USA > New Jersey > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, New Jersey, 1664-1920, Volume II > Part 44
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On June 30, 1917, at East Jaffrey, New Hampshire, Leslie Townsend Wood was united in marriage with Bernice E. Coburn. Mr. and Mrs. Wood have no children.
LEWIS E. POTTER .- All his business life Lewis E. Potter, of Woodbridge, New Jersey, has been associated with the clay industry, first with his father, then alone, and for the past ten years has been superintendent of the mining operations of the Valentine Company, of Woodbridge, New Jersey. He is a son of Lewis Campbell Potter, one of the pioneers of the clay business in Woodbridge, grandson of Ellis Potter, a farmer of Woodbridge township, and great-grandson of Reuben Potter, born in Woodbridge township, where he attained the age of ninety years. He was a well-to-do landowner and farmer, a descendant of Marmaduke Potter, an Englishman, who was the American ancestor of this branch of the Potter family in America.
Ellis Potter, son of Reuben Potter, was born in Woodbridge town- ship, in 1800, and there died, January 25, 1875. He married Esther Campbell, who died September 10, 1859.
Lewis Campbell Potter, son of Ellis and Esther (Campbell) Potter, was born at the home farm in Woodbridge township, Middlesex county, New Jersey, October 9, 1828, and died in 1902. He was educated in
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local schools, and until manhood remained at the home farm as his father's assistant. He then bought a farm, which he cultivated until 1870, but in that year became interested in the clay business, and for thirty years conducted the business of digging and shipping clay to fire brick and terra cotta manufacturers. He began in a small way, and eventually built up a large business which, in June, 1900, was incor- porated as the Anness & Potter Fire Brick Company, Lewis C. Potter, president ; F. F. Anness, manager and treasurer; Lewis E. Potter, sec- retary ; the last-named a son of the president.
Lewis C. Potter was a pillar of the Methodist Episcopal church of Woodbridge, serving as president of the board of trustees for many years. Kind-hearted and benevolent, he was loved and respected by all who knew him. He married, in Woodbridge, Anna M. Dally, daughter of Samuel and Deborah Dally. Their children were: Esther, died unmarried ; Alice, died young; Anna M., deceased, who married Mr. Ensign ; Mira D., deceased, who married F. F. Anness ; Samuel E .; Lewis E., of further mention; Elizabeth, deceased, who married James Livingood ; and John D., deceased.
Lewis E. Potter, son of Lewis C. and Anna M. (Dally) Potter, was born in Woodbridge, New Jersey, January 12, 1864. He was educated in the public schools of Woodbridge, finishing with graduation from high school. He became associated with his father in the clay business in 1885, and when the Anness & Potter Fire Brick Company was incor- porated in 1900, he was elected secretary of that company. During the year preceding his taking that position, he was in business for himself, and in 1911 entered the employ of the Valentine Company of Wood- bridge, as superintendent of clay mining, and that position he yet holds (1921).
Mr. Potter is a Republican in politics, and for three years was Woodbridge township assessor. Since 1916 he has been inspector for the Board of Health, having now held that office five years. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum, and a member of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Woodbridge.
Mr. Potter married, in Woodbridge, January 15, 1891, Jennie Berry, daughter of James E. and Virginia (Hancock) Berry, the Berrys an old family of Woodbridge. Mr. and Mrs. Potter are the parents of four children : James B., married Jeanette Thorp, of Mountain Lakes, New Jersey ; Louis R .; Frank D .; and Ruth. The family home is at No. 275 Main street, Woodbridge.
EDWIN W. VALENTINE .- Since 1843 the name of Valentine has been connected with Woodbridge, New Jersey, having been introduced into that town by James Valentine, who had been a former resident of New York City, where he was also a merchant. He was born in New York City, August 4, 1792, and after retiring from business there, he bought, in 1843, a large farm in Woodbridge, and there became one of the pioneers of the clay mining and clay manufacturing business. He was a member of William H. Berry & Company, which firm (Wil-
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liam H. Berry, Alexander Brown, James Valentine), became the leaders of the great business which has added so much to the wealth and importance of Middlesex county. James Valentine became a man of wealth and landed interests, having a deep interest in the general wel- fare of the community. He was a public-spirited citizen, and one of the builders of Woodbridge, aiding where he did not lead in all move- ments for the advancement of town interests. He died at a venerable old age, about eighty-eight years.
James Valentine married Catherine Ackerman, daughter of James Ackerman, of New York City, and they were the parents of eight sons, all of whom were living and in business in Woodbridge at the same time : William ; Benjamin; Robert N .; Mulford D .; James R .; Howard ; Edwin W., of further mention; and Oscar G .; they were also parents of a daughter, Maria E., who married Josiah D. Drake, of Woodbridge.
Edwin W. Valentine, son of James and Catherine (Ackerman) Val- entine, was born at the Valentine home in Woodbridge, New Jersey, July 21, 1849, and in that town his life has been largely passed. He was educated in Woodbridge schools, and to the learning of school days he added the learning gained by practical contact with the world and from books and travel. After school years were over, he became associated with his able father and brothers in clay mining and manu- facturing, the Valentines owning clay mines and kilns at Woodbridge and Valentine Station, manufacturing drain pipe and fire brick on a large scale. Edwin W. Valentine was actively connected with the clay business all his life, only retiring in 1920, after about half a century of close attention to its demands. He was highly esteemed by his associ- ates in the business, and considered an authority in all matters pertain- ing thereto.
Like his father, Mr. Valentine has taken a deep interest in Wood- bridge advancement, his public spirit having been displayed in many forms. He is a Republican in politics, a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Royal Arcanum, and his religious connection is with the Methodist Episcopal church.
Mr. Valentine married, in Woodbridge, May 28, 1882, Emma E. Harned, daughter of William and Mary Phillips Harned, her father a business man of New York, who late in life moved to Woodbridge, where he and his wife died. Mr. and Mrs. Valentine are the parents of three children: I. Leon W., who died young. 2. Ethel, who lives at the home of her parents. 3. Ada L., who married Edgar Krutzeberg, of Cleveland, Ohio, and they now reside in Woodbridge, New Jersey. Mr. Krutzeberg's business is in New York City. Mr. and Mrs. Krutze- berg are the parents of two children : Doris and Edgar V.
ALBERT CHRISTIAN GIDDES, son of Joel C. and Elizabeth (Karl) Giddes, was born in Dunellen, New Jersey, November 2, 1879. He was educated in the public schools of Dunellen, New Jersey, finish- ing his school years with a course in Plainfield Business College. He began business life as a clerk with the Central Railroad of New Jersey,
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at their general offices, Liberty street, New York City, being then eighteen years of age. That was twenty-three years ago, and he is still with the company, having passed through many grades of service in reaching his present position, that of chief clerk of the freight traffic department.
Dunellen, New Jersey, has long been the family home, and in 1919 Mr. Giddes was elected mayor of the borough, serving two years. He is a member of the various Masonic bodies of his town; the Junior Order of United American Mechanics ; Knights of Maccabees, and the Patriotic Order Sons of America. He is a member of the official board of the Dunellen Methodist Episcopal Church, serving as church treasurer and taking active part in the various departments of church work. In political sentiment he is a Republican.
Mr. Giddes married, in Plainfield, New Jersey, October 19, 1910, Catherine F. Garretson, daughter of Jeremiah F. and Catherine A. (Sharp) Garretson.
FLOID TURNER HOWELL .- As president of the Woodbridge Lumber Company, Mr. Howell holds an important place in the business life of Woodbridge. He is a son of Edward Albertson and Hannah Jane Howell, his father a merchant of Hope, Warren county, New Jersey.
Floid T. Howell was born in Hope, New Jersey, March 26, 1888, and there completed grammar and high school courses of study. He later pursued a course at Coleman's Business College, Newark, New Jersey, and after its completion began his business career. In politics Mr. Howell is a Republican, and is an attendant at the services of the Meth- odist Episcopal church. He is affiliated with the Masonic order and with the Knights of Pythias, and his clubs are the Sewaren Land and Water and the Sewaren Motor Boat.
Mr. Howell married, in Sewaren, New Jersey, Alice Irene Turner, daughter of Harry C. and Kate A. Turner. Mr. and Mrs. Howell are the parents of two children : Harry Robert and Ria. The family home is in Sewaren, New Jersey.
JENS M. SORENSEN .- It is most fitting that in a work of this nature the names should be perpetuated of those men who have borne a part in the physical growth of the cities of New Jersey. Jens M. Sorensen, of Perth Amboy, has already contributed largely, through the handling of building materials, to the future stability of the city and its surrounding towns, and being still a young man can be depended upon to mean much more to the future of this section.
Mr. Sorensen's father, Peter Tang Sorensen, was born in Denmark, and came to this country in 1917. Since that time he has retired from active business and resides with his son, Jens M. He married Petra Peterson, who was also born in Denmark. She died in June, 1916, at the age of sixty-two years. Peter Tang and Petra (Peterson) Soren- sen were the parents of three sons, who are now all residents of Perth
Intorensen
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Amboy : Jens M., of whom more extended mention follows; Anton, who is actively engaged in business as a contractor ; and Neils M., a butcher, who has recently started his store in Tottenville.
Jens M. Sorensen was born in Denmark, on his father's farm, April 27, 1880. He gained his education under difficulties, for two years being obliged to walk four miles to attend high school in a nearby town. He assisted his father on the farm, and later learned his trade in Den- mark. He came to America at the age of twenty-three years, being the first of his family to venture across the ocean in search of success. He located at once in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, and during the first four years worked at the painter's trade. But the young man was not satisfied always to work for wages. He believed there was greater satis- faction, as well as greater pecuniary advantage, in handling his own business affairs. So in 1908, having saved up a little capital, he estab- lished himself in business. He made his start along a line with which he was familiar, handling at first only masons' materials. Gradually, as opportunity offered, and he was able to handle the expansion, he added other lines of building materials, lumber, hardware, paints, every- thing necessary for all kinds of building construction. His success has been remarkable for so young a man, and the volume of business he handles places him in the front rank of the business men of the city. Mr. Sorensen is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Danish Brotherhood. He is a member and regular attendant of the Danish Methodist Episcopal church, serving on its board of trustees.
Mr. Sorensen married, when on a return pleasure trip to his native land, January 29, 1908, Olga Friis, daughter of Anton and Karen (Peter- sen) Friis. She was born in Denmark, and her parents now live there in the famous old town of Ribe. Mr. and Mrs. Sorensen are the parents of three children : Harry Friis, who died at the age of seven ; Mildred ; and Norman.
JOSEPH LOUIS KLEIN .- Among the most prosperous citizens of foreign birth who have made Perth Amboy, New Jersey, their home and the scene of their careers, should be mentioned Joseph Louis Klein, who was formerly the owner of a large butcher and grocery establish- ment at No. 48 Smith street, and now engaged in the insurance busi- ness here. Mr. Klein was born February 15, 1875, in Zahony, Ung county, Hungary, a son of Abraham and Fannie (Weis) Klein, old and highly respected people there. Abraham Klein was born in the year 1850 in Hungary, came to the United States in 1888, with his wife and family, settling in New York City, where he engaged in the shoe busi- ness, meeting with considerable success. His death occurred in that city, February 20, 1900, and that of his wife in Bayonne, New Jersey, February 16, 1920.
Joseph Louis Klein received his early education in the schools of his native land and Germany, which he attended until he had reached the age of thirteen. He then accompanied his parents to the United
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States and here continued his studies for a number of years in the night schools of New York City. He was a bright, industrions lad and made the most of his educational opportunities, so that when, four years later, at the age of seventeen, he removed to Boston, Massachusetts, he had completed his studies and was ready to engage in business. For six years he was associated with a fur establishment in Boston, where he learned, not only the details of that trade, but general business meth- ods as well. At the close of that period, 1901, he came to New Jersey, settled in Perth Amboy, and entered into a partnership, at the request of his older brother, Morris Klein, and the two young men opened a market, where they sold meat and groceries, meeting with success. This association was continued for five years, and then Mr. Klein pur- chased his brother's interest and carried it on by himself until 1920, when he engaged in the insurance business. He remained at the original location for twelve years in all and then, the trade growing too large for the comparatively restricted quarters, Mr. Klein purchased the building at No. 48 Smith street, Perth Amboy, and proceeded to fit it up as an ideal butcher shop and market. He began by completely renovating the entire structure and then installed the most modern fittings and equipment, including marble floors, tile counters, cold air refrigerators and everything to make it a most up-to-date establish- ment. His liberal policy has borne well deserved fruit and the store is today undoubtedly one of the finest of its kind in the neighborhood and does a large business. His reputation for square and honest dealing is an enviable one and is thoroughly well deserved, for both in the quality of his wares and the service he gives his many customers he has set the standard for the community. Mr. Klein, since November 15, 1920, has been connected with the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company with local offices in Perth Amboy at No. 196 Smith street, where he has been successful. Mr. Klein has always taken a public- spirited interest in the general life of the community where he has elected to live, and is prominent in social and fraternal circles, being a member of many organizations of various kinds. He is affiliated with Raritan Lodge, No. 61, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; and Perth Amboy Lodge, No. 784, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is of a strongly religions nature and gives liberally to many charitable institutions, including the Children's Home, at Denver, Colorado, the Young Men's Hebrew Association, and the City Hospital at Perth Amboy. He is a member of the Progress Club of Perth Amboy, and takes a keen and intelligent interest in all the great problems and issues of the times. He is a member of the Congregation of Beth Mordecai of Perth Amboy.
Joseph Louis Klein was united in marriage, March 9, 1902, in Perth Amboy, with Esther Greenbaum, like himself a native of Hungary, where she was born March 9, 1883, a daughter of Abraham Isaac and Florence (Weiss) Greenbaum. Mr. and Mrs. Klein are the parents of two children, as follows: Florence Gertrude, born May 30, 1903; and Albert, born July 7, 1905.
JUL 1 0 1931
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