USA > New Jersey > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, New Jersey, 1664-1920, Volume III > Part 31
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In the passing away of Thomas F. Dunigan, Woodbridge lost one of its most substantial sons and citizens, a man who was a good father, a firm friend and neighbor, and a builder in every sense of the word, which means so much to any commonwealth.
JOHN H. RINEHART-The Rineharts are a Hunterdon county, New Jersey, family, George Rinehart being a farmer there until his death. He married Mary Ann Hackett, also of a Hunterdon county family, and among their children was a son, John H. Rinehart, father of George Rinehart, the latter now conducting a prosperous ice business in Dunellen, New Jersey.
John H. Rinehart was born in Hunterdon county, New Jersey, April 10, 1863. He was educated in the public schools, and became a cooper by trade, but for many years was in railroad employ. Mr. Rinehart was brought up in the Roman Catholic church ; in politics always a Democrat.
Mr. Rinehart married, in Hunterdon county, February 14, 1880, Anna Hallanhan, born in Ireland, March 17, 1864, daughter of Patrick and
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Catherine (Hapney) Hallanhan. Of this marriage seven children were born: 1. Francis J., born May 29, 1881. 2. Mary, born February 10, 1882, died August 20, 1888. 3. George, born April 10, 1885; he is now well established in the ice business in Dunellen, New Jersey, employing in his enterprise two large trucks; in his earlier years he learned the machinist's trade, which he followed for some time. 4. Anna, born Octo- ber 3, 1889. 5. Sylvester, born December 13, 1893. 6. John, born June 26, 1895. 7. Catherine, born January 16, 1898.
EDWARD J. HEIL-Teutonic strength, steadiness and patience, have long been adding their contribution to the diverse elements which make up the life stream flowing into this country from across seas, and they have built valuable material into the life of the nation. When Henry and Caroline (Schardt) Heil came to the land of opportunity about 1860, from Fulda, Germany, they brought their worldly goods with them, and they came to stay. Since that time, in thorough-going, prac- tical fashion, they have built themselves into the life of the communities in which they have lived, first at Newark, New Jersey, and later at Linoleumville, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Heil were the parents of six children : Edward J., of further mention; Henry A., Margaret, Anna, Caroline, and Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Heil are now both deceased.
Edward J. Heil was born in Newark, New Jersey, September 13, 1869. He attended the public schools of Linoleumville, New York, later the private school of Mrs. Simonds of the same town, finishing at St. Ben- edict's College at Newark, New Jersey. Since that time his busy years have been passed mostly at Carteret, Middlesex county, New Jersey, where he is widely known as an active, progressive, and extremely suc- cessful real estate and insurance man. The carrying on of a very large and successful business, however, does not prevent him from serving his community in many valuable ways. He has been president of the Board of Education since 1907. and of the Board of Health since 1913. He has also been president of the Exempt Firemen's Association since 1903, and of the Sinking Fund Commission since 1915. Mr. Heil has been serving as president of the Roosevelt Realty and Investment Com- pany, Inc., since the beginning of its existence in 1913, and of the Car- teret Building Loan Association for ten years.
Politically. Mr. Heil is a Democrat, is president of the Carteret Dem- ocratic Club, is a member of the county executive committee, and has been local judge and recorder since 1915. Fraternally, he is affiliated with Elizabeth Lodge, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Foresters of America, the Improved Order of Red Men, the Knights of Columbus, and with the Woodmen of the World. Mr. Heil was secre- tary of the Committee on Incorporation of the borough of Roosevelt in 1906. With his multitudinous business, civic, and social responsibilities, Mr. Heil finds time for active church duties. He is a member of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, and is president of the Holy Name Society.
Edward J. Nul.
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Mr. Heil married Rose Frances Kreger, daughter of Joseph and Anna Frances (Brown) Kreger, of Dover, New Jersey, and they are the par- ents of two children : Edward J., Jr., born August 9, 1900, educated in the public schools of Roosevelt, the high school of Rahway, Seton Hall Preparatory School, and Seton Hall College, South Orange, New Jersey ; and Helen F., born February 3, 1905, educated in the public schools of Roosevelt, and Mount St. Mary's Academy, of Plainfield, New Jersey.
LLOYD PERCY JOHNSON .- The name Johnson is an old and honored one in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, the first settler in this branch, James Johnson, great-grandfather of Lloyd P., being of the Newark John- son family, founded by Thomas Johnson, who in May, 1666, came with the thirty families from Connecticut to Newark, New Jersey, where the first town meeting was held, May 21, 1666. Thomas Johnson was one of the committee of five from Newark who met John Ogden, Robert Treat, and others from Elizabeth, New Jersey, to settle boundary disputes. He became one of Newark's most influential citizens, active in church and State. His residence in Newark was on the northeast corner of Broad and Walnut streets, on the site of the present Grace Church. Thomas Johnson was a son of Robert Johnson, who came from Yorkshire, Eng- land, and was one of the founders of the New Haven, Connecticut, colony. James Johnson, of the eighth American generation, was pro- prietor of the Old Tavern at the foot of High street, and is buried in Perth Amboy. His son, Jeremiah Johnson, was born in Perth Amboy, and both he and his son, Abraham Johnson, were engaged in oyster planting in the Raritan river and in the bay. Abraham Johnson mar- ried Margaret Isdell, born and married in Perth Amboy, which city is still her home at the age of sixty-five years. Mr. Johnson died an acci- dental death, September 23, 1907, aged sixty years. Children, all born in Perth Amboy : Elwood, chief clerk with the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company, married and has a son, Elwood; Mattie, married Ferdinand Hall, of Perth Amboy, and has a son, Ferdinand L. Hall ; Lloyd Percy, of further mention ; Viola, deceased, who married W. L. McCready ; and Caroline, who died unmarried.
Lloyd P. Johnson, youngest son of Abraham and Margaret (Isdell) Johnson, was born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, August 15, 1880, and was there educated in the public schools. After leaving high school, he was engaged in the oyster planting business with his father for eighteen months, and then entered the employ of the Perth Amboy Gas Light Company, where he remained for two years, then worked for the Public Service Corporation for a year and a half at the end of which time he entered the employ of the Central Electric Company, later returning to the Perth Amboy Gas Light Company. He then continued in the employ of that company for eighteen years, rising from office boy to the position of assistant manager. In 1914 he resigned his position to engage in the insurance business under the firm name, The Johnson Company. In 1919 he purchased a half-interest in the business of Pierce & Son, one of
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the largest fire insurance agencies in the country, now operated as the Pierce-Johnson Company. Mr. Johnson opened up Keasbey Heights, an addition to the city, as his personal promotion, and has other interests of similar nature. He is fond of sports of the forest and field, hunting being his favored recreation. He is a member of the Baptist church. and a man highly esteemed for his sterling qualities. Mr. Johnson is a Re- publican in politics, and ran for the State Assembly on the Republican ticket in 1918.
Mr. Johnson married. in Perth Amboy. Johanna Margaret Koven, born in Perth Amboy. daughter of Emil and Marie Koyen, both residing in Woodbridge, New Jersey, her father a retired builder.
JOHN H. DAYTON .- One of the well known business and profes- sional men of Middlesex county. New Jersey, having offices in Perth Amboy and residing in Woodbridge, New Jersey, is John H. Dayton. He was born February 10, 1881. in Perth Amboy. the son of Spencer and Mary E. | Walters ] Dayton, his father for many years a prominent con- tractor and builder in Perth Amboy.
John H. Dayton attended the grammar and high schools of his native city, and then studied architecture with private tutors, passing the ex- aminations required to practice as an architect in the State of New Ter- sey. in 1902. Since that time he has followed that profession with pro- nounced success. having prepared plans for many of the well known buildings of Middlesex and surrounding counties.
Mr. Dayton is a member of the State Board of Architects. Politically. he is a Republican. He is affiliated with the Free and Accepted Masons. the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the East Jersey Club, and the Raritan Yacht Club.
On June 20. 1906. Me. Dayton married Amy B. McEwen, daughter of Joseph and Sarah McEwen. They have one child. Dorothy Dayton.
THOMAS J. SCULLY, for eight years representative for the Sec- ond District of New Jersey in the Congress of the United States, and at present mayor of the city of South Amboy, New Jersey, is one who has steadily endeavored to make after-election performance square with pre- election promise. In so doing. he has found that he who would achieve must struggle, and his Congressional career has been an eventiui one.
Born in South Amboy. New Jersey. September zo. 1868. he attended the public schools of that city and then went to Seton Hall College. Upon leaving college, he was taken into the towing business which his father had established in IS74. Always energetic. ambitious, and capa- ble, he directed his full energy into the upbuilding of that business with the result that the Scully Towing and Transportation Company de- veloped into an important maritime enterprise. owning more than fifty ocean going tugs and barges and carrying more than a million tons of freight annually to all parts of the world.
Devotion to his business, however, did not prevent Mr. Scully irom
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taking an active part in the life of his community. Always ready to aid in any project which seemed to him well calculated to further the inter- ests of the city, he early gave evidence of executive and administrative ability, and when, in 1898, Dr. Ambrose Treganowan resigned his office as mayor of South Amboy, the Council appointed Mr. Scully to finish the unexpired term. Mr. Scully had already served the city most accept- ably and faithfully as a member of the Board of Education for a term of three years, and in filling out the unexpired term as the chief executive of the city, he so commended himself to the people that in 1909 they elected him to serve for a full term. In discharging the duties of that office he displayed the same vigor and fearlessness that had made the Scully Towing and Transportation Company a success. He improved the dock facilities and the sewer system of the city and reorganized the fire and police departments. In 1908 he went as a Democratic delegate to the National Convention that named William J. Bryan for President, and he was also a candidate on the Bryan ticket for presidential elector. He was also a delegate to the National Convention which nominated Woodrow Wilson in 1912.
It was in 1910 that Mr. Scully first appeared as a candidate for Con- gress, securing the nomination against the Republican candidate. Ben- jamin F. Howell, who had represented the District of Washington for sixteen years, and defeating him by a plurality of nearly 4,500. So acceptably and ably did he represent his district that he was reelected in 1912-14-16. In 1916 the result of the contest between himself and the Republican candidate, Robert Carson, was in dispute for many weeks after the election. The returns as filed with the county clerks by the election boards of the district credited Mr. Carson with fourteen more votes than were credited to Mr. Scully. Mr. Scully demanded a recount, and because a tie between the parties in the National House of Repre- sentatives was threatened, the result of the recount was awaited with keenest interest throughout the country. The recount disclosed a ma- jority in favor of Mr. Scully and he retained his seat, preventing the tie between the parties in the House.
Since completing his most honorable and faithful term of Congres- sional service, Mr. Scully has not become inactive, but continues to fur- ther the economic, social, and political interests of his community, state, and nation in every way possible. His long and eventful experience in the legislative halls of the nation make him an unusually valuable citi- zen, and in many fields of endeavor his influence is felt and will con- tinue to work for the upbuilding of intelligent and efficient civic life. He is the present mayor of South Amboy, an office to which he was elected shortly after the expiration of his Congressional term, and to which he was again returned at the last city election.
THOMAS L. SLUGG .- One of the well known citizens of Carteret, Middlesex county, New Jersey, is Thomas L. Slugg, who was born in Huntingdon Valley, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, January 16,
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1860. He was educated there in the grammar schools, and upon complet- ing his school years he became a telegraph operator and station agent. In 1888 he came to Carteret, where he followed the same occupation for three years. About 1892 he engaged in the real estate and contracting business here, which he continued until his retirement from same in 1916. He is now supervising foreman for the United States Metal Refin- ing Company at Carteret.
Mr. Slugg has been active in a public way, being a justice of the peace since 1890, and once postmaster and recorder of Carteret. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and a mem- ber of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics.
Mr. Slugg married, March 3, 1880, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Margaret J. Robinson, of Norristown, Pennsylvania, and they are the parents of the following children: Morris L., now (1921) superintend- ent of the American Agriculture Chemical Company at Belfast, Maine; Bessie E., now Mrs. Howard W. Thorn, of Carteret, New Jersey ; Fannie P., residing at home with her parents; Julia R., now Mrs. L. Bergheim, of Dunellen, New Jersey ; Margie, a teacher in Perth Amboy public schools; Ruth M., a trained nurse in the employ of Mrs. M. Barron, of Woodbridge, New Jersey, who is now (1921) 104 years old; and Clar- ence H., now supervising foreman for the United States Metal Refining Company at Chrome, New Jersey, and a councilman for the borough of Roosevelt, New Jersey.
PETER ANDREAS JOHANSEN .- The ancestry of Peter Andreas Johansen, president and treasurer of the Perth Amboy Foundry and Machine Company, extends far back into Danish history, the American record of the line dating from his own arrival, via the Danish West Indies, in 1884. He is a grandson of Peter Johansen, of Horsens, Den- mark, and son of Julius Johansen.
Julius Johansen was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1826, and died in 1900. He was an iron molder by trade, and served as a sergeant of infantry in the Danish army. In 1848, while serving in this military capacity during the Danish-German War, he married Carolina Thessen, born in 1828, died in 1885, the marriage taking place under royal decree by order from King Frederick VII. The Thessens were silversmiths throughout many generations. Julius Johansen and his wife were mem- bers of the Lutheran church.
Peter Andreas Johansen was born in Aarhus, Denmark, August 26, 1859, and after attending public schools, was graduated in marine engi- neering at the Royal Navy Yard. In 1873 he entered the machinist's trade, and in 1881 was placed in charge of a sugar plant in St. Croix, Danish West Indies (Virgin Islands, United States), and in 1884 he came to the United States. Following the trade of machinist in Yonkers and Ossining, in New York State, for a time, he later came to Perth Amboy as superintendent of Mccullough & Company's Machine Shop. In 1892 he entered the employ of Patrick White & Sons, and later was superin-
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tendent of same. In 1905 he founded the Perth Amboy Foundry and Machine Company, and is president and treasurer of same. Mr. Johan- sen is connected with the First National Bank of Perth Amboy, New Jersey, with the Perth Amboy Trust Company, and bears throughout his community the reputation of an able, substantial, progressive man-of- affairs. His technical talents have been turned to industrial advantage, and the concern of which he is the head ranks high among organizations of its kind in the locality.
From 1897 to 1901 Mr. Johansen was an alderman of Perth Amboy, and from 1902 to 1906 he was a member of the Board of Freeholders of Middlesex county. He has numerous fraternal affiliations, and has held all offices in Algonquin Lodge, No. 44, Knights of Pythias, while he holds the thirty-second degree in the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Ma- sonry, his lodge, Raritan, No. 61, Free and Accepted Masons of Perth Amboy. He is also a noble of Salaam Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Newark. He is a member of Perth Am- boy Forest, Tall Cedars of Lebanon, and is also a member of the Young Men's Christian Association. He and his family are communicants of the Protestant Episcopal church.
Mr. Johansen married, in St. Paul's Church, Ossining, New York, Mary Louise Rex, who died January 1, 1921, daughter of William and Louise Rex, her father a lawyer of the Virgin Islands. Children of Peter Andreas and Mary Louise (Rex) Johansen: 1. Wilson, born in Perth Amboy, educated in the Perth Amboy High School and Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, New Jersey ; was director and scenario writer of his own moving picture company, co-editor of Street and Smith's "Picture Play," and a writer of short stories under the nom de plume "Rex." He was a young man of literary and dramatic talent, and his death, May 12, 1916, at the age of twenty-two years, deprived his calling of a most promising man. 2. Hessie Louise, born in Perth Amboy, edu- cated in the Perth Amboy High School, a graduate of the New York College of Music.
LUCIUS PORTER JANEWAY .- The great wallpaper business conducted under the corporate title, Janeway & Carpender, is distinc- tively a Janeway enterprise, the Carpender interest having been extin- guished in 1889 by purchase. For a period of eight years, 1892-1900, it was a department of the National Wall Paper Company, but was re- deemed from trust control in 1900 and incorporated as Janeway & Car- pender, Colonel Jacob James Janeway, president, yet remaining its head, although in years long past the age when men lay down business cares through physical infirmities. To that company, in 1904, came Lucius Porter Janeway, youngest of the children of Colonel Jacob James and Eliza Ann (Harrington) Janeway, as vice-president, and in association with his honored father in the president's chair, and his brother-in-law, Rev. Charles Scudder, at the secretary's desk, the Janeway control is
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absolute. The company runs on a plan of independent action and is the largest of all wallpaper manufacturers outside the combined companies. The business has grown to immense proportions and is a wonderful monument to the business acumen of the men who have been its direct- ing heads.
Lucius Porter Janeway was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, June 18, 1881. He was a student at Rutgers College Preparatory School, Lawrenceville, until graduation in 1900, going thence to Princeton Uni- versity, there receiving the customary Bachelor's degree with the class of 1904. When college years were over, he at once became associated in the management of Janeway & Carpender, serving that corporation as vice-president. For sixteen years he has held that office, and is one of the strong men of the wallpaper manufacturing business. He is de- voted to his business, and has few outside interests.
Mr. Janeway married, in New York City, November 4, 1915, Lila Fairchild, daughter of LeRoy Cholwell and Julia Louise (Moore) Fair- child, and they are the parents of a daughter, Juliana Louise Janeway.
ROBERT R. VANDENBERGH .- One of the prominent business men and active citizens of Prospect Plains, New Jersey, is Robert R. Vandenbergh. Active in promoting all movements planned for the ad- vancement of his community, he has worked for the economic and civic upbuilding of his native city in various ways, and has made his influence felt among a wide circle of friends and fellow-citizens.
Robert R. Vandenbergh, son of Robert M. and Elizabeth S. (Mait- land) Vandenbergh, lifelong residents of Monroe township, New Jersey, was born in Monroe township, Middlesex county, New Jersey, at the home farm, April 26, 1871. He attended the public schools of his district and then went to work on his father's farm. Having by experience gained a thorough knowledge of the business, he took over the manage- ment of all his father's farm properties, and for several years managed them most successfully. In 1901, however, he turned his attention to another line and engaged in the hotel business at Prospect Plains, con- tinuing this business until 1917, when he retired. He is still, and has been for many years, very active in the community life and in civic affairs as well as in political affairs. He supports the Republican party, was county tax assessor from 1900 to 1920, has been a member of the Middle- sex county Board of Freeholders since February 15, 1920, and takes a prominent part in the political life of this part of the State. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of New Brunswick, New Jersey, and with the Improved Order of Red Men, Ahander Tribe, of New Brunswick, New Jersey.
Mr. Vandenbergh married, at Cranberry, New Jersey, December 16, 1901, Mary E. Doty, daughter of Louis E. and Sarah (Montgomery) Doty, well known residents of Bernardsville, New Jersey, and one son has been born of this marriage, R. Maitland, born September 25, 1905.
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Isaac Alpern
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ISAAC ALPERN .- There is no more illuminating commentary upon the economic, social, and political fabric of this country than is the lives of those who have come to us from other lands. Those who ques- tion the assertion that America is a land of opportunity, and that energy, application, ability, and thrift, are the only capital necessary for the building of a business career, have only to search the life histories of those who, coming to this country without capital, without friends, without acquaintance with the customs of the country, and without even the ability to use the language of the land of their adoption, have yet risen to high positions of usefulness and power.
One of these wonder stories is that of Isaac Alpern, son of Jacob and Sadie Alpern. Born June 6, 1883, in the humble home of his parents, near Warsaw, Russia, he grew strong, vigorous, enduring, inured, even as a lad, to hard work. long hours, and small compensation. That he shouldered his share of the burdens without complaint did not prevent his alert mind from seeing clearly the limitations of his environment, and meagre as was the education he received, it was enough to enable him to gain a knowledge of other lands where opportunity was greater and oppression and injustice less dominant. Visions of a better life in the land to the westward early floated before his mind, and as, from time to time, letters and reports of letters from those already in the distant land deepened his desire to try the great adventure, to turn the dream into a reality, determination strengthened into action, and when he was twenty-one he sailed away to the westward in search of a" fortune and a career. He landed in New York City, the nerve center of the "Land of Opportunity." where he remained for a time doing what- ever he could find to do and getting acquainted with his new world. Then he went to Brooklyn, New York, where, working at whatever jobs he could find to do in the daytime. he attended school in the eve- ning. quickly mastering the English language. With a genius for hard work. and a thoroughness in mastering detail, as well as a clear grasp of essentials, his increasingly ready command of the English language removed the last harrier to the first rounds of the ladder of success, and the character of the positions he held improved with each change. Of a studious nature, he used his spare moments in reading, and rapidly acquired a working knowledge of the customs, the history. and the political and civic institutions of his adopted country.
By 1904 Mr. Alpern felt prepared for a change of occupation, and removing to Perth Amboy. New Jersey. began teaching Hebrew in one of the schools connected with the Sharai Tefiloh Temple. It was char- acteristic of the man that during his career as a teacher, when he was working long hours for small pay. he still strove to improve his own fitness for his work, making nightly trips to New York City, where he continued his studies in the evening schools. He continued his teaching for about three years. when, having by strict economy saved a little money. he entered the real estate and insurance business, first being emploved by Pratt-Brown & Company. of Perth Amboy, New Jersey, and later buying out the interests of that firm. He continued
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