USA > New Jersey > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, New Jersey, 1664-1920, Volume III > Part 19
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Michael Carl Spinelli was born in New Brunswick, December 5, 1895, and there has spent his years. He attended public school until sixteen years of age, then for a time was in the employ of Johnson & Johnson. His next position was with a moving picture house, remaining there two years, going thence to Easton, Pennsylvania, where he spent three years. In 1916, he opened a garage at No. 4 Prospect street, New Brunswick, known as Spinelli Brothers Garage, his partner being his brother, Peter D. Spinelli. They maintain an automobile livery service in connection with the garage, and at the corner of French and Bayard streets have an accessory store, where a complete stock for automobiles is carried. The business is a success, and Spinelli Brothers are rated as men of energy, thoroughly reliable and capable. Michael C. Spinelli is a mem- ber of the Improved Order of Red Men, and St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church.
Mr. Spinelli married, in Easton, Pennsylvania, in 1915, Mary E. Mc- Laughlin, born in Pattenburg, New Jersey, daughter of John and Mary Emma Mclaughlin, her mother yet living, a resident of Trenton, New Jersey. Mr. and Mrs. Spinelli are the parents of two children : Mary and Peter
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RALPH ENGLISH SEAMAN, son of Frederick and Anna (Eng- lish) Seaman, was born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, December 28, 1882. He received his preliminary education in the local public schools, and after graduating from the high school in 1900 he studied for three and one-half years in Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania. It having been decided that he follow in his father's footsteps for his business career, he prepared himself at Columbia University College of Pharmacy, from which institution he was graduated in 1907, and immediately returned to Perth Amboy and associated himself with his father's business, which was located at that time at No. 56 Smith street, in 1910 moving to the present location, No. 60 Smith street. Whether Mr. Sea- man is considered as a business man or a citizen he must be considered a success, for his business is prosperous and his standing as a citizen is high.
Mr. Seaman affiliates with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Free and Accepted Masons. He is also a member of the Raritan Yacht Club, and his hobby is gunning, in which recreation he engages during some of the leisure time which he can spare from his ever increasing business activities. Any reference to his appearance and manner would be out of place here, inasmuch as his years of successful business and good citizenship have made them thoroughly familiar to a large number of the residents of Perth Amboy.
Mr. Seaman married, in Perth Amboy, Clara Hardiman, a daughter of James and Mary Hardiman, both of Perth Amboy. There are no children.
MARINO VINCENT PALISI, JR., numbered among the younger men of the Perth Amboy business world who give promise of marked and well-deserved success, was born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, August 12, 1894, a son of Marino Palisi, who was born in Isola Salina, Italy, and has long been a resident of Perth Amboy. He is now fifty-eight years of age, but still has a fruit store at No. 132 Smith street, which he estab- lished thirty years ago. He came to this country at the age of twenty- one years. He married, in New York City, Frances Tesoriero, who was born in his own native city in Italy. They had nine children, of whom five are now living: Marina, Marino Vincent, Dominick, Anthony and John.
Marino Vincent Palisi, Jr., received his education in the public schools of Perth Amboy. He began his life career by working in his father's fruit and grocery store at No. 132 Smith street, Perth Amboy. He was a natural salesman even when a young lad, and was well liked by his father's customers. But he was ambitious to handle larger inter- ests, believing himself capable of going out and finding trade and building up a business on a larger scale. So he became associated with P. C. Rich- ardson & Company, of New York City, in the capacity of traveling salesman. He remained with them for two years, then determined that whatever success he achieved in life would be for himself instead of turning it over to another. So on April 15, 1920, with the beginning of
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perhaps the greatest motoring season in the history of mechanical vehicles, he established the National Auto Supply Company, at No. 446 Amboy avenue. His friends are certain that his success is assured. Unquestionably he is taking rapid strides forward, and will soon be among the leaders in his linc.
Mr. Palisi is a man of public spirit, and prominent in the social world, being particularly active in the work of those societies which promote the welfare of Americans of Italian birth or parentage. He is a member of the Sons of Italy, and also of the Knights of Columbus. He is a fine musician, playing the E-flat tuber, and for two years has been vice-president of the Musicians' Union, of Perth Amboy. He is manager of the Columbus Italian Union Band, of Perth Amboy. This organiza- tion gave gratis a great deal of their time in all public drives and demonstrations during the World War. He was a member of the New Jersey State Militia Reserve, and took an active part in the band of the regiment. He was first sergeant, and later second lieutenant, and also took an active part in assisting after the explosion at Morgan, New Jersey.
Mr. Palisi married, in Perth Amboy, March 5, 1916, Amelia Rossi, daughter of Alfred and Gervasia (Occhialini) Rossi. Mrs. Palisi was born in Rome, Italy ; her father is a modeller, living in Perth Amboy, whose work is in New York City. The family attend the Italian Church of the Holy Rosary.
GEORGE W. WOOD .- As cashier of Fords National Bank, of Fords, Middlesex county, New Jersey, Mr. Wood is well known and popular. He is deeply interested in the welfare of his adopted town and always aids or leads in every movement to make Fords a desirable place in which to locate. He is the son of George R. and Ida L. (Hamilton) Wood, who are descendants of old Staten Island and Brooklyn families.
George W. Wood was born on Staten Island, New York, August 2, 1891, and after graduating from the public schools, he spent three years in high school, and next took a business course in Trainor's Private School (now Trainor's Business College), at Perth Amboy, and in 1908 entered the employ of the Perth Amboy Trust Company as clerk. For nine years he remained with that institution, rising to the postion of teller, after which time he spent two years as teller with the Elizabeth Trust Company, then in September, 1919, he accepted his present posi- tion as cashier of the Fords National Bank, being the first cashier of that institution. He is also secretary of the Fairfield Building and Loan Association ; a member of the Masonic order, the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, the Young Men's Christian Association the Raritan Yacht Club, Junior Club, Travel Club of America, and the First Presbyterian Church of Perth Amboy.
Mr. Wood married, February 27, 1915, Bessie C. Sofield, of Perth Amboy, daughter of John Ellis and Laura A. Sofield, of an old Middlesex county family. The Wood home is in Fords.
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RALPH JAMES FAULKINGHAM .- Among the many physicians who live in New Brunswick none has a practice of wider scope than Dr. Ralph James Faulkingham. From his early manhood he has devoted all his energies to his beloved profession, the years spent in preparation being the necessary "foreword" of the later career.
Dr. Faulkingham claims New England as his birthplace, having been born on November 26, 1884, at West Jonesport, Maine, his father, James H. Faulkingham, being a fisherman of that seaport town. Dr. Faulking- ham's mother was, before her marriage, Flora E. Woodward. Their son, Ralph James, was given every advantage in the way of education from the primary school to his graduation in 1904 from the Jonesport High School. He remained at home for only a short time, for he desired to obtain college training and so entered Colby College, at Waterville, Maine, from which institution he graduated in 1910. Following this he matriculated at Bowdoin Medical College, where after a four years' course he became, in 1914, the proud possessor of the degree of Doctor of Medicine and with it the treasured "sheepskin."
During his college days, Dr. Faulkingham took an active part in the fraternal life surrounding him, being a member of the Zeta Psi fraternity and of Alpha Kappa Kappa, of which he had the honor to be president. He is also connected with a benevolent society, the Improved Order of Red Men. The doctor is now giving special attention to surgery. He is a member of the Middlesex County and New Jersey State Medical societies, the American Medical Association, and of the medical section of the Rutgers Club. He is also a member of the medical staff of St. Peter's Hospital. Dr. Faulkingham and his family attend the Baptist church of New Brunswick.
On May 31, 1910, Ralph James Faulkingham was married to Lucy May Brown, the ceremony taking place at Waterville, Maine. She was the daughter of Fred H. and Clara (Dinsmore) Brown. To them two children have been born : Ralph Brown, born September 12, 1912; and Flora Blanche, born July 15, 1917. Their home is at No. 61 Living- ston avenue.
THE GREENSPAN BROTHERS .- There is no name better known or more highly respected in mercantile and commercial circles in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, than that of Greenspan, represented there as it is by four brothers, joint owners of the large and prosperous mercantile establishment at No. 314 Elm street, known as Greenspan Brothers Company. Isadore, Jacob, Hyman and Philip Greenspan are all natives of Russia, where the first named was born, May 30, 1892, and sons of Samuel and Diana Greenspan, of that country. The father, Samuel Greenspan, came to the United States with his wife and four children at the age of fifty years, having been preceded to this country by his son Hyman, who had settled in New York City and there engaged in the paper and box business. The elder Mr. Greenspan established himself in the milk business in Brooklyn, New York, where he met with marked success, but in 1900 removed to Perth Amboy, New Jersey, and con-
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tinued in the same line until 1916, when he retired. There he still makes his home, surviving his wife, who died April 15, 1918, at the age of sixty-eight years.
Isadore Greenspan was but six years of age when he accompanied his parents to the United States, and it was in Brooklyn that he began his education in the public schools. Two years later he came to Perth Amboy and there continued his schooling until he was of an age to take part in business. He then founded and for two years conducted a retail grocery store at No. 200 Madison avenue, Perth Amboy, dis- playing an unusual degree of business ability, and meeting with a well- deserved success. In the meantime his brother Hyman, who had been in the paper and box line for some years in New York City, had retired therefrom and with another brother, Jacob, had founded the wholesale grocery business in Perth Amboy in 1900, and at the end of his two years' success in the retail branch of the trade, Isadore Greenspan joined them in the enterprise, as well as the fourth brother, Philip. Since that time the concern has grown greatly in size and importance and is now justly regarded as one of the most important of its kind in the region, it being engaged in wholesale groceries, importing, coffee roasting, and as a commission mercantile house. The four brothers are also active in the general life of the community, Isadore being a member of the Masonic order, Hyman of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, while Jacob and Philip belong to both organizations. All four brothers attend Temple B'rith Mordicai, and are members of the Young Men's Hebrew Association.
Isadore Greenspan was united in marriage, October 12, 1917, in Perth Amboy, with Anna Davidson, a native of that place, and they are the parents of one daughter, Diana. Jacob Greenspan married Beatrice Eiten, and they are the parents of two children, Jeannette and Mortimer. Hyman Greenspan married Jennie Borak, and they also are the parents of two children, Abraham and Rebecca. Philip Greenspan married Frances Davidson, and they are the parents of three children, as follows: Lillian, Walter and Francis.
THEODORE UNKEL, late owner of the Sayreville Hotel, which he conducted for many years, always took a keen and active interest in the affairs of the community, and when his death occurred, November 28, 1919, Sayreville lost one of her foremost citizens. Theodore Unkel was a native of Germany, born May 22, 1870. He was the son of Rudolph and Elizabeth (Clemens) Unkel, both of them natives of Germany. Mr. Unkel was for many years a butcher in Sayreville. Theodore Unkel received his education in the local public schools, after which he became associated with his father in business. Upon coming to this country he located in Sayreville, New Jersey, in 1884, and subsequently purchased the hotel with which he was identified for so many years. Upon his death Mrs. Unkel took over the entire charge of the house and has since continued in its management. In politics Mr. Unkel was a Democrat, and was long an important figure in public affairs, although caring noth-
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ing for public office, but taking a deep interest in all that pertained to the public good. He affiliated with the Sons of Liberty, and in religion was a Roman Catholic, greatly devoted to the interests of his church.
On July 13, 1893, in New York City, Theodore Unkel was united in marriage with Anna Nagle, a native of Germany, the daughter of Sebas- tian and Antoinette (Hoffman) Nagle. To Mr. and Mrs. Unkel have been born twelve children : Max, born October 27, 1894; Theodore, born No- vember 8, 1895 ; Elizabeth, born April 26, 1897 ; Jeanette, born December 21, 1898; Sebastian, born October 2, 1900; Gertrude, born September 4, 1904: John, born October 26, 1906; Lillian, born October 30, 1908; Augusta, born January 27, 1910; Madeline, born December 13, 1912; Randolph, born July 18, 1914 ; and George, born September 26, 1915.
WILLIAM MORRISON SMITH, now a prosperous plumber of Metuchen, New Jersey, son of James Benjamin and Elizabeth Smith, was born in Summit, Spottsylvania county, Virginia, fifty-three miles by rail north of Richmond, October 25, 1891. He was there educated in the public schools. Upon coming to a suitable age he learned the plumber's trade and has since followed that occupation. Mr. Smith located in Metuchen, New Jersey, in 1914, and during the war period was employed in the government arsenal in Raritan. He is an Inde- pendent in politics, and a member of the Presbyterian church.
Mr. Smith married, in Metuchen, June 23, 1917, Ida May Compton, born in Metuchen, April 25, 1896, daughter of Charles and Phoebe K. (Boylan) Compton, of an old Middlesex county family. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of twins : Doris and Oliver Compton, born Decem- ber 23, 1918.
JAMES P. GERITY .- Mr. Gerity's father, Andrew Gerity, of Wood- bridge, New Jersey, was born in Tipperary, Ireland. He came to the United States in 1857, and located in Woodbridge. He was married, September 18, 1864, by the Rev. Edward A. Braidy, at the Church of St. Teresa, corner of Rutgers and Henry streets, New York City, to Mary Jane Bolan. Mr. Gerity passed his life in honest industry, re- pected by all.
James P. Gerity, son of Andrew and Mary Jane (Bolan) Gerity, was born in Woodbridge, New Jersey, March 21, 1880. He attended St. James' Parochial and Woodbridge public schools, but at the age of fifteen entered the employ of the Port Reading Railroad Company as an office boy under L. J. Barrett, then shipping agent for the company. He remained in the employ of the Port Reading Railroad Company for twenty-three years, 1895-1918, rising through the various grades of pro- motion to the position of general timekeeper and auditor. In 1918 he resigned as auditor to enter government service as deputy collector of internal revenue under Charles Duffy, chief of the New Jersey dis- trict. Mr. Gerity was in charge of Federal taxes for Hunterdon and Somerset counties until September, 1919, when he resigned and entered
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business under the firm name of J. P. Gerity & Company, Woodbridge, opening an office in the First National Bank building, where he transacts a real estate and general insurance business.
Mr. Gerity is a Democrat in politics, and for three years, 1914-1917, was a member of the Town Committee, and from 1917 until the present time has been a member of the Middlesex County Democratic Committee. A leader in local affairs, he has always taken a keen and active interest in the furtherance of any good movement which would be beneficial to Woodbridge. He was the first to advocate permanent street pavements in Woodbridge, and largely through his efforts Main street was taken over by the County Board of Freeholders and improved with a perma- nent pavement. He has been a director of the Woodbridge Building and Loan Association since its inception; secretary of the Woodbridge Knights of Columbus Building Association ; member of the Woodbridge Knights of Columbus, serving the local council as second grand knight from 1907-1911, and in 1912-13 was district deputy. He is a member of St. James' Roman Catholic Church, Woodbridge; the Columbian Club ; and the Woodbridge Exempt Firemen's Association.
Mr. Gerity has been greatly interested in athletic sports, and entire credit is due him for the field meets held under the Amateur Athletic Union in Woodbridge in 1910-11-12, when many of the leading amateurs of the county competed.
Mr. Gerity married, at Union Hill, New Jersey, April 19, 1907, Anna F. Messenger, daughter of William T. and Frances (Volkert) Messenger, her father born in New York City, her mother a native of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Gerity are the parents of two sons : James Francis Xavier, born September 27, 1909; and George, born July 7, 1911.
Mr. Gerity is well and favorably known in the community with which he has been associated all his life, and is building up a good business in the lines he has chosen, real estate and general insurance.
ALEXANDER FITZ RANDOLPH .- The members of the Fitz Ran- dolph family of New Jersey, descend from the family in England, which traces its ancestry through different branches to noble and even royal blood. In this country they trace to the royal blood of New England, a "Mayflower" passenger, and on both sides descent is both ancient and honorable.
Alexander Fitz Randolph, of Middlesex county, is a son of Elkanah Fitz Randolph, who spent his life in New Jersey, a farmer, Seventh Day Baptist, and a Republican. He was born October 9, 1797, and died in Plainfield, New Jersey, February 26, 1877. He married, in Plainfield, Phoebe Drake, who was born March 21, 1802, died June 19, 1876. They were the parents of eight children, all of whom grew to adult years save one.
Alexander Fitz Randolph, youngest of the children of Elkanah and Phoebe (Drake) Fitz Randolph, was born in Plainfield, New Jersey, July 4, 1844. He was educated in the public schools of Plainfield, and
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at Alfred University, Alfred, New York, an institution under the patron- age of the Seventh Day Baptist Church. After his college years were over, he returned to Plainfield, and has spent his life principally as a farmer, but for a few years was a merchant and for a time was employed in a factory. His home for the past forty years has been on a farm in Piscataway township, Middlesex county, where he is living practically retired. In politics he is a Republican, and for two terms served his township as school trustee. He is a member of Mount Zion Lodge, No. 135, Free and Accepted Masons, of Metuchen ; New Market Grange, Patrons of Husbandry; and a member of the Seventh Day Baptist church.
Alexander Fitz Randolph married, January 20, 1877, at Alfred, New York, Jessie Witter, born in New York State, September 3, 1856, daughter of Charles Henry and Abby K. Witter, her father a farmer of New York State who gave his life for the Union cause, and died in Andersonville Prison, Georgia, April 20, 1864. Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Fitz Randolph are the parents of four children: 1. Phoebe Elfrieda, born October 15, 1877; she finished her education in the Plainfield High School. 2. John Bryant, born December 3, 1884. 3. Margaret Louise, born February 18, 1888, a graduate of Plainfield High School. 4. Orson Witter, born September 26, 1892; was educated in Middlesex county public schools.
WILLIAM A. SILENCE .- For more than a quarter of a century Oak Tree, Middlesex county, New Jersey, has been the scene of the business activity of William A. Silence, who is meeting with creditable and well deserved success as the reward of his indefatigable labor, tireless energy and capable management. He is a man whose word is as good as his bond, and whose transactions are conducted in a thor- oughly business-like manner, thus insuring the continuance of the patron- age accorded him in the beginning of his business career.
The birth of William A. Silence occurred in what was then the city of Brooklyn, New York, now the borough of Brooklyn, Greater New York, November 9, 1869, a son of William A. Silence, a native of the State of Maryland, a hatter by occupation, and his wife, Emma F. (Depew) Silence, a native of Brooklyn, New York. The schools of Brooklyn in the vicinity of his home were the means of his education, and he profitted by attending them. He was a resident of his native city until the year 1894, when he removed to the State of New Jersey, locating in Oak Tree, Raritan township, where he has since made his home. His entire time and attention is devoted to the manufacture of cider and vinegar, which are of excellent quality, and these useful commodities are made in a plant which is suited to the purpose, modern in every particular, clean and neat in appearance, thus insuring the uniform quality of the articles manufactured. Mr. Silence holds mem- bership in the South Plainfield Patriotic Order Sons of America. He is a Republican in politics, and belongs to the Harding and Coolidge Club.
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The welfare and improvement of his community receives from him a hearty cooperation in all projects which have for their aim that object.
Mr. Silence married, February 22, 1893, in Oak Tree, Jane Laing, born in South Plainfield, New Jersey, August 17, 1866, daughter of Abel Laing, a native of South Plainfield, a tiller of the soil, and his wife, Cornelia C. (Drake) Laing, a native of Oak Tree. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Silence, as follows: Marion, born July 28, 1894; and William A. (3), born March 13. 1910.
HARVEY LeROY HULLFISH .- When a young boy Harvey LeRoy Hullfish came with his parents to New Brunswick, New Jersey, and there has spent the years which have since elapsed. He has devoted himself chiefly to the automobile business as a salesman, and is one of the well known men of the trade. He is also well known in the political field.
Harvey LeRoy Hullfish was born in Jamesburg, Middlesex county, New Jersey, July 29, 1885, son of Giles H. and Bertha M. Hullfish, his father a merchant. He was educated in New Brunswick public schools and in the Wilson Business College, New Brunswick. He at once entered business life in New Brunswick, first as a groceryman, then for ten years in the automobile business, dealing both in new and second- hand cars. He is still in that line as sales manager for Elwood E. Waller & Son, handling Willys-Knight and Overland cars. He was formerly manager for the New Brunswick Motor Car Company, was the first president of the New Brunswick Motor Trade Association, which he aided in organizing, and for three years he assisted in the management of the auto shows.
In politics Mr. Hullfish is a Republican, and for ten years was a member of the Middlesex County Committee, resigning to accept ap- pointment on the Board of Elections of the Fourth Ward. He was appointed clerk of the Martin Act Commission, was stenographer to the State Assembly one session, and is now a deputy sheriff and court officer. holding these positions in connection with his automobile busi- ness. He is a past officer of Goodwill Council, No. 32. Junior Order of United American Mechanics, having served twelve and one-half years in office, and is a member of Orient Court. He is a member of the Goodwill Club, and of the Livingston Avenue Baptist Church.
Mr. Hullfish married, June 24, 1908, at New Brunswick, Mary C. Whitfield, daughter of Jacob H. and Julia Whitfield. Mr. and Mrs. Hullfish are the parents of a daughter, Elsie May Hullfish, born April 30, 19II.
EUGENE WORDEN HOPE .- For many years Eugene Worden Hope has been prominent among the prosperous business men of Perth Amboy, New Jersey, where he conducts a successful milk business and enjoys a large patronage in the surrounding community. He is a mem- ber of a family that had its origin in the Island of Jersey, in the British channel off the coast of France, and which came from there and settled
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