Higgins, a daughter of Gardner Elliott and Ann (Bryant) Higgins, her death occurring in November, 1899. He married (second) Alice Paterson Boggs, a daugh- ter of John Lawrence and Cornelia (Paterson) Boggs. One son, Charles Chauncey Hommann, Jr., born April 17, 1887, is now connected with the advertising department of Collier's Magazine. He married, June, 1916, Elsie C. Smith, of Lee, Massachusetts, by whom he has had one child, a daughter, Constantia, born June 22, 1917.
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JOHN LAWRENCE LUND, M. D .- When Dr. Lund faced the problem of a profession or a business, heredity and environment were all on the side of business, and for a few years his attention was turned in the latter direction, but finally deciding upon the profession of medicine for his life work, he accordingly made the necessary preparation, and as an obstetrician has attained an eminent position in his profession. He is one of the successful men in the oldest of professions, and not only has he gained the confidence of a large clientele, but he has won the regard of his brethren of the profession, who accord him full recognition.
Niels Lund, father of John Lawrence Lund, was born in Ribe, Den- mark, and died there about 1894, at the age of sixty-four years. In 1873 he came to this country with his wife and children, and settled in Brook- lyn, New York, where he remained until 1894, when he returned to his native land, where his death occurred. He married Katherine Ihmes, and they were the parents of five children: John Lawrence, of further mention ; Otto, a violinist, who resides in Chicago; he is married, but has no children ; Harry, deceased ; Axel, died in infancy ; Arnold E., with the United States Cartridge Works of Perth Amboy.
John Lawrence Lund was born in Ribe, Denmark, January 14, 1868, the son of Niels and Katherine (Ihmes) Lund. He came with his par- ents to this country when he was but five years of age, and settled in Brooklyn, New York, where he attended the public schools. After graduating from School No. 12, he learned his father's trade of painter and decorator, and engaged in this particular line of work for four years, at the end of which time, having decided upon the profession of medicine for his life work, he entered the Long Island College Hospital, gradu- ating with the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1891, and then for one year engaged in general practice in Brooklyn. In 1892, equipped with the experience gathered first in hospital work and then in independent effort, and also having passed the New Jersey State Regents examina- tion, he came to Perth Amboy, where he has since engaged in active practice of his profession, with offices at No. 267 High street.
During the World War, Dr. Lund volunteered his services and was commissioned a lieutenant in the medical corps of the United States army, being located for a period of three months at the Medical Officers' Training Camp at Camp Greenleaf, Georgia. He was later promoted to the rank of captain and was at the Base Hospital at Camp Sheridan, Alabama, at the signing of the armistice, when he received his honorable discharge. In politics Dr. Lund is a Democrat and takes an active inter- est in the promotion of everything which he deems is calculated to pro- mote the welfare of the community. He has been a director of the Perth Amboy Savings Bank for twelve years. He is a member of the Dana Society, and affiliates with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Free and Accepted Masons.
Dr. Lund married Grace L. Thompson, a native of Perth Amboy. They have no children. Dr. Lund's hobby is singing ; he has an excep- tionally fine baritone voice and for many years was president of the Choral Society of Perth Amboy.
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Happily gifted in manner, disposition and taste, enterprising and original in ideas, personally liked most by those who know him best, and as frank in declaring his principles as he is sincere in maintaining them, Dr. Lund's career has been rounded with success and marked by the appreciation of men whose good opinion is best worth having.
SAMUEL MONEY CHRISTIE was born in Hamilton, Scotland, June 22, 1869, the son of Charles and Martha (Money ) Christie. Charles Christie was a merchant tailor in his native place for many years, and died there in 1895. To Mr. and Mrs. Christie were born ten children, seven of whom are still living: Elizabeth, wife of Samuel Forrest, of Somerville, New Jersey ; Jessie, a resident of Scotland ; William, a resi- dent of New Haven, Connecticut; Mary, residing in Scotland ; Peter, a resident of Scotland; Charles, a resident of Winnipeg, Canada; and Samuel Money, of further mention.
The education of Samuel Money Christie was obtained in the public schools of his native place, which he attended until he was thirteen years of age, when the business of life began for the young boy and he served an apprenticeship to the printer's trade. He worked at his trade for many years in various places, and in 1898 became identified with the New York "Herald" and the New York "Tribune," writing for these and other papers for a period of twelve years, and making quite a reputation as a writer of humorous verse. In 1909 he came to New Brunswick to take the position of general manager of the "Home News." One year later he bought the "Evening Times" and managed this until 1912. In 1916 he took over the Standard Printing Company, since which time he has increased its capacity more than ten fold, changing the name three years ago to the Christie Press. In 1919, he started the South River "Spokesman," which he edits. Mr. Christie has been highly successful in his venture and has risen to a place of prominence among the business men of New Brunswick. His success is in every sense of the word self-made-the result of his own indefatigable effort and his own unfail- ing belief in his right to succeed. He has a genius for politics and for public service, being a Democrat in his affiliations.
Mr. Christie is regarded as the ablest publicity man in political affairs in this part of the State, and has never been identified with an unsuccessful candidate. Before coming to New Jersey, Mr. Christie conducted political campaigns in New York City, and in this State he was identified with the original campaigns that made Woodrow Wilson first Governor and then President, and also with the campaigns of Senator "Billy" Hughes and Congressman Thomas J. Scully. During the years 1913-15 he was in the Interior Department of the National Government, conducting investigations in the Indian service. In that time he uncovered more inefficiency and corruption than all other special agents in the service put together, and was responsible for many changes in the personnel. When he found, however, that that sort of zeal was not appreciated or wanted, he quit the service and returned to New Brunswick. The Christie Press does a general printing business,
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